The Second Fiddle: Fearless Deputy

Hantu Laut

I couldn't agree more with Zaid.There are no two ways about it, there can only be one captain. Members of the cabinet are his crew and should behave like one.Those who tried to undermine him should have the sense of shame and should resign from the ministerial position.

Najib failed to put his foot down not only with his deputy but also his own cousin, the Home Minister, who had equally harmed the administration with his ridiculous political fatwas.Adding to the woes is Minister in the PM department Nazri Aziz who more often than not is more upsetting with his air of arrogance and incredulity.

I have in my previous postings indicated the need for reshuffling the cabinet, but unfortunately, Najib did not do the needful and now the problem has become too entranced.

The trouble with UMNO is the archaic political system where the deputy president of the party by convention would automatically become the deputy prime minister and successor to the prime minister.It begets sycophancy, cronyism and intensive lobbying with the DPM for those waiting for the next gravy train.Anwar Ibrahim was an example of a deputy in a hurry who stumbled and fell flat on his face because No.1 was smarter than he had expected.

I find it very upsetting that he would have made a good prime minister but succumbed to pressures from his subordinates that crippled him from pushing forward his policies.

Running a nation is no different from running a company, there can only be one ultimate boss, the head honcho.

How many of you know who is the deputy president of the US, the DPM of Britain and for that matter the DPM of our next door neighbour, Singapore? They know they can only play second fiddle and stay out of the limelight as deputy.

In the case of Pak Lah it was not Najib who pushed him out, much of the work was done by Tun Mahathir Mohammed and with some help from Muhyiddin.

The Fearless Deputy
Zaid Ibrahim

Aug 18, 2011

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Someone asked me if there is a power struggle going on in UMNO right now. I said no, only in the Cabinet. This poser was perhaps brought about by the way Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has skilfully contradicted Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Razak on several important issues. When the PM promoted the idea of 1Malaysia, the DPM countered with his now notorious statement: “I am Malay first”. It seems the PM didn’t know what to say in reply. Many people know that the PM would have liked Science and Mathematicsto continue to be taught in English (as it should be), but his Deputy, who is also Education Minister, decided otherwise.

Najib recently made another sensible decision to accommodate – or at least to recognise – some of the concerns raised by Bersih. He has decided that a Parliamentary Select Committee should look into the many complaints in the way elections are being conducted in our country. Not surprisingly, his Deputy quickly reminded him that very little was wrong with the process. It just needed a little “tweaking”, Muhyiddin said.

Now this is not the first time that a Minister in the Cabinet has openly challenged a PM in Malaysia. It happened even in the most recent administration before this one: when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was PM (this was soon after the 2008 General Election), Muhyiddin called on him to step down. He used the phrase “peralihan kepimpinan” — change of leadership. And he did so not once but many times. It was a sorry sight to hear Pak Lah telling Muhyiddin “sabar lah”. Be patient.

Muhyiddin was probably emboldened by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, who joined the fray and openly discredited and ridiculed the man he himself had endorsed to lead the country. I believe had Pak Lah reshuffled his cabinet post 2008 to show that the Cabinet was his, he would still be PM today. Sure enough, they took him out soon after.

In the Westminster system of Government, the PM is always the real power. The Cabinet are his advisors. This is why it’s normal for Prime Ministers in other Westminster-based countries to reshuffle their Cabinets whenever they feel that effective government will be compromised without such a change. The Prime Minister is responsible, as head of the ruling party, to make sure that the right policies are implemented. In an ideal situation, the Ministers serve to advise the PM on how these policies should be executed, and they bear responsibility for this.

When there is a charismatic or strong PM, Cabinets can sometimes become overshadowed and individual Ministers might resemble mere “extensions” of the PM’s will. We have seen it here for many years, and Dr Mahathir practised it to perfection. He would not even allow Tun Musa Hitam (the first of his many deputies) to share in the name of the administration: does anyone remember the “2M” Government?

In many ways Dr Mahathir was right. There can be only one captain of the ship. It is not for the PM to agree with his Ministers, but for the Ministers to carry out the vision of the PM in the form of policy. This is why any Minister who disagrees strongly enough with the PM over a particular decision or policy should resign, as I did. This is the convention practised in all Commonwealth countries.Read more.

One Man's Loss Is Another Man's Gain

Hantu Laut

A little unexpected but Zaid should not rejoice. Politics is a hard ball.

