23 February 2020 goes down the Malaysian political history as the most dramatic political maneuver to oust a democratically elected government. It had all the intrigue, suspense and surprises as in any tv drama series. Friends and comrades became enemies and enemies came together to execute a coup.
It all started that night with Party Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Azmin Ali gathering a large group of politicians (heads of opposition political parties like UMNO, PAS, MCA, MIC, Warisan and
Sarawak's ruling alliance) and other rebel members of parliament from PKR and Pribumi (or Bersatu) at the Sheraton Hotel in Subang Jaya for the sole purpose of overthrowing the ruling Pakatan Harapan government and form a new government with a new alliance. Why would a current minister do this since he was already in the government?
They succeeded when the then Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, resigned from the Prime Minister'post in spite of the request from the king for him to stay on. Under the country's constitution, when the Prime Minister resigns, the whole cabinet of ministers is automatically dissolved. This paved the way for the appointment of a new prime minister and a new cabinet, according to the support of more than half the number of members of parliament. In this way, the new prime minister, Muhiddin Yassin, was appointed. His cabinet members included those from his own party, Bersatu, from UMNO, PAS, MCA, MIC and those from Sabah and Sarawak.
Looking back today, 24/7/2021, we can see that Mahathir Mohamad did a very cunning trick on his partners in Pakatan Harapan. Prior to the Sheraton move, he was already cosying up to UMNO and PAS by attending the Malay Unity declaration, despite opposition from his partners in Pakatan Harapan and the creation of many controversial issues, like the compulsory learning of Jawi in schools and the recognition of the Unified Chinese Schools Examination which was promised as part of the election manifestos. He refused to hand over the prime minister's post to PKR president anwar Ibrahim after the 2 year reign though this was agreed upon before the general elections.
This government had been ruling the country since and as the changeover happened during the COVID19 pandemic, it inherited this scourge from the Pakatan government. Initially there were single digit daily infections. However, when the new Perikatan Nastonal coalition (PN) tried to snatch power from the Warisan controlled government in state Sabah, with a coup by inducing the crossover of elected representatives from Warisan and other political parties, the then Chief Minister, Shafie Apdal, scuttled this dishonourable effort by advising the state governor to dissolve the state assembly. Thus fresh state elections had to be held within a period of six months from the date of dissolution. This brought a flurry of politicians from peninsular Malaysia to Sabah for the purpose of campaigning and other activities. Though the PN coalition won the elections, the COVID19 virus had spread and increased to 2,000 because of this political manuvouring.
Today, 11th August 2021, the daily infections of COVID19 had reached record number of 20,000. Months of lockdown and confusing instructions from many directions in the government caused many to lose their jobs and negatively affecting the economy badly. People had to raise white flags in front of their houses to seek help to secure food. These people could not leave their houses and they had no money to buy food. Fortunately Malaysians are generally kind hearted and they quickly responded by setting up food banks and dispatched food to the needy, much to the displeasure of the PN government, as it felt that this act reflected badly on it.
Meanwhile, political dramas continue to unfold. UMNO now feels that it should be in the driver's seat, as it has the largest number of members of parliament. Their leaders had been agitating members to withdraw support for the PN government and ordering its ministers (the so called cabinet cluster) to resign. The cabinet cluster naturally refused to comply. Reluctantly, trying to placate UMNO leaders, the PM appointed UMNO vice president, Ismail Sabri, one of the cabinet cluster members, as Deputy Prime Minister to fill the existing vacant position.
This could not placate the UMNO leaders, especially the President Zahid Hamidi and Najib Razak who are charged with many counts of corruption and money laundering. They continue to agitate. Meanwhile Muhyiddin Yasin claimed that they tried to pressure him to drop the charges. This drama came to a head when the king called on PM to hold parliament sitting and debate the emergency (declared earlier supposedly to fight the pandemic) with a view to rectify it. With no choice, the PM called for a sitting of 5 days and when members wanted to debate the emergency ordinance, the Law Minster from party PAS said that the EO had been revoked. This caused an uproar with members claiming this action was unconstitutional.
