Raja Petra Interview : Mahathir is man of many facets

Written by Ali Cordoba Wfol.tv

Ali Cordoba: Riau Islands, Indonesia. Wfol.tv, 2 August 2009 :- Exclusive - No Holds Barred and Straight Forward...this is the very first interview of World Future Online TV with Raja Petra Kamarudin, the famous Editor of the most popular blog on the Malaysian webscene. This interview is brought to our many, many readers in a bid to get a better understanding of the Malaysian political scene and more interviews of Malaysian figure heads (opposition or government) will follow. (Note: Interview was carried via email exchanges with RPK)

The poignant phrases in the RPK interview constitutes the Wfol.tv website's first interview with Raja Petra Kamarudin, the Malaysian political activist and Malaysia-Today editor in chief. It is a good interview in which RPK (as he is popularly known) expresses himself on what we thought were the salient points of Malaysia's political development in the recent days.

Wfol.tv: The Teoh case: What is your personal opinion on this matter? We have read your articles on the issue yet we feel that it is better to ask you directly what you think of the whole thing? We do not want to ask if its murder or suicide. What we want to hear from you is do you think this will influence local politics? In what way?

RPK: It would certainly have a great impact on Malaysian politics. Teoh’s death epitomises what the non-Malays have to endure at the hands of the enforcement agencies. Indians and Chinese suffer the most when it comes to detention and other matters related to the Malaysian authorities. They treat Malays gentler compared to the non-Malays.

The fact that Umno says the Chinese opposition to what the MACC did to Teoh translates to the Chinese challenging Malay political power strengthens this argument. The MACC and all other agencies of its ilk are perceived as Malay agencies and this is supported by Umno’s own argument. To challenge the MACC means you are challenging the Malays. Therefore, what happened to Teoh can also be translated as the Malays oppressing the Chinese. Even Umno agrees with this.

Teoh’s death may have been the thing needed to really turn the stomachs of the Chinese. His death is most unfortunate. But his death woke up the Chinese like never before. Now the Chinese realise that their lives are cheap.

Wfol.tv: The racial issue: What should the government do to put an end to the race problems that has arisen in Malaysia after the 2008 elections? We are asking you due to the fact that you are known to be a person who do not put race ahead in your political, citizen and journalistic concerns. In short, do you think this current government can end the race problems in Malaysia?

RPK: Certainly not. Barisan Nasional is perpetuating racism. The very foundation of Umno, MCA and MIC, the three leading component members of Barisan Nasional, is race. They need race to remain relevant. Minus race, who needs Umno, MCA and MIC?

See what happened on March 2008. When the races united, Barisan Nasional suffered a beating. Only when the races are divided can Barisan Nasional excel.

The only way to eliminate racism would be to eliminate Barisan Nasional. You end the plague by burning the rats.

Wfol.tv: The Malays are being blamed for the 'race' troubles in the country. However, we see little done by the non-Malaysia in particular to try to cement the races. We are thinking of the rich and loaded Chinese citizens of Malaysia who were given the opportunity to make it and reap the benefits of the years of economic boom. Today they are filthy rich, so to say, but yet they want more and they are not helping the country in any ways. What we mean is they are taking and asking more but they are giving much less to the country. Think of the list of 40 top richest people in Malaysia for example.

RPK: You are of course talking about the Barisan Nasional Chinese and Indians. They are as corrupt and racist as the Umno Malays. Umno, MCA and MIC are cut from the same cloth. Yes, not only are the Malays to blame. The ‘running dogs’ of the Malays are equally guilty.

You are right. The Chinese and Indians are no less guilty, in particular the Chinese who put money before all else. These people would sell their daughters for money. They know what Umno stands for. Yet they support Umno because of money. They are traitor to their own race.

Wfol.tv: Tun Mahathir has turned the 'race' issue as his horse battle. Is he really gunning for 'Malay' power or is he simply trying to gain attention once again in the already competitive political landscape in Malaysia? What would be your advise to local politicians who are outright playing the race card to win support, votes and attention?

RPK: Many Chinese and Indians became super-rich during the time of Dr Mahathir. Mahathir is a racist when it comes to politics but not when it comes to money. He uses race to garner Malay support but works with the Chinese and Indians when it comes to business.

