On Ezam to Anwar: Show us the corruption evidence
Rashid Lee:
Sad to see Ezam in this muddled state of mind, contradicting himself! First saying Anwar gave away 15 projects worth RM1 billion each directly to bumiputera companies, then saying that Anwar betrayed the Malay race. Which is it Ezam?Apparently Ezam has been brainwashed to such a level that he has forgotten that he was jailed for keeping boxes containing evidence of corrupted practices on Anwar's behalf. Why was Ezam so gallant to go to prison leaving behind his wife and kids defending Anwar? Wake up from your slumber Ezam!
Mwchow: Ezam, just one question: If you already knew Anwar was corrupt in giving out RM1 billion projects to 15 companies, why did you quit Umno to support him in the first place?
Millionth Citizen: This Ezam fellow, also known as a politically bankrupt fellow, is now driving the would-be supporters of BN, mainly the Chinese, away. Just Like Khairy Jamaluddin, Nazri Aziz and the gang, Ezam always shoots from the hip. Where are the boxes of evidence you promised when you were in PKR? Or have you exchanged it for money? Go home- lah, no one is listening to you any more. Don't taint Permatang Pauh with all your bluffs. For the sake of Umno, go home.
On PAS leader slams Saiful's swearing act
Worried: With the aid of the free press, I am writing again to Malaysiakini to express my disgust at the tactics of PKR during polling time. They talk so much of the dirty tactics of the ruling party, but just listen to their words.
I regard Malaysiakini as a source of fair reporting, so why do people believe charlatans like PAS and Keadilan even as they keep changing their stance?
My hero Karpal Singh is a yardstick, and when he is quiet, then we know he has a lot to say. I would dearly love to see him lead the Malaysian Indians, but alas, it is not to be.
Firstly, Saiful said he was going to swear on the Quran a long time ago, but there was no comment from PAS. When he swears, golly, Anwar is surprised by how it is ‘one day before’. What difference does it make whether it is one day or 10 days before, or even one day after nominations?
Next , the great keepers of the Muslim faith in Malaysia belittle the swearing, saying that such kind acts are for the Christians (swearing on the Bible).
PAS, please take the Quran seriously. He did swear on the Quran, right or wrong, and I do not know of any Muslim who would dare do this for anything, be it money or power, unless he was telling the truth.
Before we make this country worse than it already is, Malaysians poll well. As we say, better the devil we know than the devil we don't.
On PKR to investigate attack on pixmen
Alfred Ho: As usual, BN is at it again by engaging saboteurs, disguised as PKR supporters, to harass photographers in order to put Anwar and his party in a bad light.
The BN government is certainly bankrupt of ideas for preventing Anwar from winning the Permatang Pauh elections.
In spite of the dirty tactics of the ruling administration, I strongly believe that Anwar will win the elections with a thumping majority, which will certainly put fear into the hearts of the Barisan leaders.
Here's wishing Anwar and PKR all the very best in their crusade to bring about a better Malaysia where all Malaysians are given equal treatment in every respect.
Rajagopal: Photographers were beaten up - this is Umno style. Three thousand police and no one stopped the violence.
We have seen the indifference by the police who, as claimed by the police themselves, are ‘highly professional’, ‘observe the rule of law’, ‘follow procedures’, and are ‘unbiased’ in their actions.
This shamelessly insults the intelligence of the people. If they did not act, they were probably involved in crafting the plot. Remember the Bar Council Forum? My fear is Malaysia becoming like Zimbabwe or Burma.
On PAS abandons gambling, alcohol ban plans
Ranjeet Singh: I would like to bring to Hadi Awang's attention to the fact that not all religions, other than Islam, allow liquor. Sikhs are also banned from the consumption of liquor.
Therefore if PAS is to enforce the ban on consumption selectively based on religious ideology, I suggest that the enforcement also includes the Sikhs. I assure you that the Sikhs would not object as the consumption of alcohol and tobacco is against the tenants of Sikhism.
In the future, anyone referring to Islam as a religion that prohibits the consumption of alcohol should also refer to the Sikhs as part of the citizenry that would support the ban on alcohol consumption.
Rom: I am appalled and disgusted at the PM's reported statement that Saiful is a 'victim'. I do believe that, despite rumours to the contrary, the PM isn't so dense. Saiful is an alleged victim - he still needs to prove his case in a court of law.
