Between a Communist and a Running Dog..........

But Lim Guan Eng is nobody’s running dog. He is not in office to serve Umno’s interest, or the interest of ex-Umno people who no longer have any future in Umno and are now trying to build a new future in PKR.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

When the Umno Malays attack the Chinese from the opposition, they would normally use the word ‘Communist’. To the Umno Malays, any Chinese who opposes Umno is a Communist.

And this is what MP Zahrain Mohd Hashim from PKR called Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng from DAP -- ‘Communist-minded’.

But then, Zahrain is Umno. Okay, maybe now he is in PKR. But that was only very recently. For decades he was in Umno and, furthermore, he was one of the key people in Umno Penang who headed various very important government agencies in the state.

In short, in true Umno fashion, Zahrain was one of the Penang warlords -- and he was so for a great number of years. But Umno warlords, even ex-Umno warlords now in the opposition, no longer carry any weight in Penang. And this must be extremely unsettling for someone like Zahrain, who practically had the power of ‘life and death’ over Penang -- and now has no power to even change the curtains in his office without the approval of ‘dictator’ Lim Guan Eng.

Another thing that is even more upsetting for Umno, even ex-Umno people now in PKR, is that, during the days of the Gerakan state government, it was Umno that called the shots while the Gerakan Chief Minister was merely an Umno running dog and in office merely to serve Umno’s interest.

But Lim Guan Eng is nobody’s running dog. He is not in office to serve Umno’s interest, or the interest of ex-Umno people who no longer have any future in Umno and are now trying to build a new future in PKR.

The ex-Umno people in PKR, in particular those from Penang, will have to learn how to adjust to the new ‘culture’. During the Umno days it was the Chinese who sat on the throne while the Malays were the power behind the throne who manipulated Gerakan and the Chief Minister. All Umno had to do was tell the Chief Minister to jump and he would respond, “How high?"

Lim Guan Eng, however, has a mind of his own. He knows what needs to be done (after all, Penang is the best run state, according to the Auditor-General). He understands the old Umno culture, which invariably has been ‘imported’ into PKR. No one is going to pressure him or blackmail him. He will not allow himself to become a puppet Chief Minister like the Gerakan Chief Minister in the days when Umno was running Penang with Gerakan as its front.

So we lose some ex-Umno people in PKR who decide to go back to Umno because they are no longer warlords like they used to be. Well, so be it. Better they go now even if we see a Perak situation in the other states as well. Spring-cleaning in PKR (and DAP and PAS as well) is long overdue anyway.

I have just about had it with all these ex-Umno people like Hassan Ali, Zulkifli Noordin, Zahrain Mohd Hashim, and many more who have been nothing but a source of problems for PKR and Pakatan Rakyat. If I were to list down the names of people like Ruslan Kassim, Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Adam, Rozaid Abdul Rahman, Hanafiah Man, and all those many others who came from Umno into PKR, and then left PKR to rejoin Umno after causing so much problems, this article would probably run into 20 or 30 pages.

It is time we bite the bullet and purge the party, even if we have to use 'undemocratic' methods, or else this nonsense will never end. Maybe Lim Guan Eng can teach us some of his ‘undemocratic’ tactics that we can use in PKR to clean up the party.

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Zahrain: Lim is a dictator

PENANG: Dissension within Pakatan Rakyat has spread and the simmering feud between DAP and PKR leaders broke into the open when Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim verbally attacked Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Describing the DAP secretary-general as a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”, Zahrain who is the former state PKR chairman, said Pakatan should stop compromising with the leader who is from Malacca as Lim had failed to deliver its general election promises.

Stressing that he was not attacking the DAP, Zahrain said Lim would become a liability to Pakatan in the state if he continued the way he was now.

“Lim does not like to be criticised. He is quick to label those who criticise him as Barisan Nasional agents,” he said. “Even his own party colleagues do not have a say the moment Lim makes up his mind.”

Zahrain said among the election promises that were not kept were the introduction of local council election and an open tender system.

