Hidden hands at work; UiTM Bumi-students against the intake of Non-Bumi!

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Hidden hands at work

THE Malaysian education system, despite some weaknesses, was one of the best in the world. This I learnt in 1984 when I was doing a Master’s course in Education and took an option entitled “Education in Developing Countries”.

The policies on the whole, grounded on sound education principles, were rational.

However, today, there are hidden hands which subvert government policy. Some parents have complained to me that a principal of a national-type secondary school in Kuala Lumpur had made it mandatory for her SPM students this year to take only nine subjects.

So no Bible Knowledge for the SPM, no Bahasa Cina, Bahasa Tamil, Bahasa Punjabi, etc. Not only that, she calls in the students who wish to take the 10th subject to dissuade them from signing up by asking them whether they are confident of getting an A for that subject.

This is surely wrong. No principal should be allowed to override the National Education Policy. Education is not solely about getting As.



The Malaysian education system rightly emphasises holistic education and has given students a wide choice to pursue subjects according to their aptitude and ability.

They should be free to take, as their 10th subject, Music Education, etc, which is allowed under the rules of the Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia.

All that the principal should ask for is proof that the students are being instructed in the subject of their choice by their attendance and course work, but they should not be banned from signing up and studying for their 10th subject by personal agendas of school principals.

It makes me think whether this emphasis on academic As is due to heads desiring their schools to be high performing schools, and the top administrators getting monetary rewards for their schools’ success.

Very often, to get a high Grade Point Average, the schools would have to control the intake of students (only bright students need apply) and control the number of subjects they take.

But is this what education is all about? What happens to the students not academically inclined?

It could be that the “blue ocean” strategy employed to upgrade the national education system is used wrongly here. The schools which are better endowed would have an inbuilt advantage and the top administrators of such schools would be monetarily rewarded.

But is monetary reward for individuals the proper incentive? Should not the schools’ infrastructure be upgraded? Or the very fact that they have made it to the elite club of top performing schools be enough – no need for other rewards?

Should not the schools which are less well endowed be given more to make them better?

May I suggest that in this race to be a high performing school, there should be recognition for schools which have a heart for their students.

A rethink should be made about the NKRAs for education and

the monetary rewards for top administrators of high performing schools.

EDUCATIONIST, Petaling Jaya.
The Star Jan 11, 2012 

UiTM Bumi-students against the intake of Non-Bumi students into UiTM!

Maybe they should protest on non-bumi paying the TAXES so that a University like this cannot be built on the tax-payers' $$. 

PM 'Najib'.., Is this the "1-Malaysia" you wanted it to be in reality?

 

Malaysians!! All true Malaysian of all races ...WAKE UP & BE COUNTED !

Make sure your hard earned money is not used to produce such graduates!

           

 

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Malaysian education heavily politicised, Quality ...

China to Become the World's Largest Importer by 2014

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Helen H. Wang, Contributor Author, consultant and expert on China's middle class >

We have heard a lot about China becoming the world’s largest this and that. In 2009, when the world was in recession, China leapfrogged the U.S. to become the world’s largest auto market. In 2010, China overtook Germany as the world’s largest exporter. This year, China is likely to surpass Japan to become the world’s largest luxury goods market.

So, it shouldn’t be a surprise when The Economist predicts that China will become the world’s largest importer by 2014. Yet, many skeptics still doubt China’s potential to be a stronghold of the world economy.

Last month, I was on BBC World News to discuss the eurozone debt crisis and whether Chinese consumers can make a difference in the world economy.  My discussion partner Johathon Holslag from the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies argued that Chinese consumption is still far below its production, and people should not be over optimistic about China rescuing the world economy. See the discussion video below:



Yes, official statistics show that consumption is only 34 percent of China’s GDP (compared to 70 percent in the U.S.). While the West’s economy is imbalanced with over-spending, the Chinese economy is imbalanced with under-consumption. However, this dynamic is changing. When I travel in China, I can clearly see the consumption boom in China’s large and small cities. Retail has been growing like a wildfire in recent years.



While it is not China’s role to save the world economy, it is in China’s best interest to balance its own economy toward domestic consumption. In so doing, China serves as a counter-balance of over-spending Western economies.  China may not want to bail out Italy or Greece, but China can provide opportunities for these troubled economies to get their own house in order.

As matter of fact, China has already helped. The Chinese middle class is creating enormous opportunities for Western companies selling into China. Europe’s exports to China have been growing steadily. Many Western brands are doing extremely well in China.

For example, Chinese consumers prefer to pay a premium price for furniture that is made in Italy. The UK-listed retailer Burberry has opened 60 stores in China and plans to have 100 stores in the near future. Western automakers, from Volkswagen to Bentley to General Motors, are enjoying huge success in China.

In the coming years, China’s economy may slow down a little, but will still grow at least at 7 or 8 percent. There are plenty of opportunities for Western companies to take advantage of China’s growing middle class. For companies that want to export to China, here are a few useful tips:

• Check out your local Chamber of Commerce or Export Assistance Center and familiarize yourselves with legal and regulatory issues in China. These facilities also have a lot of resources and services that can help you develop China market entry strategies and find the right business partners.
• Consider rebranding or repositioning your products in China. Remember, what works in your native country may not work in China. You really need to learn about Chinese culture, understand Chinese consumers, and adapt your products and services to the China market.
• For smaller brands, e-commerce is a great way to break into the China market without significant upfront cost. China’s ecommerce has been growing at 60 percent each year in recent years. More than 100 million Chinese shopped online last year. And China’s Internet users are expected to reach 750 million in 2015.

According to Credit Suisse, China will become the largest consumer market in the world by 2020. In the past, all the predictions about China have proved to be on the conservative side. With all its problems and potential crises, China somehow has managed to astonish the world again and again.

