Taking a leaf from the colonial masters!

Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

The curbing on civil liberties, human rights and freedom of thought by the Umno Baru government is worse than what was done by the British colonialists. In facing the tide of nationalism that was rising in all its colonies after the Pacific War, the British introduced various draconian acts to curb this phenomenon. They failed miserably.

Nationalism was on the rise then and all colonial subjects demanded that the British grant them political freedom. So was it in the case of then British Malaya.

Will rule of law stand if Sedition Act declared unconstitutional?

Hazlan Zakaria

Even if the Sedition Act or elements of the dreaded law is struck down by the courts as unconstitutional, as things stand, I don’t think it will immediately return the rule of law to our beloved land.

Though it would be a big step in the hard trudging road to that promised tomorrow.

The judicial review of the Sedition Act by UM law professor Asmi Sharom before the Federal Court is a landmark question over the constitutionality of the law, which has brought new hope to opponents of the draconian legislation and put on tenterhooks its champions who judge it a necessary tool to keep Malaysia under control and controlled by the powers that be.

DAP’s ‘lover’s quarrel’ saga with PAS continues

 Hazlan Zakaria

They say that love is blind and on a honeymoon there are no non-pleasant brides and grooms, for the euphoria of chemical-electrical synapses makes all things good.

But once it ends, let’s say six years down the road after the “tsunami” honeymoon or initial anti-BN-working-together love affair, beauty fades and the once cute and adorable peculiarities became annoying and goddammit distracting.

So has it been for the Pakatan Rakyat pair of DAP and PAS and their public tiff in the media, like too-long married celebs at the tail end of a high profile and strained relationship.

The auditor’s report and arrogance

Lim Mun Fah

The Auditor-General’s Office has indeed accumulated for itself quite some level of respect and popularity in recent years through its many jaw-dropping revelations, although it has yet to fully shed its “toothless tiger” public image. Its annual reports have been seen by Malaysians as a sharp blade for the anti-corruption agency.

But this time the A-G’s Office appears to have shown its blade at the wrong target, hitting out controversially at the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia carnival, raising the irk of particularly the Chinese community of this country.

‘Create constitutional court above civil, syariah’

Mkini

Law expert Abdul Aziz Bari has proposed the formation of a constitutional court that will be above the civil and syariah courts to resolve any lingering disputes.

The Universiti Selangor (Unisel) academician suggested this in response to a call by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom for the formation of a Syariah Federal Court.

Reconsider building of 12 more dams, Sarawak told

Joseph Tawie

The state government under Chief Minister Adenan Satem should re-consider its plans to build 12 more dams in the state, nine of these being large dams, because they will only enrich its cronies.Ba’Kelalan assemblyperson Baru Bian said during the debate of the 2015 Sarawak Budget yesterday that the Bakun Dam was supposed to produce sufficient power for the needs of the state and for industries in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy (Score).

“It appears that the government is determined to build dams and invite foreign investors to establish industries here by offering attractive rates.

Tourism players see red over non-halal food ban

Mkini

The Tourism and Culture Ministry’s move to bar the serving of non-halal food at the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia (FF1M) 2014 has raised the ire of tourism players.

With this move, they suggested, the ministry should change the event name from ‘Fabulous Food 1Malaysia’ to ‘Halal Food Festival’ to portray the ‘halal only’ limitation.

Some also disagreed with the ministry’s way in handling the controversy, suggesting that two separate venues can be used to serve the halal and non-halal food.

Alfred Jabu rapped for poor rural growth centres

Joseph Tawie

Deputy Sarawak Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang, who is also the minister for rural development, should be disciplined and held responsible if it is true that six out of eight rural growth centres under his ministry have failed.”The authorities should examine why these centres are a failure, and if it is found out that they have failed, then the minister involved must take full responsibility,” Ba’Kelalan assemblyperson Baru Bian said.Baru,  who is Sarawak PKR chief, said this in reference to the latest series in the Auditor General’s Report 2013, which called on the Sarawak government to restudy the implementation plan for rural  growth centre (RGC) programmes in line with  the current development.

Opposition quarrelling till the cows come home

Jimmy Adit

The opposition is bickering over many imagined seats, I mean seats they think they can win.

Funnily, in some of these seats the opposition is almost non-existent, so why the quarrel?

