On Anwar’s claim that the sodomy charge was aimed at embarrassing him, Najib was quoted by Bernama as saying: “It’s not to embarrass (him). This concerned a complaint made by an individual; under the country’s law everyone regardless of his or her position has the same right.”
OUR UMNO RESPONSE TO A SCANDALOUS MESS IS NEAT AND CATEGORISED. CASH AND SEX ARE THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLE OF MASS INTEREST, EACH WITH A SPRAWLING MAGNETIC FIELD. WE DIVIDE THE HEMISPHERES WITH THE EQUATOR OF LOGIC. CASH AND CORRUPTION ARE THE PRESERVE OF POLITICS. SEX IS THE PROVINCE OF GLAMOUR. WE REFUSE TO RECOGNISE ANY CROSS-OVEREVIDENCE.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today said that there was no abuse of power on his part in his exchange of text-messages with lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in relation to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.
However, despite such new suppression, irreversible damage is done. There is little doubt that Najib is deeply troubled and his political position seriously weakened.
Manipulation
That this murder case has been subjected to serious political manipulation has been obvious from the very start, when the police commenced their highly questionable investigation, right through to the present trial when the conduct of lawyers for both sides appear increasingly dubious. Instead of the prosecutor seeking the truth and the defense lawyer fighting for the accused, both seem preoccupied with an overriding mission – to prevent the whole truth from emerging. Their combined efforts to cover up the issue of the immigration record and the identity of Najib Razak in the picture are just two examples of such conduct.
Less than 24 hours later, he retracted the SD and disappeared from the scene. Now he has re-emerged. In an 88-second undated video clip, he says that he was offered RM5 million to retract that damning statutory declaration.
The highly irregular nature of this case was also marked by frequent and mysterious changes of legal personnel, resulting in a complete changeover of the defense team, the prosecutors and the judge even before the hearings began. These weird phenomena were crowned by the shock appearance of a new team of prosecutors who were appointed only hours before the hearing was supposed to begin, thus necessitating an impromptu postponement of the trial for two weeks. None of these changes of legal personnel has been properly explained, except for the resignation of Abdul Razak’s first lawyer; Zulkifli Noordin, quit, he said, because of “serious interference by third parties”.
Under these circumstances, the public must brace itself for more aberrant scenarios from this court, while Najib and his supporters may have to keep their fingers crossed in the days ahead when many more witnesses have yet to walk through what must appear to Najib as a minefield.
On a more serious note, this unseemly trial does not exactly add credit to Malaysia’s system, whose already wretched image
However, despite such new suppression, irreversible damage is done. There is little doubt that Najib is deeply troubled and his political position seriously weakened.
Manipulation
That this murder case has been subjected to serious political manipulation has been obvious from the very start, when the police commenced their highly questionable investigation, right through to the present trial when the conduct of lawyers for both sides appear increasingly dubious. Instead of the prosecutor seeking the truth and the defense lawyer fighting for the accused, both seem preoccupied with an overriding mission – to prevent the whole truth from emerging. Their combined efforts to cover up the issue of the immigration record and the identity of Najib Razak in the picture are just two examples of such conduct.
Less than 24 hours later, he retracted the SD and disappeared from the scene. Now he has re-emerged. In an 88-second undated video clip, he says that he was offered RM5 million to retract that damning statutory declaration.
The highly irregular nature of this case was also marked by frequent and mysterious changes of legal personnel, resulting in a complete changeover of the defense team, the prosecutors and the judge even before the hearings began. These weird phenomena were crowned by the shock appearance of a new team of prosecutors who were appointed only hours before the hearing was supposed to begin, thus necessitating an impromptu postponement of the trial for two weeks. None of these changes of legal personnel has been properly explained, except for the resignation of Abdul Razak’s first lawyer; Zulkifli Noordin, quit, he said, because of “serious interference by third parties”.
Manipulation
That this murder case has been subjected to serious political manipulation has been obvious from the very start, when the police commenced their highly questionable investigation, right through to the present trial when the conduct of lawyers for both sides appear increasingly dubious. Instead of the prosecutor seeking the truth and the defense lawyer fighting for the accused, both seem preoccupied with an overriding mission – to prevent the whole truth from emerging. Their combined efforts to cover up the issue of the immigration record and the identity of Najib Razak in the picture are just two examples of such conduct.
Less than 24 hours later, he retracted the SD and disappeared from the scene. Now he has re-emerged. In an 88-second undated video clip, he says that he was offered RM5 million to retract that damning statutory declaration.
The highly irregular nature of this case was also marked by frequent and mysterious changes of legal personnel, resulting in a complete changeover of the defense team, the prosecutors and the judge even before the hearings began. These weird phenomena were crowned by the shock appearance of a new team of prosecutors who were appointed only hours before the hearing was supposed to begin, thus necessitating an impromptu postponement of the trial for two weeks. None of these changes of legal personnel has been properly explained, except for the resignation of Abdul Razak’s first lawyer; Zulkifli Noordin, quit, he said, because of “serious interference by third parties”.
