2-party system based on race strive by DAP will not contribute to stability, says Dr M

The former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia faces a grave danger of being divided by two parties — one Malay dominated by default and the other Chinese by choice.

This will not be good for Malaysia. But this is what the DAP is striving for. A two-party system based on race will not contribute to stability much less national unity.

He accused DAP of destroying the power-sharing formula that Barisan Nasional had implemented for half a century.

He wrote in his blog that the Chinese community in Sarawak has rejected multiracialism after being infected by the virus of Chinese racism that he said is the guiding principle of the DAP.

He also suggested that any DAP administration would only be ostensibly Malaysian.

“I congratulate the DAP for bringing its racist politics to Sarawak. Before this all races co-operated well with each other for the good of Sarawak. Now we see clearly that the Chinese community in Sarawak has rejected multiracialism.”

“They have become infected by the virus of Chinese racism that is the guiding principle of the DAP. If the same pattern was seen in the next general election that is expected to be held in a year, it would split the country."

“Those Chinese who reject the DAP seem to be considered as non-Chinese by the DAP. The presence of a few Malays in the DAP is just window dressing,” he said.

He again accused the DAP of emulating Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in sidelining the Malays.

“It is the same as in Singapore where the PAP government sidelined their Malay supporters completely. The Malays make up 15 per cent of the island’s population but their share of political power and wealth of this very prosperous nation is about one per cent.

“Of course, Singapore is ruled by Singaporeans. The same would happen in Malaysia should the DAP rule this country. It would be ostensibly being Malaysian,” he added.

What is DAP’s Mission?

Pakatan government close to collapse

Pakatan government is indeed a fragile coalition, it’s now close to collapse and it could fall at any time.

The Kedah DAP had announced its decision to withdraw from the PAS-led government over the demolition of the sole pig abattoir in the state.

The PKR Member of Parliament for Kulim Bandar Baru in Kedah, Zulkifli Noordin said, it was meaningless for DAP to remain in Pakatan if it could not tolerate its two partners in the alliance. The party had to exercise mutual understanding to remain in the opposition pact or strike out on its own.

In George Town, state PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim accused Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of failing to practice the principles of justice and compassion in the running dispute over the sacking of PKR Seberang Prai municipal councillor Johari Kassim.

These incidents clearly presented evidence of the role of internal conflict of Pakatan. They lack common policies and common stand on issues that may arise anytime. From time to time, sensitive issues may arise which require some disciplinary intervention that Pakatan has yet to develop.

Undeniably, the ideological isolationism of DAP, PAS, and PKR but driven the narrow alley of a political coalition in order to share power, is by far the main factor to cause the collapse of the fragile coalition government.

Karpal gets death threat, bullets in mail

DAP chairman Karpal Singh has received a death threat that he, along with his whole family, would be "annihilated".

Karpal Singh

The envelope containing the letter also had two bullets. It was delivered to Karpal's home in Jalan Utama, Penang.

Superintendent Shaharon Anuar Abdul Latif from Penang state police contingent headquarters urged everyone to be calm and warned people against spreading rumors about the case.

He said people should leave it to the police to carry out their investigations. The writer told Karpal Singh not to fool around with the Malay rulers (jangan main main) and Malays in general and also threatened to burn his entire family, adding that he knew where Karpal Singh lived.

It went on to warn him not to find trouble with the Malays if he loved his family. Otherwise, the writer threatened to annihilate Karpal and his family.

"This is a serious threat and I want the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to provide protection for me and my family.

"I have never asked for such protection, but the situation has reached a very serious level," he said.

Ironically, Malaysian politics has been relatively stable and people should appreciate it. Due to the sensitivity involved in race relation, ground rules are set in the Federal and state Constitutions.

All Malaysian especially politicians should try to use great sensitivity to the feelings of the multi-racial Faith-Based Initiative in the Malaysian Constitution for the prosperity and stability of the country.

Councilor from DAP call for ban on gambling

DAP councilor from Shah Alam Ang Leng Kiat proposed that the Shah Alam City Council withdraw licenses already issued and to discontinue the issuance of new permits to lottery outlets.


He had also stressed that his suggestion was not related to political or religious considerations, but was solely aimed at solving social problems linked to gambling.

There are now three draws from Magnum, three from Damacai and four from Sports Toto in a week.