They cannot agree and now the state DAP is so angry that it is thinking of cutting ties with rogue partner PAS and leaving Pakatan Rakyat.

Malaysia’s road to perdition

THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

There is no delicate way to put this: Malaysia is on a downward spiral, led down the dangerous path by overzealous religious authorities, misguided or plain stupid individuals and groups.

And perhaps more alarmingly, the government of the day is either allowing this implosion of a blessed country or has become a clueless bystander to the dismantling of multiracial and multi-religious Malaysia.

‘Probe land deals made by Sarawak state gov’t’

Joseph Tawie

DAP assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa Chong Chieng Jen asked Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem to seriously look into possible abuse of power and corruption by the state in land deals with private companies.

Chong cited four parcels of land about 267 acres near MJC Batu Kawah which were sold to Standard Parade Development Sdn Bhd at RM115 million, or at RM400,000 per acre, when the land could have fetched more than RM500 million or at RM2 to RM3 million an acre.

‘Appoint a Sarawakian as state police chief’

Joseph Tawie

Sarawakians are questioning why many of its senior police positions are held by outsiders, state DAP leader Alan Ling said today.

The Home Ministry appointments are against the Malaysia Agreement, the Piasau assemblyperson said during the debate on the 2015 budget today.

“The majority of Sarawakians are not happy with the appointment of outsiders as commissioner of police, heads of Crime Investigation Department, Special Branch Department and police administration.

‘Tis the season of forgetfulness over financial scandals

THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

Dr Mahathir has been one of the most critical voices against 1MDB and says it adds to the nation’s debt.

So much has happened over the years that one is forgiven for forgetfulness about what went wrong or right in Malaysia.

Malaysians have seen a series of financial scandals, each that seem bigger than the previous one.

Right now, the focus is on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Everyone is concerned about its debts and the government’s liability if it fails. That includes Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Daim Zainuddin, and rightly so, as the two men navigated Malaysia through tough economic times in the past.

Fearing the mop, but not the mob

MARIAM MOKHTAR

Zunar’s cartoons produce many laughs, but who would have thought that the mop on his head would be taken seriously by the Malay NGO Gerakan Memartabatkan Perjuangan Negara (GMPN)?

If these Malays are fearful of a mop, how would they deal with serious matters, or defend the nation against an external threat? Say “boo” to them, and they will scurry away, into the coconut shell.

People who are occasionally released from their tempurungs are familiar with the traveling one-man show, the stand-up comedian or even the street artist. Last Thursday, as Anwar Ibrahim and his legal team sweated it out in the Palace of Justice, his supporters were entertained by Zunar.

Overseas Malays are proof that the NEP is a barrier to success

Mariam Mokhtar

If you are non-Malay and you are angry at being denied opportunities like jobs, scholarships or places at university, despite being Malaysian, some Malays will sympathise with you but a few Malays will disagree. The Malays do not “get everything”.

Many Malays also feel the hurt of racial and religious discrimination. It has been a well-kept secret that Malays, who cannot tolerate the growing injustice and oppression, have emigrated. This is not a new trend, but one that started decades ago. Non-Malays are not the only ones who reluctantly left Malaysia. Emigration is not just about a brain-drain. Malays are also concerned about injustice and want to live in harmony with their non-Muslim neighbours.

TI-M: Take legal action on YTL for 1Bestari Net

Mkini

Corruption watchdog Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has urged the government to take legal action against the contractors of school e-learning project 1Bestari Net.

Its president Akhbar Satar  said the Auditor-General’s latest report clearly shows service provider YTL Communications Sdn Bhd’s “failure to fulfil contractual obligation”.

He added failure to complete the RM633 million project by the June deadline is reason enough for the government to seek legal recourse.

‘Sabah and Sarawak must have 35pct of MPs’

Joseph Tawie

State Reform Party (Star Sabah) has demanded that more parliamentary seats be given to Sabah and  Sarawak in order to restore their constitutional safeguards.

“Whatever the formula or basis of the new redelineation exercise, Sabah and Sarawak must be given 35 percent of the parliamentary seats to restore their constitutional safeguards,” Star Sabah chief Jeffrey Kitingan said in a statement today.