“Lim may be reluctant to push for local council election because it will diminish his power if Penangites use that as an avenue to pass verdict on the state’s performance.

“He also promised an open tender system, but he has made the process worse by personally chairing the tender board,” he said, adding that there was better check and balance during Barisan’s rule.

He said when he criticised Lim for his dictatorial ways of managing the state, he was accused of being an Umno agent.

“I am certainly not an Umno agent. I just do not want to see Pakatan going against its promises,” he said. “It is a shame for Pakatan and its principles when projects are awarded based on who knows who.”

Zahrain said Lim was not suitable to be Penang Chief Minister because he was not a local and did not understand local sentiments.

“He has failed to bring in foreign investments despite travelling all over the world to attract investments,” he said.

“Voters are watching. Penangites are very particular about economic progress.”

Zahrain also questioned why a third of Lim’s speech during the Pakatan convention was in Mandarin.

“As a leader of the Pakatan, he should respect people of all races and speak in a language understood by all.”

The attack by Zahrain comes in the wake of the open defiance of Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin against party orders over the ‘Allah’ issue.

This led to a feud bet­ween Zulkifli and PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad when the former even lodged a police report against the PAS man.

Zulkifli even challenged his party disciplinary board which let him off with a slap on his wrist but this in turned angered PKR’s political bureau chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who had quit as an Umno member, minister and senator to join the party.

Zaid criticised the party for letting off Zulkifli lightly saying it was no more than a poor copy of Umno. - The Star

Candid Comments:-

If you want me to choose - between a Communist and a Running Dog - I will choose the former!

I do also concur with the commentators, if a tyrant likened LKY of Singapore who had always his subjects' well fares and well beings of the Nation in mind, more so like Chinese Communist Party in China - which both could bring great fame and glory to their Nations - it will rather be a God's blessing who sent these great leaders to the planet as though angles to safeguard and salvage the mankind from all sufferings, and lead all the blissful lives, deserving of the human beings !

Over here in our failed Nation, we will continue to fail and to fall into backwardness, with social immoralism and political trivialization at its peak, would only foredoom all of us into greater disasters, let alone the advancement of the Nation!.......

Sigh!

The war has to go on.......

Pakatan ready to go forward without Anwar...

ULU YAM, Jan 24 – Opposition strongman Lim Kit Siang again dispelled growing fears that Pakatan Rakyat would crumble in the absence of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim if the de facto coalition chief goes to jail for a second sodomy conviction.

The DAP parliamentary chief believed the federal opposition pact, which now controls four states, has flourished and are gelling well ever since its formation after the 2008 general election.

“Of course we are worried and we do not want to see him jailed for a trumped-up charge but (his absence) is of no major contention as far as PR continuing with its struggle,” the Ipoh Timur MP told The Malaysian Insider after a DAP campaign dinner.

“We are ready,” added the veteran politician who was first elected to Parliament in 1969.

Anwar is seen as the “glue” that brings the three PR component parties – PKR, DAP and PAS – together amid stark ideological differences.

But pundits and a large chunk of PR supporters believe all that could come undone should Anwar be convicted for his second sodomy charge in a decade, which PR leaders believe is staged to kill off his political career and the pact’s influence.

Anwar himself has been on “pre-emptive” mode in light of his looming trial, hinting at large-scale nationwide ceramahs staged to rally support for him that his trial may well end with a conviction.

His upcoming Sodomy II case, a major corruption crackdown and PR being painted as anti-Islam have pushed the informal alliance to hold rallies around the country to retain support against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government onslaught.

Lim, however, remain optimistic that PR and the voters – just as Anwar would have wanted – have matured and are leaving behind the “politics of icons” and will base their votes on who can govern best.

“Yes, Anwar has played a unique role of getting us together but after two years, I believe that PR has proven that it can stick together and we can go on without him.”

Lim and his colleagues believe that the PR’s Common Policy Framework (CPF) unveiled at its maiden convention last December is one the pact’s hallmark achievements and is a testament to its determination to work together.

