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Lim Guan Eng to sue Utusan over inter faith council

February 24th, 2009
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Well, Malaysiakini report says that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied a report in Utusan Malaysia today that the state had established an inter-faith council last year.

“These are lies…we have no such council,” he told reporters in Parliament today.

Thus, his lawyers will be file a defamation suit against the daily.

“And if they have any evidence of us setting up such a council, then bring it to the court,” he said.

The paper published the news on front page today:

Utusan Malaysia today published a front-page lead stating that the DAP-run government in Penang was insulting Islam with the setting up of the inter-faith council.

The daily quoted the Penang Islamic Council chief Shabudin Yahaya as saying that the inter-faith council must not be allowed to be established as it would place Islam on par with the other religions.

This, said Shabudin, was an insult to Islam.

The daily said that the inter-faith council was headed by Lim and three-Malay members as well.

Original Malay version:

DAP hina Islam?

Oleh HASNURUL MOHAMED
utusanpenang@utusan.com.my

NIBONG TEBAL 23 Feb. – Penubuhan Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama oleh kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang mesti dihentikan kerana ia meletakkan Islam sama taraf dengan agama-agama lain.

Yang Dipertua Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang (MAINPP), Shabudin Yahaya berkata, cubaan menyamakan Islam dengan fahaman agama lain ternyata menghina Islam dan tindakan seperti itu mesti dihentikan.

Katanya, MAINPP berasa cukup tersinggung apabila ada beberapa ahli jawatankuasa (AJK) majlis tersebut terdiri daripada orang Melayu.

‘‘Saya difahamkan ada tiga orang AJK Melayu beragama Islam duduk dalam majlis tersebut yang kononnya mahu menuntut kesamarataan agama.

‘‘Ini sesuatu yang cukup menakutkan kerana agama Islam dipandang sama seperti Buddha yang diasaskan oleh manusia bernama Gautama Buddha, disamakan juga dengan Kristian, Taoism dan Bahai,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada Utusan Malaysia ketika diminta mengulas ucapannya semasa majlis penyerahan Dana Zakat Program Didik Cemerlang Akademik 2009 di Sungai Dua di sini semalam.

Ketika berucap pada majlis tersebut, Shabudin melahirkan rasa kurang senangnya terhadap penubuhan Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama Pulau Pinang yang bertujuan meletakkan semua agama, termasuk agama Islam sebagai sama rata dengan agama-agama lain.

Majlis tersebut ditubuhkan tahun lalu iaitu selepas kerajaan pakatan pembangkang yang diterajui Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng mula memerintah negeri itu.

Majlis itu dipengerusikan Guan Eng sendiri. Mengulas lanjut, Shabudin yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Permatang Berangan, Tasek Gelugor berkata, agama Islam itu tinggi dan tidak ada yang lebih tinggi daripadanya.

Looking through my archives, I found that Guan Eng did mention setting up a council, but the name is different:

We have also formed an inter-religious council called Majlis Silaturahim to promote goodwill and understanding among all religions

Its from the Star article dated 23 June 2008.

Is there a difference between “inter faith council” and “inter-religious council”, or in Utusan’s report “Majlis Perundingan Antara Agama” which translates to inter-religious consultation council”?

BTW, isn’t the Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang under Penang state government authority?

Any comments?

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Religion

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Indians target Bukit Selambau seat

February 11th, 2009
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Ex-assemblyman Arumugam stood and won as independent candidate, and later joined PKR. Thus, it was logical for PKR to hint that they will put up a candidate in the coming by-election in Bukit Selambau.

Immediately after that, PKR member Kalaivanar (age 45) who contested and lost in Gurun state seat during last general elections voiced his intentions. He claimed that his candidature interest was moved by strong grassroot support shown to him by PKR members in Kedah, especially the party’s Indian leaders and members. The Jerai PKR division head says:

“The party must field a grassroots leader who can deliver and remain loyal to PKR. I believe I fit the bill,”

The guy was also upset that he was not given senator post by PKR.

“It was an Indian quota senatorship and I should have been given a chance to serve in the capacity after losing in Gurun.

“Until today, no Indian from Kedah has been appointed to a position,” lamented the Ipoh-born social activist, who recently launched nationwide anti-samsu, anti-gangsterism and community integration campaigns.

