Please refer to my previous postings dated 19 February 2012 and 28 February 2012 respectively. (Lily)
Malaysiakini(http://www.malaysiakini.com)
(1) No need for bai'ah, Mahathir tells PAS, 22 February 2012
by Bernama
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a Muslim should not pledge bai'ah (allegiance) to a leader because a leader is merely a mortal.
"Bai'ah means to pledging loyalty to a leader. As a mere mortal, a leader can do wrong... we found many PAS leaders did wrong in terms of religion," he said.
He said a Muslim must submit to God and acknowledge Prophet Muhammad as the messenger of Allah.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was reported as saying that the party's candidates for the next general election were required to take the bai'ah oath which he said was higher than loyalty pledge, and those who broke the oath would pay dearly in this world and the hereafter.
"There is no need for bai'ah... he (Hadi) is not even a prophet, so what is the bai'ah for?" Dr Mahathir told reporters after delivering a lecture entitled 'Mental transformation for young researchers' hosted by Universiti Teknologi Mara's Faculty of Applied Sciences Postgraduate Association in Shah Alam today.
Dr Mahathir said PAS was stifling the thinking of its members by practicing bai'ah.
On opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's move not to sue the Wall Street Journal pertaining to his statement proclaiming support for Israel's security, Dr Mahathir said it showed Anwar was supporting Israel.
"So Nik Aziz (Nik Mat, PAS spiritual leader) tried to defend him (Anwar) by questioning why the government allowed an Israeli ship to call at our port.
International practice
"It is an international practice. If we impose restrictions, we might violate international laws," said Dr Mahathir.
Malaysia should not support Israel at any cost as it was created by displacing the Palestinians from their homeland, he said, adding that the regime violated international laws by imposing a blockade on Gaza and inflicting atrocities on the Palestinians.
"Are these people whom we should safeguard their security?
"These people should be kept under surveillance from attacking other people, not providing security for them," he said.
On the launch of Jati, a non-governmental organisation, yesterday, he said its president Hasan Mohamed Ali should expound on its objectives such its struggle to uphold Islam.
"I do not like to see more parties being set up as it will further erode Malay unity.
"The Malays are already divided into three parties and they might be further split into four, five, six groups and eventually reduced to a minority," said Dr Mahathir.
On the Umno-PAS unity government, he said: "We had done it before by admitting PAS into the Barisan Nasional, but instead of fighting for the BN, ministers from PAS were more interested to expand the party's influence.
"There was no sincerity in wanting to cooperate, so we split. And now they do not like to work with Umno, they want to cooperate with the DAP to the extent of abandoning their struggle for an Islamic state," he said.
- Bernama
(2) PAS would ban Israeli trade if it comes to power, 24 February 2012
by Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Highlighting the ‘hypocrisy’ of the government in allowing Israeli trading ships to dock in Malaysian ports, Selangor PAS today declared that the Islamic party would ban all trade with Israel, including letting its ships enter Malaysian waters, should it take over the federal government.
"If we govern the nation, there will not be such double standards. PAS' stand is that Israeli ships cannot dock at our ports because our waters also belong to the people.
“I believe other component parties will accept our stand," Selangor PAS deputy commissioner Khalid Samad told a press conference today.
The press conference in Shah Alam was jointly called by four PAS MPs in Selangor, but only Khalid and Hulu Langat MP Che Rosli Che Mat were able to attend.
Khalid urged the BN government to stop its hypocrisy on the issue of Israel as the Malaysian government continues to turn a blind eye on local trade with Israeli, making Malaysia the 20th largest trading partner of Israel with palm oil being our major export to the country.
"The Felda settlers may feel betrayed by the BN government because their products have been sold to Israel without their knowledge.
"We think that this is not acceptable and we demand a serious explanation from the government," said the Shah Alam MP.
On the differing stands between PAS and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim - the former not recognising Israel while the latter supporting a two-state solution - Khalid described it as an "academic dispute".
"The two-state solution will only be viable if Israel recognises Palestine. At the moment it is an academic dispute.