Mahathir is man of many facets. And he can switch from one to the other whenever the situation demands it. That makes Mahathir a good politician. Good politicians must know how to play to the gallery and how to change colours like a chameleon. And Mahathir can do this.

Take that as a positive statement on my part.

Wfol.tv: The sodomy II case: Do you think the case is already lost by the Anwar Ibrahim camp?

RPK: That depends on whether you are talking about the legal system or the court of public opinion. Anwar would probably lose his battle in court. That would not be a surprise to most of us. And we would not be too worried about that. Anwar is, after all, collateral damage.

I know this sounds very cold; but maybe the best thing for Pakatan Rakyat is for the government to send Anwar to jail, yet again, on trumped up charges. Teoh’s death was a boost to the opposition, as much as this may sound insensitive and cold-blooded of me to say so.

In a revolution we can’t avoid victims. People get hurt. And let’s face it; what we are seeing in Malaysia today is a revolution of sorts. So we will see victims. Teoh was a victim. Anwar is also a victim. We shall be seeing many more victims before this revolution is over.

But we shall make them all pay for this. When the government falls we shall see a lynching a la the French, Bolshevik, Iranian, etc., revolutions. This revolution may yet turn bloody. We never know. But Umno is certainly pushing its luck and one day it will push too far and blood will flow on the streets like it did once in 1969.

Wfol.tv: The rise of pro-Umno blogs: Will this phenomena be an additional plus to the Umno and the BN or will it sink them further due to the nature of these blogs, which borders on pure racism with an extreme right nature? Would you qualify yourself as a 'left-wing' political activist?

RPK: Ummo admitted it did badly in March 2008 because it lost the Internet war. So, if you can beat them, join them. And Umno too wants to fight in the Internet arena. But it is causing more damage than helping it cause. It is like giving a man a gun and he shoots his own side.

Starting a Blog is one thing. But the popularity of your Blog depends on its content. And this is what Umno can’t understand. It has no content worth reading.

Wfol.tv: The authorities are curbing on the Internet, attempting at collecting all information possible on anti-government bloggers and so on. Will this affect websites like Malaysia Today? Or do you feel the authorities are actually fighting against the windmills?

RPK: I suppose when the ‘committee’ made the decision that I should go underground and avoid being sent back to Kamunting this is exactly the reason why. I was in fact preparing myself for a long stint under ISA. The ‘committee’, however, felt that my two months under ISA from September to November 2008 did not do Malaysia Today any good.

No, Malaysia Today will continue, in spite of what they are trying to do to silence us. We shall continue hitting Barisan Nasional and Umno until it is forced out of office. That is my mission and vision. And there is very little Barisan Nasional and Umno can do short of sending an assassin to put a bullet in my head.

Read our Editor's note on the Interview.
Additional Read : Our Editor's Note on the RPK Interview

'Hello PKR, Permatang Pasir's ours'

malaysianmirror

PENANG - Penang PAS deputy commissioner I Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa has asked PKR to respect the Pakatan principle of maintaining the status quo in respect of seats until the next general election and not ask to contest the upcoming by-election in Permatang Pasir, last held by PAS.

However, he said, PAS would be agreeable to discuss the matter with PKR.


Mujahid said PAS had asked to contest the Penanti state seat recently after Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin of PKR resigned as the state assemblyman.

"Our request was based on the principle of social responsibility to the constituents because the assemblyman resigned for personal reasons, and PKR advisor Anwar (Ibrahim) said the status quo of the seats should be maintained until the next general election," he said when contacted by Bernama.

Different case

He said it was a different case in Permatang Pasir because the assemblyman, Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman of PAS, had died.

On Sunday, Anwar had said that there had been a request from the PKR leaders and members in Permatang Pasir, a state seat within the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency represented by Anwar, to contest the by-election there.

He said he had advised the PKR leaders and members to accept any candidate from the Pakatan coalition to be fielded in the by-election, adding that the request was forwarded to him to be raised at the meeting of the Pakatan top leadership.

The Permatang Pasir seat fell vacant after three-term assemblyman Mohammad Hamdan died of a heart ailment on Friday. - Bernama

Sivarasa freed (UPDATE 3.00PM)

themalaysianinsider

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 — PKR vice-president R. Sivarasa, who was detained for allegedly taking part in the anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) rally in the federal capital on Saturday, was freed on bail today.