Nibong Tebal MP joins Kita

PETALING JAYA: The People’s Welfare Party (Kita) welcomed its newest member today, Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng.

Speaking at a press conference here, the former PKR MP, flanked by Kita president Zaid Ibrahim, said: “I believe Kita can bring meaningful changes to the nation.”

Last year, Tan quit PKR after facing the party’s disciplinary board for openly criticising Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Tan said that he was courted by various parties including Barisan Nasional during his tenure as an independent lawmaker but he was looking for a party that promoted fairness, equality and transparency.

“And in Zaid, I see a man consistent in promoting truth and unity,” he added.

Asked whether he had informed fellow independent MPs from Konsensus Bebas, of which he is a member, Tan said it was not necessary to inform them.

“They are not my parents. The group came about for us to share a platform to help one another as we lacked resources,” he explained.

‘He’s not a political frog’

Meanwhile, Zaid said that he was glad that Kita was able to attract young leaders into its fold despite being a fledgling political outfit.

“It is a bold move by Tan to join us as he believes Kita is the party of the future,” he added.

The former law minister, an ex PKR member himself, hoped that more people, including aspiring MPs and state assemblymen, would join Kita.

“We are open to anyone who has the nation’s interest at heart. Since we are a new party, we have no baggage and cronies with us,” he said. Read more.

Sabah Dilemma, Between The Two Ibrahims

Jeffrey at political crossroads after Zaid’s exit

WED, 24 NOVE 2010 06:15

By Joe Fernandez

ANALYSIS Pakatan Rakyat co-coordinator Zaid Ibrahim’s sudden departure from PKR, under somewhat unhappy circumstances, has caught Sabah strongman Jeffrey Kitingan flat-footed but not entirely without political or other options, it seems.

Zaid, who had banked so much on Sabah and Sarawak to win the PKR deputy presidency, apparently left his allies in the party in a lurch when he quit out of the blue without breathing so much as a word to them.

His critics, and many supporters as well, explain this apparently impulsive action on his part is basically due to a fundamental “instability of character” in Zaid. The truth, as usual, may be somewhere in between.

This situation sums up Jeffrey’s current stand on whether he will continue to stay in PKR or leave the party like a close aide, Phillip Among @ Daniel Dell Fidelis, 41, did last Saturday. The reading in Kota Kinabalu is that Among, who doubles as de facto PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim’s aide as well during the latter’s Sabah visits, was trying to pressure his boss (Jeffrey) into taking a definite stand and quit the party as well. He does not seem to be succeeding so far although he remains unfazed.

“I will look at the situation again after Dec 16 when my two months leave ends,” said Jeffrey who doesn’t want to criticise Zaid.

“Zaid is someone who understood and accepted the aspirations of Sabah and Sarawak. After him, we can see no one else in PKR that we can relate to as easily,” he added.

He was speaking in Kota Kinabalu yesterday at the tail end of a press conference which was held basically to explain Sabah PKR’s stand on the Sabah budget unveiled last Friday. The local press seemed less interested in the budget than in his political future, if any, in PKR after Zaid’s exit.

Fundamental mistake

Jeffrey stressed that his politics is all about Sabah and Sarawak rights within the context of Malaysia as a federation of three territories being in partnership on the basis of equality. That’s the historical and legal basis on which there can be no concessions or retreat, he said.

He came almost close to admitting that he made a fundamental mistake in relying too much on PKR to help further his cause.

However, he said Sabah and Sarawak have had a historical window of opportunity since the 2008 general election to stand up and be counted, but this was not happening. It’s because, according to him, the people have not realised enough to bring pressure to bear on their political leaders.

He quite agreed that Sabah and Sarawak leaders have a window of opportunity to demand for a bigger oil royalty in preparation for the forthcoming general election. He said that the opportunity was always there. Not stated, but implied, was that Sabah and Sarawak leaders would not demand for a bigger oil royalty because there was no pressure on them to do so.

He made passing reference to the emergence of a third force in Malaysian politics but did not mention his own role in such a movement.

Interestingly, some of those who attended the press conference were members of a team which has been working on a third force principally focused on Sabah and Sarawak but extending across the South China Sea to include other marginalised communities.

The existence of the team only emerged when two of its members turned up at the press conference and one of them was seen with a bulky document entitled “3rd Force Model”. He took it back before this writer could have a chance to flip through it.