“Peninsular Malaysia should not be given more than 65 percent of the seats, as agreed upon at the outset of the formation of Malaysia,” Kitingan said in reference to the proposed redelineation being undertaken by the Election Commission (EC).

YB, why do we need you in Parliament?

MARIA CHIN ABDULLAH

On Nov 11, 2014, a question was raised by Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) to Deputy Finance Minister Chua Tee Yong about Putrajaya’s letter of support for 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a government-linked commercial company, as well as a land deal for the relocation of defence units from land marked for the government development project, Bandar Malaysia.

In addition, a total of RM50.4 billion was allocated by the Finance Ministry under the 2015 Budget.

A good issue for debate, but what happened next was shocking although perhaps not unexpected! When Anthony Loke called for a bloc vote to stop the budget allocation, there were only 91 Members of Parliament (MPs) present at the parliament. The budget allocation was passed with 57 votes for and 34 against. Appallingly, this means that 131 MP were not even present in the Dewan Rakyat when the voting was carried out.

We have no control over rise in housing prices, says minister

MOHD FARHAN DARWIS

Putrajaya said today it could not prevent housing prices from increasing, but could help mitigate the cost of home ownership by giving buyers incentives.

Putrajaya cannot prevent housing prices from increasing because Malaysia practised an open economy, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said today.

But, it could help mitigate the cost of home ownership by giving buyers incentives, he said.

“This is a free country, the government cannot determine prices.

Sarawak DAP opposes amendment to Land Code

Joseph Tawie

Sarawak DAP strongly opposes the Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2014 which allows native landowners to sell their land to other natives of different races regardless of location as they can be easily exploited by the rich and super rich natives.

“If we allow this bill to be passed without safeguards, there will be a time whereby the rich owning hundreds and thousands of NCR land, while the poor natives will have no land to farm,” Kota Sentosa assemblyperson Chong Chieng Jen warned yesterday.

Jabu showed contempt for top judges, says state rep

Joseph Tawie

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Rural Development Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang may have put his foot in his mouth by attempting to make fun of PKR’s Batu Lintang assemblyperson See Chee How.

In the winding up debate on the Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2014 today and replying to points raised by See, Jabu ridiculed the PKR man for saying that the “natives are part of the land as are the trees, mountains, hills, animals, fishes and rivers”.

He took exception to such a statement and slammed See for linking the natives with animals.

‘Restrict transaction of NCR land to 500 acres’

> Joseph Tawie

Batu Lintang assemblyperson See Chee How has warned the state government not to turn the natives of Sarawak from being custodians of their ancestral land into commodity traders.

“But they are custodians of not just the present generations’ rights but countless generations yet to come,” he said when debating the Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2014 yesterday.

The Bill was introduced by Deputy Chief Minister and Rural Development Minister Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang.

YTL Communications fined RM2.4 million over 1BestariNet, says ministry

TMI

The 1BestariNet project developed by YTL Communications under the auspices of the Education Ministry, is sorely lacking in implementation according to the A-G’s report.

Putrajaya has fined YTL Communications Sdn Bhd RM2.4 million for failing to provide all 10,000 schools with the 1BestariNet e-learning project, the Education Ministry said today.

It said that 1,003 schools had not been equipped with 1BestariNet because YTL Communications had failed to obtain approval from the local authorities to build telecommunication towers in several states, particularly Sarawak, Penang and Kelantan.

The one man who can unite Malaysians

Iskandar Dzulkarnain

He is the most misunderstood public figure in the country.

It is unfortunate that one of Malaysia’s wisest and most inspired scholars has been so negatively portrayed in the media.

He looks like an uber cool celeb with his bald head, but when he dons a songkok, he takes on the looks of an aristocrat, a man of letters, a don, a religious scholar. Unlike so many of our so-called scholars who got their PhDs by plagiarising the works of others, his dissertion is completely and pristinely original.

Officer who stole close to RM1 million in unclaimed money got off scot free, reports Auditor-General

TMI

No action was taken against a civil servant who embezzled almost RM1 million, says the Auditor-General.

A civil servant who had embezzled nearly RM1 million in unclaimed money from the Accountant-General’s Department was let off despite several police reports, the 2013 Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report said.The third series of the report found that police reports had been lodged against the officer on two occasions, namely on March 3 and March 10 in 2011, after the losses were discovered.

The officer had made off with unclaimed money totalling RM995,031.