This unilateral revocation must have annoyed the king, so much so that he asked the PM 3 times to resign in a very short audience with the PM (lasting only 5 minutes), as claimed by Sarawak Report, citing reliable sources. Up to this point, Muhyiddin has refused to resign, saying that he intented to put his majority support to test in parliament in September, but not mentioning a date. The 5-day sitting was put to an indefinite postponement on the 4th day. Meanwhile rumours are flying that many opposition members of parliament are offered $3 durians to support Muhyiddin. The saga continues.
Yesterday, 16th August 2021, Muhyiddin tendered his resignation after a televised speech earlier asking for support from DAP, a partner in Pakatan Harapan, which Muhyiddin had betrayed earlier when he pulled out from the coalition which was ruling the country, so as to become the Prime Minister with the support mainly from UMNO, PAS and MPs from Sabah and Sarawak
The king has called all major political parties'leaders to attend a meeting individually to determine the new Prime Minister this afternoon.
click here to see pictures from Free Malaysia Today
Friday, August 20, 2021
Thursday, August 28, 2014
MH17 - A New Tragedy
Flight MH17
It was on a July morning (17-7-2014), while having breakfast with my wife and we were listening to news from a radio station, that we heard the sad and shocking news that a MAS plane MH17 was
shot down while flying over Ukraine. Our first natural reaction was: 'Oh my god, not again', as it was just over 4 months ago on 8-3-2014 that another MAS plane, MH370 disappeared and until today it has not been found. No one knows what had happened to the plane and all on board. The Malaysian government is still searching. What made the disaster more shocking was the call from my nephew that my niece's son was on board the ill-fated flight MH17. Again this was extremely hard to believe, as the chance of being on the plane was very, very slim. Yet it happened. This is nature's way of converging all concerned at the same place and time to make this event happen. We have to accept that it had happen. He was only 32, a bright and pleasant young man with a bright future ahead of him which was ended by some cruel and greedy politicians who fight to control territories. Let us hope justice will be done on these animals who kill others to gain power.
He was sent by his company to sign a contract to a project in Belgium with 2 other colleagues. They were booked on a KLM flight to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, transiting in Singapore. He wanted to travel by MAS, as it was a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur, but the flight was fully booked. However, MAS later called to say that seats were available, as there were some cancellation of booking. So he changed to the fateful flight, while his colleagues did not. That is how fate determines a person's life.
A report from Sinchew Daily
A Sinchew Daily report on 20-7-2014
Since that fateful day, 17-7-2014, there had been many versions of how the disaster happened. But one thing is now clear : the plane was shot down by one of the conflicting parties in the Ukraine conflict. The Ukraine government had released a taped transcript of conversations between the rebels, claiming they had downed a plane. The rebels, who control the territory where the plane was shot down, counterclaimed that it was shot down by the Ukrainian fighter plane, which was tailing the MAS plane for some time. We hope that the truth will come out after the international investigation team complete their job. It was reported that when the European Investigators went to the scene, the rebels were hostile, and allowed only limited access for only less than an hour before they fired shots into the air to chase away the investigators.
It was reported that the rebels removed items at the scene and taken away the victims' bodies. If they have nothing to hide, why did they behave this way? On the other hand, it was said that the plane was shot using a Soviet-built BUK missile, which is very high tech and can only be operated by trained personnel. The missile can reach up to 70,000 feet. The MAS plane was reported to be flying at 30,000 feet, which is normal for a commercial plane. But today (22-7-2014), it was reported that Russia has officially denied supplying the BUK missiles to the rebels and blamed the CIA for the crime instead.
A team of more than 100 Malaysians (including the Transport Minister) had arrived in Ukraine yesterday and had established contact with both the Ukraine government and the Russian government, as well as the head of the rebel army. They had agreed to establish safe passage to the accident scene. It was further reported that they had released the black boxes to the Malaysian team and would be releasing the bodies of the victims to be taken to Amsterdam by Malaysian army planes for investigation. The Malaysian victims will be flown back to Malaysia for burial.
I believe at the end of the day the truth will not be found as to who the culprits were, while a great deal of international politicking will continue, with more sanctions on Russia, which will prove to be ineffective, as many countries and businessmen will continue to trade with Russia, though not so openly. After some years all will be forgotten. May the victims rest in peace.
