Sedition under the law of this country – N.H. Chan

(Hi blogger world! After 4 months of silence, I started posting again today just to reproduce this article by Malaysia's most honourable and distinguished judge - N. H. Chan. In truth, my silence this past 4 months was underlied by a vehement disgust at what have been happening since early February. These are events that made Malaysia the laughing stock of the free world and they are, in no order of importance, the constitutional sham in Perak; the acsension to the premiership of the current figure who brought such scandalous baggages that no human being in his/her right mind would accord him an iota of respect; the kangaroo court cases on sodomy, sedition, and sacrifical lambs of the corrupt; the Perak Government's appeal and counter appeals on "who is the rightful Perak Government" which no single court in Malaysia would know what to do with or how to decide on; and the malicious persecution of good citizens of this country by greedy politicians who abuse government authority and machinery just hell-bent on squashing any opposing views and dissent. I could go on and on, but that's not the reason I am in this space today. I came on today to reproduce this article by the learned Judge, N. H. Chan, so you and I can learned a thing or two from an endangered breed of wise and honourable men of this land. - Zandi, 110609)

Taken from:- http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/29123-sedition-under-the-law-of-this-country-nh-chan

Sedition under the law of this country – N.H. Chan

JUNE 10 – Prelude: Please read it before reading the article

I write this article so as to apprise the people who, in the mind of the general public, have taken the law into their own hands through the harassment of law abiding citizens of this country with the threat of using the Sedition Act 1948 on them.

They should not have done it without first taking expert legal advice on the technical and difficult law of sedition under the Act.

After you have read this article, I am sure you will agree with me that the law of sedition is not easy for a layman to understand.

Even lawyers and judges have found great difficulty in understanding it – let alone an uninitiated policeman.

If the police are not careful, one of these days they will find themselves at the receiving end of a suit for malicious prosecution, false arrest or whatever the victims of their harassment would throw at them.

I hope you will bear with me if this time I am not able to explain difficult law in simple language as much as I would like to. It is at a time like this that I really appreciate the great ability of the late Lord Denning who was so adept at explaining difficult law to us ordinary folk.

1870 India lives on in 21st century Malaysia

In 1986, I was the judge who tried Mr Param Cumaraswamy for sedition under s 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948. At the end of the trial, I acquitted him.

But first, a little bit of history – it is necessary to understand the historical development of how this bit of archaic legislation from 1870 India migrated to Peninsular Malaya in 1948 (Sabah in 1964 and Sarawak in 1969), and how this law has been implanted in modern Malaysia.

While other countries of the Commonwealth, of which Malaysia is a member, have advanced into the modem age, in this country, time has stood still. We are still in the time of Sir James Stephen in 1870 British India.

This was pointed out by Sinha CJ in Kedar Nath v State of Bihar [1962] AIR, SC 955:

“Section 124A was not placed on the Statute Book until 1870, by Act XXVII of 1870. There was a considerable amount of discussion at the time the amendment was introduced by Sir James Stephen ….”

The result of my research into the law of sedition is embodied in the judgment of PP v Param Cumaraswamy [1986] CU (Rep) 606. I am sorry for not being able to give you the MU citation – it happened so long ago and I do not have access to a law library. At page 619, I said:

“Sir James Stephen, you will remember, was the Judge whose definition of sedition appeared as article 93 of the Digest of the Criminal Law. In facts Section 124A which Sinha CJ had reproduced in the passage which I have just read was the work of Stephen J. Nowhere in 124A of the Indian Penal Code did Sir James include the further qualification of incitement to violence or inciting others to public disorders as an ingredient of the offence.

“As I have said earlier (see my decision when I called on Mr Cumaraswamy to enter on his defence), ‘Although it may appear to be the position in English case law that incitement to violence or inciting others to public disorders is an essential ingredient of sedition, it is not so in a criminal code which has as its model Stephen’s definition’.”

Incitement to violence or inciting others to public disorder is not an ingredient of sedition

Sir James Stephen was the author of Section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code. He did not in drafting that section make incitement to violence, or the tendency or the intention to create public disorders, the gist of the offence of sedition.

Nor did he make them the gist of the crime in his definition in Article 93 of the Digest. And Article 93 of the Digest was used as the model for the crime of sedition in the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast.

So that when we look at Section 124(A) of the Indian Penal Code or at the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast on sedition, or our own Sedition Act (which I have previously said was modelled on Stephen’s definition), we are merely looking at the definition of sedition as apprehended by Sir James Stephen, and not at English case law ... which had developed separately from Stephen’s definition.

Stephen’s definition has been codified as the law of the Gold Coast and of this country. And Wallace-Johnson v The King [1940] AC 231 has laid down that since the law is contained in a code, “the Court must look for the ingredients of the offence from the codified law and not import principles which have been established by English case law, and that, accordingly there cannot be imported into the offence (as created under the codified law) the additional ingredient of incitement to violence or inciting others to public disorder.”

The view expressed by Sinha CJ in the Indian Supreme Court in Kedar Nath cannot by any means be supported. In my judgment, the correct view is that as laid down by the Privy Council in Wallace-Johnson.

Therefore, as I have explained above, incitement to violence or inciting others to public disorder is not an ingredient of the offence of sedition in this country.

Nor is intention an ingredient of the crime of sedition

Having got that off my chest, the next thing I need to explain is why mens rea is not a necessary ingredient of the crime of sedition under our Sedition Act 1948.

As every law student knows, mens rea is Latin for “intention”.

Here is how I explained it in PP v Param Cumaraswamy. I said at page 612:

“I have shown that the model for subsection 8 of Section 326 of the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast was Stephen’s definition of sedition in Article 93 of the Digest. In Wallace-Johnson the Privy Council has laid down that incitement to violence is not a necessary ingredient of the crime of sedition under the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast. A fortiori, inciting others to public disorders is not a necessary ingredient of sedition.

“In Stephen’s definition and as well as the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast, a seditious intention is an essential ingredient, but Stephen in Article 94 of the Digest had expressed the view that intention is no more than the natural consequence of the words, and the Privy Council in Wallace-Johnson has held that it is not necessary to prove actual intention. It is enough if the words are seditious by reason of their expression of a seditious intention as defined in the section.

“It looks as if it was with hindsight that the Sedition Act came to be drafted. If intention requires no more mens rea than an intention to publish the words which were published; if it is not necessary to prove actual intention because seditious words are words which are ‘expressive of a seditious intention’ as defined in the section, then the gravamen or an essential ingredient of sedition is not mens rea (intention) but an actus reus (Latin for guilty act). That is, the words must have a tendency (a seditious tendency) to achieve one or more of the objects specified.

Instead, all that the prosecutor needs to prove is a seditious tendency

This is what I said in Param Cumaraswamy, page 611:

“In both the Stephen and the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast definitions an intention to achieve one or more of the objects specified in the definition is an essential ingredient of the crime of sedition. The important question is whether the ‘intention’ must be proved. In Article 94 of the Digest (4th edition) Stephen put it thus:

“In determining whether the intention with which any words were spoken, any document was published, or any agreement was made, was or was not seditious, every person must be deemed to intend the consequences which would naturally follow from his conduct at the time and under the circumstances in which he so conducted himself.’

“Stephen’s view did not require any more mens rea than an intention to publish the words which were published. It would not be necessary to prove an actual intention to achieve any one of the objects specified.”

In the Privy Council case of Wallace-Johnson v R [1940] AC 231, it was argued on behalf of the appellant Wallace-Johnson, see page 234:

“(a) that both in English common law and in the Criminal Code in question there must be some evidence of intention outside the mere words of the instrument before a seditious intention can be said to exist; and (b) that in the present case, when the document is read, there cannot be found in it any seditious intention at all; and therefore before the appellant can be convicted there must be some evidence of seditious intention extrinsically, and, there being none, this conviction cannot stand on any ground.”

The judgment of the Privy Council was read by the Lord Chancellor, at p 240, in which he said:

“Seditious words,” in the terms of sub-s 8, “are words expressive of a seditious intention”.

Then he went on to say, at page 241:

“The submission that there must be some extrinsic evidence of intention, outside the words themselves, before seditious intention can exist, must ... fail ... If the words are seditious by reason of their expression of a seditious intention as defined in the section, the seditious intention appears without any extrinsic evidence. The Legislature of the Colony might have defined ‘seditious words’ by reference to an intention proved by evidence of other words or overt acts. It is sufficient to say they have not done so.”

