THE SOUND OF SILENCE WORRYING KARPAL

The people of Malaysia were upset with YB Karpal Singh (from DAP) for his remarks made in reference to the Sultan of Perak involvements in the controversial reinstatement of Datuk Jamry Sury as the Islamic Religious Affairs Department Head of Perak . Voicing the same sentiment in condemning Karpal was UMNO of course. Too, within expectation, were the GPMS, Belia 4B and many other Malay based organizations. PAS following the lead of its Rakyat who openly too criticized Karpal; can be expected to show the same kind in silent anxious. Maybe (PAS) waiting for further exploiting and insulting by Karpal, before stamping their HUDUD on that ‘Man of the Hour’.

What surprises many is the hiding and calculating (and cautious) stand taken by Karpal owns Party, the DAP. Not a single word or statement is made by anyone among the many vocal and vibrant leaders including the ever-so-hot and provocative Lim Kit Siang in defense of Karpal or the issue in hand. As quoted by Karpal himself (in a press conference at his office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday) saying “My own party leaders have not condemned me for saying what I said. On the other hand, they have not come out openly to support me, which is unfortunate,”. “When it comes to the crunch, the party must, should stand by its chairman as long as the chairman is telling the truth,” he added. source

It wasn’t just you Mr Karpal, in bewilderment. Im afraid, so did thousands of others in DAP. Or perhaps you were indeed making a wrong move a bit too early on your own afterall.

The bigger surprise came in the shape of a Malay majority based party called PKR. They are not just being so absolutely surprisingly quiet on this matter. But they seemed to be almost taken aback in horrifying manner and taken by surprised out of their other main agendas in progress by this unnecessarily initiated issue by Karpal. To further the confusions and heads-banging, the issue was of that involving both the Monarchy (Sultan) and Malays. This is a definite problem for PKR. And we can easily understand WHY. For the very reason of their stated 17 commandments (Matlamat & Asas Perjuangan PKR) which spelt the need for the Sultan as follows: (under subject No 2): Menyemai rasa hormat untuk sistem Raja Berperlembagaan, memperkukuhkan Demokrasi Berparlimen dan menyokong hak dan kuasa rakyat, serentak dengan usaha berterusan untuk meningkatkan rangka politik negara sesuai dengan harapan dan kepentingan rakyat; source

And for the very reason of protecting both the Malays ownership and influence in PKR. Thus to support Karpal shall be seen as against the Sultan, the commandment of the party (Matlamat & Asas Perjuangan PKR) and the majority of its Malay members who do still have the highest regards and respects for the Sultans.

To not supporting Karpal shall be misconstrued by the non-malays (and members of DAP) as untrustworthy partner whom still has more of UMNO traits and ways of doing thing inside it afterall. But of course, PKR can take relief by pointing out the fact that nothing has been done by DAP itself. So why must PKR and PAS bother to initiate any.

So the game of silent has now begin. From a mere smarting and fishing for popularity by the weary Karpal, to now of those bigger consequences and stakes involving not just himself, most probably in court, but also the bond, trust, principles and ethics of the so-called DAP, PKR and PAS COALITION. Well COLLIDING sounds better and about coming too.

Until then…expect this SOUND OF SILENCE to remain SILENT on the outside but not the inside. But more important than anything else...ENJOY THE SILENCE.

TERENGGANU MB CRISIS

Kijal assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Said was appointed the new Menteri Besar of Terengganu, the office of the Sultan of Terengganu announced today. Ahmad is expected to take the oath of office in Kuala Terengganu tomorrow. However, the appointment was immediately met with a threat to boycott the swearing-in ceremony by 23 BN assemblymen, including Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, the representative ousted from the Mentri Besar job.

"In accordance with Clause 14 Paragraph (2) (a) of the Terengganu State Constitution (Chapter 2), the Regency Advisory Council, in undertaking the function on behalf of the Regent, hereby appoints Datuk Ahmad Said as the Menteri Besar of Terengganu to head the Terengganu State Executive Council," a palace statement said. “What we have now is a royal constitutional crisis,” constitutional law expert Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi opined in an immediate reaction in Kuala Lumpur. BN had retained 24 of the 32 seats in the Terengganu assembly in the March 8 polls. Ahmad, 51, who has been the assemblyman for Kijal since 1990, succeeds Idris, also the Terengganu Umno chief and Jertih assemblyman who was menteri besar for one term from 2004.


Both INTERESTING and CONFUSING. Who did actually is calling the shot? The SULTAN of TERENGGANU OR the REGENCY ADVISORY COUNCIL?? There was a rumor of certain UMNO leaders (especially in Terengganu) advising the Regency Council who later advised Tuanku Mizan in NOT APPOINTING IDRIS JUSOH to become the Menteri Besar (its important to note that actual power to appoint in Terengganu, since Tuanku Mizan is an Agung; lies with the Regency Advisory Council). But different from what had happened in Perlis, Idris Jusoh not only had the Watikah Perlantikan (Appointment decree) from PM Abdullah but also the support of the majority ADUN in Terengganu. What he didnt have is the blessing from the Tuanku and the Regency Council.

Im not so much sure about the Rakyat, but i can safely assumed, since BN won Terengganu, the Rakyat of Terengganu were with him (or BN for that matter). But what actually is going on in Terengganu? What are the 'IT' things that we dont know about Idris that had much to do with this turmoils? If the palace still decides to appoint YB Ahmad Said, and Ahmad Said still favoring that appointment of him, then im afraid THE WORST will happen. We even might see some Royal Constitutions being amended later in Parliament, although without having 2/3 majority in the Dewan Rakyat, it will take ages for it (or anything else) to pass the bill. Royal (monarchy) interferences in Malaysian politic is never a welcome proposition although its a TABOO to be opened and franked about it. But so much so the political situation and openness in Malaysia now, anyone will have themselves pulling any side of the bed sheet to cover their political ambitions. And for a country that still has very high regards and respects for the Sultans, their WISDOM and TITAH (words) are not the kind of thing that can be taken lightly and for granted. What more when the Sultan is the one with power to appoint Menteri Besar (but not without certain rules attached to it). But in this case (Terengganu) its seen as the Sultan and his council are against the wishes of many. Lets OPEN the cards and let THE DOGS OUT. The RAKYAT want to know WHY? Get this done and over with. Any which side it may ends, the price to pay is definitely NOT WORTH the RAKYAT TEARS.