Screenshots

Selamat tengahari Jeff.
Saya rasa NST sudah terlebih pusing hingga menampilkan AAB sebagai seorang yang bongkak dan tidak berterima kasih. Saya tahu AAB amat mengasihi Dr Mahathir tetapi pengarang-pengarang NST yang dulunya berkerja dengan Straits Times Singapura amat membenci bekas PM kita (mereka juga amat benci DSAI). Saya rasa AAB tak baca suratkhabar, kalau tidak tentu beliau sendiri akan terperanjat dengan cara pengarang-pengarang beliau memusingkan isu ini. Memang menggerunkan. Nasib baiklah NST cuma jual 90,000 naskhah sahaja (lebih kurang 30,000 naskhah diberi percuma).
Sekian. Teruskan usaha anda. Saya seorang Melayu yang mendapati anda adil dan professional dalam nukilan anda.

Folks

Perhaps time to boycott the New Straits Times.

You don't need to read about local news and politics in the print media these days. You don't have to have your breakfast with newspapers in your hands.. those are days gone by when there was no internet or the World Wide Web.

You will be better informed than reading UMNO-owned NST, its propaganda machine on local politics camouflaged as national news.

Read here, other news sources: http://www.malaysiatimes.com/

http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/2005/08/khairy-chronicles-archives.htm

http://www.malaysia-today.net/Blog-e/

http://www.einnews.com/malaysia/

http://www.topix.net/world/malaysia

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/asia/my.html

http://202.186.86.214/v06/

I rated Brendan Pereira's commentary 10/10.

Dr M had put Msia's economy in the long road of decline. You should know this, and every Msian should know this. What Abd badawi did is just to reverse his wrong policies! Abd badawi is trying very hard on this and he need our support, your support and every Msian's support, which include NST, Star etc etc!!!!!!!!

Yes, Dr M has his right to say whatever he wanted to, but to me, he has another agenda, i.e making Abdullah a one term PM!

Enough is enough. Tunku, our visionary first PM, was forced to resigned and Tun Hussein Onn was also forced to resigned as a result from the same black hand, who i think is the real back stabber! Should Abdullah badawi be sacrificed the same way again???

You tell me.

NST [11 June] SUNDAY COLUMN: And who, really, is demonising whom? By Kalimullah Hassan

11 June, 2006

TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad says his criticisms of the current administration and his successor Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi are "not personal". His son, Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, is upset that ministers and others have criticised Dr Mahathir and says that what his father raised "was rational, so answer rationally".

And Dr Mahathir, ever the master strategist, has made his pre-emptive strike, predicting that "for the next 10 days, there will be lots of stories in the papers trying to demonise me, make me appear bad ...".

Therefore, if anybody criticises Dr Mahathir, then his prediction will come true — they are trying to demonise him.

The truth is that when Dr Mahathir retired, he was held in high esteem. People wished him well.

For the last two and a half years since his retirement, everyone, even his enemies, has treated him with kid gloves, not wanting to hurt his feelings because they all respected him and because he said he had retired.

So had my family and I, we had the greatest of respect.

When The Star’s deputy editor-in-chief Datuk Wong Chun Wai wrote that Dr Mahathir could have done more about wiping out graft when he was prime minister, he was swiftly shut up by criticisms from Dr Mahathir, and even Umno Youth president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Wong wrote in The Star that he sought a meeting with Dr Mahathir and apologised.

When Dr Mahathir attacked International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz over the Approved Permits (AP) issue, her belligerent defence of herself was pounced on by Umno members.

And then deputy minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin demanded that Rafidah apologise to Dr Mahathir.

But everyone knew that the AP policy had been contentious since its inception and that it was Dr Mahathir who appointed Rafidah as minister in charge of APs in 1987 and kept her there for the remainder of his 16 years in power.

Still, Rafidah sought to show her regrets by hugging Dr Mahathir and crying at the National Day parade last year.

From then on, Dr Mahathir criticised many Government actions, such as the decision to raise the price of oil after it doubled within a year to US$70 per barrel (which almost every country in the world had done), on Proton, on the National Automotive Policy.

The Government gave explanations but to little avail.

Proton chairman Datuk Azlan Hashim failed to get an appointment with Dr Mahathir to explain the decisions.

Yet, all those at the receiving end exercised restraint. Out of respect. Out of a desire not to hurt Dr Mahathir’s feelings. Out of a wish to ensure his image as an elder statesman was preserved.

Then came the Cabinet decision to call off building the crooked bridge to Singapore.

Dr Mahathir unleashed the full force of his fury, and once again, a scenario the country had seen repeatedly during his 23 years of power was played out again.

Scathing remarks and provocative statements intended to provoke an equal and opposite reaction were made, like "half-past six Government with no guts", "selling out the country", "giving up the country’s sovereignty".

Yet, again, restraint. Restraint. Restraint.