The headnote in the report of Wallace-Johnson has summarised accurately what was said by the Lord Chancellor. It reads, at page231, thus:

“If the words complained of are themselves ‘expressive of a seditious intention’ as defined in the section they are ‘seditious words’. It is not necessary to produce any extrinsic evidence on intention, outside the words themselves, before seditious intention can exist. If the words are seditious by reason of their expression of a seditious intention as defined in the section the seditious intention appears without any extrinsic evidence.”

So that in this country, instead of saying “seditious words” are words which are “expressive of a seditious intention”, in our Sedition Act, we say they are words with a “seditious tendency”.

This is how Section 3(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 of this country states it:

3. (1) A “seditious tendency” is a tendency –

(a) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any Ruler or against any Government;

(b) to excite the subjects of any Ruler or the inhabitants of any territory governed by any Government to attempt to procure in the territory of the Ruler or governed by the Government, the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter as by law established;

(c) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Malaysia or in any State;

(d) to raise discontent or disaffection amongst the subjects of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or of the Ruler of any State or amongst the inhabitants of Malaysia or of any State;

(e) to promote feelings of ill will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Malaysia; or

(f) to question any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative established or protected by the provisions of Part III of the Federal Constitution or Articles 152, 153 or 181 of the Federal Constitution. (This paragraph did not appear in the original form of the sub-section.)

As can be seen from the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Sedition Act, above, intention is not an ingredient of the crime of sedition, and all that need be proved by the prosecution is a seditious tendency as defined in Section 3(1).

This is established by Section 3(3) which says:

3. (3) For the purpose of proving the commission of any offence against this Act the intention of the person charged at the time he did or attempted to do or made any preparation to do or conspired with any person to do any act or uttered any seditious words or printed, published, sold, offered for sale, distributed, reproduced or imported any publication or did any other thing shall be deemed to be irrelevant if in fact the act had, or would, if done, have had, or the words, publication or thing had a seditious tendency. (I have supplied the emphasis which is in bold type.)

Then, how are we to decide whether the words have a seditious tendency

Although it is unnecessary to prove “intention”: see Section 3(3) of the Act above, it is necessary to prove that the words have a tendency to achieve one or more of the objects specified in Section 3(1) of the Act.

In deciding whether the words have this tendency, it is proper, and here I would like to use the words of Coleridge J in R v Aidred (1909) 22 Cox CC 1, p 3,:

“... to look at all the circumstances surrounding the publication with the view of seeing whether the language used is calculated to produce the results imputed; that is to say, you are entitled to look at the audience addressed, because language which would be innocuous, practically speaking, if used to an assembly of professors or divines, might produce a different result if used before an excited audience of young and uneducated men.”

On the other hand, here I would like to use the language of Cave J in R v Burns (1886) 16 Cox CC 355, page 365:

“A man cannot escape from the consequences of uttering words with a [seditious tendency] solely because the persons to whom they are addressed may be too wise or too temperate to be seduced [by those words].”

Therefore, the words are seditious (1) if they are likely to incite or influence the audience actually addressed or (2) if they are likely to incite or influence ordinary people even though the audience addressed was unaffected by the words.

What is not seditious

Stephen in Article 93 of the Digest gave the definition of what is not seditious. Almost identical provisions are to be found in the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast.

With regard to the Gold Coast provisions, this is what the Privy Council said in Wallace-Johnson, at page 240:

“Question will necessarily arise in every case, as in this case, as to the facts to which it is sought to apply these definitions. Fine distinctions may have to be drawn between facts which justify the conclusion that the intention of the person charged was to ‘bring into hatred or contempt … the Government of the Gold Coast,’ and facts which are consistent only with the view that the intention was no more than, in the words of a later part of subsection 8, ‘to point out errors or defects in the Government ... of the Gold Coast.’“

In the Sedition Act of this country, we have Section 3(2). The subsection specifies the circumstances or situations which are not seditious.

Fine distinctions may have to be drawn between facts which justify the conclusion that there was a tendency to achieve one or more of the objects specified in Section 3(1), and facts which are consistent only with the view that the tendency was no more than to do the acts or things mentioned in Section 3(2).

Provided that in doing any of the acts or things mentioned in Section 3(2), the words used do not have the effect of achieving any of the objects specified in Section 3(1).

There is a similar provision to our Section 3(2) in the Criminal Code of the Gold Coast: see the proviso to subsection 8 of Section 326 of the Gold Coast Code. While in this country it is Section 3(2) of the Sedition Act 1948 which reads:

3. (2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) an act. Speech, words, publication or other thing shall not be deemed to be seditious by reason only that it has a tendency –

(a) to show that any Ruler has been misled or mistaken in any of his measures;

(b) to point out errors or defects in any Government or constitution as by law established (except in respect of any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative referred to in paragraph (1) otherwise than in relation to the implementation of any provision relating thereto) or in legislation or in the administration of justice with a view to the remedying of the errors or defects;

(c) except in respect of any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative referred to in paragraph (1)(f) –

(i) to persuade the subjects of any Ruler or the inhabitants of any territory governed by any Government to attempt to procure by lawful means the alteration of any matter in the territory of such Government as by law established; or

(ii) to point out, with a view to their removal, any matters producing or having a tendency to produce feelings of ill will and enmity between different races or classes of the population of the Federation,

If the act, speech, words, publication or other thing has not otherwise in fact a seditious tendency.

[I have put the words in bold type to show that they were not found in the original text of sub-section (2)]

Did Lim Kit Siang commit sedition?

Now that you know the law of sedition as much as any expert on the subject, we shall examine the law to find out if Lim Kit Siang has, in fact, committed the crime.

As I have understood from the Internet, all that he did was to point out that the biggest mistake that Najib made in the so-called Perak debacle was to approach the sultan for the appointment of Zambry as Mentri Besar – that step, as we all know, started the political and constitutional impasse in Perak.

Had Najib not seen the Ruler but, instead, had he advised the Barisan Nasional assemblymen to obtain a vote of no confidence against Nizar at the time, he would have succeeded and there would have been no constitutional crisis in Perak.

By his rash action to have Zambry appointed Mentri Besar when Nizar is still holding the office of Mentri Besar, he had caused the impasse in Perak.

Najib had actually committed a serious political misjudgment. Since then he had been unable to extricate himself out of the political quagmire which he had orchestrated.

Since Lim Kit Siang’s criticism was only directed at Najib for his personal misjudgment in the whole episode, it would not be possible for any prosecutor to establish a “seditious tendency” under Section 3(1) of the Sedition Act.

This is because paragraphs (a) and (b) of the subsection concern a seditious tendency against a Ruler or Government – so these provisions do not apply to a personal criticism of Najib in his handling of the affair.

Paragraph (c ) concerns a seditious tendency against the administration of justice – definitely this does not apply to a criticism of Najib’s handling of the matter.

In paragraph (d) the seditious tendency is to raise discontent and disaffection among the people – so it does not apply.

Paragraph (e) deals with race and class, and paragraph (1) deals with privileges, sovereignty etc – so they too do not apply to a personal criticism of Najib’ s miscalculation of the situation in Perak.

Therefore, since it is impossible, based on the above circumstances, to establish a “seditious tendency” against Lim Kit Siang for his criticism of Najib’s conduct in the Perak debacle, Lim Kit Siang has not committed any offence under the Sedition Act.

As such, what the police did to him was unwarranted and an inexcusable harassment of a respected politician.

Such bullying methods by the police should be frowned upon by all right thinking people.

By their bad behaviour in the matter, the police have done a great disservice to the Government of the day which eventually may reflect adversely against them in the next election.

As a consequence of such outrageous act of harassment which the police have perpetrated against the people, the police were, in fact, promoting feelings of ill will against the Barisan Nasional government which is the government of the day.

I wonder if they could have brought themselves within the meaning of “seditious tendency” under Section 3(l)(e) which says “(1) A ‘seditious tendency’ is a tendency (e) to promote feelings of ill will ... between different ... classes of the population of Malaysia” – i.e. between the people and the Barisan Nasional government?

Perish the thought. But then, why were they doing this to the government? Were they trying to ensure a change of government at the next general election? Your guess is as good as mine.

I remember when I was a serving judge, we would never dream of doing anything that would jeopardise the standing of our employer, the Government of Malaysia.

Sometimes we would take a member of the executive government, like a minister or a public official, to task if they have done wrong but it must be done in a judgment.

As a serving judge, it is taboo to criticise the government of the day out of court.

