Restoring faith in judicial system

Amde Sidik

I am no judge nor practicing lawyer at the moment. But I read law and I lecture law to students. And I am prompted to write this article as soon as I finished reading a sms from a friend asking about my views. His statement is this “Its Pak Lah who now reformed judiciary system back to be more dignified”

He was referring to the front page article in our national paper of the day which reads “ Trust and justice” Its about the present government efforts to heal the wound of the country's judicial system which was smeared in the aftermath of the sacking of five Supreme Court judges in 1988.

The fives judges were sacked because they didn't dance to the tune of the chief executive of the country of the day. That was the impression of the majority of learned or less learned people in the country. But only handful would made it known openly to general public by virtue of our cultural habit or because of fear of repercussion from the above

I know many wouldn't agree including the former chief executive I mentioned, after all the later already denied several times that he was not responsible in the sacking the judges.

Could this mean that others recommended to him, in turned, as matter of academic he advised the Agong. We all know constitutionally how Agong must come into the limelight. .

I must say that persons or group of persons making recommendation must be naive and with motives at the back of their mind because as far as I knew any body reads law knows where the defining boundary is. There is an inherent convention in applying natural justice. There is no rocky foundation but rather has an established procedures to achieve justice at least in the crudest sense of the word. I am referring to the process of seeking justice in Common Law scenario.

To date, I have not read any brilliant new ideas which can be more acceptable than what we already knew. In other words, those involved in the Inquiry such as this surely had broken the cardinal rules, they knew of what proper procedures are all about in establishing what fair and just as to why they did as they did. Only they can answer.

My assumption is there are those who needed most of the outcome of Inquiry for wrongly or rightly. The answer is the later which is obvious and must therefore favored of the government of the day?

Legalistically, in my view, to be seen fair and just, it would have been better to leave it to the natural process of the law- as natural as possible. Let it done in accordance with the conventional wisdom not creating a mockery to the highest level for profession which many consider noble. Because of this incident we were nearly called to be just a little less than applying law of the jungle.

This is a portion of long article. I wouldn't like to bore my readers, as this article is to appear in full in printed media-I wrote a few already, after the dismissal of the said judges, they turned out to be a near correct perceptions by majority- Thank you

See response:

Currently, Pak Lah is menggelabah~ing as a result of the tsunami. He seemed to be trying to appease the majority who had abandoned him to make them come back to him. While others are taking this opportunity to undo the past events that had been most unpopular especially during the Mahathir Era. He is running out of time, December seems to be the date for him to retire. As a "good" man he tried to potray himself, he is getting nowhere...Mahathir factor, Anwar factor, Agong Factor, Raja Perlis Factor, Samy Factor, UMNO factor, am No factor, Max Factor (ooops)...all seem to put him against the wall.

Can he do it? Seems a vertical climb. For example, can he appease all the demands of BN components in Sabah when he came here? JPPS, Illegals, petroleum % etc etc.... no way.

See what you don’t see…

I was in the midst of writing this article when I received captions below sent by-friend- gmail group- I shall continue writing later in meantime this is the portion, just to let you know that I share the view…

I say-

If the country is really heading for democracy, which means going for social equality we cried for, the present government has to recognise that public media institutions, namely RTM and the rest of the public media agencies are by definition belonged to you and I- public, regardless who we voted for during the country’s General Election.

The bosses - officers and the employees who managed and employed in these institutions must at the same time realised, at least in their in mind that there is a dual carriage ways outside there. A few possibilities, one, assuming you don't like changes taking place in your working environment-where democratization is in the making. Its up to you to get out of the system, may be you think you can't live with the new system of administration. Because you were too used to work like you were for the last say, 40 years. Second, if you think you are not yet in full grasp of what democracy meant, don't worry there is still time to learn, if by then you wouldn't enjoy it, may be its just wise to hang on to it till you reach retirement age, or you may work elsewhere. But I can assure you, your next generation will appreciate for your tolerance and patient. They would understand better what democracy meant-because by then they would have read more books since you ask them to do so anyway-if you are the parents.

The gist is this, so long as RTM and public media agencies behave as they are now, we wouldn't expect democracy to be fully grown at a speed we want. People are fed with information only as much as the ruling party wanted it to be seen and read. I say, if the ruling party thinks these media agencies are theirs, why don't they allow the opposition party to have their own TVs and Radio Stations on their own, only then we could say the act is just and fair...amde

You do not see these pictures in our local newspapers.
Our public media controlled by BN government won’t show photos or news, so let it be our responsibility to spread and share those touching pictures with all our beloved Malaysians, Chinese, Indian and Malays alike-

Idrus al Haj

THESE ARE THE PICTURES THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED MEDIA WILL NEVER SHOW YOU IN THEIR PAPERS (See top and bottom picture). An explosive occurred on the 17^th March 2008 at the Malayan Flour Mills premises at Lumut killing 3 persons and on the 18^th March the new MB Ir Nizar and the DAP state Assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham visited the family of the victims. Here are the pictures that will bring tears to your eyes!

