Pakatan defends Mat Sabu, flays Utusan

The opposition coalition also condemns Umno for only propogating
a history that doubles up as government propaganda.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat has risen to the defence of one of its leaders who has been accused of being a communist-sympathiser for questioning the legitimacy of Malaysia’s history.

Last Saturday PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu was slammed by Utusan Malaysia for allegedly hailing the communists who attacked the Bukit Kepong police station during the Emergency on Feb 23, 1950 as heroes.

Utusan also quoted him as saying that the country’s first premier, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, and Umno’s first president, Onn Jaafar, should not be recognised as freedom fighters because they were British officers.

Mohamad Sabu, known popularly as Mat Sabu, has since denied the accusations and plans to file a lawsuit against the Umno-owned daily over its “distorted” report.  Pakatan Rakyat today stood by Mat Sabu in stating its conviction that he had made no such remarks as claimed by Utusan.

In a statement signed by PKR Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, DAP Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong and PAS Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad, the coalition condemned the report as “irresponsible spin-mongering being perpetrated by Umno leaders and the media”.

Pakatan also echoed Mat Sabu’s previous statement that he had never made any mention of communisists and that his attempt to highlight the need to appreciate historical plurality had been taken out of context.

“We hereby firmly attest that we do not question Mat Sabu’s motivations in attempting to raise legitimate doubts about the historical narrative of our country,” it said.

“However we do seriously question the reckless and insidious reporting of Utusan Malaysia which has time and again resorted to fabricating fictitious arguments with malicious intent.”

Mat Sabu had earlier clarified that what he had said was that Merdeka should cease to be an Umno celebration and become a Malaysian celebration by recognising the other people who contributed to the nation’s independence.

Pakatan voiced full agreement with his statement and further questioned the historical narrative as provided by the Umno-BN government.

“We severely criticise the systematic and decades-long effort to “sanitise” Malaysian history so that only the contributions of Umno and its cohorts are recognised while the legitimate contributions of other Malaysian nationalists and freedom fighters are conveniently erased,” it said.

Manipulated for years
Pakatan then demanded to know what place history held for names like Ahmad Boestaman (founder of Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and Dr Buharnuddin al-Helmy (founder of Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya) or organisations like Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM).

“They were effectively the pioneers of organised Malay political activism,” it said. “And then we have the “People’s Constitution” crafted 10 years before Merdeka by the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA) and Pusat Tenaga Rakyat (Putera).”

“The Putera-AMCJA effort was not only momentous in scope and effort, but more importantly our country’s first truly multiracial coalition.”

Pakatan emphasised that the struggle for independence was not a singular effort by the Alliance but one that took place on many different frontiers and spearheaded by many different personalities.

“But Umno leaders will have no part of such a colourful past,” it said. “History according to Umno is a monochrome version that offers no room for dissenting views.”

“Our history textbooks are not only missing a chapter or two, but an entire parallel history that has now been successfully erased from official memory.”

Pakatan pointed out that it was in Umno’s interest to maintain their version of history not only because it upholds their leaders and claim to power, but also because it conceals their “chicanery and Machiavellian machinations”.

“We conclude by stating again that Mat Sabu was not wrong in attempting to contest existing perceptions of history,” it added.

“What is wrong is the fact that Malaysians have been manipulated for years by the propaganda machinery of the Umno-BN government.”

Taken from Free Malaysia Today

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Bukit Kepong ‘battle’: NGOs back Mat Sabu

Deputy IGP criticised for practising double standard in carrying out police 

investigation of the PAS deputy president.

KUALA LUMPUR: Several NGOs today criticised Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar for practising “double standard” over the controversy surrounding PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu’s remarks on the Bukit Kepong incident.

Last week, Mohamad Sabu, also popularly known as Mat Sabu, criticised Utusan Malaysia over its report which suggested that he allegedly praised the communist insurgents who attacked the Bukit Kepong police station during the Emergency on Feb 23, 1950 as heroes.

During a political rally in Tasek Gelugor on Aug 21, Mat Sabu allegedly said that “nearing Merdeka, the Bukit Kepong clip will be aired”.

“In Bukit Kepong, the police were British policemen. Those who attacked Bukit Kepong were the true freedom fighters. Their leader was Mat Indera (Muhammad Indera).”

