The Latest from TunMahathir-Warisan Negara,Malaysia's opposition mounts campaign in CYBERSPACE.

The Latest from Tun Mahathir, Warisan Negara Election 2008: Malaysia's opposition mounts campaign in cyberspace Posted: 19 Feb 2008 10:31 PM CSTThe power of Internet.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia goes to the polls next month and this time the campaign is going online, as opposition parties turn to blogs, SMS and YouTube to dodge a virtual blackout on mainstream media.
Major newspapers and television stations -- many partly owned by parties in the ruling coalition -- are awash with flattering stories on the government and its achievements ahead of March 8 general elections.
The opposition parties rate barely a mention, but thanks to the Internet they have begun campaigning feverishly in cyberspace with the aim of reaching young, urban, educated voters.
"They control the television but we've got YouTube now," said 31-year-old Lee Sean Li, an accountant who avidly surfs the Net for alternative news and complains there are only negative glimpses of the opposition in the main media.
Lee was delighted to see parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang post a speech on the upcoming elections, just minutes after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dissolved parliament earlier this month.
"I was impressed at how professional he was and it is a clever use of technology," Lee said, adding that 67-year-old Lim is one of the most "wired" politicians in the country.
While many of his generation may struggle to send an email, Lim runs three blogs which are meticulously updated with multiple posts every day, and many of the party's other leaders follow suit.
"Blogging is one way to get word out and an opportunity to circumvent media control," said Lim from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which is aiming to dent the government's thumping majority in the upcoming vote.
"We cannot neutralise the state-controlled media," he told AFP.
"But Internet pick-up rates will keep getting higher. We will not be blacked out forever."
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranks Malaysia 124 out of 169 on its worldwide press freedom index, and says the main media are "often compelled to ignore or to play down the many events organised by the opposition".
One of the alternative pioneers is Malaysiakini.com, an online news journal which since it began operating in 1999 has been raided by police and denied media passes for its reporters to cover government events.
Co-founder Steven Gan said the use of the Internet as a campaign tool was hampered by penetration rates which remain low in rural areas where the government enjoys strong support.
"But in urban areas, it is significant. They now have this alternative access to news and other views," he said.
The Malaysiakini website receives about 100,000 daily hits and has struggled to cope with the volume since an unprecedented series of public protests against the government broke out in recent months.
"During this election period, I expect it to increase by tenfold and we are preparing for that kind of explosion in the coming weeks. We have upgraded the bandwidth for better access," Gan said.
Malaysia's Islamic opposition party PAS runs its own online journal HarakahDaily.net which features six different online television channels and original reporting on the election.
And political dissident and ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim also writes his own blog which has news links and videos of his Keadilan party's campaign activities.
Anwar last year used the site to release a video clip which allegedly showed a high-profile lawyer brokering top judicial appointments -- a scandal which triggered a full royal commission of inquiry.
Well-known blogger Jeff Ooi, who is standing as a DAP candidate in the elections, said news and views on blogs appealed to a cross-section of people and was not limited to urban youth alone.
"It is not really restricted by age. We are attracting many concerned citizens who are above 45 years old and these are the people who are more interested in politics and the oppositions' viewpoint," he said.
"Our campaign videos will be transmitted through YouTube because it is unlikely for television stations to broadcast them, of course," said Ooi, who is facing a defamation suit by the government-linked New Straits

TheLatest from Tun Mahathir,Warisan Negara.

pic by a blogger who requests anonymity from rocky's bru blog. TUN WILL REMAIN A THORN TO THE CYRRENT GOVERNMENT:

Tun Mahathir will remain a thorn to the current government Posted: 30 Jan 2008 12:08 AM CSTTun Mahathir says the current PM Abdullah Badawi government of lacking "guts" and selling out Malaysian sovereignty. When asked whether PM Abdullah Badawi should quit his post as PM, Tun Mahathir replied - "It is up to him to decide. It's also up to the people to decide. If the people want him to move on, if they think his administration is not benefiting them, they should make a decision.".
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday he would remain a thorn in the side of his successor in the run-up to elections, and would continue to speak his mind.
Until subdued by heart problems last year, the outspoken Mahathir was the most vocal critic of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, accusing his government of lacking "guts" and selling out Malaysian sovereignty.
"I still disagree on several of his policies, mainly allowing Malaysians to be subject to Singapore's wishes," the 82-year-old told select foreign media in an interview ahead of Wednesday's launch of his new book.
The book published for the first time his personal correspondence with world leaders including U.S. President George W. Bush, on issues ranging from terrorism to Islam and Myanmar.
"We are not as independent as before in terms of our attitude towards international affairs," said Mahathir, who ruled the nation for 22 years with an iron grip. "We tend to be very accommodative."
DEAD WOOD
In the interview, he took Abdullah to task for "wasting (public) money", dismissed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as a "daydreamer" and asserted that the domestic economy was in "bad shape" without a rally in commodity prices.
Mahathir said Abdullah's ruling front would be returned with a strong majority in the polls, widely expected by March, but said voters must get rid of dead wood in the coalition.
"But there are certain people whose contribution is negative. These people should not be chosen as candidates," Mahathir, wearing a collarless Nehru suit, said at his office in the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers.
"I still support the party and I still believe the party will win with a good majority but one must not confuse support for the party with support for the individual," he said.
On Anwar, Mahathir said his political enemy would not be a major factor in the coming elections.
"He's not a real factor," he said. "There's no more political future for him. If he thinks he's going to be the prime minister, it's daydreaming of the worst kind."
A charismatic speaker, Anwar was sacked from government in 1998 after falling out with Mahathir. Anwar then led street protests before he was arrested and later jailed on what he called trumped-up charges of graft and sodomy.
Released in 2004, his corruption conviction means he cannot stand for elected office or hold political office until April this year.
Mahathir, who has a history of heart problem, underwent a heart bypass in September and doctors have advised him to cut down on travel and other activities, including horse-riding.
The operation was Mahathir's second such surgery since 1989 and followed two heart attacks over the past 13 months.
His quarrel with Abdullah came to the fore after the government scrapped Mahathir's idea to replace a causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore with a bridge.
Asked if Abdullah should quit, he replied: "It is up to him to decide. It's also up to the people to decide. If the people want him to move on, if they think his administration is not benefiting them, they should make a decision.

The 12th General Election-The Future of Malaysia

January 11, 2008
From the Office of Anwar Ibrahim
Salam sejahtera ,
In recent weeks, we have been travelling with Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his "Mesra dengan Rakyat" tour throughout the length and breath of Peninsular Malaysia. Unlike the privileged UMNO-BN leaders and their entourage who fly around in private jets, air force executive planes and helicopters, we travelled up to 800 kilometers or more daily per outing by road, risking life and limb to be with ordinary Malaysians in the heartland of our country. The marathon sessions must be particularly demanding on Dato Seri Anwar who still recovering from the after-effects of a major surgery to his back. But it is through sheer will power, grit and love for people to people interactions, he is able to maintain this punishing pace. He seems to have his energy level up whenever he is in the company of ordinary folks in the isolated rural communities.
Judging from the issues that were brought up and talked about during various ceramahs-issues ranging from the rising crime rate, prices of basic household items and petrol, toll charges, corruption and blatant abuses of power, quality and cost of education, healthcare, jobs, social problems, and business opportunities to national competitiveness and the state of the economy and public administration, and the moral conduct of ministers and politicians - it is clear to thousands of eager Malaysians we met that the forthcoming 12th General Elections is not about Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim per se. It is about our country and where we as Malaysians-not Malays, Chinese and Indians- are heading towards. It is a choice of more of the status quo or change for a better future.