The CPF is the pact’s common manifesto and formula to dethrone BN and wrest Putrajaya.

But observers remain sceptical that the CPF, which they believe is “too superficial”, will be strong enough to sort the differences between the parties particularly Islamist PAS and secularist DAP.

They believe that many questions are still left unanswered, including who will take over as the leading figure of the pact, a question which is a ticking timebomb that leaders from all sides have so far avoided discussing.

PR ideologue Datuk Zaid Ibrahim had once suggested the popular PAS spiritual chief Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat becomes the pact’s chairman but support for the Kelantan mentri besar in that role has been lukewarm.

Anwar’s trial starts Feb 2 after the Federal Court decides on his application to access more evidence before the hearing. The former deputy prime minister was freed in 2004 after being jailed in 1999 for sodomy and abuse of power.

Is cry baby enough......

My Condolences go to the traumatized families of the deceased!......


In our Country, with a little bit of observation, one would notice, each time when there is a mishap fallen upon some unfortunate victims, there tend to be a scene of concerto - where politicians would capture the front pages of the medias to cry over the victims' ill fates!

They would put up a show in the public place - like a cry baby, and cry their hearts out!

Then come with show time for all - the deepest condolences and the hugs around!

The recent tragedy of a dragon boat capsized while during a training stint had claimed six innocent lives amid the brilliant kids of Chung Ling High School, my Alma Mater, had also seen those crying faces on debut, immediately when the mishap happened, and during the life savers were still on their job to rescue the dying kids they had great ambitions in life.

Alas, God wish them back to be with Him, though it's unfair to their beloved parents and the families. I would sigh !!!

If the parents or the siblings were there on the scene crying, I can solely understand their sorrows and to burst into tears would be a natural reaction of one's true love and eruption of sentiments - grievously sad!

For an EXCO like Danny Low's position, why should he be there to cry together, seen to be captured in the snap shots of the journalists?!

He shouldn't be crying - at all - only after the mishap had happened and the several precious lives were drifting in the sea, under the whirl pool, with unknown destiny!

He should be there instead, hailing out cautioning orders to the ignorant kids upon seeing the disaster looming! He should even be there instead, not lonely, but with a herd of life guards or what not standing on close watch of the high spirited boys who had for the sake of the State function, had forgotten about what was - SAFETY!

When all these VIPs, EXCOs or what not going out to show their faces, even on the street, didn't we see there would be a phalanx of goons accompanying them, or their so-called aides?! And why there was none of these goons or boot lickers who were there with the Honourable YB, who is an EXCO some more, to do his duty of safeguarding the kids whom they were participating in the State event, at all?!

Doesn't Danny Low the EXCO in the portfolio of tourism, and such State event, is part and parcel of his department's baby? And why shouldn't he pay more concerns and be more responsible to the safety of the boys who would have known how to take orders since being disciplined enough when strict orders were being issued?!

In this context, I would angrily ask, did he Danny Low set out rules for the abidance of the kids while letting the leafy dragon boat out to the high sea, and try their luck?

In more advance Countries, the government officials from the meteorological department would have provided clues and alert, the dos and not dos for the public to when to get near to the calmly sea, or, when to keep away from the moody counterpart, whenever they have the capability to forecast and to forewarn!

Why was this not done, and without the least of tip off, here?!

Are we, and the Government we relied on, so fragile and impotent to this basic scientific approach?!


It's right, I concur with one of the boy's poor father who had just lost his beloved son cried out with tears and demand for a show cause of responsibility from our venerable EXCO Danny Low! And I do concur - Danny Low should answer not only to the father of the demised kid, but also, to the public at large!

Not only he should answer, how he monitored and regulated the safety measures and precautions on the training ground, by and large, should also he pledge all his best to step up, draw up safety guidelines and implementation to prevent another same or less tragedy from recurring, and no more next!

And this is his responsibility as the organizer of the State event, being an EXCO.

Having a charade like a cry baby in the public is not enough!

