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 KAH CHOON QUIT ALL GERAKAN POSTS JUSTIFY?

Is Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon quit all party posts with immediate effect as to take responsible for the election losses and to pave the way for the party to “get back on its feet” justify?

Largely not, after all, he is not the party number one or two. Why should he quit? Because for the sake of the party or the criticisms in a Chinese daily that the party leadership should be responsible for the election losses? Wining or losing in politics is common. What is good for Lee is bad for the party, and vice versa. It’s important to see the responsible leader not in this manner.

If you asked the general public, could you imagine Lee taking this action toward the party or the BN justify? I think most people would have said no especially based on the criticisms in a Chinese daily. There is little sense that such an assessment and the political senario will change anytime soon. The paper seems to cross the line and the public should take into account allow that sort of political meddling for some private personal interest in what they see as a internal party affairs. Wasn’t the cause a good one? Isn’t it matter or otherwise?

Lee, 48, who joined Gerakan in 1987, resigned as Jalan Jelutong branch chairman, Jelutong division chairman, Penang Gerakan assistant secretary, state working committee member, central committee member and central working committee member.

Lee, a lawyer, said he would continue to serve the party as an ordinary member, especially in Jelutong and Machang Bubok. He defeated DAP’s Karpal Singh for the Jelutong parliamentary seat in 1999 and retained the seat in 2004. In the March 8 polls, he lost the Machang Bubok state seat to PKR’s Tan Hock Leong.

WILL BN RETAKE PENANG?

Politics is an art of impossible, just like Penang was taken over by DAP in recent election, Gerakan took over Penang from Alliance in 1969 whom the post of Chief Minister was hold by MCA, so it is not impossible for BN to take over Penang in five years, ten years or even 15 years’ time? No one knows but the voters will decide it.

Ironically, it seems that BN will campaign on the New Economic Policy which was applied by the government to eradicate poverty and ensure a fair distribution of wealth among all the communities. Will the voters in Penang buy the BN New Economic Policy or DAP's fully open tender system, is the question arises and claims to be one of the most important factors to decide who will in power in five years' time.

By the way, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it was not impossible for the Barisan Nasional to retake Penang in the next general election. The BN would bounce back stronger than ever.

Abdullah lashed out at the Penang government for adopting a fully open tender system, as it did not guarantee fairness to those who were financially weak to compete. He said New Economic Policy was applied by the government to eradicate poverty and ensure a fair distribution of wealth among all the communities.

He said in principle the proposal by the state government to emphasize on equitability appeared to be good but this would actually result in only those who were financially strong benefiting.

"The transparency, open tender and open bidding approach is certainly good and gives comfort to everyone but we have to remind them that not everything that is said to be equitable is fair. Actually, only the strong and those with financial capacity will benefit from it.

"This is our reminder to them because it is our (Barisan Nasional's) responsibility as the opposition (in Penang) to give our views and we will become an opposition that is active, sensitive and concerned about what is happening in Penang. We are not around just to keep the seat warm."

IS MCA RECOVERY PLAN PRACTICAL?

MCA has formulated an action plan to recover from its poor performance at the recent elections. However, party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting is keeping mum on the details.

The one-and-a-half day closed-door brainstorming session with 40 central committee members was held due to its worst showing at the recent polls, winning only 15 of 40 parliamentary and 31 of 90 state seats contested. It previously held 31 parliamentary and 76 state seats.

Ong also hinted that the party might take a more vocal stand on issues affecting the Chinese community. He added the party would work on improving its public image by increasing publicity on its accomplishments.

As MCA attention focuses on the serious setback in the recent election, a devastating disaster is impending inside the root of the MCA, where MCA-sponsored Investment Company incorporated on the 80s.

The basic question arises: Has MCA also taken into the account of political responsibility and obligation to help the victimized minority shareholders of MCA-sponsored Investment Company incorporated on the 80s where the investors were mainly MCA members and supporters?

According to the record, it clearly showed that the MCA-sponsored Investment Companies incorporated on the 80s are Selangor Aik Hua Holdings Berhad, Pahang Phang Wah Holding, Johor Ma Teng Holding and Perak Peak Hua Holding.