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Indonesian entrepreneur promotes love

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http://english.people.com.cn/98389/7701869.html


In Indonesia, one ambitious entrepreneur has started a program teaching men how to be the person they've always dreamt of being. Always too shy to talk to the prettiest girl of the party? Then this program is for you. Andy Saputra reports from Jakarta, and gives us one or two special tips.

Feeling alone after the holidays? In Indonesia, you don't have to. This is part of the Pencinta Wanita program that helps men to understand and win the hardest game of all. The game of love. It teaches the ropes of social interaction, starting from introduction to how to keep them interested.



Pencinta wanita, which literally means women lover, was founded by Ronald frank, a self confessed promoter of love, he started this as an Internet forum and in 4 years, it has become his main source of income.

Ronald Frank, founder of Pencinta Wanita, said, "I was always a loser in relationships, from being cheated on to being used by women. This has encourage me to research on love. I found that there's a huge disconnect on what women think of love and what men think of love, I felt compelled to bridge this."

CCTV's Andy Saputra said, "This 2 day seminar is explaining the theory behind that bridge, Everything is broken down to points, explained and discussed.. Starting from changing their own mindset to live demonstration..Not unlike a war strategy."

Since 2009, Pecinta Wanita has conducted tens of seminars in all the major cities in Indonesia and it has an estimated 350,000 members. The program also bundled with products like ebooks and instruction videos. With revenue up to $100,000 annually and growing, it is good business. But this business of love, has also created some controversy.

And for Ron, the founder, this mindset change is his main goal.

Attitude determines altitude

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Reflecting on the law By SHAD SALEEM FARUQI

To seek and attain inner peace, live simply, think deeply, act nobly; and leave the world a better place than you found it.

A DEAR colleague’s son was recently called to the Bar. At the dinner to commemorate the occasion, several of us were asked to share a few words of advice.

The wise among us spoke because they had something to say.

Lesser people like me spoke because we were asked to say something. This is what I could manage.

In the journey of life, a new destination beckons you. We, the friends of your parents, pray fervently that your journey on the highway of life will be successful; that you will blaze new trails; that the road ahead will lead you to many summits; and that each panoramic view will stir in you a striving for the horizons beyond.

Success, is, of course, a matter of personal perception.

To some people, wealth, power, influence and status are the tests of having made it.

To others – and I hope you will be in this category – success is to bring sunshine into the lives of others.

When you do that, some of that sunshine will illuminate your life as well.

Whatever your concept of success is, its attainment is rooted in some conducive mental attitudes and a great deal of planned, hard work.

Visualising and envisioning: You must envision, constructively imagine and role-play whatever you wish to be.

Dreams are the foundation of reality. If you can dream it, you can achieve it.

Any fulfillment is, of course, subject to your courage and discipline to act on your dreams and materialise them into concrete actions. Kipling’s admonition must be remembered: “If you can dream and not make dreams your master. If you can think but not make thoughts your aim”.

Daily planning: On a daily basis, plan your schedule. Fill every minute with 60 seconds of distance run. Sail a chartered course. Do not drift in the wind and the waves.

Act on, not just react to, things as they come. Do not let others lead you by the nose. Do not count on luck. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.



Mapping the road ahead: Careers are like ladders with many rungs. Map out the steps. Fix time frames. Periodically review your progress towards your long-term goals.

Intensity: There must be an intensity of commitment, a fire, a burning desire, an over-riding, if not single-minded, determination to attain your goals.

Ambition: Think big. Do not settle for too little. Make plans to reach the sky. If you land on the clouds, that’s OK. Strive harder next time.

Faith in God: When confronted by inevitable storms, trust God. God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear.

Self-confidence: We are all specks of dust in the universe. This necessary humility can, however, go hand in hand with a self-confidence that everything is attainable if we strive hard enough.

We must doubt our doubts but not our beliefs. We must remember that attitude, more than aptitude, determines our altitude.

Discipline and hard work: Work is part of worship and must be given the same type of devotion. Hard work compensates for lack of genius.

Many ordinary people achieve extraordinary things because they toil through the night while the world sleeps. Genius is 10% inspiration; 90% perspiration. A toiling tortoise can beat a heady hare.

Over the course of four decades, I have seen scores of extremely intelligent people fail in their endeavours because they lacked the humility that drives hard work; the discipline and planning that ensures progress; and the courage and persistence that overcome odds.

In most challenges in life, natural talents do not take us very far. Discipline does.

Passion: Whatever you do, do well. Let reason be the rudder and passion the sail. There are no small jobs; only small people.

There is honour in every profession provided we put our heart and soul into it and do ordinary things extraordinarily well.

It is often the case that those who do small jobs meticulously are likely to confront major challenges majestically.

Do not wait for ideal conditions: Do not wait for the perfect time to start building on your dreams. External conditions will never be ideal. We have to make do with what we have.

The wind often changes for the better once we set sail. It is our inner determination that makes the world stand aside to let pass a man who knows where he is going.

Show-case your talents: At a place of work, substance and form, isih dan gaya, the ability to be relevant, as well as to seem competent, are all equally important. Don’t be like the peacock that dances in the jungle but is not seen by anyone.

Find sophisticated and civilised ways to show-case your talents. Polish up your communication and PR skills so that your hard work and competence will be known.

Rewards come in many ways: It is natural to expect appreciation and recognition.

However, one must remember that in the workplace there are rivalries, jealousies and injustices.

As in the outside world, so in the workplace, justice does not usually prevail.

If the rewards do not come when they are due, remember that God is watching. His justice will one day prevail.

Work never goes to waste. A competent man is like the moon. Clouds can hide the moon for a while but in the end the beams of light will break through and the world will be filled with their luminescence.

Remember also that hard work with sincerity is nourishing for the soul and good for health.

The rewards of hard workare long term, internal and intangible. We all know that of all the things that matter in life, most are not things.