It appears with some degree of certainty that if not for Zaid staying in PKR, Jeffrey would have quit the party a long time ago. He would have seen no real purpose being served by him remaining with a party which is more focused on capturing Putrajaya but needs just a little help from Sabah and Sarawak.

'Faceless and nameless'

Jeffrey was willing to give a little glimpse of what the third force should look like.

“We (Sabah and Sarawak) look at it differently,” he said. “The third force would be faceless and nameless.”

He expects to hold a briefing around Dec 16 to explain the third force to the media. He may also touch on the emergence of Barisan Rakyat Sabah (BRS) comprising all local political parties in Sabah. However, the details are still to be worked out.

Jeffrey believes any party or all parties on both sides of the South China Sea can subscribe to the third force. “The people must subscribe to it (third force) and believe that it’s their cause. There will be cheer leaders, faceless and nameless, keeping the issue alive before the people for them to decide and adopt.”

This appears to rule out Jeffrey leading the third force through a new political party formed by him to the exclusion of other political parties. The question of a new political party emerging with him at the helm is itself a million-ringgit question. No one seems to know, including Jeffrey, although his supporters like Among swear that they would have to head eventually in that direction.

Among sees the cue being taken from the formation of a new political party – Parti Keadilan Baru (New Justice Party) – by Zaid. At this point, Jeffrey would have to make some sort of decision, he added. “Jeffrey will not join Zaid’s party. We have had enough of the orang Malaya (Peninsular Malaysians) dictating to us. We can co-operate but not kow-tow.”

He predicts that Zaid’s party will pursue the agenda for change and reform. His party is also expected to join either Pakatan or a new Pakatan. The new Pakatan will apparently come about if Anwar objects to Zaid’s party being in Pakatan and at this point in time, Among surmises, both DAP and PAS will abandon PKR since it will be left with only the original agenda of “freeing Anwar”.

Both DAP and PAS, said Among, cannot ignore Zaid’s new party which is expected to attract MPs who left PKR and up to a further 10 MPs who are against Azmin Ali being deputy president. These 10 MPs don’t expect to be fielded at the next general election and see Zaid’s new party as their golden parachute to ensure their continued political survival.

Zaid Ibrahim, It's Your Call

Hantu Laut

The recent spectacle in PKR that got Zaid into the political high winds could change the political landscape in the country if Zaid plays his cards right. As I have mentioned in my previous posts Zaid had no other choice but to start his own party and he must do it sooner rather than later.

Would Najib's government allow him to register a new party. For all intents and purposes it would be in the ruling party's favour to allow a third force. Zaid could well be the better messiah of reforms than Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar and PKR have failed miserably to deliver its promises of democracy, accountability and fair play.It is as crooked as a dog's hind leg.Azmin Ali's win in Sabah is dubiously perplexing..

Support for Anwar is dwindling fast as the people get a clearer picture of his intentions.As people grew tired of his political charade, sympathy for him is fading fast and would fade even faster if a more credible third force appears.Zaid has to work fast while the momentum is still there.Strike the iron while it is still hot or it will fizzle out.

The recent party direct elections that was reported to be highly improper that put Zaid in a quandary, him demanding full investigation, fell on deaf ears, with Anwar Ibrahim responding in self-serving high horses rendition of no such thing and lamented that of Zaid's unfounded delusional fear.

Zaid came from the same tree as Anwar but a fruit less infested and much more edible and credible.He was never a minister or held any governmental position in the old regime and could not be accused of any serious misdeeds. He has through his ingenuity made himself fairly rich through his political connections during his time in UMNO.

His short stint as a minister under the Badawi's administration put him at loggerhead with other ministers and UMNO's bigwigs over indiscriminate use of the ISA which saw him resigning from his ministerial post and the exit from UMNO.

Zaid troubles started the day he was labelled as successor to Anwar who do not want a successor through the democratic process.He will pick his own successor when the time come.

PKR is a spanner in the works of Pakatan's dream of taking over power and a third force would certainly deny them the walk to Putrajaya.

Next to go, Jeffery Kitingan?

The Camel And The Eye Of The Needle

Hantu Laut

As expected Zaid would scarper from PKR.

Given the choice he is in and Anwar's affirmation that there is not a scintilla of truth in what he says, Zaid's stay in PKR has become embarrassingly untenable.