Until today, thousands of shareholders claimed that they were in the dark for years as the MCA-sponsored company failed to send any annual report or inform the shareholders of its status.

Legally, under the Malaysian laws, it is a serious offense if the directors of the companies fail to submit the annual reports with financial statements and conduct annual shareholders meetings.

No single MCA leaders were hold for the political responsibility and obligation. Failing or shy away to address the root reason is just like leaving the time bomb waiting to go off, said the political analysis.

Ironically, everybody knows about the threat but they have other preoccupations. It could go at any minute; the potential political disaster is by far very great.

The root reason claimed to be the fall of MIC is because of Maika Holding. It claims that the root-hidden reason and the clear message from the Chinese community to the present MCA leadership for the serious setback of MCA concluded to be MCA-sponsored Investment Company incorporated on the 80s and others major issues which involved Chinese social economic interests.

Shouldn’t Ong Kah Ting as the president of MCA places responsibility on anyone else's shoulders or otherwise?
If someone just said, well, the MCA politicians need not take responsibility about the past burden of the MCA-sponsored Investment Companies incorporated on the 80s, where the investors were mainly MCA members and supporters, what would they feel? As can be seen why the great politicians always hang on to their responsibilities.

WHO HAS WHAT ENSURE A CORRUPT-FREE GOVERNMENT

A chilling effect on who would turn up in Parliament and state assembly? In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced on March 17 that he would be compelling cabinet ministers and their deputies to publicly declare their assets.

It is a good move that all ministers and deputy ministers must declare their assets to ensure a corrupt-free government.

Ironically, the compulsory asset declaration by all ministers and deputy ministers and their spouses plus immediate family members will be available online for public viewing would have a chilling effect on who would turn up in Parliament and state assembly.

Logically, if BN ministers have to disclose their financial interests, the same rule should apply to the all opposition state EXCO too.

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said that some state exco members have reservations about publicly declaring their wealth that do not want their shareholding information to be made public due to "family reasons" is not buying. Because before the elections, opposition parties promised that they would declare their assets, so it seems that they have to walk the talk, don’t talk the walk.

UMNO POLITICAL BATTLE IS ON

Getting ready to see the political battle for life and death between Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in December 2008. It is a fierce zero sum political battle and the price is UMNO presidency.

The announcement made by UMNO president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that he is willing to accept Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s challenges to the presidency can be seen as the beginning of the political battle.

The Umno supreme council meeting decided that party elections will be held Dec 16-20, 2008 which coinciding with the party's annual general assembly.

UMNO president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who chaired the meeting, which ended at 7.30pm, Mac 27, 2008 made the announcement.

On Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's proposal to hold a party extraordinary general meeting on May 11, Abdullah said the issue did not come up for discussion.

TERENGGANU CRISIS OVER -AHMAD AS MB

The Terengganu political crisis can be considered superficially ended when the Umno supreme council has agreed to endorse Datuk Ahmad Said's palace appointment as Terengganu Mentri Besar.

It seems that this is the best way to resolve the political crisis by UMNO supreme council. Legally, now UMNO’s man for Terengganu is Datuk Ahmad Said.

He can be relieved from facing expulsion thus ending an impasse that had threatened to turn into a constitutional crisis.

Idris, who also took part in the meeting, had been directed to accept the endorsement.

Abdullah said, the priority now was for Ahmad to put together a State Exco line-up as soon as possible, denying that decision to endorse Ahmad "humiliated" him and the party.

SABAH GHAPUR QUITS DEPUTY MINISTER POST

Another Deputy Minister quits, is business unusual or otherwise? You figure it out yourself.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Ghapur Salleh has quit his post eight days after accepting his appointment by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The reason is: He is not interested in any government post. He just want to do his own thing.

Datuk Ghapur Salleh retained his Kalabakan seat uncontested for the 2nd consecutive term.

Ghapur, 64, the Kalabakan MP and Kalabakan Umno chief retained his Kalabakan seat uncontested for the 2nd consecutive term.He said yesterday that he had sent his resignation letter to the Prime Minister’s office.