Adenan’s rural focus to head off DAP’s ‘Impian Sarawak’

Hazlan Zakaria

Some say that his announcement on rural focus by the state BN is admission of neglect while others saw him playing to his strengths, but Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem may be moving to firefight the DAP’s rural push into his state.

There used to be a time that Sarawak BN shrugged off DAP’s foray into their “fixed deposit” and stronghold but now they are looking at Chinese majority urban seats in the peninsula-based party’s comfortable grasp.

Tired and embarrassed?

DEAN JOHNS

I had to laugh the other day when I read that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had complained in a speech at the Selangor Umno convention that he feels “tired” and “embarrassed” whenever Barisan Nasional is referred to as the opposition in Selangor state.

Because however bad Najib might imagine he feels to have failed to regain Selangor despite a 13th general election that was as dirty, unfair and corrupt as he and his tame electoral commission could make it, he couldn’t be anywhere near as tired and embarrassed as most Malaysians are to be still saddled with him and his cronies as ‘leaders’ or rather bleeders of their beloved country.

Drop GST on medicines, say pharmacists

Mkini

The Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) is appealing to the government for all medicines to be zero-rated under the goods and services tax (GST).

MPS president Nancy Ho said in a statement today the government should not tax somebody for “being sick or for needing to take medications”.

As such, MPS is collecting signatures for a petition to appeal for all medicines to be zero-rated under the GST.

RM663mil later, schools plagued by slow Internet

Mkini

After RM663 million of taxpayers’ funds were poured into introducing high speed broadband networks in schools, students have found themselves stuck with a sluggish Internet as the project comes to its conclusion.Also, according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2013, the 1Bestari Net project, which also includes a virtual learning environment (VLE), that cost the bulk of the spending, is also rarely used by teachers and students.

Under the contract, 9,191 schools were to be supplied with a broadband network with a minimum speed of 4Mbps and up to 20Mbps.

Greed overtakes the space for God’s mercy

J.D. Lovrenciear

Official statistics state five humans died in the mud flows. Street talk holds that at least 17 would have died.

The deputy prime minister has come with guns blazing stating that no one will be spared over the encroachment – which is the reason cited as the cause of the massive landslides in Cameron Highlands.

And immediately, the Immigration, police and local authorities made a dragnet and proudly announced that 181 illegal workers have been netted.

The next 20 things to ban, and more

Mkini

I was researching topical materials for this article to be published next month. But the ever so colourful headlines recently have provided enough fodder for this second instalment of the next 20 things to ban in Malaysia, for release now:1) Signboards of ‘lembu’ crossing – I suggest that all these traffic signages be banned from the roads. In their religion, the ‘lembu’ is never angry but always at peace and thus, (since we need to respect all Malaysians’ sensitivities) we must not offend the Hindus. You see, a naive Hindu could mistakenly read the sign as meaning a holy animal is crossing over to another religion.

2) Positive (‘+’) sign – this symbol should be eliminated from Malaysian electronic devices because non-Christians who use them daily, may be fooled into converting to Christianity seeing the crucifix-like symbol appearing ubiquitously as if it’s a calling from God.

Dayak leaders sleepless over probe delay

 Jimmy Adit

It has been a month since Dayak Informal Group chief Dr Dusit Jaul lodged a police report on a harassment he and his family received from five men claiming to be Special Branch (SB) officers from Bukit Aman.

In his report, Dusit, who is also Sarawak Dayak Graduates’ Association president, said the men entered his home uninvited on Oct 7 and warned him through his wife that he stop talking about the rights of the Dayaks and issues affecting the community.

For as long as the harassment case is not solved, Dusit has every reason to be worried because every time he leaves for work he knows he is leaving his family to the mercy of God. He and his family are exposed and that’s no comfort at all.

NGOs fight for ‘New Deal for Dayaks’

Joseph Tawie

A group of Dayak intellectuals, senior civil servants and activists are embarking on a state-wide roadshow on Dayak rights.

The workshops set to discuss challenges and opportunities faced by the community are organised, following unhappiness with their political leaders.

The series of workshops, jointly organised by Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) and Dayak National Congress (DNC), will be organised in major cities and towns in the state.

