Even a foreign diplomat has his reservation…. the same report quoted:

“Mr Najib is a carbon copy of Dr Mahathir and we fear in his rise to power a possible return of iron-fisted rule and intolerance for dissent and curbs on he political opposition,” said a diplomat with a European mission, on condition of anonymity.

On the local front, only Zaid Ibrahim had the gut to speak his mind:

“Najib is smart and articulate but to change the course of Umno, he has to be brave and why would he take such a risk.

“Second, even if he wanted to, he would not be able to do it with Dr Mahathir around,” he said.

Asked whether that was because he thought Dr Mahathir was powerful or had a strong influence on Najib, Zaid - who resigned from the Cabinet recently after journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, Member of Parliament Teresa Kok and news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin were arrested under the Internal Security Act - said:

“He (Dr Mahathir) has a large group of friends, otherwise the Prime Minister (Abdullah) would not have been ‘thrown out’ just like he wanted.”

“Mahathirism was all control, control, control. He has a strong influence on the top Umno leaders who had to choose between doing his bidding or facing his wrath.

Source: Star Online

Mahathir had left a 20-odd years of legacy to Abdullah when he was forced to quit but unfortunately it was Pak Lah who had to bear the grudges of the people. Everything of what happened today was started by Mahathir, whether you like or not you have to accept that fact. Yes… it was Mahathir who had put Malaysia on the world map with his mega projects and outspoken personality but it was also Mahathir who had at the same time engineered Malaysia’s and UMNO/BN downfall. Pak Lah just made it worse and he is now forced to pass the baton to Najib, which according to Anwar Ibrahim is no better than Abdullah.

Come March 2009, it will be just the case of “terlepas dari mulut harimau tapi masuk mulut buaya” for Malaysians, especially if Mahathir returns as advisor, as quoted in the report:

“I welcome the departure of Abdullah and am ready to give advice to the new overnment,” Mahathir told local reporters after confirming that Abdullah as leaving.

Who had asked for his advice? Muhyiddin or Najib? Or both? Can the person who had created the problem fix the problem? Maybe… or maybe not.

Image credit: Malaysiakini

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I had soto for dinner today which my wife bought from a local stall near my house but I didn’t really enjoy it and neither did she. Speaking of soto, always remind us of Soto Sungai Serdang near Kapar. We used to live there and Soto Sungai Serdang is definitely the best soto we have ever had. I was there again recently after a long time since we now have moved to Seri Kembangan, but I can tell you Soto Sungai Serdang still has the same good taste we used to enjoy.

So if you are looking for a good soto outing, head on to Kapar and keep driving past the now bustling town towards Kuala Selangor. About two or three kilometers after Kapar town, look out for road sign where you have to turn left to go to Kampung Sungai Serdang. Keep driving where you will find Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Serdang and the Sungai Serdang Mosque on your right. About 300 meters from the mosque, you will notice the small restaurant with a very clear signage of Soto Sungai Serdang right on a junction on your right.

I hope you will enjoy the soto as much as we do.

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To all my dear readers, I ask for your forgiveness for whatever mistakes I may have done and for whatever shortcoming this blog may have that do not meet your expectations.

Please drive carefully, stay cool, and have fun with your loved ones wherever you are celebrating this Aidil Fitri. May Allah bless us all and grant us His forgiveness for all the sins we have committed. May Allah also grant us all another opportunity for us to perform our prayers and ibadah in the blessed month of another Ramadhan next year.

To all my non-Muslim readers, do enjoy your holiday too.

Thank you for your continued support here at this humble, The Kuala Lumpur Traveler, blog. Your continued visit and presence is very much appreciated.

Sincerely,
CJCM,
The Kuala Lumpur Traveler

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Now, have UMNO members forgotten that Najib is also a major part of the problem? Have UMNO members overlooked one of the main issues as part of the overall transition plan… that is who the replacement should be? Najib name comes up because he is now the Deputy Prime Minister and 2nd man in UMNO top echelon… but brothers and sisters in UMNO… do you honestly believe this person by the name of Najib Abdul Razak is the right person? Honestly, please tell all of us…. we have the right to know because whether Najib or Pak Lah, either one would affect us all Malaysians.