Bluntly put, he is saying Zaid is a liar, a sore loser and the much dreaded Trojan horse that he mentioned much earlier well before the party elections. Now, we all know who is the Trojan horse that Anwar meant.

Zaid should have realised the day he joined PKR he was accepted not because Anwar like him or feel comfortable with him or need his support, it was more out to spite UMNO.The day he walked into PKR he became a scorching challenge to Anwar's leadership and Anwar knew it would be a matter of time before he throws down the gauntlet at him.

Anwar, who is on downward mobility, because PKR members are beginning to see his true colour and are quite prepared to ditch him for someone who has more credibility realised the danger he is in if Zaid is allowed to stay in PKR.

“I am quitting because I want to dissociate myself from liars and cheats. I do not want to be part of a group that propagates lies and does not have any qualms about cheating for as long as the end justifies the means,’’ he told The Star.

As a newcomer he should not expect majority of PKR members to have sympathy for him, they would rather stay with the devils they know.Being that close to taking Putrajaya, Anwar and Azmin will annihilate anyone who become a threat to their ambitions to take Putrajaya

Obviously, Zaid hasn't got much choice.Make an exit or stay in PKR and be ridiculed mercilessly by Anwar and Azmin's people.UMNO has declared him persona non grata and there is no other party that can take him in.

He will be in political limbo unless he forms his own party.

As Jesus said "It is harder for a rich man to enter Heaven than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle"

Homeless Zaid And 'Lord Of The Rings'

Hantu Laut

The falling out of Zaid Ibrahim in PKR's recent political turmoil relating to the party elections has Anwar's name written all over the wall.Azmin Ali would be helpless without Anwar's cohesive support and his indifference on the elections malpractices.

This story is all about Anwar, his mesmerisation of the people and his stranglehold over the party.

Whenever things go wrong in PKR, strangely enough, UMNO gets the bashing.Some have branded PKR same as UMNO.

Frankly, PKR is many times worse than UMNO.It's void of democracy, single screw and appears to have no viable direction or rather it has only one fixed direction , like the magnetic compass, pointing to a fixed pole...toward Anwar Ibrahim and his dream of a journey to Putrajaya, which, unfortunately, looking more and more like the receding horizon.

UMNO, albeit, for all the wrong things it has been accused of is still a party for the masses.It makes no pretences that it has one and only political objective, to protect bumiputra rights, come what may, but is prepared to share political power and fair treatment of the other races.

Leaders have come and go over the many decades of its existence. Even the branded pukka dictator Tun Mahathir Mohammad was willing to handover the baton to his deputy, who, unfortunately, was the cause of today's political upheaval rising out of his flip-flop policies.

What does PKR stands for?

All this while it was all for Anwar.It is all for Anwar becoming the prime minister.It is all for saving Anwar from his sodomy trail.Obviously, it is a party for Anwar, his family and cronies that look after the interests of only one man, Anwar.Any one who dares questioned his leadership would be ridiculed and ostracised.

Back biting, back stabbing, mud slinging and anything under the lexicon of evils would be used to protect the Ibrahims and his cronies.The same lexicon of evils is used perpetrating the leaders in government.Though, some are true, most are architected to malign certain leaders to bring down the government so that Anwar can be prime minister. His failed Sept 16 coup was example of how far he would go to get his trophy.

Over the years the party had seen many fatalities of those closed to Anwar.Those infatuated with him and his style would soon find out to their own detriment what Anwar is made of......his insatiable appetite for absolute power and blind royalty that he expects from his supporters has brought perils to those who stepped out of line.

The first, very closed to him, was his former deputy Chandra Muzaffar. The list of fallen angels is too long to mentioned. By now Zaid should know that he would not be getting any support from PKR members if he stays on.

Anwar does not believe in consensus.He believes in absolute power and totalitarianism where he alone will make all major decisions.His excellent oratory skill draws people to him.He would make excellent dictator.Even as de facto leader he makes most major decisions not only in PKR but extended to the coalition.

His sugar-coated demogaguery even manage to captivate the West into believeing that he is being persecuted, the West demanding Najib to immediately stop his prosecution of sodomy without considering that there is rule of law in this country.The West double-standard is obvious when they asked Najib to interfere with the judiciary to save Anwar who has accused the same judiciary of being rotten to the core.It seems alright to interfere with justice when it comes to Anwar Ibrahim.