“If Israel recognises Palestine, then only it will become a real dispute. Now it is just an intellectual dispute," he added.
(3) Umno Youth stages protest against 'Israeli agent' PKR, 24 February 2012
by Leven Woon
A group of Umno Youth members today held a noisy pro-Palestine rally outside the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya, condemning its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's support for Israel's security.
They chanted anti-PKR slogans and critcised Anwar’s recent statement in Wall Street Journal that supported a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine issue.
About 100 Umno Youth members converged at the PKR headquarters about 4pm, after a heavy downpour.
They held up flags of Umno, BN and Palestine and carried banners that read, among others, 'Anwar, you have Palestianian blood on your hands' and 'PKR + Anwar = keldai Israel'.
Accompanied by a delegation of four, Umno Youth secretary Megat Firdouz Megat Junid then tried to submit a memorandum to PKR.
However, the office was closed, for the PKR headquarters personnel had begun their journey to Kuantan for the party retreat that begins tomorrow.
• They then approached two PKR Subang Jaya municipal councillors, Michael Tamilarason and Keshvinder Singh, who were at the gate to the office, but the two refused to accept their memorandum.
Megat Firdouz finally placed the memorandum on the gate and left.
Umno Youth in the memorandum calls Anwar a “fork-tongued leader” for recognising the Israeli regime in an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), despite proclaiming himself to be a fighter for the Islamic struggle.
“We are upset by his statement that is equal to supporting the killing of Palestinians and the cruel regime of Zionists.
• Repent, Anwar told
“Now, the entire PKR has become an Israel agent,” Megat Firdouz said, urging Anwar to “repent in the soonest possible time”.
Anwar has come under fire from within and outside the Pakatan Rakyat coalition parties for telling WSJ that he supports “all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel”.
However, he claimed that the Umno-owned media slandered him by omitting a key part of the interview where he said, “it remains contingent on Israel to respect the aspirations of the Palestinians”.
Asked about this today, Megat Firdouz said Anwar only twisted his words after the issue was exposed.
“Now, he is playing with words. We only saw the words that ‘he supports Israel by all efforts’ in the report,” he said.
On the issue of Israeli ships being allowed to dock at Malaysian ports, Megat Firdouz said the Customs Act allowing this was relaxed by Anwar when he was deputy prime minister and finance minister.
“If they really want to cut off trade ties with Israel, they should ask the Penang government to shut down Intel and the Selangor government to shut down Motorola (both of which trade with Israelis)," he said.
The crowd dispersed peacefully after 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, PKR Youth information chief Rozan Azen Mat Rasip, who arrived at the scene later, said he was puzzled on the motive behind the Umno members’ protest.
“I don’t know why they chose today to come, for we have said that our office is closed today,” Rozan said.
He added that it was up to the PKR secretary-general to respond to the memorandum.
(4) Army vets 'humiliated' by alleged pro-Israel stand, 25 February 2012
by Leven Woon
Protests against Anwar Ibrahim continued today with about 50 retired army personnel holding a signature campaign at a shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur, claiming that they were “humiliated” by the opposition leader’s statement on Israel.
Clad in white shirts displaying the 1Malaysia logo, and in the company of pro-Umno NGO members, the group gathered in front of the Sogo shopping centre at 3pm.
They erected banners that read, among others, “Anwar betrays Palestinian struggle” and “Musuh dalam selimut” (Hidden enemies).
They also hung two gigantic banners on a tree urging the public to register their opposition to Anwar’s statement by inking their banners.
“As former army personnel, we are humiliated when Anwar said he supports Israel - a cruel regime that defies international laws,” said Malay Veteran Army Association chairperson Mohd Ali Baharom.
The former Royal Malay Regiment army who served from 1989 to 1998 said Anwar did not understand the blood and sweat the armies have invested in safeguarding the country.
"He was never a soldier, that's why he does not understand. I think he should ask his daughter Nurul Izzah to join Askar Wataniah (Territorial Army), or else he should retract his statements on Israel and apologise to all Malaysians," he said.
