Racist: Ahmad Ismail, UMNO division chief 31 August 2008

Tengku Razaleigh hit the nail on the head with his statement last week; that UMNO is now perceived as a rascist party.

UMNO leaders should not surprised by this perception, when its members make racist statements in public. Most recently, Bukit Bendera UMNO chief Mr. Ahmad Ismail, who allegedly called the Chinese community as pendatang, or immigrants.

And what was UMNO’s response to this alleged racist remark? Here’s from UMNO President, BN Chairman and our prime minister, Mr. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, taken from the Star:

Ahmad didn’t mean it, says Abdullah

KEPALA BATAS: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will personally see to it that Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail does not repeat his remarks about the Chinese community.

“I will tell him not to do it again. You know in a campaign all sorts of things can come up. I don’t think he meant it. I’ll make sure to tell him not to use it again,” the Prime Minister said after chairing the Bertam Umno division meeting yesterday.

Ahmad had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) and was also reported to have said that “as the Chinese were only immigrants it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races” during a ceramah in Permatang Pauh in Aug 25.

He had allegedly uttered the remarks in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Penang Gerakan Youth committee member Dr Thor Teong Gee lambasted Ahmad and charged that Umno was still using racial ideology to achieve its own personal political agenda.

Bukit Mertajam MCA division chairman Lau Chiek Tuan called for disciplinary action against Ahmad.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik also called on Ahmad to immediately retract his statement and apologise to the community.

Ahmad could not be reached for comment.

Tanjung Gerakan Youth division chief H’ng Khoon Leng lodged a police report at the district police headquarters in Patani Road over Ahmad’s alleged remarks.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said there was no reason for Ahmad to stir racial feelings with his remarks.

“This is the Merdeka month and such a racist remark should not have been made,” he added.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Umno leaders should stop using racial sentiment to seek support from the people.

That’s no punishment. It’s not even a slap on the wrist. In fact, I’d daresay that it’s not even acknowledging that Mr. Ahmad had done something wrong. ‘He will be told not to repeat it again’? ‘He didn’t mean it’? I’m sorry Mr. Prime Minister, that’s just not good enough. If Mr. Ahmad really did utter those words, then we DEMAND that he be punished! No wonder the other component parties are not happy.

Taken from Malaysiakini:

Gerakan mahu Ahmad dikenakan tindakan

Gerakan, parti komponen Barisan  Nasional (BN), hari ini mahu tindakan diambil ke atas Ketua Umno bahagian Bukit Bendera Datuk Ahmad Ismail berhubung kenyataannya yang bersifat hasutan terhadap masyarakat Cina.

Semasa satu ceramah di Permatang Pauh pada 25 Ogos lepas, Ahmad didakwa mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa mereka hanyalah penduduk sementara di negara ini dan oleh itu adalah mustahil untuk mendapat hak yang sama di negara ini.

Setiausaha Agung Gerakan Datuk seri Chia Kwang Chye berkata ramai rakyat Malaysia kecewa dengan kenyataan Perdana Menteri dan Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi apabila mengulas mengenai kenyataan Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

“Mereka menjangka satu kecaman yang kuat, terutama pada 31 Ogos, hari di mana semua rakyat Malaysia menyambut ulang tahun kemerdekaan negara.

“Selepas 51 tahun mencapai kemerdekaan, sebarang kesangsian mengenai kesetiaan mana-mana penduduk etnik Malaysia dan tindakan mempersoal kewarganegaraan adalah melampaui usaha menyemai persefahaman di kalangan rakyat Malaysia,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan, demikian menurut laporan Bernama.

Menjelang hari pengundian bagi pilihanraya kecil Parlimen Permatang Pauh minggu lalu, Ahmad didakwa membuat kenyataan itu dan semalam, ketika mengulas mengenai perkara itu Abdullah berkata beliau akan “memberitahu Ahmad jangan mengulangi lagi perkara itu.”

“Anda tahu semasa berkempen pelbagai perkara boleh timbul. Saya tidak fikir beliau bermaksud sedemikian. Saya akan pastikan untuk memberitahu dia jangan gunakan perkataan itu lagi,” kata Abdullah semalam.

Chia berkata kenyataan Ahmad sudah lapuk dan menimbulkan provokasi  perkauman sambil menambah sebarang petanda bahawa BN bertolak ansur dengan mereka yang jelas bersikap perkauman dan mengeluarkan pendapat yang bersifat provokasi akan memberi isyarat yang salah kepada rakyat.