Under these circumstances, the public must brace itself for more aberrant scenarios from this court, while Najib and his supporters may have to keep their fingers crossed in the days ahead when many more witnesses have yet to walk through what must appear to Najib as a minefield.
On a more serious note, this unseemly trial does not exactly add credit to Malaysia’s system, whose already wretched image
On a more serious note, this unseemly trial does not exactly add credit to Malaysia’s system, whose already wretched image
What is happening? No appeal for a murder case and yet in Raja Petra’s habeas corpus case, the appeal is made very quickly. The Malaysian public has the right to know the reasons for this apparent discrimination. Maybe, Razak Baginda is a close associate of the Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, whereas Raja Petra is Najib’s strongest critic. If not, what else? Please, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Majid Tun Hamzah, can you explain? —Din Merican
| www.malaysiakini.com No appeal against Abdul Razak’s acquittal |
| Hafiz Yatim | November 14, 2008 |
The clock has run down on a possible appeal against the acquittal of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who had been charged with abetting in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. The prosecution had 14 days to file an appeal after Shah Alam High Court Judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin delivered his ruling on October 31.  Checks with the court registry at 5pm today showed that no appeal has been filed.Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Majid Tun Hamzah(right) said the court had made a finding of fact and he confirmed that the prosecution would not file an appeal. “No further comments as there is an on-going trial,” he said when contacted Mohd Zaki in his written judgment had said: “Once the essential elements of abetment – by instigation, by conspiracy and by aiding – [...] are not proven on the basis of prima facieevidence, any other inferences and doubts that may have arisen must be resolved, as is trite, in favour of the accused person.  “It is not for the court to call for the defence merely to clear or clarify such doubts [...] I find there is no prima faciecase for him (Abdul Razak, left) to answer his charge…”However, the judge ordered Special Action Squad police officers Azilah Hadri, 32, and Sirul Azhar Umar, 38, to enter their defence. They are jointly accused of murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor between 10am on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.They have elected to testify under oath when the hearing resumes on Nov 10. Their other options were either to give a statement from the dock or to remain silent. ‘A Big Blow’ Veteran lawyer Karpal Singh, who is holding a watching brief for Shaariibuu Setev and the Mongolian government, described the prosecution’s decision as a big blow to his clients.  “It is truly unfortunate the prosecution is not filing an appeal against the High Court decision as I feel there was a prima facie case to be answered by Abdul Razak based on his affidavit,” he said.“This is not beyond reasonable doubt where the judge can decide not to call Abdul Razak. The political analyst should be called to answer. Azilah and Sirul may not have done it alone without any instructions. Somebody else is behind it.” Karpal said there will be repercussions as the international community will question Malaysia’s legal system. “I believe there will be an international outcry as the Mongolian government and Shaariibuu may intend to bring this matter to the higher authorities. “In fact, they have indicated to bring the matter to higher levels including the International Court of Justice. However, I think this may not be possible.” |
Meanwhile, enjoy this wonderful rendition of I Will Always Love You from Ziana Zain. Rosmah Mansor cannot match or pegang lilin to Ziana vocal prowess la. Maybe should take singing lessons from ZianaNazri, in taking a swipe at Najib, said those who are prime minister must have high moral standards. “caught in the act of adultery” with Zaina Zain in Port Dickson, which is actually a smokescreen!! Najib had indeed been caught with that actress, but not in Port Dickson but in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Najib’s special Branch officers had inserted the story of it being in Port Dickson in order to lay the ground for his alibi and it has now been conveniently covered up and the blame place on his underlings in the Army!!
“I don’t talk about morality. We don’t preach. We don’t aspire to be prime minister. Those who aspire to be PM must show high morals
How A Chance Encounter With Human Excrement Empowered
I refer to the statement by the Attorney-General’s chambers claiming that the decision to apppeal against Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal is based on evidence and the law and will enable them to obtain the grounds of judgement and apppreciate the judge’s reasoning. In fact, the appeal is politically motivated, legally unsound and influenced by the ruling BN party. If the AG’s chambers had really proceeded solely on the evidence and the law, there would have been no appeal filed against the acquittal. The only kind of law the appeal could possibly be based upon is the law of the jungle.The appeal is a major embarassment to the regional and international reputation of our country. Once again UMNO has made our justice system the object of global mock and ridicule.
The A-G’s chambers has been a willing tool in the hands of UMNO in its vicious, immoral and relentless persecution of Anwar Ibrahim. Since 1998, the A-G’s chambers has been a key player in UMNO’s attempts to imprison Anwar and terminate his political career. The current Attorney- General Abdul Gani Patail who made the decision to file this appeal, featured prominently in the first sodomy trial which ended in Anwar’s 6 years imprisonment for a crime he did not commit.