Ironically, PAS Dewan Ulama head Datuk Mohamed Daud had call to ban gambling joints and limit alcohol-selling outlets to non-Muslim areas in the Pakatan states, the move thus is inline with Islamic law especially the Pas’s Islamic state policy to ban gambling and limiting the sale of alcohol in Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states.


Pas government in Kelantan had banned gambling, dancing and public consumption of alcohol by non-Muslims.

The question remains: When will the Pakatan Rakyat state government in Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor banning all forms of gambling?

Can DAP help to win over votes for PAS in Kuala Terengganu by-election?

It’s well known fact that DAP and PAS have been in loggerheads over their respective stand on both the formation of Islamic state and hudud laws.


Despite conflicting views on the Islamic state issue and hudud laws, DAP's national chairperson Karpal Singh said DAP will continue to support PAS, especially by campaigning for the party in Kuala Terengganu.

PAS vice-president Husam Musa’s comments about Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) will implement hudud laws if the Pakatan Rakyat coalition takes over the administration of the country in a general election having caught DAP out of doors.

Husam Musa

Clearly, DAP continues to be caught by the same unresolved dilemma. The issue has created tension in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition especially between PAS and DAP.

On the contrary, Gerakan called on all Malaysians to stand united in opposing PAS' vision of turning Malaysia into a theocratic state.

MCA - the biggest Chinese-based party in the country - too was vocal in objecting PAS' Islamic agenda.

MCA's Federal Territories Youth wing departed from the norm by marching over to the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to hand in a memorandum opposing the hudud stand.

The youth wing also unfurled banners by the roadside to express its displeasure with PAS' stand.

DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang took to task PAS vice-president Husam Musa for reiterating PAS' plan to implement Islamic hudud laws if the party succeeded in taking over the federal government following a general election.

Lim said Husam must explain his statement to address the unease it would create among the non-Muslims in Kuala Terengganu.

"If unclarified, Husam's statement would create unease, anxiety and opposition not only among the 11 % of the Chinese voters in the critical Kuala Terengganu by-election on Jan 17 but also among both Malay and non-Malay voters whether in Terengganu or the rest of Malaysia," he said.

PAS faces an uphill battle to win over non-Muslim voters in Kuala Terengganu by-election. Can DAP help to win over votes for PAS is the most interesting political issue that we haven't seen before and eagerly awaiting an answer.

Karpal suspended for two days

Mind your words in Parliament otherwise you are subjected to disciplinary action.


By accusing Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia of being "not serious" and "playful", DAP chairperson Karpal Singh has been suspended for two days from Parliament.

Karpal took offence to Nazri referring to Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) as 'blind'.

"The minister has insulted the disabled people, and as I represent them, I want him to retract!" said Karpal.

The heated exchange went on until Pandikar had to interject and said the minister had done nothing wrong. Pandikar added that the word 'blind' did not refer to any disabled people.

Unconvinced, Karpal then trained his anger at the speaker, stating: "You are not serious and are being playful (about this)!"

"I have given you a warning and I have to take action under the Standing Orders. I am suspending you for two days from Parliament," said Pandikar.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Perak Sate assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar (DAP-Tronoh) did not allow Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Kubu Gajah) from being the first speaker to debate a motion of thanks on the royal address clearly display of excessive egoness and power hunger.

Ironically, power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it. The exercise of power by one human being over another is uniquely fraught with the effects of fallenness. Any exercise of power must be driven by a desire to recover the original benevolent intentions. The power the DAP politicians acquired has made them corrupt.

V. Sivakumar is the first Indian speaker in the country. Regardless of how powerful the speaker may be, the earlier decision made by the deputy speaker should be honored and the disrespected manner should be condemned to the strongest degree.

All 28 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen staged a walkout, led by state BN chairman Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, as a show of protest after Speaker V. Sivakumar did not allow Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Kubu Gajah) from being the first speaker in a debate here yesterday.

Earlier, Raja Ahmad Zainuddin had stood up and asked that he be allowed to debate a motion of thanks on the royal address at the end of the question and answer session.

Sivakumar, however, allowed Chang Lih Kang (PKR-Teja) to be the first speaker instead.

Raja Ahmad Zainuddin protested, saying that Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong had, on Wednesday, promised that he would be the first speaker.

A shouting match ensued with accusations hurled at the speaker for not honoring the earlier arrangement.

At this juncture, Tajol Rosli stood up and asked the speaker to either allow Raja Ahmad Zainuddin to debate, or the BN state assemblymen would stage a walkout.