Unless and until that has been done, the alleged perpetrator of the crime is innocent and therefore not a 'victim'. By prematurely concluding at this juncture that Saiful is a 'victim', is the PM deliberately interfering with the course of justice?
Could lawyers and judges interpret his comments as subjudice? Frankly, many of us Malaysians do want to leave this specimen, Saiful, alone and get on with our lives. Unfortunately, it is he who is now in our faces.
After all, wasn't it he who called a press conference? Wasn't it he who shot a video of himself swearing he's a sodomite? Wasn't it he who made this declaration to the world in the first place, without any invitation or pressure on our part?
So could we stop all this nonsense now, before the tag line ‘ tahun meliwat ’ Malaysia becomes the shameful tag line Malaysia is be recognised by.
Justice For All: Another stunning fumble by the prime minister and more proof that he lacks even the basic virtues that a few thought he had. He has contravened basic human and Islamic principles that anyone accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called Saiful a ‘victim’, even though the court has not even begun hearing this case. So far, the only victim has been Anwar Ibrahim and his family.
PM told us that the boy (Saiful) is seeking justice - how does he do it? By swearing on the Quran (though I thought in Islam we are ONLY allowed to swear by Allah) on the eve of nomination day and one and a half months after the alleged sodomy took place?
PM told us that Saiful is being courageous. Really? By refusing to answer questions on Dr Osman's report, on his connections with Najib and Rosmah and his meetings with senior police officers before the so-called ‘sodomy’? That is courage to the Prime Minister?
The PM’s behaviour is embarrassing to all Malaysians, and his ethical and moral fiber is simply non-existent.
On Saiful: Sodomy wasn't consensual
Disbeliever: Saiful has sworn on the Quran that he was sodomised by Anwar and that it was non-consensual. All the swearing in the world doesn't change the fact that it is impossible for a frail, 61-year old man to forcibly sodomise a bigger and stronger 23-year old youth.
However, it is not impossible for a person to swear an untruth. Any rational person knows what to believe.
Yih Feng Low: With no disrespect to Muslims all over the world, I fail to see how swearing on the Quran can prove anything in criminal cases.
Does that mean that if everyone in our jails decided to swear on the Quran, they would all be set free since they would have ‘proved’ their innocence? Which would you trust, swearing or a medical report?
Adam Othman: Saiful is swearing on the Quran that Anwar sodomised him because he wants justice. As is widely accepted, there is justice meted in this life under present laws and there is justice meted in the hereafter.
Sometimes one is unable to obtain justice is this life due to all kinds of reasons, but for the God-fearing, we are comforted in the belief that there will be retribution for the guilty in another life.
For Muslims in Malaysia, we can seek redress from either the civil or syariah courts. In this case, by both courts, but surprisingly for someone who is seeking justice through his God, Saiful has not taken his complaint to the syariah court.
This shows that Saiful does not believe that the syariah courts can give him the justice he seeks, and yet is hell-bent on invoking a religious dimension to his complaint by swearing on the Quran.
This inconsistency in his actions is therefore perplexing and (one suspects) driven by other considerations other than religion. He should have faith that the syariah courts and his God will mete punishment on the guilty, if not in this life then in the afterlife.
Notwithstanding that swearing for a complaint of this nature has never been done before in Islam, Saiful looks to be badly advised and is subjecting his own religion to controversy. I wonder what Pak Lah's Islam Hadhari’s take on this is.
Anwar, therefore, has every reason not to play along just for the sake of clearing his name.
Whilst there is still a raging debate on the appropriateness and efficacy of this method in establishing the truth according to Islamic tenets, Anwar is right not to plunge Islam into further disrepute by also swearing, until and unless there is clear direction from the religious authorities.
In fact, he can claim that if he were to swear too, one of them is obviously lying and we are no closer to the truth. Are we to wait for divine intervention?
In seeking justice in this manner, Saiful and the people that support his cause have overreached themselves and may have stepped over a line. This can only bring negative perceptions of our country and of how Islam is practised here.
This is all happening because Pak Lah is failing to protect his race and religion just to stay in power.
Eileen: From what I have observed so far, I conclude that desperate people do desperate things.