MB Ir Nizar bersama ADUN DAP Ngeh Koo Ham melawat keluarga mangsa letupan kilang tepung Malayan Flour Mills di Manjung pada 18 March 2008.

Gambar MB Ir Nizar ketika meluangkan masa dirumah seorang dari 3 mangsa yang terbunuh, Lok Lai Keat, 51, dari Sitiawan, MB Ir Nizar yang boleh bertutur dalam dialek Mandarin, Hokkiien dan Cantonses turut memujuk anak mangsa Lok Min Yee, 10 yang meratapi kehilangan bapanya. ( gambar ini tidak mungkin tersiar di media arus perdana)

From Frisco Celestial

Punching Opposition YB alright?

It’s incredible, the guy who punched YB is one of those ‘the organisers’ of the Regatta Lepa Motorcycle Convoy?

According to the report, Jimmy was just doing his duty to meeting Tawau Municipal Council officials with regard to complaint of parking space and closure of the road, when the big man lost patient and punched him on the chest.

Jimmy Wong is Sabah sole opposition Assemblyman from Sri Tanjung DAP, that doesn’t deserve him to be punched by this man linked to a big bike convoy

Jimmy should have reported to the police for record at least.

Every citizen should respect the law it doesn’t matter who he is.

According to sms I got from Jimmy the guy is a “BN sponsored”

I look at this is very serious matter. This is not an isolated case, we come across time and time again when one is associated or close friend with one in the authority he thinks the world is belonging to him alone.

Doesn’t this guy realise punching and injuring other fellow human is an offence. We have enough law to protect us; I think enforcing authority must not close their eyes just because the event is organized by the Government.

Our society should be thought more to respect the law of the country

Derision on oil money hooh!

Sabahans do get very emotional with their oil. They feel the 5% royalty they have been getting from KL is pittance, they feel they deserve more.

At the recent gathering to celebrate his exile from politics, Anwar Ibrahim said if Pakatan Rakyat forms the Federal Government, Sabah would get up to 20% of royalties from oil and gas and timber. More schools would be built and help would be given to the poor here.

This got us drooling, right? Who wouldn't? This guy is a good fisherman; he really knows how to catch fish.

Anwar struck the right chord. Many of us want to know how is that an oil producing state now becomes one of the poorest in the country? Give back more of our money lah.

The next question we must ask, does it really matter whether it is 5%, 20%, or 80%?

Anwar can't simply pluck the figure from thin air, can he? In order to be generous, he needs to take it from somewhere. If you play the stock market, they tell you for every winner there is a loser.

My accountant friend told me when you prepare a budget, a balanced would make you sleep well at night, a surplus is just fantastic, and a deficit is one you'd try to avoid at all cost.

In a simple language this is how I understand it, say, we get RM 5 for our oil, now we have been promised RM 20, so extra RM 15 has to appear from somewhere.

Is budget allocation in Selangor going to be raided? Very unlikely. Penang? Same answer.

Chances are whoever is responsible will have to do some creative work with Sabah's own allocation budget. He will probably have to reduce other items so that he can come up with RM15. This means instead of 5 schools, we would probably have only 2. If you insist on 5, you have to come up with your own development funds; your oil royalty becomes a trump card. You get my drift?

This 20% of gross revenue? Too good to be true. After deducting all costs and profit sharing with subcontractors, PETRONAS has little to show for. Of course they will not agree. What about Sarawak and Trengganu? Petronas must as well close shop.

The above scenario is probably what Anwar needs to do if he wants to fulfill his promise

It doesn't make any difference does it?

Then, is it really wise to push the extra money to our local politicians? I suppose it's okay if every sen can be accounted for. Otherwise, just let people in KL handle it.

Anwar is also saying there is only "Ketuanan Rakyat". Makkal Saktii, People's Power now. About time someone reminded us this. Power cannot belong to one class of people in this multi-ethnic society of ours. It's yours and mine together.

I am from Sabah, can someone tell me why must some one else tells me how much royalty I should get for an asset which is mine and not theirs?

I think I should be consulted first, that will be real "Ketuanan Rakyat", don’t you think?

Then, was it Socrates who said there will always be the rulers and those who are ruled?

Awang Buntak for ASJournal

Any silver lining yet?

By this week end our national political affairs is less foggy than the last weekend or nothing has really changed?

What do I mean by this?

I am saying, if few important issues that ought to be clarified or solved by the Prime Minister are done with, or at least seen to be solved in order to make some concerned citizens feel comfortable sitting and watching their favorite program over the weekend.

Excuse me, I shouldn't be too generalise on this because not everyone behaves like what I say, I myself don't watch TVs, assuming lah we all do!

Its about our Prime Minister.

You see, everything he says has bearing on the way the country is governed.

Political stability detects economic environment, it can either induce or chase out luck. Can we not see what has happened in Zimbabwe so far only Tun Dr Mahathir is inviting Robert Mugabe come to Malaysia (as a friend ) should the former chooses to go for exile.

To digress a bit, I honestly admire Mugabe in my younger days as student, with a few other friends, we thronged to LSE, Conference Hall, in London to listen to talk by anyone like him, including Mahathir's bashing mat salleh for his look east policy.