Success and failure: Success is never final. It is a journey, not a destination. It is a continuing process of repeating, reinforcing past accomplishments and conquering new challenges by adapting to a changed world.

Success is sustained effort over time and persistence in the face of hurdles. It is an attitude of “I think I can”. It is the courage to treat adversity as an opportunity. It is the willingness to regard every dare as a door.

Falling down does not amount to failure. Failure is to stay down. Falling down is never fatal. Life breaks all of us. The thing to do is to learn from our failings and to emerge stronger where we’re broken.

Happiness: To seek inner peace, live simply. Richness is not the accumulation of wealth but the smallness of needs. Think deeply. Act nobly. Leave the world a better place than you found it. Learn from people you admire.

“Lives of great men all remind us; we can make our lives sublime and departing leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time”.

Shad Saleem Faruqi is Emeritus Professor of Law at UiTM and Visiting Professor at USM. He wishes all readers happiness and health in the New Year.

China slams Asia-focused US defense strategy

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BEIJING (AP) — China on Monday slammed the United States' new Asian-focused defense strategy, saying its accusations of a lack of openness in Beijing's military policy were "groundless and untrustworthy."

China's ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng, pictured said the U.S.'s new military strategy would be 'beneficial' for both countries

President Obama speaking during a media briefing at the Pentagon where he vowed to strengthen military presence in the Asia-Pacific

The strategy unveiled Thursday shifts the U.S. military focus away from Iraq and Afghanistan and makes a renewed commitment to assert America's position in the Asia-Pacific region.

The document says the growth of China's military power must be accompanied by greater clarity in its strategic intentions to avoid causing friction in the region.

In response, China said it was committed to peaceful development and a "defensive" policy.

"China's strategic intent is clear, open and transparent," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters at a regular briefing.

"Our national defense modernization serves the objective requirements of national security and development and also plays an active role in maintaining regional peace and stability. 

It will not pose any threat to any country," Liu said. "The charges against China in this document are groundless and untrustworthy."

He added that maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region serve the common interests of all Asia-Pacific countries "and we hope the U.S. will play a more constructive role to this end."

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the U.S. is not anticipating military conflict in Asia, but that it became so bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that it missed chances to improve its strategic position elsewhere.

Panetta said the Asia-Pacific region is growing in importance for the U.S. economy and national security, so the nation needed to maintain "our military's technological edge and freedom of action."

The new strategy also identified India as a long-term strategic partner that can serve as a regional economic anchor and provider of security in the Indian Ocean region. It said the U.S. will try to maintain peace on the Korean peninsula by working with allies and others in Asia to defend against North Korean provocations.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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‘Poke-eye’ Melayu English blunder, Mindef blames Google, my God!

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Mindef blames Google Translate for ‘poke-eye’ blunder

By P. ARUNA The Star/Asia News Network

Lost in translation: The amusing English translation of the staff dress code on the Defence Ministry website.

RAWANG: The Defence Ministry had relied on the free online Google Translate for the English version of its official website, which resulted in the many mistakes found on the site.

“We have corrected the mistakes and translations are no longer done that way. “It is now done manually,” Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said here yesterday.



He admitted that the inaccurate translations had caused much embarrassment to the ministry.

It was recently reported in The Star that amusing translations of the staff dress code on the ministry's official website were being shared on social networking websites.

The ministry's website had published translations such as “clothes that poke eye”, a literal translation of pakaian yang menjolok mata, which in actual fact means revealing clothes in Bahasa Malaysia.

Others included “collared shirts and tight Malay civet berbutang three”, which, in Malay, is berkolar baju Melayu cekak musang berbutang tiga.

Another was the brief summary of the ministry's history on the website, which read: “After the withdrawal of British army, the Malaysian Government take drastic measures to increase the level of any national security threat”.

The ministry took down its English translated version several hours after it went viral on Twitter and Facebook.

In an immediate response, a ministry spokesman had said that a clarification had been posted on the website, saying that corrective action was being taken to ensure that the translations were accurate.
“We did not intend for the English translations to turn out that way,” said Dr Zahid during a visit to the National Service camp here.

However, a check on the website showed that the English translations were still unavailable.

Thursday January 12, 2012, The Star

No ‘poke eye’ from Google Translate

I WAS very disturbed to read “Mindef blames Google Translate for ‘poke-eye blunder" (The Star, Jan 10).

I logged on to Google Translate online service and typed “Jangan pakai pakaian yang menjolok mata” and was given the translation “Do not wear scantily”.

This is a correct translation. I don’t know where Mindef got the translation “Do not wear clothes that poke the eye”?

Of course, the Ministry staff would need to have an equally good command of English to review what is translated using online translation tools.

LEE SWEE CHUAN, Klang.

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“Clothes that poke eye”, Melayu English; Lost in translation!

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Anwar acquittal surprises both sides, spices up Malaysian politics!

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Anwar verdict surprises both sides

Analysis By Joceline Tan

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s court acquittal stunned both sides of the political divide and it has got the political players scrambling to reassess the impact of the verdict. 

Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is mobbed by supporters and the media after his surprise acquittal yesterday on sodomy charges. >

DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at the Jalan Duta High Court yesterday morning convinced he was going to be found guilty of committing sodomy.

Two hours later, he left the court cleared of the charge of sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The judgment left both sides of the political divide stunned – the two opposing sides had been equally convinced that Anwar would be pronounced guilty.

The Pakatan Rakyat side could hardly believe their ears after years of slamming the sodomy charge as a political trial and the proceedings as a kangaroo court.

You could see from the tweets flying out after the court verdict that they were stumped.

Even the man in the dock admitted he was surprised. None of them had seen it coming.

The Pakatan leaders were probably more shocked than their Barisan Nasional counterparts.

They expressed relief, proclaimed victory and congratulated themselves but stopped short of crediting the judiciary.