After much efforts and overcoming many hurdles, the Malaysian government managed to bring home twenty bodies of victims on 22-8-2014. The plane carrying the bodies touched down at KLIA at around 10.00 in the morning. It was witnessed by the king and prime minister, cabinet ministers and diplomats with solders performing the carrying of the coffins from the plane to the waiting vans. The whole ceremony took about an hour and at the end of the ceremony, the whole nation stood at silence for one minute. 22-8-2014 was declared a national mourning day.
Qing Zhen's body was taken to the funeral parlour in Sungei Besi for a short religious ceremony and dress-up. It was taken to his home the next day for people to pay respect. The funeral wake was well attended by staff and students of Chinese schools in Klang, as he was very active in their activities for the schools' advancement, as well as relatives and friends. He was cremated at the Memorial Burial ground in Shah Alam the next day, 24-8-2014.
A picture from Sin Chew Daily showing the funeral procession.
A description of his social activities when he was alive, by Sin Chew Daily
A picture from Sin Chew Daily showing vans leaving the airport
Another picture from Sin Chew Daily showing unloading of coffins from
the plane and dignitaries praying.
Another picture from Sin Chew Daily showing the King and Prime
Minister praying at the ceremony
It was on a July morning (17-7-2014), while having breakfast with my wife and we were listening to news from a radio station, that we heard the sad and shocking news that a MAS plane MH17 was
shot down while flying over Ukraine. Our first natural reaction was: 'Oh my god, not again', as it was just over 4 months ago on 8-3-2014 that another MAS plane, MH370 disappeared and until today it has not been found. No one knows what had happened to the plane and all on board. The Malaysian government is still searching. What made the disaster more shocking was the call from my nephew that my niece's son was on board the ill-fated flight MH17. Again this was extremely hard to believe, as the chance of being on the plane was very, very slim. Yet it happened. This is nature's way of converging all concerned at the same place and time to make this event happen. We have to accept that it had happen. He was only 32, a bright and pleasant young man with a bright future ahead of him which was ended by some cruel and greedy politicians who fight to control territories. Let us hope justice will be done on these animals who kill others to gain power.
He was sent by his company to sign a contract to a project in Belgium with 2 other colleagues. They were booked on a KLM flight to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, transiting in Singapore. He wanted to travel by MAS, as it was a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur, but the flight was fully booked. However, MAS later called to say that seats were available, as there were some cancellation of booking. So he changed to the fateful flight, while his colleagues did not. That is how fate determines a person's life.
A report from Sinchew Daily
A Sinchew Daily report on 20-7-2014
Since that fateful day, 17-7-2014, there had been many versions of how the disaster happened. But one thing is now clear : the plane was shot down by one of the conflicting parties in the Ukraine conflict. The Ukraine government had released a taped transcript of conversations between the rebels, claiming they had downed a plane. The rebels, who control the territory where the plane was shot down, counterclaimed that it was shot down by the Ukrainian fighter plane, which was tailing the MAS plane for some time. We hope that the truth will come out after the international investigation team complete their job. It was reported that when the European Investigators went to the scene, the rebels were hostile, and allowed only limited access for only less than an hour before they fired shots into the air to chase away the investigators.
It was reported that the rebels removed items at the scene and taken away the victims' bodies. If they have nothing to hide, why did they behave this way? On the other hand, it was said that the plane was shot using a Soviet-built BUK missile, which is very high tech and can only be operated by trained personnel. The missile can reach up to 70,000 feet. The MAS plane was reported to be flying at 30,000 feet, which is normal for a commercial plane. But today (22-7-2014), it was reported that Russia has officially denied supplying the BUK missiles to the rebels and blamed the CIA for the crime instead.
A team of more than 100 Malaysians (including the Transport Minister) had arrived in Ukraine yesterday and had established contact with both the Ukraine government and the Russian government, as well as the head of the rebel army. They had agreed to establish safe passage to the accident scene. It was further reported that they had released the black boxes to the Malaysian team and would be releasing the bodies of the victims to be taken to Amsterdam by Malaysian army planes for investigation. The Malaysian victims will be flown back to Malaysia for burial.
I believe at the end of the day the truth will not be found as to who the culprits were, while a great deal of international politicking will continue, with more sanctions on Russia, which will prove to be ineffective, as many countries and businessmen will continue to trade with Russia, though not so openly. After some years all will be forgotten. May the victims rest in peace.