But nowadays we find the police jeopardising the position of their employer, the government of the day, by their overt action of harassing some members of the general public.

Don’t these people realize that such actions would have an adverse effect on the government come next election?

I suppose there are some people who think that it is all right for such an undesirable trend to continue like a cancer among the law enforcement agencies.

And what about Karpal Singh?

All that Karpal Singh said was that the sultan can be sued. And the next thing we hear is that he has been charged for the crime of sedition.

We all know that Karpal Singh was speaking as a lawyer. And why is it wrong for a lawyer to say someone can be sued?

All of us know that a ruler can be sued in the Special Court, albeit with leave of the court, for certain things, such as in an action in contract or tort, and also he could be prosecuted for certain crimes.

There is no provision in Section 3(1) of the Sedition Act which says that saying that a sultan can be sued is a seditious tendency.

Moreover, Section 3(2)(a) totally absolves Karpal Singh of any wrongdoing under the Sedition Act for his remark. Section 3 (2)(a) says:

3. (2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) an act, speech, words, publication or other thing shall not be deemed to be seditious by reason only that it has a tendency –

(a) to show that any Ruler has been misled or mistaken in any of his measures;

Rightly or wrongly Karpal Singh thought that the ruler could be sued by way of a judicial review for what was perceived by him as the unconstitutional appointment of Zambry as Mentri Besar.

Judicial review was thought by many lawyers at the time to be the proper course to take to correct the mistaken step taken by the ruler in the appointment of a new Mentri Besar when the incumbent Mentri Besar is still in office.

So that by virtue of paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of Section 3 of the Sedition Act 1948, what Karpal Singh had said about suing the sultan would not be treated as seditious even though the words spoken by him would show that the ruler was mistaken in his measure to appoint another Mentri Besar when the incumbent is still in office.

PP v Param Cumaraswamy is still the law on the Sedition Act 1948

The law of sedition which I have referred to in this article is taken from my judgment in PP v Param Cumaraswamy [1986] CU (Rep) 606 which was decided almost 23 years ago.

Cumaraswamy is authority for the statement of the statute law of sedition as it stands. It is also useful for its concise treatment of the Sedition Act 1948.

To this day, it is still the law of the land as it has not been overruled by any higher court.

As Malaysians Cry for Perak, the Senile and Evil One Goes "He, He, He"!

As our hearts bleed and Malaysians cry in shame for the sinister power grab in Perak, the senile and evil old dictator finds it in his black, black heart to joke around and laugh at his own Malay race in Perak who felt betrayed by their elected leaders, and, woe of woes, by their very own beloved Sultan. How sick can the senile one get!

"He, he, he!" the evil senile laughed as he saw how thousands upon thousands of betrayed and angry supporters gathered at the residence of rightfully elected Perak Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who had been ordered to quit by the royal one. The evil one knew from experience that come tomorrow and as sure as the sun will rise, the police will throw tear gas into the crowd of disappointed and betrayed subjects of the royal one if they continue with their protestations. At this thought, the senile and evil one gleefully went "he, he, he!" Only a sicko can be tickled to his funnybone at the sight of the battalion of police and FRUs clashing with unarmed citizens, many of whom would have just returned from Friday prayers at a nearby mosque.

"He, he, he", the senile and evil one laughed louder at the sickening event unfolding in Perak. He laughed at the corrupt frogs jumping in and out. He laughed at the rightfully elected Perak Chief Minister who was dismissed by the royal one but who refused to resign as Menteri Besar. He was gleeful at the thought of the rightfully elected Perak Chief Minister being 'campak' (thrown) out of the latter's office which had already been emptied by the police. Come to think of it, how strange that the evil one knew that Datuk Seri Nizar's room had already been emptied by the police at about the same time that the latter found out that his office was emptied and was being thrown out of his office. It must be true,then, that this senile and evil one is, indeed, the 'devil incarnate' himself (as someone once said), since he sees all and knows all that are happening around him. Either that or the template for this sinister power grab was his own making and put into immediate practice by his proxy.

He gleefully scorned as he recalled the failed attempt by his one-time nemesis, the Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take over the Federal Government by 16 September of the previous year. And the devil incarnate laughed the loudest as he poked fun at DS Awar's embarrassment as the UMNO frog jumped in and out of the Opposition Coalition front, followed by the corrupted frogs from the opposition, the actions of whom had caused the Perak Opposition Government to fall, escalating into the illegal power grab that we witnessed on this dark 5th day of Feb 2009 in Perak.

Yes, O senile and evil one, go on, laugh at the expense of betrayed and pained Malaysians. Laughed your heart out at the mess you made and the havoc on democracy that you wreaked upon this country during your 30 years' rule. What happened in Perak today was the fruit of your evil creation. True Malaysians hold you accountable for what happened in Perak today. You had promoted corruption in the Government for 30 years. You had encouraged money politics in UMNO elections. For 30 years, you run this country with your evil dictator claws. You governed Malaysia with rampant corruption, nepotism, and cronyism. You are the Greatest Abuser of Power Malaysians have ever seen, falling short only of Mugabe's record abusive rule. O Senile and Most Evil One, YOU ARE THE FATHER OF CORRUPTION, NEPOTISM AND CRONYISM.

Go on, go laugh at us, poor Malaysians. Poke fun at our betrayal by the royalty that we pinned our hopes on. Enjoy our pain. Laugh at us, and we will repay you with prayers and curses that will run down through your very own descendants to eternity. Do unto others what you would that they do unto you. You will reap what you sow. On judgment day, be prepared for whatever will be inflicted upon you. Yes, senile and evil one, just laugh with all your might. Go on, continue to "he, he, he" as we heap our curses upon you, and laugh some more and loudly as you laugh yourself to your grave...

Pak Lah Doing A 'Marc Anthony' on Najib?

I sense a 'Marc Anthony' being pulled on Najib by none other than the seemingly 'harmless' premier that Najib and his UMNO warlords are ousting from office and whom Najib will replace as premier come March 2009.

[What is a Marc Anthony stunt? This I derive from the clever stunt pulled by Marc Anthony in subtly rousing the rabble to avenge Caesar's death. Marc Anthony, a close friend of Julius Caesar, cleverly used his famous "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" speech to rouse the rabble to mutiny to revenge Caesar's death. Julius Caesar had just been murdered by a group of conspirators (that included Caesar's trusted friend, Brutus) and Marc Anthony is now trying to reveal the true story to the public. However, Marc Anthony is in quite an awkward situation, he cannot directly accuse Brutus and others of this heinous crime because of their high positions and power. He must stir up the crowd and rouse them to anger and mutiny, and he does this through this famous eulogy by using different types of speech strategies and communication to let them see what happened without just bluntly telling them. Marc Anthony cleverly uses everything in his repertoire, from sarcasm to gesticulations, and from repetition to antidotes. Once he started his speech it seemed like he already had the crowd under his spell. He continued to put down the assassins of Julius Caesar until the rabble reacted just as he had wished and planned. By the time he finished his speech, he had turn the word 'honourable' around to, in fact, mean dishonourable. In the end, he successfully rouse the rabble into mutiny and wreak vengeance upon the conspirators responsible for Caesar's death.]

Pak Lah gave the statement below to the media when asked to comment on the explosive report on the sms exchanges between Najib and lawyer Shafee Abdullah on the progress of the Altantuya murder case. Somehow, Pak Lah's utterances and words keep bringing that 'Marc Anthony' stunt to mind.

Extracted from Malaysia Today:

PAK LAH GIVES STRONG ENDORSEMENT TO NAJIB
Posted by St Low
Tuesday, 14 October 2008 09:09

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has come out with the strongest statement yet to back his successor Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“I want Datuk Seri Najib to succeed me, I want all party members to give their support to him and I believe he can be a good leader,” he said.

The Prime Minister said he was happy that Najib received nominations to contest the party president post from all the 28 divisions that met on Sunday.

“Of course I should be happy because people are supporting him. That’s very good,” he said after delivering his keynote address at the US-Islamic World Regional Forum .

To a question on an allegation by Malaysia Today that Najib had allegedly abused his power and interfered in the investigation into the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, Abdullah said he did not believe Najib had abused his power.

Abdullah said: “I can’t believe that Najib would want to abuse his power. If he’s the one who plans to abuse his power, how can he be my successor?”

“I believe in him, I believe he’s a good person and he would be a good prime minister and would be able to provide good leadership, so I can’t believe he would be involved in the abuse of power,” he said.

