Malaysian top news headlines

Selangor Pakatan Rakyat component parties have finalised the negotiations over seat allocations for the upcoming general election, with all three parties agreeing to maintain the status quo in terms of state assembly constituencies.

People comments:
Ferdtan Boo Cheng Hau and Chua Ji Meng, see how matured the Selangor Pakatan members? They can settled the seat allocation for GE 13 without any open conflicts. The task should be more difficult in Pakatan-led Selangor – as most of the seats are winnable: thus the expected scramble for more seats.It cannot be said for Johore. It is far from certain that even if the seats were allocated to you – can you win? If both of these two state chiefs of DAP and PKR cannot come to a compromise, either remove both of them from the negotiation team, or let the head office to decide on the disputed seats.

Umno leaders labelled her father Anwar Ibrahim a traitor to the Malay race, and now the same title has been bestowed on Nurul Izzah.

Adding a royal touch to their rebuke, the Malay right-wing critics labelled her as the “princess of Malay traitors” and filed a police report over a recent article she wrote.

The bone of contention was her interpretation of Article 153 in the Federal Constitution which touches on Malay rights.

According to the Lembah Pantai MP, the Article only referred to the “special position” of the Malays as opposed to “special rights”.

However, Nurul lambasted her critics, especially Perkasa, and stopped short of calling them ignorant for not being able to broach the subject in a rational manner.

Speaking to reporters after filing the report with the Dang Wangi district police headquarters this afternoon, Federation of Malay Students’ Union secretary-general Zambry Mohd Isa had warned the MP not to question the Article.

Also taking a swipe at her was Perkasa leader Armand Azhar Abu Hanifah, who said: “It (Article 153) is not supposed to be discussed outside of Parliament.”

He warned that questioning the Article could spark off tension in the country.

Calling Nurul a fledgling MP, Armand advised her to consult her senior colleagues on what issues should be discussed “before opening her mouth”.

“This is her first term. Perhaps she is not well-versed or is politically immature regarding Article 153,” he said.

Perkasa Wirawati chief Zaira Jaafar, who was also present, cautioned Nurul against “stirring a hornet’s nest”.

“As an MP, she should not say such things,” she said, adding that Nurul was not acting like a Malay.

Nurul: Shameful and pathetic

In an immediate reaction, Nurul had described the police report against her as a “shameful and pathetic” action which justified the prejudice towards groups such as Perkasa.

“There was a reason why I wrote the article in two languages. So that it would not get lost in translation. But obviously these groups did not take the time to read it thoroughly. Their reaction is a testament to their failure in arguing in a rational manner on the issues raised.

“It also shows that our prejudice towards these Malay right-wing groups are justified. I invite you for a debate and this is the way you respond? It is shameful!” she told FMT.

Refusing to be rattled, Nurul vowed to continue her efforts to ensure that ordinary Malays were given access to the truth.

Launching a scathing attack on Perkasa, she said the movement led by Ibrahim Ali did not represent the masses and was drowning the voices of many Malay nationalists with intellectual depth who could argue rationally.

“I don’t think Perkasa even understands what it is fighting for. I don’t think Perkasa understands the plight of the ordinary Malays trapped in poverty.

“I do because I deal with them everyday in Lembah Pantai. It makes me so angry that these hypocrites are politicising the issue to dominate the political landscape and benefit economically,” she said.

“I want my race to progress. I consider myself a progressive Malay. But when I raise important issues essential to progression I am labelled a traitor. This is exactly what happened to my father as well.

“This is a scare tactic on Perkasa’s end. Many Malays share my views but are being forced into silence because Perkasa is perpetuating a culture of fear,” she added.

courtesy of FMT

“The party must honour the peace plan, which includes provisions of not going on a witchhunt against any leaders who supported me in the state leadership tussle last year,” he told FMT today just before attending the PKR supreme council meeting this afternoon.

“There must be honour among men. There was a reason for the peace plan and let’s stick to it. We must show that we are leaders with principles and honour,” he said.

He also clarified that his statement yesterday that he understood the party had a procedure to follow did not mean he would accept any punishment meted out on his boys.

“While there are party procedures to follow, we must also ensure that details of the peace-plan are not forgotten,” he said.

The supreme council, to be chaired by Anwar, will decide on the next course of action to be taken against the Sabah 12 – labelled Jeffery’s dirty dozen – following a recommendation by the party’s disciplinary committee to suspend them for 12 months.

The 12 leaders have been subjected to disciplinary proceedings due to their role in setting up Parti Cinta Sabah last year.

The idea of the new party was mooted by some Sabah PKR leaders following a massive fallout between Jeffrey and fellow vice-president Azmin, which resulted in Jeffrey being replaced as the state chief.

However, under a peace plan inked on Dec 13 here, Jeffrey was made responsible for both Sabah and Sarawak and another person was put in charge of the state. Azmin was totally removed from the state lineup.

The peace deal also ensured that there will be no witchhunt against those who had allegedly plotted against the party at that time by aligning themselves with Jeffrey.

The suspension of the 12 would result in them playing no part in the coming party polls. Their backers have seen this development as an elaborate plan hatched by Azmin and his Sabah loyalists to cut off rivals from the party.

Jeffery: No compromise

Yesterday Anwar, during a visit to Sabah, said that disciplinary process must take place against the 12 as the party had little choice but to follow procedure and take action.

“Usually the party leadership will just endorse the recommendation … I hope the 12 will accept with open heart. This is a normal process. I request my colleagues not to complicate this matter,” Anwar said late yesterday.

“Let us give the 12 a chance. They can still appeal. I personally know some of them and I know their commitment is very strong. But we have to go through this process,” he added.

Jeffery today urged Anwar to make a decision that will not put the party under further turmoil, especially with party polls forthcoming.

“I am not compromising on this matter. We had a peace deal and we must make sure it is kept. The party cannot now decide to take action against the 12 by going against the peace deal,” he said.

Supporters of the 12 have also expressed disappointment with Anwar for claiming that the party took action against the 12 following the discovery of new evidence on the formation of Parti Cinta Sabah.

“This is a lie. Anwar knew about the application for the new party last December. He was aware of that when he agreed for the peace deal.

“We can only surmise that the action against the 12 is being taken to curtail the influence of Jeffrey and his supporters in Sabah so that their rivals can will party polls,” they said.

Popular blogger: What due process?

Meanwhile, in another development, popular blogger Haris Ibrahim said Anwar seemed to have decided on the guilt of the 12 by talking about them utilising the appeal process even before affirming the recommendation made by the disciplinary committee

“Party leadership meets today to decide whether to endorse the recommendation to suspend.

“However, given that Anwar’s already urging the 12 to utilise the process of appeal allowed for in the party constitution, does this suggest that the fate of the 12 has already been decided even before the party leadership meets today?” asked Haris in his latest blog posting.

He went on to question if this was the due process in PKR.

“If so, Anwar has no moral basis to complain about the treatment that is being meted out to him in our courts,” he added.

Haris also questioned Anwar’s remarks yesterday that “usually the party leadership will just endorse the recommendation (of the disciplinary committee)”.

The lawyer-cum-blogger asked why wasn’t this followed in the case of Zulkifli Noordin over his actions in disrupting the Bar Council forum in August 2008, and statements he made thereafter.

“The PKR disciplinary committee, headed by Deputy President Syed Husin Ali, it seems, had recommended that Zul be suspended from the party.

“Anwar, my source tells me, had decided not to give effect to that recommendation but to ‘deal with Zul,” he added.