When he was in UMNO and was deputy prime minister it was rumoured that all his supporters particularly from the Youth wing headed by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi then have to wear talisman rings to identify his supporters from those not with him, that, in his case, was how he separates the wheat from the chuff.By then he was already very influential and had enough supporters to demand for Mahathir to step down and hand over the helm to him.As we all know the rest is history.He underestimated Mahathir's shrewdness and capability to hit back with a deadly blow.

He accused the leaders in government and those in UMNO of corruptions and peddle his new found moral upstanding of wanting to make this nation corruption free and bring about a just society is hard to swallow when he has in the past allowed cronies and families to be given contracts and public listed shares while he was the Minister of Finance.

Anwar's father and his two brothers are shown to have received shares allocated by the government.His father Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman and his brothers, Farizan and Marzukhi were given shares amounting to 7.1 million.His father owned 250,000 shares in Pengkalen Holdings Bhd and 3,790,500 of Nissan Industrial Oxygen Incorporated.Farizon owned 250,000 shares in Pengkalen Holding Bhd and Marzukhi owned 2.8 million shares in Penas Corporation. He has also rewarded his cronies with shares and contracts.

The point is why would someone who has the same dark feather be calling the kettle black?Even among thieves there is honour, they wouldn't call each other thieves. As much as I don't condone corruption, I find hypocrisy even more appalling.

So far my predictions about Anwar and PKR has not gone off track yet (see previous posts in my archives) and I strongly believe PKR and Anwar will screw up Pakatan chance of taking Putrajaya.

DAP will come out the strongest among the three.PAS will lose some of its seat to UMNO.

Fast track back to when Anwar was still in UMNO and was deputy prime minister then, two years before he was sacked by Mahathir, I can't exactly remember what was the occasion, where I told my uncle who was close to some Federal leaders at that time that " Anwar will never be prime minister" and he replied "that is a very strong word".

That was 1996 and Anwar was already "Lord of The Rings" secretly working to promote himself to take over from Mahathir.

Zaid's call for Anwar and Azmin to give up the leadership is absurd. He is making a laughing stock of himself.If he does not leave PKR and form his own party, no other party would accept him.He has burned all bridges.

He would become a homeless politician.

Zaid! Get Out And Strike While The Iron Is Still Hot

Hantu Laut

Now, the leadership tussle in PKR has taken on a confrontational front with Zaid asking Anwar and Azmin to give up the leadership.

Is Zaid clueless or he has gone completely bonkers.If the two are prepared to cheat in an election to keep their positions would they listen to him now that he is the loser.

Get serious, does he think Anwar and Azmin are going to hand over their resignations to him and hand over the party on the platter to a newcomer and walk away just like that.He must be out of your mind.

In the first place he shouldn't have stood for deputy president knowing fully well Azmin Ali is Anwar's blue-eyed boy who has been through thick and thin with him and he a newcomer upsetting the applecart.I thought he is a lawyer and should have known better.Obviously, some lawyers don't make good politician.

It's getting too hot in there, get out while the going is good.

He should get out and form his own party.Than he can be his own boss.

Strike while the iron is hot.If possible pull a few MPs with you and show Anwar it takes two to tango.

If he can do it, you can do it too.

Now, you know why Tungku Aziz did not join PKR, he has read Anwar like a book and rather be joining a Chinese based party than associate with someone like Anwar.

Zaid Should Form His Own Party

Hantu Laut

The writing is on the wall and just a matter of time before Zaid becomes one of the many victims of Anwar's insatiable greed to keep control of PKR by his family and cronies.He has refused to be de jure leader of PKR, instead, allowing his wife to hold the post but he literally control her and the party as de facto leader.

It was a clear signal to Zaid Ibrahim that Anwar Ibrahim finds him a threat to the leadership.By hook or by crook Zaid must be stopped or his next stop would be the presidency.

Zaid quits the No.2 race and all his posts in PKR quoting blatant cheating in the voting process for the No.2 post condoned by the leadership.

Becoming deputy president is one step nearer to becoming the president which Zaid would definitely succeed if he had won the post of deputy.His meteoric rise in the PKR hierarchy gave Anwar bone chilling shivers.The voting trend showed that Zaid is likely to win the contest that would displace Anwar's blue-eyed boy Azmin Ali.