Top 20 things to ban in Malaysia

RAMESH RAJARATNAM

I have been following the pace of events that suggests there is a move to ban or declare illegal certain activities in this country because we are no longer sensitive to others’ feelings. I am now fully convinced that our moral guardians are acting in our best interest because we are weak of faith and morals.So, being a good citizen who is ever ready to assist the politicians to discharge their very heavy workload, I have compiled a list of things that we should ban and the reasons for doing so:

1) Thaipusam – because the chariot procession causes chaos in certain parts of Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru at 3am and parading Hindu deities on our streets may offend some people’s sensitivities and this should not be tolerated.

PAS deviating off course, says Sarawak DAP

Joseph Tawie

PAS is the one which is causing Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat to break up because of its intention to introduce hudud in the country, said Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen.”PAS is deviating too far away from the common agenda of the Pakatan coalition,” he said.”That is the main cause of the problem.”

He was replying to state PAS information chief Abusiraj Almunerwho accused Sarawak DAP of being a burden to the Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat and a tool of the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).

By threatening to quit Pakatan, Sarawak DAP is undermining the solidarity of Pakatan in the state, Abusiraj said.

Student activists arrested after kicked out of UMS

Mkini

After having to undergo urine tests earlier today, student activists who planned to hold a rally at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) continue to be hounded by authorities.

The eight students were not only barred by campus officials from speaking, they were kicked out and arrested.

At the time of writing, Universiti Malaya Student Union (PMUM) president Fahmi Zainol said that the activists are now being brought to the Karamunsing police station in a police van.

Besides Fahmi (left), the students arrested include one from Universiti Teknologi Mara (Uitm), three from UMS (Kota Kinabalu campus) and three from UMS (Labuan campus).

Jabu warns Penans on the way forward, But what have you done!

John Joseph

The Deputy Chief Minister supports Chief Minister Adenan Satem whose vision is the same as that of Sarawak Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang has advised the Penan community to take a good look at themselves and take stock of where they were going.

He argued that those who taught the Penans to set up blockades and demand compensation from timber companies “were actually making the Penans lazy and dependent on the compensation”.

20 per cent oil royalty or no deal!

Joe Fernandez

Petronas has threatened to stop investing if the Sarawak Government continues to demand 20 per cent oil royalty.

The Opposition, in a pre-emptive move on the eve of the Sarawak Assembly sitting, has warned Chief Minister Adenan Satem against settling for anything less than 20 per cent oil royalty in its negotiations with Petronas, the national oil corporation.

“It would be an ‘insult’ to Sarawakians if we are only given corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions,” said PKR Sarawak vice chief See Chee How. “As an oil producing nation, Sarawak’s entitlement to a fair oil and gas royalty should be seen as its right.”

The real power in Malaysia

Zaid Ibrahim

The so-called “Malay moderate” leaders normally expound their sugar-coated liberal ideas in international forums and always in English because they know that the Malay-Muslim audience at home will miss it completely.

This is true of both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Their actions are, however, diametrically opposite to what they profess to believe.

Let’s see how they handle the issues of “liberalism” and “pluralism”:

Let’s pluralise to diversify

AZLAN ABDUL RAZAK

Mercy is not a word accompanied with a denigrating effect. Mercy is neither awarded nor rewarded to one as and when he demands it. Mercy is in fact a laudable act of proffering compassion and kindly forbearance to those who need it most.

In the case of the Pharisee and the tax collector, when the latter eventually attested to his sin to God, adjuring the forgiveness of the Lord and to be seen by Him as if he had committed no sin, Jesus said in Luke, “… and the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13).

New guidelines for Christian materials bound for East Malaysia, says Joseph Kurup

JENNIFER GOMEZ

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said Putrajaya would come up new guidelines to ensure Christian materials bound for East Malaysia would not be confiscatedPutrajaya will come up new standard operating procedures to ensure that Christian materials bound for East Malaysia will not be confiscated, said Tan Sri Joseph Kurup after returning seized Christian books and CDs to a pastor in Sabah today.

The minister in the prime minister’s department pledged that Putrajaya would come up with new guidelines to deal with similar cases in the future.

‘Websites reporting on Taib graft book attacked’

Mkini

The Malaysian government hacked into websites that carried reports on the book ‘Money Logging: On the Trail of the Asian Timber Mafia’ by Lukas Straumann, the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) claims.