The Barisan supporters, on the other hand, had never doubted Saiful’s accusations against Anwar and the decision is unlikely to convince them otherwise.

Their reaction fluctuated between disbelief and anger as they tried to absorb the implications of the outcome.

“The outcome was not what we expected but we accept it. We believe in the rule of law, we will uphold the law and respect the decision,” said Sepang MP and Selangor Umno secretary Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed.

Love or hate him, it was Anwar’s moment in the sun. He was lionised by the media when he emerged from the air-conditioned courthouse into the humid mid-morning heat.

The speech he had prepared in his head about condemning the judiciary, the Govern­ment and the Prime Minister was no longer valid and he had to make an impromptu speech through a loud hailer held aloft by PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution.

The court verdict was the top news in many international news networks and newspapers, which saw it as a positive move that was in line with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s reform image.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad put it best when he said that Anwar would remain an issue whether inside or outside of jail. The ruling coalition would have been blamed had Anwar been found guilty.

But now that he has been acquitted, Barisan will have to rethink its plans and strategies in taking on Pakatan.

What was immediately clear, said UCSI academic and political analyst Dr Ong Kian Ming, was that Anwar would no longer be bogged down and Pakatan would not be distracted by the question of who will be the Opposition Leader.

“On the other hand, the sympathy factor is gone for Pakatan. If he had been convicted, Barisan would be under pressure because he would have gone on a nationwide tour to campaign and paint his opponents as cruel and unfair.

“Pakatan has lost some steam in that respect. On a more personal level, it is good for him and his family regardless of the allegations about his sexual orientation,” Dr Ong said.

It is unclear at this point whether the prosecution will appeal against the decision.

Those critical of the outcome will certainly want to see that but some of Umno’s younger leaders are fed-up with the way national politics has been distracted by Anwar and his private life.

“I don’t think the prosecution should appeal for the simple reason that we need closure. This thing has been going on for far too long,” said Kota Belud MP Datuk Rahman Dahlan.

Rahman said it was time for Malaysians to “press the reset button” for the country.

“I know the other side is claiming that the verdict vindicates Anwar. Actually, it has also vindicated the judiciary, the police and the Prime Minister and his government.

“The middle ground will see that. This is the opportunity to press the reset button and shift our focus to nation building,” he said.

The actual impact of the verdict will become clearer in the weeks and months ahead.

“The silver lining here is that we can now put aside the dramatics.

“The two coalitions can now move on to fight on policy and delivery and this is where the Barisan has the upper hand,” said social historian Dr Neil Khor.

Anwar arrived at his Segambut house – where more supporters were waiting for him – at around noon.
The PKR leader’s shirt was crumpled and drenched with sweat.

His usual bouffant hair looked flat, the grey roots were showing and the bald spot on the back of his head was more evident than usual.

The lines on his face ran deep and he appeared tired despite the morning’s euphoria.

It looks like Anwar is getting his second wind in the politics of post-2008.

It will be tough because he will be fighting a leaner and more realistic opponent.

The next general election will not be fought based on a court case over one man but over economic policies, political and civil reforms and the strength of Najib ’s initiatives.

The last four years have seen Anwar’s reputation and credibility severely tested.

Doubts have been planted in the minds of ordinary people about his private life.

There are some who think that what happens behind closed doors is none of our business.

But there are also those who think it has everything to do with political leadership.

That will be one of his many challenges ahead.

Anwar spent the afternoon huddled with his top party officials in discussion.

By nightfall, his limousine was speeding towards KLIA from where he jetted off on another of his overseas trips, this time to India.

Anwar acquittal spices up M’sian politics

Ceritalah By Karim Raslan

What we are beginning to see is the slow reassertion of Malaysia’s public institutions, in tandem with a realisation that some form of political liberalisation is unavoidable.

MOST Malaysians have been dreading the Jan 9 Anwar Ibrahim ‘Sodomy 2’ trial decision.

The prospect of the Opposition Leader being returned to prison was deeply depressing, if not offensive, even to those such as myself who remain sceptical of the man.

Still, his surprise acquittal has major implications for the country.

Let’s start with the most important point. Over the past decade, faith in national institutions has been on a downward tailspin. As a consequence, the judiciary and the police have become increasingly distrusted.

The many instances of corruption, abuse of power as well as perceived selective persecution have eroded Malaysians’ faith in their country and in each other.

The attendant cynicism and suspicion have made moving the nation forward, be it socially or economically, all the more difficult.

Indeed, why would anyone want to sacrifice for a place where justice and fair play are fatally wounded?

What we are beginning to see, however, is the slow, piecemeal reassertion and revival of Malaysia’s public institutions, in tandem with a realisation that some form of political liberalisation is unavoidable.

This stems not only from the acquittal of Anwar but also the continued fearlessness of the Auditor-General’s Reports and the tentative reforms that the Government has embarked upon in terms of civil liberties (like the controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill) and elections.

It would seem that the people manning these institutions have crossed a Rubicon of sorts.

They have come to realise that they have a larger duty to the people and that this surpasses any political pressure that may be brought upon them.

Such sentiments are crucial if the country is to progress and survive in the future.

The courage, fair-mindedness and independence of men such as Auditor-General Ambrin Buang and Suhakam chairman Hasmy Agam ought to be lauded by all.

Of course, there will always be questions over the handling of any legal case and these will continue for the foreseeable future. But we cannot dismiss the psychological impact of the trial: it is incontrovertible proof that Malaysia’s judiciary is more independent than commonly thought and that both the ordinary and powerful can truly seek justice at our courts.

At the same time, Umno strategists must begin to acknowledge the extent to which their dominant position is actually undermining their capacity on the ground.

Ordinary Malaysians have become tired of being lectured to. They want people who’ll really work for them.

