Posted on

Polls dry run shows BN can lose Perak, Negri Sembilan

By Jahabar Sadiq
Editor
The Malaysian Insider
Aug 01, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) could lose Perak and Negri Sembilan in the next general elections, according to results of a recent dry run. Unless component parties put popular faces and ensure the grassroots machinery garner support from voters.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the Umno election dry run also showed that the BN fortress of Johor could see up to 15 out of the 56 state seats go to their political opponents Pakatan Rakyat (PR), something unheard before Election 2008 when the ruling coalition lost six seats. Continue reading “Polls dry run shows BN can lose Perak, Negri Sembilan”

Posted on

Najib says had Shah Alam stadium in mind for Bersih

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 31, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak disclosed today he had thought of Shah Alam stadium for the July 9 rally when he made offered a venue to Bersih, pointing out this was “the best option” available.

The prime minister, however, had never specified which stadium Bersih could hold the July 9 rally at when he made the offer.

“I offered a stadium. You can show dissent in a stadium, but they still wanted to do it on the streets.

“I had in mind the Shah Alam stadium, that was the best option,” Najib said today during his speech at the closing of the Malaysian Student Leaders Summit (MSLS) here. Continue reading “Najib says had Shah Alam stadium in mind for Bersih”

Posted on

Najib dodges ‘Malaysian first, Malay next’ question

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 31, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak kept mum today when asked to state whether he was a proponent of his own two-year-old 1 Malaysia policy that espouses being “Malaysian first”.

The country’s sixth prime minister was responding to questions posed by Malaysian students at the Malaysian Student Leaders Summit (MSLS) here.

A student had asked Najib whether he was prepared to state that he was Malaysian first and what he thought of his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s infamous remark of being “Malay first and Malaysian next.”

Najib did not answer the question directed at him.

“I don’t want to respond in a way that will divide me from my deputy. Continue reading “Najib dodges ‘Malaysian first, Malay next’ question”

Posted on

Najib’s credibility still ‘in tatters’ despite PSM6 release, says Lim

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 30, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — Lim Kit Siang today reminded Datuk Seri Najib Razak that his credibility as Prime Minister was “in tatters” due to his administration’s gross mishandling of several issues, and said that the release of the six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members from their Emergency Ordinance (EO) detention yesterday did not change anything.

The Prime Minister has insisted that the release of the PSM members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj was done according to the due process of the law, and that it was made by the police based on “their observations.” “It was his greatest failure of leadership as Prime Minister leaving his credibility in tatters — which is why his claim yesterday that the release of the PSM6 under the Emergency Ordinance was in accordance with the rule of law was met with nation-wide derision.”

“Najib cannot be more wrong if he thinks that he had restored his credibility with the release of the PSM6 yesterday,” said Lim in a statement today. Continue reading “Najib’s credibility still ‘in tatters’ despite PSM6 release, says Lim”

Posted on

Palanivel makes dubious history – the first “I help you, you help me” barter Cabinet appointment in nation’s 54 year history

MIC President Datuk G Palanivel has made dubious history – being the first, unashamed and most blatant “I help you, you help me” barter Cabinet appointment in the nation’s 54-year history, nothing to do whatsoever with his personal merit or quality!

It must rank as the most cynical Cabinet appointment ever made in Malaysian history under six Prime Ministers.

Palanivel also made dubious history in other aspects. Continue reading “Palanivel makes dubious history – the first “I help you, you help me” barter Cabinet appointment in nation’s 54 year history”

Posted on

DAP: Repealing EO might save Najib’s credibility

Malaysiakini
Jul 30, 11 3:54pm

In order to regain credibility after the “gross mishandling” of the PSM 6, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak must publicly repeal the EO and annul the obsolete emergency proclamations as well as other “oppressive legislature”, says Lim Kit Siang.

In a statement today, Lim said the release of the PSM 6 does not restore Najib’s credibility, as it was his government’s “high-handed” handling of the Bersih 2.0 rally that had landed the six in detention in the first place.