After much efforts and overcoming many hurdles, the Malaysian government managed to bring home twenty bodies of victims on 22-8-2014. The plane carrying the bodies touched down at KLIA at around 10.00 in the morning. It was witnessed by the king and prime minister, cabinet ministers and diplomats with solders performing the carrying of the coffins from the plane to the waiting vans. The whole ceremony took about an hour and at the end of the ceremony, the whole nation stood at silence for one minute. 22-8-2014 was declared a national mourning day.
Qing Zhen's body was taken to the funeral parlour in Sungei Besi for a short religious ceremony and dress-up. It was taken to his home the next day for people to pay respect. The funeral wake was well attended by staff and students of Chinese schools in Klang, as he was very active in their activities for the schools' advancement, as well as relatives and friends. He was cremated at the Memorial Burial ground in Shah Alam the next day, 24-8-2014.
A picture from Sin Chew Daily showing the funeral procession.
A description of his social activities when he was alive, by Sin Chew Daily
A picture from Sin Chew Daily showing vans leaving the airport
Another picture from Sin Chew Daily showing unloading of coffins from
the plane and dignitaries praying.
Minister praying at the ceremony
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Thoughts about share investments
Objective:
As everyone is different, the aim of investors to invest in shares listed on the stock exchange is to seek a good return on their investments.
As everyone is different, the aim of investors to invest in shares listed on the stock exchange is to seek a good return on their investments.
Monday, July 28, 2014
New Mentri Besar For Selangor?
A new Mentri Besar for Selangor?
The present Mentri Besar - Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
This is the hottest topic floating around Malaysia currently. The incumbent Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had served in the post for 1 term since Pakatan Rakyat won the election in the state in 2008 (8-3-2008), and 1 year in his second term after the election on 5-5-2013.
The present Mentri Besar - Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim
This is the hottest topic floating around Malaysia currently. The incumbent Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had served in the post for 1 term since Pakatan Rakyat won the election in the state in 2008 (8-3-2008), and 1 year in his second term after the election on 5-5-2013.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
World Weather Change
The weather change has become very extreme lately. It was reported that 2014 started off with very bad weather in US, with extraordinary amount of snowfall, causing many accidents and cancelled flights. The temperatures in many parts of the country have plunged below 20 degrees C, so cold that even a prisoner who had just escaped from prison in Kentucky voluntarily returned to the prison to escape that cold.
And Niagara Falls have become frozen.
The extreme cold in US where a prisoner voluntarily returned to his prison cell after escaping.
And yesterday, a report said that in Queensland, Australia, the temperatures had preached 40 degrees C and that thousands of bats, as much as 100,000 estimated, dropped from the sky, dead. The government now has a big problem on its hand it clean up the mess.
A report by Sinchew Daily on the hot weather in Australia
JULY 2014
Now, 26-7-2014, in Kuala Lumpur, the weather is hot and dry. There had been no rain for many days already. Since my return from overseas on 4-6-2014, there was rain only for a few days. The average storage dams level is now standing at 36.6%. The Selangor government had imposed a month long water rationing in April 2014. Since then water from unused mining ponds had been pumped into rivers, where treatment plants draw their raw water. Hopefully, this can hold off another round of rationing until normal rains return. We, the residents in Selangor, hope that the government can implement its earlier plan to tap water from the ground at this critical stage of water supply.
Another plane crash - AH5017
Algerian plane AH5017 - crashed!
OMG, not again! Yesterday a Taiwanese plane GE222 was reported to have crashed, killing 46 passengers. The cause of the crash was attributed to bad weather.
Today, the bad news is the crashing of an Algerian plane AH5017, killing all on board. It was reported half of the passengers were French. Most of us are asking why so many accidents involving commercial planes are happening at this time, to be more precise, 3 within a week. And in the latest crash, the number 17 again appear in the flight number. Is number 17 a cursed number?
OMG, not again! Yesterday a Taiwanese plane GE222 was reported to have crashed, killing 46 passengers. The cause of the crash was attributed to bad weather.
Today, the bad news is the crashing of an Algerian plane AH5017, killing all on board. It was reported half of the passengers were French. Most of us are asking why so many accidents involving commercial planes are happening at this time, to be more precise, 3 within a week. And in the latest crash, the number 17 again appear in the flight number. Is number 17 a cursed number?
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Crime 2
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