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Joceline Tan: A year of dramatic politics

2009-03-08T14:45:00.001+08:00

Insight
by Joceline Tan

The country has been in a state of constant politics since the March 8 tsunami and the contest over its political future is still taking place.

A YEAR has gone by since the March 8, 2008 general election but for many politicians, it was as though the campaign never quite ended.

It has been politics and more politics; or as one editor put it, “we are overcooked by politics”.

Some have likened the on-going politicking to a soap opera, sometimes heartening, at times tragic; occasionally entertaining, mostly tiresome. And it also seems to go on in unending episodes.

But the problem is that all of this is not fictional but real-life drama that affects people’s lives and future.

One keeps hearing that Malaysians are growing weary of it, and it is very true. At the same time, some Malaysians have actually become quite addicted to politics. People who had rarely bothered about politics before have become avid followers of politics.

Malaysians have become highly politicised.

It has been an unprecedented year.

Three by-elections

Never in history has there been an occasion of three by-elections at one go.

On April 7, by-elections will take place in Kedah, Perak and Sarawak. These will likely be followed by another in Selangor because Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong is expected to vacate her seat.

And before that, there were fierce contests in Permatang Pauh and then Kuala Terengganu.

But the year since the general election has been marked by several pivotal issues and events that will have bearing on the shape of the country’s political future.

The first revolved around the figure of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – another sodomy accusation, his claim to have the numbers and his failure to deliver them by Sept 16.

The second was the speeded-up political transition in Umno and the politicking in the run-up to the Umno election.

The third is the political crisis in Perak.

Anwar set the political tone not long after March when he claimed to have the numbers to take over the Federal government. It was such a successful psy-war that it was all that everyone could talk about and sent jitters through the ruling coalition.

In the midst of all this, there was the high drama over the sensational second sodomy charge that set off a chain of events of its own, including renewed accusations over the Altantuya murder case and Anwar’s decision to contest the Permatang Pauh seat.

Anwar and his Pakatan group were on a crest but his inability to deliver on Sept 16 set them back, and brought back some measure of confidence to the Barisan.

With Sept 16 come and gone, the focus shifted back to Umno’s own internal crisis. The losses in March had thrown the party into its biggest political dilemma since the Anwar sacking in 1998.

Very few in Umno were in agreement with the original leadership handover date of June 2009. But they could not do anything because Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was adamant not to challenge Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The outcome of the Permatang Pauh by-election in August changed everything. It set into motion the wheels for Umno to bring forward its leadership transition to March this year.

The new date injected a more confident and settled mood in Umno. Party members had no intention of pushing Abdullah out. What they wanted was a dignified exit for him because they had lost confidence in his leadership after the worst electoral losses in history.

And there was no question about who they wanted to take over as demonstrated by Najib’s near-perfect sweep of endorsement for the party’s No. 1 post.

The politicking in Umno has since shifted to the party elections and it is about to reach its crescendo.

The campaign for party posts has also been blamed for the heightened tone of politics on a variety of issues, with those aspiring for party posts seen as playing to the gallery.

But the dramatic assembly-under-the-tree in Perak on Tuesday perhaps best epitomised the degree to which the political buttons are being pushed in the country.

It exemplified just how determined the parties engaged in this contest for power are in establishing their point of view and standing their ground.

Change of government

The controversial change of government in Perak and the subsequent developments have captured the imagination of not only Perakians but people all over the country.

Regardless of whether they approve or disapprove of what is happening in Perak, people have an opinion on it.

The situation in Perak has become so contentious, the claims and counter-claims so numerous and ultra, that it is increasingly difficult to tell who is right or wrong. Everything has become purely political and the result is a confusing mess.

Politicians in Perak used to jokingly refer to their state as “negeri mati” because nothing ever happened there. Well, it is now the most happening state in the country, but for the wrong reasons.

Every day comes with more bad news on the global economy yet politicians are so wrapped up in their politicking they seem unable to focus on the economy.

In this respect, all the political parties are equally guilty in contributing to the resultant political instability. This should be of great concern because political stability is a top factor for investment and economic growth.

The Barisan supporters say this is what happens when the Opposition becomes too strong. The Pakatan supporters counter that this happened because the Barisan cannot accept the idea of being relegated to an opposition role.

The negative side to this is that the politicking has gone over the top. There is too much gamesmanship going on and too little effort spent on running the Government and serving the people.

Even the media, for whom bad news is good news, are feeling a little worn out by the endless politicking.

On the other hand, the optimists are saying this is part of the growing pains of democracy, and that is a necessary process towards a two-party system. People have to learn to engage in politics, have political opinions and take stands on issues that affect their interests, well-being and future.

For instance, the change of government in several states has revealed some shocking accounts of mismanagement in the previous Barisan administrations.

It has underscored the need for every administration to be accountable and do a good job or they can be changed and their misdeeds exposed.

Not up to mark

And in states which had voted in new governments, there is the realisation that it is easy to criticise but not so easy to do the actual job.

Penang exco member Danny Law’s inability to present his ideas during a recent tourism meeting in Melbourne put him and the state in a bad light. Deputy Chief Minister I Fairus Khairuddin has also come under heavy criticism over his performance, or rather lack of it.

In Perak, the two former PKR assemblymen, who crossed to the Barisan, had landed in the arms of anti-corruption officers just months into their job.

Politics has taken centrestage in the year since the political tsunami.

But over and above all this politicking, there has emerged a much more demanding and politicised public. And they will have to be taken seriously by those who want to hold on to power as well as those aspiring to power.

A year of dramatic politics The Star

PPSMI: Orang Melayu dan perjuangan keliru.

2009-03-07T22:10:00.002+08:00

Orang Melayu.
Ada masa perjuangan jadi keliru.
Dalam ramai-ramai ada Mat Sabu.
Stail perarakan macam aku tahu.
Tidak ramai yang licik selain dia tu.

Sudahnya apa yang kita mahu?