The group that comprises Umno Youths and Concerned Malay Organisations generated substantial public attention from the weekend shopping crowd by approaching them to sign their document while breaking into "1Malaysia" chants from time to time.
Despite Anwar's explanation that he had also told The Wall Street Journal that "it remained contingent on Israel to respect the aspirations of the Palestinians" in the same interview, Mohd Ali could not accept it.
"Anwar should not have politicised the issue in the first place as Israelis are definitely wrong to have persecuted the Palestinians. What is wrong is wrong," he said.
Can't comment on Apco
However, when questioned about the alleged trade ties between Israel and Malaysia, he said Malaysia as a free country is open to all where business is concerned.
Asked again whether he felt Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was equally bad to have allegedly engaged an Israeli-linked public relations firm Apco, his reply was:
"I'm not aware of this issue. So I can't comment."
Meanwhile, Umno Youth leader Arman Azhar stressed that Malaysia does not recognise Israel, a stand which is in vast contrast to Anwar's.
"If he does not retract his words, we can start taking the PKR headquarters in Damansara Utama as Israel's embassy," he said.
The group vowed to collect as many signatures as possible before submitting it to PAS headquarters next week.
• The group dispersed about an hour later with banners covered in signatures.
(5) Elderly man probed over Dr M's 'letter' to Israeli PM, 29 February 2012
by Lee Long Hui
An elderly man who allegedly spread seditious emails is being probed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), after chief secretary to the government Sidek Hassan forwarded the emails to the commission and urged it to investigate.
Liew Khooi Cheng, 73, a former chairperson of the Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) Residents' Association, was called by the MCMC to the TTDI police station today for his statement to be recorded.
Liew was alleged to have spread two emails to members of the public that contained seditious elements:
1. An email sent on Dec 3 last year called on the people to boycott Gardenia bread and to support Massimo bread.
2. An email sent on Feb 16 this year had as an attachment a letter dated Aug 16, 1999, which allegedly was sent by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the prime minister of Israel to solicit funds for Umno for its general election campaign.
Liew was accompanied by two lawyers, DAP Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Tan Hui Chuan.
Tan said MCMC assistant director of enforcement and investigation, Mohamad Syukri Jamaluddin, recorded Liew’s statement.
Speaking to the press later, Lim said the officer told Liew that the commission had received a public complaint against these emails, and had successfully traced Liew's email account as the source.
Lim claimed that the officer admitted that it was Sidek Hassan who forwarded the emails and urged the MCMC to investigate, but that Sidek was not the one who had lodged the complaint.
“I asked him (Syukri), who the complainant was, but he didn’t answer. Then I asked how many complainants there were and he said 'only one',” Lim added.
Liew said he had never seen the emails in question.
However, Liew said that he had previously see similar contents somewhere else, but stressed that “I have never seen these emails before”.
‘I have nothing to do with Sidek Hassan’
He also clarified that he did not know Sidek personally, and had never sent any emails to him.
“I have nothing to do with Sidek Hassan. I don’t know him, why must I send something to him?” he queried.
Liew said he had told Syukri that his email account has been hacked before.
He said he received many emails every day from friends on all kinds of subjects, from the environment, to health and politics.
He said that some of the contents of the emails were items copied from online news portals and blogs such as Malaysiakini, Malaysia Today and Malaysian Chronicle.
“I am not able to look through everything, there are so many emails. I would glance through them and pass them on,” Liew said.
Most of the time, he would delete such emails after reading and forwarding them to close friends.
Liew refused to comment on whether the investigation by the MCMC was uncalled-for, and said the commission should be allowed to carry out its investigation.
(6) Wisma Putra releases Dr M's letter to Ehud Barak、29 February 2012
by Bernama
The Foreign Ministry today released this letter it says was written by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Ehud Barak, the prime minister-elect of Israel, in 1999:
________________________________________
8 June 1999
His Excellency
Mr Ehud Barak
Prime Minister Elect of Israel
TEL AVIV
Your Excellency,
May I extend my congratulations on your victory in the recent elections. With this impressive mandate, I hope that you and your coalition partners will be able to guide the destiny of the people of Israel at the threshold of a new Century.
