MAHATHIR WARNS BN GOVERNMENT ANWAR COULD SEIZE POWER

While most of the political analysts and leaders of ruling party dismissed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s dramatic claim that he had enough defectors to seize power in forming next federal government, Malaysia's former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ostracizing thinks otherwise and questioning the loyalty of the Sabahan and Sarawakian politicians to Abdullah's government.

Ironically, the current Malaysian political scenario arises created two political schools of thought. It has allowed partisan politicians to think more clearly about the real issues that matter and not get caught up in the absurd rhetoric political assumption. The political absurdity and political irrationality does not help to reach a very clear picture and enhance the political analysis.

Regardless the diffused political situation, Malaysia's former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned Wednesday that the opposition led by his former deputy and now Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could seize power from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's to form the next federal government in the near future as it had convinced more than 30 BN Members of Parliament to cross over.

“If we take Umno, MCA and MIC, they have their roots here but not in Sabah and Sarawak. Although you have Umno in Sabah, it is transplanted from here to there. They are used to smaller parties, so can we be sure that they will remain strongly loyal to Umno? I don’t think so.”

“I feel very strong, it can really happen. I first wanted to dismiss this possibility but on studying the situation I feel that there is great danger.”

“Well, I think it is a possibility that you can’t dismiss lightly. Now, these politicians are interested in how much they get, they are not interested really in serving the nation.”

“People who feel that they did not get what they wanted presently and they are offered positions, the urge to cross over especially when there is no inherent loyalty to the party.”

RAJA PETRA CHARGED UNDER SEDITION ACT

It is reported that Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said, "Laws must be used" against those who break the law.”

He said, “I believe they have considered what should or should not be put out. Those who break the law like indulging in sedition or libel, I believe the laws must be used against them.”

The question remains: Is Raja Petra’s case a test case for other bloggers in Malaysia?

Blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin, 58, was charged and pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to publishing a seditious article in his blog. He was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 and carries a maximum fine of RM5, 000 or up to three years’ jail or both upon conviction.

The nine paragraphs in his article titled "Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell" were published in www.malaysia-today.net on April 25 and were found to be seditious. Raja Petra did not post bail.

His wife Marina Lee Abdullah said he is hoping to raise the money through his news portal.

CALL OFF RTM LIVE TELECAST OR OTHERWISE?

Should beaming live proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat without any censorship by RTM 1 be abolished or otherwise?

After the 30-minute live telecast of the question and answer session of the Dewan Rakyat sitting captured the unparliamentary behavior of its members, should the live telecast be continued remains the serious question being asked by the tax payers.

The answer from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is positive as he described the incident happened as disgraceful and said he would support a decision to call off the live telecast.

On the other hand, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who was cheesed off over what happened and had publicly said he wanted to stop the telecast, told a post-cabinet news conference today that RTM will continue with it, but would be reviewed if what happened on Wednesday recurred.

Beaming live proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat without any censorship by RTM 1 can be interpreted as the new approach of the new Information Minister to bear the testimony of the government’s openness and transparency of the mainstream media.

There now exist two schools of though, should RTM continue with it or otherwise.

Ironically, the precedent of British Parliament and Australian Parliament too telecast its proceedings, but interestingly, in USA Al Gore against it. Al Gore suggests that we cannot have both television and democracy. To him, democracy depends on reason and a well-informed citizenry whereas television on the sub-rational manipulation of wants. TV not only treats citizens as consumers; it corrupts politics. Politicians sell out to organized money to pay for TV ads.

Theodore White said television is American politics.

How about Malaysia? What now? Call off the live telecast or otherwise?

The answer is : RTM will continue with it, but would be reviewed if what happened on Wednesday recurred.

MICROSOFT ABANDONS YAHOO BID

What is the implication for Microsoft Corp. withdrawal its $42.3 billion bid to buy Yahoo Inc? Is it Microsoft is giving way and a proof that Google's dominance of the booming Internet ad market?

Microsoft Corp. has withdrawn its $42.3 billion bid to buy Yahoo Inc., scrapping an attempt to snap up the tarnished Internet icon in hopes of toppling online search and advertising leader Google Inc. The decision to walk away from the deal came Saturday after last-ditch efforts to negotiate a mutually acceptable sale price proved unsuccessful.

Microsoft was willing to pay $47.5 billion, or $33 per share, up from the bid's current value of $29.40 per share, according to a letter from Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to Yahoo Chief Executive Jerry Yang. But Yahoo demanded at least $53 billion, or $37 per share, according to Ballmer. That would have been nearly double Yahoo's stock price of $19.18 at the time Microsoft first made its bid a little over three months ago.

The decision to walk away came as a surprise, given that many analysts believed Microsoft wanted to close the deal badly enough to either sweeten the offer or pursue a hostile takeover — a risky maneuver that would have required an attempt to replace the Yahoo board that spurned the bid.