“It was (Najib’s) greatest failure of leadership as prime minister leaving his credibility in tatters – which is why his claim yesterday, that the release of the PSM6 under the Emergency Ordinance was in accordance with the rule of law, was met with nation-wide derision. Continue reading “DAP: Repealing EO might save Najib’s credibility”

Posted on

Najib vows to help Indians if MIC secures their vote

By Yow Hong Chieh
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 30, 2011

PUTRAJAYA, July 30 – Datuk Seri Najib Razak pledged to do all he can to bring the Indian community back into the “mainstream of development” but asked that MIC redouble efforts to secure the community’s vote.

The prime minister said there must be “quid pro quo” between Barisan Nasional (BN) component party MIC and the ruling coalition if both wished to benefit from their relationship as “loyal friends”.

“There must be an understanding. Can you all deliver for Barisan Nasional? You can deliver and we will deliver,” Najib (picture) told delegates at the 65th MIC general assembly here today. Continue reading “Najib vows to help Indians if MIC secures their vote”

Posted on

EO6: A bitter lesson for the govt

Jeswan Kaur | July 30, 2011
Free Malaysia Today

The Najib administration should now learn to respect the ‘rule of law’ instead of bending over backwards to fulfill its own hidden agendas

COMMENT

Abusing the Emergency Ordinance 1969, six breadwinners of their families’ were thrown behind bars and defamed with having waged a war against the King, holding subversive beliefs and instigating the rakyat to attend a rally which the police had deemed illegal.

Yesterday, 28 days later, all six were set free, unconditionally. The question that begs an answer from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is: What happened in those 28 days’ that made him, his cousin the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar realise that the six are innocent and should rightfully be released?

Or was it a case of all three parties being well aware of the innocence of the six but proceeded to used them as scapegoats, hoping to teach Malaysians in general a lesson for taking to the streets on July 9, 2011 and challenging the ‘powers that be’? Continue reading “EO6: A bitter lesson for the govt”

Posted on

4 things Najib must do to salvage his tattered credibility after his greatest leadership failure as PM post-Bersih post-EO6

The past five weeks are undoubtedly the worst period for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak since becoming the sixth Malaysian PM 27 months ago – making him the object of ridicule and scorn not only in the country but also internationally, forcing him to cut short his overseas trip.

It was his greatest failure of leadership as Prime Minister leaving his credibility in tatters – which is why his claim yesterday that the release of the PSM6 under the Emergency Ordinance was in accordance with the rule of law was met with nation-wide derision.

Najib cannot be more wrong if he thinks that he had restored his credibility with the release of the PSM6 yesterday, as nothing could wipe out the fact of his government’s high-handed and unsuccessful action to suppress the 709 Bersih 2.0 rally for free and fair elections, resulting in the arbitrariy and totally unjustifieable arrests of the PSM6, first on the ridiculous grounds of “waging war against the Agong” and “reviving communism” and then under EO for being “prime movers” of Bersih.

There are four things Najib must do, immediately and urgently, if he wants to salvage his tattered credibility after his greatest leadership failure as Prime Minister post-Bersih post-EO6. Continue reading “4 things Najib must do to salvage his tattered credibility after his greatest leadership failure as PM post-Bersih post-EO6”

Posted on

PSM6: The end of the farce

— The Malaysian Insider
Jul 30, 2011

JULY 30 — Just this once, please apologise.

Own up to this despicable mistake of arresting six innocent Malaysians and, maybe, the rest of their fellow citizens will move on and cut the police as well as the Najib administration some slack.

Just this once, drop the political posturing and say sorry to Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar and his party colleagues, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) deputy chairman M. Sarasvathy, central committee members Choo Chon Kai and M. Sugumaran, Sungai Siput branch secretary A. Letchumanan, and Youth chief R. Saratbabu.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had an opportunity to right a wrong yesterday but he chose to indulge in official talk, saying that the release of the six was according to due process. Continue reading “PSM6: The end of the farce”

Posted on

Jeyakumar: Too ‘politically costly’ for BN to continue holding us

By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 29, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar asserted tonight that the order to release all Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) detainees had been a political decision and not because the “police had come to their senses”.