“Ahmad Ismail bukan sahaja patut menarik balik apa yang diucapkannya tetapi perlu meminta maaf kepada semua rakyat Malaysia dan juga dikenakan tindakan disiplin bagi mengelak perkara itu daripada berulang,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Naib Presiden Gerakan Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan dalam satu kenyataannya mendesak pimpinan Umno dan BN untuk mengkaji semula pendirian terhadap Ahmad.

Beliau meminta polis menyiasat perkara itu memandangkan MCA dan Gerakan telahpun membuat laporan terhadap Ahmad.

Somehow, I don’t think the police will do anything against Mr. Ahmad. Heck, I don’t even think they’ll investigate the matter. I mean, it is after all an UMNO division chief who said those remarks, not Mr. Karpal Singh or Mr. Lim Guan Eng or even Mr. Khalid Ibrahim. We’ve got two different sets of rules, don’t you know?

As long as UMNO keeps spewing these racist rhetoric, as longs as it keep hurting the feelings of other races, then the support it lost from both Malays and non-Malays will return. UMNO’s humiliating loss in Permatang Pauh shoud be a lesson to it that playing the race card will not work on the majority of Malaysians. However, it does not seem that UMNO has learnt its lesson.

Merdeka dan Patriotisme 30 August 2008

Lain rasanya Merdeka tahun ini. Seperti malap, tidak meriah dan tidak ceria. Jika hendak dibandingkan dengan perayaan pada tahun lepas, sambutan tahun ini amat mengecewakan sekali. Mungkin perayaan tahun lepas itu istimewa kerana angka keramat ‘50′, jumlah tahun kita telah Merdeka. ‘51′ pula hanyalah sebuah nombor.

Ya, bendera masih banyak. Bangunan-bangunan semua menggantung bendera. Ada rumah-rumah yang menaikkan Jalur Gemilang, seperti juga pemandu-pemandu yang memasangnya pada kereta. Logo hari kemerdekaan kita juga berada di mana-mana. Tetapi ‘perasaanya’ masih tetap berbeza.

Mungkin ‘perasaan’ atau ‘feel‘ Hari Merdeka itu banyak bersangkut paut dengan keadaan semasa. Rasanya sukar untuk seseorang itu berasa patriotik sekiranya dia terpaksa berhempas pulas untuk mencari rezeki ketika inflasi sedang memuncak dan kos kehidupan sedang meningkat. Bagi kebanyakan kita, yang paling penting adalah diri dan keluarga, barulah negara. Tiada guna kibarkan bendera kalau kita hidup merempat, bukan?

Ah, banyak sebab sebenarnya untuk kita berasa ‘tawar hati’ Merdeka ini. Tidak perlulah saya butirkan di sini, semuanya boleh ditatap pada ruang siber yang serba luas ini. Walaupun sebenarnya ketidakpuasan hati kita adalah pada si pemerintah dan tidak patut kita salahkan pada ibu pertiwi, tetapi jika kita tidak berasa gembira dengan keadaan negara kita, rasanya sukar untuk kita merayakan negara kita. Dan bancian telah mendapati bahawa hanya 28% rakyat Malaysia bersetuju dengan hala tuju negara kita. Maka tidak hairanlah sambutan tahun ini semacam pudar dan malap.

Orang sering bercakap tentang ‘erti Kemerdekaan‘ ini. Maka ditemuramahlah segala manusia Malaysia ini, dari pemimpin hingga ke artis hingga ke anak kecil. Macam-macam jawapan diterima. Merdeka itu untuk memperingati pejuang kemerdekaan. Merdeka itu maknanya bebas dari penjajahan. Merdeka itu maknanya perpaduan. Merdeka bermaksud kita hidup dalam keadaan harmoni.

Semua itu adalah jawapan-jawapan ‘biasa’. Jawapan yang ‘standard”. Rasanya sejak dibangku sekolah lagi kita sudah mendengar jawapan-jawapan itu. Dan kemudian diulang semula di dalam media. Maka di dalam minda kita, merdeka dan patriotisme itu maknanya kibaran bendera, nyanyian lagu dan perarakan. Serkiranya ‘erti Kemerdekaan’ yang kita maksudkan itu hanyalah perkara-perkara remeh dan temeh seperti itu, manakan tidak sambutan kita malap. Merdeka itu tidak dijiwai dengan erti kata sebenar, jadi ianya mudah dilunturkan dengan realiti-realiti kehidupan.

