Government to engage bloggers in cyberspace

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will take on bloggers in cyberspace and respond to wild and baseless allegations raised in blogs.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said remaining silent was no longer an option.
He acknowledged that the Government had overlooked the need to engage the new media, which was a new dimension in shaping public opinion, in the recent general election.
The Government had not been savvy in engaging the new media and lost out in cyberspace, he said, adding: “But we live and learn.”
Najib said this during a question and answer session at the Asia Media Summit 2008 here yesterday.- The Star- 28 May, 2008

... a comment on Rockybru ...
The government has got it wrong again. The strategy is not about taking on the bloggers but listening to them. The bloggers are ordinary rakyat who are giving their views on matters affecting their life and survival. The job of the government is to listen to the rakyat's voice and apply it if it benefits the people and the nation and not to regard bloggers as a threat to the government or the position of those in power

PEMIMPIN PEMUSNAH

..komen dalam Che Det..
Hari ini kerajaan beraja di Nepal akan terhapus. Dihapuskan atas nama demokrasi. Perlembagaan negara dipinda. Tidak mustahil ini boleh berlaku di Malaysia. Tanda-tanda sudah dilihat. Raja-raja Melayu dipersenda oleh orang Melayu dan bukan Melayu. Kerajaan pusat yang ada sudah hilang dua pertiga majoriti. Tidak dapat dibayangkan apa akan berlaku dalam pilihanraya umum ke 13?

...petikan dari CheDet...
(..Dan yang buruk sekali ialah kemungkinan Barisan Nasional kalah diperingkat Pusat. Apabila hilang kuasa diperingkat pusat, kehilangan kuasa ke atas kewangan negara, ke atas dasar-dasar negara, pentadbiran negara dan lain-lain kekuatan yang datang bersama dengan pemerintahan peringkat pusat, Barisan Nasional dan UMNO tidak mungkin lagi memperolehi kuasa di negara tercinta ini. Inilah musibah yang dijanjikan oleh pengekalan kepimpinan Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Segala keistimewaan Bumiputra dan Melayu akan terancam dan mungkin hilang terus, walau apa pun janji oleh pihak lain.

...petikan dari berita...
New Nepal assembly sworn in, set to abolish monarchy
KATHMANDU (AFP) — A newly elected and Maoist-dominated assembly that will rewrite Nepal's constitution was sworn in Tuesday, setting the stage for the imminent abolition of the Himalayan nation's monarchy.
Political leaders said the assembly will dissolve the monarchy and sack the unpopular King Gyanendra, who ascended to the throne seven years ago after a palace massacre, when it holds its first session on Wednesday…..

Defending the Lion City
.. a comment on Rockybru ..

Malaysians shouldn't worry about Singapore. They can't even catch the Jemaah Islamiah terror leader Mas Selamat Katari who escaped through a toilet window of an Internal Security Act cell. What more to attack Malaysia. Others will do it for them if they come under attack. What should be worrisomes to Malaysians are the strategic moves made by the republic at the expense of Malaysia and Malaysians to stay afloat for its survival. The Pulau Batu Puteh case is one of the very good examples. They have billion of dollars in sovereign wealth funds. They will buy into anything that strategically support its umbilical cord such as the strategic telecommunication companies in Indonesia and Thailand, and the world's top banks. What more the Iskandar project. They will be very happy if they can buy into all Malaysia's strategic positions and control it without going to war. But they are cautious because there are still nationalistic Malaysians who are watching them and will blow the whistle if they rear their ugly heads.

EXTRACT OF MAHATHIR'S COMMENT ON THE RULE OF LAW

11. But supposing a Deputy Prime Minister writes a letter of recommendation for his sister-in-law to an official or minister of another country who could be expected to take a serious view of the recommendation because the writer is a Deputy Prime Minister of a friendly country and the recommendation is for his sister-in-law, does this constitute lobbying, or corruption or abuse of power. We need to know so that such letters of recommendation would not be written again. We need to know if they were written before, can action be taken against them now since we are now taking action on things which happened in the past. By being very clear about the past, the present and the future Malaysia would become highly regarded as the epitome of righteousness and the practitioners of the rule of law.

Extract of Bernama news

---

May 06, 2008 21:38 PM

Abdullah Says Not Associated With Oil-For-Food Programme Firms

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday he has no association with two local companies, Tradeyear Sdn Bhd and Mastek Sdn Bhd, said to have been involved in the United Nations' Oil-for-Food programme in Iraq.