But what will Anwar’s acquittal do to Malaysia’s current political equation?

I think the most obvious answer is that Anwar and Pakatan are now a fact of life that Barisan Nasional (BN) will have to deal with.

Anwar has made his political career operating outside the establishment. He has the wiliness to function and succeed without the benefits of government privilege.

The various personal attacks on him have only made him stronger and increased public disdain for his critics and their “dirty tricks”.

BN, and indeed its Umno lynchpin, must now learn to engage Anwar and Pakatan on equal terms.

To my mind, the ruling coalition does have a strong record of achievement in Government as well as a breathtaking flexibility in terms of policy-making and implementation.

The challenge is to rise to the debate and not “close” it off. Malaysians want greater openness and fairness in public discourse

We need to dispense with the prurience and small-mindedness that have been a hallmark of the last few years.

Race and religion also need to be dealt with in a manner that is more mature and confident. We need to turn our so-called “weaknesses” (namely our diverse multi-cultural society) into strengths.

For that to succeed we need to open the doors of our public life in a determined manner.

There should be no further distractions and the rakyat will want to know what Pakatan can do for the country if the opposition still wants their votes.

Anwar, for all his flaws, has proven that he has the patience and perseverance to go the distance politically — the task for him now is to finally convert the rhetoric into substance.

His continued freedom will make Malaysian politics all the more interesting. Still, this goes far beyond politics.
Justice has been served and broadened. The people are the ultimate winners.

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Malaysia's Anwar acquitted could shake ruling Umno party's grip on power?

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Anwar Ibrahim sodomy charge dismissed by Malaysian judge

Second acquittal of opposition leader on sex charges is a shock ahead of poll that could shake ruling Umno party's grip on power

Kate Hodal in Bangkokguardian.co.uk

Anwar Ibrahim, flanked by his wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, makes a speech to supporters after his acquittal on sodomy charges. Photograph: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters



A Malaysian court has acquitted the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy charges in a shock ruling that could fast-forward the former deputy prime minister's political comeback ahead of an expected election this year.

Anwar, 64, was charged in 2008 with having sex with a male former aide. He faced whipping and up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

The case grabbed headlines with its lurid details in this mainly Muslim country of 28 million, where sex between males is a punishable offence, even if consensual.



In his ruling on Monday morning the judge, Zabidin Mohamad Diah, expressed doubts over the validity of the DNA samples provided as evidence and told the packed Kuala Lumpur courtroom: "Because it was a sexual offence the court is reluctant to convict on uncorroborated evidence. Therefore the accused is acquitted and discharged."

Anwar and his supporters long contested the allegations as a government plot to weaken his three-party coalition, which made unprecedented gains in the 2008 elections. Anwar is considered the glue binding together the allianceof Islamists and an ethnic Chinese party.

"Thank God justice has prevailed," Anwar told reporters after the verdict. "I have been vindicated. To be honest I am a little surprised."\

Some 5,000 supporters awaited the ruling outside the capital courtroom, chanting "reformasi" (reform) and waving "People are the judge" placards as police in riot gear watched and a helicopter flew overhead.

The court decision follows a week-long nationwide tour during which Anwar rallied for support while confirming that his alliance would continue with or without him. "Anwar in jail, Anwar out of jail… it doesn't matter. The more important [thing] is people should overthrow Umno," he told followers, referring to the United Malays National Organisation, which has ruled Malaysia for 50 years.

"I'm not guilty. I'm a victim of slander … there is no case if they follow the facts or the law," he said.
It is the second time in 14 years that Anwar has faced the courts. The former deputy prime minister and finance minister was jailed in 1998 for six years on sodomy and corruption charges after disagreements with the then premier, Mahathir Mohamad, in what was widely seen as a politically motivated prosecution. The sodomy charge was overturned in 2004.

The current government led by Najib Razak as prime minister said the ruling proved Malaysia's legal system was free and impartial, despite claims to the contrary by opposition activists.

"Malaysia has an independent judiciary and this verdict proves that the government does not hold sway over judges' decisions," the government said in a statement released after the verdict.
Online news: Asia

Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted Monday in a surprise end to a politically-charged sodomy trial he has called a government bid to cripple his opposition ahead of upcoming polls.

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, seen here before entering the court building in Kuala Lumpur on January 9. Anwar was acquitted on Monday in a surprise end to a politically-charged sodomy trial he has called a government bid to cripple his opposition ahead of upcoming polls.

The ruling by Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah set off pandemonium in the Kuala Lumpur High Court, with Anwar mobbed by his wife, daughters and opposition politicians in joyous scenes.

Thousands of Anwar supporters who gathered outside under heavy security erupted into cheers and raised their fists in the air as news of the verdict filtered out.

In his brief verdict announcement, Zabidin said he could not rely on controversial DNA evidence submitted by the prosecution.

"The court is always reluctant to convict on sexual offences without corroborative evidence. Therefore, the accused is acquitted and discharged," he said.

The verdict in the more than two-year trial defied the expectations of many political observers and even Anwar himself, who said the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak was intent on eliminating him as a political threat.

It was the second sodomy verdict in a dozen years for Anwar, a former deputy premier in the 1990s who was next in line to head the country's long-ruling government until a spectacular downfall.

The charismatic Anwar had been groomed to succeed former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad until a bitter row between them saw Anwar ousted in 1998, beaten and jailed on sodomy and graft charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Once the sodomy charge was overturned in 2004 and he was released, the affair threw Anwar into the opposition, which he led to unprecedented gains against his former ruling party in 2008 general elections.

But the new sodomy charges emerged shortly after those polls -- Anwar was accused of sodomising a former male aide -- sparking accusations they were concocted by the ruling United Malays National Organisation to stall the opposition revival.

Sodomy is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia and punishable by 20 years in jail.

Malaysia's Anwar's Sodomy Verdict D-Day 901; So near, yet so far?