Firstly, a desperate Umno, at the brink of collapse, came up with a desperate move - never mind how this will look to the rest of the world, we must assassinate Anwar politically. So they charged him for an alleged sodomy act.
Now, with the up coming Permatang Pauh by-election, Umno came out with another desperate move - Saiful is let out now by Umno to swear on the Quran, hoping that this will convince the Malays and sway the votes from Anwar to Arif Shah.
Indeed, Umno has undermined the intelligence of their fellow Muslims in Malaysia. I, too, wish that politics could be as simple as swearing on the holy book.
On Goodies roll in, RM1 mil for Chinese schools
Malaysian-thru-and-thru: Wow! This is very interesting. Shall we lot of Malaysians now go out into the streets and demand that a general election be held every year, if not once every six months?
This would ensure money for schools, charity organisations or activities, donations to the poor and whatever other cause that would need money would keep rolling, all so that BN would be put in a good light!
On Shouts of liwat vs reformasi
Sang Kancil: BN is bankrupt of ideas. The only term and act that they are familiar with is sodomy or liwat . This is their party ideology. For more than 50 years, they have liwat
Malaysians for their own good and survival. In Permatang Pauh, we should sodomise BN until they cannot stand. Let's join hands with PR to deny BN. Don't even give them one vote for that matter. Hidup Malaysia!
K. Manickam: Where is press and media freedom in Malaysia? It is rather sickening to note that all news about the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign puts down PKR and its vibrant leader Anwar Ibrahim.
The rakyat are getting sick of the BN government’s dirty tactics. BN should also allow the government-controlled electronic media and press to cover the comments by PKR, but this has not been done.
The media is happy to put down the PKR with all the negative reports. The more the BN government does this, the more they are going to get a knock-out blow. This is going to happen as the Malaysian voters will show their anger via their votes.
If this happens, the BN government should resign. This is a national test case for BN or PKR.
The more they put down Anwar by creating the so-called liwat stories, the more Malaysians are going to vote Anwar into power.
Anwar is going to sweep the by-election. We wish him all the best.
On Najib: Up to Muslims to decide on Saiful's action
One Malaysia:
Will the DPM himself be brave enough to do the same ( sumpah laknat ) in light of so many allegations against him?Maybe we need to remember that many of the people who worked against Anwar in the Sodomy I case are either dead or gone sewel (mad) already. Will Saiful be the victim of Sodomy II? We will wait and see.
What the rakyat would like to see is the deputy prime minister cleansing his name by the same procedure. He will make it good if he’s truthful - otherwise he will be damned. Najib has nothing to fear if he is as innocent as he claims.
The rakyat has little means to know exactly, due to so many claims and counter-claims, but God almighty can reveal the fact. Anyhow, everyone is going to be dead one day and is going to face the day of reckoning (whether you like/believe it or not) in the hereafter.
On Syed Hamid defends consensual sodomy charge
Dorai Dubai: It looks like there are too many coincidences taking place in the BN government nowadays. It was a coincidence that Saiful swore just before nomination day.
It was a coincidence that the accuser working in Anwar’s office has gone to meet Najib for a scholarship, even though he dropped out of university. It was a coincidence that Saiful knows the former police inspector who investigated Anwar’s case ten years ago.
It was a coincidence that PI Bala, who made the first statutory declaration, withdrew it the next day after visiting Brickfield’s police station.
It was a further coincidence that Altantuya’s murder was related to Najib’s secretary, Razak Baginda, when Najib hadn’t even met her. Too many coincidences! Syed Hamid, use your head to think before you open your mouth!
On MB proposes special meet with UiTM students
A Concerned Malay Citizen: I have always been a strong supporter of PR and PKR, but the comments by the Selangor menteri besar in suggesting a 10 percent intake of non-bumiputera students in UiTM has made me think twice.
First of all, UiTM has always been there to provide education to bumiputera for as long as I can remember.
Plus, there are other ways to improve competition and quality of UiTM standards besides imposing such requirements through proper planning, research and implementation.
The menteri besar should think before making such comments, given that its sensitivity may pose a risk and might impact the support for PR and PKR, especially from students and bumiputera public in general.
Si Chng: The other day I was fetching somebody to the Shah Alam KTM station, and guess what? I was caught in a bad traffic jam. No, it was not a police road-block. It's a sea of black shirted young people jamming the road and waving banners.