When the request was turned down, Tajol Rosli immediately walked out of the hall, followed by other BN assemblymen.

KARPAL SINGH: PM SEEKS TO DIVERT ATTENTION

DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh claimed that the prime minister’s comments yesterday were an attempt to divert attention from the crisis within Umno pertaining to his leadership.

"Obviously, the prime minister is turning what is purely a legal issue into a political one with racial undertones. I would have expected the prime minister to be politically mature instead of joining others who are baying for my blood."

"It is equally obvious that the prime minister is trying to divert attention from his own shaky position after calls from numerous Umno divisions that he should step down and the challenge by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to take him on as Umno president in the coming Umno general assembly."

Last week Sultan Azlan Shah gave instructions for Jamry to be reinstated after he was transferred to another department following what was alleged to be his refusal to cooperate with the new state government.

In response to the sultan’s orders, Karpal said early this month that Azlan Shah had acted beyond his powers as under the country's law, the new state government had every right to transfer Jamry as he is a government servant.

Commenting on this yesterday, Abdullah claimed that what Karpal said was seditious, insulting to the sultan and tantamount to questioning his prerogative and knowledge of his scope of duties as the state’s head of religion.

Najib, on the other hand, described Karpal’s statement as incorrect as the federal and state constitutions legally allow the sultan to act as he did.

Barisan Nasional MPs and a Malay NGOs coalition, who accused Karpal of being seditious, rude and having insulted the institution of Malay rulers, also made several police reports yesterday.

However, Karpal said he would not be intimidated by anyone, including Abdullah, and would sue for defamation over the allegation that he questioned the prerogative of the sultan as head of the religion in Perak.

NO RESPONSE TO LEE KAH CHOON'S OFFERED TO HEAD PENANG GERAKAN

The word politics comes from the Greek word "polis", meaning the state or community as a whole. Politics could be defined as a calculating art of power gain or power retention or more simply as power struggle. It presupposes a diversity of view, if not about ultimate aims, at least the best ways of achieving them and the ultimate power is found in government.

It is clearly reflected from the Lee Kah Choon political incidence. Datuk Lee Kah Choon has quit as a Gerakan member with immediate effect after he was lambasted for accepting Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng's offer to become director of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and investPenang.

Ex-Gerakan President Lim Keng Yaik said, five days after the general elections, he had dinner with Lee Kah Choon. Lee told him of his grand plans to revive Gerakan in Penang and fight the DAP.

Lee wanted to be a watchdog against the DAP government and Keng Yaik said good, but advised him not to give people the impression that he wanted to become the next Penang chief minister.

On April 9, 2008, Sin Chew Daily reported that former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon, who resigned all seven party posts more than a week ago, intends to go for the posts of Gerakan Penang state liaison chief as well as vice-president.

The report said this had prompted state youth chief Huan Cheng Guan to declare his intention to contest the same post which is held by acting party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. It seems like the stage is set for the battle for the post, for the first time in almost a decade.

The post has not been contested since Koh staved off a challenge by Datuk Dr Goh Cheng Teik in 1999. It was learn that after the party lost power in Penang in the recent general election, Lee, known to be a strategist, had offered to take charge of Gerakan's Penang base to help revitalize the party.

Unable to get a response from Koh, Lee went for broke to quit all party posts.

Although he said he quit to take responsibility for the polls setback, it was seen as a move "to get ahead by going backward". It has boosted his image in the party and upped his political stake.

The move had also surprised Koh, who was forced to drop hints that he would not seek another term as Penang Gerakan chief.

Lim Keng Yaik said, Datuk Lee Kah Choon has his feet on two boats that are going in opposite directions. Eventually, he is going to fall and hurt himself. Is it true, let's wait and see. After all, wait and see is the best policy.

LIM KENG YAIK: MY FOOT!

The general political rule is that the one who made mistake should be obliged to bear the consequences of the mistake. Dr Lim Keng Yaik had made no greater political mistake than picked up Lee Kah Choon. It is truly unbelievable and no sense at all why should Dr Lim Keng Yaik is so disappointed and angry.

It got me thinking and I can’t see where and how to conclude to a point Gerakan has not to face it; honestly, I can’t wait to see upcoming practical political strategy from veteran politician Lim Keng Yaik instead of describing himself as a “disappointed and angry old man”.

