Malaysia in major liberalisation drive

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak unveiled a raft of measures to boost investment in the slumping economy, coming close to ending an affirmative action program for ethnic Malays that critics say has stymied growth.

Najib Razak told a conference in Kuala Lumpur that his government would end rules on foreign investment in most sectors of the economy and would open up the investment management and brokerage industry, as well as property, ending requirements for 30 percent ownership by ethnic Malays.

He also promised reforms of Malaysia's huge government companies such as plantations and property giant Sime Darby, and said they would be forced to sell non-core assets to boost domestic competition in the Southeast Asian nation.

"We have become a successful middle income economy, but we cannot and will not be caught in the middle income country trap," Najib told the conference.

"We need to make the shift to a high income economy or we risk losing growth momentum in our economies and vibrancy in our markets."

”The world is changing quickly and we must be ready to change with it or risk being left behind,”

The most significant move was to change a requirement that ethnic Malay investors must hold a combined 30 per cent stake in listed companies. For newly-listed companies, the quota would be cut to 12.5 per cent and could be further reduced if companies later issue more shares. Foreign companies seeking a listing on the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange are not subject to the quota system.

Among other measures introduced on Tuesday, Malaysia will allow foreign investors to own 70 per cent of local stock brokerages, up from a current 49 per cent limit. This follows a recent easing of foreign ownership limits for insurance companies.

But foreign investors will still be limited to minority stakes in banks, telecommunications and energy companies, which are regarded as ”strategic industries”.

The measures could provoke a backlash among the ethnic Malay population that have benefited from the so-called ”bumiputra,” or sons of the soil, policy.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the Liberalisation measures not “comprehensive”

Measures to liberalise the economy are positive, but do not address issues of governance or affirmative action, he said.

"They must be coupled with affirmative action. Liberalisation must also guarantee the welfare of the poor and marginalised," Anwar said, adding that such affirmative action should be based on need rather than race.

Anwar also criticised the announcement as it did not propose measures to ensure better governance.

"If this is not corrected, it will not attract investors," Anwar warned, a reference to Malaysia's reputation for endemic corruption.

Speculating on the motives for the liberalisation, Anwar described them as "political".

"These are nice pronouncements for non-Malay [Malaysians]," said Anwar.

Temporary on hiatus

Rojak and Cocktail is temporary on hiatus.

R.I.P, my beloved Mom !

No Big Deal, BN Government Can Go It Alone !

The Barisan Nasional (BN) government has the capacity to continue administering the country even without the formation of the proposed unity government, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said .

The prime minister said the BN government was strong and had the capability to implement its development programmes.

As such, the question of the BN government being weak so much so that there was a need for a unity government did not arise.

He said the government had merely responded positively to a proposal by PAS for a unity government.

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said PAS will hold talks on the “unity government” with Umno only if DAP and PKR are included in the process.

He said PAS would not leave its Pakatan Rakyat allies behind as it was un-Islamic to break a promise.

“If the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) wants to hold talks on government unity with PAS, he must include DAP and PKR.

“Otherwise, there will be no talks,’’

Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal wants PAS to forget about the past and look to the country’s future.

He believes that Malay unity will bring stability to the country’s economy and political scene, and also benefit other communities in the country.

“Who does not want a stable political scene? I think everyone wants a more stable country and government. We have seen a lot of countries that have descended into chaos. Iran is a good example, where there are many casualties. Do we want to be like them? It will lead to situations like that if we do not take any action,” he said.

Shafie stressed that the unity talks is not just for PAS and Umno but for the sake of the Malay community.

“We must unite. We have seen how Malays are disunited,” he added.

That's the two Malay political parties battling each other to convince us that each is better than the other in advancing the “Malay agenda.”.

In a clumsy if not desperate attempt for new moves they concocted a “vision” for a “unity” government based on the two parties! Left unstated is the question: Unity for what and against whom?

Umno and PAS are so used to fighting each other that they have forgotten what it is they are fighting for.

Following the Barisan election rout of March 8, 2008, the fear that the coalition, specifically Umno, would lose power at the national level was palpable.

This desperation led misguided souls in Umno to seek those in PAS who had been longing for power. This quest for a “unity government” was nothing more than Umno securing an insurance policy for its continuing hold on power; for PAS, it was a seductive teasing on the taste of power.

It is ironic that the pursuit of a “unity government” resulted only in sowing distrust within the existing coalitions. In pursuing PAS, Umno succeeded only in straining relations with its long-time Barisan partners. PAS meanwhile managed only to poison its still frail Pakatan Rakyat coalition with PKR and DAP. Worse, as we are now seeing, it also threatens the unity of PAS.

The proponents for this “unity government” have obviously not done their due diligence or any downstream analysis. Those Umno warlords would not take kindly to sharing their bounty with their new kopiah-clad upstart colleagues. Far from “purifying” Umno, PAS would end up being just as corrupt as Umno.

This “unity government” scheme is nothing more than a crude and greedy power-grab by the Umno and PAS pair.

So far PAS wants Malays not to learn English and to ban Sisters in Islam. Well, that is an advancement of sorts; at least they are not harping on hudud. As for Umno leaders, they cannot even decide whether to continue teaching science and mathematics in English.

Malay leaders should not be deluding the masses with half-baked ideas of “Malay unity.” These leaders succeed only in deluding themselves.

Iranians Revolt on Twitter, Facebook & YouTube

One young man was killed by militia at Shadmehr st, Azadi St. in Tehran election rally.


"Iran Elections," "Iranians," "Tehran" and "Mousavi" (also spelled "Moussavi") were the trending topics on Twitter for a whole day on Tuesday, June 16. When four out of ten trending topics are all about the same issue, you know the world is focused. This blog is testimony to how the social media tools of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube can help fight back censorship in the 21st Century.

According to NY Times article, it was noted that Twitter was aware of the power of its service in this regard. Acknowledging its role on the global stage, the San Francisco-based company said on Monday June 15 that it was delaying a planned shutdown for maintenance for a day, citing “the role Twitter was currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran."

In a subsequent NY Times article, a 27-year-old State Department official, Jared Cohen apparently e-mailed Twitter with a request: to delay scheduled maintenance of its global network, which would have cut off service while Iranians were using Twitter to swap information and inform the outside world, The request, made to a Twitter co-founder, Jack Dorsey, is yet another new-media milestone: the recognition by the United States government that an Internet blogging service that did not exist four years ago has the potential to change history in an ancient Islamic country.

Mr. Cohen, a Stanford University graduate who is the youngest member of the State Department’s policy planning staff, has been working with Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other services to harness their reach for diplomatic initiatives in Iraq and elsewhere

Many members (Tweeps) have changed their user photos (avatars) to green, and/or included images from Iran, such as green paint dipped fingers making the peace sign. Green is traditionally considered a symbolic color of Islam, but has also come to represent the movement against Iran’s election results.