“They (Barisan Nasional) were losing so much popularity and support from the people that it just became too politically costly for them to keep holding us,” he told reporters after addressing a crowd of supporters at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

The first-term lawmaker also disagreed with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s claim earlier this evening that the release order had been in accordance with the rule of law and that the decision had been made by the police based on their “observations”. Continue reading “Jeyakumar: Too ‘politically costly’ for BN to continue holding us”

Posted on

Najib: Release of PSM 6 according to rule of law

By Shannon Teoh
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 29, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has insisted that the release of six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members from their Emergency Ordinance (EO) detention was done according to the due process of the law.

The prime minister told reporters today that the decision to release Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Devaraj Jeyakumar and five others at 5.30pm was made by the police based on “their observations.”

“We welcome it. It is up to the Attorney General to decide on further action. As a country, we hold to the rule of law,” the Umno president said after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting. Continue reading “Najib: Release of PSM 6 according to rule of law”

Posted on

Talking a good game with our PM

– Shannon Teoh
The Malaysian Insider
July 28, 2011

JULY 28 – Football is the people’s game. It’s simple, engaging and enjoyed by both players and supporters.

But Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s football analogy this morning urging Malaysians to move from tolerance to acceptance was none of the above.

He called our diversity the “strength of our nation. As in a football match, people from our various communities help one another for the success of our team.

“If one of us score an own goal, we will lose. This (solidarity) value is important to us all, no matter the colour of our skin or how we look,” said the prime minister. Continue reading “Talking a good game with our PM”

Posted on

Rollbacks are threatening reform agenda, say economists

By Yow Hong Chieh
The Malaysian Insider
Jul 28, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 – The Najib administration’s reform agenda is in danger of being derailed through decisions to appease the “Bumiputera agenda” and pressure from Malay rights groups intent on preserving the status quo, economists have said.

RAM Holdings Bhd chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the government must recognise that Malaysia is underperforming economically because the “unfounded fears” of such groups were hindering reforms.

“Their (Malay rights groups) narrow interest may undermine the country’s progress into a high-income nation,” he told The Malaysian Insider. Continue reading “Rollbacks are threatening reform agenda, say economists”

Posted on

Resign Or Snap Election For Najib, Here’re The Reasons

By Finance twitter

As much as I would like to stop writing about PM Najib administration, the plot just got interesting and I think he may just hit the bull’s eye as far as my prediction that his downfall may be faster than his predecessor, Abdullah Badawi, is concerned. Compared with Najib, Badawi now seems like a cute adorable little kitten, who merely likes to sleep (on the job). Malaysians tend to be more forgiving on lazy prime minister but not a prime minister who lies, cheats, brutal, dirty (allegation on Mongolian Altantuya’s murder), hypocrite but above all stupid yet arrogant.

One cannot help but fell off the chair laughing after read that Najib said he cancels a family vacation because he wants to spend more time with Malaysians. This was perhaps the best joke ever by premier Najib since he took over from Abdullah Badawi. This joke actually worth a thousand “Like” on his facebook page. Forget about Bersih 2.0 because this guy may quit under pressure – not from opposition parties or Bersih 2.0 but from his internal UMNO party. Boy, if it was true that the US$24 million controversial diamond ring indeed belongs to his wife Rosmah Mansor, that ring is cursed.
Continue reading “Resign Or Snap Election For Najib, Here’re The Reasons”

Posted on

Najib must honour his solemn undertaking to TBH family on 28.7.09 that “no stone will be left unturned” to find out the causes and circumstances of TBH’s death

Yesterday, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he left the decision of penalising the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) trio named in the James Foong Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Teoh Beng Hock’s (TBH) death to the MACC, the police and the Attorney-General.