[gambar-gambar diambil dari Galeri star online]
sebagai rakaman protes PPSMI - 7 mac 2009

7 Mac 2009

Newsprint:

1. Riot police fired tear gas into a huge crowd of people marching to Istana Negara to protest the use of English in the teaching of Mathematics and Science at 2.40pm Saturday. But by 3.20pm, the police and Federal Reserve Unit were successful in dispersing the crowd. Police detained 124 people for questioning.Crowd disperses; 124 arrested, police on standby .

2. Riot police fired tear gas to disperse more than 2,000 Malaysians who tried to march to the national palace Saturday to protest the use of English to teach math and science. The demonstrators sought to submit a petition to the country's king to demand that the national Malay language be reinstated in schools for the two subjects — a sensitive issue for the ethnic Malay majority. Malaysia police fire tear gas at language protest

3. More than 5,000 protesters dressed in white marched towards the king's palace in Kuala Lumpur in the protest organised by a coalition of groups, including the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), one of three partners in Anwar Ibrahim's opposition alliance. Malaysians in language protest

4. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants an immediate decision to be made on the use of English in the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science to prevent a bigger issue from cropping up. PM: Fast decision on Maths, Science issue imperative

5. According to sources, cabinet will make a decision on the policy of teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) in March. Education Ministry has conducted four round table meetings on PPSMI in last year, in order to gather different opinions from various parties. Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the outcome would be brought to cabinet in recent weeks. Cabinet To Decide On PPSMI After Umno Polls

6. IT IS unfortunate that the debate on the PPSMI, the Malay abbreviation for the teaching of science and mathematics in English, is hotting up again just three weeks before the Umno general assembly and the party elections. More of the Umno election candidates are saying just about anything in order to appeal to the delegates to vote for them. It appears that they think that to be elected they must appear to be more Malay than the rest. Thus to many of them, to call for the end to the PPSMI is a way of demonstrating their steadfastness and commitment to the cause of the Malay race and the purity of the Malay language, the mother tongue. Decide wisely on science, maths

Court is puppet?

2009-03-07T21:45:00.000+08:00

That hurts. Either way, it is not going to be good. Bernama had it full....

Court is western puppet to destabilise Sudan
March 07, 2009

The International Criminal Court (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant on the Sudanese president for war crimes and crimes against humanity is a Western conspiracy to foil peace efforts in Darfur.

Sudan's Ambassador to Malaysia Nadir Yousif Eltayeb also described the ICC's move as selective justice and politically motivated to destablise the African nation of 38 million people.

He said it was also an attempt to pillage the country's rich resources. [full: Court Is Western Puppet To Destabilise Sudan Bernama ]

5 'foreign' robbers shot dead

2009-03-07T19:32:00.003+08:00

Maximum sympathy should be given to the police in keeping our place safe and secure. What else would the policemen do, when someone refused to stop for police search. To make the matter worse, they sped off and shot first. Thats what a typical politician fails to understand. Politicians can get off with irrational verbal spree but police do have pistols by their hips.

Now that police reports are pouring in madness, as politicians are playing partisian ploys, police hands are full and tight. So they do need some sympathy from us.

Foreign robbers shot dead
KUALA LUMPUR
March 7, 2009

FIVE men believed to be Vietnamese were killed in a shoot-out on Saturday in the northern Philippines after they staged an armed robbery, police said.
Wira Ayub Yaakob, Penang state police chief said the shooting happened when the five, along with three other suspects, were making their escape in two cars after robbing 11 Vietnamese factory workers.
The suspected robbers opened fire after police stopped their getaway car, Mr Wira Ayub said, hitting the rear windscreen of the police patrol car.
'The policemen, in defence, fired several shots at the car and killed the five men in it,' he was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.
'A pistol, a live bullet, two ski masks, 11 machetes, a metal cutter and a crow bar were found in the car,' he added.
The police chief said officers had in recent weeks launched a crackdown in the area on foreign criminals, especially Vietnamese, who might have lost their jobs due to the global economic downturn. Mr Wira Ayub said police have launched a manhunt for the remaining robbers. -- AFP
[5 'foreign' robbers shot dead Straits Times]

MACC quizzes minister's senior aide

2009-03-07T15:33:00.002+08:00

Ohoo, someone's dream is going to shatter. Words spread around pointing at a lady minister. What the heck, when he/she has so much money, be generous la....... aha.

MACC quizzes
minister's
senior aide

Lourdes Charles
KUALA LUMPUR
A senior aide to an Umno minister was quizzed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged graft involving more than RM70,000.

The man, who was once a senior politician, was quizzed midnight on Wednesday and released several hours later after MACC officers here had recorded his statement.

The man is alleged to have received the money from someone but it is not immediately known what the money was for, or whom it was for.

MACC officers declined to comment on the matter. [click here: MACC quizzes minister’s senior aide]

Hindraf leader being treated in Malaysian hospital

2009-03-07T14:22:00.000+08:00

Everybody seems to get their share. Hindraf get their fair share in media coverage since day one. Anwar, a Cherok Tok Kun guy catapulted his stature as leader of all races even higher. MIC somehow being marginalised through this wicked political coup. It was a sad phenomena.

Like or not, issues on Indians are best handled through MIC. Hindraf yelled, Anwar shouted and everybody paraded, still it is going to be MIC to do the donkey job. MIC will scrutinise and list the issue and work it out through the government arm, I think.

I dont know if Uttayakumar is made in the mould of Irish Bobby Sands, born in Rathcoole North Belfast in 1954. Has he got the stamina to go the distance to the graveyard.?

Hindraf leader being treated in Malaysian hospital

Press Trust of India

Monday, March 02, 2009,
(Kuala Lumpur)

Prominent ethnic Indian leader P Uttayakumar, currently detained under Malaysia's tough security law, is being treated for his illness at a government hospital, a top minister has said.

Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said he had been informed by the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar that Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) leader Uttayakumar, a diabetic, had been receiving treatment at the Teluk Intan government Hospital.

Subramaniam said he hoped that the government would make arrangements if Uthayakumar need specialist treatment for his diabetes-afflicted foot.