Photo credit: Malaysiakini

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Venue: Hayaki Kopitiam Desa Cemerlang
Date : 4th October 2008
Time : 9:30am
Contact: 019 9125647 (Pak Zawi)

So, if you are Kelantan Bloggers returning to KB for the Aidil Fitri celebration, do join us for this small get together. There is wi-fi available at Hayaki Kopitiam, so if you are into live-blogging, that would be sure fun.

To all those driving to their hometown this festive season, wherever that may be, please drive carefully.

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This announcement is yet another moral victory for Pakatan Rakyat. I hope Pakatan Rakyat will keep coming up with more good ideas and let the BN Government copy the ideas so that the people can see how this present government actually has no intention of giving what the people wants out of their own thinking heads. Remember the extra maternity leave? That was copied from Pakatan Rakyat’s Kelantan Government. The recent free eletricity was copied from Pakatan Rakyat’s Selangor Government free water… and many more.

And today, the same BN Government proudly announced 10 cent reduction in petrol price and at the same time asked the businesses to reduce prices of the other items…. what a nonsense.

Updated: According to Bernama here, the day is only to be celebrated in Sabah and Sarawak only. Ironically… the same news source also quoted:

In his speech, he said the cabinet had agreed to change the Malaysia independence day celebration to the Malaysia day celebration as it would be more significance to Sabah and Sarawak which joined the federation in 1963

I am confused by them.

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This is clearly another proof that the ISA is in fact an ‘Ikut Suka Aku’ act continually being misused by the power that be to surpress dissenting views among the opposition parties and their supporters.

Anwar Ibrahim now not only owes it to the Malaysian people to make the new Pakatan Rakyat Government a reality as soon possible, but also to RPK, one of his supporters that had fought tirelessly for the release of Anwar Ibrahim (through Free Anwar Campaign) when Anwar was victimised by the same BN Government then led by Mahathir more than 10 years ago.

Will Anwar launch similar campaign to free RPPK…. remains to be seen, but Anwar obviously needs to launch a much bigger campaign to free the Malaysian people from the tyranny of the BN Government now led by ineffective Pak lah who is not wanted not only by the opposition parties but also by his own party members.

To Anwar Ibrahim, please… no more talking and bragging about the change of government. Just do it, and do it fast, before the rakyat turn their back on you. The whole Malaysia, RPK and 60-odd other ISA detainees are all counting on you.

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It is really sad for a Home Minister to say ISA is still needed for the people to live in peace and security. Does that mean people in other countries which do not have ISA do not live in peace?

It is obvious that the ISA is not only being misused by the present BN Government to curb opposition rising influence over the Malaysian people but also a total abuse in the case of recent ISA arrest of a journalist Tan Hoon Cheng. Not surprisingly, it was the same Home Minister who had given a stupidest excuse ever by saying Tan was arrested under ISA because her life was threatened.

Is this the kind of minister we the Malaysian people would want to lead this country? Just as bad, the boss of this Home Minister also refused to resign although the writing on the walls are very clear. He is no longer wanted, not only by the members of the opposition parties, but also by the members of his own party.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is under increasing pressure to quit, after being confronted by rare criticism from within his cabinet, as well as an opposition bid to seize power.

So far Abdullah has clung tenaciously to the job, and refused to negotiate with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who has announced he has enough support from defecting lawmakers to topple the government.

But last week Abdullah faced an unprecedented challenge from within his cabinet, as four ministers spoke out against him at the Umno supreme council meeting.

Source: Malaysiakini

Why so stubborn ah?

Image credit: Malaysiakini

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Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said he would pass his finance portfolio to his deputy Najib Abdul Razak, while he takes over as defence minister.

Abdullah told a press conference this afternoon that the swap in the cabinet posts will take effect immediately.

The prime minister, who has held the post of finance minister since 2004, said he had informed the cabinet of the decision.

Abdullah said he was handing over the finance portfolio to his deputy because it was an important portfolio that was traditionally held by the prime

Now, this is another move by the PM and his deputy that will surely invite more speculations. Just what is the game plan? Why so sudden?

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