Bagi saya,  ‘Kemerdekaan dari penjajah’, yang berlaku 51 tahun dahulu, adalah terlalu lama untuk generasi muda hari ini untuk benar-benar kita hayati. Kita tidak pernah merasakan keperitan dijajah, bagaimanakan kita hendak merasakan kegembiraan mengecapi kebebasan? Oleh itu, erti Hari Merdeka itu harus di’kontemporarikan’ supaya ianya menjadi relevan kepada sebahagian besar rakyat Merdeka yang lahir selepas 1957.

Merdeka sepatutnya dijadikan patriotisme yang dimenifestasikan sekali dalam setahun. Jadikan ia  sebagai ’saluran’ bagi kita mengeluarkan perasaan cinta kita pada negara, yang pada hari-hari yang lain, kita hanya simpan dalam diri. Merdeka tidak termaktub pada bendera, lagu mahupun perarakan. Merdeka tidak bermakna semangat cintakan pemimpin.

Jika Merdeka itu patriotisme dan patriotisme itu perasaan cinta pada negara, bagaimanakah hendak kita pupuk perasaan cinta tersebut? Perasaan cintakan negara tidak akan timbul dengan sewenang-wenangnya. Ianya timbul bukan dengan paksaan atau indoktrinasi. Oleh sebab itulah program seperti Biro Tata Negara (BTN) tidak mungkin dapat menimbulkan semangat cintakan negara.

Susah rasanya untuk menjadi patriotik sekiranya anak pertiwi itu dirasakan bahawa dirinya di’anak tiri’kan. Susah untuk cintakan negara jika kita hanya cintakan segelintar orang. Sukar rasanya untuk kita sayangkan Malaysia sekiranya kita malu dan kecewa dengan keadaannya.

Bagi saya, untuk kita benar-benar memupuk semangat patriotisme di kalangan rakyat jelata, kita hendaklah membina Malaysia yang baru. Malaysia yang boleh kita banggakan, yang memastikan kesaksamaan kepada semua, yang memastikan bahawa setiap anak Malaysia mempunyai tempat di bawah bumi Merdeka ini.

Barulah kita dapat melahirkan semangat cintakan negara. Apabila kita benar-benar berbangga dengan negara kita, barulah kita akan menyayanginya. Percayalah, ketika itu, kita tidak perlu membanjiri rakyat dengan bendera, lagu dan perarakan. Kemerdekaan akan tetap terasa tanpa perlunya semua itu.

Barulah kita dapat benar-benar menjiwai kemerdekaan yang telah kita capai.

Selamat Hari Merdeka.

I fly my flag with hope! 29 August 2008

Weeks ago, I flew my flag upside down.

This is because I did not agree with our country’s direction under the present leadership. I fly it upside down as a sign of distress, that Malaysia needs to be saved.

I still do not agree with the country’s direction. Malaysia still needs to be saved. Yet, as Merdeka Day is only days away, I have decided to fly my flag the way its meant to be flown.

Not because my prime minister calls me ‘evil’. Not because I am afraid of action being taken against me. I still believe that if things done change, we will be heading downwards to a path of ruin.

Yet the events in the past few days have given me hope. Hope that more and more Malaysians are willing to save our fair nation. Hope, to say that all is not lost and we may still do something about it.

And so, with this hope, I fly my beloved Jalur Gemilang this Merdeka day.

Shabery talks about Permatang Pauh! 27 August 2008

From the Star:

Don’t be upset, Barisan told

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional component parties should not feel upset over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s win in Permatang Pauh.

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said this was because Permatang Pauh was known to have been “Anwar’s and PKR’s base.”

“They should not feel too sad or upset. His win also didn’t take away any seat from the existing number of Barisan MPs.

“It cannot be at all perceived to be a threat to the Barisan federal government,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here on Wednesday.

Ahmad Shabery claimed that Umno had actually expected for Anwar to win in the by-election with an even bigger majority than the one recorded on Tuesday night.

See, this is the problem with UMNO-BN. They just don’t get it.