My advice to Zaid Ibrahim is not to waste his time in PKR but to form his own party.He would be able to pull many PKR members who are disillusioned with Anwar's leadership.The voting trend is strong indication that PKR members are fed up with Anwar and Azmin Ali's political charade.

Democracy is not in his dictionary.A demagogue that many young Malaysians would want to make the prime minister of this country.Can you imagine what he would do once he sat in Putrajaya?

He would sell this country to the highest bidder.

Is Felda A Bankrupt Company ?

Hantu Laut

The next time, before you accuse a corporation or an individual of being a bankrupt just make sure you read their balance sheets first.

The question here is how many of our politicians, journalists, bloggers, lawyers, judges and economists can interpret financial statements? Obviously, some just don't care to find out the truth before opening their big mouth.

These are the people who are often confronted with the intricacies of financial figures and its imputations that could be as simple as ABC for some and as puzzling as the jigsaw puzzle for others.

Politicians, are the worse offenders when it comes to not doing their homework.Than you have the other type, political leaders surrounded by advisers and sycophantic political vultures who dish out wretchedly wrong advices to advantage their own position without caring for the dire consequence.

Felda, in response to some of the malicious rumours that the company is bankrupt has decided to sue for defamation a number of people including Anwar Ibrahim, Zaid Ibrahim, PAS MP Abdul Wahid Endut, a former deputy minister and at least three reporters.The Malaysian Insider story here.

The source of the rumours is Felda's dwindling case reserve of RM4 billion which apparently had diminished over the past few years and blaming Najib's involvement in its ruinous financial management.

Did people like Anwar Ibrahim and top dog lawyer Zaid Ibrahim actually check Felda's financial statements before going public with their assertions.

Felda confirmed that it is true its cash reserve has declined but on the other hand its current and fixed assets had risen as much as RM6.2 from RM9.17 billion in 2004 to RM15.37 billion in 2009.Maybe, Felda should also be more forthcoming where the money has gone to. New investments or drawn down to meet its financial obligations?

What construes bankruptcy? It is an inability of an individual or organisation to pay its debts as and when it becomes due.In more simple term you have more liabilities than assets and you can't pay your creditors.You are not a bankrupt unless legally declared so by a court of law.

In Malaysia the Bankruptcy Law is still archaic.The last time the government wanted to revise it to be current with what is practised in other developed economies it was bullied and pressured by the banking community not to amend the Act.

Getting court protection for scheme of arrangement with creditors is almost unheard of in Malaysia.Once, you are bankrupt, you are almost bankrupt for life and applying for discharge is dicey if you have many creditors.

Personal bankruptcy is painful for those genuinely in trouble.The Najib's government should make attempts to change and update the Act to be in line with developed nations and to make the banking community more prudent in their lending and not become too dependent on getting the life and soul of the guarantor when loan goes bad.

In many Western countries discharge is automatic after a few years, provided you are on good behaviour, did not commit fraud or broke any of the conditions applicable to a bankrupt.

Has Felda failed to meet any of its financial obligations or asked for restructuring of any of its short and long term debts that might indicate acute liquidity problems? If it has not than it is not anywhere near insolvency and even if it has applied for restructuring it is still not deemed bankrupt unless declared so by the court.

Even if Felda were to have lost all the cash reserve in a bad investment, technically, it is still not bankrupt as long as it can meet its financial obligations in the day-to-day running of the company.

Anwar Ibrahim was a former Finance Minister and Zaid Ibrahim used to run the biggest law firm in this country.It's absurd that they don't know the procedures.It goes to show that they don't care what it takes, they are prepared to throw caution to the wind to implicate Najib to gain political mileage.

Though, I think they are not very good at it, lying has become a set pattern and the forte of Pakatan leaders.



If Felda can prove that they are not any where near bankruptcy, the two Ibrahims better be prepared to consider bankruptcy themselves.This can be not only the most costly legal suit in Malaysia's history, it can also bankrupt the defendants unless of course Anwar can take over Puterajaya and do what he accused the BN government of doing, interfere with the judiciary.

So, next time before you call a company bankrupt, please learn to read and interpret the "balance sheet". That's where the company's financial health is hidden.

Rebel Without A Cause

Hantu Laut

Lim Kit Siang said "Let us have higher standards in politics and elections, as it is the avenue to serve to people and nation and not to indulge in personal attacks and character-assassinations."

