November 2011, Yusuf Islam and Elections?

Singer and Muslim preacher Yusuf Islam visited Malaysia again after a 5 years 
laps and after at least one failed attempt to bring him to sing at Kuala Lumpur 
two years ago. This time, invited and sponsored by a group closer to YB Zul 
Nordin, the former PKR Parkiament member who was kicked out for his attacks 
against the Pakatan, his visit smelled more of politics than of religious 
propaganda.

Zul Nordin had taken up the responsibility to email most of the local press - 
pro Umno and BN indeed - to inform of the visit of Yusuf Islam to Malaysia. In 
the press release, Zul Nordin indicated the following: "this visit is 
significant and special as he is for the first time scheduled to have an 
audience with His Majesty Tuanku Mizan Sultan Zainal Abidin, The Yang Di 
Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, as well as calling on The Rt Honourable Datuk Seri 
Mohd Najib Tun Razak, The Prime Minister of Malaysia."

Some newspapers even published a photo of the famous singer - said to be the 
most reknown Muslim convert on earth by the press release = with the Malaysian 
Prime Minister. It looked like the papers were saying, there it is, this is the 
'Islamic credentials' of Malaysia and of its Premier! A good political scoop for 
the BN (so they think) in these times when Malaysia's credentials as an Islamic 
state is being questioned by the opposition, especially by Anwar Ibrahim.

The press release also indicated the following: "Given his express driven 
schedule, we are nevertheless looking forward to the possibility that we may be 
able to welcome Sheikh Yusuf again next year for his world tour concert in 
which he has indicated that Malaysia may indeed be a distinct and desirable 
venue."

Yusuf Islam will be here, most probably it is said, in November 2011. The date 
Nov 2011 is the date that appears in Zul Nordin's email to the press, instead of 
November 2010 which was the scheduled visit of Yusuf Islam this year. A silly 
mistake or an indication that elections will be around the corner by November 
2011 when Yusuf Islam will be re-visiting Malaysia to propagate his 'World 
peace tour'?

U.S. Alliance Would Pull Australia Into New Korean War

Australia could be drawn in to any military conflict on the Korean peninsula 
under its alliance with the US, the government has confirmed.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said yesterday he was watching events on the Korean 
peninsula with "razor sharp" eyes, as South Korea and the US began war games in 
the wake of several instances of aggression from North Korea.

Yesterday, amid reports of more artillery fire and the movement of missiles 
within North Korea, Mr Rudd used a television interview with the Nine Network 
to express deep concern about the developments and make clear Australia would 
have obligations to back the US and South Korea in any conflict.

He said the 1951 ANZUS Treaty set out that any attack on the territory of the 
signatories or on their armed forces within the Pacific area would require the 
allies to "act to meet the common danger", consistent with their constitutional 
processes. "That does not dictate an immediate course of military action but we 
need to be mindful of the fact that, when our forebears laid down this 
alliance, these considerations were taken into account."

Asked whether this meant that if the US went to war with North Korea, Australia 
would follow, Mr Rudd said he wanted to be "cautious and restrained" in his 
language. "Let's just ratchet this back a bit," he said. "There is a lot of 
instability on the Korean peninsula at the moment. I don't think any of us 
should be unnecessarily stoking it up.

"But I do simply state the obvious: that under our alliance with the United 
States, Article 4 of the ANZUS Treaty is clear about our requirements to act to 
meet the common danger and to do so consistent with our constitutional 
processes."
....

The Australian asked Mr Rudd whether parliament would debate Australia's 
options in the event of a US call for military help. A spokeswoman for Mr Rudd 
declined to elaborate, saying "Australia would work with the international 
community to respond in a calm and measured way."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/us-alliance-commits-australia/story-fn59niix-1225962381189

Malaysia Elections; BN to loose more seats than ever before

Many people are expressing their views that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won many seats in 2008 due to voter apathy or voter disgust with BN and not voter's love or support for Pakatan's policies and leaders. To me this is pure crap as the very main reason for the BN to have lost that many seats in 2008 is simply due 
to the fact that it overstayed its role as a government while the Opposition under Anwar Ibrahim offered the most glamorous alternative ever in Malaysian political history.
Had the Malaysians voted against BN due to apathy and disgust, does it mean the Malaysian voters are without soul that they just vote against their 'favorite' 
BN? I believe that as long as their is a choice to make, the people are free to make that choice and take steps for that and they decided to vote PR because PR 
had more glamor than BN's old stories...
I think that is more plausible an 
explanation as I myself I expected PR to win more than 60 seats in 2008 and they did better than that! Malaysian
observers has very little expertise (ah let alone the pro-BN blogger community)on how to understand, foresee and even predict a mass defeat of the BN. They were taken by surprise by the results in 2008 and this even shocked Tun Mahathir who wake up everyday thinking he has control of every single thing in Malaysia. 
The shock was so great that it was felt in many 'Malaysian' communities abroad altogether and officials in foreign nations were flabbergasted by the massive push by the Opposition lead by Anwar Ibrahim - who by the way was not a candidate in that elections. These officials, bloggers and party leaders failed or simply refused to accept that it was Anwar's role during the campaign period that had crushed the BN and almost sunk the Umno.
Today, they are 
still living in this denial as they are contemplating a massive victory in the 
next General Elections.
Well let me tell you what will happen in the next G.E. and this with or without 
the support of bloggers and activists like Raja Petra or others: 

As for 2011 or 2012, I can foresee PR making more gains than 2008 but that does not mean they will win the Elections overall. However, I believe firmly that BN will lose more seats than ever before in its history and PR will be that close to take power, thus forcing an almost hung Parliament - which will be the first time in Malaysia's History - and this will also mean a possible Gov of National 
Unity or the collapse of BN!