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that Malaysia has always sought peace and the settlement of problems between neighbours through negotiations. It is therefore our hope to see the mutual implementation of the agreements signed between the PLO and Israel. We also believe that if the peace process is to be salvaged, sincere and effective steps must be taken to honour commitments.
As an important partner in the peace process it is crucial for Israel to be more accommodating. The Palestinians have made major sacrifices. They no longer demand the elimination of Israel. They are even prepared to share Jerusalem with you. It is therefore timely that Israel respond positively so as to sustain the hopes of the people in both Palestine and Israel. Solemn commitments made by a previous Goverment must be honoured. The alternative I am afraid, would be a permanent state of conflict and regional instability extending into the next Century. This is certainly a prospect that must be avoided.
The crux of the problem is that no party should revert to the old ways of taking what belongs to others, on the one hand and instigating hatred and violence, on the other. Malaysia cannot countenance aggression by anyone, whether friend or foe. Any country that forcibly takes over land and properties of others, or demolishes dwellings belonging to others in order to set up its own settlements cannot be said to be sincere in wanting peace.
Malaysia is of the firm conviction that the security of all countries in West Asia can only be assured with the establishment of a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region. This must be based on the principle of "exchange of land for peace" and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The world looks forward to Israel under your leadership, to push foward the peace process with true determination. It is my sincere hope that the attainment of a comprehensive settlement in the region would allow Malaysia to realistically envisage a positive move towards the establishment of normal relations with Israel.
Yours sincerely,
DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
- Bernama
・NOTE: The ministry also released two other letters it said were written by Mahathir to the Israeli leaders, one dated Dec 21, 1993, written to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the other dated March 14, 1997, written to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
(7) Why US 'deep state' prefers Anwar over Najib, 1 March 2012
by Chandra Muzaffar
In his widely read blog (13 Feb 13, 2012), former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, criticises the politics of regime change pursued by the United States of America.
He is concerned that Malaysia may also be a target for regime change.
And the US candidate to head the new regime which will be in full, complete support of US policies, he says, is none other than the Leader of the Opposition, Anwar Ibrahim.
Why should the US government seek regime change in Malaysia when the present Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has sought to further strengthen ties with Washington?
He has even employed a Washington based public relations firm, Apco, to boost Malaysia's image in the US.
Najib's personal relations with US President, Barack Obama, are supposed to be "excellent."
And yet it is quite conceivable that the forces that shape Washington's attitude towards Malaysian politics and political leaders may prefer Anwar to Najib for a number of reasons.
One, while Najib may have some rapport with formal leaders and the formal state, it is Anwar who has intimate links with the "deep state" in the US system.
It is the deep state represented by powerful interests such as the Zionist lobbies, the Christian Right, the big wigs on Wall Street, the oil barons, the arms merchants and the media Moghuls which is in effective control.
How it all began
To appreciate the distinction between the two, one has to reflect on Obama's Cairo speech on June 4 , 2009 which stated explicitly that "The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements" but in reality the formal leader has had to yield to the Zionists and the Christian Right who are enthusiastic promoters of Zionist expansion at the expense of the Palestinians.
Anwar's entry into the deep state was through his close friendship with Paul Wolfowitz, the former US deputy secretary of defence and one of the staunchest champions of Zionist power.
It was mainly because of Wolfowitz that Anwar became the first chairman of the Foundation for the Future in 2005, an organisation established ostensibly to promote democracy in West Asia and North Africa (WANA) whose real purpose is to perpetuate US-Israeli hegemony over the region.
Even before this, in 1998, in the midst of the Asian financial crisis, Anwar was espousing an IMF type solution to the nation's economic woes thus revealing his political orientation.
This is why during his first two trials for abuse of power and sodomy between 1998 and 2004 and during his recent trial for sodomy, the mainstream Western media went out of its way to demand that the Malaysian authorities acquit Anwar.