Facts that show that the social networks of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube sit in the epicenter of this maelstrom is evidenced by the 100s of web sites, profiles, tweets and fan pages that emerged this week. Mr. Moussavi’s fan group on Facebook alone has swelled to over 50,000 members, an exponential increase since election day a week earlier.

ranians continued to report that they could not send text messages. However according to Jonathan Zittrain, a professor at Harvard Law School and an online expert said that Twitter was particularly resilient to censorship because it had so many ways for its posts to originate — from a phone, a Web browser or specialized applications — and so many outlets for those posts to appear.

Iranian authorities have imposed severe restrictions on foreign news organisations trying to cover protests in Tehran following the recent elections, but the Iranian protesters are transferring video to their mobile phones and cameras and uploading it to YouTube, as evidenced here...




The video and social networking websites of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have helped break this important story and expose it in real time on the Internet. While Iran does have the ability to shut down some of its major news outlets, it is incapable of terminating cell phone transmissions. About 60 percent of Iran's 70-million population are under 30 years old and the country has some 20 million web users.

In an era where censorship and Big Brother still try to hold their controlling grip on its citizens in countries like Iran and China (see my previous blog on "Social Networks in China"), it's gratifying to see how social networks can be used effectively to fight back this oppression.

Perhaps Ezra Gottheil, an analyst at Technology Business Research summed it up best when he said: “I think this is Twitter’s finest hour...this has made our world smaller and more personal in a time of great chaos, when a government is trying to stop communication.

( Source )

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Basij shots to death a young woman in Tehran’s Saturday June 20th protests




06/20/2009 21:08

Basij shots to death a young woman in Tehran’s Saturday June 20th protests At 19:05 June 20th Place: Karekar Ave., at the corner crossing Khosravi St. and Salehi st. A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim’s chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes. The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St. The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me.

(Source )

Irish College Entrance Exam.......

This is a 'real' test ... not a joke. See if you can figure it out .:.

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Now, scroll down for the answers ...

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A whimsical look into who really rules us !

There has always been a lot of talk about secret societies that rule the world well, secretly. Illuminati, Masons, The Foreign Relations committee and The Military-Industrial complex to name a few. What is about to be revealed to you has never been revealed before. A secret so deep, so hidden, and yet so simple. The true ruler of the world is Poland.

Yes, Poland. Think about it. Even in the United States every four years we chose a new president. And how do we chose one? We go to the Poles. The Poles decide who are next leader is going to be. As well as the senators and representatives down to mayors and city councilmen. All are chosen by the Poles. Even some judges are chosen by the Poles.

The ones that chose our leaders are the Election Poles. But it is more far reaching than that. There are also Sports Poles, Opinion Poles, even Idol Poles. The Poles control almost every aspect of our lives. They determine what is transmitted in the media, all media. They determine ranking of college sports teams. They appoint the next winner on television shows.

How do they do this? How is it possible? Long ago, the Poles befriended a race of magical beings caller the Survey. Distantly related to the Leprechauns, these Surveyors go out into the world of humans and gather information. No piece of data is too small. No minutia is overlooked. Nothing is too mundane for the Surveyors to gather. No matter what it is, there is a Survey for it. Some are quite brazen about it. There is even a popular game show where a the host is constantly saying. “And the Survey says…”

Poles are in control of just about every aspect of the world population. Through their allies the Surveyors, they tell everyone what to believe, what to eat, what to watch and read, and who to have to govern them.

The world has become dependent on the Poles. Leaders of world everywhere often make choices after consulting the Poles. The same is true of the everyday person. Whether they go to the Popularity Poles, or the Who’s In Poles, or the Everyone Is Doing It Poles, people are being controlled by what the Poles say.

There is a small group of people who just do not care what the Poles say and are acting accordingly. These people while courageous are usually marginalized and left out of things. They despair so much that they have been known to buy a boat to get away from them. However, a number of them have been tricked, they take the seemingly nonthreatening Fishing Poles with them.

( Source:"The Secret Rulers of the World")

PM propose, Sultan dispose !

During a two-day official visit to Singapore, Najib has proposed to Singapore that a new bridge be built to link the eastern side of Johor to the island republic, the new bridge will help to further facilitate the movement of people and goods and services between both countries.

Both sides agreed to look at the proposal in the medium and long term and also agreed to commission a study to look at the bridge viability, Najib said, adding that the new bridge proposal was one of the outcomes of their bilateral meeting to further enhance the close cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak's idea of a new bridge to link eastern Johor to Singapore has been embraced by Singapore.

The republic's nod for the project was conveyed by its minister mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, during his meeting with Najib.

"Singapore is keen on having the third bridge and it is something which we (Malaysia and Singapore) will pursue."

Najib, who is also finance minister, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop had been asked to jointly conduct a feasibility study on the project with his Singaporean counterpart.

They are expected to appoint a consultant and determine the projected cost.

The construction cost of the third bridge will be borne by both countries if it takes off.

In a move bound to be welcomed by Malaysians, regardless of their feelings for a third link to Singapore, the Sultan of Johor has given unpopular Prime Minister Najib Razak his due comeuppance by rejecting the proposed construction.

The Sultan of Johor Sultan Iskandar Ismail has rejected the proposed third bridge linking Malaysia and Singapore.

He did not give a reason for rejecting the proposal and only said that he did not agree with the proposed plan during his state assembly opening speech Thursday.

Tunku Mahkota Tunku Ibrahim Ismail read his speech and delivered the Sultan’s decree (titah) during the first state assembly held in Kota Iskandar here.

The Sultan’s impromptu decree caught everyone off-guard similar to when he vowed to reclaim Pulau Batu Puteh or Pedra Branca at the launch of the state assembly last year.

Sultan Iskandar is not unknown for his independent streak and hot temper.

But this time, his obstinacy and courage in going against the country’s chief executive has brought cheer and a glimmer of hope back to Malaysians, fed up with Najib’s bullying tactics.

The PM’s insistence on getting his way, particularly in the Perak crisis, has left the nation disgusted and depressed. Institutions like the police and the courts were roped in and the law ruthlessly bent to push through decisions supporting his political agenda.

Even the Perak Ruler Sultan Azlan was not spared, endorsing Najib’s coup d’etat that toppled the Pakatan Rakyat administration and plunging the state into indefinite political and economic turmoil.


In political theory, the definition of democracy is : By the people, for the people and of the people.

A satirical description of democracy that is doing rounds in Perak is ‘bye the people, far the people and off the people.’


“This is a very good smack on the wrist for Najib. He hasn’t even completed three months in office, yet he has already abused and reduced to nothing our law and the reputation of our institutions. Like all bullies, it is about time that he realises that he is not omnipotent,” said a political analyst.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today "There is no final decision on the matter yet as we have to see whether the third bridge project is viable or not,"

"The government has not decided whether to go ahead with the proposed building of the third bridge linking Malaysia and Singapore."