His remarks came after Uthayakumar's supporters alleged that their leader is being treated improperly and they filed police complaint in this regard.

Police used water cannon to disperse about 200 of them near the Brickfields police station here last Saturday. Uttayakumar and four of his Hindraf colleagues have been detained under Internal Security Act since December 2007 for organising an illegal rally of ethnic Indians on November 25, 2007, which was attended by more than 20,000 members of the minority community to protest against alleged marginalisation of ethnic Indians in jobs and opportunities.

The government of Malaysia has denied the allegations.
Hindraf leader being treated in Malaysia

Sultan of Selangor slams rude Malays

2009-03-07T11:33:00.001+08:00

I saw it on TV. Sultan Selangor was given quite a coverage when a big chunk of the speech can be heard on mainstream media. For a minute, I thought Khalid was restless, it showed well even to a nonchalant viewer. The Sultan was not happy with some greedy Malays.

The star
By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN

Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah slams rude segments of Malays who are willing to fight and destroy their own unity and the state to gain power.
He also criticised parties who questioned the position of the Malays and Malay Rulers.

He said this when opening the Sultan Abdul Aziz mosque at Jalan Templer here today.
Sultan of Selangor slams rude Malays

Malaysia Star

Excavations revealed ancient people mastered iron

2009-03-07T07:33:00.000+08:00

I was thinking, how do we compare Bujang Valley with Gangga Negara of Perak. Another stop over within the same timeline? Putting sentiment and emotion aside, lets agree how a known civilisation appeared and vanished in a predictable manner. Remember too how the whole of Tzar family of Russia, shot dead under the pretext of an escape from the bigger and unstoppable revolutions.

Malaysian dig reveals ancient people mastered iron

The Associated Press

March 6, 2009

Excavations at a site in northern Malaysia have uncovered the remnants of an iron smelt dating back to the third or fourth century A.D., a find that shows the area's early people were more advanced than previously thought, an archaeologist said Friday.
Parts of a furnace used to heat iron and a structure believed to be a house or storage area were found in northern Kedah state, an area that was once home to the Bujang Valley people, said Mokhtar Saidin, the director of the Center for Archaeological Research Malaysia at the University of Science Malaysia. He is in charge of the excavation.

He said a lab in Florida carbon dated some of the material taken from the ancient site and found the sample was about 1,700 years old. He said the margin of error for the test was 40 years.

"This result ... really shows that the Bujang Valley people during that time were very high-tech," Mokhtar said.

Mokhtar said archeologists found iron rods, debris and a nozzle to pump air inside the furnace. They also discovered beads, copper bracelets and pottery at the site.

He said the findings were "totally different" from earlier discoveries of temples in the area, which did not reveal much about the daily life and commerce in the area.

Other than the Hindu and Buddhist temples that have been uncovered, little is known about the people of the Bujang Valley. There is even debate over whether they were an actual civilization.

Harry Truman Simanjuntak, a researcher at the National Research Center of Archaeology in Jakarta who was not involved in the dig, said the dating of the iron smelt to the third or fourth century appears reasonable.

But he cautioned that more evidence must be unearthed before concluding the Bunjang Valley people were an actual civilization, defined by complex hierarchical social and other structures.

"It's too early to say it is a civilization," he said.

Mokhtar argues the Bujang people are a civilization because temples imply a social structure.

Mokhtar said archeologists still had to excavate about 30 other mounds, which were mapped out in a 2007 survey of the area. He said he expected work on the two current sites to take three more months. After that another two mounds may be excavated this year.
Malaysian dig reveals ancient people mastered iron International Herald Tribune
Archaeologists find buildings from third century AD in Malaysia Malaysia News
Proof of ancient Malaysian civilization found CNN

POLICE summon Perak Speaker

2009-03-06T15:25:00.002+08:00

Throughout this twisting fate, or shrewd political punctuation or whatever you want to name it, please by all means adhere to the timelines of events. Never lose sight of sequence. It is like a lesson on history.

2. You get it all wrong if someone said to you that trees in Ipoh are for the birds or a little shade in a hot sunny day or an extra volume of O2 released to support the breathless Ipohgites. That tree is destined for a state assembly!

3. But Police are out looking for Sivakumar. For all intent and purpose, Mr Speaker is to serve the government of the day and of course he should be neutral! Police will keep probing into the suspension of Zambry and six exco members.

4. Everybody knows that PKR, PAS and DAP will prolong this momentum, that they were wickedly being victimised at least until the date of BUKIT by elections. They will find ways, be it stupid or childish. Is it true?

Police summon Speaker over suspension order.

Malaysia Star
By IVAN LOH
Speaker V. Sivakumar was again summoned by the police to give a statement at the state contingent over the deluge of reports lodged against him for suspending Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and six executive council members from the state assembly.
He however failed to show up Friday, instead sending his lawyers Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran and Anthony Augustin to explain his absence.

Kulasegaran said Sivakumar’s office was informed by the police at 3pm Thursday to come forward and record his statement at the Criminal Investigation Department Friday.

“He is unable to be present as he is now on holiday outside the state,” Kulasegaran said, adding that Sivakumar was expected to be available by Wednesday.

Selangor Water is about control and politics

2009-03-06T11:24:00.002+08:00

Backing for takeover of water services.
2009/03/06

THE Selangor state government has received the backing of trade unions and consumers in its plan to take over the water services industry in the state.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and the Coalition Against Water Privatisation presented a joint memorandum to Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to voice their dissatisfaction over the Federal Government's move to acquire water assets in the state yesterday.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said at parliament lobby yesterday he was heartened by the assurances given by the state government that water tariffs would remain at an affordable rate even after the restructuring of the water services.

Under the initial restructuring plan, the state government, via state-controlled Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB), would take over the water concessions and assets, to be handed over to Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd, a wholly-owned company under the Ministry of Finance.

The assets would then be leased back to KDEB as the sole licensed operator. This is because after the restructuring exercise, there would no longer be concessionaires.
Instead, licence will be issued to the operator which would be reviewed by the Federal Government every few years.