“I have just been released on police custody. I am not being charged at the moment. I am on police bail and supposed to report back on Aug 17. My main concern now is the remaining 30 arrested with me including two juveniles charged in court,” he said.

The Subang MP was among about 600 people arrested for taking part in the march against the ISA.

Sivarasa was brought to the Sessions Court this morning and released on RM1,000 bail at noon. He has to report to the Dang Wangi police station on Aug 17.

Speaking to reporters on his release, Sivarasa said Saturday’s arrests illustrate the authoritarian behaviour of the Najib administration when violence was used to break up the peaceful rally.

He was shocked that juveniles were also among those arrested.

“The juveniles were not only arrested but also handcuffed contrary to lawful procedures. And also locked up with adult prisoners which is wrong,” he added.

Sivarasa questioned why the police applied to further remand the arrested when they could have been released on Saturday.

He was outraged that the police had attempted to remand the two juveniles.

“I want to ask the IGP and his political masters: what are you trying to do in trying to remand a 13- and 16-year-old? For God’s sake, what is in your mind?” he asked.

Sivarasa accused Barisan Nasional (BN) of sending a message by punishing the 30 people with court action.

He said this would not have any affect because Malaysians will continue to struggle for democracy.

“Malaysians now very clear want the right of peaceful assembly and we will continue to fight for it. We continue to fight till the day when Malaysia has the laws to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly like other democratic countries,” he said.

JOHOR, SASARAN PAKATAN RAKYAT SETERUSNYA

MUAR : Setelah berjaya menawan 5 negeri termasuk Perak sebelum dirampas secara haram oleh UMNO, Ketua Umum KeAdilan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mensasarkan Johor sebagai negeri seterusnya yang bakal jatuh kepada Pakatan Rakyat pada pilihanraya umum ke-13





TVA/Kelab GB

Najib's 100 days, what went wrong?

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at MBPJ Civic Hall : Najib's 100 Days, what went wrong? Organized by Pusat Khidmat Masyarakat Ahli Parlimen PJ Selatan and Pasukan KeAdilan KL & Selangor.









MP Shah Alam (PAS), YB Khalid Samad at MBPJ Civic Hall : Najib's 100 Days, what went wrong? Organized by Pusat Khidmat Masyarakat Ahli Parlimen PJ Selatan and Pasukan KeAdilan KL & Selangor.








mediarakyat

Rakyat Mahu Perubahan

Tindakan terhadap peserta demo anti-ISA undang kecaman

Kerajaan berdepan dengan kecaman hebat kerana menangkap beratus-ratus orang dan menggunakan gas pemedih mata dan merima air untuk menyuraikan perhimpunan menentang Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) yang membolehkan penahanan tanpa bicara, semalam.

Lebih 60 daripada 589 orang yang ditahan dalam perhimpunan semalam - yang disertai lebih 15,000 orang di pusat bandar Kuala Lumpur - masih ditahan, demikian menurut laporan media dan para peguam.

Sivarasa dijangka didakwa esok

Naib Presiden PKR yang juga ahli parlimen Subang, R Sivarasa dijangka dihadapkan ke mahkamah esok berhubung penyertaannya dalam perhimpunan anti-ISA di Kuala Lumpur semalam. Buat kini ditahan reman selama dua hari.

Peguam Puravalen yang mewakili Sivarasa berkata, pelanggannya itu dijangka didakwa atas dakwaan menghasut rakyat dalam ucapannya dekat bangunan Sirm Darby di Jalan Raja Laut ketika perhimpunan tersebut.

"Tetapi beliau tidak pun berada dekat bangunan tersebut," kata Puravalen ketika ditemui di balai polis Bukit Jalil. Puravelan berkata, beliau akan memfailkan semakan penghakiman terhadap perintah reman itu kerana menurutnya tiada sebab untuk menahan pelanggannya.

Sehingga masa ini, 24 orang telah dibebaskan manakala 34 lagi masih ditahan. Upacara nyalaan lilin akan diadakan malam ini bagi membantah penahanan berterusan mereka.