Yes, we all expected Mr. Anwar to win in Permatang Pauh. However, it was obvious that UMNO-BN went to the by-election with the hope of pulling off an upset, or at the very least, to significantly reduce Mr. Anwar’s majority. If not, why would they throw everything and the kitchen sink during the campaign? If Mr. Anwar’s majority is reduced, then they can go around claiming “Look, Anwar’s losing support from the people!”.

So don’t give us that rubbish that “BN expected a bigger majority for Anwar”. Are you trying to say that because you expected a bigger majority than what Anwar obtained last night, Anwar has not met your expectations? Pleaselah!

Yes, most likely he’ll win, but you expect his majority to be significantly reduced, didn’t you? You thought that Malay voters will turn away from Mr. Anwar because of his sodomy allegation.

Just admit it, please. Your plans failed miserably. Don’t continue to be so arrogant and to give stupid excuses.

Oh and by the way Mr. Shabery, we’re still waiting for your resignation based on your dismal performance during the fuel debate.

Congratulations and Thank You 26 August 2008

Firstly, to Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, congratulation on your convincing win. Now please do your best to realize our hopes and dreams for a new Malaysia.

Secondly, to the voters of Permatang Pauh: thank you for this sweet victory against the dirty, racist politics of UMNO-BN. You have not disappointed the millions of Malaysians craving for change.

10 BN strategies that did not work, apparently! 26 August 2008

There are not many times when I feel this satisfied. Once before at a friend’s place, not so long ago. 8 March 2008, to be precise.

But by God, this feels good.

Mr. Anwar Ibrahim’s convincing win must feel like a big slap to UMNO-BN. I can imagine their excuses: we were underdogs to begin with, voter intimidation, Anwar is in his home turf etc. Bullshit. They gave their best attempt at making him lose the election or at least to reduce his majority with all sorts of dirty tactics, employing race, religion, sex, money, media, fuel prices etc. anything and everything that it can get its grubby paws on.

Let’s study UMNO-BN’s campaign strategy.

Strategy 1: Saiful has sumpah, Anwar did not = Anwar likes men’s backsides

We all know that on the eve of nomination day, Mr. Saiful ‘Anwar did me’ Bukhari Azlan dropped a bombshell by swearing on the holy book that Mr. Anwar had sodomized him. Right from the start, UMNO-BN used this sumpah laknat to run down Mr. Anwar’s character, challenging him to similarly swear the oath to ‘clear his name’. It was reported that Saiful’s swearing were played all over Permatang Pauh and was distributed all over the constituency in the form of VCDs. UMNO leaders like Mr. Najib and Mr. KJ made insinuations that Mr. Anwar really ‘did’ Saiful. Subjudice, of course, but no one’s going to do anything as one is the DPM and the other is the Son-in-Law.

But then, Ustaz Ramlang Porigi dropped an atom bomb; casting doubt on the whole swearing charade. How much this has impacted the voters, or whether the voters were not swayed by the allegations in the first place, is of course, unclear.

Strategy 2: Najib can swear too!

Suddenly, Mr. Najib, DPM, swears in a mosque that he does not know murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya, to clear his name.

The strategy is clear; Mr. Najib got the testicles to swear. Where’s yours Anwar?

Strategy 3: PKR are goons!

On nomination day, allegations were made about rowdy ‘PKR supporters’, who beat up two journalists and supposedly molested a Puteri UMNO member. Media played up the matter, together with crystal clear pictures of men in PKR flags beating up a journalist.

Strategy 4: Let us turun-naik fuel prices like it was bapak aku punya!

Of course, then we have the ‘coincidental’ fuel price drop, supposedly to ‘curb inflation’ in August. Pak Lah lied through his teeth when he said that the new ‘price adjustment’ will take effect only in September, in a move than any 12 year old with half a brain can see is aimed squarely at Permatang Pauh . According to the script, the voters are supposedly to feel grateful to their benefactors in the government and will accordingly translate their gratitude to votes.

Strategy 5: Anwar is pengkhianat bangsa

A very racist strategy by UMNO (I wonder what MCA and Gerakan thinks). It basically boils down to this: Anwar will sell out the Malays to the non-Malays. Reject him for menggadaikan the dignity of the Malays, sayd Mr. Najib. Leaflets were distributed on what is known as Kabinet BABI (Barisan Anwar Bin Ibrahim), a fake cabinet of federal ministers that was filled with non-Malays from the DAP and PKR.