Over the last few weeks people have been watching Datuk Abdullah Badawi very closely even the movement his lips and eyes were scrutinized. But unfortunate none of our country's experts dare enough to say (behavioral experts) if Abdullah Badawi's body language indicates anything- If he is about to giving up his Priministership or if he is as stubborn as ever.

I say now, PM Datuk Abdullah Badawi isn't quiting!

Which also means Abdullah has to go on fighting against Mahathir. At the some time Mahathir's followers are going to accelerate their campaign, as Mohd Khir Toyo (former Menteri Besar of Selangor) puts it, Abdullah tak faham kiasan-metaphorical talk which Malays are very good at it, and Abdullah doesn't understand?

That would leave Abdullah in a very defensive mode. Directing ACA to investigate Mahathir wrong doings in past didn't seem to be working, no hard evidence, said Ghani Patail, Mahathir chosen man for the country's AG during his tenure of office to disguise Anwar Ibrahim, former DPM-bringing sleeping mattress to the court of justice, in the middle of the day under the hot sun for any sign of sodomy had taken place.

Perhaps as one international onlooker said, Abdullah should initiate an international investigation into Mahathir, and say let justice takes its course. I think may be like what the Lebanon's Government did on the killing of their former President.

The Government will not apologise to Tun Salleh Abbas, according the PM, I have the feeling this decision is not going to make life easier for them.

A call by Raja Muda of Perak Dr Nazrin Shah on judicial reform perhaps a kick start i.e, by recognising country's judical core mistake in the past- the sacking of Former Lord President,Tun Salleh Abbas, should serve to remind judges and lawyers to stick to what they knew about just and fair in law-not about getting job promotion and excessive materials gained-tokens given for being yes man

Kadayan Monitor for ASJournal

PM: Well done Chief Minister...

What more can we say, PM has met Sabah BN leaders yesterday.

But I 'm curious why did they conduct the meetings in dubious fashion. They talked to PM separately- one political party after another, a closed door like, as if Sabah leaders can't sit down together and can't see eye to eye. My God, where are we heading from here?

Anyway, I have briefly scanned some of the statements made by the PM in our local papers (...)

But just to digress a bit; many people have said, they were not sure if that meetings meant anything let alone comforting to them.

But Sabah leaders may have different interpretations.

To general public, all those issues aren't new nor are the answers crystal clear.

Let me pick some key phrases to remind ourselves.

Not in chronological order of priority, wonder if that's what the local papers also meant.

JPPS -The State Federal development department must be closed. Did PM say that?

Sabahans want it to be closed, it's just duplication of works- waste of public money to mend the department. Sabah is now under the rule of BN government, there isn't a need any more.

Money from Federal now should go direct to Sabah Ministry of Finance.

PM said , we review lah!

Illegal immigrants ever red hot issue, how to resolve it?

PM sees it this way, we need more detention centers the current centers are overcrowded

He has directed new Minister of Home Affairs to look into this.

It means he really know it-done in advance!

But don't they already have a committee?

Ya, one, called Special Cabinet committee headed by Deputy PM.

DPM has made recommendation. But no one sees?

Sabah BN leaders want the number of Borneo officers be increased in Federal Departments and Federal Government Agencies.

Yes, PM thinks they want.

Sabah leaders want to revive Minister Sabah Affairs as was during USNO time. PM replied that he would look into it. It means no need lah!

SAPP raised the issues on illegal immigrants, abuse of mykad, Street Children , Sabah Development Corridor, and proposed bridge Sabah Labuan.

Only SAPP said it not PM

What are missing? Many have thought to be in the discussion like, the number of Ministers that would be given, increase petroleum royalty (no let opposition do it)

The meeting as cordial although there were some pedas from Sabah UMNO'. It must be from Bung Moktar

Absent in the meeting with Sabah UMNO were Datuk Shafie and Datuk Ghapur, wonder where did they go? May be they were in Australia checking their kids.

To sum up the meeting, don't you PM resign, we sokong, hidup BN, or UMNO first in the order.

Kadayan Monitor for ASJournal

				BN still in denial, Sabah to “Prison Break”
				Gmail group

National Front still in denial, Sabah to "Prison Break"

MCA and MIC is still adopting denial syndrome while Gerakan was rumored to be considering bitter medicine to ensure their relevance, probably pull out from the National Front. UMNO is falling apart and the only thing that Badawi can do now it to delay the dying process but it depends very much on how he could convince the Eastern Malaysia (particularly Sabah) from crossing over to Anwar's side. Nevertheless I think Badawi needs to do more than sweet-talk or to just give another one or two minister-ship to Sabahan.
The reality is Sabahan has been taken for a fool for many years with its vast resources in timber, palm-oil, crude oil and gas etc being sucked up without a fair re-distribution back to the Sabahan. What better time to show the card now and yell in front of the Prime Minister's face to fly kite? It's like television series "Prison Break" with Anwar as Michael Scofield who is providing the venue for Sabah to break free from their imprisonment (by UMNO). There's reason why Anwar is so relax and calm now – maybe he already got more than 30 defectors and it's only a matter of time before the "big day".