"The matter was still at the proposal stage, and an indepth study must be carried out before implementing it to determine whether it would benefit both countries."

The prime minister said there was still a lot of time to discuss the matter with the Sultan and the Johor government to find the best solution if the proposed project were to proceed.

Malaysia, six African states listed for human trafficking

The United States on Tuesday added six African countries to a blacklist of countries trafficking in people, and put US trading partner Malaysia back on the list.

Chad, Eritrea, Niger, Mauritania, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe were added to the list in the annual report, which analyzed efforts in 173 countries to fight trafficking in humans for forced labor, prostitution, military service and other reasons.

Staying on the blacklist list are US allies Saudi Arabia and Kuwait but also Cuba, Fiji, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, and Syria, according to the State Department report for 2009.

Removed from the list were Qatar, Oman, Algeria, and Moldova.

All the countries on the list risk sanctions, including the suspension of US non-humanitarian aid.

The “Trafficking in Persons Report” said that Malaysia “does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so”.

Last year, the report bumped Malaysia up to a “watch list” from the 2007 blacklist after finding that it was “making significant efforts” to comply with such standards.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has accused the United States of unfair treatment over its decision to re-list the country on a human trafficking blacklist.

Washington's annual "Trafficking in Persons Report", released yesterday, says Malaysia is failing to comply with minimum standards to eliminate trafficking and "is not making significant efforts to do so".

Last year the report elevated Malaysia to a "watch list" from the 2007 blacklist after finding that it was "making significant efforts" to comply with standards.

"It is unfair to put us back on the list as we are doing our best," Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop told reporters.

"We will have to consider our next action in opposing the re-listing of our country on the blacklist," he added.

Abu Seman said the Malaysian government did not condone human trafficking and had taken stern action to deal with the problem, including enacting an anti-human trafficking law in 2007 and setting up a special task force.

The report said that while the Malaysian government took early steps to fight sex trafficking, it has yet to fully tackle labour trafficking.

It said there were "credible allegations", including those in a US Senate report this year, that some immigration officials took part in trafficking and extorting refugees from Myanmar.

Umno would rather ‘burn bridges’ than sell sand ?

Umno leaders say if Singapore wants sand as part of the deal for the third bridge, it’s a “no go”.

For them, whatever the benefits the construction of the third bridge may bring must not come at the expense of the country’s sovereignty.

This issue came up when Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that it would not make sense for Singapore to agree on a third bridge if Johor does not lift its ban on the export of sand to the republic, which has been in place since 1997. He was speaking at a press conference during his recent trip to Malaysia.

Government officials say Najib’s administration is willing to resolve outstanding bilateral issues with Singapore and consider lifting the ban on sale of sand to the republic.

And Umno is not the only one with this view. It’s got a friend from the most unlikely of places – its arch-rival PKR is also against the sale of sand to Singapore.

PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim rejected the idea outright.

But for some, the third bridge proposal is an idea too far-fetched and the government should not even waste time discussing the sand issue.

Datuk Shahrir Samad who is the Umno parliamentarian for Johor Baru, said the government should think of ways to improve the existing bridge that links his constituency and the country to the republic instead of hollering about the third bridge.

“It’s bullshit. The government should address the many problems facing the existing bridge, like traffic congestions and so on, and not waste time on something totally unnecessary,” he said.

Meanwhile, Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said the Singapore Government had seen the change in its two closest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, with rising religiosity where more Muslims were now praying five times a day and covering themselves.

Singapore government's concern is not with specific developments in either of these countries, but with the broader and longer-term trend of Islamic resurgence, he said.

He traced the resurgence to the influence of the oil states, in particular Saudi Arabia for the Sunnis and Iran for the Shi'ites, which have set their more austere versions of Islam as the “gold standard” for other Muslim countries to follow.

Lee asked Nik Aziz what PAS's attitude to Singapore would be if the opposition party were to take over the federal government one day.

The Mentri Besar said he would treat Singapore as he treated the Chinese and Indians who live in Kelantan.

Lee also spoke to Datuk Husam Musa, Kelantan's Executive Councillor in Charge of Finance and an up-and-coming PAS leader.

Husam told the Minister Mentor that Islam treats all human beings as equal.

“Then he says: 'Well, we hope one day you will accept Islam as a part of your religion, and we will cooperate',” Lee said of his conversation with Husam.

“I told him that the Chinese have had their Muslims since the invasion of Genghis Khan... and they're still not converted, so we left it at that.”

Malaysia's MM Vs Singapore's MM

Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's MM pulled no punches today and called the Singapore leader “a little Emperor … of a tiny Middle Kingdom” lecturing Malaysian leaders on how to run the country in his recent “triumphant visit to Malaysia”

“During Lee Kuan Yew’s triumphant visit to Malaysia, he made it known to the Malaysian supplicants that Singapore regards the lands within 6,000 miles radius of Singapore as its hinterland. This includes Beijing and Tokyo and, of course, Malaysia,” Dr Mahathir said in posting at his popular www.chedet.cc.

“Of course this self-deluding perception places Singapore at the centre of a vast region. It is therefore the latter day Middle Kingdom. The rest are peripheral and are there to serve the interest of this somewhat tiny Middle Kingdom,” he added.

Dr Mahathir pointed out Kuan Yew’s explanation that Singapore Chinese would control the “Iskandar whatever” was not justified as Malays could work there, sarcastically saying “It is good to know that Malays can also work in their own country. I wonder as what? Maybe someone should make a study of the Malays of Singapore just to know what it is like to be a Malay minority in their own country”

He also made a stinging observation about Kuan Yew’s visit to Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Ipoh, Penang, Kota Bharu and Kuantan with his delegation in the past week.

“All those who met the great man from the little country were lectured on how Malaysia should be run. We should not have any more problems now. We have been told the direction to take. MCA must help Umno to win because Singapore does not want an Islamic party like PAS to win. We must ensure this.

“Sorry, PAS. Working with the DAP, the offspring of PAP has not endeared you to Mr Lee,” he wrote.

But he promised this was not the end of his diatribe against Kuan Yew.

“I have a lot more to say about this little Emperor but I will reserve it for later,” Dr Mahathir vowed.

Do you still remember, the querulous Mahathir once said, "Singapore is a tiny country. Don't talk big."

What sparked off the controversy that time was MM Lee's comment that the attitude of Malaysia and Indonesia towards the Republic was shaped by the way they treated their own ethnic Chinese minorities

He added: "My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful, they're hardworking and therefore they are systematically marginalised, even in education"

"And they want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese, compliant"

Mr Lee said Singapore must have a government which must be "firm but polite", able to deal with difficult neighbours "who want to pressure us to build pretty bridges without giving us commensurate benefits".