The A-G’s chambers’ excuse that they needed to file the appeal in order to ‘appreciate the grounds considered by the learned judge in arriving at that decision’ is simply absurd and untenable. The chambers must weigh the necessity of appeal based on the totality of the evidence presented at the trial and the flaws and shortcomings of the prosecution case. As clearly demonstrated by his counsel at trial, the case against Anwar is so full of holes that there is no necessity to even look at the judge’s grounds of judgement.
The filing of this appeal is an outrageous example of the unscrupulous abuse of State powers which has become the trademark of the Barisan Nasional coalition over the past 54 years of its corrupt and authoritarian rule. This appeal is further evidence that Najib’s promises of change and reform were nothing more than a massive and hypocritical fraud upon the people of this nation. The motive for the appeal is to jail Anwar and hinder Pakatan Rakyat from winning Federal power in the coming general election. Come what may, Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat will never falter or fail in the ongoing battle for change and reform, and for a fair and just Malaysia.
“Most Malaysians have grown so cynical over the unrelenting series of criminal charges brought
against Anwar, that the proposition (that BN wants to stop Anwar) is the most natural and compelling inference to be drawn,” Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee (right) told The Malaysian Insider.
against Anwar, that the proposition (that BN wants to stop Anwar) is the most natural and compelling inference to be drawn,” Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee (right) told The Malaysian Insider.He also questioned why Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden — “the third most important man in the Attorney General’s Chambers” — should spend his time “prosecuting this crime which is victimless and based on morality” instead of more serious offences such as corruption and murder.
James Chin, a political science lecturer at Monash University, told AP that the move reflects negatively on Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s claims that he does not interfere with the Judiciary and is serious about ensuring civil liberty.
“It’s back to square one. It is a setback for Anwar because he will have to spend time in the appeal process and won’t be able to focus fully on forthcoming elections,” he said.
Ibrahim Suffian of independent pollsters Merdeka Center also told Reuters “the appeal by the prosecution plays into the opposition story that the government will not stop at anything to get rid of the Anwar politically. It also clouds Prime Minister Najib’s reforms at this crucial time before an election. Like it or not, Malaysians tend to feel that the government is behind this [trial],” he said.
The opposition, especially Anwar himself, has campaigned hard across the country ever since Saiful first made the accusation in June 2008, claiming the allegation is a political ploy to end Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) hopes of coming into power. But the government failed to seize the opportunity given by the High Court here to “bow out gracefully from Anwar’s politically motivated prosecution,” said Human Rights Watch.
“This decision means the citizens of Malaysia will be further subjected to the more political machinations in the courtroom as the government perpetuates this travesty of a trial for a crime that should not be a crime in the first place,” said the human rights watchdog’s deputy Asia chief Phil Robertson. Anwar, 64, was similarly indicted of sodomy in 1998, before being exonerated six years later.The PKR de facto leader then led the PR opposition pact to deny BN its customary two-third majority of Parliament and five state governments.
Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, chairman of electoral reforms movement Bersih, believes the Najib administration’s move may prove to be counterproductive.“Any goodwill they may have gained by the acquittal now down the drain with this appeal. Pity!” she said on micro-blogging site Twitter yesterday.
Predictability may give a sense of stability and confidence, but it does tend to get somewhat boring. Think about the most interesting people you know. They will certainly have unpredictable edges to their personality. In fact, aren’t we all strangely attracted to people who are erratic in their behaviour and somewhat elusive? They may not give us a sense of stability but they do stimulate the mind and make life interesting.
That is why romance is best enjoyed in its initial stages, when you are still discovering each other. Each new discovery is the cause of excitement and joy — bits and pieces of a puzzle that make up the concoction you are getting increasingly drunk on.
And then, slowly you get used to each other and life falls into a pattern. Whereas initially you loved to watch him shave, now his precise, just-so movements irritate you with their predictable sameness. Her lilting tone, which tugged at your heartstrings, irritates with its slowness! Nothing has changed, except that you are both used to and well versed with each other’s rhythms now. And there is no excitement in the predictable! It is the unknown and unexpected that beguiles and tempts.
What can be more predictable and beautiful than sunrise every morning and sunset that follows each night? And yet we tend to take these for granted. It is the unpredictable rainstorm that excites us! Similarly in relationships, after a while we tend to take our loved ones for granted, used as we are to them, and get attracted to people who are unknown entities with undiscovered traits, and hence exciting for us.
