Apa Sudah Jadi ? 'What is happening?

Malaysia is reeling with scandals. Sex scandals that ranges from a Minister raping a maid to an Islamic head now accused of having an affair with a TV starlet. Besides these cases, the country also saw the arrest of an Islamic  court Judge for close proximity with a woman in a hotel room.
It was a hectic end of the year for Malaysian blogger's who revealed the two major sex scandals, some in languages that would make one roll on the floor with laughter but after thinking deeply   on the consequences of such acts committed by the high class in the country, these are serious offenses indeed.
The worst part is that these acts were perpetrated - according to the information in the blogs- by Muslim heads. From the Cultural head to the Islamic head, there seems to be only one difference now: Rape or consensual sex! In the Islamic values, both are condemnable by law and this is about Shariah law. And if we look into the 'civil' laws of the country, both rape and consensual sex between a Muslim man and a non-Muslim woman are altogether condemnable.
Now what is deafening about these two cases involving a Minister and a Royal family chieftain is the absolute silence on the accusations thrown at them by the blogging community. The Minister is even facing the brunt of pro-Government blogs. Rocky Bru's blog was the first to launch the attack on the Minister when it published a report - which it linked to Wikileaks - onthe rape of an Indonesian maid by the honorable Minister. I would call that 'Minus ter' instead. The other damning point in this affair is the fact that     the Minister is not resigning despite the very fact that anyone who have seen the police report from Indonesia could easily decipher the name of the Minister, though the name is barred in black ink. The affair has been around since 2007 as the 'rape' if it was one, is said to have been committed in February 18th of 2007. The recent information  I gleaned on some Indonesian blogs is that the wife of the Minister knew about the rape and would have even watched it unravelling thus becoming - according to blogs - the prime witness in the case.
The other aspect of this affair is that the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had wind of the 'rape' for sometime now. Ahiruddin Attan or Rocky Bru wrote in his blog that he has information the opposition would have used the rape case in an upcoming by-election in Johor. This woudl have really tarnished the image of the United Malays National Organization (Umno) but it is not sure whether that would have been sufficient to help the PR win the seat as Johor is a state where the PR is not that strong as it is elsewhere in Malaysia.
ty Keadilaan Rakyat (PRK) -the appointment of a new SUK of the state or Secretary of state. The bloggers hounding the Sultan wrote in plain language that the new SelangorSUK knew about   the 'affair' with the pretty lady and covered it up...Talking of cover-ups, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia is also said to have covered up the 'rape' case of the Cabinet Minister.
Hence, if we understand the blogger Rocky Bru, he published the report about the rape in order to outsmart the opposition and prevent them from using it during the Tenang election. Bad move indeed since now the Umno and the Barisan National (BN) regime has to explain on the rape, the defeaning silence and the fact that the Minister is still in the Cabinet!
While the country was still feeling the heat of the rape case, local bloggers started to attack the Sultan of Selangor for a purported affair with a local TV actress. This was in response to what they call the Sultan's interference in the affairs of the opposition run state of Selangor. The Sultan   is said to have approved without consulting Khalid Ibrahim the Menteri Besar or the Chief Minister of Selangor - who hails from the Pakatan Rakyat - the nomination of the new SUK.
It is also obvious that Tun Mahathir Mohamad, the King Maker after the fall of Abdullah Badawi, would have known of the rape case and why not of the indiscretions of the 'Ruler'? These scandals are sufficient to bring more disdain from the public towards the leaders of the nation and could influence their voting patterns in the next General Elections due in 2013 but which is being rumored to be very soon.

Malaysia Elections in One Month Time?

Rumours are rife that Malaysia will hold snap polls within a month time. The 
Barisan National (BN) convention was the launch of the early campaign by the ruling coalition while observers believe the 'Wikileaks' campaing in pro-BN local newspapers and media outlets coupled with the six months suspension of Anwar Ibrahim from Parliament are part of the early campaigning strategies by the Barisan.

Local TV stations are already recruiting additional staffs to work full time in 
their news section while newspapers seem ready to add 'part-time' staffs to 
their editorial board in what could be part of their plans to cover the 
upcoming, surprising snap
polls.
The intentions of the BN is clear: Surprise the Pakatan Rakyat in the middle of 
the confusion caused by the 'Wikileaks' cables with Singaporean authorities 
comments on Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case 2. The Wikileaks cables are being made 
to look as if
Singapore has confirmation that Anwar Ibrahim is a sodomist and that a plan was 
laid to catch him in the act once and for all by some quarters. However, 
observers are arguing that if a plan was laid, then why don't they have any 
evidence of the act since
they had all the time to prepare for the 'plot' against the Opposition leader, 
Anwar Ibrahim?
The Singapore authorities has since then declared that the leaked comments by 
Wikileaks did not tally with its own records of statements and comments in an 
attempt to dissociate with the Wikileaked materials.
It is also being said that the snap polls will be organized together with the 
Sarawak state elections.

The Barisan is confident it will win most of the seats 
if not all in Sabah and Sarawak, thus boosting itstally in the new Parliament. It however expected to lose more seats in Peninsular Malaysia where its chances of taking back any of the 5 states under the Pakatan rule is getting dimmer!

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!