"You need a government that will be able to not only have the gumption but the skill to say no in a very quiet, polite way that doesn't provoke them into doing something silly," he said.

Surely Dr Mahathir can’t agree to Najib giving in to Singapore’s demands like what is currently happening. Are we going to see Dr Mahathir going berserk like back in 2006 with all these concessions Najib is granting Singapore?



THE MODERN MIDDLE KINGDOM

1. Ancient China considered itself the centre of the world and called itself the Middle Kingdom. And well it should. It was far more advanced in every way than Europe of the Dark Ages. Maybe China is thinking of making a comeback.

2. But we already have a new Middle Kingdom now. During Lee Kuan Yew's triumphant visit to Malaysia he made it known to the Malaysian supplicants that Singapore regards the lands within 6000 miles radius of Singapore as its hinterland. This includes Beijing and Tokyo and of course Malaysia.

3. Of course this self-deluding perception places Singapore at the centre of a vast region. It is therefore the latter day Middle Kingdom. The rest are peripheral and are there to serve the interest of this somewhat tiny Middle Kingdom.

4. Kuan Yew also explained that the fear Singapore Chinese would control Iskandar whatever is not justified. Malays can also work there. It is good to know that Malays can also work in their own country. I wonder as what? Maybe someone should make a study of the Malays of Singapore just to know what it is like to be a Malay minority in their own country.

5. As for the 3 sen per 1000 gallons of raw water supplied to Singapore Lee says it was absurd for the former Prime Minister of hinterland Malaysia to ask to increase it to RM8 per 1000 gallons. I don't know where he got this. Some Malaysian officers did suggest this figure but we were ready to bargain and maybe settle for RM3. And why not? Johore sells raw water to Melaka for 30 sen, 1000% higher than to Singapore. And Melaka is, I believe, a part of Malaysia! Some Malaysians may see the irony of this.

6. The great 5th Prime Minister has decided that since the people of Johore did not want to sell sand to Singapore, Malaysia would not build any bridge, straight or crooked, or negotiate and settle the other issues like the Central Provident Fund, the Railway land. Maybe the 5th Prime Minister thinks he is punishing Singapore. Actually he is giving Singapore what its wants including the 3 sen per 1000 gallons water until 2061. Think of how many grains of nasi lemak we can buy with 3 sen in 2061. Imagine what 1000 gallons will earn for Singapore at that time. Can't think of a more astute PM for Malaysia.

7. All those who met the great man from the little country were lectured on how Malaysia should be run. We should not have anymore problems now. We have been told the direction to take. MCA must help UMNO to win because Singapore does not want an Islamic Party like PAS to win. We must ensure this. Sorry PAS. Working with the DAP, the offspring of PAP has not endeared you to Mr Lee.

8. I have a lot more to say about this little Emperor but I will reserve it for later.

- taken from Chedet.co.cc

Manohara in Her Own Words

Tengku Temenggong Mohammad Fakhry has denied abusing his estranged teenage US-Indonesian model wife and threatened to launch legal action against her for making false allegations, his lawyer has said.

"A police report has been lodged... we will be contemplating legal action with regard to the false allegation," said the attorney, Haaziq Pillay.

Manohara Odelia Pinot last week told reporters she was treated like a sex slave after her marriage last year to Tengku Fahkry.

Manohara -- a well-known socialite in Jakarta -- claimed to have been cut with a razor and injected with drugs which made her vomit blood while being held under guard in her bedroom at the palace.

Her lawyer said she had filed a police report on the abuse but Indonesian police say they are unable to investigate as the incidents took place outside their jurisdiction.

An Indonesian forensics expert said Tuesday that Manohara had been physically abused.

"He (Fakhry) is just panicking to guard the good name of his family. We have proof that Manohara was abused. He should be jailed," her attorney Farhat Abbas told AFP.



Manohara in Her Own Words

Who is Manohara?

I was born in Jakarta, February 28, 1992, [during] my mother’s second marriage. My biological father is from the US, but I haven’t had any contact with him. I tried making contact with him, which I regret. My father that I consider, Reiner Pinot, he’s a great guy. I didn’t miss out much on a father because of him.

Can you briefly tell us about your life growing up?

I left Jakarta when I was 9 months old, for Hong Kong for around two years. For less than six months, we lived in Romania. And then I went to Austria, Vienna to be exact. We went to Lausanne, Switzerland, and then Windsor, England, and then France for a long time.

Why all the moving around?

Business. My father [Pinot] was always based in London and the US. But we always traveled around a lot anyway. I came back to Jakarta around three years ago, in 2006.

Why did you come back to Jakarta?

The reason why we came in the first place was because my grandfather was very ill. Actually, he passed away, so we stayed here for the 40 days [mourning period]. And then we just ended up staying.

Where did you go to school?

I was home-schooled actually. I was looking at the other schools like JIS [Jakarta International School] and stuff, but I just didn’t see myself fitting in there. Then I heard about home-schooling. So I finished a couple of years ahead. I graduated high school when I was 16, in 2008. I also skipped a couple of grades in middle school.

What about friends? How do you make new friends?

Making new friends, luckily for me, hasn’t been such a big problem here. I also had a lot of family here, so they introduced me to their friends, [who] became my friends. Making friends, it’s not like a huge challenge for my sister and I. Because of the traveling we’re really open people, so we accept different people and different cultures. We don’t stick with one stereotype of people.

When did your modeling career begin?

The start of it wasn’t so much modeling. For example, the director of Registry just happens to be a friend. So, it was like, “Hey, Mano, why don’t you pose for a cover?” I was like, “OK, sure,” so I just did that several times, just as favors for friends.

After a while, I was like, “Ah, this is fun. I could do it.” I started getting more into casting, but before I could go further with any of that, the Malaysia thing happened.

Could you tell me the different shoots that you’ve done?

I did one for Prestige. That was for the “It List” of the year. It named the young future socialites of Indonesia. I was also in Bazaar. I was the youngest one. The 100 most influential women of Indonesia!

How do you like modeling?

It’s fun, every girl likes to dress up and play around. I think it’s really fun, getting made up and dressed up. Because I’m usually not like that, my group of friends are mostly guys. I don’t think I’m a socialite. If you ask all my friends, I’m just more stay at home. But I mean, I’m social, you know. I like making friends, if they invite me to dinner, parties and stuff, then why not?

Was there any modeling agency you were signed to? What about from TV or film?

No, I didn’t sign to any modeling agency. I never signed any contract with anyone.

How did you feel being young and being in Bazaar?

When they called me, I was actually really surprised. I was thankful and grateful for it. It’s a great compliment. If people look at me that way, then great.

They gave me a title of philanthropist because I do a lot of the charity work myself. Not through an organization, just personally. The reason people don’t know that I do that is because I don’t, like, brag about it too much. Or I don’t do it through organizations. So I just do it myself. So, for example, when there’s a flood, I just literally buy bags of rice and pass it out myself. So it’s really just me and my mom and my sister.