And so, don’t you think there is an advantage in deliberately disturbing set patterns around us and stirring up the staid and habitual with doses of the unexpected and unpredictable? Should we not make a deliberate attempt to be unpredictable? In an office situation too unpredictability helps one stay on top. You will always find those around trying to use your predictable responses and behaviour to their advantage. If you introduce a totally unpredictable note with inexplicable behaviour and responses, you will succeed in putting them on the defensive and thus help protect yourself.
Both in a relationship as well as professionally, unpredictability arouses interest and keeps attention focused on the person. Behaviour that seems to have no consistency or purpose is what keeps people on their toes and generates curiosity and interest. Most of us instinctively gravitate towards a situation where we can safely withdraw to the comfort of routine and compulsive actions. But it is the unpredictable man who is always kept in mind.
Animals behave in set patterns and that is what makes them vulnerable to attack. Humans have the capability of overcoming the instinct to be creatures of habit and routine.
A good relationship is one where there should be enough predictability to lull us into a state of security but not enough to make it dull and boring for us. Ideally, romance can be kept alive forever if we introduce some unexpected nuances at each corner. A relationship where you expect the unexpected keeps you on your toes and in a state of happy excitement. Taken to an extreme, unpredictability is also a good terror tactic. We are all scared of that which we do not understand or cannot predict. Powerful people often use the tactic of deliberately unsettling those around them so as to keep them always guessing, always scared. Pablo Picasso reportedly used unpredictability as a good bargaining technique. Once he told his art dealer Paul Rosenberg out of the blue that he wouldn’t supply him his work any longer. The idea was that Rosenberg should worry the next 48 hours about what had happened and then ultimately return with a higher bid for his paintings! Picasso worked at peace in the meanwhile. Being unpredictable however doesn’t mean indulging in knee-jerk or spur-of-the-moment reactions. Unpredictability, in order to be used as a successful tool, must have a method to it. It is important we study our behaviour and the usual patterns it falls into and then try to break some of these patterns in a deliberate manner to bring in some excitement into life and keep those around hooked onto you!
That is why romance is best enjoyed in its initial stages, when you are still discovering each other. Each new discovery is the cause of excitement and joy — bits and pieces of a puzzle that make up the concoction you are getting increasingly drunk on.
And then, slowly you get used to each other and life falls into a pattern. Whereas initially you loved to watch him shave, now his precise, just-so movements irritate you with their predictable sameness. Her lilting tone, which tugged at your heartstrings, irritates with its slowness! Nothing has changed, except that you are both used to and well versed with each other’s rhythms now. And there is no excitement in the predictable! It is the unknown and unexpected that beguiles and tempts.
What can be more predictable and beautiful than sunrise every morning and sunset that follows each night? And yet we tend to take these for granted. It is the unpredictable rainstorm that excites us! Similarly in relationships, after a while we tend to take our loved ones for granted, used as we are to them, and get attracted to people who are unknown entities with undiscovered traits, and hence exciting for us.
And so, don’t you think there is an advantage in deliberately disturbing set patterns around us and stirring up the staid and habitual with doses of the unexpected and unpredictable? Should we not make a deliberate attempt to be unpredictable? In an office situation too unpredictability helps one stay on top. You will always find those around trying to use your predictable responses and behaviour to their advantage. If you introduce a totally unpredictable note with inexplicable behaviour and responses, you will succeed in putting them on the defensive and thus help protect yourself.
Both in a relationship as well as professionally, unpredictability arouses interest and keeps attention focused on the person. Behaviour that seems to have no consistency or purpose is what keeps people on their toes and generates curiosity and interest. Most of us instinctively gravitate towards a situation where we can safely withdraw to the comfort of routine and compulsive actions. But it is the unpredictable man who is always kept in mind.
Animals behave in set patterns and that is what makes them vulnerable to attack. Humans have the capability of overcoming the instinct to be creatures of habit and routine.
A good relationship is one where there should be enough predictability to lull us into a state of security but not enough to make it dull and boring for us. Ideally, romance can be kept alive forever if we introduce some unexpected nuances at each corner. A relationship where you expect the unexpected keeps you on your toes and in a state of happy excitement. Taken to an extreme, unpredictability is also a good terror tactic. We are all scared of that which we do not understand or cannot predict. Powerful people often use the tactic of deliberately unsettling those around them so as to keep them always guessing, always scared. Pablo Picasso reportedly used unpredictability as a good bargaining technique. Once he told his art dealer Paul Rosenberg out of the blue that he wouldn’t supply him his work any longer. The idea was that Rosenberg should worry the next 48 hours about what had happened and then ultimately return with a higher bid for his paintings! Picasso worked at peace in the meanwhile. Being unpredictable however doesn’t mean indulging in knee-jerk or spur-of-the-moment reactions. Unpredictability, in order to be used as a successful tool, must have a method to it. It is important we study our behaviour and the usual patterns it falls into and then try to break some of these patterns in a deliberate manner to bring in some excitement into life and keep those around hooked onto you!
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