RPK, Please don't leave us this way

As many people must now be aware of, RPK wrote the heart-wrenching article “Probably my last message to Malaysians” and many readers contributed comments in what must be a record-breaking 300-comment No Hold Barred article. I humbly submitted my comments too imploring RPK to reconsider his tough stance if he were to be sent back to Kamunting.

I had asked him to respect his family wishes although I probably don’t have the right to ask that as it is for his family to decide. I had also asked him who he is doing it for, pointing to the low number of people who participate in vigils, petitions organized by MT or other bloggers. The comments that poured out from mostly caring and concerned readers who asked him to reconsider his decision to die in Kamunting, if he were to be sen t back. You would think that based on the outpouring of emotions, the same people would flock to attend his ISA hearing at the Federal Court in Putrajayaon Tuesday. Sad to say, I could only count less than 100 who showed up, and that’s counting the lawyers.

I take no pleasure in being vindicated as I had commented “Look at the countless petitions, vigils etc. Most are too selfish or coward to participate. Would your death jolt them to their senses and make them continue the fight? I think not, brother. They will make comments safely behind their computers and some will come out and fight, but most are just too chicken or selfish to do anything to help change the country.”

So my appeal to you RPK as to why you are still needed in the struggle:

1. The people in Malaysia are not ready for a martyr, my dear RPK. If you believe that the struggle must go on, we need you to continue to hammer away at the apathetic citizens in your compelling style as it has been proven to be effective.
2. We don’t see anybody ready to step into your big shoes to get rid of the UMNO gang, the kangaroo court judges, the policemen in cahoots with the underworld, the shady businessmen who buys politicians, the low-life lawyers who cheat their unsuspecting clients, the religious bigots who are hypocrites, the party-hopping politicians who do it solely for money, and the list goes on.
3. People trust you and can share with you in confidence because you are your own master. You epitomizes “amar maaruf, nahi mungkar”
4. Lastly people want change but not many are ready to leave their cocoons to fight for their rights. You have started and led the fight. There will be 2 to 3 million new voters coming aboard. We need you around to educate, inspire and lead them to safeguard our nation for their generation and future generations.

Please don't leave us this way...............

Who is in control - Najib or Badawi?

I was reading the Mkini report on RPK’s sedition trial titled “Najib crops up in alleged letter and photograph” and then I saw Malaysian Insider’s Pak Lah era ends on March 31 as Najib steps in as sixth PM . If it is a certainty that Najib has consolidated his power and will automatically assume the throne as the Malaysian insider would suggest, then why all the negative publicity about Najib in the ongoing RPK’s trial?

If Najib is really in control, why did he not instruct the police to drop the charges in the sedition trial and also get his lawyer to drop the charges in the defamation trial, as they both centre around the Altantuya murder case and implicitly involves him and his wife? If he really wants to nail RPK, there is still the ISA appeal by the govt. that they can use to punish RPK.

I spoke to people who have been attending the sedition trial proceedings whereby the star witness, ASP Gan was being grilled by RPK’s lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo. All of them say that Gan seems to be hiding something, not telling the complete truth and making a fool out of himself. Mind you, he is a superintendant and linked with Interpol with 30 years of experience in the police force. So instead of being convincing, authoritative and assertive given his rank and experience, he comes across as the opposite, like the Inspector Clouseau. It is such a weak case, not helped by Gan's performance, and furthermore, Najib’s name is being dragged into the spotlight again, in an unfavorable light. Just when he thinks the Altantunya ghost is buried with the release of his good friend Razak Baginda, here comes RPK and Gobind resurrecting the spirit of Altantunya and using the media, mainstream included, to haunt Najib.

My question is this: who is really running the country and dictating things? Is it Badawi or Najib? Going by the press reports in the last few days, I don’t believe Najib is in full control. Otherwise there would have been direction to tone down the reporting on RPK's sedition trial. This thus makes the Malaysian Insider’s report of him taking over on March 31, as wishful thinking, to say the least.

Federal Court Judge: "Your appeal is dimissed, with costs....."

Managed to pop in to the Federal Court earlier today to hear Karpal Singh argue the case for the Hindraf 5's appeal to review the habeas corpus suit. The outcome was not unexpected, looking at the line-up of the federal judges in the 3-man panel, Augustine Paul, Nik Hashim, and Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin.