Strategy 6: Anwar is a foreign agent

“Anwar jadi Perdana Menteri hari ini, esok Israel buka kedutaan di Malaysia“, says a banner. UMNO denies having anything to do with the unmarked banner in Permatang Pauh, but we all know better.

Strategy 7: Anwar likes to kacau the wives of others

An UMNO politican claims that Mr. Anwar tried to kacau his wife before. How come he never made a police report before baffles me. Maybe he’s saying that his wife is very desirable.

Strategy 8: Nothing makes an enemy like a former fried

Former close friends Mr. Ezam and Mr. Nalla has been used by UMNO-BN to further discredit Mr. Anwar. First Mr. Ezam says the ‘6 boxes of corruption’ are with Mr. Anwar and that Mr. Anwar shouldn’t keep it. Then he says Mr. Anwar will (again) sell ketuanan Melayu away. Mr. Nalla then joins the fray; claiming something about getting bribes from Magnum (I couldn’t be bothered to follow what he said).

Strategy 9: Goodies for Permatang Pauh!

A tactic deployed by BN countless times in numerous by elections before this. Using their considerable resources, shower Permatang Pauh with goodies and more promises. To ‘remind’ them that only BN can give out gula-gula.

Of course, they all seem to forget that they’re using taxpayers money for their personal purpose.

Strategy 10: the Media Onslaught

TV3, Utusan Malaysia and the New Straits Times, the three UMNO controlled media, were the ‘extra players’ in the BN set-up, attacking Mr. Anwar’s character from the outside. Everyday, TV3 would play Saiful’s video. Everyday, Utusan would dare Anwar to swear. Everyday, NST would report on supposed ‘feelings on the ground’ than favour BN.

It is clear that all these strategies by UMNO-BN has failed miserably. By their own admission, they were soundly thumped by a someone who is a sodomite/homosexual/sexual deviant/religiously ‘loose’/pengacau isteri/Chinese agent/US agent/Jewish agent/cowardly/pengkhianat bangsa/criminal/bad friend/bribe giver and taker/corrupt/disaster for the nation.

If it was me, I’ll be very embarrassed. Imagine, losing badly to someone who according to them, is not fit to even be human.

Sorry Karpal, says Utusan 26 August 2008

This piece of news has put a smile on my face today.

Taken from Malaysiakini:

Utusan says sorry to Karpal

Leading Malay daily Utusan Malaysia apologised to opposition leader Karpal Singh for publishing an article which portrayed the DAP national chairperson as anti-Islam.

In a small box titled ‘Ralat‘ (correction) on its front-page, the Umno-linked newspaper said: “The report on page two Utusan Malaysia yesterday ‘DAP diingat jangan bakar perasaan Melayu‘ (which stated) that DAP chairperson Karpal Singh rejects Islam as the official religion of the country is wrong.”

“Utusan Malaysia withdraws (the statement) and apologises for the mistake,” it added.

Yesterday, the veteran politician issued the daily with an ultimatum of either publicly apologising to him on its front-page or face legal action.

“Legal proceedings will definitely be initiated against the paper if it refuses to retract its misleading story on me and offer a public apology,” he added.

In its report, Utusan Malaysia reported that Karpal had rejected Islam as the country’s official religion when officiating the 15th DAP national congress over the weekend.

The article also quoted Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak blasting Karpal for questioning the official position of Islam and warned him not to stir the sentiments of Malays.

The opposition leader, a seven-term member of Parliament, slammed the article as libelous, untrue, baseless and malicious. He vehemently denied uttering such words.

As a result of the article, Karpal said, he had been subjected to public odium, contempt, ridicule, and consequently suffered serious loss and damages.

“In view of this highly defamatory and malicious nature of such words, we are instructing Utusan Malaysia to retract the said words complained of and apologise openly to me in tomorrow’s (today’s) edition,” he added.

I actually read the article in Utusan and noted what was said. I didn’t believe Mr. Karpal would actually say that he rejects Islam as the official religion, especially since it is enshrined in our constitution.  I brushed it off as more lies spread the the unofficial UMNO mouthpiece, Utusan Malaysia.

True enough, Malaysiakini confirms that Utusan has indeed put words in Mr. Karpal’s mouth.

After reading the above news on Malaysiakini, I tried again to look for the article. But wisely, it has been removed from the internet by the website’s administrator.

Actually, I think Mr. Karpal should have demanded a full page apology.