He further reiterated "We can do the same but we refuse to do so. Zaid has regretted his drinks in his youth. But he has gone one step further to declare that he will not follow the gutter politics of the Umno leaders."

I am pretty sure there are some Muslims in UMNO who are boozers,if not publicly, at least discreetly, in the closet.However, they are not the one standing for election, therefore,for now, they are out of the limelight.

The rabble-rouser Lim Kit Siang asking those in UMNO to stand up to identify themselves as drunkards is nothing but a cheap shot and sign of desperation.

Zaid Ibrahim, like it or not, has, by his candidacy opened himself to public scrutiny of his character.Anyone running for public office would have to bear the embarrassement of being exposed for their ethical,religious or moral transgressions. Zaid has admitted to his sins.

If he can prove that the smear campaign is untrue and done out of malice, than he has the right to take legal action against those who slander him.

That may be water under the bridge now because he has admitted to consuming alcohol and the love for race horses.

I am not sure whether Islam is against keeping race horses.There are horse racings in some of the Middle Eastern countries.The Dubai World Cup is 11 of the world's thoroughbreds racing and is now worth US$10 million.Maybe, Zaid should send his horse to Dubai.

Politics, the world over, more so in a democracy, is a dirty game.Those who stands for public office should make sure they have a clean slate or be prepared to be ridiculed and shamed if their dirty linens are washed in public by their enemies.

Personal attacks and character assassination is not something unfamiliar to politics, it happened everywhere, even in the most advanced democracies.

Obama, was branded a closet Muslim by his rivals during the campaign for the US presidency.The American voters didn't buy it.The beer-bashing of Zaid may end up the same way.The folks in Hulu Selangor might not care about his boozy past and his love for race horses.

If you have skeletons in the closet and someone caught you with your pants down than it's just too bad, it becomes fodder for the cannon.

I personally think Zaid drinking habit should not make him a lesser person and should not be an issue.

However, what I think is not important or crucial to Zaid winning the by-election.It is how the majority of Malays in Hulu Selangor view his indulgence with alcohol and race horses that would decide his fate.

In the West, casual and social drinking are acceptable but alcoholism are frown upon by society.In the Muslim worlds alcohol is completely tabooed and punishable under Sharia.

Zaid could just be a social drinker, but than Islam does not differentiate between social drinkers and alcoholics, it carries the same sin and punishment.

In the West, alcoholics and drug-abusers are considered as patients that need help.In Islam they are considered as sinners and criminals that must be punished.There is a distinct difference between Muslim and non-Muslim view of alcohol.

That's besides the point.The point I am trying to make here is why do people like Lim Kit Siang and Raja Petra, who can attack others in wild abandon, suddenly become averse to personal attacks, an art they have perfected and are very skillful at. Najib has been in worse scatching attacks by Pakatan leaders and pro-Pakatan bloggers than people like Zaid Ibrahim and Anwar Ibrahim.When others played the same game they blow a fuse and decried of being hit below the belt.

The privilege to smear or sling mud at others is not theirs alone, others can do the same.There is 'quid pro quo' for everything.Pakatan leaders seemed to think they are holier than thou and only they have the privilege to attack others and not the other way around.

Raja Petra in his blog here in critical response to my article 'Anwar's Can Of Worms' thinks loyalty to a leader is not important.He prefered loyalty to a cause.How can you be loyal to a cause if you have no loyalty to a leader that believe in the cause.Just like captain of a ship, whether they like it or not, the crew must obey his orders, no matter how wrong he is, such orders must be executed.Without a leader there would be chaos and anarchy.

Even in organised chaos you need some kind of a leader let alone a revolutionary political cause that have been organised to topple a regime.

That's why you need a captain to helm a ship, a general to plan and lead in a war, a prime minister or president to lead a country, a CEO to head a company and umpteen more.

In everything we do there must be a leader to lead a group with common interest and objective. Without dedication and loyalty of the followers no leader or cause can be successful.

Anwar Ibrahim like Najib Tun Razak is a politician and public figure.Likewise, he has no immunity against public criticism.Anyone, can criticise him so long as such criticisms are based on facts and the truths.

Anwar, without loyalty from his people would become a "rebel without a cause".