He is the second Sabah MP after Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman to turn down a Federal deputy minister’s post following the March 8 general election. Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman declined to take up the post of Deputy Transport Minister.

However, he said he remained Kalabakan Umno division chief and dismissed any talk of him quitting the party or joining the Opposition.

Raja Petra ordered to pay RM2 m libel damages to UUM VC

The High Court here has ordered Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin to pay RM2 million to Universiti Utara Malaysia

vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi in general damages over a libellous article he posted on his website 'Malaysia Today' two years ago.

In the landmark case against a blogger, Deputy High Court Registrar Priscilla Gengadaran also ordered Raja Petra to pay RM2 million, also in general damages, to the university over the article which appeared in his website on Dec 16, 2006.

Nordin, the first plaintiff and UUM, the second plaintiff, filed the suit against Raja Petra, the first defendant and three others - Parti Keadilan Rakyat (second defendant), chief editor of the opposition party's organ, Suara Keadilan (third defendant) and editor of the bulletin (fourth defendant) - on Feb 25 last year.

In his statement of claim against the four, Nordin and UUM had claimed that Raja Petra and the three defendants had published the libellous article against him and the university with the intention to tarnish his and UUM's good name and integrity.

The article, 'Dato' Dr Nordin Kardi Ciplak Karya Saya? Mohon Penjelasan...(Dato' Dr Nordin Kardi plagiarises my works? Please Explain..) was first published in Raja Petra's website, 'Malaysia Today', on Dec 16, 2006.

The article, authored by one Muhtar Suhaili, had claimed his works, 'Mahasiswa dan Tanggujawab Menguruskan Kejayaan (Graduands and the Responsibility in Managing Success) was plagiarised by a person which had used the name Dato' Nordin Kardi. As it turned out, Raja Petra had picked up the article which was posted on a website, http://muhtarsuhaili.tripod.com. The article was subsequently published in 'Suara Keadilan' on Dec 27, 2006.

In her judgment, Priscilla also ordered the Raja Petra to pay RM2 million to UUM. She also ordered the chief editor and editor of 'Suara Keadilan', to each pay Nordin RM1 million for publishing the article. She also ordered the third and fourth defendants to each pay UUM RM500,000 over the article.

Priscilla issued her judgment after Raja Petra; the third and fourth defendants did not defend themselves and had also failed to appoint counsel over the defamation suit. Nordin and UUM were represented by Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz.

Priscilla, however, has yet to fix a trial date for PKR, which was represented by R. Sivarasa.

Meanwhile, Nordin described the judgment as a landmark decision against cyber misconduct. "I hope others who might have been defamed by cyber misconduct would consider legal action against the wrongdoers. I also hope the High court decision would serve as a deterrent against any attempt to invade the integrity of an individual or an institution," he said.-nst

TATA BOUGHT JAGUAR AND LAND ROVER

Car giant Ford has sold its luxury UK-based car brands Jaguar and Land Rover to Indian company Tata.

Tata, India's biggest vehicle maker is paying $2.3bn (£1.15bn) for the British brands after months of negotiations over the price.

The negotiations started last June when Ford announced its intention to sell the companies as a package. Jaguar and Land Rover employ about 16,000 staff at UK plants in the West Midlands and Merseyside.

Tata said the deal should be completed by the end of the summer, subject to applicable regulatory approvals.

After months of fevered speculation and several postponements, Tata Motors is all set to bring the Land Rover and Jaguar brands into its fold.

On June 11, 2007, Ford announced its decision to sell off Jaguar and Land Rover.

About a month later, the Tatas' interest in Jaguar-Land Rover became public. On August 24, Ratan Tata confirmed his interest for the first time on CNBC-TV18. Then, in November, the Workers Union approved Tata as its choice for a new owner.

After that, there was a lull with Christmas around the corner. But in the New Year, on January 3, Ford said Tata Motor was the preferred bidder. Finally, yesterday was when sources say the deal was inked and hopefully that news will become public soon.

WORLD CHEAPEST INDIAN CAR TATO NANO

It is good news. The world cheapest Indian make four-door five-seater car, Tata Nano, will sell for 100,000 rupees or $2,500 (about RM 7,500) but not available in Mlaysia.