Kalaivanar seems to be going all out to be nominated as a candidate:

… Kalaivanar is determined to wrest the seat and has already sent his agents to meet PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim to lobby for him.

“My supporters have lobbied for me with PKR leadership on the grounds that I am a loyal PKR grassroots leader,” he said.

However, if he was not selected, Kalaivanar feels a grassroots leader who would be a dedicated field worker and not a party hopper, should be chosen.

“Under the current political climate and after what had happened in Perak, these are the main criteria to choose a candidate,” he said.

HINDRAF, it seems, are not keen on Kalaivanar. It is learnt that Hindraf self-exiled chairperson P Waythamoorthy and local Hindraf leaders have spoken to PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to field Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran, 45, on a PKR ticket.

Penang Hindraf deputy coordinator Sanjeeviramah Subramaniam confirmed that the movement is keen for Thanenthiran, a former teacher, to contest.

Sanjeeviramah said Hindraf should be rewarded for its aggressive campaign on behalf of Pakatan’s election campaign last year.

Thanenthiran, he said, has a sincere and honest desire to serve the people, will remain loyal to the cause and can be accepted by all communities and parties.

Since Anwar has said that PKR will field an Indian candidate, Thanenthiran would be an ideal choice, more so with the whole Hindraf machinery in Kedah to ensure his victory.

“A representation of Hindraf would be a genuine representation for the Indian Malaysian community,” said Saneeviramah.

Hindraf has originally decided that it did not want to be involved in active politics. However since the movement was outlawed last October, it leaders have changed their mind.

I think HINDRAF should not put up its people to be candidates any more. To remain as a pressure group or civil rights group, it should not be seen as aligned to any political camps. Now, HINDRAF is against UMNO. What if later, PKR turns into an “UMNO”? HINDRAF will be forced to go against PKR. At that point, people like Gobalakrishnan, Mike Manikavasagam and Thanenthiran must resign from post and party. Would they do that?

Not enough with two potential candidates? Well DAP and PAS also have their eyes on the seat!

Kedah DAP organising secretary Teoh Teik Guan confirmed speculation that the party is interested in contesting the seat as it had fielded candidates there prior to the arrangement last year with Pakatan.

“It was DAP’s seat before 2008. So we desire to re-contest the seat,” he told Malaysiakini, saying the Kedah DAP will hold a meeting later to decide on this.

The state DAP leadership, he said, has already conveyed its intention to identify a “credible candidate” but will leave it to party leaders to make a final decision in discussion with their counterparts in Pakatan.

Among the potential candidates is DAP life-member S Neelamekan, 49, who was born in Penang.

Now the Lunas branch chief, he had contested and lost the Prai state seat in Penang against Barisan Nasional (BN) incumbent Dr K Rajapathy in 1999. In 2000, he was among those considered for the Lunas by-election under the DAP ticket.

As for PAS:

PAS, it is learnt, is also keen to contest the seat by fielding a candidate of Indian origin – lawyer Jegadeeson Thavasu who is based in Sungei Petani.

A member of the PAS non-Muslim club in Kedah, he had actively campaigned for the party and Pakatan candidates in the last general election.

He is seen by local PAS leaders as a candidate who will be able to get the support of all ethnic groups.

This will be the second Indian fielded by PAS, after Kumutha in Tiram state seat.

Kalaivanar, Thanenthiran, Neelamekan or Jegadeeson?

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Lion of Jelutong roars…

February 11th, 2009
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Karpal Singh gives an interview to NST (even though Pakatan top guns asked him not to use BM media). Later Malaysiakini reports that:

DAP’s top leaders have agreed to set aside their differences and focus on the upcoming by-elections for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak and Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah.

MCPX

The party’s chairperson Karpal Singh, supremo Lim Kit Siang and former chairperson Dr Chen Man Hin held a meeting last night where they agreed to bury the hatchet.

The interview:

DAP chairman Karpal Singh is in fighting mood and ready to take on anyone, including his own party leaders. The veteran politician’s robust position has not been appreciated after his attacks on Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and even his own party colleagues Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng. Has Karpal taken on more than he can chew with opposition coming fast and furious not only from within his party but also those angered by his stand on the Sultan of Perak’s appointment of a new menteri besar? He spoke to SHARANJIT SINGH yesterday

Q: Many police reports have been lodged against you on the Sultan of Perak issue. What do you think of the reports?