After a lengthy and compelling submission by Karpal, the 3-man panel took a 10-minute break and came back to announce their decision. Judge Nik Hashim said that the judges unanimously voted to "dismiss the appeal WITH COSTS". Wait a minute, this is not a civil suit where you may have to bear the costs of the lawyers and fees from both sides if you lose the case. Luckily Karpal corrected the judge that this was not a civil case but a criminal one. "Oh ya-ke?" and proceeded to correct himself that the "appeal is dismissed." to the amusement of the audience. How embarrassing to hear a learned judge make such a mistake. And of all places, it happened in the highest court of the land, in the ostentatious Palace of Justice in Bolehland. The sadder part is that the detainees now have to languish in Kamunting at the pleasure of the Home Minister, indefinitely.

RPK should lead an independent party to keep BN & PR in check

I was reading Farouk Peru's suggestion to RPK: "you can lead the Malays to form their own democratic party or to join with the DAP" since Farouk believes that PAS and DAP cannot form a stable coalition since they have irreconcilable differences. I agree with the suggestion but for different reasons.

RPK as everyone knows, commands great respect from all and sundry, except of course those in power who feel threatened by him. The Man has great charisma, credibility, intelligence and humility. With these type of credentials, who wouldn't want to sign up and join a party led by him? I have never been a member of any political party but I would join RPK's party if ever he forms one.

I bet if RPK's party fields candidates in the next GE, they will win. Sure it will lead to 3-cornered fights but remember, there are quite a number of state and Parliament seats which have questionable candidates from the PR side so they do not deserve to keep such seats. Hence if PR does not get its act together and continue to field such weak or questionable candidates, then RPK's party should offer a better alternative. Remember Lunas and Kapar, to name a few, and of course the 3 traitors from Perak. You may notice I don't mention BN candidates as I feel BN is beyond salvation.

The way I see it, RPK is fighting from the outside of both BN and PR. And as he has rightly put it " Politicians do not think much of you if you do not hold any party positions. They only respect those who hold positions in political parties and government, not those outside mainstream politics", what better way to put them in their place by having political representation in the state assemblies and Parliament through your party. Then you can be the kingmakers, without any political affiliation or obligation to either BN or PR. Your representatives will do the right thing and vote with their conscience.

Through his vast networking, RPK has come into contact will people from all walks of life, and I am sure he can come up with a list of credible and promising candidates. Even existing elected candidates from BN or PR may also jump even if they have to go through a by-election. I am sure RPK will see to it that every single one of his candidates will be screened and pass very high standards set by the Man himself.

To kick it off, a fund-raising campaign from the public, ala Obama's, will certainly bring it contributions from everyone who is fed up with the current state of politics or fed up with either BN or PR, and who will now have a third alternative. People will volunteer to help the party set up, and campaign and of course vote for RPK's party. It will be a breath of fresh air. This can be the mental revolution that RPK has talked about in the past.

So what say you, RPK?

Perak - A blessing in disguise?

While it might appear that HRH the Sultan of Perak had acted in haste in sacking the Pakatan Rakyat govt. without convening a special session of the state assembly to pass a no-confidence vote, or allowing the legal process to run its course wrt the two assemblymen charged for corruption, what we have seen the last two days should provide encouragement to Pakatan Rakyat.

The rakyat's response in supporting PR, esp. MB Nizar, and their ridicule and contempt at Najib and the turncoats reinforces the growing support for PR after March 08, PP and KT. To see so many supporters showing up in Ipoh and Kuala Kangsar in spite of the heavy police presence, intimidation and violence indicates that the people's support is not waning, but increasing.

For Razaleigh and Mahathir to speak out against the manner of the takeover is also telling. We also saw Zaid Ibrahim in Ipoh together with top blogger RPK providing moral support to the PR govt. Ask around and see how many people will take the side of UMNO/BN on this. There is no prize for the right guess. For fence-sitters, especially Chinese voters, many of whom are disgusted at the behavior of the Jelapang assemblywoman, it will only make their job easier come the next elections.

For PR, only 3 of your assemblypersons defected. More could have done so but didn't. Cut your losses, and pay closer attention to the ones still with you, not just in Perak but in the other states too. You may be back in the opposition (and most people would venture that it will only be short-lived) but you can hold your heads up high for you have earned the utmost respect from a whole lot of people.

And as for the Rulers, the rakyat have indicated their displeasure. Hopefully this would be a good lesson learnt that the wishes of the rakyat should not be so casually ignored.