A concrete example: the kids in Menteng, in front of Keris Gallery, I used to go there weekly. I haven’t been there in a while now since Malaysia. I actually want to create a foundation similar to the Big Brother, Big Sister [program] in the US. I don’t know if you’re familiar with that. Basically a place where kids can just express themselves freely and talk, and maybe get counseling after school if they need it. Kids here, after school, unfortunately there’s a lot of begging, they don’t have a place to stay, or they end up going on the streets. Get involved with the wrong types of people. So I just want them to stay in a safe environment. Where they can express themselves freely and safely.

Did you always date someone older?

It’s not really about dating someone older. I always say age is just a number. It’s just that since I was younger, I’ve always hung out with the old e r crowd. I don’t know why, I just relate better to someone older. Some people say I’m just mature. I don’t know.

I didn’t date [Tengku]. The wedding was really, we were just really friends and there was nothing more to it. He just called up and said basically, “I want to introduce you to my parents.” So I was like, “Yeah, great, I’ll come down.”

So we went there, that’s what happened. “You have to get married this week.” I said, “I can’t.” But [the family] said they’d already sent out invitations, the wedding venue’s already there. “Everything’s already been done. If you don’t do this you’ll embarrass the royal family.” And I kept saying, “No, no, no.”

Then they said, “Look, Mano, please do this for us,” and then tomorrow or the next day we’ll go straight back to Jakarta, we’ll go to France, we’ll do everything in order like we weren’t married. Start from zero, start from the beginning.”

But then the next day, they completely forgot about their promises. I don’t know if you can call it a trap, but I felt trapped.

How did you meet Tengku Fakhry and how did things develop?

I met him in 2007, I was 14. I met him at a dinner party, it was the promotion of Visit Malaysia 2007. He introduced himself. It didn’t really develop between me and him. He got my mom’s number.

If he came down to Jakarta, then we’d have dinner. Not just me personally, but all of us with a group of friends. And if I happened to go to Malaysia, then I called him up and [said], “Hey, I’m in town.”

But you never had the impression that he was into you?

I just didn’t see anything. Honestly, I didn’t even consider him a close friend. I just considered him someone I knew. And he was always so quiet and so polite, especially with my mom. “So, aunty, let me carry your bag.” He was just really a goody-two-shoes, a gentlemanly guy.

What happened next?

We went [to Malaysia] on August 17, 2008. [My sister, my mother and I] hung out for a couple days before meeting his parents. When we met the parents, [his] mom was like, “OK, I agree with you the wedding is on the 26th.” I thought she was joking, I started laughing. I was like, “What do you mean?” Apparently they already gave out invitations, they showed them to me, they got my picture from I don’t know where. And Tengku was all smiley. I just got really freaked out and was like, “What did I get myself into?”

It was reported that your dowry was 50,000 ringgit ($14,000). What is your response to the allegation that your mom conspired with the Kelantan Sultanate?

Fifty thousand ringgit is like $15,000. And that, honestly, my mom didn’t get a penny. We had family over, we gave it for their allowance. We didn’t use it that much.

What I don’t understand is that my mom is 43 years old. She met Tengku when she was 40. The other 40 years of her life, how did she manage to support my sister and I? How did she pay for my school? How did she support the rest of the 40 years of her life?

I don’t understand why they’re making these allegations. If they’re talking about the dowry, which is 50,000 ringgit, you can’t get a house, a car and bags through that, you know. It’s not enough. These allegations don’t make sense to me.

Why didn’t you try to escape?

Even if I did try to escape, [as] you saw with my mom, even she could be stopped by his people. Imagine me. So I thought, “Mano, you’re going back to Jakarta the next day, so just get it over and done with.”

Initially, I didn’t even know that he was from a royal family. I just thought he was just someone big. I didn’t know what his businesses were. I didn’t know anything about him. I didn’t know he was from a royal family until after.

What happened after the wedding?

Right after the wedding, in the car going back to his house, he started raising his voice, which was something really new. I was shocked. It wasn’t directed at me, so maybe it was just stress. And then when we went back home, he was like, you have to sleep with me. I said, “Wow, I thought I’m going back to Jakarta tomorrow. What’s going on here?” And then at the time, I was also having my period. I said, “Look, I can’t.” And then he got really rough and started saying, “All Indonesians are prostitutes and can be bought,” and just comments like that. And I was stuck there.

What happened after that?

That night, he kept shouting at me. He told me to sleep on the floor because I wouldn’t serve him as a wife. But in my head, I’m like, “But I’m not actually your wife.” It was extremely frustrating. I was trapped. I was fooled. I was just stupid.

Did you try to contact the outside world?

During the first two months I had Internet, I had my phone. I did [try to contact people outside], and I have done. But you have to realize that they’re extremely powerful in Malaysia.

Were the families repressive?

I wouldn’t say so. Most of the people who helped me get out were members of his family. Most of the time, they’re extremely friendly.

What about the king and the queen?

The sultan was a very nice man. But at the same time, he could’ve done something. It’s just the queen here is just a bit … [pauses] she’s the one that controls the palace.

Between the wedding and Singapore, did you try to escape?

Yes. I kept asking to leave, but then they took my passport. A lot of dramatic events like that. Once I even got my passport and then the driver took me to the airport. They didn’t let him. They told him to take me back to the palace. They planned all these things for me to not go home.

So then, finally, I went to Singapore [in October 2008] for a health checkup. In the morning, I just ran away with my sister. My mom followed the day after.

What happened in October 2008?

I got back to Jakarta. There was one pretty well-known mafia family. They told their son to kidnap me for $250,000, if I’m not mistaken. But fortunately I knew the guy. Thank God, he didn’t.

When you were in Jakarta, was it impossible to divorce your husband?

It was impossible because the marriage was not registered in Indonesia. It was registered there. I couldn’t divorce him there because in Islamic marriage, only the husband could [divorce his wife]. Five months was an extremely short period of time for these kinds of things. So we went to Jeddah.

What happened in Jeddah?

From Mecca, when we were done with the pilgrimage, we drove to Jeddah. And from Jeddah we were supposed to fly to Jakarta. We had tickets and everything. But that’s when he forced me on the plane.

During those times, what discussions did you have with him?

I didn’t have that much discussion with him. Because we weren’t even together most of the time. We probably only met up for dinner.

Why agree to Jeddah?

One of them said, “Look, Manohara, we’re just going to pray. Please, just come and pray, clean our minds with God.” [Tengku said] “I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. So we’re going to pray, hopefully I’ll get better so that I can make it up to you.”

So I said, “Fair enough.”

What happened back in Malaysia?