The book alleges corrupt practices on the part of former Sarawak chief minister and current Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud and his family in relation to the state’s timber industry.

A BMF statement issued yesterday says the US-based Environment News Service (ENS) reported that its websites were attacked for a report it carried on the book.

No reason to reduce petrol prices, says gov’t

Mkini

The federal government has said that the issue of reducing oil prices in tandem with plummeting global crude oil prices “does not arise” as the government is still subsidising RON 95 petrol and diesel prices in the country.

Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan, in responding to the urgings by several opposition lawmakers, said that the government is still paying a 12 sen subsidy per litre for the fuel in this country.

However, this is significantly reduced from the 74 sen per litre subsidy the government was handing out in 2013.

No regrets, say UM students facing disciplinary board over Anwar rally

ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH

Eight Universiti Malaya students will appear before a disciplinary board this morning for organising a rally with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week

It’s D-day for eight Universiti Malaya students who are scheduled to appear before a disciplinary board this morning for organising a rally with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week.And despite the prospect of being expelled from the institution, they said they did not regret their actions.

The charges against the eight, described as “ridiculous”, range from attending an illegal rally to using a loud hailer.

Malaysians start feeling the socio-economic crunch

Ng Kee Seng

Malaysia’s socio-economic status is not all dandy. And the federal government and its leaders are not fooling anyone whenever they try to paint a rosy picture of Malaysia’s economic and financial health.

How can Malaysia’s economic health be dandy when its federal debt, officially, is at RM568.9 billion or 52.8 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) as of June.

However, many economists believe the figures and statistics had not included other hidden debts.

Seized Bibles likely to be returned by next week, say Selangor sources

MD IZWAN

New Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali is scheduled to meet Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah next Tuesday and they are likely to discuss the seized Bibles

The Malay and Iban Bibles seized early this year containing the word “Allah” are to be returned to the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) soon, ending a 10-month standoff between Christians and the Selangor religious authorities.The Malaysian Insider understands the 321 copies of the Christian holy books, seized by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), which forbids other faiths from using the word “Allah”, are expected to be returned within the next week.

Time for a youthful cure to Malaysia’s chronic un-democracy

Hazlan Zakaria

To the point of pushing the seditious envelope, here I stand advocating revolution. A call to arms for Malaysia’s young, to rabble-rouse and bring forth change in power.

Guided as I was by an unlikely ditty, a patriotic song from the mists of childhood memory:

“Putra Putri negara jaya

Bersatu berpadu tenaga

Padamu harapannya bangsa

Seandai cita-cita

What happened to UPSR back-up papers, asks DAP lawmaker

TMI

Twelve teachers were detained following the discovery of leaked questions for the UPSR Science, English, Tamil and Mathematics papers which affected 473,175 pupils from 8,384 schools nationwide.

As two teachers face court today over leaks in the UPSR examination papers, a DAP lawmaker has asked whether the standard practice of preparing multiple sets of question papers was followed to prevent such a fiasco.

Citing media reports, Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari (pic, right) said it was the custom for the examination board to have three sets of examination papers so that a back-up could be used in case a leak was discovered.

Najib, wake up and listen to the rumblings!

Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

I have written a number of articles urging action on the part of the prime minister to curtail and end the trend that will create chaos in the country. It seems like one is talking to a wall. But definitely he has to wake up from his slumber and act, or he would be the very person responsible for a disaster awaiting the nation.

Every time Datuk Seri Najib Razak makes speeches, he looks more like an amateur actor with poor directing, doing a soliloquy from some Shakespearean play. His aides should be brave enough to tell him about this. Possibly what others say will only fall on his deaf ears as his advisers have been presenting  the wrong picture about what the people perceive him to be.

Bishop proposes two steps for Ibrahim imbroglio

Mkini

Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing has proposed a two-step solution to the maelstrom over Ibrahim Ali’s threat to burn Malay language Bibles.

“He can renounce his threat, and the government can proceed to drop the sedition changes against a host of others who did not utter anything comparably seditious but are under duress for suspected sedition,” proposed the head of the Catholic Church in the Malacca-Johor diocese.

The Jesuit-trained prelate said this two-step proposition would provide the avenue out of the impasse spawned by Ibrahim’s threat and the spate of probes and indictments for sedition against a host of social activists and politcians.