The prime minister said the two companies had been named in the report of the UN Independent Inquiry Committee but the statement that the companies "were closely associated with me is not at all correct".

Abdullah said this perception arose because of his family links with Faek Ahmad Shareef, one of the owners of Mastek, because Faek had been married to his sister-in-law Noor Asiah Mahmood, the younger sister of his late wife Datin Seri Endon Mahmood.

He made this clarification in a written reply to Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) who had asked the prime minister to state whether he intended to set up a royal commission of inquiry into the findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee into the UN Oil-for-Food programme which claimed that the two companies were closely associated with Abdullah.

The prime minister said the matter had been clarified in the third paragraph on page 161 of the full report of the independent inquiry committee.

"The report states that the involvement of Faek Ahmad Shareef is based on the perception of the Iraqi government personnel who saw him as the individual who could help overcome the economic sanctions by strengthening the relationship between the Iraqi and Malaysian governments," he said.

Besides, he said, the Iraqi government also regarded Faek as having the capability to bring more Malaysian trade delegations to Iraq.

"Note 324 on pages 161 and 162 of the full report of the UN Independent Inquiry Committee states that the committee found no evidence that I received benefits or rewards in any form from the oil transactions allocated to Mastek.

"Note 324 also clarifies that my only connection with the Iraqi government at that time was a letter to introduce a Malaysian trade delegation to the Iraqi vice-president then, Taha Yassin Ramadan," he said.

Abdullah said that with the explanation of the UN Independent Inquiry Committee, there was no reason for the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry to look into the findings.

-- BERNAMA

Does anyone dares to report it to the Anti Corruption Agency?

HILANG SUDAH SATU TANAH AIR

Pulau Batu Puteh

Hilang sudah satu pulau milik negara kepada Singapura pada 23 Mei 2008 selepas Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa di The Hague, Belanda memutuskannya demikian.

Walaupun cuma pulau batu, ia amat strategik daripada segi kedudukan kepada sesiapa yang memilikinya.

Banyak yang boleh dipelajari daripada pengalaman buruk ini. Sikap tidak ambil peduli atau ambil mudah, kealpaan atau kelalaian, tidak bijak atau cekap, dan tidak mempunyai pandangan kritis dan strategis dalam apa juga tindakan atau situasi yang berlaku di sekeliling telah membawa kemudaratan kepada kemerdekaan, kedaulatan dan maruah bangsa dan negara.

Kenyataan penuh Dr Mahathir Mohamad tinggalkan UMNO ISNIN, 19 Mei 2008 HARI ini, Mei 19, 2008 saya mengumumkan keputusan saya untuk keluar daripada UMNO. Isteri saya turut bersama. Keputusan ini dibuat kerana UMNO yang ada sekarang bukan lagi UMNO yang ditubuh 62 tahun dahulu yang berjuang untuk bangsa Melayu, Agama Islam dan Negara Malaysia (Malaya); UMNO yang menggagalkan Malayan Union, memperjuangkan kemerdekaan Malaya dan Malaysia dan membangunkan Malaysia sehingga menjadi Negara yang termaju di antara Negara membangun di dunia. UMNO yang ada sekarang hanya wujud untuk menyokong Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, keluarganya dan tindakan serta dasar yang tidak secocok dengan kepentingan bangsa, agama dan negara. Kepimpinan Dato Seri Abdullah jelas membawa kekalahan dan bencana kepada Barisan Nasional, UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan dan PPP. Kemenangan UMNO di Sabah dan BN di Sarawak bukan kerana kepimpinan Dato Seri Abdullah. Saya akan jelas satu persatu dasar-dasar dan tindakan Dato Seri Abdullah yang menjadikan Kerajaan pimpinannya dan parti BN dibenci oleh ahli-ahli parti komponen sendiri. Walaupun sebelum perisytiharan ini saya adalah ahli UMNO tetapi sebenarnya selepas saya letak jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri saya tidak dilayan sebagai ahli UMNO. Saya tidak dibenarkan berjumpa ahli UMNO dan ahli UMNO tidak dibenarkan hadir apa-apa perhimpunan di mana saya dijemput sebagai jurucakap atau penyampai ucapan. Menteri-Menteri yang dahulu berada dalam Kabinet saya tidak dibenarkan atau tidak berani atau tidak mahu jumpa saya lagi. Jemputan oleh UMNO dan bukan UMNO kepada saya diarah ditarik balik oleh Mneteri Besar dan Polis. Ramai pemimpin UMNO melepaskan kata-kata kesat kepada saya dan ada yang menyuruh saya keluar daripada UMNO walaupun mereka baru sahaja masuk UMNO. Tidak ada pemimpin UMNO yang pertahankan saya secara terbuka. Wakil ke Perhimpunan Agong tidak dibenarkan menyuara pendapat mereka. Mulut semua orang ditutup. Yang didengar hanyalah media arus perdana yang memuji Dato Seri Abdullah sehingga dia percaya dia begitu popular dan akan sapu bersih parti lawan dalam pilihanraya umum ke-12. Hasilnya ialah kekalahan yang teruk bagi Barisan Nasional. Malangnya mesej yang hendak disampaikan oleh pengundi dan penyokong BN tidak dapat difahami oleh Dato Seri Abdullah. Dia masih berkata dia menang. Ini sukar diterima oleh orang Kedah, orang Pulau Pinang, orang Perak, Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan. Oleh kerana Dato Seri Abdullah buta mata dan pekak telinga dan tidak faham mesej ahli BN, oleh kerana ahli UMNO pun turut bersama, oleh kerana proses demokrasi tidak berjalan, oleh kerana UMNO yang ada sekarang bukan lagi UMNO yang ditubuhkan 62 tahun dahulu, saya berpendapat penyertaan saya sebagai ahli UMNO tidak bermakna dan tidak berguna lagi. Justeru itu saya ingin umumkan bahawa saya sudah keluar daripada UMNO. Saya ingin tegaskan bahawa saya bebas dan tidak menyokong mana-mana parti lawan. Saya akan pohon untuk masuk UMNO apabila Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sudah berhenti daripada menjadi Presiden UMNO, Pengerusi BN dan Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad (bekas ahli UMNO No 1) Dr Siti Hasmah binti Mohd Ali (bekas ahli UMNO No 2)