Wolfowitz and former US vice-president, Al Gore, even penned a joint opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on Aug 4, 2010 urging the US government to persuade the Malaysian government to " act with wisdom" in Anwar's trial.
A day before he was acquitted, on Jan 8, 2012, The Washington Post in an editorial warned that " If the verdict fails that test (Malaysia's commitment to democracy and the rule of law) there should be consequences for Mr Najib's relations with Washington."
Spotlight on contradictory stand
This was an undisguised, unabashed attempt by one of the media pillars of the deep state to pressurise a sovereign nation to submit to its will.
Two, if Anwar is the darling of the deep state in the US, it is partly because of his stand on Israel. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Jan 26, 2012, he reiterated his support for "all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel."
It should be emphasised here that support for Israeli security - contrary to what he is saying now - was not contingent on "Israel respecting the aspirations of the Palestinians." In the interview Israel's security stands by itself.
It is diplomatic recognition of Israel that Anwar links to Palestinian aspirations.
Placing Israel's security on a pedestal is the sort of gesture that the deep state and Zionists the world over laud, especially if the advocate is a Muslim leader.
For Israel's security has become the justification for all its policies of occupation, annexation and aggression in the last 63 years.
Israel's security is the albatross around the neck of the dispossessed Palestinians and other Arabs who have lost their land and dignity to the occupying power.
It is obvious that by acknowledging the primacy of Israeli security, Anwar was sending a clear message to the deep state and to Tel Aviv and Washington - that he is someone that they could trust.
In contrast, the Najib government, in spite of its attempts to get closer to Washington, remains critical of Israeli aggression and intransigence.
Najib has described the Israeli government as a "serial killer" and a "gangster." This has incensed the deep state.
China ascendancy crucial card
Anwar, on the other hand, told Zionist friends in Washington two years ago that he regretted using terms such as "Zionist aggression" (Jackson Diehl "Flirting with zealotry in Malaysia" The Washington Post June 28, 2010).
Three, Anwar is the choice of the deep state for another reason which in its own reckoning is becoming almost as important as Israel.
This is the rise of China and what it means for US global hegemony. Elements within the deep state appear to have convinced Obama that China is a threat to its neighbours and to the US's dominant role in the Asia-Pacific.
Establishing a military base in Darwin, resurrecting the US's military alliance with the Philippines, coaxing Japan to play a more overt military role in the region, instigating Vietnam to confront China over the Spratly islands, and encouraging India to counterbalance Chinese power, are all part and parcel of the larger US agenda of encircling and containing China.
In pursuing this agenda the US wants reliable allies - not just In this regard, Malaysia is important because of its position as a littoral state with sovereign rights over the Straits of Malacca which is one of China's most critical supply routes that transports much of the oil and other materials vital for its economic development.
Will the containment of China lead to a situation where the hegemon determined to perpetuate its dominant power seeks to exercise control over the Straits in order to curb China's ascendancy?
Would a trusted ally in Kuala Lumpur facilitate the US agenda ? The current Malaysian leadership does not fit the bill.
It has sustained and deepened the bond of friendship between Malaysia and China through increased bilateral trade and investments.
China is Malaysia's biggest trading partner globally and Malaysia is China's biggest trading partner within Asean.
China is most appreciative of the fact that Malaysia under the late Abdul Razak was the first non-communist country in Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1974.
When his son Najib became prime minister in April 2009, China was the first country outside Asean that he visited.
In a number of regional and international forums, Malaysia has maintained that China is not a threat to its neighbours and does not seek global dominance.
These are views that do not accord with the deep state's bellicose stance towards China. It explains why the deep state may be inclined towards regime change in Kuala Lumpur.
・DR CHANDRA MUZAFFAR is president of the International Movement for a Just World (Just) and professor of Global Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
(8) PKR: Govt's Palestine policy biased towards US, Israel, 1 March 2012
The Malaysian government is not consistent with its policy on the Palestinian issue as it recognises Fatah but not Hamas, says PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Saifuddin said this shows that the Umno/BN government is subservient to pressures from the United States and Israel.