[Backing for takeover of water services

New Straits Times ]

Sivakumar, Perak Speaker must be neutral.

2009-03-06T10:00:00.000+08:00

Someone was saying "I must stress here that a Speaker must be neutral". That is not an easy thing to do since the speaker is an assemblyman. He belongs to a political party. Since the former state government was made defunct, therefore the speaker is at a loss. It is only natural for him to cling to his old peers.

By virtue of him still a public official, Perak Speaker can only be represented by state legal adviser. A friend was saying, Sivakumar is definitely counting his days as Mr Speaker, as Anwar is counting his the moment his sodomy case is in full gear.

'Perak Speaker Can Only Be Represented By State Legal Adviser'

The High Court has ruled that Perak State Legislative Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar can only be represented by the State Legal Adviser in the suits brought by 10 members of the assembly including Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.[ 'Perak Speaker Can Only Be Represented By State Legal Adviser' bernama]

Oh, Utusan too patriotic.

2009-03-06T08:00:00.002+08:00

What's left for a little bit of patriotism? People are screwing up law and order, and some are more than ready for a head-on with the royal courts, kids fight in schools hostel was shown as cardinal sin for school authority. Even Negaraku was once swiped with new lyrics...

It does bring new meaning to be Malaysian whenever something like this crop up. Utusan Malaysia place it rightly and I just say it as very sweet and patriotic. And of course condemning the poor guy later for losing will whitewash the earlier malaysiaboleh stance

Chong Wei mara ke suku akhir Seluruh England

Pemain nombor satu dunia Datuk Lee Chong Wei mara ke suku akhir kejohanan badminton Seluruh England selepas menewaskan pemain Jerman, Marc Zwiebler 21-18, 21-16.
Chong Wei akan menentang Ville Lang dari Finland yang mendapat kemenangan percuma selepas lawannya dari Indonesia, Sony Dwi Kuncoro menarik diri akibat kecederaan belakang .
Chong Wei mara ke suku akhir Seluruh England Utusan

Police, Crime, Society

2009-03-05T21:24:00.000+08:00

I dont know for real, but i suppose police force help in ensuring a safe environment for everyone to live. What I wrote has no technical standing, but thats what I have been assuming.

Then there is crime, and police will come in to investigate for some further action. Of police overdoing, we probably have to accept of its love and hate things. Go slow, you get nothing. Go hard you may get something. It is difficult to point that as brutality because it lies within their scope of duty i.e. to extract information during interogation. But to cause a death is a crime.

Kugan's case stands out because like it or not, for a brief moment, indians to a certain extent are destined to be untouchables. Some say, it was Anwar's doing. But for Lingam, yet another breach of privacy, people screw him to pieces. It suits political stance of some. Anwar smiles like terrapin, and Abdullah grins like tortoise. While Elizabeth Wong went off to some nice island to clear up cloud of intimacy screw-up. PKR accepts her on conditions. That hurts.

There are people now willing to shout louder for deaths at traffic lights and cul de sacs. Police always end their report as "the person was shot as he was shooting the police, and he was on wanted list for armed burglary", or something to that effect. It doesnt matter if the person shot is a malay, a chinese or an indian. Now some shrewd guys are championing the case of "criminals" shot by police.

As days go by, we may be torn apart between seeking justice, political pressure and seduction, keeping society safe, and a believe in law and order.

Kugan was a sad case. Perak is another sad case played up by school kids. I guess we had enough. Lets police come up and play their role and if anybody thinks they are better, by all means join police force .......

US Doa: Growing vegetables in the home garden

2009-03-05T07:30:00.001+08:00

United States Department of Agriculture Home and Garden Bulletin Number 202 Prepared by Agricultural Research Service and Extension Service
by Robert Wester and August Kehr, Retired ARS Staff Scientists

This publication is intended for country-wide distribution. Any gardener using it also needs local information, especially on the earliest and latest safe planting dates for vegetables and any special garden practices and varieties that are best for his location. Gardeners may get local information and advice from their State Extension Office and county Extension agent

SELECTING A SITE

A back yard or some other plot near your home in full sunlight is the most convenient spot for a home vegetable garden. However, poor drainage, shallow soil, and shade from buildings or trees may mean the garden must be located in an area farther from the house.

In planning your garden, consider what and how much you will plant. It is better to have a small garden well maintained than a large one neglected and full of weeds. Diagram the garden rows on paper and note the length you wish to assign to each vegetable. Use a scale of a selected number of feet to an inch. Then you can decide how much seed and how many plants to buy.

Consider also the possibility of working your vegetables in plots in front of your shrubbery. Many vegetables are ornamental in appearance. Some vegetables can be grown in your flower beds; others can be grown entirely in containers.

The amount of sunlight your garden gets must also be considered. Leafy vegetables, for example, can be grown in partial shade but vegetables producing fruit must be grown in direct sunlight

continue with the rest
Growing Vegetables In The Home Garden (Part One)
Growing Vegetables in the Home Garden (Part Two) - Specific Vegetables

SODOMY: Saiful takes aim at news site

2009-03-04T21:00:00.000+08:00

Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who is also Mr Anwar's former aide, said the news portal published six articles claiming that he was critically ill due to the disease.

THE man who accused PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him has lodged a police report against Pahang Daily Online for posting articles on the Internet alleging that he had contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who is also Mr Anwar's former aide, said the news portal published six articles claiming that he was critically ill due to the disease.

Mohd Saiful, 23, refuted claims made on the news portal after lodging a report at the Damansara police station here yesterday.

'As you can see for yourselves, I am perfectly fine and healthy. I was not bedridden or ill as claimed by the website. I want to stress that I do not have an STD or any other sickness.

'These are all lies created by irresponsible people. I want the police to investigate and take immediate action against those responsible,' said Mohd Saiful, adding that he would file a suit against the news portal and others who spread similar lies via blogs and websites.