I owe nobody any apology, says Dr. Mahathir

PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has accused DAP chairman Karpal Singh of being a detractor who was moved by pure hatred.

In a two-paragraph open letter to Karpal Singh dated April 3, the former prime minister said the politician was like any of his other detractors who would never believe him (Dr Mahathir) no matter what he said.

“You are moved by pure hatred and I cannot respond to people who can never accept reality. My conscience is clear. I have done what was my duty, and I owe nobody any apology,” Dr Mahathir wrote.

The letter was a reply to Karpal Singh’s earlier open letter stating that the former prime minister had abused the provisions of Article 125(3) of the Federal Constitution during the 1988 judicial crisis.

This led to the setting up of the two tribunals which found Tun Salleh Abas, Datuk George Seah and the late Tan Sri Wan Suleiman Pawanteh guilty of misconduct.

In his letter, Dr Mahathir also said Karpal Singh would make use of his letter to tarnish his name further.

Dr Mahathir further said that the Bukit Gelugor MP was the most contemptible of politicians and individuals.

In a statement yesterday, Karpal Singh said he stood by whatever he had said in his letter to Dr Mahathir.

“As Dr Mahathir is much older to me, I do not propose to hurt his feelings in the vein by which he has described me,” he said, specifically pointing to the line where Dr Mahathir called him “the most contemptible of politicians and individuals.”

Karpal Singh also told Dr Mahathir to take his views in his stride and added, “I do not hate him.”

Dr M speaks up on MB issue

By TUN DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD

A concerned Malaysian has expressed his worry over the role being played by Sultans in the appointment of the Mentri Besar.

His Royal Highnesses have clearly refused to take the advice of the chief minister, that is the Prime Minister. Instead, they have chosen on their own a member of the state legislature to head the Government.

We hear a lot of opinions on the propriety of the action by the Sultan. Some say he has the right to do this while others point out that as a constitutional ruler he could not do this.

The Constitution says that the Ruler or Head of State must choose the elected member who enjoys the support of the majority of members in the legislative body to be the Prime Minister or the Mentri Besar. Subject to this provision, it is the Ruler who chooses and appoints the Prime Minister or Mentri Besar.

The Prime Minister, as Prime Minister has no role in the choice of the State Mentri Besar or Ketua Mentri. His naming of a candidate who should be the Mentri Besar is purely a party matter. Obviously if the state is captured by the Opposition party he cannot name the candidate.