“The Malaysian government is one sided to the Palestinian issue as it recognises Fatah (once headed by Yasser Arafat) but not Hamas, which has been legally elected into power by the Palestinian people.
Commenting on the three letters written by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to former Israeli premiers, Saifuddin said the letters to Yitzhak Rabin, Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak confirm opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s claim that Mahathir is a hypocrite.
“Mahathir comes up with an image of taking a hardine anti-Jewish stand. He slandered Anwar as being pro-Jewish.
"However, Mahathir took a different approach as he quietly approached these Zionist leaders,” said the PKR secretary-general.
“The revelation only confirms PKR’s assertion that Mahathir and Najib to stop playing riddles as their hypocrisy stands out.
"For PKR, we will continue with the peace efforts in the Middle East in order to seek justice for the Palestinians,” he added.
Recently, Anwar came under attack by Umno and BN media following an interview with the Wall Street Journal where he was wrongly quoted and told to apologise.
However, Anwar said he was backing the two-state solution for Palestine and Israel.
(9) Nazri says Anwar is 'like Iblis', 1 March 2012
by Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz today called opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim ‘Iblis' for his attempt to drag former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad into the Israel security controversy.
‘Iblis' is the name of the devil in the holy Quran.
"He is in deep trouble. He is like Iblis, when he falls, he wants to drag everyone with him.
"That's how he is behaving now. He's now saying 'not only me but Mahathir (also supports Israel)'," Nazri said when asked about the Foreign Ministry's action to publish three letters Mahathir wrote to the Israeli government during his premiership.
"Anwar is scared now because he is the only person to say that the security of Israel is important," he said.
The de facto law minister, who once was very critical of Mahathir whom he had served as a minister, however defended his former boss on this issue.
"He has never been pro-Israel. He has always been consistent, that I know for a fact," Nazri added.
Anwar was under fire follow his interview in the Wall Street Journal which reported him as saying that he supported efforts to protect Israel’s security but any relations with the Jewish state depends on its willingness to respect Palestinian aspirations.
He then accused Mahathir of being hypocritical because the latter had met with Israeli government leaders as Malaysian prime minister.
This had prompted the Foreign Ministry to publish three letters written by Mahathir to the Israeli government during his premiership, stating Malaysia’s stance of not recognising the state.
(10) Crude attempt to weave a web of deceit, 4 March 2012
YOURSAY 'This is just another attempt by Chandra to smear Anwar by painting him as not anti-Israel/Zionist and a would-be puppet of US.'
Why US 'deep state' prefers Anwar over Najib
Unspin: If we cut through the crap of International Movement for a Just World president Dr Chandra Muzaffar's article, his real intention is to:
1) Get Malay votes by highlighting Anwar Ibrahim's Jewish connections.
2) Get Chinese votes by praising a benevolent China.
His attempt to weave a web of deceit is feeble and simplistic because he assumes that:
a) Malaysians can be arm-twisted to vote for regime change because the Jews say so.
b) Countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Singapore are wary of China's threat because the Jews say so.
With regard to China, there is a common fear among neighbouring countries that she should not get too powerful because she can bully you without a care for the rule of law.
Hence, the request for counter balance from the United States, despite the fact that they are not saints either.
Absolom: Did Chandra have anything to say about the number of critical issues closer to home, like the NFC (National Feedlot Corporation) scandal or the MAS (Malaysia Airlines) bailout or the Lynas project or the many other abuses which currently affect the everyday life of Malaysians?
Then why the sudden detailed analysis on this issue just to put the opposition leader in a bad light. What are his motivations?
Never mind the Americans, Malaysians want a regime change, and the country needs one badly to correct the wrongs. Anwar and the Pakatan Rakyat seem to be the credible alternative to the current failed regime.
If the new regime turns out to be no better, the people have the right to vote them out as well. The bottom line is, people should have access to all facts and information to help them decide who they want - not one-sided propaganda and conspiracy theories to hoodwink the masses.