'There are also claims via e-mail and certain blogs that I am struck by bad luck for swearing on the Quran about my sodomy allegation against Anwar,' Mohd Saiful said, referring to an interview last month by a website with former Federal Territory Mosque imam Ramlang Porigi, who witnessed his oath-taking on Aug 15 last year.

Mohd Saiful, who arrived at the police station at 11am, was accompanied by his father Azlan Mohd Lazim, 55, and lawyer Zamri Idrus.

On June 28 last year, the former Universiti Tenaga Nasional student leader lodged a police report alleging that he was sodomised by Anwar at the Desa Damansara Condominium in Bukit Damansara on June 26. The case is pending in court. -- THE STAR/ANN

Saiful takes aim at news site Straits Times -

SODOMY TRIAL revisited.

2009-03-04T19:19:00.000+08:00

Until March 5 whether
still Session Court
or High Court

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has to wait until Mar 5 to know if his sodomy trial will be retained in the Sessions Court or transferred to the High Court.

High Court judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah will decide then on the prosecution's application for a revision to quash the Sessions Court's decision to retain the trial in the Sessions Court.

Justice Mohamad Zabidin set the date after hearing submissions from deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohamed Yusof Zainal Abiden, who led the prosecution team, and Anwar's lead counsel, Sulaiman Abdullah.

The prosecution filed for a revision as well as an appeal on Nov 7 last year against the Sessions Court's dismissal of the prosecution's application to transfer the case to the High Court after ruling that the transfer certificate, signed by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, was invalid.

The defence had challenged the validity of the transfer certificate because Abdul Gani was still under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Agency following a police report lodged by Anwar on alleged falsification of evidence pertaining to the "black eye" incident.

The charge

Anwar, who was exempted from attending the hearing, is charged with sodomising his former aide, 23-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, at Unit 1151, Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26.

If convicted, Anwar, 62, faces imprisonment of up to 20 years under Section 377B of the Penal Code. He is now free on a personal bond of RM20,000.

The arguments

Earlier, Sulaiman submitted that Abdul Gani should be automatically disqualified from making any decision to transfer Anwar's case to the High Court because Abdul Gani was in a position of conflict of interest.

He said Abdul Gani before signing the transfer certificate must apply his mind to the facts before considering the reasons to transfer in view of the prime minister's assurance that he would not be involved in the case.

Sulaiman said this was supported by the fact that there was a personal dispute between Abdul Gani and Anwar, which had been made known to the government and public at large.

He cited a Singapore case where it was ruled that even where no bias or prejudice is being alleged against a judicial officer, a perception of conflict would be sufficient to disqualify the said officer.

"With that, there is extremely strong reason established for the AttorneyGeneral to disqualify himself from taking part in this case as well as in signing the transfer certificate," he said.

Therefore, the Sessions Court judge was correct in her finding that the transfer certificate was invalid, he said, adding that the judge was also competent to hear a public interest case.

While Mohamed Yusof replied that the prime minister's assurance that Abdul Gani would not be involved in the case meant in layman's terms that Abdul Gani would not be directly involved in the proceedings in court.

He also submitted that the Sessions Court judge had erred in law when she decided to entertain the defence's preliminary objection on the transfer certifate.

He said that under Section 418A of the Criminal Procedure Code, the subordinate courts had to transfer any case to the High Court upon the transfer certificate being tendered to the court.

Anwar to know Mar 5 where his sodomy trial will be Malaysia Star

A game to him, even if it is childish

2009-03-04T15:15:00.002+08:00

Anwar Defends Action To Hold Perak Assembly Meeting Under Tree

It might have looked amusing or odd to many people, but opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim defended the action of Perak Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar to hold an emergency assembly meeting under a tree in Ipoh Tuesday.

Anwar also regarded the meeting held under the tree near the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building, which houses the State Legislative Assembly hall, as valid because the members were prevented from entering the building.

"Knowing that the sitting should be held, they (the authorities) cordoned the entire area, forcing them (Pakatan Pembangkang assemblymen) to convene the meeting under a tree or it could have been at a car park.

"It does not matter, (for) what difference does it make? I remember that in my case, the judge once held the trial in the Sungai Buloh Prison. In this case, let the Speaker decide. They didn't have a choice," he said.

"My view is that the Speaker had been duly appointed. He has the authority to convene (the meeting)...As far as we see it, the meeting was legal as there was a legal notice, there was agenda...they barred him (Speaker) from entering the office," added Anwar, who questioned the authorities' action of not allowing the Speaker and the assemblymen to enter the building.

-- BERNAMA

COMPILING PERAK ISSUE:
1 POLITICS WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Fire and arson in Perak
2 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Planet of the Apes
3 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: A simple twist of fate
4 POLITICS WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Anwar in the mood to accuse
5 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Who the hell is V Sivakumar
6 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Flurry of reports in fury
7 POLITICS WITH MALAYSIAKINI: karpal gets two live bullets
8 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Nizar wasnt like this.
9 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: You mean Nizar really say this.
10 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Your turn, Mohamad Ariff
11 KEADILAN DI MALAYSIAKINI: antara Lingam, Khalid dan MACC
12 POLITICS: Mohsin Abdullah is right.
13 For the record, THE TREE.
14 PERAK; Silver lining
15 A game to him, even if it is childish
16 Sivakumar, Perak Speaker must be neutral.
17 POLICE summon Perak Speaker
18 ROYAL BANQUET WITH MALAYSIAKINI: no untoward incident
19 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Flurry of reports in fury
20 BARRICADE WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Nizar, Anwar and the late Dato Harun Idris
21 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Karpal will not represent Nizar
22 PERAK WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Stand off is a bluff
23 AYER TAWAR WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Where is Jalan Melayu.
24 CRISIS WITH MALAYSIAKINI: But, where is Anwar Ibrahim
25 KESALAHAN DENGAN MALAYSIAKINI: Anwar patut sedar
26
27
28
29

PERAK; Silver lining

2009-03-04T14:14:00.000+08:00

Still looking for the silver lining
By : Zainul Ariffin

THERE is a sense of disbelief of what is happening in Perak now. It would be funny if not for the fact that the situation should bring tears to our eyes.