Later, Khalid confirmed that police will investigate Mat Sabu after receiving 49 police reports nationwide regarding his alleged statement, and might charge him under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (WargaAMAN), representing 20 major Indian NGOs, came to the defence of Mat Sabu saying that people will lost their trust in the police for clearly discriminating against the Pakatan Rakyat leader.

“We are not against the police decision, but why didn’t the police take similar action against Utusan Malaysia, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali and Senator Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor for their racial statements?” WargaAMAN secretary-general S Barathidasan asked.

He said that WargaAMAN itself had lodged numerous reports against Utusan Malaysia and Ibrahim for stoking racial tension, but till today the police did not carry out a single investigation.

He added that the reputation of the police will be damaged if they continued to show favoritism to the Barisan Nasional.

Barathidasan also fully supports the views of Mat Sabu as “substantively correct”.

“The Bukit Kepong incident is the best example of Malaysians being ‘blind to history’ or to the spin of the Umno-led government.”

The incident took place seven years before independence.

“The 17 policemen and family members who died in the attack had served the British government and not the interest of the people in Malaya,” he added.

He also said that during the Japanese occupation, the British colony supplied weapons to the Malaya Communist Party (MCP) in the fight against the Japanese.

“But, later the communists withdrew their support from the British after the government refused to talk to them,” he said, adding that Mat Indera were among the few Malay heroes who fought both the Japanese and British rulers.

Mat Sabu’s view on Mat Indera is therefore correct, he said.

Taken from Free Malaysia Today

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Onus on media bosses to ensure safety

The National Union of Journalists says media employers must ensure reporters
assigned to war-torn zones be given full protective gears.

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has reminded media employers that they should be responsible for the safety and welfare of journalists as they are the ones who decide whether certain assignments should be covered.

Said NUJ general-secretary V Anbalagan: “Employers have to ensure their employees are provided with full protective gears like bullet-proof helmet and vest when covering assignments in a war-torn zone.”

He was commenting on the death of BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, 39, who was killed while on assignment in Somalia yesterday.

Noramfaizul was with Putera 1Malaysia Club for a humanitarian aid mission in Mogadishu. He was said to have been shot by a sniper.

In the incident, Noramfaizula and a TV3 journalist, Aji Saregar Mazlan, who was also injured, were travelling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle to Mogadishu under armed escort when the attack took place.

“The NUJ wishes to convey its condolence to the family of Noramfaizul,” said Anbalagan.

The Somalia aid team is expected to return, with Noramfaizul’s body, tomorrow morning.

Timely reminder

Anbalagan also said Noramfaizul serves as a “timely reminder” to journalists and employers to adhere to standard operating procedures, whether on assignment inside Malaysia or overseas.

He added that employers should also take out insurance policy to cover death or injuries of their employees.

If they are not covered by insurance, “employers should seriously reconsider sending them for such assignment”.

“Most importantly, employers should brief their reporters, photographers and cameramen on the do’s and dont’s when covering events where their life is at risk. This can be done based on the experiences of senior journalists,” he said.

Anbalagan said that in the recent Bersih 2.0 rally, the NUJ has provided some guidance to its members on measures to be taken when covering the rally as this was considered a “social unrest event”.

He said NUJ will soon release a comprehensive safety guide book for journalists covering events like earthquake, floods and social unrests locally or overseas.

Taken from Free Malaysia Today

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Wan Azizah as alternative to Rosmah

PKR is moving full steam forward with its Demi Rakyat campaign and
its president Dr Wan Azizah is being presented as a role model to Malaysian
women.

PETALING JAYA: PKR today unveiled its party president, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as an alternative role model to self-declared first lady, Rosmah Mansor.

PKR Wanita chief, Zuraida Kamaruddin, launched a six-part series of stories entitled “Cerita Kak Wan” as part of the opposition’s new campaign strategy ahead of the upcoming general election.

The stories chronicle the life and career path of a housewife who took on the role of parliamentary member and raised six children while her husband languished in prison.

Zuraida told a media conference today that the stories were meant to expose Malaysian women to an alternative and better role model than “the one we have right now”.

The first print run will consist of 35,000 copies which will be personally distributed by the PKR women’s wing nationwide.

“We will especially target women in the rural areas who don’t have access to stories on Wan Azizah and PKR,” Zuraida said.

“We want these women to know that Wan Azizah is an ordinary woman who has also faced a bittersweet life. That she isn’t like other women who can spend millions of ringgit on a ring, handbags and shoes.”