His father fell ill with a heart attack. We went to hospital in Kotabaru, Kelantan, but then the doctor said it was better to take him to Singapore. I really saw it as a chance to do something. Beforehand, I had one chance where I was out in public at a football game, and I saw a camera from an Indonesian TV station. But I thought to myself, “If I scream, if I do anything here, they have most of the power. So, A, I’m going to get hurt when I get home, and B, they’re going to increase the security, it’s going to be harder for me to do anything.

It’s been reported you’re receiving many offers from the entertainment industry. What is your response to allegations that the whole story was a publicity stunt?

In that case, that means [the Kelantan family] would have to be part of the plan too. We can’t go to Kelantan and say, “Hey, can you kidnap me, and then pretend to torture me, and then you let me go?” I don’t see how that makes sense.

I have proof. I have the doctor saying it is true. I have scars everywhere, and needle marks on my back These are already proof but people don’t believe it.

Does this mean you’re planning to get back into the modeling and entertainment industry?

Fortunately, I’ve had a lot of offers. And I figure, “Why not?”

I’m still young. I still have to continue with my life. It’s also a good way to start making a living on my own.

‘He’s Taken So Much From My Life, I’m Not Going to Let Him Take My Future’

In her interview with the Jakarta Globe, Manohara also went into detail about the abuse that she alleges she suffered at the hands of her husband. Below are edited extracts. Her husband’s lawyer, Haaziq Pillay, declined to comment on the allegations, saying that Tengku Fahkry had filed a defamation complaint with the Malaysian police on the matter:

When did the abuse start?

(Continue reading here..... )

(Source:"Manohara in Her Own Words"- The Jakarta Globe.

Zaid Ibrahim joins PKR!

Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat.


After months of keeping the nation in suspense, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has decided to join Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s PKR party.

“I’m confident in the party’s cause. I believe I have an opportunity to assist Anwar and PKR,” said Zaid.

“I am ready to help Pakatan become an alternative and viable government that the people can rely on.”

The announcement was made during a press conference at a PKR special congress called to push through iconic reforms aimed at taking the party to the forefront of the political league and helping it to achieve national power together with its coalition allies DAP and PAS.

According to Anwar, Zaid’s entry will be a big boost for the party because “he is known for his bravery in defending human rights and the independence of the judiciary”.

The well-respected lawyer is expected to be made a member of the party’s powerful supreme council and its political bureau.

Zaid had resigned from the cabinet in 2008 to protest the use of the Internal Security Act to arrest three civilians - DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng.

Three months later, he was sacked from Umno for ostensibly attending functions held by the PKR and DAP.

During his short tenure as minister, he attempted to introduce reforms to the judiciary and pushed for compensation to be paid to judges sacked during the 1988 judiciary crisis.

But it is his role as a reformist and moderate which is expected to be a big boost for PR as Anwar attempts to put the opposition alliance’s agenda for reform back on track.

The PR alliance has been beset by crisis in recent weeks with PAS and DAP leaders at loggerheads over the Islamist party’s attempts to hold talks with Umno on Malay unity.

Anwar will be hoping Zaid can help bridge the differences between the secular and Chinese dominated DAP and the Islamist Malay PAS.

Zaid said today he was ready to help make PR a better alternative to BN.

He said he had friends in both PAS as well as DAP and feels he can play a meaningful role.

“The first step is to be better friends before we can move forward.” he said.

Meanwhile Anwar said Zaid’s entry was a positive development and would provide a boost to PKR.

“Zaid has a reputation for fighting for human rights and for the independence of the judiciary.”

He said PKR could use Zaid’s experience and exposure.

Anwar said Zaid’s role with Pakatan Rakyat would be formalised only after discussions with other component parties to be held next week.

He added that the PKR president would also decide on Zaid’s formal role in PKR.

However due to his experience Zaid is expected to be given a seat in the party’s supreme council and political bureau.

It's official: Swine flu is pandemic !

It's official: We're in a swine flu pandemic, the World Health Organization declared today.

On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6.

Pandemic Status Means Swine Flu Bug Is More Widespread, Not More Severe.

"The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, MD, said at a news conference.

That sounds scary. But neither the H1N1 swine flu virus nor the disease it causes are any worse today than they were weeks ago.

The only thing that's changed is that the WHO now officially acknowledges that H1N1 swine flu is circulating in communities in widespread parts of the globe, and that all nations can eventually expect to see cases.

"This does not mean there is any difference in the severity of the flu. This is not, at this point, a flu pandemic that is anywhere as severe as the 1918 pandemic," said Thomas R. Frieden, MD, in his first news conference since taking over as director of the CDC.

The last previous pandemic occurred in 1968.

As of Thursday, the virus had spread to 74 countries, the health agency said. There were 28,774 confirmed cases and 144 deaths.

The United States had 13,217 cases and 27 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said June 5 in its weekly update. Cases have been reported in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Phase 6, Chan said, is meant as a signal to countries to recalibrate their strategies to minimize the harm from swine flu. In countries where the virus and the response to it are already widespread, it is not likely to mean significant changes, but Chan urged countries that have not seen cases, or seen only limited cases, to get ready.

"The virus is not stoppable," she said. "I would advise them to maintain vigilance, enhance surveillance and be prepared for the arrival of the novel H1N1 in their country."

Discussions about shifting to Phase 6 have been under way for weeks. Chan indicated that a major factor in the decision was surveillance from countries in the Southern Hemisphere, where flu season is under way. In Chile and Australia, two countries with many flu cases, she said H1N1 appears to be the dominant strain, "crowding out" the seasonal influenza virus.

Chan said she would recommend that vaccine manufacturers proceed with mass production of an inoculation against the new swine flu strain as soon as they finish production of seasonal vaccine, which she estimated would be complete in about two weeks.

Swine Flu seems to target the young, under 25 years of age, and its symptoms are those of a simple cold and fever. The WHO is asking anyone who presents these symptoms to have a check up. Means to reduce infection are the usual precautions: Good personal hygiene, such as washing hands, avoid crowded public places, or close contact with someone who has the virus.

For the WHO, one of the worst case scenarios for the future is a possible mutation of the A/H1N1 virus into a more virulent form that will hit the northern hemisphere next winter, following the same patter of the Spanish Flu of 1926 that killed upwards of 50 million people.

The last global pandemic was the Hong Kong Flu of 1968, which left 1 million people dead. Ordinary flu usually causes the deaths of between 250 to 500 thousand people.

In Malaysia, more drastic measures including greater screening at entry points into the country will kick in with the declaration of a pandemic for influenza A(H1N1), said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Other measures included taking passengers’ temperatures before disembarkation and controlling human traffic from an affected township or village, he said.

He said the ministry would be drawing up a plan to prepare Malaysia for a possible Level Six scenario.

Liow also announced that two more cases of influenza A (H1N1) had been confirmed in Malaysia, bringing the total to 11.