An al fresco State Assembly? This is what our democracy has evolved or degenerated into.

Now all of us have opinions on who are responsible for the mess. Yet we are drawn so tight in our circle of political beliefs, that we are likely to aggregate ourselves within our own sets and denounce those across the aisle, as a matter of fact.

Where are the cooler heads? Consumed by partisanship, perhaps.

I would still like to be positive that despite all these, there must be something to be learned and gained from this experience, such as our improving political maturity and greater democratisation of our political environment.
But it is getting rather difficult by the day, my unbounded optimism notwithstanding, to be looking for the proverbial silver lining.

The language of our discourse has also degenerated and so have our actions. Nothing is sacred anymore, which is both liberating as well as worryingly confusing.

An example, of course, is the decision by DAP chairman Karpal Singh to file suit against the decision by the Sultan of Perak to decline a dissolution of the State Assembly and subsequently to swear in Datuk Dr Zambry Kadir.

When Karpal Singh started his tirade against the decision to appoint Zambry, he also unleashed a tirade against the Perak ruler, and the Malay sultanate in general, especially via the anonymity of the world wide web.

Some of them are rude, distasteful, seditious and even downright anarchist in nature. This sudden torrent of abuse heaped on the Malay rulers suggests there is a sense that there is little appreciation of how the Malays, whom I would hazard to theorise to have greater affinity to the royals than others, feel.

Most Malays understand better than the others that the Constitutional amendments of the 1980s and 1990s meant the curtailing of the powers of the rulers. They agonised over it when the amendments were mooted, but at the end supported them.

They are mainly divided between the need to curtail any royal excesses and abuses, and yet still have the rulers around. Many Malays, I must add, not all, believe that the rulers are rooted in the history of the Malays. Also, the Constitutional amendments notwithstanding, the rulers are to be arbiters of last resort when all else fails.

Perhaps Malays are feudalistic by nature, but many want the institution of Malay rulers to be around. I may be wrong too, but from what I gather some Malays are generally not comfortable with the way the rulers and the institution have been treated arising from the Perak crisis.

Notice the absence of prominent Opposition Malay politicians outwardly supportive of Karpal's move, even if they have reservations about the Perak palace's decision.

The concept of loyalty must surely be rooted in more than just being loyal, but also respect

The constant challenge to the role and decisions of the royal houses is obviously a sign of disrespect, regardless of what the law says.

DAP and many assemblymen from Pakatan Rakyat would have realised that they were voted in partly, or largely, by Malay voters. Some of them voted PR because they subscribed to its ideology, or sympathised with its politics, or in some cases, to punish the incumbent Barisan Nasional.

There is a possibility this constant haranguing of the royals may not endear them to the Malays later.

Regardless, at the rate we are going I do not believe that any decision, either by the court or the palace, will satisfy everyone.

But, I believe, we must decide at some point that enough is enough. Perak needs a Government, one way or the other, BN or PR. A line has to be drawn. At some point a decision must be accepted. The loser will have to leave and fight another day.

ZAINUL ARIFIN: Still looking for the silver lining New Straits Times

For the record, THE TREE.

2009-03-03T22:37:00.001+08:00

Emergency session: Members of an opposition coalition attend an emergency session of the state parliament under a tree in a parking lot in Ipoh, Perak state, Malaysia, Tuesday. Riot police and ruling party supporters blocked members of the opposition coalition from entering a northern state's parliament Tuesday in an increasingly tense tussle for its control.

Kudakepang at high noon

2009-03-03T20:32:00.003+08:00

I dont have the urge to write these few days, but when kudakepang touched on apartheid, yes he is riding hard at high noon. Make no mistake about the words " You malays are so kind hearted and the non malays are so very lucky"

refer full at: PEMIMPIN MALAYSIA MENENTANG APARTHEID SEJAK 1957. Kudakepang.

DIGITIZED GESTURE: hands up and out.

2009-02-28T19:44:00.002+08:00

Views of hands up and out. Just for leisure and nothing serious.

mahathir

abdullah badawi

Anwar Ibrahim

Nizar

Actor Madhur Mittal, center, along with the cast and crew celebrate after the film "Slumdog Millionaire" won best picture of the year during the 81st Academy Awards Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) - 23 February, 2009

Operations Commander C. Kesaven (right) lifting the girl to a stretcher with the assistance of other firemen after the failed suicide attempt in Taman Pelangi, Johor Baru. - 15 January, 2009

Sibu town hit by floods. - 1 February, 2009

DAP leaders and guests tossing Yee Sang for good luck at the Chinese New Year open house at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Jan 31. - 1 February, 2009

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Sasha, left, and Malia wave after Obama took the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) - 21 January, 2009

A man getting his hair shaved to fulfil his vow during Thaipusam at Batu Caves on Sunday. - 9 February, 2009

Josh Peltz, of Charlotte, N.C., left, and another unidentified survivor of the US Airways plane crash in the Hudson River, wait for a bus to take them from a First Aid center in Weehawken, N.J. back to La Guardia Airport, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson) - 16 January, 2009

Top marksmen: 10th Para Brigade personnel giving their shooting team a rousing reception after their victory in the Army Shooting Competition at Terendak Camp in Sungai Udang, Malacca, yesterday. - 15 January, 2009

karpal and kinabatangan MP

hadi awang

nik aziz

the rest of us

the kid in us all

mangrove little aerial roots "up"

and of course the tail up!!

POLITICS: Mohsin Abdullah is right.

2009-02-28T14:22:00.001+08:00

There is no harm in sharing views irrespective of how diverse and conflicting they are. I thought Mohsin Abdullah tried to do just that.

I likened politics as a pond or pool. Most just dip in and get out. Politicians will dive and swim across. If anybody is crying for help, about to drown, we could just cross our fingers if any politician will dash forward to help.