A Petition Against PICC

Following an online 'Petition Against PICC' which was written by one Mr Tan Seng Hai on the appeal and show of objectionable opinions reflected from the context, and the comments of the few hundredth signatories, which consist of multi-racial members of public, the following is the comment of a concerned rakyat, a senior citizen, and a typical Penangite:-

PENANG - Jan 10, 2010 - Posted by Concerned Rakyat.

As we all are aware, the original PISA was built with a MPPP allocation of RM200-million more than a decade ago, when Datuk Tan was the Council boss, the YDP!

The son-in-law of a tycoon Datuk too, was the designing Architect and because of this pet and pioneer project he had undertaken, his Architect firm is a renowned Consultant Architect in the Country. He is the first Architect in the State who could afford to drive an exotic sport car to the posh office. At the stage of Pre-Q, rumours had already been rife that the ex-YDP was dealing in black box, with the crony!

The initial cash flow was charted with a mere 100-million budget and along the way of construction, it was increased up to 200-millions or odd! The final project cost was under thick veil and a rough figure proclaimed by the so-called State authority!

With only 50-millions nowadays, when the construction cost is on the hike, to build an international arena, 50 millions is probably trifling only enough to install the M&E, air conditioners and the IT hardware etc. The final cost may be just like the original PISA building, shoots up sky high after the completion, which means, over the budget!

It's crystal clear that LGE is playing trick and juggling with the figures, and this is the so-called CAT transparency?! He had forgotten how much public funds he had wasted, or his government wasted, in quite recent time, for the unsanctioned construction of a shoddy grand stand at Esplanade green lung. The ultimate removal of the structures due to public odium had caused how much damages to the state coffer, and the much treasured public easement?! How much hard earned taxes from us, the Penangites, had gone into the drain, or the crony's thick wallet?!

CAT????! Does YAB LGE sincerely walk the talk??????.....

Whereas 50-millions, plus many more millions to be added as VO, it could be enough to make good the much deteriorated loopholes on the streets. It's sufficient to pay for the upgrading of the war-torn buildings in the middle of downtown they called it the heritage that the foreign tourists are paying for the air-tickets to patronize. The topographical and natural landscapes which could be enhanced to make it a garden in the city like in Hanoi where it could even become a theme park which will give back value for money for the many Caucasian tourists, foreign tourists, local tourists, and to attract revisits! More visits of the tourists mean more income for the State, and more laudable fame abroad, more brisk business for the domestic market, hence will generate more satisfying and appreciating voters!

Let alone those half way abandoned flood mitigation projects which the new CAT is supposedly to prove to the defunct BN that they could do a much more better job than just to bleach Sg Pinang into a place where even the EXCO could strip and jump into swimming! And many other improvement of infra-structures which Penangites who supported DAP/PR, including my family's, are sticking out the necks and longing for the accomplishment by the new CAT! And these were all in the election agenda and manifesto pre-308, and widely propogated!

Many fair-minded Penangites saw the spots of the leopard in the arena back stage, and i saw the tail too! LGE's way to prove to the BN his flair as a CAT CM is to do something different and not to adhere to the Gerakan master plan and agenda! What he had neglected is perhaps, he only proved himself to be an alien to Penang by not knowing the feelings of the true Penangites, our love to the luster of the Pearl of the Orient, and our uncompromising defense to the getting disarray traffic congestion and errant parking problems which had caused great and greater inconveniences to the Islanders - and all these - we are expecting the CAT to prove their credit points in the State's structural plan, and its implementation!

By placing a huge structural cage for the anticipated white elephant in the compound of PISA, it's only sort of sub-lease occupancy and that's not the distinguished difference we wish to see from the demeanor of our suave looking new CM! Had he looked into the existing condition during each and every fiestas at the location, when the vehicles were parking filled from within and outside the existing compounds, the commuters are fucking mad daily when bypassing the locale?! And he still wants to insist adding salts to the wounds of the getting furious Penangites?!

We want a cat which could catch mouse regardless of it being a black or white cat, and not a pussy CAT which can sing please!



P/S --Please click on the link below to read and sign the petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/picc2010/petition.html