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Sodomy verdict time, again

By LISA GOH lisagoh@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: More than a decade after he was first convicted of sodomy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will know tomorrow whether he is found guilty of a similar offence.

The decision in the Kuala Lumpur High Court comes at the end of a trial lasting nearly two years.

Anwar, 64, who has been charged with sodomising Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, his 27-year-old former personal aide, faces up to 20 years in jail and whipping, if convicted.

In 2000, he was charged with sodomising driver Azizan Abu Bakar, convicted by the High Court and jailed.

His conviction was overturned in 2004 by the Federal Court in a 2:1 majority ruling and he was released.

He was charged on Aug 8, 2008 with sodomising Mohd Saiful at the Desa Damansara Condominium in Bukit Damansara in Kuala Lumpur on June 26, 2008.

He has adamantly maintained his innocence throughout the trial which saw 27 prosecution and seven defence witnesses (including Anwar himself, who gave a statement from the dock) called.

Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden led the prosecution while veteran criminal lawyer Karpal Singh and S.N. Nair represented Anwar.

Highlights of the trial included the testimony of Mohd Saiful who told the court that Anwar asked him: “Can I f--- you today?” Mohd Saiful said he brought KY Jelly lubricant to the apartment where the alleged sodomy took place.

Other highlights included evidence that there were up to five unidentified male DNA profiles found around Mohd Saiful’s anal region.

The identifying of Anwar as ‘Male Y’, whose semen was found in the complainant’s anus, was another dramatic turn in the trial.

His DNA, taken from a towel, a toothbrush and a water bottle, all of which were acquired from his cell at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters in July 2008, had matched the DNA profile of an unidentified person labelled ‘Male Y’.

Anwar tried several times to have the sitting judge recuse himself – once over an allegation that Mohd Saiful, who was the key prosecution witness, had an affair with a prosecutor involved in the case.

All his applications to disqualify Justice Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah failed.

Should Anwar be convicted, he would have two chances – at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court – to overturn the ruling.

If acquitted, he walks out of the High Court a free man.

So near, yet so far

Insight By Joceline Tan

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s track record since his 2008 political comeback has been marked by missed opportunities. He is once again at a critical crossroads while his Pakatan Rakyat coalition struggles to find an alternative candidate for prime minister. 

DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim looked a little tense during a packed press conference on Tuesday. He had a big week stretched ahead before his D-Day in court and he obviously had lots of things on his mind.

He kept his answers short and simple but managed to raise some eyebrows among reporters when he said that, “if I am jailed, involved in an accident or shot, we are prepared ....”.

What was he trying to say, some had asked. Who on earth would want to see him in an accident at this point in time? Surely not his supporters and the last thing his adversaries would want was to see him turned into a martyr.

Momentum to D-Day: Anwar, seen here with his daughter Nurul Izzah, has been on a nationwide roadshow to whip up sentiment over the court decision on his sodomy trial.>>

The press conference ended quickly and he flashed a dazzling smile as he left the room. He was in a hurry to go home to change and leave for a ceramah in Muar, Johor, later that evening. The Muar event was the first of a string of ceramah to whip up sentiment over tomorrow’s court judgment and Anwar has since blazed through eight states in six days.

The ceramah have attracted sizeable crowds but the sodomy trial has been a long and winding process, stretched over three years and fraught with so many delays that ordinary folk have been lost in the legal maze.

But the temperature has gone up again with the impending court decision and Pakatan Rakyat’s threat of bringing 100,000 protesters into Kuala Lumpur.

PKR, especially, is hoping to repeat the street protests that followed Anwar’s sacking in 1998, to create a wave of sympathy for Anwar and a momentum against the Government.

The Pakatan coalition has been talking about an Arab Spring in Malaysia and tomorrow’s demonstration is seen as another step in that direction.

Saiful: The victim in the sodomy trial eclipsed by the politics around Anwar. 

SMS orders have been flying from the PKR headquarters to its local leaders to produce the numbers tomorrow. Every PKR division has been ordered to gather 500 members and they have been told to wear black or white, the colours of mourning.

The Internet has been afire with conversation about the event, with the pro-Barisan Nasional side condemning the event as an attempt to subvert the judiciary and the pro-Pakatan side condemning those condemning the event.

More than 300 police reports have been lodged against the planned demonstration and the last one week has seen pages in Utusan Malaysia filled with news critical of Anwar and the demonstration.

“The verdict is still out there even though the general impression is that he can’t run. Monday will be a closure to the judicial process of a high-profile trial. With a general election ahead, it will also provide everyone an opportunity for political posturing,” said DAP’s Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi.

The official stand of Pakatan leaders is that the trial is a conspiracy to stop Anwar from becoming prime minister and they will stand by him.

Privately, they have been quite exasperated at the see-sawing political path of Anwar.

He has not shown the leadership they expected. They feel let down, many of them have watched the sex video and come to their own conclusions.

MPs from DAP have been given notice to attend and show moral support but, said Ooi, there is no signal to members to turn up in full force.

Monday will be a closure to the judicial process of a high-profile trial. - JEFF OOI >>

DAP knows that the Tahrir Square type of agitation is not the Chinese cup of tea and their response to the call to protest has been muted. They believe that if a government is to be overthrown, it should be via the ballot box rather than by Tahrir Square tactics and Malaysia is definitely not Egypt or Syria.

Besides, DAP is now the government in several states and it cannot be seen to actively encourage protests against court judgments. They would not want the same disruption repeated in their own backyard.

A leading PAS figure said their leaders would be present in court tomorrow, but PAS is not mobilising their members to make up the numbers.

“If you’re thinking of the Bersih type of crowd, that’s not going to be the case,” said the PAS leader.

Some had expected Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat to come out with a ringing endorsement for Anwar but the Kelantan Mentri Besar was in the news for another reason this week.