Pak Lah, give us what's due

When Pak Lah comes a calling on Monday, many want to know what extra goodies he will present to Sabah for giving him the 24 Parliamentary seats in the just concluded elections.

He has not been grateful to us, like our seats have meant nothing.

Our sources are saying that the Speaker post might go to Tan Sri Pandikar Amin. Now, if this is true, well and good. Pandikar is capable and experienced, with a boisterous Parliament expected, and with the likes of Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Hadi Awang and many other great debaters in the house, Parliament needs someone of Pandikar's calibre to bring some kind of order.

Should we be satisfied with this? Remember, Pak Lah comes here with his sight firmly focused on the UMNO December elections assuming he will still be around when Parliament convenes.

Giving out goodies is part of the game.

Does Musa Aman have a firm control of Sabah UMNO?

The recent visit to Putrajaya by six Sabah UMNO leaders has started tongues wagging of Musa's control. These six UMNO leaders are known not to see eye-- to eye with him. Rahim Ismail has been dropped from the state cabinet, thus denying the influential Brunei community representation in the state political affairs.

Stories also abound that Lajim Ukin is also upset with Musa, he is said to be flirting with Ku Li's camp, and so is Rizalman Abdullah.

If Musa cannot deliver all the 25 divisions to Pak Lah come December, who can?

December is still a long way, anything can happen meanwhile.

Come Monday, we expect the usual cries of "Hidup this!" and "Hidup that!". Like the recent visit to Sarawak, at the end of the day, everybody will declare they are with the Prime Minister.

Edii diih si awang ani....as we say here, can't our politicians show a bit of spunk for a change? Just tell him what the grassroots here want you to say.

Pak Lah might not like it, but, aren't you people supposed to be the people's representatives?

We want the aliens to be sent home, we want equal economic opportunities; we want the Borneonisation of the civil service, more oil royalty etc. The list is long, say it loud and clear, we have never been in a stronger position to demand.

Stop the polishing apples act for once; stop thinking about your positions, your projects, and all the selfish things. Shoot with all your guns blazing.

Do what's good for the people and future generations.

If you don't speak your minds and demand, don't expect us to be kind to you next time around.

Awang Buntak for ASJournal

Chaotic time for politicians

Kadayan Monitor

What a chaotic time for politicians in the Peninsula, no matter how the mainstream media including the TVs want to play it down, the internet media is giving shoot after shoot.

This can’t be dismissed outright for reason only news mongering, after all, it has proven to certain degree of truth.

For example, it is true that Tun Dr Mahathir wants Datuk Abdullah Badawi to resign. The former is also not in favour of Datuk Najib Tun Abd Rajak to become the next Prime Minister either.

Reading between the lines he, Tun Mahathir doesn’t mind Tengku Razaligh or Datuk Muhiddin Yassin.

Whilst others argued, or even accused that Tun Mahathir is senile, if not snide, when it was him who appointed Abdullah Badawi to be his successor, now Tun Mahathir is sounding like a hyena. It doesn’t sound right for a country which has been very conscious of its Asian's culture, perceived on high moral and religious conscientiousness.

Must there be other views? Ahaa!... if you don’t care, then this kind of news item shouldn’t bother anyone anymore but proceed, because life must go on.

Another truth, even UMNO members want the Prime Minster to resign and as indicated by hanging banners. I saw these were done not by opposition party members but by UMNO members. I also saw a spray painted graffiti “Pak Lah you resign” on the wall, PM's home ground, visible by the road side in Penang on the way to Bayan Lepas.

Now let say what happen across the South China Sea, Borneo Malaysia, I said earlier it has been quiet, as if Taib Mahmud and Musa Aman are karaokeeing in comfortable zones. Are the two in full control of the ships? Won’t there be any one wants to disturb the hornet’s nest?

Are you sure, thereby live the two darlings, happily ever after and good night after watching Manhester United's match in a flat screen, or do they?

Only today MP from Kinabatangan, Bung Moktar Radin slammed Yahya Hussin, the Sabah UMNO Liasion Secretary and said, “Who is Yahya anyway? And why is he worried”

This was Bung Moktar response to a reporter who asked him about their meeting with the Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi on the 29^th March at PM office in Putrajaya.

Six of Sabah politicians including former CM Datuk Salleh Tun Said Keruak, MP Ghapur Salleh, State Assemblyman- Datuk Rahim Ismail, Tan Sri Pendikar Amin and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Datuk Dr Yussof Yacob,and MP Bung Moktar visited PM.

They said they were invited by the PM.

The issue out of the visit was if they, the six of Sabah UMNO heavy weight were representing UMNO Sabah?

Yahya Hussin said no, they are not.

The six of them also said, no they are not, they did it as personal capacity.

It doesn’t sound complicated, does it?

My view is, if you people want to make something happen you must keep doing it.

Below is what some UMNO leaders were saying in Peninsula with regard to Sabah quote:

If BN does not act, they stand to lose not just the support of urbanites who are unhappy with the way the NEP is being administered, but also supporters in its stronghold, East Malaysia.