Tata Nano will goes on sale later this year, has a 33bhp, 624cc, engine at the rear.

The safe, affordable and all weather transport has no air conditioning, no electric windows and no power steering, but two deluxe models will be on offer.

Initially, Tata will make only 250,000 Nanos and expects eventual annual demand of one million cars.

Indian car sales are predicted to more than quadruple to $145bn by 2016.

IS IDRIS’S POLITICAL GAME OVER?

It’s a political ball-game. It is crystal clear that Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh is creating a genuine political realignment and to redefinition his political position and party loyalties.

Evidently, the Terengganu MB crisis seem to solve temporary when Former Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh has sought the forgiveness of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin - who is also Sultan of Terengganu - over matters which had incurred the ruler’s wrath and forgoing the Mentri Besar’s post.



The political ball is over to Umno leadership and awaiting the respond to the decision now.

BN LOST THE CYBER WAR

The power of the blog had been recognized, it is not goblog any more!

The price paid for the serious misjudgment and ignore cyber-campaigning on the Internet is too high. It caused the powerful Barisan Nasional coalition suffered its worst-ever results in March 8 polls that left five states and a third of parliamentary seats in opposition hands.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said his "biggest mistake" in disastrous elections was to ignore cyber-campaigning on the Internet which was seized by the opposition.

"We certainly lost the Internet war, the cyber-war," Abdullah said in a speech to an investment conference.

"It was a serious misjudgment. We made the biggest mistake in thinking that it was not important," he said.

"We thought that the newspapers, the print media, the television was supposed to be important, but the young people were looking at SMS and blogs."

"It was painful ... but it came at the right time, not too late," he said.

The international observers said, the opposition, which was largely ignored by government-linked mainstream media, instead waged an enormously successful online campaign using blogs, news websites and SMS text messages.

They felt that the comments are a major about-face for the government, which had vilified bloggers, calling them liars and threatening them with detention without trial under draconian internal security laws. The mainstream media are "often compelled to ignore or to play down" opposition events.

WALL STREET’S 20,000 JOB CUTS OVER 2 YEARS

The economic slump as a result of the credit crisis and the collapse of Bear Stearns, one of the nation’s largest underwriters of mortgage bonds, may risks New York City losing more than 20,000 jobs in the high-paying financial sector over the next two years.

The collapse of the subprime mortgage market last year and the ensuing credit contraction have saddled the world's largest financial institutions with at least $200 billion of write downs and losses.

Bear Stearns Cos., once the fifth-biggest U.S. securities firm, became the emblem of panic on Wall Street two weeks ago, when it was forced to submit to an emergency takeover backed by the Federal Reserve as clients and lenders deserted the company. More bank losses are likely, according to analysts.

Once again, the questions therefore are: Will the persisting market turmoil and the ripple effect in US affecting Malaysian economy? What measures Malaysian government ought to take?

NO WAYANG KULIT, POLITICAL WAR IS ON

The political move of PAS to gain over Terengganu? Opposition party PAS today fully supported the move by the Terengganu palace to appoint Kijal state representative Ahmad Said as the new Menteri Besar of the state seems trigger the political war between the palace and UMNO. Should any outcome, PAS still is the biggest winner.

Party president Abdul Hadi Awang said he believed the decision by the palace was in accordance with the real wishes of the people of Terengganu. The move seems reflect the political ultimate motive as in the general election, Idris-led BN retained the state comfortably by winning 24 out of 32 state seats. PAS won the rest.

Incumbent Idris Jusoh was then given the assurance by the prime minister that he would be reappointed as the Menteri Besar. However Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu is not in favour of Idris and has chosen Ahmad to lead the state. Ahmad is believed to have the support of the grassroots Umno members and leaders.

Idris Jusoh commands majority support; the appointment of any other person to the post is claimed to be unconstitutional.

The clash can be seen as the symptomatic of the Prime Minister Abdullah's weakened position after the unprecedented election losses. The only way to solve the matter is respecting the institution of the constitutional monarchy by meeting the palace personally.