He was photographed presenting the keys to the house the state government had given to Kelantan football star Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, also known as Apek. Apek is a fantasy of many Malay girls and Nik Aziz advised him to “cepat kahwin” so as to avoid committing sin.

However, former Umno minister Tan Sri Kadir Sheikh Fadzir caused a stir when he gave an interview praising Anwar as a “great Malaysian leader”.

Ummi Hafilda Ali, the woman who had sparked off the first sodomy trial, called her own interview to renew her attacks on what she labelled the “3 As” – Anwar, his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali who is Ummi’s brother.

Perhaps the most telling part is how Anwar is quite alone this time around as he went on his roadshow.

It was quite a different scenario from 1998 when Abim activists and religious figures from PAS lent their weight to his cause.

The PAS response to tomorrow’s decision has been rather complex.

Top PAS leaders, especially among the ulama group, have never been totally comfortable with the idea of Anwar as prime minister.

They hate the religious pluralism associated with Anwar; it is anathema to their idea of Islam as the one true religion.

Besides, they have everything to gain from a scenario without Anwar.

As the party’s Selangor leader Datuk Dr Hasan Ali put it, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang or Nik Aziz would be PAS’ choice for premiership.

It has been amid such complexity that blogger-in-exile Raja Petra Kamarudin or RPK gave a shattering interview about Anwar in several newspapers.

People are still digesting what he has said about Anwar being a liability to his coalition, the allusions to his sexuality and what appears to be RPK’s opposition to a Tahrir Square phenomenon in Malaysia.

The blogger has gone overnight from hero to zero among the very people who used to hang onto his every word.

This is basically the ABU segment – the cohort that is going to vote for Anything But Umno; they had loved him when he was telling them what they wanted to hear.

But what he is saying now is not what they want to hear, never mind if it is the reality, and they have thrashed him black and blue and accused him of selling out.

Said a pro-Pakatan academic: “My sense is that RPK is speaking his mind. I don’t believe he has been bought. He has seen the opportunities come and go for Anwar and (Anwar) has not withstood the test. I sense he is disappointed with Anwar and his leadership of PKR. I know many people who are pro-Pakatan and who do not disagree with what (RPK) said except they cannot come out and say it.”

While the Umno side recognises the political gains from RPK’s interview, they are not exactly comfortable with him.

RPK’s power of the pen is quite different from any other. He is a maverick and Umno is not sure where or who he will strike next.

Insiders say RPK is still with Pakatan although he burnt his bridges with Anwar more than a year ago.

He has attacked mainly Anwar. He has spared PAS and DAP and he has advocated Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah as the post-Anwar alternative.

All sorts of nasty stuff has been said about RPK sitting out the freezing winter of Manchester in Phuket.

He is not rolling in dough as some imagine; he is there on the goodwill of friends, staying in a US$40 (RM126) per day hotel.

RPK wants to come home, a move he thought would be possible only if Pakatan wins power.

He was banking on Anwar leading Pakatan to take over Putrajaya but he does not see that happening.

Anwar is damaged goods, he has squandered what could have been and RPK is simply saying it out loud.

Anwar’s post-2008 track record has been marked by missed opportunities and a lack of discipline in his personal life.

Even feng shui expert Joey Yap added his two-sen worth about Anwar’s future.

According to Yap, Anwar, who is a metal element, will apparently have to struggle in the Year of the Water Dragon.

Tomorrow’s protest will probably be the most videographed ever. Apart from the media coverage, the police intend to video everything to defend their actions.

The most curious part of the maelstrom is how the person who started the whole thing seems to have been forgotten.

Saiful Bukhari Azlan, the alleged victim in the case, has been eclipsed by all the political activity. The once effeminate-looking Saiful has grown into a rather handsome man.

He is pursuing a distant learning degree from Universiti Utara Malaysia and recently made the Dean’s list.
His life has changed irrevocably since the day he accused Anwar of sodomising him.

Regardless of whether the court agrees or disagrees with him, Saiful will never be able to live a normal life as we understand it.

The Prime Minister’s office has been a case of so near, yet so far where Anwar is concerned but, as the Malays say, if it is meant to be, it will be.

If it is not meant to be, then Pakatan will just have to move on to another prime minister candidate.

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901 Malaysian Anwar’s life D-day? Rally allowed – only at car park!

New US defense policy challenges trust; China in US gunsights!

 

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By  Li Lianxing, Ma Liyao and Tan Yingzi  (China Daily)

 

WASHINGTON / BEIJING - US President Barack Obama's revamped national defense strategy may challenge mutual trust with China, experts said.

While promising to make the US armed forces smaller and leaner, Obama pledged to shift the country's military focus to the Asia-Pacific region.



The nation's military review says that US economic and security interests are "inextricably" connected with the area and the US military accordingly will "of necessity rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region", including strengthening Asian allies and investing in the strategic partnership with India.

Though Washington recognizes that the United States and China share common interests and stakes in the region, it fears China's rise will affect its economy and security in many ways and it worries about the strategic intention of China's military buildup, according to the review.

The assertive moves by the US may cause potential military tensions between China and the US, said Yuan Peng, an expert of American studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

"China has repeatedly explained its defensive policy, but the US keeps pressuring China. This may irritate China and lead to negative reactions if the US continues to do so," Yuan said.


 

"However, we need to be clear that the draft of the plan, as a whole, is not China-centered, though it is somehow offending that the document puts China in a similar position with Iran," Yuan said.

In the 10 primary missions of the US armed forces listed in the draft of the plan, published on the US Department of Defense website, China was mentioned with Iran - a country labeled as a member of "the axis of evil" by former US president George W. Bush.

"Why does the US want to shift its focus to Asia-Pacific as the region has been the most peaceful area compared with other areas which saw conflicts and wars in the last three decades?" asked Xu Hui, professor with Beijing-based National Defense University.