It is reported that former Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik described efforts by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to rope in Lee Kah Choon as a form of “poaching” which he also repeatedly described as “froggy politics”.

“And Guan Eng has the gall to say that this is a new era of politics. My foot! He is a far more cunning politician than his father or Karpal Singh. I don‘t think his father or Karpal would approve of his effort. This was the kind of things they were shouting when we were in power.”

“I’m disappointed and angry because he was picked by me. Dr Koh Tsu Koon should not be blamed,” he said. He criticized former protégé Lee Kah Choon for lacking principles by seeking greener pastures with the new Penang Pakatan Rakyat government.

Describing himself as a “disappointed and angry old man” over the matter, Keng Yaik said he shouldered the blame for grooming Lee as a prominent leader in the party.

“This young man is not willing to struggle anymore. He is trying to take short cuts. Don’t tell me he is not in active politics anymore. He is still very much in it, but now, with a DAP agenda.”

“The sooner you can see the real face the better. No principles. No spirit of struggle and wants to take the easy way out.”

LEE KAH CHOON QUITS GERAKAN JUSTIFIED

Datuk Lee Kah Choon did not compromise his core values by simply be saying what everyone wants him to say. He tries to confront a different political ideology by working across party lines. Can that really happen?

It is answered by his action to quit as a Gerakan member with immediate effect after he was lambasted for accepting Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng's offer to become director of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and investPenang.

Although the old saying is that politics is an art of impossible, but as a member of Gerakan, and under the same similar cultural environment but a different political ideology, he can't make the history to become the first bipartisan politician in Malaysia.

Ironically, the political reality is not determined by given and unchanging natural laws but by social norms and conventions that were malleable over time even under the era of globalism.

Historically, there were precedent, both former Gerakan president Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik were from MCA. DAP leaders Richard Ho and Yap Pian Hon cross over to MCA and became leaders. They had to quit as party member concern.

Under Malaysian political realism, the action taken by Datuk Lee Kah Choon to quit as a Gerakan member with immediate effect after he was lambasted for accepting Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng's offer to become director of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and investPenang, is thus probably appropriate and justified.

His action most probably would put the matter to rest and that he could move forward and work on some serious tasks at hand.

Lee said today he made the decision to quit as party member as the Gerakan leadership could not accept his appointment as director of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and investPenang.

“Since my decision to accept the appointment is not acceptable to the Gerakan leadership, I believe it is best for me to retreat totally from party politics. I have submitted a letter to the party leadership to withdraw my membership from Gerakan,” he said in a one-page statement faxed to all media organizations here today.

BUNTONG ASSEMBLYMAN RETRACTS RESIGNATION

The political “wayang kulit” and “Chinese opera” were over, now the India political “Padam” is on. Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubraniam who made a dramatic turnaround not to quit all the posts once again showed the political ethnics and the quality of the opposition representative.

In the first place, why he made the decision under DAP ticket, was he chosen or his willingness to contest. If he was chosen, the reason must be to attract more India voters, if his willingness, he must have though about the coming Indian representative inside DAP.

The racial breakdown for the Buntong constituency is Chinese (47%), Indian (46.2%), Malay (6.1%) and others (0.6%). He obtained 10,311 votes against MCA Lee Tung Lai 4996 votes with the majority of 5315. It is unfair and unjustified base on the racial point to say that his electoral victories in Perak were purely the political result of Makkal Sakti, which claimed to be rallying the cry for Indian Malaysian who felt marginalised by BN government.

If he was looking for a greener pasture, that is unexplainable. This is a lesson for DAP to think or to ponder through.

Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam, who earlier quit all posts in the DAP, has retracted his resignation. In a letter to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng earlier Monday, Sivasubramaniam said he had had lost confidence in the Perak DAP as it failed to fulfill its promise to appoint two Indian state executive council members.

Buntong assemblyman quits DAP

Buntong assemblyman A.Sivasubramaniam has quit DAP, leaving the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition government in Perak teetering on the brink of collapse.

In a letter to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng dated March 31, Sivasubramaniam said he had had lost confidence in the Perak DAP as it failed to fulfill its promise to appoint two Indian state executive council members.

He added the decision was a "big slap" in the face of Perak Indians and tantamount to deceiving the community.

"My victory in Buntong was a mandate given by the Indian community in the area, and therefore I cannot accept the decision made by the Perak DAP," he added.