Said Mr Tawfik: "The people in Sabah and Sarawak have not been brought into the mainstream as far as economic development is concerned. There seems to be a lot of displaced people in the tribes of Sarawak.

"BN must take a close look at these people or they might vote for the opposition the next time."

Democracy in the making

Kadayan Monitor

No matter what now, one thing is for sure, Malaysia political landscape is about to change.

Thank you Pa Lah, whether all what has happened and what is happening now was or is by designed or coincidental.

If it is coincidental, Pa Lah has no say. He is going to be remembered in Malaysian history book as a lame duck Prime Minister ever.

Now look at the brighter side of the Malaysia, everyone must know regardless what political party one is inclined to or indoctrinated by, majority of Malaysians wouldn’t be affected materially by who ever in power. Whilst some of us (group) may feel like a balloon has busted, the hot air is released.

Again if this happening is as result of Pa Lah inability to manage the country, we are in a situation which many would call it a blessing and disguise.

The paradox of lessing is because it turns out to be for a good thing, while a disguise was left only as impression.

Assuming Mahathir is still in control of the government will we be as we are now, or are we not browbeaten to death again by a macho pedigree of that sort?

Let make use of this opportunity to make Malaysia as democratic country that we have been dreaming of for the last 50 years.

see also http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/5330/1/

PM wants views

By Kadayan Monitor

If I were to have any faith in our Sabah’s leaders that will say what they have said they will to Abdullah Badawi- the Prime Minister, when they meet, it must only be very few of them.

First in my list that I would like to believe are Masidi Manjun, who is also Sabah UMNO Deputy Secretary and Bernard Dompok, President of UPKO, this is off hand, I have to sit down nicely to think of another names.

Bernard Dompok did munch a few words in the past but perhaps coming from small component of BN, his voice was easily brushed aside, a kind of do as you like response.

So I come back to Masidi because he has already said something the last few days that Sabah is unfairly treated, he said.

How and what to say in front of Abdullah the PM?

Well, may be he needs to be given a background in case he forgets, depends on what time of the day the meeting is taking place.

The background is something like this first; say, Sabah has contributed and sacrificed quite substantially, both in the economy and political front of the nation, more so now Sabah can be considered as an anchor to BN survival.

Sabah performed exceptionally well in the last GE, lost only one MP and one ADUN to opposition, many have guessed differently-luckily it was wrong guessed, Sabah people in the past were quite naughty. With that, I think PM must take cognition very seriously if he wants to be remembered before he says sayonara!

It isn’t just about ministerial posts.

If Sabah BN were to repeat its performance next time round, perhaps worth reminding him Sabah deserves to be given other national post in Public Sectors and convince him to approve be approved within the shortest possible time, and don’t wait for too long, in case next time round is just around the corner, or this time sailing is no longer a smooth sailing as in the past.

Don’t forget before PM picks anyone for ministerial posts from those remaining MPs, he must be reminded to ask from those in the know, because in time like this everyone (the eager ones) would look innocent and sulky.

Don’t just pick base on paper qualification, and also don’t pick the guys that produced nothing, especially if they have been as YBs for the past few terms.

One more thing, pick from those who can speak English or may be if they can write as well, otherwise they would never understand what people wrote in the internet.

Say to PM it wasn’t the internet the caused of BN down fall in the five States, it’s the voters.

Last but not the least we must know, in Australia people speak English and don’t bring so much cash to avoid answering questions in English.

Who 's next?

Is he or is he not?

Politics is about connection, here is the connection and another...

Rumours are flying back and forth that another Federal minister may quit his post soon.

One will ask how true is it? Well, its rumours, but in our experience a 'not true' statement is always the other way around.

These few days can either mean so much or nothing for politicians, that's how I view it anyway.

Because now is an acceptable period of denial, as truth is yet to be proven.

This is not really like a story who moves my cheese but rather its everyone interests to make a move but whose moves is credible enough to crack the wall? Otherwise one will be left alone in the cold or even in the drain. That depends on what kind of a leader one is.

Yesterday, was the truth, MP for Kalabakan, Ghapur Salleh, tendered his resignation citing "I want to do my own things” as his reason.

Strange! After taking his oath as Federal Deputy Minister, he suddenly remembered that he needed to visit his many children who are overseas studying.

We understand a politician's job is very stressful, hope he is not senile before his time.

Our friend, I-Spy, tells us many of our political warlords are in Melbourne, Australia, currently.

They must be visiting their children who are studying there.

Very thoughtful of them despite their busy schedules.

I-Spy also tells us that the minister in question is from Sabah.

Do we have a name here? Be patient for the announcement.

Sabah boleh, bah...

New Prime Minister?

Lim says soon we have new Prime Minister

As of now 36 MPs from Sabah and Sarawak are willing to jump to Opposition, no kidding!

That is the number requires turning country's political scenario upside down. For Opposition Coalition to form a government now , it only needs 30, not counting the willing MPs from Peninsula yet.

If the calculation is right 16 MPs from Sabah and 20 MPs from Sarawak are already rehearsing their mind on what to expect sailing in uncharted waters. I am sure this is going to be a long-long day for politicians.