The US military faces $450 billion in budget cuts through 2021, including about $261 billion through 2017, part of the administration's effort to put the US fiscal house in order.

But "budget reductions will not come at the expense of this critical region", Obama said at the news conference.

After the war in Iraq came to an end last month and as the US is winding down its presence in Afghanistan, Obama said the nation can now meet the new challenges, especially from the Asia-Pacific region.

"Our military will be leaner, but the world must know: The United States is going to maintain our military superiority with armed forces that are agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies and threats," Obama said.

In the document, the US listed China as one of the countries that will continue to pursue asymmetric means to counter America's power projection capabilities.

Although the Chinese government did not comment on the US review on Friday, the country had said earlier that it welcomes the US playing a positive role in the region, but it opposes Washington's involvement in disputes in the South China Sea.

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China in US gunsights

By Damian Grammaticas Beijing correspondent, BBC

 

The US review has prompted some to ask whether a clash between the US and China is inevitable >>

 

Is China's rise going to lead to conflict with America? Is Beijing destined to go to war with today's undisputed global superpower?

The question is not posed directly in the new US defence strategic review. But, unspoken, it is there, running through the document that seeks to shape America's new military thinking for the 21st Century.

Read the review and it is clear that the challenge posed by a rising China is at the very heart of America's new defence strategy.

The document is careful to say China is not destined to be an adversary. But it makes clear America is, nevertheless, about to retool its military to deter China, and, if necessary, to confront it.

Released by President Barack Obama at the Pentagon, the aim of the new strategy is there in black and white: to reshape the US military in a way that "preserves American global leadership, maintains our military superiority".

The Pentagon and the White House are certainly not ready to accept the notion that America is inevitably facing long-term decline while China is on an equally inevitable rise. America wants to remain number one, and this new defence policy is designed to achieve that.

Lack of trust

In the very first sentence of his preamble, President Obama says "our nation is at a moment of transition," and the review states: "We face an inflection point." It identifies two basic forces shaping the transition, one inside America, one outside.

At home growing budget pressures mean there have to be cuts in military spending. At the same time there is the awareness that, abroad, China's growing economic strength is changing the dynamic of power in Asia.

US President Barack Obama insists his country welcomes the "peaceful" rise of China >>

 

The new defence posture, says the US, encourages "the peaceful rise of new powers". That is code for welcoming China's ascent, and has been said many times before.

As to what China's rise means, the new strategy is open-minded. "Over the long term," it says, noncommittally, "China's emergence as a regional power will have the potential to affect the US economy and our security in a variety of ways."

Note the way that China is described as an emerging "regional power". The Pentagon is not ready to accord China the status of a global power or superpower, or even an emerging superpower, a reflection of the fact that China's military reach is still far from global.

However China's economic influence does now span the world. America and China are bound by mutual self-interest. But the review is clear there is a real lack of trust.

"Our two countries have a strong stake in peace and stability in East Asia and an interest in building a co-operative bilateral relationship. However, the growth of China's military power must be accompanied by a greater clarity of its strategic intentions in order to avoid causing friction in the region."

Arms race

So the US is still hedging its bets. Already last year, the Obama administration unveiled its "pivot", turning America's gaze towards the Pacific. That shift is clear in this new doctrine. "We will of necessity rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region", it says several times.

Now America is stating that it will work on several fronts to counter China's emerging power.

There is a clear concern about China's efforts to develop weapons that would make it hard for US forces to operate in parts of East Asia. China is investing in "anti-access" and "area denial" weapons like so-called "carrier killer" missiles that could sink US aircraft carriers at sea. It has also invested heavily in submarines and is building stealth fighter jets.

The US and China may send up in a tug-of-war over the Pacific region - and perhaps globally >>

 

All of those could push US aircraft carrier fleets further from China's shores, limiting their ability to influence vital trade routes in the South China Sea, or to defend Taiwan if it is attacked by China.

The review says "states such as China and Iran will continue to pursue asymmetric means to counter our power projection capabilities." But it promises "the United States must maintain its ability to project power in areas in which our access and freedom to operate are challenged".

"The maintenance of peace, stability, the free flow of commerce, and of US influence in this dynamic region will depend in part on an underlying balance of military capability and presence," it says.

So the US wants to keep its military superiority over China intact. What that leads to is an escalating arms race as America moves to counter China's own advances.

In a way the Pentagon may be copying China's own strategy, investing in similar types of weapons. There will be a focus on developing increasing air and naval power, and on advanced weapons such as even more sophisticated stealth jets, missiles and drones, along with cyberwarfare and space capabilities too.

Making friends

Strengthening a network of alliances around China is the other pillar of the strategy. "We will emphasise our existing alliances, which provide a vital foundation for Asia-Pacific security. We will also expand our networks of co-operation with emerging partners throughout the Asia-Pacific region."

“Start Quote

China must make the US realise that its rise can't be stopped”

Global Times State-run Chinese newspaper

 

Already the US has close defence relationships with South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Australia. It is working to build ties with Vietnam, Indonesia and is "investing in a long-term strategic partnership with India".

What all this amounts to is a very robust message of deterrence to China. The US will contest any challenge to its dominance. It will cement core alliances with China's neighbours and protect its interest in East Asia.

To return to the question we began with. Will there be conflict between the US and China one day?

The answer may well depend on how China responds to this new policy. Will it seek to assert its own power in East Asia? Will that cause growing friction?

One early response to the new US policy has come from the state-controlled Global Times newspaper, often nationalist in its opinions.

It says "China needs to enhance its long-distance military attack ability and develop more ways to threaten US territory in order to gradually push outward the front line of its 'game' with America".

"China," the paper says, "must make the US realise that its rise can't be stopped and that it is best for the US to show friendliness towards China."

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China warns US on Asia military strategy