With the choice of words that Pak Lah picks, and repetitive use of ambiguous words and grammar tense, I just can't help but go off on a Marc Anthony tangent. Well, it is probably coincidence given Pak Lah's tendencies to go into 'blur'-dom when confronted with seemingly obvious issues and tight situations. But could the choice of words be deliberate? Someone, somewhere did point out that Pak Lah may not be as dumb as he seems. So, note the choice of words in the following:

“I want Datuk Seri Najib to succeed me, I want all party members to give their support to him and I believe he can be a good leader,” he said.

Why say "he can be a good leader" when it is more convincing to say "...he is a good leader"? Is Pak lah saying: Najib is not a good leader now but he can be a good leader? Then, there is the:

“Of course I should be happy because people are supporting him. That’s very good,”

"I should be happy..."? Why not just say "I am very happy that people are supporting him"? Looks like Pak Lah is not really that happy...but he should be happy for his so-called appointed successor! Using the words 'Of course' doesn't make Pak Lah sound more convincing either. Is it just me or is that a hint of sarcasm there? Oh, and it gets better...

Abdullah said: “I can’t believe that Najib would want to abuse his power. If he’s the one who plans to abuse his power, how can he be my successor?”

Pak Lah says "I can’t believe..." when he should have said "I don't believe that Najib would want to abuse his power". There 's a huge difference between "can't" and "don't" here, innit? Isn't Pak Lah saying: "OMG, I just can't believe Najib would want to abuse power. See...he is the one (not me!) who plans to abuse his power (sic), so how can you dungu people nominate him to be my successor!" This would be a more correct interpretation of what Pak Lah says above, I would say.

“I believe in him, I believe he’s a good person and he would be a good prime minister and would be able to provide good leadership, so I can’t believe he would be involved in the abuse of power,” he said.

"I believe he's a good person"? Why not just say: "He is a good person, of high morals"?!!! Further, Pak Lah says "...he would be a good prime minister". Why not say, "...he will be a good prime minister"?! And notice how Pak Lah repeated "I can’t believe he would be involved in the abuse of power”. (Sounds more like: OMG, I really just can't believe Najib is abusing his power!) I would think using "I don't believe" here instead of "I can't" would be more convincing should Pak Lah have full confidence in Najib.

Many may argue that English is not our mother tongue... so Pak Lah (and Malaysians, at large) can be excused for picking certain 'not-so-convincing' words in such impromptu media interviews. Aiyaaa, who really gives a damn about my beliefs, my don't's and can't's, my would-be's, will-be's, and should-be's? As long as I get my incoherent thoughts across. Who bloody cares! Well, maybe so. But Najib didn't help diffuse the situation much. His own admission that there had been such an exchange is truly shocking. But even more shocking is his arrogance that it is none of our bloody business to be concern about such sms exchanges between the second most powerful person in the country and a shifty defence lawyer! Najib himself puts it wonderfully when ask to comment on the sms exchanges between him and Shafee:

"Why should it be a major concern? The important thing that is of public concern is the (allegation of abuse of power). If you read it (the messages) very carefully, there is no abuse of power. Period."

Still, the budding parallels between Pak Lah's public utterances and Mark Anthony 'honourable' speech linger. Whilst there is an open endorsement of Najib as the next premier and that "he would be a good prime minister", there's seems to be an underlying sense at rousing public sentiment to question "If he’s the one who plans to abuse his power, how can he be my successor?” Do I sense some emerging doubts here? Why the necessity to say "...how can he be my successor?"!!! Seems to me like a subtle stunt to plant some doubts in the public mind as to the credibility of his successor.

And in view of recent events, could this also be moving towards a tit for tat here, much like Marc Anthony's quest for vengence? An eye for an eye...cos when you oust me, I will make you pay! Are those the unseen hands from the fourth floor at play?

In the first place, how did those sms exchanges leaked out from deep within the belly of some telephone companies' database? Don't you need some powerful hands to be able to retrieve those? And it didn't help much either when more leakages occurred ...like the complaint letters to Najib on the controversial shady Eurocopter deal and other sins of Najib that were made public for the whole world to see.

So, watch out, world ...what the fourth floor boys can do, you ain't seen nothing yet!

In Support of RPK

As part of my daily ritual when visiting MT this morning, one article titled "Bermulalah Perang Terhadap Najib" caught my attention, and I followed the link:

http://aminiskandar.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/bermulalah-perang-terhadap-najib-razak/

Interesting post by Encik Amin. Reading En. Amin's post, it becomes increasingly clear there is a real concern among many Malaysians on the the future of this country after the premiership change come March 2009. The concern centres on the fact that there are many, many unanswered questions regarding the Altantuya murder case, and more importantly, the alleged connection of this country's 'possibly' future premier to this notorious murder case. It would be worth their while if the powers that be make some attempts or are seen to make some attempts to address the concerns of the rakyat on the matter. If people's concern and suspicions are left to fester, then it would not be far wrong to say that the situation will only get worse, and the two banners included in the said post could multiply tenfold in terms of banner numbers, but surely a hundredfold in the minds of the masses.

But what further caught my interest was another article on the same page. En. Amin had posted a letter which the father of the late Altantuya wrote in support of RPK. I thought I'd heed En. Amin's call to publish the letter. And not just the letter but the post is reproduced in total below:

Surat Bapa Altantuya bela RPK

7 10 2008

Diatas adalah surat yang dikirim oleh bapa kepada Altantuya Shaariibuu, Dr. Shariibuu Setev kepada Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) yang kini terpenjara selama dua tahun di Kem Tahanan Kamunting dan sedang menghadapi perbicaraan di Mahkamah Sesyen Petaling Jaya diatas tuduhan dibawah Akta Hasutan.

Surat tersebut dikirimkan olehnya kepada penulis blog Susan Loone yang ditulis dengan tulisan tangannya sendiri. Terjemahan dalam Bahasa Inggeris surat tersebut berbunyi begini:

I understand, Mr. Raja Petra has good personal character and has a good reputation and runs humanitarian activity.

I understand that the below issues were directly connected with murder case of my daughter:

- Who did arrange visa issue for my daughter while she visited in French?
- Who was attending in the trip to French and what did they do?

If it could make clear those issues, they would understand every thing. Why is there so much force and influence in the case? Because there was a serious issue. Thus they destroyed my daughter.

Unfortunately, they pressed down Mr.Raja Petra’s statement. I think this issue needs to get attention from international human right organizations.

He (RPK) shouldn’t be a victim of politic for justice. It would be justice if they release Mr.Raja Petra.

As we are, all Mongolian worry for him and his justice, we lack of information on truth and situation.

Signed:

Mongolian citizen:Shaariibuu Setev
06.Oct.2008

Dalam surat tersebut, Dr. Shaariibuu turut mempersoalkan tentang siapakah yang menguruskan visa Altantuya untuk ke Perancis. Selain daripada itu beliau merasakan bahawa RPK menjadi mangsa ISA kerana membongkar pengelibatan pemimpin tertinggi kerajaan Malaysia dalam kes pembunuhan warga Mongolia, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Diharap teman-teman penulis blog yang bersimpati kepada RPK dapat turut menyiarkan surat ini diblog masing-masing.

Mansuhkan ISA!!!

It is such a tragedy that RPK and his family have to suffer for trying to do something to uncover the truth. And I'd like to thank brave souls like RPK and like-minded Malaysians and bloggers for simply trying to make Malaysia a safe and better place to live in. Thank you, Brave Malaysians!

One Down, 29 To Go - Advantage Pakatan Rakyat

Today, 8th September 2008, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Opposition Leader of Pakatan Rakyat scored another point towards realising his 16th September campaign to overthrow the National Front (BN) Government, eight days ahead of the scheduled date. Today, the BN has one less Member of Parliament (MP), thanks to the Kota Kinabalu High Court which this morning ruled against Tan Sri Joseph Kurup the unopposed winner of the Pensiangan Parliamentary seat in the March 8 general elections. This was reported in major online news portal more or less like this:

BN now has one MP less

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 8 — The Kota Kinabalu High Court today declared null and void the election of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup as the unopposed winner of the Pensiangan parliamentary seat in the March 8 general election. — Bernama (http://www.malaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia)

At the rate things are moving, Anwar might just make his dream come true, well...maybe not overthrow the BN Government exactly on 16th September but sometime before end of the year. Even with the whole Malaysian Government machinery fighting every move Anwar makes to realising his ambition of becoming the next Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar seems almost certain and closer to making this ambition a reality.