PM Najib Tempted To Prove Tun Mahathir Wrong On Election

According to information from some circles, Malaysia may go to polls as early as 
next year. This may be an attempt by the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to prove 
his mentor and former PM Tun Mahathir wrong on his popularity and capacity to 
regain the sacred 2/3rd majority in Parliament.

The former PM said Barisan may win one or two states back from the Pakatan 
Rakyat (PR) but he also added that the Barisan National (BN) will not win back 
its 2/3rd majority. This statement from Tun Mahathir is indication that he is 
not advising PM Najib on holding the elections as soon as next year.

However, indications are out that elections may come as early as next year, with 
the PM being under pressure to 'prove' that he is capable of better performances 
than his predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“I think the by-elections are quite indicative of rising support for Barisan but 
we must not take it for granted.” said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in reply 
to a question from The Star newspaper.

On the other hand, local analysts insist that it is more favourable for the 
ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to call for snap polls in 2012, amid 
speculation it will be held as early as next March, said the Malaysian Insider 
today.

The Military in Malaysia think elections will be sooner than expected, which is 
what I reported here last week.

One important factor to considered is the Sarawak state polls which should take 
place by next year since Sarawak went to polls a two years before Peninsular 
Malaysia. The BN has always used the Sarawak polls to galvanize its forces for 
the General Elections. The massive victory in Sarawak has always been an 
indication of the 'health' of the BN coalition.

But Tun Mahathir has teased Najib on many occasions about the PM's popularity 
and BN's capacity to win back the sacred 2/3rd seats in Parliament. He even said 
hold the polls early if the PM thought his popularity was undoubted.

Since the decision to decide on the day for the holding of the polls rests with 
the PM, it may not be surprising that Malaysia goes to polls as early as 2011. 
The PM may be tempted to prove to Tun Mahathir that he is popular and could bury 
the era of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, an era despised by Tun Mahathir, once and for 
all!

Malaysia Heading For Snap Polls amid 'Islamic state' squabble

Malaysia is heading for snap polls amid a controversy about the 'Islamic state' 
and a perceived return of popularity for the Barisan National (BN). In the midst 
of these indicators, don't forget to see the pace of roads being asphalted and 
the aggressive manner the pro-BN press is hammering Anwar Ibrahim together with 
the recent turmoil that shook the Party Keadilaan Rakyat (PKR).

In military circles, it is hinted that snap polls are for next year and it will 
be announced right after the breaking-ground activities of a multitude of 
'development' and 'construction' projects by the Prime Minister, Najib Tun 
Razak.

In the mean time, the government is taking heed of the advice from Tun Mahathir 
Mohamad, our former PM that the opposition is in disarray and has lost its 
glitter hence the ruling party can take advantage of that situation along with 
the rise of the 'Perkasa' to form a not so powerful regime after the elections. 

According to Tun Mahathir, the ruling coalition can re-gain at least two states 
from the Pakatan opposition. In his own words however, he said that 'maybe Najib 
can win back 'one' or two states', which is a coherent form of 'uncertainty' by 
the former PM himself. 

 On the other hand, Abdullah Badawi said it was an 'insult' as he was asked to 
comment on a statement by Anwar that he considered it an insult when countries 
hailed Malaysia as a modern Islamic nation. This piece of crap from Bernama does 
not explain anything except that there is confusion in the 'editorial' boards of 
the National news organization's way of writing news pieces!

What it had to mean was that Abdullah Badawi, trying to play a bigger role in 
the upcoming elections - remember he is still an MP at Kepala Batas - is saying 
that Anwar insulted Malaysia when he told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that it 
was something like ridiculous for Malaysia to be seen as a 'modern' Islamic 
state since Malaysia was not an 'Islamic state'.


The question that was making havoc in 2007, whether Malaysia is an 'Islamic 
state' or not, is back. This time Anwar Ibrahim is accused of insulting 
Malaysia. Lets take the issue to task for a minute. If Malaysia was an Islamic 
state, it would have directed all 'rape', sodomy, wife beating, stealing and 
other cases to the 'Syariah courts' as there would be no need for Muslims to be 
tried in non-Islamic courts for that matter.


Then if that was the case, the second sodomy saga against Anwar Ibrahim would 
have to be brought to the Syariah courts, not to the high courts! And the 
threats of putting Anwar Ibrahim behind bars for 20 years would have vanished 
just like that since under the Syariah, the prosecution and the accusers need 4 
witnesses to 'prove' that they saw Anwar Ibrahim in the act - which is not the 
case since there are no four witnesses.


Or is it possible that in a 'Modern' Islamic state, the Syariah courts are 
substituted for political reasons by the 'conventional' British inherited 
courts? The answer to this question is vital but we do not have the answer here 
so we leave it to the political mavericks to battle hard on it!


Nevertheless, Malaysia is heading for polls amid the controversy that 'Allah' 
cannot be used by non-Malays and the fact that people who were once patting in 
'muddy waters' are accusing Anwar Ibrahim of 'heresy.


Among other facts, the Bernama insisted that Anwar Ibrahim made his statement on 
the 'Islamic state' because he was trying to 'regain' international support 
after 'supposedly' being dropped by Hilary Clinton on the 'sodomy' issue. Now we 
know who are the real 'friends' of Hilary Clinton, that is if it is not Anwar 
Ibrahim, then who else than BN?