Politicians play politics, Footballers play football
by Mohsin Abdullah
Mysinchew

I can’t say for sure if it’s the feeling of the majority but we are seeing quite a number of comments from “ordinary” folks on the current state if political affairs in the country. Surf the internet or read the newspapers and we get folks expressing “anger” and “frustration’ that our “politicians are playing politics instead of finding ways to solve the economic crisis”. You can’t dispute that. After all we are facing an economic crisis. And the political play is enough to give us a constant headache. Just look at Perak. And the ‘fear’ is, if the Perak problem spread to other places.

Going back to the “people’s” comments, many preferred to ‘generalised” rather than naming the politicians or the party they represent. But just who’s to blame? Those from BN? Or Pakatan Rakyat? Talk to different people you get different answers naturally. To the pro Pakatan folks, the blame is on the BN, for “disturbing” the PR government and not letting it govern in “peace”. Perak, they say, is a “shining” example, pointing angrily at the “crossovers”.

"Politicians especially those who missed the boat will just have to wait for the next election to prove they are a better choice. Mean time work hard."

But the pro BN people are saying the Pakatan started the cross over thing first, referring to Anwar Ibrahim’s famous “we have the numbers” salvo. But the Pakatan supports “shoot” back by reminding us UMNO had “secret talks” with PAS on 9 March 2008, only hours after the results of 12th general election were announced. The aim of the talks they remind us was to invite PAS to join a coalition government thus foiling Pakatan from taking over Selangor.

Talk to the politicians and they will tell you they play politics to get the power needed to bring good the to the people and and country. Nothing wrong with that they say as long as there’s no abuse of power.

Fine. But the fact is the political temperature is still high nearly one year after the 8 March elections. In Perak, it’s clear there’s no end game insight. The political crisis is set to prolong. The BN and PR are both involved in “manoeuvres ” and “counter manoeuvres’. It has gone to the courts. The legal battle will take a very long time before the winners emerge.

Some folks are saying the situation we are now is the result of the “absence” of clear cut winners at the 8 March elections. They say it’s important for one party to get a big mandate to prevent it from being “disturbed” by the other party.

But others say a party with too big a mandate is open to “dictatorship”’, bull dozing their way without taking consideration of opposing views of the rakyat, what so ever. Hence the need for a check and balance situation. That’s the message the people sent via the ballot boxes on 8 March.They returned the BN to power but with a much stronger opposition in parliament. And at state level, they wanted a change in Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor while maintaining their faith with PAS in Kelantan.
Agree or disagree it was the choice of the people. The people’s verdict must be respected. Always. Politicians especially those who missed the boat will just have to wait for the next election to prove they are a better choice. Mean time work hard. Keep clean and be and honest. Speaking of which, are there clean and honest politicians? Some people say politics is dirty. But some argue saying humans are the ones dirty. So I ask again… are there clean, honest politicians? Yes there are. Many or not many? I don’t know. But in the words of an old friend of mine, of course politicians play politics. They are politicians. You don’t expect them to play football do you? [Politicians Play Politics, Footballers Play Football Sin Chew Jit Poh ]

KARPAL SINGH : dire need of a body guard.

2009-02-28T10:06:00.001+08:00

Lets talk about having body guard since Karpal said so. He said so due to the threats and scuffles at the Parliament on Thursday. I think it was a sensible approach from a reasonably sensible man of his stature.

But what is more sensible is having a body guard to keep his strong/stinging/bordering to racial/ outbursts at bay. I suppose those are the root cause. "King is Singh or Singh is King" may not be able to capture the fine element of root cause.

Even the bombardment of Iraq and Afghanistan cleverly hid away the actual motives. We are made to see something else. That has always been the way.

Karpal: I may need to get a body guard
The Star
by LOH FF
DAP chairman Karpal Singh said he now has to seriously consider getting a bodyguard following the threats and scuffle at the Parliament on Thursday. click Karpal: ‘I may need to get a bodyguard’

NATURE WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Magpie of happiness

2009-02-28T07:08:00.000+08:00

May the magpie of happiness return to roost in our trees

By Zhang Qian

Light-vented bulbul

Scaly thrush

common blackbird

ARMED with binoculars and a notebook, 32-year-old Gu Ren can spend quiet, almost motionless, hours at his leafy spot at the Botanical Garden in Xuhui District.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing.

Aha! He's spotted a pica pica, otherwise known as the magpie, the Chinese bird of happiness that once roosted in Shanghai. It disappeared for many years, but birdwatchers have spotted it again in parks.

It's a sign of Shanghai's greening and the successful creation of parks, botanical gardens and leafy oases that beckon our fine feathered friends back to a more environmentally friendly concrete jungle.

Once Shanghai was bird-friendly. But in the 1950s, magpies, sparrows and other birds were killed in the nationwide Four Pests Campaign (rats, mosquitoes, flies and sparrows). Urban expansion destroyed birds' habitat and they were further repelled air pollution and heavy use of pesticides to kill the insects they fed on.

A survey of birds in 1997-99 found only eight magpies ?? and they were on Chongming Island (County). By extrapolation, they figured there might only be around 200 magpies.

There hasn't been a recent survey, but birdwatchers like Gu and environmentalists say they are slowly returning, along with many other species.

Magpies again have been spotted in suburbs in Fengxian, Qingpu, Baoshan and Jiading districts, according to Professor Tang Sixian, an ornithologist in the biology department of East China Normal University. He reported last year that birds were returning in small numbers.

Today Shanghai is believed to have 137 bird species, mostly migratory birds stopping over, according to Yuan Xiao, a senior engineer at the Shanghai Wildlife Protection and Management Center. His findings are based on monthly bird surveys conducted in 18 parks since 2006.

A report published in 1993 identified 370 species sighted since the 19th century.

"Most people don't believe there are wild birds, except sparrows, in Shanghai," says birdwatcher Gu, an IT professional. "But wild birds do exist here, not far from us."

Occasionally people stop and star at birdwatcher Gu, they ask him what he's doing and he patiently explains and sometimes hands over his binoculars.

"They're thrilled when they see what I see," he says.