16 BN MPS HOP OVER TO PKR?

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohamad Akin claimed today that up to 15 to 16 Barisan Nasional parliamentarians including Umno MPs are ready to jump ship to PKR.

The 12th general election concluded on March 8, 2008 and the opposition parties - PKR, DAP and PAS - won 82 seats in Parliament, while BN captured 140. The opposition coalition needs another 30 MPs to defect before it can form the government.

Ironically, there is no political crisis. But the continuation of PKR courting BN elected representatives, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, in a bid to form the federal government, dramatically creating the political instability of the country. The general instability is what worries the people and foreign investors.

Logically, the defection by buying up parliamentarians is not impossible as Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, “Both sides are trying to buy. That is very democratic. RM10 million is the going price. Just imagine, if you are a Yang Berhormat and you had RM10 million in the pocket. That's very democratic." This is what worries the ruling party.

The political hopping frogs demonstrate once again how the “ethical factor” is discounted by public because of an unfortunate but widespread belief that politicians are unreliable when it comes to matters of ethical conduct. Indeed the general election campaign had illustrated how a holiness contest between politicians is doomed to backfire when it comes to conflict of interest.

It is arguable to say that the accepting level of discernment in the public response about raising ethical standards in public life of politicians especially toward political jumping frogs is still low or with the objection. But most voters are able to distinguish between those charges that matter and those, which are irrelevant to a fair judgment about the personal political benefit or national interest.

As a consequence, the public cynicism toward ethical politicians is reinforced while measures designed to enhance accountability and probity is weakened.

Undoubtedly, in this complex political incident, to a certain extent, it appeared the normative core conspiracy theory that consists of two schools of thought, which are intended to balance out the relation between the goal of maximum personal political benefit and public justice.

Once again, the questions therefore are: Can new form of political jumping ethics politically replace traditional forms of “non-jumping” political ethics or are they just artifacts of an individualistic post-materialist political society with no real political substance but just more than RM10 million? Are we going to protect the notorious Malaysian political jumping frogs or exterminate them for the sake of healthy political culture? Is the ethical jurisdiction needs the integrity spotlight at full beam? You ought to decide it before too late.

UMNO SACKED SULTAN’S CHOICE OF MB AHMAD SAID

Political crisis is on. This is a serious one as Kijal assemblyperson Ahmad Said this morning was sacked from UMNO for disobeying party leadership.

Datuk Ahmad Said, this morning officially received his appointment letter as the Terengganu menteri besar and supposed to have been sworn in Sunday, has been stripped of his Umno membership for disobeying the party's leadership, a state Umno official confirmed Sunday morning.

The state’s party leadership decided at a meeting last night to strip Ahmad of his membership after he defied the party leadership by agreeing to take up the post.

Umno president and prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had backed former Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh to retain the Menteri Besar post. Idris also had the support of all the 22 BN assemblymen, excluding Ahmad.

However Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, who is the present king, preferred Ahmad to take over as the state’s Menteri Besar. Idris is believed to have had fallout with the sultan over several issues.

Ahmad is believed had the support of seven out of eight Umno divisions in Terengganu.

TAIWAN NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT MA IS A PEACEMAKER

Taiwan's newly elected president Ma Ying-jeou said, "I will make it crystal clear that Taiwan will be a stakeholder and will not rock the boat in the region. By stakeholder, I mean peacemaker."

Dr Ma is advocating better ties across the Taiwan Strait, but says talks on a peace agreement can only happen after China stops aiming missiles at Taiwan. He says his immediate priority is to boost economic links with the mainland.

Dr Ma, 57, educated at Harvard, put the promise of an economic revival at the centre of his election campaign.

Official results gave Dr Ma, Nationalist Partu (KMT) an advantage of nearly 17 percentage points over Mr Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

He polled 58.45%, with Mr Hsieh getting 41.55%, on a turnout of 76%.

IDRIS SUPPORTER TO FORCE BY-ELECTION IN TERENGGANU

The by-election might happen in Terengganu if the crisis of Menteri Besar can’t be solved politically.