A: These people are ignorant of the law and are completely misguided for accusing me of disrespecting the sultan. There is nothing illegal in what I have stated in relation to the sultan being subject to the due process of law. I know what I am talking about.

Q: There are also calls for you to be detained under the Internal Security Act. What do you have to say about this?

A: So what’s new? Besides calling for the ISA to be used against me, some people also want me to be banished from Perak and my citizenship revoked. How foolish one can get is beyond me. I cannot lawfully be banished from Perak, which is a constituent state in the Federation of Malaysia. Neither can my citizenship be revoked as I was born a citizen in Penang on June 28, 1940. Idle threats are, therefore, of no consequence to me and neither is empty rhetoric criticising me in the execution of my duties.

Q: You have also come under attack from all sides for your uncompromising stand on defections. What do you have to say to the critics?

A: The attacks against me do not trouble me as I was only speaking the truth. I have been speaking up against party-hopping as far back as the formation of the DAP itself. I am sure I can be excused for being a little emotional when it comes to the issue as I have stuck my neck out on this matter of principle on more than one occasion. I am now being taken to task while other DAP leaders have chosen to keep mum. The impression is that I am choosing my own fight and it has nothing to do with the party. This is nonsense as it has everything to do with the party. We must always stick to the principles.

Q: Do you feel party leaders like Kit Siang and Guan Eng have deserted you?

A: Their flip-flop (on party hopping) is most unfortunate. Guan Eng in particular issued a statement on Jan 26 welcoming Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim’s crossover from Umno to Pakatan Rakyat. However, on Feb 6, he changed his tune when our assemblywoman from Jelapang (Hee Yit Foong) hopped over to the other side. He described Hee’s move to support Perak Barisan Nasional as tantamount to betraying the trust of those who had voted for her. I only hope he (Guan Eng) was misquoted. His statement has been haunting me as our members are questioning the conflicting stand of the secretary-general and party chairman.

Q: Why didn’t you settle it internally without making it public and allowing the DAP’s political enemies to capitalise on the issue?

A: The flip-flop by party leaders was done openly. How can I keep quiet? I was left with no alternative but to make a public statement to clear the air. Nobody can fault me for speaking out because it is relevant to what happened in Perak. We lost a state because of the inconsistent stand. I have said what I wanted to say and I stand by it.

Q: Do you think the party will act against you for your single-minded approach on this issue?

A: I have said nothing wrong that they (party leaders) should not support me. The members, including party leaders, are 100 per cent with me on the issues of hudud law and also our stand on party-hopping.

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Protest against Hee increases

February 9th, 2009
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The Jelapang residents (most likely DAP supporters) are upping the tempo. From 200 people earlier, it has increased to 720 within hours in terms of signatures. There’s signature campaign going on, and  I think if the organisers go to the ground, they’ll get thousands of signatures. She won with majority of 6.7k, so if there’s 20k over signatures submitted to her and the Sultan, this will look bad on both of them. How can the Sultan consider the words of a person not accepted by her own constituency? Unless its for the “greater good” and the wishes of a constituency is to be sacrificed for that purpose.

Hundreds of people have turned up at the Jelapang market here Sunday to sign a petition demanding their assemblyman Hee Yit Foong quit her seat.

Within 90 minutes of the campaign starting at 9.30am Sunday, about 720 signatures were collected.

Perak DAP organising secretary Thomas Su Keong Siong said the petition would be handed over to the DAP-turned-independent assemblyman after this.

“If she does not want to accept the petition then we will hand it over to her parents at their home in Kanthan, Chemor,” he said.

Earlier when addressing the crowd, Su said the campaign was to force Hee to resign to pave way for a by-election.

“She has said that not everyone was against her, only those with ‘interests.’ If that is so, come back and face the people,” he added.

Sabri Abdul Rahman, 52, said he felt cheated by Hee, whom he had given his trust and vote to.

“We had voted for her and this is how she repays the people,” he said.

“I want her to quit. I want the Pakatan Rakyat state government back,” he added.

Hitting out at Hee, M. Vigneswary, 26, said, “We do not accept Barisan Nasional as the government; our Mentri Besar is Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.”