Tindakan terhadap peserta demo anti-ISA undang kecaman

Pemimpin veteran DAP, Lim Kit Siang yang turut menyertai perhimpunan anti-ISA semalam berkata beliau melihat sendiri polis yang didakwanya bertindak sewenang-sewenangnya melepaskan tembakan gas pemedih mata ke atas orang ramai.

Lim menuduh Ketua Polis Negara (KPN), Tan Sri Musa Hassan bertindak 'membalas dendam' terhadapnya dan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang lain kerana mereka mengadakan perbincangan meja bulat Parlimen minggu lalu, yang mendesak supaya KPN baru dilantik bagi mewujudkan sebuah negara Malaysia yang selamat.

'Kecam Najib'

Beliau juga mengecam Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak atas tindakan ganas kira-kira 5,000 anggota polis ke atas peserta perhimpunan anti-ISA semalam.

"Adakah ini satu petunjuk yang pentadbiran Najib akan menjadi lebih kejam daripada kerajaan semua perdana menteri sejak negara mencapai kemerdekaan pada 1957?" soalnya.

Najib sebelum ini menegaskan bahawa perhimpunan bantahan semalam tidak memberi sebarang makna kerana beliau telahpun berjanji untuk menyemak semula undang-undang tersebut selepas mengambil alih pentadbiran negara April lalu.

Manakala Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein yang bertanggungjawab terhadap Pasukan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM), pula dilaporkan berkata, ISA boleh dipinda secepat sesi parlimen yang akan datang.

Tetapi pihak pembangkang dan kumpulan hak asasi manusia mendesak supaya akta ISA yang diwarisi dari zaman penjajah itu - yang digunakan untuk menahan penentang kerajaan serta suspek pengganas - dimansuhkan terus.

Latifah Koya, seorang peguam yang mewakili mereka ditahan semalam, berkata polis masih menahan peguam yang juga naib presiden PKR, R Sivarasa, serta isteri dan anak seorang tahanan ISA. Dua lagi kanak-kanak masih ditahan.

"Kami mengutuk keras tindakan polis itu. Mereka yang hanya memakai baju-T dengan logo anti-ISA, ditangkap. Kami mendedsak supaya mereka dibebaskan segera," katanya kepada AFP.

'Rakyat mahu perubahan'

Pemimpin badan hak asasi manusia juga turut mengecam tindakan polis semalam.

Presiden Aliran, P Ramakrisnan mengutuk tindakan keras polis ketika menyuraikan perarakan aman anti-ISA semalam.

Tegasnya, ribuan rakyat Malaysia yang prihatin menyertai perhimpunan semalam atas tanggungjawab patriotik mereka yang menolak ISA kerana disalahgunakan oleh BN.

Penganalisa politik, Khoo Kay Peng berkata, keputusan pilihanraya umum 2008 yang menyaksikan ramai rakyat menolak kerajaan BN, menunjukkan mereka mahu kebebasan yang lebih luas.

"Rakyat mahukan perubahan. Jika BN mahu kekal berkuasa, maka ia mesti mendengar hasrat rakyat yang mahukan kebebasan dan supaya hak individu dihormati," tambahnya.

"Mereka turun ke jalanan kerana kerajaan tidak menyediakan ruang alternatif untuk mendengar kehendak rakyat," katanya.

Khoo berkata, BN yang sedang berusaha memulihkan sokongan rakyat selepas pilihanraya umum 2008, berdepan dengan kemungkinan kalah dalam pilihanraya umum akan datang jika ia masih gagal melaksanakan pembaharuan demokrasi di negara ini. Berita asal

malaysiakini

Sekitar Perhimpunan Mansuh ISA 1 Ogos 2009

Suasana sebelum perhimpunan.





Perarakan bermula selepas Zohor diketuai Dr. Hatta Ramli.



Polis turut menembak ke arah peserta himpunan dalam kawasan masjid.



Beberapa pimpinan GMI dan Muslimat ditahan di SOGO.



Perhimpunan berjaya mencapai sasaran apabila lebih 100,000 penyokong Anti-ISA berkumpul di merata tempat sekitar Kuala Lumpur setelah di halang secara tegar oleh pihak polis.