For Sabah, what I can say at the moment is to include senior Minister.

Lim Guan Eng said, soon we will see our Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim. Who doesn’t believe him? The number of MP gathered now is attainable. It is just a matter of timing!

The timing must be after 14^th of April.

I could only be suspicious if the date falls on 1st of April, but this one is way passed the fool day.

We need no clairvoyant.

Because it is so intense, every YBs is tight lips, everybody is not saying anything. I am too not going to write more in order not to loss the luster of being suspense.

"As a Sabahan, I do feel that Sabah deserves better representation (in the federal cabinet) and that the ministers from Sabah should also be given (appropriate) portfolios. I believe this needs to be looked at,"
Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Masidi Manjun

How far to go...

By Kadayan Monitor

All political happenings these days are in Peninsula Malaysia, nothing is heard from Borneo Malaysia. But everyone knows BN anchored solidly in these two states, make no mistake (Sabah UMNO second only Johore) - saying it politically. The rest God knows.

Oops! Comes the news, I was informed last night but I didn’t bother to write otherwise this blog would be the first to highlight.

BN (UMNO) is cracking, Datuk Abd Ghapur; MP for Kalabakan, Tawau has resigned from his post Deputy Minister Portfolio, while earlier on Anifah Aman declined the offer of another Deputy Minister post.

Why? May be they already have enough jobs.

About this treatment by Federal Leaders towards Borneo Malaysia States that what I would like to stress, I was just posting this topic to somewhere last night highlighting of how badly are Borneo Malaysia treated by the current government, or I can even called it unfriendly Federal leaders, especially when talking about the immense contributions and sacrifices from and by Sabah and Sarawak for the sake of national development.

Now, just watch on the distribution of Federal ministerial posts. Aha … no wonder the two Sabahans, one resigned and other declined the offer, you read what I mean?

Now let me say this- this is exactly what people (Sabahans) on the ground are saying. I think if that is what people want the leaders to do, they (leaders) should take cognition, after all under the pretext of that that they were elected now become YB.

Are Sabah YBs worried the PM will murka you’ll get sacked from UMNO or BN membership and marked black dot on the foreheads?

What I said above is actually what people on the ground are saying, I am just conveying it. You don’t believe what I say, go the Gaya Street Tamu on Sunday, look around for kedai kopi, I am sure you will meet the like minded people I talked to you about

Sabah is so being lenient, revenue contribution from oil in return for peanut, if it doesn’t sound fair what do we do, keep waiting until it dried out.

That is why many Sabahans want opposition to win. But Sabahan are betrayed by their leaders. Sabah opposition leaders only know how to count chicks long before they even hatched or another saying is angan-agan Mat Jinin will fall down headlong.

Another Sabahans problem is because the party representative’s chief like UMNO is appointed not elected. UNMO should change its constitution in order to allow the Chief of Sabah’s UMNO be elected by members that would be more people oriented to avoid this hand picking.

Hand packed leader wouldn’t produce anything new but bodek at the highest level.

Rocky Malaysia

By Kadayan Monitor

A professor asked me this afternoon of what I think about the current political situation in the country. But just before I was about to give the answer he gave me his.

I thought of not answering at all, but I did.

The aftermath of the country’s 12^th General Election which resulted BN ever biggest disaster is here to stay and to be felt, according to the Professor.

“I don’t think the Government Ministers and the YBs feel comfortable sitting on their chairs, I think anything can happen these days” he said.

I concurred with him.

On my part, I’d better believe my instinct.

Let me say this, talk all over the place, high and low about the country is having leadership crisis- this is general public impression surely this view is different from the cabinet’s or even the new YBs' who are just voted in.

You see a few days ago, there was a little hope, that is, before the members of cabinet were announced. In other words, people were hoping that new line up of leaders would be able to rescue and restore the image it had (BN), therefore, expected leaders retained and promoted and newly appointed are those with credible oomph.

But it fell short, it became a sort of anti climax, just as what the PM did in his 2004 cabinet reshuffled.

Now reading from people's reactions I met on the street. (Don't ask me how I read it? I just followed my instinct)

People's hope dashed, moment they knew the line up. Many asked who was or who were advising PM?

Now I have another imagination, it looks people have more faith in the appointment of Menteri Besar and their Exco members in the five States controlled are by the Opposition than those controlled by the winner, BN.

Can we not think and imagine again, the difficulty in choosing MB in the two states controlled by BN Government- Parlis and Trengganu.

The cardinal mistake is repeated again here. Rakyat want someone of their own choice to become the MB, someone who they think can lead the country to prosper not to bankruptcy.

There was a collision between the people's choice and the choice of the institutionalised political leaders.

Just ponder for a moment, whose choice is correct, the rakyat or the leaders?

Well, since that Professor wants to know my view, and my view is this, the cabinet minister line up doesn't look credible enough to change the image of rotten BN.

That PM should resign.

Appointing Ministers from back door when there isn't a need because others are available from front door, this wouldn’t support the logic on the question of trimming the number of cabinet for the purpose of reducing cost.