It is not about personal vendetta; it is not about bad mouthing the ruling regime, or about power hungry people in-waiting. It is about the rakyat and their basic needs and hopes for a better future. It is about our national pride and future direction. It is about the economy and proper and prudent management of our limited resources through good governance. It is about our youth and their future. It is about our children's education. It is about "keadilan untuk semua"(justice for all). It is, in short, about our rights as citizens and the future of our country in an increasingly globalised world.
While UMNO and the rest of the Barisan Nasional component parties have gone out of their way to discredit Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim by using HINDRAF issues or launching personal attacks, spreading lies and anything else they can lay their hands on. In fact, they are harping on other irrelevant and trivial issues in their effort to divert the rakyat's attention from the real issues. They have been trying to create a "feel good" atmosphere with announcements of the Northern, East Coast, and Southern corridors together with other mega-projects. They are also using EPF and PNB and state unit trust funds to prop up the stock market.
Ever since Merdeka, now into its 51st year, the Barisan Nasional government has been disguising its failures as successes through the well tested and organized means of re-branding projects and mental conditioning of the rakyat through its controlled mess media network. Currently, we have people in power and those connected to those in power through marriage and other relationships who think that they are the bosses and can " fool all the people all the time".
The present UMNO- led coalition government is like a huge tree trunk infested with termites: the outside looks good whilst the inside is rotten to the core. It is now only a matter of time before it will implode.. One cannot sweep dirt under the carpet all the time, sooner or later, it will show and tragedy befalls our country.
We have begun to see evidence of systemic breakdown, more so in recent months with the government flip flopping on many issues and policy decisions. Prices of essential food items are spiraling out of control. The worse is yet to come and this discredited government is waiting to approve another round of price increases after the elections. Fuel cost and toll charges are expected to rise. There is a shortage cooking oil because of our failed energy policy. Last year (2007), serious crime rate rose by 13.4%. Because the Prime Minister is weak and incompetent, there is serious infighting within UMNO and its component partners. This list keeps growing. Yet the government spinners, and the controlled media say that Malaysia is in great shape.
50 years of UMNO-BN rule should be enough. What have seen is corruption and abuse of power on the rise, sheer incompetence, a corrupt Judiciary, and total disregard for the rule of law and civil liberties, and a dysfunctional public administration, especially in the once much respected civil service and dignified Police Force.
A new dawn awaits us if we dare to make the change and vote in favour of an alternative government which is committed to good governance, the rule of law, and justice for all led by Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
Dato Seri Anwar is in the considered opinion of many observers at home and abroad the best leader there is in Malaysia today. Through his charisma and brilliant 16-year track record of public service, he is able to hold both Al-Fadhil Hadi Awang's PAS and Lim Kit Siang's Democratic Action Party (DAP) in coalition with Parti KeADILan Rakyat together, and form a government that transcends considerations of race, color and religion. This alternative government will bring Malaysia into the 21st century as a truly respected member of ASEAN, the OIC and NAM, and the United Nations. He has earned the trust of the thousands of Malaysians he met and touched during his recent tour of Penang, Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu and Johor.
He said that his Malaysian Economic agenda will deliver strong economic growth. In this regard, it is worth quoting him as follows:
"...agenda ekonomi perlu terpancar dari hasrat memacu pertumbuhan pantas; agar negara melonjak maju dan menjamin faedah dan keselesaan kepada rakyat terbanyak. Maka selain dari kerangka kebajikan ekonomi; jentera pelaksana dan badan penguatkuasaan juga harus berwibawa dan bertanggungjawab.
Hanya dengan jiwa merdeka mampu kita robohkan kerawang dan tembok yang membelenggu pemikiran, memundurkan negara dan menindas rakyat. Tokoh politik, sarjana, aktivis, pekerja dan mahasiswa harus merasa tercabar untuk berfikir dengan waras dan bertindak dengan bijaksana".
Malaysia will then be an abode of peace and harmony, where all Malaysians can live and prosper together. There will be justice for all. So, the time for change has come.Regards, Din Merican and Ibrahim Yaacobdino.beano@yahoo.comhttp://dinmerican.wordpress.co