I didn't bother to find out what the issue was - after all, this was quite a common sight in Malaysia these days. That evening I learned from the TV news that it was the UiTM students protesting. Over what?
What big deal can upset our young, insecure generations so terribly? Though I came to know what the 'big deal' was, I couldn't understand why all these young people needed to waste their precious time protesting such an issue. Are they scared to face challenges?
I'm not too sure that the non-bumiputera would want to apply to enter UiTM anyway. Last but not least, non-Bumiputra may be labelled as kia su , but this is definitely better than kia si . We should not be arrogant but be humble to come out of the well and face the world.
On Defamation suit: RPK ignores it, Shafee sees red
Perry: People from the BN government, or those closely linked with them, just keep on taking us Malaysians for fools. Shafee Abdullah called the honourable Raja Petra Kamaruddin a coward - if there is a Malaysian who is brave and has guts, it is Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
The whole of Malaysia knows it!
People who are like Shafee with and his childish behaviour - losing his temper, throwing papers in court, using words like ‘liar’, ‘stupid’, ‘monkey’, ‘coward’, ‘bankrupt’, ‘villain’, ‘rubbish’, ‘crook’, etc. - are those we consider immature cowards.
Malaysians do not care for people like Shafee - we care for our heroes, such as Raja Petra Kamaruddin. Please take note.
On UiTM's racial policy clearly unconstitional
Justice Lover: I have read the above with real interest and I fully agree with the writer. While the intention of setting up of Mara or ITM in the first place by the government must be lauded, we must now take into consideration the present situation.
I truly believe injecting 10 percent of non- bumi students into UiTM is not a bad idea at all. I don't believe that it, in any way, undermines the present policy of setting up the said institution.
However, I do not want to dwell on the subject too long. I am a Bumiputra myself.
Travelling on round-trips through Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia prior to and after the recent general election, there is very strong sentiment in both states of East Malaysia against the ruling government, particularly with Umno.
People here are simply fed up with the federal government. So with the coming Permatang Pauh by-election, people must go out there in full force and vote for Anwar. Reinstate him into parliament and vote Umno and BN out.
As long as we tolerate the present leadership, we are agreeing with them to bring the country to a future of economic and political rot. There is far too much hypocrisy, injustice, corruption and abuse of power. 50 years is just too long.
The name Anwar now sends an imminent fear into the hearts of the present leadership - Abdullah, Najib, Syed Albar, the AG, IGP, etc. They do not admit it, but we have to just read between the lines of what they utter each day.
Vote for Anwar and make what these leaders fear become a reality.
Atan: I salute our Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim - his proposal to allow a 10 percent admission of non-bumiputera to UiTM really touched the nerves of some bumiputera. This really stimulates the minds of (figuratively) sleeping or dormant bumiputera.
I say this because I have met different kinds of bumiputera when I was studying at Glasgow.
We need this kind of stimulant to regain the proper function of competitive spirit in the bumiputera who have been drugged by self-serving, covetous and know-no-shame politicians.
It has been reported in Star that the Vice Chancellor of UiTM, Dr Ibrahim, will sue Khalid for the 10 percent proposal. This is unreal for an honorable VC professor.
I wish to see the Beijing Olympics with only a few drugged competitors. Alas, it is not the case. The Beijing Olympics is attended by 204 nations, each sending their best to compete. I draw this parallel because in this world, excellence will emerge only when we start to compete.
As a human being, I believe there is no difference between bumiputera and non-bumiputera. What is lacking is the chance to compete, in the case of the bumiputera, a chance which they have been cunningly deprived by a few politicians.
The tiger and the lion are supposed to hunt wild animals in order to survive. Keep them in the zoo long enough, they will lose the mentality and physical ability to hunt. Each day, they would only wait for the food to be brought by the zoo keeper.
Therefore, the issue is not the 10 percent non-bumiputera admission. The real issue is howwe all stay competitive and advance as Malaysians in order to compete domestically and internationally, regardless of race, colour or religion.
On Gerakan leader endorses Anwar
Aaron Yap: Dr Toh Kin Woon, I salute you, sir! This is the type of leader that we need in this present time, those who dare to come out and speak openly when something is wrong. We don’t need an apple-polishing leader.
What we need is a real leader who will speak out for the love and care of this nation’s well being, not for their own personal interests.