The BN Government, especially UMNO, has pulled every stunt in the book, even the seemingly most foolish and illogical, to deny Anwar his ambition. The past few months, ever since Anwar announced his intention to contest in a by-election as the first step towards getting into mainstream Malaysian politics, have seen incredulous allegations and charges against Anwar:

• the ridiculous Sodomy II and the impending court appearance on 10 September;
• the high drama arrest of Anwar by 30 policemen in full blalacava gear in 16 police cars;
• the demand for Anwar's DNA samples by UMNO people in high places including the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, himself;
• the 'oath-taking' demands on Anwar from numerous UMNO parrots just as his accuser, Saifool, and Deputy Prime Minister Najib, ridiculous as it seems, have done;
• the conspicuous tabling of the DNA Bill in Parliament on the very day polling for the Peramatang Pauh by-election was going on, and where Anwar and all his men were on the fileld ensuring Anwar's landslide victory; and
• now, the all-paid trip to a retreat (or is it a course?) in Australia for BN MPs from 7th to 19 September, obviously to head off Anwar's 16th September plan.

Despite the might and power of the Malaysian government machinery, all the above (not including the latter) failed to stop Anwar's landslide victory in Permatang Pauh. And now even with Anwar in Parliament, the BN Government is being made even more desperate to ensure, as openly promised by PM Badawi himself, that Anwar is stopped in his tracks to Putrajaya.

But by the way events are unfolding on a daily basis, Anwar might just get to Putrajaya. The 30 Members of Parliament (MPs) that Anwar needs to change the Government, as Anwar himself has openly announced, are from Sabah and Sarawak. There rumour mills have been on overdrive as the 16 September date looms near, and numerous rumours have been making their rounds. In the case of Sabah, the two Sabah SAPP MPs have made their intentions clear ever since announcing their support for any 'vote-of-no-confidence' against Prime Minister Badawi for BN's disastrous performance in the general elections last March. In addition to these two doubtful SAPP/MP seats for BN, today's decision by the Kota Kinabalu High Court to rule BN's win in Pensiangan as null and void could spell greater trouble for BN as these could mean 3 less seats for BN.

So, in the light of all that have been happening these few months, including and especially today's Kota Kinabalu High Court decision and the loss of an MP seat for BN, Anwar might just be headed straight to Putrajaya, maybe not on scheduled on 16th September as planned, but still on track to Putrajaya. Yes, right on track to a change in the government, and on to a new and better Malaysia for all Malaysians.

Anwar Ibrahim Wins Permatang Pauh By A Landslide!

Congratulations, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim! You did it! You won Permatang Pauh! A landslide victory for Anwar, for Reformasi! Now on to Putrajaya, Mr Prime Minister-in-waiting...

The official results of the Permatang Pauh By-election today, as announced by the Elections Commission at 10.02 pm, 26 August 2008:

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim: 31,195 votes

Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah: 15,524 votes

Hanafi Mamat: 92 votes

Majority: 15,671
Voter Turnout: 80%
Total Votes: 47,258
Spoilt Votes: 447

Datuk Seri, you have successfully made the first step on the road to Putrajaya. You've won the ticket to be the next Prime Minister of Malaysia. This is a huge victory for reformasi and democracy in Malaysia! While we rejoice with you, it would be worth our while to take into account that this is only the beginning of the more difficult task to bring about the necessary changes to this country.

Be aware, as we know you are, be very aware that UMNO/BN will do whatever it takes to stop you. You beat the odds, and it is a great psychological bonus for you to have destroyed whatever tiny hope that UMNO/BN had to reduce your majority from the 13,348 votes that Datin Seri secured in the General Elections last March. You even denied them of that puny little hope as proof of the erosion of the people's trust in you. On the contrary, your increased majority of 15,671 votes can only mean that more and more Malaysians are beginning to look up to Datuk Seri to lead this nation to greater heights.

We know as well as you do that the road ahead will be very hard and tough. On top of that, Datuk Seri will have to carry on your shoulders the hopes and aspirations of the people of Malaysia. But while we, the rakyat, have placed our hopes and dreams on you, be assured that our prayers are also with you on your journey to Putrajaya. Our prayers and support are with you as we work together towards the fulfillment of the people's aspiration in building this great nation called Malaysia.

Thank you, and our prayers are with you, Datuk Seri.

D-Day in Permatang Pauh, D-Day for Malaysia

Today is an exciting day for Malaysians. It is D-Day in Permatang Pauh.

Today, 26 August 2008, is polling day for the by-election in Permatang Pauh. Never in Malaysia's history has so much focus, hope and expectations of millions heaped on a single by-election. This by-election is critical because Malaysia's Opposition de facto leader, the iconic and charismatic Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be slugging it out at his home base with BN/UMNO's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, and an Independent unknown, Hanafi Mamat, who had become nearly invisible since nominations day on 16 August. This by-election brings the hope for changes in the country's governance that millions of Malaysians are looking forward to. This Permatang Pauh by-election could be the re-birth of true democracy and good governance in Malaysia.

This by-election is also a Do-or-Die for both sides. The fight is not so much between the two major contenders - Arif versus Anwar. The implications goes beyond these two contenders. The actual battle is between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and and Malaysia's ruling government, the Barisan Nasional (BN). Anwar is seeking a comeback to politics after an absence of 10 years, during which he was sacked from UMNO in 1998 and after that jailed for six years on sodomy charges which Anwar now alleged was fabricated by UMNO, then led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and involving some in the government. As Anwar had often publicly announced since his active return to politics, he is seeking a comeback to overthrow the corrupt UMNO/BN out of government, and formed the next Government of Malaysia, albeit from political crossovers by BN lawmakers to his Pakatan Rakyat (PR, or the People's Coalition).

Anwar was Member of Parliament (MP) for Permatang Pauh from 1982 to 1999, the year he was hit by corruption and sodomy charges that landed him in jail. Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, the PKR President, held the seat for 3 terms until she resigned last 31st July 2008, paving the way for Anwar's return to Malaysian politics. From then, all hell broke loose for the charismatic and ambitious Anwar. Since the General Elections (GE) last March, where the opposition coalition wrested control of five states, Anwar created havoc for UMNO and BN when he repeatedly announced that he will form the next Government come September 16, 2008 as he has at least 30 MPs waiting in the wings to cross as as soon as he enters the House of Parliament. The GE last March heralded a New Dawn for Malaysia, Anwar declared, and he announced to all that he is the Prime Minister-in-waiting. Hence, the significance of today's by-election. This Permatang Pauh by-election is the ticket to head the new government of Malaysia for this Prime Minister-in-waiting. Permatang Pauh will lead the way for Anwar to Putrajaya, the seat of the Government of Malaysia. Hence, the by-election's battle cry: From Permatang Pauh to Putrajaya.

Today, 26 August 2008, Malaysia is on the threshold of a historical event of the political kind. Should he win, Anwar will have put an end to the 50-year dominance of UMNO in leading the BN government. Fifty years is quite a long time - enough time for corruption, cronyism and abuse of power to fester and take root. These are what Anwar claims he want to fight and get rid of. For such noble goals, many Malaysians welcome Anwar with open arms. For many Malaysians, sick and fed-up with all the repressive abuse of power, corruption and cronyism reaching high up in the highest BN echelons, Anwar represents a change - a change, not immediate, but a change nonetheless away from this sickening, repressive and abusive manner in which government of the day is manipulating the people in their desperation to hold on to power. The people are simply tired. The people are fed-up and sick at the revolting tactics the ruling government is using against anyone who dared to stand up to them. Anwar represents that beacon of light that dared to shine and expose to the world the terrible darkness that engulf the corrupt and the evil that is UNMO/BN.

Because Permatang Pauh could spell the political demise of those presently in control of UMNO, led by the Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and his Deputy, Najib Tun Razak, all stops were unplugged and all possible means to stop and get Anwar were put into fast drive. The path to Permatang Pauh had not only been difficult and challenging for Anwar, it had been soiled with filth and vile accusations of the sordid kind that could only have been borne from the brain cells of the clones of the devil incarnate himself. Because of the success of the trumped-up sodomy charge of 1998 that had thrown Anwar in jail for six years, a similar sodomy charge was hastily cooked up at end-June/early-July when Anwar was still mulling in which Parliamentary seat he would be contesting. The sodomy charge was similar to that of 1998 in every manner conceivable that it became Sodomy II. It is laughable at how UMNO top officials are totally devoid of any creativity and new ideas at how to get Anwar. The copy-cat sodomy charge is evident of UMNO's desperation to stop Anwar at all costs. The past weeks since end-July have been terribly sad, maddening but mostly embarrassing for many Malaysians to be exposed to all the sodomy charges that only people in UMNO are capable of hurling at Anwar. They even have the stomach to drag such filthon to their holy ground, to the oath-taking by Anwar's sodomy accuser in a mosque in Kuala Lumpur. It is just incomprehensible that the UMNO top officials are blind to the people's true sentiments. They are obviously blinded by their greed and their desperation to hold on to power. I have a strong feeling that for all these bad deeds and all their devious actions and tactics, the UMNO top officials will pay for in Permatang Pauh.