This is the supreme “passing-the-buck” by the Prime Minister which is as good as saying that no one would be held responsible for Beng Hock’s death.

In the first place, the TBH RCI did not just name three names but quite a list of MACC officers who not only committed a host of crimes, including perjuries at the Royal Commission of Inquiry and the TBH inquest but must be held responsible for Beng Hock’s death.

However, even for the three MACC officers concerned who have been suspended from investigations duties but not as MACC officers, namely Hishammuddin Hashim (Negri Sembilan MACC director who was at the relevant time Deputy Director Selangor MACC and “mastermind” of the massive operation based “on a mere belief and without supporting facts” from a telephone call resulting in Beng Hock’s death); Anuar Ismail the “IO” of the operation and Ashraf Mohd Yunus (described by RCI as “Ashraf the abuser” – “who was Machiavellian in his method to secure evidence”), nothing serious is expected apart from “slap on the wrist”!
Continue reading “Najib must honour his solemn undertaking to TBH family on 28.7.09 that “no stone will be left unturned” to find out the causes and circumstances of TBH’s death”

Posted on

We’ll derail BN, railwaymen warn Najib

By Patrick Lee | July 28, 2011
Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA: In a letter to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the Railwaymen Union of Malaya (RUM) warned him of protest votes against the Barisan Nasional in the next polls.

The letter penned by union secretary-general Jaafar Alias in his capacity as the Tampin Umno information chief also panned the Najib admnistration’s tagline.

“They (KTMB staff) said the slogan of ‘people first, performance now’ does not seem to be relevant… where the views of union members and KTMB employees have been ignored,” he said.

Jaafar also reminded Najib that there were nearly 2,000 KTMB employees in the Lembah Pantai Parliamentary constituency, where PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar reigned.
Continue reading “We’ll derail BN, railwaymen warn Najib”

Posted on

The chameleon PM

By Othman Wahab | July 27, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

JULY 27 — Okay, now it is official. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has run out of ideas. After looking terribly unconvincing when handling the Bersih 2.0 rally, he is clutching at anything just to seem to have things under control.

But the sad fact is that his every act and every word uttered just shows him to be desperate ala a tikam-tikam politician, not the son of Malaysia’s second PM who showed some promise in the early days.

In the past few weeks, he has obliterated the image he was carving out as a moderate leader. He has played the religious card, calling Ambiga Sreenevasan an enemy of Islam for doing her legal duty of representing a client.

He has flip-flopped like an Olympic gymnast on the offer of a stadium to the Bersih 2.0 organisers.
Continue reading “The chameleon PM”

Posted on

Why Najib must go

By Mariam Mokhtar | Jul 25, 11
Malaysiakini

The rakyat is angry with all politicians, not just BN or the opposition.

We have had 54 years of Umno/BN rule and have things really got any better? The rich appear to get richer, whilst the numbers who make up the poor, are increasing.

The old class system was royalty versus the serfs. Then it was the colonialists against the Malayans. Now it looks like it is the Umnoputras versus the rest.

The Umnoputras are the new elite. Even royalty depends on the largesse of those who lead Umno/BN to get funding from the civil list.
Continue reading “Why Najib must go”

Posted on

Punish Bersih or risk losing support, Utusan warns BN

By Melissa Chi | July 27, 2011
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — The Barisan Nasional administration must penalise the outlawed Bersih 2.0 movement and the people behind it or risk losing electoral support for its perceived weakness, the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia said today.

“The government needs to learn from this incident. To ensure peace and public safety, the authorities should immediately act against the troublemakers. Don’t waste the support of more than 4,000 non-governmental organisations and individuals who have lodged police reports against Bersih.

“The delay in taking action against the organisers and supporters of the illegal rally on July 9 can erode the people’s support because the government is seen as unable to implement the law. So, do not send the wrong message to the people, (that you are) afraid to take any action against the opposition leaders and Bersih organisers,” the Malay-language daily wrote in an editorial today.
Continue reading “Punish Bersih or risk losing support, Utusan warns BN”