From The Office of ANWARIBRAHIM

e-mail from Encik Den Marican-quoted
The Winds of Change have come to Perak Darul Ridzuan
The trip with Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Kuala Kangsar and Lumut on January 4, 2007 was indeed a punishing one. My colleagues and I did not return to Kuala Lumpur until 3 AM on January 5. But it provided me with the opportunity to be in another part of our country where I had not been for long time (I was a frequent visitor during my school days at the Penang Free School for competitive soccer and hockey with our great rivals, Maktab Melayu). E
The programme was packed with places to visit, each stop precisely timed.We arrived on time for Friday prayers at Masjid Ridzwaniah (adjacent to the famous Maktab Melayu/Malay College) in Kuala Kangsar town. Dato Seri Anwar was warmly received by mosque officials and the jumaah, including students who waited patiently to shake his hand and exchange pleasantries with their famous old boy. After prayers, we accompanied Dato Seri Anwar to Taman Chandan Puteri for the opening of a new Parti KeADILan Rakyat branch where some 230 Indian members were received. He spoke to a gathering of 500 people and encouraged them to work hard as the 12th national elections is only months away.
We then proceeded to meet with Mesyarakat Sayong by the great Sungai Perak where we were treated to a nice lunch. The KeADILan de factor leader addressed a group of some 600 people including some Indians from the neighbouring areas. His message to them was simple. It was one of unity and tolerance. He also asked them to vote for a government that would have their interest at heart, not those who were corrupt and incompetent. After that, he was introduced to a young ex-warder who was in Sungai Buloh when Dato Seri Anwar was the guest of the Agong for 6 years.
Our delegation then proceeded to Kampong Senggang. It is an UMNO stronghold, as evidenced by the buntings and flags of UMNO and Barisan Nasional that had been put up to eclipse those of KeADILan. This place was off the beaten track, but the visit was made because the people wanted to personally thank Dato Seri Anwar for starting a housing project for the poor there when he was Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy UMNO President.
Apparently, the people at Kampong Senggang had ignored the instructions of the local UMNO politikus and decided, almost in open defiance, to hold a simple function in his honour. He made a short speech in which he said that he was against UMNO leaders because they were corrupt and arrogant. He was not against the ordinary UMNO members. Instead, he said that he had the people's interest at heart and would continue to fight for justice for all Malaysians.
This was his lifelong struggle since the days he was a student at the University of Malaya. He reminded them that for standing up for the poor people in Baling, Kedah, he spent two years (1974-1976) in Kamunting under the Internal Security Act. After that, he joined the Government and rose to be Deputy Prime Minister before being put in jail for 6 years in 1998.
The Pantai Remis ceramah was arranged for the Chinese community. It attracted some 1000 people who first sat for a meal together. I am told that this is the way the practical and down to earth Chinese community operates: no meal, no talk. A number of KeADILan leaders from Head Office and local representatives spoke about the level of corruption and incompetence of the present UMNO-BN leadership and emphasised the need for change.
When his turn came to speak, Dato Seri Anwar focused on the state of the economy and the challenges the country faced in the coming years. He said that Malaysia had been less attractive as an investment centre, losing out to Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, not to mention India and China. He told them that they should vote in a government led by KeADILan as it will be able to implement polices and programmes that will create new business opportunities and new jobs. He said that his government if elected will fight corruption. He called on his audience to "selamatkan Malaysia".
After Maghrib prayers and a brief speech at Surau Sri Manjung Lama, we proceeded to Setiawan where Dato Seri Anwar spoke briefly to predominantly Indian audience. He told that the Malays, Chinese and Indians must live in peace and that the Indian problem is not due to the Malays but to the UMNO-BN leadership. He reminded the audience is that he is committed to justice for all, each having rights of their own. In order to achieve distributive justice, he would ensure that our economy performs to its full potential. He opened a branch office of the party. His speech at Kampong Koh was before an audience of some 3,000. His message was loud and clear and the opportunity for change is now and that the people must seize the opportunity to make the change. It lasted for an hour.
The highlight of our visit was without any doubt the Ceramah Umum in Teluk Rubiah, Sri Manjung (near Lumut). When we arrived at the venue, we noticed that there was a huge gathering of predominantly Malays with a spatter of Indians and Chinese. Judging from the number of cars and other vehicles parked in a row stretching some 3 kilometers long on both sides of the road, I could say that there were at least 12,000 people.
Dato Anwar told the audience that he was here to explain the issues and challenges facing Malaysia. He had been talking about them, but because the media including television is tightly controlled, his views and comments have not reached ordinary Malaysians. All they hear is about the good things the government had done and that he is demon and a traitor to his own race. He said in 1998 he was regarded as an agent for the Jews, in 2006 he was viewed as pro-Chinese ,and now he is seen as pro-Hindraf.
He said he is a Malay and Muslim leader who seeks to speak the truth, to be transparent and to work for justice for all. He would protect the rights of the Malays and those of the Chinese and Indians. All Malaysians have rights under the Constitution. As a leader, he will defended and respect the sanctity of the Constitution. He will not use political power to amend the Constitution to suit his purposes. He wanted to make his position clear so that people would not be taken in by propaganda by UMNO Youth.
On the economy, he said that Malaysia is no longer in the same league as Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea. For example, he said that Singapore's average income is five times compared to Malaysia. A teacher there would earn fives times compared to a Malaysian in the same profession. In terms of economic growth, Malaysia is performing under its full potential. It is also losing out to Singapore and our other ASEAN neighbours, not mention India and China.
The reason is very simple. We have not been managing our economy well. Investors no longer have any confidence in our economic policies and people who are in charge of our country. We still depend on foreign investment and when foreigners do not invest here, there will no growth and no new jobs. Corruption and crime are on the rise. Social problems like drug addiction and moral degeneration are common. Our education system is in a mess.
So the time for change is now. He appealed to his audience to vote for change in government. We need an honest, transparent and responsible government that serves the people, not one that is corrupt and incompetent. A responsible government will manage our resources like oil and gas for the benefit of the present and future generation. These resources belong to the people and must be used to benefit people in terms of quality education, healthcare and social infrastructure, not to be wasted in bailing out loss-making government companies and on mega-projects.
In response to Dato Najib's statement that if we use Petronas' profits to reduce the price of petrol, diesel and gas, Malaysia would be bankrupt, Dato Seri Anwar said that if we managed the country to serve our personal interest and those of our families and cronies, then we would be bankrupt in no time and that is why we must stop the rot. We, therefore, need a government that is open, accountable, competent and honest.
Sdr Mustafa Kamal and his team, thanks for your hard work and for arranging a very productive visit.Regards,