As I write this, it is past 4.00 pm, I am also surfing to see a few websites that give live reports and updates from Permatang Pauh. From noon to nearly 5.00pm, the eye witness reports coming in by the minute say that the voters turnout has risen from 50% at noon to possible 70%-75% by 4.30 pm; the polling stops at 5.00pm. High turnout is great for Anwar. Some reports say that Anwar's majority is climbing over and above 10,000 and could reach 15,000 or possibly 20,000. Another report claims that Anwar has already won, garnering 60% of the votes. Some supporters have started their chants, "Hail to the new Prime Minister of Malaysia!" This are good news for Malaysians and democracy.

Indeed, today looks set to be a good day for great changes in Malaysia. This day looks real good for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This day will bring in a New Dawn for Malaysia. Indeed, today will spell the rebirth of democracy in Malaysia.

Big Time Betrayal For Sabah by Yet Another UMNO Chief Minister

Barely have Sabahans gotten over the folly of its infamous gambler cum ex-Chief Minister, Osu Sukam (please refer to my earlier post "Of Elections, The Development Promises, The Betrayal), now Sabahans are further embarrassed, not to mention made very much poorer, by the current Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman should a report on money traficking and money laundering (see below) be true. The report below basically says that the Hong Kong Government has arrested one Michael Chia, the adopted brother of Datuk Seri Musa Aman, at the Chep Lap Kok Airport and has seized the RM16 million worth of Singapore currency which Michael Chia was attempting to smuggle out of Hong Kong. Chia is alledged to be involved in money laundering and traficking in Hong Kong together with two other partners of Musa Aman. When arrested, Chia pleaded to be freed as the money belongs to Musa Aman, and that he (Chia) is merely an agent to take the money out of Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur for the Permatang Pauh by-elections.

It comes as a shock to many Sabahans to think that the Chief Minister they voted in the General Elections last March would be even remotely involved in money laundering and traficking, much less have an adopted brother who had confessed to the police that the ill-gotten money belongs to the Chief Minister. Come to think of it, in the current manner Malaysia is being managed by the powers that be, it would be naive for Sabahans to think that the Chief Minster could be where he is today without having to pay 'ang-pow' money (much like the mafia protection money) to those higher-ups in UMNO who govern and corrupt Malaysia every which way they can. The timing of this latest revelation involving Musa Aman and BN/UMNO couldn't have come at a better time - on the third day of the campaign period for the by-election in Permatang Pauh (polling day is on 26 August 2008), deemed a critical by-election that could forever change the political landscape of Malaysia and spell the end of the corrupted BN Government, the ruling coalition that had governed and held Malaysia by her throat for the past 50 years since Independence.

The article which, if true, reveals concrete evidence and the missing link between Musa Aman and the more than an average joe's riches that the Aman brothers/family flaunt (riches which obviously belong to Sabah), was posted in Malaysia Today on this 18th day of August, 2008:

http://malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/11529/84/

Kerajaan Hong Kong Rampas Wang Musa Aman?

Posted by Super Admin
Monday, 18 August 2008 13:20
Oleh: 'Deep Throat' Sabah

Penangkapan adik angkat Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman iaitu Michael Chia di Hong Kong pada jam 2.35 petang khamis (14 Ogos 2008) telah membongkar misteri di sebalik enigma.

Michael Chia ditangkap polis Hong Kong di Lapangan Terbang Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong ketika ingin menyertai penerbangan ke Kuala Lumpur.

Menurut sumber rapat Polis Hong Kong dan Interpol, mereka telah memantau kegiatan haram Michael Chia sejak tiga tahun lalu dan akhirnya berjaya menangkap Michael bersama bukti wang tunai Singapura bernilai RM16 juta yang diseludup keluar daripada Hong Kong di dalam beg pakaiannya.

Setelah disoalsiasat, Michael merayu agar dibebaskan kerana wang berkenaan milik Musa Aman dan beliau hanyalah agen membawa keluar wang berkenaan ke Kuala Lumpur bagi membantu meringankan beban kewangan Barisan Nasional dalam proses penamaan calon di Permatang Pauh dan sebahagiannya untuk kegunaan pilihanraya kecil berkenaan.

Penangkapan ini membuatkan Musa Aman berang dan bimbang beliau akan terjerat berikutan penahanan Michael Chia bersama bukti dan lebih malang lagi apabila akaunnya di beberapa bank di Hong Kong dibekukan serta merta.

"CM (Musa) marah betul atas kebodohan Michael Chia kerana bawa wang tunai. Kenapa tidak TT (Telegraphic Transfer) saja? Saya rasa CM kita dalam bahaya," ujar Datuk Amin Khan, seorang proksi Musa Aman ketika memberitahu rakannya yang juga Datuk melalui telefon di sebuah coffe house hotel terkemuka yang sempat didengar wakil Malaysia Today di Sabah yang secara kebetulan menikmati makan malam di situ.

Penangkapan suspek ini mengejutkan semua pihak terutama Badan Pencegah Rasuah Sabah kerana Michael Chia tidak boleh meninggalkan Negara ini tanpa mendapat izin BPR kerana pasportnya dalam simpanan BPR atas beberapa pertuduhan rasuah bersama Loh Man Heng.

Michael yang sebelum ini ditangkap bersama rakan kongsi Musa Aman, Loh Man Heng dan Chong 'Khung Long' (Chong Dinasour) kemungkinan akan dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Tinggi Hong Kong pada hari ini bagi menghadapi pertuduhan penyeludupan wang dan pengurupan wang haram (Money Traficking dan Money Laundering).

Penangkapan Michael ini memberi tamparan hebat kepada Ketua Pengarah BPR, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan kerana desas desus yang tersebar meluas mengatakan bahawa Kes Rasuah Loh Man Heng telah ditutup berikutan pengakuan Loh Man Heng sendiri bahawa beliau telah membayar sejumlah RM4 juta melalui pegawai kanan BPR, Mohd Jamidan Abdullah yang sebelum ini menutup kes Musa Aman dalam kegiatan pembalakan haram di Keningau.

Sebelum ini, Pengurus Besar Operasi Kumpulan Yayasan Sabah, Mohd Daud Tampokong yang sering kelihatan bersama dengan Michael Chia di Hong Kong dan Singapura untuk menjalankan transaksi kewangan bagi pihak Musa Aman.

Namun bak kata pepatah modern, sepandai-pandai ayam melompat, akhirnya menjadi KFC, Michael Chia terjebak walaupun sebelum ini telah berjaya melakukan traksaksi pemindahan wang dalam jumlah yang besar, namun kali ini tertangkap kerana gelojoh membawa wang tunai dengan jumlah melebihi had yang dibenarkan.

Musa Aman begitu mempercayai Michael Chia kerana syarikat bapa Michael, Chia & Sons telah banyak membantu Musa di era beliau membina kerjaya dalam bidang pembalakan dan kontrak, terutama penyewaaan skau (tongkang) untuk menarik kayu balak Musa.

Apabila Musa menjadi Pengarah Yayasan Sabah dan Ketua Menteri Sabah, Michael telah menjadi 'Taiko' dalam bidang perhutanan terutama di konsesi Yayasan Sabah.

Michael turut dibantu oleh Chong 'Khung Long' atau yang digelar 'Dinosour' kerana kegiatannya dalam bidang pembalakan haram untuk membekalkan balak kepada Michael selain daripada konsesi dengan kerjasama Pengarah Perhutanan Sabah, Datuk Sam Mannan @ Sam Singh.

Berita penangkapan Michael Chia belum diketahui umum namun tidak mengejutkan penduduk Sandakan kerana selama ini beliau menunjukkan kekayaan luar biasa dan hidup mewah dengan memiliki sekurang-kurangnya dua bungalow dan 17 kereta mewah, selain harta yang dibeli di Hong Kong dan Singapura.