Sivasubramanian could not be reached for further comment.
Of the 10 exco members sworn in on March 29, six were from DAP, including one Indian representative, Sungkai assemblyman A. Sivanesan.

In the March 8 general election, the Opposition coalition won 31 state seats in Perak - 18 seats went to DAP, seven to PKR, and six to PAS - while Barisan bagged 28 seats.

With Sivasubramaniam's resignation from DAP, the coalition is left with 30 assemblymen.-star

Perak: DAP assemblyman quits

It is a very interesting story, but what was good for Sivasubramaniam was bad for the politics in the climate of jummping and Makkal Sakti.

Read the story from Malaysiakini... In a major blow to DAP, newly-elected Buntong state assemblyperson A Sivasubramaniam has quit the party because only a single Indian was appointed to Perak's state cabinet.

In a letter to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Sivasubramaniam claimed that DAP Perak chief Ngeh Khoo Ham had reneged on his promise to appoint two Indian Malaysians in the state executive council.

"This is a major blow and a lie to the Perak Indian community," stated the disgruntled DAP leader in his letter, a copy of which was made available to Malaysiakini.

IS DAP A TRAITOR TO THE CHINESE COMMUNITY?

Finally Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin from PAS swearing-in as the new Perak Mentri Besar.

The Pasir Panjang assemblyman Nizar, 51, took his oath of office at 11.40 am, pledging of loyalty and secrecy before the Regent of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, at the Istana Iskandariah.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa, Perak PAS commissioner Ahmad Awang and Perak PKR chairman Zulkifli Ibrahim were also witnesses.

No doubt politics is an art of impossible but some DAP supporters just cannot accept it and alleging that DAP had betrayed the Chinese community by supporting PAS candidate becoming MB.

As PAS propose to form the Islamic Federal Government in which is a threat to the Chinese community. The negative implication is, Perak MB is from PAS and supported by DAP, so with the support of DAP, will the proposal of Islamic Federal Government be implemented in which is unacceptable by non-Muslim community. They derive the conclusion by assessing politically, economically, and socially the background and development of PAS.

The serious questions remain: Is DAP a traitor to Chinese voters by forming DAP-PKR-PAS coalition state government? Is it the declining support of DAP? Will DAP lose the support? Will PAS implementing the Islamic law in Perak?

It is interesting politically. Let’s wait and see the declining of DAP or the emerging new power between DAP-PAS and PKR.

NO DAP CEC MANDATE FOR PAS MENTERI BESAR IN PERAK

Political crisis appears to have been averted, with the announcement of Perak Pas secretary and Pasir Panjang assemblyman Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin will take his oath before Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah tomorrow as the new Mentri Besar.

The serious question remains : Will the appointment of PAS assemblyman as Perak MB morphed into a full-fledged political crisis?

As DAP CEC has only given approval for the formation of a Perak coalition government headed by DAP or PKR but not by PAS – DAP Perak SAs to stay away from swearing-in ceremony. The decision to appoint a PAS Assemblyman Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin as Perak Mentri Besar has caused shock and consternation to DAP leaders, members and supporters.

The DAP Central Executive Committee, at its emergency meeting in Penang on Sunday, 9th March 2008, had given approval for the formation of a Perak coalition government comprising 18 DAP Assembly members, seven PKR Assemblymen and six PAS Assemblymen.

DAP is prepared to accept DAP chairman and Assemblyman for Sitiawan Ngeh Koo Ham or PKR Behrang Assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi as Perak Mentri Besar.

As the appointment of PAS Assemblyman for Pasir Panjang Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin as Perak Mentri Besar representing the third and smallest political party in the proposed coalition has not received the mandate of the CEC, DAP Perak Assemblymen will stay away from the swearing-in ceremony for Perak Mentri Besar scheduled tomorrow.

It is reported that for the first time in Perak’s history, the posts of deputy Menteri Besar I and II were created, allowing for a balanced representation of all the three major races.

Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham, who is Sitiawan also assemblyman and Beruas MP, will be appointed as deputy Mentri Besar I. It is believed that a Parti Keadilan Rakyat state assemblyman will be appointed as deputy Menteri Besar II and represent the Indian community.

PKR has seven state assemblyman with Hutan Melintang assemblyman S. Kesavan being the only Indian who defeated National MIC Women deputy chief S. Thangasvari.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at Istana Iskadariah in Kuala Kangsar at 4.00 pm tomorrow.