Anwar's Can Of Worms

Hantu Laut

The exit of Dr Halili Rahmat from PKR to join UMNO shows Anwar Ibrahim doesn't care or value loyalty.He prefers sycophants, apple polishers, those with fame and fortunes and those likely to serve his personal agenda.

Zaid Ibrahim was parachuted in as candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, ignoring and by-passing local leaders in Hulu Selangor that have been with PKR and loyal to him for many years.Those who were sidelined must have felt insulted,unwanted and undeserving.Zaid, has done nothing for PKR, but he has fame and deep pockets.His can bankroll his own campaign trails.

Over the past two years PKR has lost many of its leaders including assemblymen and members of parliament due to disappointment with Anwar's leadership.The ominous dark clouds hanging over the party were results of Anwar's arrogance and dictatorial ways.All he cares about is himself and how to get to Putrajaya, by hook or by crook, it does not matter, anyone in the way would be ridiculed and ostracised. Those who do not see eye to eye with him would be on the chopping board.

Not only has he lost party members, even his so-called close friends and aides have abandoned him.Over the years, there were his dear friend and former PKR Deputy President Chandra Muzaffar, his 30-year old friend and tennis partner Nallakaruppan, his trusted lieutenant Ezam Mohd Nor,Anuar Shaari,Fairus Khairuddin,Zahrain Mohd Hashim,Zulkifli Noordin and many more that would have filled up Anwar's rogues' gallery.

Today, Anwar has taken on a completely different image.He is in serious courtship with the non-Malays and promised them to abolish the NEP if he gets Putrajaya.This heavily baited campaign are well received by the non-Malays and strongly opposed by Perkasa, a champion of Malay rights organisation that wanted the NEP to be retained.

Can a leopard change its spot?

When he was education minister he changed the nomenclature from Bahasa Malaysia to Bahasa Melayu and brought more confusion to the education system.

In 1987, he was responsible for appointing non-Mandarin educated administrators to Chinese schools that led to a political crisis and government use of the ISA under 'Operation Lalang' and the banning of two major newspapers, the Star and Sin Chew Jit Poh.

The 1987 vernacular Chinese school controversy almost led to another racial riot if not for the government quick action to nip it in the bud.Anwar was holder of one of the most important ministries at that time.The education ministry was the source of the trouble that led to ISA arrests of 106 people including elected representatives from the oppositions as well as the ruling party.

Remember, the clash between Hindus and Indian Muslims at Kampong Jawa in Penang.Anwar was reported to have said that the temple bells would not ring again if his dictum was not accepted.

How can so many that left him be so wrong?

Anwar is a clever and engaging orator, mind-boggling and spellbinding his audience is a natural talent, which he dispenses with ease.He has the canny ability to disorient the prudish and uninitiated.

Is the support for Anwar centered mainly out of sympathy for him, the perception of injustice against him by the powers that be? The few years he spent in prison for crime he purportedly did not commit.Many, are bought lock,stock and barrel in his art of casuistry.

Many Malaysians believe this to be true and have developed intense hatred for the government and its leaders.Nowhere else is the hatred more pronounced than in the non-Malay community, whom, have been copiously told of marginalisation and racial discrimination of their races by the Malay majority.

Anwar has also developed an international network of buddy system and sell the same sob story to his circle of friends overseas.They have become lobbyists asking for his exoneration from his sodomy trail accusing the government of conspiracy of trump up charges and unfair hearing by the judiciary should he be brought to trail.He makes it appears that the Malaysian judiciary is the most corrupt and subservient to the executive.

A 2007 survey by Transparency International set Malaysia at No.9 out of 62 countries surveyed for judicial corruptions, ahead of Hong Kong, the UK and the US.Not bad for a country being accused of judicial webs of corruption.

Hulu Selangor, is a make or break it, for PKR.Anwar has made a lot of his own people unhappy with his decision to field Zaid, who is considered as an opportunistic carpetbagger due to his relationship with Anwar and his deep pockets.

Zaid will get solid Chinese votes and only need to worry about the Malay and Indian votes, which looked good on the surface but can be very dicey.

Is Zaid liberalism going to get him significant Malay votes? How many Malay liberals are there to support him in Hulu Selangor?

Going by Jema Khan's Facebook on his Agenda Liberal Melayu of which Zaid Ibrahim seemed to be the only prominent name that have joined the cause, it appears that liberal Malays are few and far between.