PAS's intolerance and prejudice against SIS

SIS' activities were dangerous as they could cause confusion among the Muslims.

"We are aware that their approach can easily be accepted by the Muslims and this is dangerous as it can twist their aqidah, especially the young and those who went through the secular education,"

The call was made in a motion that was tabled by Shah Alam division at the party's 55th general assembly here yesterday.

The motion which was adopted without debate also called on the fatwa council to investigate in full the activities of carried out by the organisation.

The repercussions of the somewhat clumsy attempt by some sections of PAS to call for the investigation, and possibly banning, of the Muslim women’s rights group Sisters in Islam are still being felt today.

Many questions have arisen in the wake of the proposal that was passed without debate at the recent PAS general assembly: How and why was the proposal passed as one of the ‘non-debated proposals’ in the first place? Why was it not vetted properly and why was it tabled at all? What does this say about PAS's internal cohesion and internal discipline? Does this proposal reflect just a faction of opinion among PAS members, or is it actually representative of the party as a whole? And what does this mean with regards to PAS’s avowed claims to be a modern party that supports the democratisation process and dialogue with others?

It is hard, to say the least, to believe that a party can be supportive of democracy if it starts by calling for the banning of NGOs even before it comes to power…

SIS senior manager Maria Chin Abdullah said the PAS resolution underlined the party’s intolerance and prejudice against the non-governmental organisation, noting it was not even debated in its assembly. While reformists also won in the election, hardliners had a field day sweeping up posts, leaving the moderate voice subdued and cowed.

Many NGO leaders, lawyers and human rights activists who saw a new, moderate and inclusive PAS emerging out of the ashes of its hard-line past, are understandably alarmed.

The Bar Council, for instance, has urged PAS to negotiate and not demand for the banning of SIS simply because they disagree with its views.

But it is the way of wholly religious organisations, here and everywhere else, to be dogmatic and claim to possess the ultimate truth on any issue. Among the three Pakatan allies, PAS is the biggest with a one million membership base and a network that reaches into every village.

PAS is a formidable partner in Pakatan — one that believes its time has arrived to lead the nation.

It is big, strong and confident, and certainly not easily tamed by anyone, Pakatan adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim included.

The alternative is to appease PAS to hold the coalition together — and that’s a dangerous path to travel for secular political parties.

Meanwhile, PAS-ruled state of Kelantan has urged a ban on skimpy outfits in public parks.

"We just want to educate Muslims that they should wear clothes according to Islamic teachings and to the non-Muslims, we encourage them to respect each other in Kelantan," Takiyudin Hasan, the state cabinet minister in charge of local government, tourism and culture said.

Non-Muslim women are to wear tops that have sleeves and which are long enough to cover the waist. Trousers have to be knee-length and there should be no skin-tight outfits.

The local government does not have the legal power to enforce the ban, but previous recommendations it has made, including a ban of heavy make-up and high heels, have been widely obeyed.

'All black' in ( old ) town.

Dressed in black, the colour of protest, 200 activists sat at cafe tables quietly drinking coffee — black, of course. Bewildered, police stood outside and watched the coffee drinkers without interfering.

The protest at three cafes in Kuala Lumpur was their way around a ban on unauthorised protests. It was the latest twist in a row over the governing Barisan Nasional coalition’s seizure of power in Perak.

“Police were coming down hard on us and so we used this unique way to protest and tell people to demand an election in Perak,” said Wong Chin Huat, a protest leader and academic at the city’s Monash University campus. “We managed to send the message across.”

A spokeswoman of Old Town Cafe said it was unfair of protesters to use the chain’s outlets for the protest. “We have loyal patrons who are unhappy with so many people suddenly appearing all wearing black, which we associate with death. This is very bad for business.”

Undeterred, pro-opposition NGOs announced they would repeat the protest tomorrow — at seven Old Town outlets in the capital and Penang. The protesters, who announced the location of the protests via the social networking website Facebook, urged the coffee company not to close the outlets.

“We are only drinking coffee and paying for it,” one protest leader said. “They make money, we get our message across.”

This time, police will be waiting for them. “We are monitoring the targeted outlets and if necessary will arrest any person wearing black as they approach the outlets,” a police spokesman said.

No Old Town White Coffee will be closed tomorrow despite the 1BlackMalaysia campaign to drink 'kopi-o' (black coffee) at its outlets in a symbolic gesture to mourn the 'death of democracy' in Perak.

Kuan Yew's visit is more than "a trip down memory lane"

"My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful, they're hardworking and therefore they are systematically marginalised, even in education"

Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew who is in Kuala Lumpur had a private meeting with Najib before the Singapore delegation of ministers joined them

Singapore's ministers are building on the good foundation laid by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's recent visit to Singapore, said Singapore's Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew.

It's been nearly 50 years but the man who cried when Malaysia kicked Singapore out of the federation is still curious about how the Chinese in Malaysia are doing.

It was telling that former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's first diplomatic meeting in his week-long visit to Malaysia was with MCA leaders last night.

The 90-minute meeting between Singapore's minister mentor and five MCA leaders led by president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat saw an exchange on various issues that continue to concern the Chinese in Malaysia.

It is no secret that education and economic policies are a constant thorn in the side for MCA, who are now struggling to regain the support of the Chinese electorate, where eight out of 10 are said to support the opposition.

Ong told reporters that Lee exchanged notes on the "competitiveness of the Chinese and the political situation in Malaysia."

Education systems were also on the agenda and the presence of MCA's education point man and Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong would have made for very current discussions on government scholarships and classes conducted in Chinese.

PAS's intolerant stand.

Delegates at the PAS general assembly want female reporters to cover up and be separated from the men, Penang delegate Tapiudin Hamzah hit out at the women members of the media who had not covered their heads, saying that even if they did not own headscarves, they could at least make an attempt to cover their heads with handkerchiefs or even rags.

He also questioned why women members of the media were allowed to mingle freely with their male colleagues right in front of PAS leaders.

He said this contravened Islamic teachings.

PAS also want the National Fatwa Council to declare the non-governmental organisation Sister in Islam (SIS) as haram (forbidden) if its activities is found to be contrary to the Islamic teachings and principles.

The call was made in a motion that was tabled by Shah Alam division at the party's 55th general assembly here yesterday.

The motion which was adopted without debate also called on the fatwa council to investigate in full the activities of carried out by the organisation.

The division in its motion said the SIS' activities were dangerous as they could cause confusion among the Muslims.

"We are aware that their approach can easily be accepted by the Muslims and this is dangerous as it can twist their aqidah, especially the young and those who went through the secular education," it said.

In an immediate reaction, SIS's programme manager Norhayati Kaprawi asked if other Pakatan Rakyat parties agree to the motion.

“We would like to know what is DAP's and PKR's view on this matter, because they are in Pakatan and whatever PAS does will reflect on Pakatan,” Norhayati told The Malaysian Insider.