MCPXhas apologised to opposition leader Karpal Singh for publishing an article which portrayed the DAP national chairperson as anti-Islam.

MCPXhas apologised to opposition leader Karpal Singh for publishing an article which portrayed the DAP national chairperson as anti-Islam.

To the voters of P.44… 25 August 2008

… I wish you all a selamat mengundi.

The eyes of the world are now upon you. Do what you think is best for the country.

Spoiler Ramlang 25 August 2008

We have seen the campaigning onslaught against Mr. Anwar Ibrahim leading up to the Permatang Pauh by election. The biggest weapon utilized by UMNO-BN against the former Deputy Prime Minister has been the swearing of Mr. Saiful Bukhari Azlan that Mr. Anwar had sodomized him. UMNO-BN has utilized this weapon to the full, erecting wide screen television of the swearing, challenging Mr. Anwar to swear and using the swearing ceremony as ‘proof’ that ‘poor Mr. Saiful’ has indeed been ’superpoked’ by Mr. Anwar the wrong way. UMNO-controlled media has also been deployed to help their campaigning; not a day goes by that TV3 did not play the ‘sumplah laknat‘ ceremony.

In short, the BN’s line of campaigning has been nothing short of flithy.

Yet, yesterday night in Permatang Pauh, the very same weapon that they deployed might backfire on them, not because of Mr. Anwar, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, Mr. Lim Guan Eng, Tuan Guru Nik Aziz or Mr. Hadi Awang, but by a ’small time’ imam.

Taken from Malaysiakini:

Ustaz leaves BN’s campaign in tatters

Barisan Nasional, or more accurately Umno’s campaign, for Permatang Pauh looks set to be in tatters after the drama surrounding Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s oath took a turn for the worse.

MCPX

Round-the-clock ceramahs and screenings of Saiful taking his oath, alleging that PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim had sodomised him came undone early this morning.

So too is their constant haranguing of Anwar to make similar oath in a mosque or before Islamic scholars.

Just a day before polling on Tuesday, one of the central figures in the swearing case has stepped forward to reveal his doubts over the swearing on Aug 15.

Making his debut at the Bandar Perda Mosque and then two ceramahs at Kg Belah Dua and Padang Ibu last night, imam Ramlang Porigi (photo) stunned everyone when he revealed that he “had been instructed” to witness Saiful’s swearing show.

“My task was only to hear the oath and I had no part in the drafting of the oath which Saiful made. It is also unimportant for me so specify who.”

“I also wish to deny that I received any money to witness the swearing. I was only acting on instructions,” said Ramlang in a hastily arranged press conference by PKR at 12.30am this morning.

Also facing the media for the first time after the incident at the Federal Territory Mosque, Ramlang said that Saiful made two mistakes that day.

“During the swearing, Saiful mis-pronounced one of the Islamic words because he had it written down in Malay instead of Arabic.

Ramlang also revealed a Freudian slip by Saiful.

“Saiful also made a mistake on when Anwar Ibrahim had allegedly inserted his penis into his rectum.

“Instead of June 26, Saiful said he was sodomised on Aug 26 before correcting himself,” said Ramlang at PKR headquarters, Yayasan Aman in Permatang Pauh.

The Sabah-born imam also revealed that he is an Umno member, registered in Permatang Pauh in 2003.

But when asked if he was worried about the status of his membership in Umno, he said he was not.

“I only joined Umno because of a friend. And since I don’t hold any positions in the party, I’ve nothing to be afraid of.

“I’m not active even and I can be said to be a fake member,” Ramlang added (photo: right).

However, Ramlang provided no further details on who instructed him to witness the swearing ceremony except to say that the order came from his superiors.

On what encouraged him to come forward now, Ramlang said that the criticism and pressure he has faced after the event was overwhelming.

He said that he also wanted to clear the air on his position in the FT Mosque.

“Many people would call or even text me on SMS (short messaging system) to scold me and accuse me of not being a legitimate imam,” he explained.

“Although, I’m not the Imam Besar, I’m a real imam,” said Ramlang.

But he clarified reports that said he was an Islamic scholar.

“I also want to make known that I am not an ulama nor the Imam Besar as what some reports have said.”

But the FT Mosque imam said that he was not paid any money nor benefit from coming out now.

“I only want to clear my name and conscience,” he added.

Journalists were unable to grill Ramlang for more answers as PKR wrapped up the press conference after just 15 minutes, stating that the imam was tired and needed to rest.