This was a thinly veiled dig at Rosmah who recently made headlines for allegedly purchasing a RM72 million diamond ring from luxury jeweller, Jacob & Co. Rosmah and husband Najib Tun Razak both denied the allegation.

Zuraida however clarified that the Kak Wan stories were not intended to counter Rosmah’s image but to divert attention away from her.

“Lately there have been lots of debates and discussions revolving around Wan Azizah and Rosmah,” she said. “But there is a vast contrast between the two and we want Malaysian women to know that.”

Election strategy

The Ampang MP added that the stories and exclusive interviews can also be downloaded on Wan Azizah’s personal website.

“Cerita Kak Wan’ is just the tip of PKR’s new election campaign strategy which party communications director, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said is aimed at changing the manner of electioneering.

The campaign, dubbed “Demi Raykat” will reach out to voters through fewer ceramahs and more internative video presentations.

Two DVDs have already been screened as part of the trial run which Nik Nazmi deemed a success. The DVDs’ contents cover a wide range of national issues including the rising price of essential goods and police violence.

“We have always been at a disadvantage compared to BN as they have access to national TV and we only had ceramahs,” he said. “But now our online videos have been viewed by over ten thousand people.”

PKR strategic director, Rafizi Ramli, stated that PKR is now leading in national issues which has put BN on the defensive.

“Our central theme is to have a contrasting message to that of BN,” he said. “And we’re confident that once we get this message across the people will subscribe to it.”

Each PKR branch now has a Demi Rakyat director and is required to have a big screen and projector to run the DVDs.

According to Zuraida, BN and Umno with their outdated tactics are now having a hard time catcing up to PKR.

“We are ready for the general election no matter when it is held,” she said. “Our young leaders are taking the party forward and we will keep BN and Umno breathless.”

Taken from Free Malaysia Today

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Doc: I was shocked about ‘sodomy’ revelation

The first doctor to examine Saiful said he was 'very shocked' when the 

latter revealed he was sodomised by a VIP.

KUALA LUMPUR: The first medical person who examined Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan maintained today that his patient told him a plastic instrument was used to assault him, denying an accusation that he was instructed to include that in his medical report.

Hospital Pusrawi’s Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, who is being called to the stand for the first time as a defence witness in the Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II trial, told the High Court here that he was “very shocked” when Saiful revealed that he was sodomised by a VIP.

“At first he told me that he had pain in the anus when passing motion for one week. I examined him and I didn’t see any injury or anything… that was when he told me about the sodomy,” said Osman.

During examination-in-chief by Anwar’s lead counsel Karpal Singh, Osman said Saiful informed him during the examination on July 28, 2008, that he had been assaulted by having a piece of plastic inserted into his anus.

Osman added that he then noted this down on his medical report.

Previously, Saiful had accused Osman of lying about the plastic, testifying that he never mentioned this to the doctor.

During cross-examination by lead prosecutor Solicitor-General II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, Osman denied that Saiful did not tell him about the “plastic instrument” assault.

He admitted that Saiful did not know that he had noted down what he (Saiful) said (about the assault) as he (Osman) did not tell him.

He also admitted that he initially did not ask Saiful what caused the pain in the anus as he thought it was probably constipation or piles.

Yusof ticked off Osman after the latter admitted he had prepared a report at the request of a doctor who was not his superior and whose position he was unclear of; and he had also signed a statutory declaration at the advice of a lawyer whose exact name and position he was also unsure of.

“You’re a very gullible man, you believe everything people say, and you’d do anything for anybody, without asking?” asked Yusof, to which Osman said “no”.

Yesterday, Anwar denied the charge of sodomy against him, saying that he never had any sexual relations with Saiful. Giving evidence from the dock, Anwar called Saiful’s allegation a “blatant and vicious lie” and a “vile and despicable attempt at character assassination”.

On May 16, Zabidin ordered Anwar to enter his defence after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the latter.

He ruled that Saiful was a “credible” and “truthful” witness whose testimony was corroborated by the evidence of expert witnesses, including doctors and chemists.

In 2008, Anwar was charged with having sodomised Saiful, his former aide, then 22, the same year. The incident allegedly occurred at a Desa Damansara condominium unit in Bukit Damansara between 3.10pm and 4.30pm on June 26.