She said the party should make it clear on what issue they disagree with Sisters in Islam.

“This is very intimidating because we are a very small organisation,” said Norhayati.

She also accused PAS of being inconsistent in their stand on freedom of expression.

“PAS talks the language of human rights and freedom of expression but when they disagree with us they want to shut us up, this is hypocrisy,” said Norhayati, adding that “what is right and wrong cannot be based on PAS's standard.”

Norhayati urged PAS to widen their perspective as the party was also supported by non-members in the last general election.

In 2004, The opposition Islamic Malaysian party (PAS) says it will enforce the wearing of headscarves and prohibit non-Muslim women from wearing miniskirts should it win control of the northern state of Kedah.

In 2007, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat blamed women for men’s sleepless nights,and distracting them from prayer.

Previous advice from Mr Nik Abdul Aziz to Malaysia’s women included the suggestion that they would be at a lower risk of being raped if they abandoned their lipstick and perfume.

Nik Abdul Aziz has imposed fines on Muslim women who fail to wear headscarves, and imposed other draconian restrictions. As well as describing smokers as “similar to certain animals which have no brains to think rationally”, he also argued that they should not be allowed to run as candidates in a general election.

He has heavily criticised Malaysia’s endemic corruption, describing bribe-takers as intellectual weaklings who are destined for an eternity in Hell.

During election campaigns, Aziz had often said that only those who support PAS and Islamic law could go to heaven. "PAS supporters in Kelantan will surely be paid back, since with our rules we have managed to ban gambling, karaoke and other bad habits. If people don't vote PAS, it means that that they are in favor of betting, adultery and rape. These people won't go to heaven," he said.

In 1999, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who heads the fundamentalist Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS) which rules eastern Kelantan, reportedly said he had "whispered" to his officers who conduct interviews to recruit the less beautiful.

He said pretty women need not work as they could get rich husbands but those not endowed with good looks must look after themselves.

"Normally, women who are blessed by Allah with good looks are married to rich husbands. If they do not have jobs, it is still not a problem to them," he was quoted as saying.

"This is a fair measure. At least the beautiful have husbands to look after them while the non-beautiful have money."


So,do you believe PAS would be a Saviour if the party is in power one day ?

Kuan Yew's Visit is an endorsement for Najib ?

"My neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful, they're hardworking and therefore they are systematically marginalised, even in education"

"And they want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese, compliant"

MM Lee said Singapore must have a government which must be "firm but polite", able to deal with difficult neighbours "who want to pressure us to build pretty bridges without giving us commensurate benefits".

"You need a government that will be able to not only have the gumption but the skill to say no in a very quiet, polite way that doesn't provoke them into doing something silly," he said.

- MM LKY


“Singapore is just a little red dot,” Dr Mahathir once said.

Why is Dr Mahathir so upset with Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi? Because Pak Lah tunduk (kow tow) to Singapore.

Why is Dr Mahathir so upset that his Crooked Bridge has been aborted, and at a price that is more costly than if they went ahead and built it on top of that? Because Singapore does not want it -- so, by aborting it, Malaysia is bowing to Singapore’s demands.

Why is Dr Mahathir so angry with Kalimullah (whom he calls Hindu God and Muslim Priest)? Because Kalimullah is a Singapore agent.

Why is Dr Mahathir so angry with Khairy Jamaluddin? Because Khairy works for Singapore and is being funded by that ‘little red dot’.

Anything and everything even remotely associated with Singapore is a no-no in Dr Mahathir’s books.

“Of course I can’t get along with Singapore,” laments Dr Mahathir. “I can’t go to Singapore and play golf with Singapore’s leaders and pat each other on the back like those in Pak Lah’s government.”

“Who cares if Singapore wants a new straight bridge to replace the Causeway or not. They can keep their half of the Causeway. We will demolish our half and build half a bridge. And if half a bridge is too short then we shall make it longer by building a crooked bridge.”

“Lee Kuan Yew told me that Goh Chok Tong is too sentimental. That’s why he does not want to see the Causeway demolished. So we will have to wait until Chok Tong retires and then, after he retires, we shall demolish the whole Causeway.”

“Malaysia fought hard to gain independence from Britain. We opposed the British and the British plan for a Malayan Union. However, after 50 years of Merdeka, we are still not independent. We still can’t decide what to do in our own country. Singapore tells us what we can do in our own country. So we are not really that independent after all.”

And it goes on and on -- Singapore this and Singapore that. It is all about Singapore. And all of Dr Mahathir’s unhappiness is because Singapore is the cause of everything that is wrong with this country and all his plans are being torpedoed because of Singapore.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, the first prime minister of "a little red dot", is to visit Malaysia next week to tour several states and meet with a number of Malaysian leaders, businessmen, opinion leaders and senior journalists.

His eight-day visit, from June 8 to 15, starts with a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak as well as with several high-level officials, top editors and politicians.

Political analysts believe the elder Lee's visit to Malaysia will be more than just "a trip down memory lane" as he is known to be a person who always keeps abreast of developments, particularly in gauging the scenario of the place which shares its history with Singapore.

As Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin points out, Lee is a person who understands very well the relationship between the two countries, as he had a part in the history of the formation of Malaysia and the separation of Singapore from Malaysia.

"The visit can be viewed as an endorsement for (Prime Minister) Najib as Lee is known as a person who deeply believes that if Malaysia is not stable, it will affect Singapore," he says.

"Najib is the son of (Malaysia's second prime minister) Tun Abdul Razak while Lee and Tun Abdul Razak were peers, having done law together in London ... another layer of relationship.

"I know Lee is very concerned with what is happening in Malaysia as anything that happens here will affect Singapore. Things that shape Malaysia will shape Singapore," says Prof Shamsul Amri, who will be among those Lee is expected to meet during his visit.

He says Lee has likened situations in Malaysia and Singapore to the "umbilical cord" which connects the two countries.

Prof Shamsul Amri says that before Lee makes any statement, he will have given it deep thought as he is not the kind of leader who likes to make popular statements.

"If you look at his speeches, you know that he has a lot of information at his disposal," he adds.

Another political analyst, Dr Oh Ei Sun, believes that Lee will be taking stock of the latest developments in Malaysia during the visit besides looking at ways to improve bilateral relations, something which he often does when he travels abroad.

"He will be meeting different strata of society. He is more or less advisor to the government. He not only advises the Singapore government. Sometimes he also offers his advice to the country he visits," he says.

Malaysia and Singapore had a difficult relationship when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the Malaysian prime minister while during the era of his successor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the relationship grew a bit warmer, he says.

"Now Najib has taken over. Kuan Yew is an old acquaintance of Najib's father (Tun Abdul Razak). Perhaps he will take this opportunity to look into ways to improve the relationship. I think this trip will bring the relationship closer," he adds.