However, if the Ruler chooses someone who does not enjoy majority support that person could be deposed at a sitting of the legislative body through a vote of “no confidence”.

After that another member can be appointed by the Ruler to take his place. But if for some reason there is no other candidate or the candidate with majority support is considered unsuitable by the Ruler, a new Government cannot be formed. The Ruler may then dissolve the legislative body and a new election may be held.

This new election may lead to the same impasse. The Ruler may not like the member with majority support.

However, it should be noted that this kind of thing never happened during the premiership of the four previous Prime Ministers. Concerned Malaysians should wonder why.

Is it just that the particular Ruler is being difficult, unwilling to accept the principles of democracy, wanting to return to feudalism and the absolute authority of the monarch?

I do not think so. There must be a reason why the Ruler refuses to accept the candidate named by the party. But the Ruler chooses not to reveal the reasons and indulge in public debates. He merely expresses his displeasure by refusing to do what normally the Rulers would do.

Concerned Malaysians must ask what has the particular candidate done which is so wrong that it incurs the displeasure of the Ruler.

There is a lot of talk in the town. Terengganu is blessed with petroleum deposits. It should get 5% of the total earnings from oil production. The Federal Government, fearing the previous PAS Government might use this money wrongly, had withheld payment.

But when the Barisan Nasional regained Terengganu, the money, now called “Wang Ehsan”, was lavishly spent by the Federal Government on Terengganu. It is not a small sum. Over these years “Wang Ehsan” totalled several billions.

We know that since the Barisan Nasional regained Terengganu in 2004 all kinds of projects have been developed in Terengganu. This includes The Monsoon Cup, luxury housing for sale to foreigners, Crystal Mosque and theme park, university etc. Some of these projects are very good but many are totally unnecessary and wasteful.

But what the Terengganu people are saying is that all these mega projects costing billions of Ringgit have been contracted out to people outside Terengganu. Terengganu contractors got practically nothing.

But additionally they say the contracts all went to one person and they are suspicious that behind this person are members of the first family. The rumours also say that the previous Mentris Besar were responsible for these things happening and of course they think that he might have benefited financially. The rumours went on to say that the Prime Minister might have influenced the Mentri Besar into doing wrong things.

These are all rumours. It will be quite impossible to prove anything as the perpetrators are skilled in hiding themselves.

This is not good for a Government keen to abolish corruption and be transparent. To clear its name an investigation should be made.

But the public is leery of investigations by government agencies and departments. Even Royal Commissions are not highly regarded. The people believe, not true of course, that the Government has been interfering with the work of the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. The say this is borne out by the results of investigations by these agencies.

When a Deputy Minister was accused of accepting money for the release of a detainee, the Attorney-General said there was no case because the detainee said he did not give any money to the Deputy Minister. It is so easy. If you have a case involving someone, all the enforcement agencies need to do is to ask him whether he was involved. If he says “no” then there is no case.

For some reason judges are finding that people accused of murder are not guilty because of insufficient evidence by the police. Yet people who are totally not involved in a case, who were not accused of any misdeeds and who did not appear in court at all and been given a hearing, are found guilty and publicly condemned.

The public cannot be blamed for not having faith in government agencies conducting investigations. The public cannot be blamed for suspecting cover-ups by the Government or, worse still, that the Government may be using these enforcement agencies to threaten people.

To clear its good name, the Government should get credible foreign agencies to conduct the investigations. Of course they must be given full access to the documents etc.

Now my detractors are going to say I did worse things when I was Prime Minister. Well if that is so let us have the foreign agencies investigate me also. I am aware that people are looking into possible misdeeds by me during my 22 years so as to threaten me and ask me to shut up. So far they have not found anything.

Not only have I not taken anything that was not due to me while I was Prime Minister but I have given back to the Government and the people everything that I had received as gifts during my tenure. The Government had offered me land in Kedah and Langkawi and I had refused to accept. I have a five-acre piece of land in Putrajaya which I paid for even though the Government was offering it to me free.

Unless there is a frame-up I think there should be nothing to pin on me. Even other accusations against me including the dismissal of judges were not my doing and I do not feel obliged to apologise. Ask the Tribunal to apologise.

The person asking that the Government should apologise for what happened to Tun Salleh Abbas may have forgotten that as President of the Muslim Lawyers Association, he fully supported the action that was taken. He castigated the Bar Council for condemning Tun Hamid Omar over the dismissal of judges. Now he wants to be more correct than correct. I wonder why.