The palace announced the surprise appointment of Datuk Ahmad Said, 51, as Menteri Besar yesterday as all but two of the Barisan Nasional assemblymen in the state declared their support for incumbent and prime minister-backed Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh. It is the sultan’s prerogative to appoint Ahmad to the post.

It is a new record in Malaysia that a state took 14 days to appoint a Menteri Besar after the general election. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail earlier pointed out the appointment of the Menteri Besar had to be in accordance with the laws of the state, which held that the person must be a member of the state legislature who, in the opinion of the Regent and Regency Advisory Council, commanded majority support.

In a joint declaration, the 22 pledged to stay away from the palace ceremony and some said they were willing to vacate their seats to force by-elections if Idris was not appointed.

The office of the Sultan of Terengganu said the swearing-in was to take place at the Istana Tamu at 8am tomorrow morning, which the 22 newly elected assemblymen told a press conference they would not attend.

MA WINS TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE

Opposition Nationalist Party (KMT) is claiming that its candidate, Ma Ying-jeou, has won more than half the vote in the island's presidential election on Saturday.

This comes amid television reports that Ma has stormed to with an unassailable lead 17-point lead in the vote count.

Local TV stations say that with more than 90 percent of votes have been counted; Ma has a massive lead over Frank Hsieh of the pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

His victory will end eight years of DPP presidency under Chen Shui-bian, who is stepping down after the maximum two terms, and which was marked by recurring tensions with China over his pro-independence policies.

MAHATHIR-YANG BERHORMAT GOING PRICE IS RM10 MILLION

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, “Both sides are trying to buy. That is very democratic. RM10 million is the going price," he said. "Just imagine, if you are a Yang Berhormat and you had RM10 million in the pocket. That's very democratic," he said with his trademark sarcasm.

I had calls from BN MPs, insists Anwar

Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday maintained he had been in touch with Barisan Nasional MPs who wanted to cross over. "I had calls from the East Malaysian states and also the peninsula and even Perak.

"It is not our tradition to buy them over. They must adhere to our policies and struggle to see changes in the country if they intend to join us.

"If the subject of buying over is raised, the discussions will be cancelled," he said after calling on Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin here yesterday.

He said bribing of candidates was "the tradition of Umno and BN". Asked on his earlier claim that he was negotiating with possible defectors from BN, Anwar spoke of "developments" but refused to be drawn into specifics. "We are not rushing into it. We have time."

Asked about the rumoured crossover of a Sarawak MP to PKR, he said, "we will make an announcement on it later".

AZMAN UJANG ARE U WITH US MAKKAL SAKTI NOW?

Azman Ujang, are you with us Makkal Sakti now or otherwise? You means all the while the news agency Bernama headed by you is not reporting the news fairly? Do you means that you are manipulating the news? Is it ethical to do so? Do you means that our Makkal Sakti news can be fairly reported now?

Azman Ujang, general manager of the state news agency Bernama told reporters that, “It is a wake up call for us. The mainstream media now has a 'higher responsibility' to report news fairly or face being abandoned by its audience.

The people have spoken loud and clear, not only what kind of government they want but also the kind of media they prefer, the media should revisit and review our policies,” he told reporters.

MAHATHIR BACKS KU LU GUNNING DOWN ABDULLAH

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he supported the call by veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for an emergency general meeting for the party to discuss its electoral setback in the March 8 polls.

He said: "If I endorse him for the president's position, others will want it too." he told reporters after attending a book launch in Kuala Lumpur.

“I was told that Razaleigh has written letters to all the Umno divisions asking for an EGM to discuss problems affecting Malays. I support that suggestion.”

"The issue of selecting the next president should only be discussed after we have thrashed out our problems. This is because there might be other people who are interested in the position."

"Furthermore, to challenge for the Umno presidency he needs support from delegates from 60 divisions. I don't see 60 divisions brave enough to back him."

"Please keep in mind that any action taken should not weaken the party, which will be an additional burden.If it is for the betterment of the party, we cannot stop it. Otherwise, rethink what the end result will be," he added.

So for a lack of voice, many Umno members voted for the opposition as a sign of protest, he said.

