[I wrote this for my column in Seruan KeADILan, the official organ of the Parti Keadilan Nasional, which is on sale from 15 July 2003.]

[This is my column in the Parti Keadilan Nasional organ, Seruan KeADILan, in its latest issue, out 24 June 2003]

[I wrote this for my column in Seruad KeADILan, the organ of Parti Keadilan Nasional, in its latest issue, out today, 10 June 2003]

It is in UMNO's interest to hold on to this racial inequities. But the younger Malaysian, not caught up in the racial politics of his elders, looks at it differently. It does not matter if he is Chinese, Indian, Malay, Dayak or Kadazan, he is a Malaysian, and read to voice his views outside the racial prism of his parents. Only three political parties in Malaysia look at it this way: Parti Rakyat Malaysia, Parti Socialis Malaysia, Parti Keadilan Nasional. That they do not have more support than it has shows how insiduously successful UMNO's racial policies have succeed. But it is no surprise that UMNO fears KeADILan, more than PAS. Which accounts why they have been so harsh on its leaders: the Reformasi 6 went to Kamunting so UMNO could stop KeADILan in its tracks. Not that it worked as well as it hoped.

When this club holds its annual dinners, leading UMNO lights rush to grace their presence. It is, believe it or not, an important group in the UMNO political process, holds no loyalty to any UMNO leader - in fact its loyalties, by and large, are to an ex-UMNO politician whose political influence rise with every day he spends in Sungei Buloh jail. In the 1987 UMNO presidential contest, it was Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim who swung this club to swing to ensure Dr Mahathir's victory. His instructions then were clear: Dr Mahathir to be returned at whatever cost. As he was. When UMNO youth targeted Opposition, especial Parti Keadilan Nasional (KeADILan) workers in the Indera Kayanagan state assembly byelection in Perlis, and the Kedah parliamentary byelection in Pendang and the state assembly poll in Anak Bukit, it was this commando group which provided them protection.

Should Dr Jeffrey be an UMNO member, and he decides he would not support Pak Lah, that would be to Pak Lah's discomfiture. It is his mischief potential more than anything else that his application is rejected. He could well be accepted at a later date. He was prepared once to dance to UMNO's tune to sink PBS under his brother, then joined his brother to sink UMNO. He is too uncontrollable, and too pliable, for anyone to be comfortable with. So what should he do? He should accept the Pasok Momogun invitation, if for no reason that it is in the Opposition and close to the Parti Keadilan Nasional, (KeADILan), headed by Dato' Seri Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Islam, which could then present a stronger force than the sorry pastiche it is.

The Reformasi 6, all but one political activists more than espouses of an opposition party ideal, had to be detained for their links to the former deputy prime minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. One, Mr Hishamuddin Rais, is a close friend, fights for what he believes in, but insists he has no political or other leanings. He tells me he an NGI - non-governmental individual - as opposed to NGOs or GONGOs - government-organised non-governmental organisations like Suhakam. Mr Tian Chua is a Parti Keadilan Nasional (KeADILan] vice-president but is more a political activist than a politician. Saari Sungib is described as the ex-president Jemaah Islamiyah Malaysia or JIM, but does it exist or has it grown in importance as yet another shadow anti-government and fundamentalist Islamic group created in the deviously creative minds of the Royal Malaysian Police?

[This appears in my column in Seruan KeADILan, the official organ of Parti Keadilan Nasional. and out today ]
M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@mgg.pc.my

While this casino might help Tan Sri Vincent rearrange his finances awhile, it puts Pahang BN in a political dither. PAS is making severe inroads in the state, enough to put the fear of God into many an UMNO politician, especially the mentri besar, Dato' Seri Adnan Yaakob, and the man-who-hopes-to-be-Prime-Minister, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak. PAS works out of the limelight, to frighten UMNO whenever news of what they do filter out. In several state and parliamentary constituencies, UMNO stalwarts say their candidates would be defeated not for who they are but that they are from UMNO. UMNO bigwigs in parliament and state think of switching constituencies. But it may not help. In several constituencies, the most active political party on the ground is PAS. It is accepted, even in UMNO, that no constituency in Pahang, except perhaps the new constituency of Cameron Highlands, is safe, and the scramble for safe seats is what drives Pahang UMNO today. The BN would face the fallout from this, with MCA and MIC candidates equally at risk, in which the beneficiaries would well be DAP and Parti Keadilan Nasional..

[I wrote this for my column in Seruan KeADILan, the official organ of the Parti Keadilan Nasional, in its latest issue, out 20 March 2003]

[This is my column in the latest issue of "Seruan KeADILan", the organ of the Parti Keadilan Nasional, out today, 10 March 2003]

THE MAN WHO HELPED MALAYSIA and UMNO lose tens of billions of ringgit, guided a generation of Malaysian business men on a fantasy roller-coaster ride of fame, riches, deep financial straits and bankruptcy, is, if current fears are right, to return to "guide" Malaysia's financial and fiscal destiny after Dato' Seri Mahathir Mohamed retires. Tun Daim Zainuddin, for it is he, now forges links with and Dr Mahathir's successor, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. They meet, informed sources tell me, twice a week. His network is intact, his group of young -- Mark II -- accountants and deal makers out to become rich beyond Croessus has drifted deliberately into the Badawi network, waiting to pounce. No one seriously believed Tun Daim would retire, when he abruptly left the cabinet two years ago after he could not produce UMNO's accounts for the two decades he was its Treasurer. Too many loose ends to reconcile and settle. If he was Treasurer of PAS or Parti Keadilan Nasional, he would in the same cell block as one Anwar Ibrahim in Sungei Buloh. He is not. He has immunity.

It is clear UMNO's permutations about Dr Mahathir's successor, as party president and Prime Minsiter, will come to nought unless the albatross around its neck, Dato' Seri Anwar, is let loose. The markets floated a rumour that during the Davos World Economic Forum, Dr Mahathir met the US Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, who passed on President Bush's hope that Dato' Seri Anwar would be released on 14 April 2003, when his first prison sentence of six years ends. Understandably this could not be confirmed. The Parti Keadilan Nasional, KeADILan, has kicked off a campaign to have him released from prison on that day. UMNO Youth now talks of having him released. Many in UMNO believe he would be. There are rumours of "secret" talks between Dato' Seri Anwar and emissaries from Dr Mahathir. That is unlikely, but it reflects the paranoia in UMNO about the ever lengthening shadow Dato' Seri Anwar throws on it. Even if Dr Mahathir would not budge, whoever succeeds him must.

[A shortened comment of this appears in the latest issue of Seruan Keadilan, the organ of Parti Keadilan Nasional, on sale over the weekend]

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