When former Foreign Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Fuzi Abdul Razak replied rationally, point for point, Dr Mahathir dismissed his answers as "rambling".

It was still not good enough.

His adviser, former politician Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, arranged an interview with Malaysiakini, the Internet news site which he disliked with a passion when Dr Mahathir was prime minister.

Even then, despite Dr Mahathir’s scathing remarks, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi exercised what former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam describes as "an elegant silence".

The Prime Minister was in Japan shortly after the Malaysiakini article appeared and was told that Dr Mahathir wanted to come and see him.

Abdullah, in the midst of breakfast with aides and officials, immediately put on his tie and told the ambassador that he would go and see his ex-boss rather than let Dr Mahathir come down and see him.

Yet, less than two weeks later, Dr Mahathir invited the foreign Press to his office and lambasted Abdullah and his administration.

He accused the current administration and Abdullah of many things — stabbing him in the back, ingratitude, and perhaps, the most provocative suggestion was that while he (Dr Mahathir) had no power to remove Abdullah, he said "it is for his own party (Umno) to remove him".

This time, the reaction that Dr Mahathir wanted came — from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to members of the Cabinet, mentris besar and chief ministers, the public and even some opposition parties.

They backed Abdullah and reminded Dr Mahathir that while he may have chosen Abdullah as his successor, the Prime Minister’s mandate came from the electorate which in 2004 voted in the current administration with the most popular margin in Malaysian history.

It is admirable for Mukhriz to display filial piety but what is the rationale for his father accusing the whole Cabinet of treason?

That’s what it really is when you say they sold out the country, that they are a Government with no guts, that they acted against the nation’s interests.

Was any thought given to how this would go down with investors and foreign Governments dealing with this administration?

What is the rationale for accusing the Prime Minister, who has never shown any disrespect to him, of ingratitude, of stabbing him in the back, and of suggesting that Abdullah can be removed by Umno?

Sure, Mukhriz feels hurt. Which son or daughter would want to see his or her father criticised?

What about the sons and daughters of the people accused of selling out their own country? How would they feel?

Several times since the crooked bridge was called off, Dr Mahathir has accused me of masterminding what he perceives as a "blackout" of him in the Press, not only in the New Straits Times group of which I am deputy chairman, but also in other mainstream media.

At a couple of Press conferences, he joked about my name, saying that the media was controlled by a Hindu God (Kali) and a Muslim priest (Mullah).

Some guys thought it was witty and laughed with him.

Go do a Google search, type: "Meaning of Kalimullah".

The answer you get is: Musa is the Arabic name of the Prophet Moses. He is also referred to by the title Kalimullah meaning "He who spoke with Allah". Musa is one of the prophets of Islam.

Doesn’t sound so funny or witty now, does it? Making fun of the prophets never is.

I am no prophet. I have all the imperfections and weaknesses of a mere mortal.

But as God is my witness, the accusations against me are false.

I did not respond although I was hurt. I did not respond when my 18-year-old daughter called me from Australia, crying, asking whether I was in trouble.

I did not respond because I reasoned that Dr Mahathir was angry the crooked bridge had been called off and that he was lashing out; and because he was someone I once had great respect for.

But I did wonder: Why me?

Dr Mahathir says it again and again, never checking whether his accusations are true.

Tells you something, doesn’t it?

So do I tell my children that making fun of their father’s name and accusing him of things he did not do is rational?

Just like accusing the Cabinet of selling out their country. What is so rational about that?

And who, really, is demonising whom?

In south korea, they jail ex-PM and their cronies. maybe we should abandon islamic nation and look east to "confucianism".

Folks

In many ways, Kalimullah as a point in what he says about Tun Dr. Mahathir.

Pak Lah will be on term PM cos of his own actions.Look at his manifesto and his promises, how much has he delivered? So all this is more his snafus than Dr.M or others.His flipflops and his indecisiveness.IPCMC!!!??? Evenpolice with only 95k votes can threaten him. Weak leader?

People are unhappy and hopefully BN understand this.Or they willsay DAH Jangka in the next GE.

Each for his own gang again.Perpetual finger pointing will lead us to nowhere.Who is really for the nation ? As far as I can see both sides are very destructive to the national interest.

Only Pak Lah ,on his personal basis, and his elegant silence is , but not necessarily those who are behind him;less still are those who are pretending to be with him.

We all should be for the nation and not necessarily for individuals.Leaders come and leaders go.Our duty is to ensure that the nation would continue to grow stronger with each change.

The one who had sold the country and ransack it is now having a very big laugh. yet non dare touch him.

Where do we go from here ?.There must either be a move towards a "gang reconciliation" otherwise we need to bring back the guillotine and dealt with everyone accordingly in a complete national cleansing exercise.

to KK

did u mistype ?

I think u should mean the other way round ?