"Satu sport rim keretanya sama nilainya dengan sebuah proton wira," ujar William, seorang mekanik yang menyelenggara keretanya sejak tujuh tahun lalu.

Dalam pada itu, hubungan antara Daud Tampokong dan Michael Chia terlalu rapat kerana mereka sering dilihat bersama di Shang Hai, Shang Zen, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapura dan Quang Zhou untuk menguruskan 'ang pau' untuk Musa Khan yang kebanyakannya dimasukkan ke dalam akaun Hajjah Rosmawati Haji Lasuki (Gundik Musa Aman) yang juga Pengurus Sumber Manusia dan Pentadbiran Yayasan Sabah.

The article above confirms how terribly desperate the powers that be are to hold on to power in the already terrible political state that Malaysia is currently embroiled in. What easier way to stay in power than play money politics. This RM16 million that is making its way to Permatang Pauh is obviously just tip of the iceberg. (I have not even started to mention the UMNO party elections later in October where even party members have publicly complained that delegates are already rampantly and openly buying nominations to be elected into UMNO supreme council and top party positions.) The UMNO/BN Government is pulling out the plug on this no holds barred by-elections in Permatang Pauh in a desperate bid to stop opposition de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at all costs from becoming the next Prime Minister of Malaysia. Just as it's crucial for Anwar to win this by-election and embark on his way to the country's premiership, it is a more critical Do-or-Die for UMNO, the dominant party in the ruling coalition. This desperation on the part of UMNO to hold on to power is alleged to be the reason behind the conspiracy to politically assassinate Anwar using an old political ploy - the infamous sodomy charge against Anwar. Based on an old 1998 script, for total lack of creativity on the part of the perpetrators, this latest sodomy charge - now known as Sodomy II - just seems too ridiculous to be true. And the fact that the whole UMNO machinery is moronically supporting every move the 23-year old complainant makes is evident enough that Sodomy II is all politically choreographed and, as Anwar says, a political conspiracy as only UMNO is capable of.

Should Anwar win the Permatang Pauh by-election on 26 August 2008, the Prime Minister and his cronies and the Deputy Prime Minister and his cronies, too, should be counting the days to their political demise. The former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, who ruled Malaysia with an iron fist for 22 years and who everyone now knows was behind Sodomy I had recently said that if Anwar becomes Prime Minister, he will migrate. So to those behind Sodomy II (by now many Malaysians know who they are because of the internet), be prepared to join Mahathir in his migration plans. And should Anwar win the by-election, Malaysians can look forward to a change for the better and to a New Dawn for Malaysia.

This piece of information is important to Sabahans. This information has revealed the type of Chief Minister we have under BN and in UMNO and which Sabahans have voted for in the General Elections last March. See what Sabahans voted for as their leader - a Chief Minister who sole purpose during his chiefministership tenure seems to be self-enrichment. This RM16 million - just the tip of the iceberg, obviously - is a hell lot of money. It could built schools and provide clean water supply in many villages in Sabah where even these basic amentities are glaringly lacking. Many Sabahans were terribly dissapointed at the conculsion of the General Elections last March: Sabah was the first State in the country to announce a win for Barisan Nasional. It seemed Sabahans never learnt!

Well now, Sabahans, learn this. The current political situation is troubling many right thinking Malaysians. The blantant use and abuse of the total Government machinery, especially the police and the public prosecutor's office, by BN/UMNO for their own political agenda raises serious questions on the current misrule of law in this country. What this country critically needs at this point in time is a CHANGE from the direction this country is heading into; we need a change towards a better future for all Malaysians .... a Malaysia for all races. At this point, if Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim represents that promise for change and seems to be our only hope for a change, so be it. Malaysian will want to support those individuals/parties that promise a change for a better future and equality for Malaysians, irrespective of race. To initiate such a change immediately, Sabah's Members of Parliament (MPs) must be among the 30 or so MPs that Anwar needs to jump over to the alternative front (Pakatan Rakyat) to form the next Government of Malaysia. To the Sabahan MPs, do the wise thing when Anwar Ibrahim wins Permatang Pauh on 26 August 2008. Join en masse the Pakatan Rakyat and help Anwar Ibrahim form the next democratic Government of Malaysia. Let Sabahans be counted and let us make a difference in forever changing the political landscape of Malaysia. Let Sabah go down in history as an important kingmaker at a time when it is duty bound and critical to do so. Sabahans, let us redeem ouselves. Let us save Sabah and Malaysia from the clutches of the evil, corrupted and greedy UMNO. Let us do the wise thing - support and vote for change - and, for once, let us do good for our country, for our children and for own future.

An End to the Vile Malaysian Ruling Elite Brand of Politicking. Finally?

Is that a silver lining I see on the dark threatening cloud that has hovered over Malaysia's political landscape this past month? Is this really the end to the vile and filthy brand of politicking that has become synonymous to Malaysia's ruling gangster elite aka UMNO? We had prayed so.

This past month, right thinking Malaysians have been praying for an end to the Government's devious charade against a true Malaysian citizen. Malaysians have been deeply troubled by the unfolding events this past 4-weeks, especially the blatant acts of law of the jungle by our law enforcers right up to the highest office of the Government of Malaysia, the Prime Minister himself. Right thinking Malaysians were horrified at the vigorous actions taken against one single Malaysian citizen by the combined force of Malaysia's law enforcement system and high-ranking Government officials and lawmakers, largely comprising the UMNO elite, especially in their hounding demands for Anwar's DNA samples. Right thinking citizens of Malaysia at large could only stand and watch, question and pray that this abuse of power by the government of Malaysia against a Malaysian citizen and his family will come to end soon. And God seemed to have answered our prayers exactly one month to the day this evil attack was launched against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 28 June 2008.

Ever since that day, 28 June 2008, when the sodomy charge was filed against Datuk Seri Anwar, an obvious repeat of the political fiasco that brought him down 10 years earlier, Malaysia struggled to hold on to its dignity and integrity. Or at least, the average Malaysians tried to, but their efforts at keeping a straight and honest face kept getting derailed by, of all people, their own leaders, those tasked to manage the Government, from the law enforcing personnel, the law upholders, the ministers in charge, and right up to the highest offices in Government, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister. Malaysians, at large, cringed at the thought of a repeat of the 1998 legal fiasco - an alleged sodomy that took place at an apartment building that didn't even exist, the kangaroo court, the disgusting sight of a mattress hauled in and out or court - that have left a bad imprint on the public's mind. Malaysians, in general, fear a repeat of the the sodomy charge of 1998 which, manipulated by Mahathir Mohamed's ala Zimbabwe rule, managed to put an end to the career of a rising political star who ended up jailed for the next 6 years. Oh no, not again, you can literally hear Malaysia groaned. And to our horror, the political drama began unfolding much in the same manner as that notorious case against the same individual 10 years earlier: the police report by the alleged victim (which was never made available to the accused) was followed by a dramatic arrest of the accused by police dressed in full balaclava gear and in 15 police vehicles, and the desperate attempt to secure fresh DNA samples of the accused via medical checkup and overnight cell confinement, the failure of which was followed by thundering cries and demands from notorious lawmakers, the Home Minister and the clueless Prime Minister for fresh DNA samples of the accused. This time around, however, Anwar Ibrahim knew better, and did not heed to such idiotic demands by the ruling elite gangsters for his fresh DNA samples . This time around, too, Malaysians at large, and much of the world's free countries kept a close watch, admonishing and warning the Malaysian government to heed the rule of law in their handling of Anwar's case.

The ruling elite should have known better as this is no longer 1998. People always learn, even monkeys do. When you know that the enemy is up to the same tricks, you steer away, call their bluff and you fight back, tooth and nail. The enemy should have known that when you prepare for battle using faked ammunition, you need to mobilise an idiotic bunch of soldiers who are willing to die for your idiosyncrasies and your craze for power. Therein lies the problem. You may fool some people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time. There are bound to be good people somewhere in this God forsaken country who still possess these things called conscience and integrity. Thank God, there are. There are people who will use their conscience to do the right thing in their line of duty. We are grateful for the noble act of one Dr. Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid who gave a factual medical report on the real status of the alleged sodomy victim.