The mischievous magpie, a member of the crow family, is the bird of good luck and happiness in China. It is said to be good luck for a family if a magpie nests near a house, and good luck to see the house magpie fly from its nest.

The house magpie's chatter announces the coming of guests. And there's a famous love story in which celestial magpies form a bridge of their wings once a year to unite the lovers Niu Lang and Zhi Nu.

Magpies were common in Shanghai from the 1920s through the 1950s.

They flocked together in Xujiahui, Jing'an Park and along Yueyang Road where they sought out tall trees with many branches and space to fly.

So sightings of magpies and other birds are cause for celebration by the Landscaping Administration Bureau.

Last April, the Shanghai Wildlife Conservation Association launched a three-year Search for Magpies program at the 27th Bird-loving Week. It encourages residents to search for magpies, learn about them, provide nest-building materials and provide a happy home.

The program has generated a lot of interest, but birdwatcher Gu started his observation much earlier. He received binoculars as a gift in 2003, searched online for what to do with the magnifiers and came across birdwatching. At first he was too clumsy and not quick enough to catch the birds.

He was hooked when he spotted a Chinese light-vented bulbul (turdus merula) in his own community. He matched it with the bird online.

Now Gu spends most of his spare time watching birds in city parks or suburbs, poring over pictorial bird guides and talking shop with other bird lovers.

In 2004, Gu and friends founded the Shanghai Wild Bird Society.

May the magpie of happiness return to roost in our trees
Shanghai Daily, China

ELIZABETH WONG WITH MALAYSIAKINI: Sokongan PKR bersyarat.

2009-02-27T19:44:00.001+08:00

Bersyarat atau Conditional.

Nizar mungkin lebih biasa apa itu conditional offer waktu-waktu di UK dulu. Itulah antara jenis tawaran masuk universiti. Semuanya tertakluk kepada keputusan peperiksaan sebenar. Kalau dapat 2B contohnya baru boleh dikira jadi. Kalau kurang dari itu, nasih tidak menyebelahi kita.

Sekarang Syed Husin Ali menyatakan semuanya akan bergantung kepada gambar-gambar seterusnya. Oh, bukankah sama saja dengan masa masuk universiti dulu, kan Nizar?

Keratan Nutgraph disisip untuk rujukan selanjutnya dan
saya juga selit semua entry berkaitan Elizabeth Wong sebelum ini
[16] Sokongan PKR bersyarat
[15] Iskandar and Datuk Eddie Chen
[14] fears 30-minute video
[13] Oh, its you Hee and Hilmi
[12] Joceline: a thin line
[11] Mahathir: Its Gutter Politics
[10] What is national threat?
[9] Culprit known to Elizabeth Wong
[8] ascertaining the motive
[7] Rashitha wrote, not a trap
[6] A man detained
[5] Why Anwar accused BN?
[4] Personal, security and political
[3] MIANHAMNIDA eotteohke
[2] NUDITY: Anwar said no
[1] MAAF KIJEY GA Elizabeth

PKR support for Wong condtional
by Zedeck Siew
Nut Graph
24 Feb 2009

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s continued support for Selangor state assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong will depend on the content of any new photographs which may surface.
"It depends on what the pictures are," PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali told The Nut Graph last night, when asked whether the party would continue to back Wong if more private photos of the assemblyperson surfaced.

However, Syed Husin added, "I don't think there are any more."

Wong, a first time elected representative, has been the target of a smear campaign in which intimate photos of herself, purportedly taken by an ex-boyfriend, have been circulated on the internet and through MMS without her consent.

Rumours have been rife that more material, including an intimate video, would also be circulated.

"I have been told there will be a fresh assault, with more photographs and videos released and circulated in order to completely degrade and bury me," Wong said in a 19 Feb press statement.

Wong has tendered her resignation as both assemblyperson and state exco, but was asked by PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to go on leave instead.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has also openly supported Wong, saying that she was an exemplary exco and a victim of a smear campaign.

However, Khalid is scheduled to meet with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj tomorrow to brief the Selangor ruler and seek his advice over the matter.

There have been widespread calls for Wong, who is currently on leave overseas, to continue serving as an elected representative.

Police are also looking to record a statement from Wong's ex-boyfriend, Helmi Malik, to assist in investigations.

Helmi, who is believed to be out of the country, is a PKR member and the former aide of Member of Parliament (MP) Hee Loy Sian.

Members are vetted

When asked to comment on the fact that both Helmi and Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who accused Anwar of sodomy last year, were PKR members, Syed Husin said the party was "always in the process of vetting its members".

"But there are those who manage to slip through," he said.

PKR believed Saiful was a Barisan Nasional (BN) plant, citing a photo of the young aide with a staff member of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as proof of a political conspiracy to bring Anwar down.

Pakatan Rakyat has also accused the BN of the smear campaign against Wong even though there is no evidence to prove their allegations.

However, Syed Husin was careful not to paint Helmi in the same light as Saiful Bukhari.

"People always assume that he was the one who distributed the photos, but we don't know for sure," Syed Husin said, adding that investigations were still ongoing.

Language issue

Earlier, Syed Husin delivered a speech at a forum at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall to protest the teaching of science and maths in English (known by the Malay acronym, PPSMI).

He replaced Anwar as PKR representative on a panel that included, among others, PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP) chairperson Datuk Hassan Ahmad.

Syed Husin (left) with other members of the panel at the forum

Syed Husin said the idea of improving students' command of English by forcing them to learn technical subjects in the language was ridiculous.

"Our party strongly supports GMP," Syed Husin said, expressing hope that the movement's planned 7 March "mammoth gathering" in front of the Palace would be received well by citizens.

"I am a product of English education. I want to see children excel at English, but this cannot be done at the expense of other languages," Syed Husin said, adding that the support of the Chinese and Indian Malaysian communities would be vital in making the movement a success.
Another panellist, poet Che Shamsuddin Othman, said if the policy to teach Maths and Science in English continued, he feared that the Malays would lose their language and religion