"It's not that they supported the opposition, but it's because they are against the leadership," said Mahathir.

On the subject of buying over candidates by PKR, he said that this was a democratic country and both sides were at it.

"Both sides are trying to buy. That is very democratic. RM10 million is the going price," he said. "Just imagine, if you are a Yang Berhormat and you had RM10 million in the pocket. That's very democratic," he said with his trademark sarcasm.

ANWAR GUNNING DOWN BN

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is gunning down the Sabah and Sarawak BN elected representatives as well as held meetings with Peninsular BN representatives on the possibility of defecting to the opposition.

"I had calls from the East Malaysian states and also Peninsular and even Perak...it is not our tradition to buy over it is the tradition of Umno and Barisan Nasional," he said.

"They must adhere to policies and struggle to see changes in the country if they intend to join us...and if the subject of buying over is raised...discussions would be cancelled."

He was speaking to reporters after making a courtesy call on Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin at his office here today. Also present were PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and vice-president Dr Lee Boon Chye.

"There are developments but we are not rushing into it. We have time,” he said. “People in Sabah and Sarawak know that the majority of voters in the Peninsular had chosen the opposition party candidates, but if the ink had been used and there was transparency and justice in the postal votes...we would have been in power."

When asked on the reported crossover of a Sarawak MP to PKR, he said, "we will make an announcement on it later."

EUROPE TARGETS BLOGGERS AS TERRORISTS

UK, EU crackdown on "spreading propaganda," mirrors U.S. assault on Internet freedom. The article written by Paul Joseph Watson October 2006 is interesting. Read More………

Bush administration efforts to infiltrate, misdirect, regulate and pollute the Internet with Neo-Con propaganda, as well as their openly stated agenda to target American bloggers as terrorists, is now being aped by the British government across the pond as well as other major European countries.

Home Secretary John Reid met with ministers from the six largest European Union countries and, according to a BBC report "agreed to work together to make the Internet a "more hostile" place for terrorists."

How will they accomplish this? By initiating a crackdown on people who use the Internet to "spread propaganda." The very website you are now reading would be considered propaganda by these neo-fascists- no matter the fact that the criminal syndicates Bush and Blair front for are the most deceitful progenitors of lurid propaganda since the third reich.

The purge also aims to use the Internet and other media to target young audiences with state approved indoctrination PR spin on how the war on terror is really not about imperial hegemony and crushing liberties at home.

The British government's paranoid fear of anyone "spreading propaganda" that could compete with their own is perhaps one of the reasons why they outlawed the right to protest under the 2005 Serius and Organised Crimes Actt. Now Brits are only allowed to protest against the government with the government's permission - in other countries they would call that a police state and in others besides - like Zimbabwe or China - it's the de rigueur of tyranny.

Similarly, the Glorification of Terror Legislation is so broadly defined that disagreeing with the government's "official explanation" of a terrorist event could be seen as enemy propaganda.

The only remaining outlet for the groundswell of dissent in opposition to the Neo-Fascist takeover of the west is the Internet, and it keeps these jack-booted bastards awake at night to think you can sit in front of your computer and broadcast your outrage to the four corners of the earth on a whim.

The fact that the US government demanded access to Google search queries of around 150 million Internet active Americans under the umbrella of the NSA eavesdropping program (recall the surveillance trucks in V For Vendetta that tuned into home conversations) proves that the elite are deliriously nervous about the last remaining outpost of freedom and its potential to influence change.

In addition, the European Union has moved to completely regulate Internet freedom. The first step is the introduction of licensing laws where you would be required to register, pay tax and only receive permission to operate a website if your material didn't violate the broad ranging "hate speech" laws legislated by the EU - win hich criticizing the EU itself is deemed "hate speech."

The development of "Internet 2" is also designed to create an online caste system whereby the old Internet hubs would be allowed to break down and die, forcing people to use the new taxable, censored and regulated world wide web. If you're struggling to comprehend exactly what the Internet will look like in five years unless we resist this, just look at China and their latest efforts to completely eliminate dissent and anonymity on the web.