In the history of BN's rule in Malaysia - never has there been such a deplorable issue of the following :-

1. squadgate - but for the fact that the victims of police brutality were of Chinese's nationality, I think such abhorable state of affairs would still continue ... in other words, if there was no *mistake* that the photo was of a local nationality, it wouldn't have attracted so many criticisms and the issue on the IPCMC ...

2. all the propaganda about changing lifestyle's after the 30sen petrol increase and the current increase for TNB's tarriff ...

3. fulfilling's the 2004 manifesto's / mandate has been given ? when will the govt walk the talk ?

4. like Amir's interesting piece on MP wearing eye-patches, perhaps everyone should start it as a fashion statement for literally closing one's eye and the acceptance of Sharir's resignation as BBC Chairperson.

5. whom has amassed filthy amount of wealth with his father-in-law saying that he has no idea that the ministry he is in charged of approved of the buying of his son-in-law's company ?

6. despite many arrests that have been made on traffic offenders who did not pay their summons, the PM has the cheek to say that he didn't know. Talk about special privelege - he even gets a hefty discounts even for speeding ... and his previous cry/plea for driving safely does to where now ?

to kk - ru kidding me ?

If Mahathir is at helm, there will be no such thing as IPCMC - guaranteed for life!

According to above article by Kalimullah ".......The Prime Minister was in Japan shortly after the Malaysiakini article appeared and was told that Dr Mahathir wanted to come and see him."

Someone in other mailing list posted interesting comment.

http://www.kmu.net.my/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=6592#179076

Maklumat TERKINI!

Msg dari Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir berbunyi "Kali lied in today's article when he said Tun requested to meet PM & PM said he should be the one to go to Tun's room whilst in Tokyo. Tun NEVER made that request"

Msg selanjutnya Kawan terima diPDA Phone Kawan "Kali & mainstream media will now start to highlight those "failed" projects/policies done during Tun's time. Starts w/today on judiciary interference"

So who wants to see who?:)

msia will always thank these 2 fellas in destroying us. who needs earthquakes and tsunami or volcanoes?

Okay great Kalimullah.. just expose whatever necessary.. corruptions etc

yeah syed ... agreed ... but at least the Tun will start and finish off what he started ...

why la like some1 start something to make us all syok sendiri but no action thus far ? this equally also wasting good money of the people ...

AAB wanted a XXL cabinet that is bigger than Tun's ...

poof ... he gets it ... what despite the XXL cabinet ada apa yang dibuat ?

ada ! naik harga minyak and TNB rates ... do they need such a big/XXL cabinet to decide on this issue ?

now that NST has humiliated themselves by eating their own spins ... i really suka ! spin la spin some more ... spin until lose control and then cry like a small baby in a baby pram !

so much for quality journalism for mainstream press ... malaysia MANA boleh with these humilidying clowns ???

To cre8tif

Abd Badawi,as any human being, is not perfect. You compare Badawi's policies to Mahathir's., see any difference??

squadgate issue?
Yeah, it happened under AAB's administration, but is this because of his wrong policies?? This scandal only confirmed the immediate need
of IPCMC. Is AAB not supporting the setting up of IPCMC?

Petrol hikes?
This in fact was long overdue. What the gov didn't do well here is explaining and educating the people, about the needs for the hikes. and at the same time assist those who needs help as a result of the hikes.
This is not something to be done overnight, but the gov somehow was not handling this hikes properly. And let me tell
you, another big problem here is that AAB in fact has a very lousy "assistant"., deputy, Get it??

Fulling the mandate of the people??
Do you think AAB can do this alone?? And within 2 yrs?? As i mentioned, AAB has his own weaknesses. AAB i believe is facing enormous resistence in trying to put right what have gone wrong in the past 2 decades.
Can you imagine, all those were there for more than 22 yrs and deeply rooted. The reforms could have been performed faster, but we don know what actually
were jeopardizing AAB. Let me ask you, if you were the PM today, are you sure you can bring more drastic changes today??

You have brought out some other issues as well such as the BBC Shahrir and the father/son-in-law stuff. I can't offer you any explanation here., but these for the moment,
does not warrant you to call it a day with AAB administration.
But again, let me ask you, who you want to be the new PM if AAB is toppled? N???? Are you sure? If so, you better change your lifestyle first!
Your company has a vacancy and needs someone able to spk Mandarin because you have a huge market in China. Instead of asking people to learn Mandarin,
you are asked to remove the requirement. Can you imagine how Msian and whole lot of them including senior politicians are still living in such a state of
self-denial after 50 yrs of independence??? BTW, singapore LKY is asking his people to learn Malay too besides English and Mandarin nowadays!!

AAB generally is following the correct policies. But again, he needs my support, your support and everyone's support to continue his reforms. I don't know what will
happen if Dr M got his wish successfully as he did with Tunku before, but one thing for sure, there will be no future!