Big mistake, Sabah and Sarawak the anchor of BN survival deserved to be given intention – any one noticed? Most Government Ministers are from Johore. Johore probably didn't ask for it, but wise decision usually comes from wise person only.

Attention to opposition political parties, BN is going to be the next opposition party, after the next General Election so long as you people play your card right, walk the talk, learn quickly and don't be crazy; you are heading in a right direction. Good Luck.

Yours Truly,
BN loyalist

There was a tsunami in Peninsular Malaysia; this is what everyone called, referring to the result of our country’s 12th General Election last week.

But that tsunami didn’t reach the shore of Borneo Malaysia-Sabah and Sarawak.

Many have asked me why?

Surely question like this needs answer, and what I do here is just to highlight the obvious as I see it.

Before I dwell into it, let me first say this, there are disparities between the two lands.

The obvious one is physical geography; second, there was a kind of information black out in Sabah. There people not knowing what happening in Peninsula, and third, the opposition leaders in Sabah are inward looking or even crazy.

That physical distance between Borneo Island and Malay Peninsula is something no one can change it, a distance of more than a thousand miles apart. It can only be made closer with the application of new communication technology in which so far Sabah and Sarawak are still lag behind partly because of their sheer sizes.

Longer distance makes contact slower, massages distorted and becoming less reliable by the time it’s finally reaches its final destination; it also involves cost, which only a few can afford.

Compare with country’s scenario in the past 40 years ago though, today we are better off but likewise, the phase of development (referring to communication technology) is slower by any standard of developed countries. The question is if we could do faster why do we have to wait?

My friend who is an experts in information technology said to me, the stake holders in Malaysia Telekom wouldn’t jump for any new idea, for example, changing the current circuit switch system to packet switch technology, and in as far as Telekom Malaysia is concerned they would say it damned expensive to change to new system. In actual fact is not the real reason, but rather they fear of loosing grip with the present vendor locking system, For example Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung and named it wouldn’t be playing a major role again in Malaysia Telekom should the packet switch system is used. Likewise the present stake holders may not have a chance to make money any more in a selfish way I called.

According to experts the packet switch system is far greater capacity than Malaysia present system, and in a long run it cost far less because other neighbouring countries can also hire from us should we now start with it.

This where Sabah and Sarawak are at a disadvantage, take for example in Sabah, say in Long Pa Sia - somewhere southern most of Sipitang District near to the border between Sabah in Kalimantan none of the present networking system works, whilst if we pick any kampong in Peninsula most likely it would be covered by at least one system.

Television for example like Astro, in Sabah only covered small portion of the state, the urban areas, whilst RTM1, 2, and TV3 are only slightly bigger coverage than Astro.

I would imagine if facilities are available to the people in Sabah, i.e., rural people are as informed as those people in Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor, rest assured that the result of this recent general election could be different.

In Sabah, most kampong folks didn’t know much what’s going on in the country. Their only source of information is RTM. Their ability to evaluate left, right and centre is therefore limited.

The only political party they hear every now and then is the BN, unfortunately BN party workers didn't realize their shock wave campaign style in many places (threatening and browbeating) rural people, do as told kind, old people living on receiving old age allowance were threatened , if they do not vote BN their old allowance would be withdrawn. The poor souls have little idea. But I reckon if they do this next time around, they will become opposition in Parliament.

Rural Sabahans are caught up between the devil and the deep blue sea, There isn’t choice.

To me, by looking at the result of the general election, there is no more denial now, that the internet media plays a major role in providing information- an alternative to printed media and TV.

This is because some Malaysians considered some of the program shown in our RTM was and is so revolting especially during the political campaign period. There isn't any fairness was shown to any other parties other than BN. The tone and the presentation was something like the world was coming to an end without BN.

My early thought about internet was rather misleading take the Ijok by-election as an example, as an internet addict, reading from thousands and thousands of material posted in the web page was clearly indicated that PKR candidate could win at that time. The result was upsetting, all prediction by major blogs was wrong.

This time around, general public refuse to budge and reinforce the belief, and ignore the Ijok debacle.

Here I say internet it also meant to cover, blogs, tubes, video, SMS, ipods, Yahoogroup and all sort of web pages.

Bloggers effortlessly continued their blogging, still, the most popular websites were Malaysiakini, Raja Petra-Malaysia Today and Harakah gave countdown, updated every hour and on the hour of what people want to hear as well as see.

It doesn’t mean UMNO and other BN component parties have no websites, except that their websites are duplicate to what is already found in main stream media, and people ignored them completely as they want to see and hear the opposite of the Government propaganda. Worst was when RTM the mouthpiece of the government non stop telling the obvious and grossly lying, making up exaggerating stories. The most pathetic ritual was about members from such and such political parties now joined BN, so on and so forth.

In Kelantan, because UMNO wanted so badly, there was a picture portraying the grand reception of welcoming members in a five star hotel spearheaded by Datuk Dr Awang Adek Menteri Besar designate. In another, just below was a small picture of Tok Guru praying in a mosque alone with background of shining white and light green tiles, it meant to say we are all small nothing is grandiose, that was melancholically enough to make one thinks which is morally right and morally wrong.

