Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

The proverb is not intended to offend Greeks in general but refers to the celebrated and infamous cunningness and trickery in the guise of a Trojan Horse. In mythology, a Trojan Horse was left by the departing Greek army who failed in their siege of Troy. Unknown to Troy, inside the giant statue were hidden well armed Greek warriors. This statue was pulled into the centre of the walled fortress city by the victors. These warriors then came out late at night to kill all of the soldiers of Troy who were fast asleep after a night of celebrations. Trojan horses like computer viruses are meant to sabotage and implode the system or the political party from the inside.

Like the legendary Troy, Parti KeAdilan Rakyat is such a formidable political foe that from its beginning it has had its fair share of spies, moles, plants, infiltrators, agen provocateurs, pretenders, opportunists and trojans. The ever welcoming and charming Anwar Ibrahim seems to invite and trusts everyone into the party even into making up the upper echelons of leadership. However there are some in kind who do betray their trust. Latecomers and self promoted liberals like Zaid is the latest in the line of those upon disenchantment with the party who gnaws it with sharpened gnashing teeth and stabs it with steely knives. Others fall out gracefully and keep their honour and respect. There are others who upon leaving lose their sense of sanity to keep on cursing and swearing to the point of being maniacal in an unusual outpouring of hate for the party , their ex-colleagues and estranged comrades.

Then there are also outsiders, one in the form of an ex mufti and self promoted progressive alim who ought to know better. His offering of advice which was apparently seen to be orchestrated from high above was for the de facto leader of PKR to step down. This is politically not plausible but he does not care. He quickly backtracked when faced with severe criticism and the threat of losing his reputation.The ex mufti said the same of Pak Lah when the latter was on his way down. This person has never been consistent but he has a place for ranting pieces in Utusan of all places.

One anecdote has it that when rumours abound of a mass exodus of ulama opting to join UMNO, our youngest son asked his eldest sister about it and its effect. His sister asked if Ustaz Nik Aziz of PAS was one of them. Her brother said no but so and so was mentioned. Her terse reply came, "if he's the one who says this and that is religious innovation then its OK, UMNO can have him!"

Like they say, beware of Greeks bearing gifts.

When pigs fly

When pigs fly

A well known English idiom.

It will happen "when pigs fly". Pigs do not fly, so it will never happen. Usually it means it will be prevented from happening, that it is politically impossible, at least for many decades. (usingenglish.com)

People used to say this before PRU-12, the March 2008 elections, "when pigs fly" meaning a PAS-DAP pact or cooperation will never ever happen.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Closure Of Abattoir, A Relief For Residents

ALOR SETAR, July 3 (Bernama) --

Residents in Kampung Berjaya here have requested all quarters not to politicise the closure of a pig abattoir in the village because they want it so. Trader Azizan Ahmad, 50, said residents staying within the vicinity of the abattoir, which had been operating for more than 30 years, had long wanted it to be closed as they could not stand the stench."The matter should not be politicised or made an excuse by Kedah DAP to pull out of the state Pakatan Rakyat government," he told Bernama here Friday.

Basharudin Said, 65, said the action by DAP reflected that the party did not care about the needs of the local residents who wanted the abattoir to be closed."Everybody agrees that the abattoir be closed because of the stench...food operators nearby also complain of poor business because not many people go to their shops," he added.

A mechanic, Tan Khien Hin, 48, regarded DAP's action as a futile move because majority of the residents supported the closure of the abattoir."It is apt that the abattoir be closed because it has been there for a long time, not suitable anymore. Furthermore, there are other places to slaughter (pigs)," he added.

Last Wednesday, Kedah DAP chairman Thomas Su Keong Siong announced that DAP was pulling out of the state Pakatan Rakyat government because of the party's dissatisfaction over several issues, especially the demolition of the pig abattoir in Kampung Berjaya.Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, when asked to comment on the matter, said it was up to DAP whether or not to remain in the state Pakatan Rakyat government as the state government had done its best accommodate their demands.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Malaysian Insider excerpts)–

Kedah DAP has applied more pressure on the PAS-led state government in a move that seems to be fueled by the public backing of DAP supremos, Its sole state assemblyman Lee Guan Aik made clear today. While acknowledging that the illegal pig abattoir has been a problem for decades since Barisan Nasional (BN) were in charge, he said that the people voted for a new government “because they want to see a change for the better.”

Kedah DAP has claimed that six sites had been suggested for a relocation but all were shot down while Azizan insists that a site in Pendang near a Chinese village had already been earmarked.
Lee today also said that the 28 butchers at the abattoir “were made to believe that the government was looking for a new site.”

However, PKR Kedah chief Ahmad Kassim said that while the mentri besar promised to facilitate the application process for the new site, the operator had only submitted his application last week.His deputy Tan Show Kang also pointed out that the operator has also been asked to relocate by the BN state government more than 10 years ago but this was not executed.