Also present amongst the crowd were some who claimed to be childhood friends of Hee from her hometown in Kanthan.

One of them, Wong Fook, 56, said they had treated Hee like a sister and even sacrificed their own time and money to campaign for her during the 2004 general election.

“She has no loyalty. She has betrayed everyone by bringing down a whole government … and a good one for that matter,” he said.

Hee, previously from DAP, announced she was quitting the party earlier this week. She said she would remain an independent assemblyman, but pledged her loyalty to Barisan.

The weak link is Hee. If she resigns, big problem for BN.  The other two fellows will not resign and their corruption case charges will take a long time. A by-election must be called if Hee resigns and if BN losses, it wil reflect that the Sultan has erred or probably been deceived.

However, there’s rumours that Hee may be offered an EXCO position or asked to maintain the deputy speaker post. If UMNO doesn’t allow it, then it will serve to reinforce that they don’t respect nor acknowledge the non-Malays. This will give more pressure to Hee – abhored by own voters and neglected by new state government.

She may join MCA, but according to MCA they won’t “force” her to do so.

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PR reps tell tales of money politics

February 6th, 2009
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“money politics” is a term introduced to well by Malaysia (well, to be precise, by a political party in Malaysia). While the rest of the world uses more the common term – bribery, we invented a new term. Malaysia Boleh, of course!

Interestingly, “money politics” is not limited to intra-party on-goings only, if we are to believe the words of some Pakatan Rakyat leaders. RM60 million!!!! Seriously??? Like that means politician can be a career worth considering for our younger generation! Let’s face it, not everyone will be Tiger Woods or Ronaldo or Bill Gates. But everyone can try to be a politician. it does not really need any qualifications nor technical skills.

The first report sees Perak Pakatan reps saying:

IPOH: Five Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen have claimed they have been approached by agents to cross over to Barisan Nasional.

They are State Assembly Speaker and Tronoh assemblyman V. Siva­kumar, Sungkai assemblyman A. Sivanesan, Hutan Melintang assemblyman S. Kesavan, Malim Nawar assemblyman Keshvinder Singh and Buntong assemblyman A. Subra­maniam [all Indians. Interesting!].

Except for Sivakumar, the others claimed they were contacted in recent days.

Sivakumar said he was offered RM60mil to cross over last year before his appointment as Speaker.

Sivanesan said he was initially approached before he was sworn in last year, and on Tuesday he received a call to persuade him to cross over.

He said the caller said: “Tunggu apa lagi? Kerajaan dah lari sana. Kalau abang setuju, saya datang sekarang juga bawa abang duduk seminggu.” (What are you waiting for? The Government has changed. If you agree to cross over, I will take you into hiding for a week.)

Sivanesan said he was first approached last year by a man called Amir, and a meeting was arranged after he informed the party leadership.

He said he met Amir, accompanied by two others, at a fast-food outlet in Bidor, and was offered RM5mil and a seat on the state executive council.

He claimed Amir contacted him after he was sworn in and doubled the offer.

Keshwinder Singh said he was offered RM10mil plus the position of the Perak MIC chief and a place on the state executive council about a week ago. [Perak MIC post??? G. Rajoo must be seething with anger!]

“A man who said he was acting on behalf of an Umno leader came to my office in Kampar with the proposition,” he said.

All five assemblymen were present at the High Court as a show of support for Sivakumar who has filed a suit seeking to uphold the resignation of Changkat Jering, Behrang and Jelapang state assemblymen, thus getting the seats to be declared vacant.

The same paper reported another case by Kedah PR reps:

Two PKR assemblymen in Kedah claimed they were offered money to leave Pakatan Rakyat and become Independents after the March general election.

Lim Soo Nee (Kulim) and Tan Show Kang (Sidam) claimed that the offer of several millions of ringgit was made many times by the same man.

“The man last offered me money about a month ago. He offered a large sum of money to leave Pakatan Rakyat and become an Independent assemblyman. I do not know the man,” Tan told reporters at the official declaration ceremony of Pokok Sena as the state’s 12th district yesterday.

Lim said he was also offered a large sum of money but the man stopped making the offer after several months.

Lim and Tan said they reported the matter to the PKR headquarters.

These allegations are being bandied now probably to drive the point that the defectors in Perak were offered similar propositions as well.

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