I first read about the leaked hospital report yesterday (28 July 2008) on the Malaysia Today website, which I have been trying to access since 2.00pm today (it is now 6.30pm) but couldn't. The website is obviously being hacked again. I had to go to Anwar Ibrahim's blog for the life-saving report. The following leaked hospital report confirms that the sodomy charge is a political assassination of Anwar Ibrahim:

http://anwaribrahimblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/rep2.pdf

The good doctor's report confirms Anwar's contention that the sodomy allegation is baseless and nothing but a political conspiracy by political figures high up in the government. Anwar Ibrahim held a press conference today to condemn the police for "their negligence, dishonesty and recklessness in humiliating the nation by dragging us all through this vile and filthy charade" and told the police to stop the probe.

DS Anwar Ibrahim's Press Statement, 29 July 2008, 11.30am

Today, 29 July 2008, is a great day for truth and justice in Malaysia. Today, in Malaysia, is the beginning of the end to the vile and devious politicking tactics of the ruling elite gangsterism that is UMNO. Is it? Finally?

Today should have been a great day for truth and justice in Malaysia. Today should have been the day to start putting an end to the shame and disgrace that have painted the political landscape of Malaysia. But it is apparent that these shameless and disgraceful political attackers have not yet shown the white flag. No, in their line of battle, these political attackers never have any white flag on them, and neither do they intend to have one. They do not know the meaning of defeat. Even if they fall hard to a shameful death, they would still be screaming bloody victory to their name. Obviously, they do not seem to possess the humble characteristic of being gracious in defeat. No, these political animals do not have the word 'conscience' in their vocabulary and neither do they know the meaning of justice and integrity. How then can we, mere citizens on the street, expect them to possess even an iota of 'good' in their governance?

Is that a silver lining I see on the dark threatening cloud that has hovered over Malaysia's political landscape this past month? Is this really the end to the vile and filthy brand of politicking that has become synonymous to Malaysia's ruling gangster elite aka UMNO? We had prayed so. But, by the way events are moving, and the manner in which the Malaysian clones of the devil incarnate continue to operate, it looks like we have to pray harder. Pray hard, but play even smarter.

Malaysia's Innocence Destroyed by Disgusting Sex Crime Charges

Innocence is robbed from the cradle. Young minds in Malaysia are being exposed to sickening sex details of the perverted kind. And innocence is lost. Forever.

It must be very tough growing up in Malaysia these past 10 years. Innocence is robbed from the cradle by the public keeper itself, the Malaysian Government, driven in this rampage and rape of innocent minds by the dominant ruling party. Blinded by power craze and completely devoid of conscience, the ruling politicians bring down their political opponents using not just simple sex charges but the more perverted kind - sodomy - and make complete use of the government-controlled media, the daily tabloids and the courts system to feed young innocent Malaysian minds with daily doses of disgusting sodomy details. It seems that Malaysia's political favourite to bring down the enemy is the sodomy charge. Whenever their positions are threatened, these political animals mobilise the whole government machinery, the notorious ones being, as events have shown, those that uphold and enforce the law of the land, spearheaded by none other than the offices of the Attorney-General (AG) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

A child who was an innocent 8-year old in 1998 would be 18 today. The beginnings and the learning of his sexuality, or leaning thereof, would have started in 1998 or much earlier. Now remember the shameful court debacle in 1998 under the rule of the longest-term Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammed? Remember the sordid and disgusting sodomy details charged against a single Malaysian citizen by the powerful might of the whole Malaysian Government machinery, its media circus and its kangaroo courts, all 'according to standard operating procedures' and legalised by the public prosecutor office and protected by the police? Remember the sickening sight of the mattress being hauled in and out of court, the so-called semen stains evidence and intimate anal intercourse details for all and sundry? The word 'liwat' (sodomy in Malay) instantly became a popular household word and the butt (pun intended) of silly jokes! To a wide-eyed 8-year old just beginning to explore his sexuality, can you imagine what sort of ideas and questioning curiosity can start seeding and growing in his little brain? The whole Government machinery, the media and the legal system were teaching and showing the child that if you want to cut a man down and destroy him and his political ambitions, all you need to do is use the sodomy charge against him the Malaysian way. Sodomy, a very serious crime in largely Muslim Malaysia and punishable up to a 20-year jail-term, is probably the only crime very impossible to disprove, and especially in Malaysia, any shortcoming in evidence can easily be trumped up and fabricated. And the fabrication procedures, as events have shown, are all very legal, covered and protected by the upholders and enforcers of the law in the land - courtesy of the offices of the AG and the IGP!

If the 8-year old child knows how to take the right from the wrong, then everything will be fine and dandy. But remember when you were eight? What sort of ideas on human sexuality did you have then? I was 12, and I couldn't, for the life of me, understand why this particular girl in our school would let herself get pregnant only to be thrown out of school. Why is she so stupid, I fervently asked my friends. They just laughed at my own stupidity. Stupid, perhaps, and no matter how short-lived, innocence and its beauty in childhood were very much alive then.

I may not be a sociologist or psychologist, but common sense tells us that all ideas an adult tells that wide-eyed 8 year-old and those much younger, chances are they will take them for the truths, the facts of life, and the probability are high that they will put those ideas into practice. Notice how, when you thought they were not listening, your 5 or 6-year olds absorb nearly every word that you said (especially those cuss words) just like a sponge, and throw them back to your face at some point later, if not soon? We don't have to have a PhD in sociology or psychology to know that much of our learning on life and our orientation in life start at that tender age. What we heard, saw or were done to us mould us into what we are today.

So having made the issue of sodomy a favourite national past-time of Malaysians starting in 1998, the Malaysian Government should not waste precious time wondering why the problem of homosexuality in Malaysia is reaching a worrisome level. This was what some lawmakers and a Minister recently complained in Parliament just a week or so ago. Do you fault that child of 1998 wanting to explore and experiment with his sexuality, after all, the whole Malaysian Government machinery, the courts system and the circus media fed him all the sordid and perverted sex details for breakfast, lunch and dinner back in 1998? Do you fault that child for trying to figure out what's right from wrong, and what's proper sex and what constitutes sex crime under a religion and the law? Fast forward to 2008. And the same sickening sodomy debacle is being played in public all over again involving the same charge against the same poor fellow (the charges against whom were cleared by the Courts in 2004). And that 8-year old who first witnessed that shameful disgusting event in 1998 is, today, a terribly confused adult, now doubting and wondering what teachings on sexuality he should practice. So, if one puts the blame for rising homosexuality in Malaysia squarely on the Malaysian Government, its legal system and its law enforcer, would one be totally in the wrong?

Be that as it may, one puzzling thing about this whole issue of rising homosexuality in Malaysia is that prior its Parliament debut, this issue is actually a NON ISSUE. All this while, in spite of the 1998 Anwar-sodomy debacle, there has never been a complaint, nay a squeak, from the immensely silent gay community, let alone a demand for their rights. Homosexuality and the gay community are part of the societal landscape in Malaysia but it is more case of 'you may be seen but you are not supposed to be heard'. Homosexuality is snickered at and made fun of, but tolerated simply because the homosexuals may be your sons or daughters, your brothers, your sisters, your relatives or your friends. In a country whose official religion is Islam, the very religion under which sodomy is a very serious crime punishable up to 20 years jail, and sodomy being an inherently homosexual activity, no homosexuals in their right mind would dare utter a single word to officially declare their homosexuality, let alone complain against another of their own and risk imprisonment. Correct me if I am wrong, but aside the 1998 trumped-up sodomy charge against Anwar, I have not yet come across a single news article highlighting or even mentioning the plight of homosexuals in Malaysia. It makes you wonder why a non-issue about homosexuals was suddenly discussed and addressed by Malaysian lawmakers in Parliament as a worrisome problem recently? Incidentally, this discussion in Parliament coincides with the timing of the current sodomy charge against Opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, the same fellow charged with the same offence in 1998.

I not only strongly feel that the Malaysian Government should not waste time debating the issue of homosexuality in Parliament because it is a non-issue, but also believe that the Government should not waste precious tax payers money to set up some silly government programmes to handle a non-issue, a problem that no one has ever complain about!

On behalf of right thinking Malaysians, I would like to appeal to the Malaysian Government, its machinery, its courts system and the law enforcers to PLEASE STOP THIS VILE ACT AGAINST A MALAYSIAN CITIZEN. Malaysians are disgusted and sickened by the whole sodomy debacle which is so obviously a political conspiracy against a single Malaysian politician who shows his concern for the plight of the masses. Please stop Malaysia from becoming the biggest laughing stock in the history of the world. Personally, I am not concerned about being laughed at by the world. That we can survive. I am more worried about Malaysia losing the innocence of her children and, more importantly, her conscience.