Last week we highlighted similar efforts in the U.S. to mobilize resources in the war on terror to target bloggers as terrorist sympathizers and propagandists.

The White House has made it perfectly clear that it will target American citizens for propagating information harmful to the interests of the U.S. government and classify them as enemy combatants. This is codified in sub-section 27 of section 950v. of the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

Bush's own strategy document for winning the war on terror identifies "conspiracy theorists," meaning anyone who exposes government corruption and its lies about major domestic and world events, as "terrorists recruiters," and vows to eliminate their influence in society.

In a speech given last Monday, Homeland Security director Michael Chertoff identified the web as a "terror training camp," through which "disaffected people living in the United States" are developing "radical ideologies and potentially violent skills."

Chertoff has pledged to dispatch Homeland Security agents to local police departments in order to aid in the apprehension of domestic terrorists who use the Internet as a political tool.

A program on behalf of CENTCOM is also underway to infiltrate blogs and message boards to ensure people, "have the opportunity to read positive stories,"presumably about how Iraq is a wonderful liberated democracy and the war on terror really is about protecting Americans from Al-CIAda.

GOOD MARRIAGE GOOD BLOOD PRESSURE

A happy marriage is good for your blood pressure, but a stressed one can be worse than being single, a preliminary study suggests.

That second finding is a surprise because prior studies have shown that married people tend to be healthier than singles, said researcher Julianne Holt-Lunstad.

It would take further study to sort out what the results mean for long-term health, said Holt-Lunstad, an assistant psychology professor at Brigham Young University. Her study was reported online Thursday by the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

The study involved 204 married people and 99 single adults. Most were white, and it's not clear whether the same results would apply to other ethnic groups, Holt-Lunstad said.

Study volunteers wore devices that recorded their blood pressure at random times over 24 hours. Married participants also filled out questionnaires about their marriage.

Analysis found that the more marital satisfaction and adjustment spouses reported, the lower their average blood pressure was over the 24 hours and during the daytime.

But spouses who scored low in marital satisfaction had higher average blood pressure than single people did. During the daytime, their average was about five points higher, entering a range that's considered a warning sign. (That result is for the top number in a blood pressure reading).
"I think this (study) is worth some attention," said Karen Matthews, a professor of psychiatry, psychology and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh. She studies heart disease and high blood pressure but didn't participate in the new work.

Few studies of the risk for high blood pressure have looked at marital quality rather than just marital status, she said.

It makes sense that marital quality is more important than just being married when it comes to affecting blood pressure, said Dr. Brian Baker, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

WAR ON TERROR

Bush argued that fighting Islamic militants in Iraq helped to prevent attacks on targets in the US.

"The terrorists who murder the innocent in the streets of Baghdad want to murder the innocent in the streets of American cities," he said.

"Defeating this enemy in Iraq will make it less likely we will face this enemy here at home."

Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama said the decision to invade was made on ideological grounds, instead of "reason and facts".

Bush spoke as anti-war protests were held in several US cities amid mounting opposition to the war and its costs.

In his speech, Mr Bush dismissed what he called "exaggerated estimates" of the war's price tag.

"The costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq," he said.

He said recent troop reinforcements had brought about "a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror".

He also made the case that by working with Sunni Arabs from so-called Awakening Councils to defeat al-Qaeda, the US was successfully driving a wedge between militants and the Arab mainstream.

"In Iraq," he said, "we are witnessing the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama Bin Laden. And the significance of this development cannot be overstated."

NEW OSAMA TAPE THREATENS EU

In a new audio message purportedly from Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader threatens the EU over the re-printing of a cartoon offensive to Muslims.

The voice on it says the cartoon, re-published recently in all major Danish newspapers, was part of a crusade involving Pope Benedict XVI.

The drawing, first published in 2005, depicts the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban.

The voice on the audio has not yet been verified as belonging to bin Laden.

The message comes on the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

It appeared on a Islamist website that has carried al-Qaeda messages in the past.

Over the audio is a graphic with a still image of bin Laden holding an AK-47 and bearing the logo of al-Sahab, the media wing of al-Qaeda. There is a written translation of the message in English. -BBC