In Sabah there is this discrimination if not prejudices against younger generation. One can also called there is a generation gap between the older and younger generation, those whose age around 21 and below 30, were very much neglected, sidelined by older generation who claimed they have followers, which in actual fact not so, for them money matter most.

The young become thoughtless, they didn’t know what the fuss about in politics, so in Sabah BN was considered lucky so to speak, since opposition has not managed yet to convert them as in the five states won by the opposition.

The biggest hindrance for opposition of not winning more seats a part from one ADUN and one MP was that they lack of mutual aspiration. That means the PKR and DAP in Sabah unlike their counter part in Peninsula was not synchronized. When I asked Karpal Singh the DAP Chairman recently, he admitted that leaders in Sabah have not managed to iron out things in a cordial way.

Mind boggling, (Sabah’s opposition leaders) are these people really struggling for the people or purely for self interest?

From now if opposition leaders are truly patriotic and want to make Malaysia truly practices democratic government, I would think leaders at the top level must be prepared to give way and take stock comes a defining moment.

It is quite clear now in Sabah; independent candidates are people’s last choice, some would rather go to tabasan-mending their sawah padi than voting a bunch of idiots. This was seen as performed by Sabah local based political parties like PASOK and SETIA none of them pulled thousand votes. I could sum up; Sabahans themselves have no faith on them.

Padan Muka !

Serve You Right !

By Awang Buntak

When I got up Sunday after staying up whole night watching the election results, the Malay expression "Padan Muka"(Serve You Right) kept playing in my head.

You use this expression to show your disappointment with someone. It's like telling someone don't climb the tree, despite the good advice, the person still refuses to listen and if he falls from the tree later, you say "padan muka".

With the changed political landscape, who do you think I am going to say "padan muka" to? UMNO led Barisan? You think I should?

I don't think so; everybody is saying that throughout the country. So, why repeat myself?

I will shoot straight now; I’ll say "padan muka" to Sabah opposition parties. They had the chance to win some good seats in the just concluded elections; they ended up winning only one state seat and one parliament seat.

Our opposition politicians are really greedy, immature and a bunch of selfish nitwits. If they had sacrificed their egos for the sake of the people, can you imagine the political scenario of the country now?

Look at some of the urban seats; if you add up the opposition votes, they definitely whacked the BN winners. It does not take a genius to figure out that if the opposition votes get split, BN will win.

Even in some seats the BN winners just scrapped by. People in Sabah wanted change like other parts of the country, they wanted to wake up the arrogant government who never listened to them, they wanted to get rid of the illegal, they wanted better security, the people wanted corruption curbed, and they wanted their fair share of economic pie instead of it going to the well connected only.

They screamed loud and clear , we are all Malaysians, please help deserving cases regardless of their racial background, prices are going up, we are suffering they moaned. They wanted all these and more and what did the opposition do? They blew the chance away by being selfish and plain stupid.

From now in Sabah we need to stop complaining about illegal, corruption, nepotism, and cronyism, arrogance of power, the poor delivery system and all that. We'd better switch off and watch the new season of Akademi Fantasia.

I personally don't want to know about all the political stuff anymore.

Padan muka.

Ya la aku pun…I don’t know what are these people up to? They said they wanted to change the government. If it’s the case, then they should look at himself first in the mirror. No mantras require. But he may say this aloud.

By myself can I do it?

Someone can do it? Or

By combining the efforts we can make it… which is which?

No la these people are gila kuasa

ASJournal

About blogger heh! Talks about this subject many people still feel uneasy if not fearful. Because it sounds technical, because its mind blogging no wonder ‘they’ called it blogger-unless you have the latest edition of English dictionary, otherwise you wouldn’t find definition of blog.

My miserable story began when I was student doing Masters Degree in Strategic Planning in Birmingham University way in 1983 , and this subject was made compulsory, I've never thought it develops that fast.

I hated the subject on computer so much I used to sleep at the back of Lecture Theater whenever there were computer lectures. In those days computer lecture was combined with Statistics-I meant in that university. I didn’t see it then as I see it now, that the two subjects are actually closely related, having the same foundation that is called logic.

It also meant not very long time ago I was one of those people who were tormented by what I heard and saw.

Not until I was indoctrinated for several weeks at the ANU, Australia, where I did my bar training. There each student was given one set of computer to mock around with.

But blogging to me only came very recently, and since its computer related activity without having basic knowledge of it there is no way I can do blogging

Computer has changed my perception and even life style to a point. The ugly beast turns beauty, very often the urge creeps on like a cave spider whenever I have nothing better to do.

I created this AS Journal June last year (2007), after messing up with a few. A lady friend helped me to put up the clock to see a rough idea of my visitors last January and up to February 2^nd.

On the 2^nd February I posted an articles title We are Sabahans before Malaysians followed by two more articles related to it. In less than two weeks the numbers jumped from 200 to four 4,000, even Sabah Development Corridor was by passed within days. I was astounded- a friend said we’d better slow it down. Meaning (we) now found a way to get visited, next in mind perhaps is to prepare for any upsurge.