The 29-year-old is a registered voter in Permatang Pauh and he said that he will try to do his obligation on polling day.

On whether he thought that the timing of the swearing was a political conspiracy, Ramlang said: “For me it is, as it was done on the eve of nomination day.”

On why he chose to use the PKR platform to clear the air, he said that the party was the only one which offered to back him.

“When the attacks began, no-one defended me. But I’m thankful that PKR has invited me to state my case.”

On whether he feared for his and his family’s safety, Ramlang said that as long as it was the truth, he did not fear anything.

He also said that he remained an imam at the KL Mosque as of now, adding that he was however not sure if he would be sacked after making his stand today.

He also said that he was not representing any political party by making his revelations.

Ramlang started appearing in PKR ceramahs today, revealing his role and his view on Saiful’s swearing.

He was under heavy protection due to obvious fears over his safety now.

PKR leaders said that they first came into contact with Ramlang only yesterday and were doing everything possible to protect the ustaz.

Immediately after the press conference, which last for about 15 minutes, Ramlang was whisked away by PKR leaders to an unknown location.

Also present at the press conference was PKR vice presidents Azmin Ali and R Sivarasa as well as a host of other local leaders. PKR information chief Tian Chua was also present.

By the way, I would like to apologize to Ustaz Ramlang, as I, like many others, have ridiculed him before when it was revealed that he is an UMNO member. I hope he forgives me.

Sometimes, even the best laid plans go awry. Sometimes, hope comes from the unexpected of sources. Some might see this as ‘divine intervention’, of how He exposes the lies of men. It has been said that the prayers of the downtrodden and the slandered are extremely potent. It’s up to you to decide.

To me, it serves UMNO-BN right for their appalling attempts character assassination. We will see how they respond to this.

The blogs were abuzz today morning with this latest development. Of course, you won’t hear even a whisper of it in Utusan or TV3.

We will only know the true impact of this latest development tomorrow; when Permatang Pauh decides.

Musim menyumpah, bahagian II 24 August 2008

Nampaknya musim menyumpah makin hangat! Terbaru, mantan Mentri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali telah melafazkan sumpah!

Laporan the New Straits Times:

Tajol Rosli: I swear my hands are clean

IPOH: Yesterday, it was Perak Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali’s turn to swear his innocence.

The former menteri besar said he was not involved in any political conspiracy or plan that had resulted in the arrest of two Pakatan Rakyat state executive councillors for corruption this week.

“In the name of God, I have nothing to do with their arrest. Wallahi, Wabillahi, Watallahi. I am not behind their arrest by the Anti-Corruption Agency,” he said at a press conference at the Perak Umno building.

Tajol Rosli, who is also Perak Barisan Nasional chief, said if Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was not satisfied with the way he had sworn then Nizar or Pas could enlighten him on the proper way to do so.

“They (Pas and Nizar) may say that this is not the proper way. So they can show me how to do it properly and then I will swear as many times as they want, no problem.

“But, I want Nizar to swear at the same time, date and venue with me if they want me to swear according to their way.

“I will swear that I am innocent and he can swear that I am guilty of conspiring against the two exco members, him and the state government.”

He said Nizar and senior exco member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, in their reactions to the arrest of exco members Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, had uttered slanderous remarks against him by alleging that he (Tajol Rosli) had orchestrated the arrests.

He also challenged Ngeh to swear that he (Tajol Rosli) was behind the arrests.

“He can swear according to his belief. Maybe, if he is a Christian he can swear accordingly or if he wants to do it the Chinese way then he can potong ayam (slaughter a chicken) at a temple.

“But, if he is going to slaughter the chicken then I want Perak MCA organising secretary Dr Mah Hang Soon, state Gerakan chief Datuk Chang Ko Youn and state PPP chairman Datuk Lee Heng to bear witness to Ngeh’s swearing.”

Tajol Rosli surprised all those at the press conference when he swore his innocence during the question-and-answer session with reporters.

This was because minutes earlier, when reading from a prepared text claiming his non-involvement in the recent events, he said that he would be ready to swear if required to clear his name.

Tajol Rosli said he was also thinking of taking legal action against Nizar and Ngeh, adding that he would decide on the matter in a week’s time.

Saya rasa saya pun nak bersumpah yang saya menyampah dan meluat melihat agama diperlakukan sebegitu rupa.