Pemuda UMNO bertindak berang terhadap DAP dan PAS di Melaka

MELAKA, July 3 (Malaysiakini excerpts)

Pemuda Umno Bukit Katil mengaku ahlinya telah bertindak memecahkan sebuah meja dalam kekecohan dengan DAP dan PAS di pasar malam Taman Melaka Baru, malam tadi.Selain seorang wakil rakyat DAP didakwa mengalami luka-luka, seorang ahli Umno ditahan di balai polis Batu Berendam selama enam jam sejak 9 malam bagi membantu siasatan.

Setiausahanya Safrie Abdullah berkata, kejadian tersebut berlaku selepas pertikaman lidah antara kira-kira 40 ahli dan penyokong Pemuda Umno dengan kumpulan seangkatannya dalam DAP dan PAS.

Pemuda Umno Bukit Katil, Melaka didakwa bertindak liar dengan memecah peralatan milik PAS dan DAP dan menimbulkan kekecohan sehingga tercedera seorang ADUN pembangkang, malam tadi.Sewaktu kejadian, dua parti Pakatan Rakyat itu - yang sedang mengalami konflik besar di Kedah - sedang berkempen menggalakkan orang ramai mendaftar sebagai pemilih baru di sebuah pasar malam.

Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno bahagian Jailani Khamis "dengan bongkak dan sombong memaki hamun pemimpin DAP dan PAS" yang membuka kaunter pendaftaran di Taman Melaka Baru, kata ketua penerangan PAS Melaka, Sofi Wahab hari ini.

The Man behind Penanti

The Man behind Penanti

All the king’s men and all the king’s horses couldn’t save Humpty Dumpty from falling down. Kak Min got massive media coverage and precious national air time like no other political personality but Penanti trounced her good. She got a mere over 300 votes from a nationwide campaign and TV losing her deposit as expected.

As Saifudin Nasution predicted and stated sarcastically, that at the moment things are not going well at all for BN because whatever good they do, the rakyat is suspicious and doubtful, whereas anything negative about BN is accepted without qualms.

The bye elections were boring and tiresome for some officials to easily doze off while unprecedentedly BN itself shied away knowing they stood no chance.

Any way she lost to a better opponent who had struggled through thick and thin with Anwar Ibrahim, sharing his ideals of reform even when he was still in government.

Dr Mansor Othman contested and lost 3 times with the last on 8^th of April 2008 being defeated by a mere 300 vote margin. Ustaz Makhtar Shafie, the ADUN for Sg Bakap was luckier by winning at his third try by defeating the incumbent Deputy Chief Minister. Ustaz Makhtar is also respected for being consistent and loyal in clinging to PKR’s uphill struggle after the heavy losses suffered in 2004. Not many could endure the pain of defeat, the sense of hopelessness and being in a never ending political wilderness.

Dr Mansor left a comfortable job as an associate professor and head of department in USM to join ADIL, the fledgling PKN and the emerging PKR. It was a sacrifice not many would undertake considering the economic difficulties, hardship and sure harassment he endured. He would be seen taking a bus from Penang to attend meetings in KL. He was met with al marhum Sheikh Azmi who also took an ordinary passenger bus to attend a high level Parti KeAdilan event. Once Saifudin Nasution was picked up by friends alighting the bus at a toll plaza beside the North South Highway on his way to a ceramah.

Dr Mansor, it is said that he even had to delve into direct selling using car boot sales to make ends meet. An unfortunate defector from Negeri Sembilan was reported as selling lingzhis herbs from the boot of his car to make a living. On stage, these KeAdilan activists growled and expounded the ideals like glorious tigers. In life however, reality bites. Others simply had to fold up and lick their own spittle to become humiliated BN lackeys like many young PKR defectors. These harsh times and the persistent pressure and harassment from the authorities would make anyone crawl back to grovel at BN’s feet.

But not Dr Mansor. His persistence and fortitude paid off, he has finally won his day, and inshallah it is hoped that he shall make a good DCM and deliver to the rakyat.

(below is Dr Mansor’s brief biodata, source: Malaysiakini)

Mansor, a former professor from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), was Anwar's political secretary from 1996 to 1998when the parliamentary Opposition Leader was the deputy prime minister in the Barisan Nasional government. He earned a Masters degree in social science from USM, and a Masters in Arts and a Masters in Philosophy from Yale University. Mansor, the PKR Balik Pulau division chief, is married to a housewife and has three sons.He has served in PKR's supreme council for 10 years and is currently the party national election machinery deputy director. Mansor is a highly-respected figure within PKR circle and seen as a politically strong and untainted character who could not be bullied by rivals.