If convicted under section 377B of the Penal Code, Anwar could face up to a maximum of 20 years in prison and whipping.

This is the second time the PKR de facto leader has been charged with sodomy, the first being in 1998 alongside charges of corruption. The Permatang Pauh MP has consistently denied the charges, saying they were a political conspiracy hatched to destroy his politcal career.

Taken from Free Malaysia Today

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Where has Malay Nationalism gone to?

It is moving away from immovable UMNO.

The doleful and almost pleading wish of UMNO people generally is for all the nightmares affecting their political future will go away. As a self-reassuring measure, they tell themselves, things will be all right. The people will come back to UMNO because UMNO fights for Malays. So, UMNO leaders everywhere say, things will be ok. Zahid Hamidi says, UMNO will win back the Malay ground and it will do so overwhelmingly.

Where is UMNO’s main appeal? It appeals to the Malay ground that adopts the cruder form of Malay nationalism, the sledgehammer variety so enthusiastically expounded by organizations like Perkasa. But that variety of base and crude nationalism is dying. The new generation of Malay voters adopt different values and have different expectations.

You can see what form of nationalism they subscribed to- making out the case that Bersih march for example was masterminded by Malaysian Indians out to topple the Malay government. They thought that would turn the Malay ground xenophobic until they discovered the majority of the marchers were Malays.  You get disappointed that you can no longer reduce the issue to a simple Malay- non Malay clash.

What’s the other important thing to the Malays? Their religion- comes the answer. So UMNO leaders came out accusing homely Ambiga as a threat to Islam. Still no go as that would assume the Malay faith in their religion is so fragile that even the appearance of Ambiga who is probably remotely interested in another person’s religious denomination, is sufficient to shake the religious fiber of the Malay ground. Still no one buys that argument as it died out as quickly as it was raised.  

Hmm, let’s try communism, that godless creed. The Malay’s hatred for communism seemed to be a possible source to limit empathy from the Malay ground. So pictures of Shamsiah Fakeh a member of the Malay communist regiment of the 1940s were resurrected and given prominence. The idea was to say that Bersih marchers were communism inspired.

The feeble attempt was non impactful because the attempted association with communism goes against mainstream logic; no one country in the world is sticking around communism. Even China has gone free market. Why would a band of marchers, marched in the cause of communism?

Face it. UMNO can’t appeal any longer to the cruder form of xenophobic nationalism or group pride.

Let’s ask calmly, where has Malay nationalism migrated to? The answer to me is it hasn’t migrated anywhere. But Malay nationalism has mutated into the finer form of nationalism which finds expression in variegated forms of universal causes. Example. The abhorrence for corruption is one reconstituted form of the previously crude form of nationalism. Revulsion towards other races has tuned to a more universal revulsion for corruption for example. Because corruption cuts across and affects the interest no longer of distinct groups, but the whole country. It undermines the moral fiber of the whole nation.

Wasn’t the principal idea of the original nationalism was to inculcate one’s love for the country and one’s love for the country finds expression in a more universal desire to protect the country’s interest as a whole? The crude form of nationalism which is essentially irrational chauvinism exist as an insignificant subset to the wider and more universal nationalism. It exists among the inhabitants of the lunatic underworld.

Revulsion towards economic thievery and corporate pillaging is another example. The Malays despise their own kind for doing a sting on the country with equal vehemence as if economic con jobs are inflicted on them. I have in mind of course the lightning fast deal between MAS and Air Asia. I am left with the bitter after thought that all these so called Malay corporate chieftains should be sent to reeducation schools to be taught the meaning of nationalism. Where is that sense of overriding concern to put things right as a matter of probity and correctness without doing corporate shenanigans to profit from the man-made miseries of MAS?

MAS belongs to the nation as a whole, the pride of Malaysians. Appreciation of that alone is sufficient to preclude it being treated as a pawn in an elaborate corporate board game. More disturbing and unsettling, is the more malignant inference that the government is playing along with the game the business elite plays.

Therefore if UMNO continues to peddle the cruder form of nationalism, while the Malay ground has shifted forward, how will UMNO justify its relevance? UMNO will go the Goklkar and LDP way not because some prominent bloggers will be masterminding cyber-attacks on its leaders. UMNO will be rendered irrelevant because it refuses to change its ideological format. You need to reformat or even reboot your,  raison d'être

Taken from Sakmongkol 47

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