Ferdtan: Chandra, who was referred to as the founder of Aliran, got a slap in the face when he was denounced by his collegues in an open letter dated March 5, 2008 after he made a remark hitting at Anwar just before the March 8 general election.
The signatories to the open statement were the prominent members: P Ramakrishnan (president), Francis Loh (honorary secretary), Mustafa K Anuar (assistant honorary secretary) and Anil Netto (treasurer).
Why is he now bringing up Anwar's friendship with Paul Wolfwitz and US vice-president Al Gore: didn't he at that time supported Anwar when he held the post of deputy president of the party when Anwar was in jail?
That is the problem with him, together with the many party defectors like Ezam Mohd Nor and S Nallakaruppan - they are leaders who can forgo principles to enrich themself by turning against their friends and supporters.
Sodom Me Sodom You: Excellent venom to discredit Anwar from a very learned man. While I respect Chandra's well-researched view, these macro matters on our foreign policy do not play a vital role in the issues that is prevalent on the ground in Malaysia.
How stupid we would be to continue to support an insanely greedy and divisive regime that has sucked out the life blood of this country for the past 50-plus years just because they don't support the Israeli regime and are good friends with China.
We don't give a rat's ass, Prof. Israel and China are policies that we can figure out in the future. After all, international relations keep changing all the time.
The Malaysian concern is very simple, we want to purge the plague of corruption and blatant robbery of our nations. We want to provide opportunities to all Malaysians to not lose out in the highly competitive world.
We want the rakyat to learn the truth about the extent of avarice espoused by PM Najib Razak and the other thieves. Talk to us about this, dear sir.
Misai Kuching: Chandra read this: I believe to have more than one choice is good for any the community in Malaysia.
The Chinese has DAP, MCA or Gerakan, whilst the Muslim Malays now have PKR besides PAS or Umno. Previously the Indians has only MIC see what happen to them especially those from the estates, but now they have Hindraf and this will good for the community, God-willing.
See what happened to the Middle East - they had no choice but to vote in totalitarian regimes or having weak monarchy. We had something of an autocratic regime too.
When you have one choice only; we have to take whatever they dish out whether it's good or bad. So let's all make our choice.
Quigonbond: The writer seems to suggest that it is more important to have ties with China rather than the US, because China is Malaysia's biggest trading partner.
Coming from a supposed intellectual luminary, I can only say that the basis of choice being where the money lies, is unprincipled, and belies the writer's mindset.
Malaysia may be a small fish in international diplomacy, but when we speak from our conscience, we can stand proud as a nation. Would Malaysia accept all forms of trade from China while its human rights atrocities continue to be prevalent?
We would expect this from the current government because that's how they treat their people at home, and because they can't make Malaysia more dynamic and reliant on a single trading partner.
While we don't support the hawkish United States, the US is at least still a democracy, and hawks can be removed from power. If Anwar is a US agent, he too can be removed from power one day.
The write-up by Chandra is calculated to win the Chinese over to BN side.
Swipenter: This is just another attempt by the writer to smear DSAI by painting him as not anti-Israel/Zionist and a would-be puppet of US.
Many Malaysians irrespective of religious beliefs and creed are not in agreement with how Israel treats the Palestinians but also realise and accept the reality of a rising China, which is now recognised as the second largest economy in the world and still growing.
China is now focusing their attention on Indonesia instead of us. This is happening because of our myopic policies that are so messed up with the notion of race and religion and not on pragmatism.
How far or longer can the US contain the rise of China? Not every country sees China as a threat. They are just using the US card as a bargaining chip when dealing with China.
Likewise Saudi Arabia is the next staunchest US ally in that region of the world next to Israel. The Saudis are just being pragmatic and are serving their own self-interests. On the other hand, Malaysia is ignoring our historal advantages with China and India.
Voteforchange: Chandra, it's mismanagement, corruption and poor stewardship in managing public funds that bothers me most.
・The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments.
（End）