Tembakan gas dan air kimia oleh pihak polis.





jiwokelate2009

Scenes from anti-ISA protest August 1, 2009

All access to the Istana Negara has been blocked by the police in anticipation of two major afternoon rallies.

GMI president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh in his press conference at the PAS headquarters declared the rally as a massive success despite not being able to submit a memorandum to the King. He claimed that the rally had attracted about 100,000 people although eyewitnesses put a more conservative figure of closer to 20,000.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons today at more than 20,000 demonstrators who took to the streets to protest against controversial internal security laws. In chaotic scenes in downtown Kuala Lumpur, some 5,000 police including riot squads arrested scores of protesters as they gathered at rallying points across the city including two mosques - Masjid Negara and Masjid Jamek - and the Sogo shopping complex.

Scenes from anti-ISA protest at Masjid Negara earlier this evening. The crowd from Masjid Negara and those from Dataran Merdeka - numbering some 2,000 - have been blocked by the police at the Jalan Raja/Jalan Tun Perak junction from moving towards Sogo. The crowd has decided to move towards Padang Merbok located along Jalan Parliament. There is a also sizeable crowd gathered at the Jalan Kuching flyover near Bank Negara.



A sizeable crowd gathered at the Jalan Kuching flyover near Bank Negara marching towards Sogo but have been blocked by the police.



Kawalan ketat anggota polis mengakibatkan kedua-dua kumpulan pro dan anti ISA gagal berhimpun di Dataran Merdeka. Namun begitu mereka cuba berkumpul berhampiran bulatan Bank Negara yang berakhir dengan pancutan "water canon" serta tembakan gas pemedih mata oleh anggota2 polis yang berkawal disitu.



ISA Protester Arrest at CM



Cops rough up Opposition MP



Bukit Jalil police station is where most of the detainees from the ISA anniversary protest are being held.





malaysiakini

Tindakan Polis Yang Paling Menjijikkan

Polis bertindak membabi buta, mengejar orang ramai umpama mengejar haiwan dan menangkap serta mengikat tangan sesiapa sahaja yang mereka mahu tangkap, tanpa sebarang alasan.


Tangkapan mula dibuat seawal jam 10.00 pagi. Sesiapa sahaja yang dilihat samada memakai baju T berlogokan anti ISA atau yang berlambang parti atau sesiapa sahaja yang mereka mahu tangkap.

Seorang rakan media memberitahu, tiga orang pemuda telah ditahan sekitar jam 12.00 tengahari berhampiran stesyen LRT Masjid Jame’, tidak ada apa-apa kesalahan, namun kemudiannya polis meminta mereka memegang baju T berlogo anti ISA yang mereka rampas, dan ambar ketiga-tiga pemuda itu diambil.

Demonstrasi yang sepatutnya aman, bertukar menjadi kacau bilau dan huru hara, krana tindakan polis melepaskan pemedih mata dan menyembur air kimia.

Malah, komandan Polis Pencegah Rusuhan (FRU) yang bernama Zainy dengan jelas ketika memberi arahan kepada pasukannya dengan mengatakan “bersedia musuh dihadapan, bersedia….”katanya ketika dirakam berada di tengah-tengah persimpangan, berhadapan dengan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur

Dengan jelas dan lantang, seorang penjawat awam, penguatkuasa undang-undang yang bernama Zainy, yang duduk diatas trak FRU menganggap semua yang ada dihadapan mereka adalah musuh, umpama musuh Negara.

Umpama komunis, umpama penjenayah, umpama pengedar dadah, umpama pembunuh dan perogol bersiri. Sedangkan semua rakyat yang hadir adalah mereka yang membayar cukai, untuk digunakan oleh kerajaan membayar gaji Zainy dan kemudiannya, beliau menyuapkan rezeki tersebut kedalam mulut anak isterinya.

Antara rakaman penting yang dibuat oleh Buletin Online sepanjang demonstrasi semalam adalah saat-saat ketika Dato’ Ustaz Abu Bakar Chik, AJK PAS Pusat cuba ditangkap dengan kekasaran, Sivarasa Rasiah ditangkap tanpa sebarang sebab dan seorang tua berumur 61 tahun, yang mempunyai kesan jahitan didada, kesan pembedahan jantung, turut ditahan polis tanpa belah kasihan.

BuletinOnline