Wednesday 29 June 2011

While the rest of the world fast track rare earth research and processing, Malaysia Government still grapples with its Oppo on safety issues

Some tit bits on rare earth news from overseas:

Rare-earth oxides facility opens in U.S.
June 28, 2011 by Paul Dvorak


Here's where rare earth elements work in autos.




Molycorp Inc. just announced that it has secured the final funds necessary for the capital build-out of its estimated $781 million expansion and modernization project at its flagship rare-earth oxides facility at Mountain Pass, California. The first phase of its mining project is expected to be operational by next year.


The development is significant because of the growing use of REEs in small yet high power motors and generators, especially the PM generators used in wind turbines. When completed, it will be the first time in a decade that rare-earth oxides are produced in the United States, which once lead the world in such production. Today, 95% of the rare-earth metals needed for today’s technologies are extracted in China.


When Phase 1 of the project completes, sometime in 2012, Molycorp says its manufacturing assets will comprise the world’s first fully integrated rare earth manufacturing supply chain, producing high-purity rare earth oxides, metals, alloys, and neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets, widely used in generators, transportation, defense, and other industries.


A decade ago America was the world’s largest producer of rare-earth metals according to a report in The Economist. But the open-cast mine at Mountain Pass, California, closed in 2002—mostly due to China’s lower labor costs. The country recently began limiting exports to keep the country’s own high-tech industries supplied. By one account, the material exceedes $140/lb.


What are Rare Earth Metals?
Source: Mother Nature Network, Russell McLendon (6/23/11)
"You're probably using some right now."


Mother Nature Network, Russell McLendon


Crucial to electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines and many other green-tech innovations, these elusive metals aren't as rare as they sound; in fact, you're probably using some right now. Key to a variety of everyday devices, from tablet computers and TVs to hybrid cars, so it may be encouraging to know several kinds are actually common. Cerium, for example, is the 25th most abundant element on earth.


So why are they called "rare" earth elements (REEs)? The name alludes to their elusive nature, as the 17 elements rarely exist in pure form. Instead, they mix diffusely with other minerals underground, making them costly to extract.


A Rare Breed


Much of the rare earths' appeal lies in their ability to perform obscure, highly specific tasks. Europium provides red phosphor for TVs and computer monitors, for example—and it has no known substitute. Cerium similarly rules the glass-polishing industry, with "virtually all polished glass products" dependent on it, according to the USGS.


Permanent magnets are another big role for REEs. Their light weight and high magnetic strength have made it possible to miniaturize a wide range of electronic parts, including many used in appliances, audio/video equipment and military gear. Innovations like small, multigigabyte DVD drives likely wouldn't exist without rare earth magnets, which are often made from a neodymium alloy, but may also contain praseodymium, samarium, gadolinium or dysprosium.


While producing rare earths can cause environmental problems, they have an eco-friendly side, too. They're vital to catalytic converters, EVs and wind turbines, as well as energy-efficient fluorescent lamps and magnetic-refrigeration systems. Their low toxicity is an advantage, too, with lanthanum-nickel-hydride batteries slowly replacing older kinds that use cadmium or lead. Red pigments from lanthanum or cerium are also phasing out dyes that contain various toxins.


Oil Supply Impacts Demand for Rare Earth Stocks
On Tuesday June 28, 2011, 6:48 am EDT


The recent release of 60 million barrels of oil (NYSE:USO) will artificially lower the price. High oil prices has been the best catalyst for clean energy production and fuel efficient vehicles. Increasing the supply of oil may be pushing down the demand for rare earths (REMX), uranium (URA) and lithium (LIT) only short term. This decline in oil prices should not drastically hurt the development of rare earth assets outside China (NYSE:FXI).


Over the long term oil prices will return to equilibrium as the new supply is absorbed by the market. Demand for fuel efficient vehicles will continue to soar. Rare earths and lithium stocks have pulled back and are significantly discounted. However, this may change shortly.


Gold Stock Trades received a significant letter from Governor Sean Parnell of Alaska recently, in which he wrote to Energy Secretary Steven Chu that, “The federal government simply cannot afford to sit on the sidelines as other countries move aggressively to develop new mines…” The Governor proposes an immediate initiative combining federal and state government in the speedy development of Alaska’s vital rare earth resources.


Washington was beginning to wake up about the rare earth (REMX) crisis affecting our most critical industries. It is apparent that the West will not be relying on trade sanctions alone to counter China’s export cuts of critical rare earths. Artificially lowering the price of oil is only a short term move and the U.S. must move fast to find alternative energy sources. Rare earth assets in the U.S. must progress rapidly or domestic high end users such as Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and General Motors (NYSE:GM) may face supply shortages.


In 2012, the President has set aside funds to create a rare earth research hub. It is being modeled after the famous “Manhattan Project” where top scientists will be brought together to develop a rare earth supply chain. This will consist of targeting the top domestic development projects and creating a separation facility to manufacture the ore into a final product. This could potentially be a tonic to many of the North American rare earth miners who are developing the assets but need the government’s assistance to subsidize refining and separating capabilities.


In an article I wrote on April 8th, I mentioned that “Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman introduced the Rare Earth Supply-Chain Technology and Resource Transformation (RESTART) Act of 2011, which will give loans to the industry and speed up permitting.”


These initiatives from Washington have been long overdue. The U.S. needs to recapture this industry co-opted long ago by China. Fortunately important forces in the U.S. are beginning to take action to regain the high ground.


The Bin Laden Mission was a prime example of unintentionally revealing to the world one of the many uses of rare earths in top secret technologies. For the first time, the public became aware of the existence of a stealth helicopter. Stealth technology depends on rare earth oxides. The rare earths absorb the oppositions laser wavelengths to avoid detection. We are witnessing only one of many hitherto unknown applications. Imagine the plethora of rare earth developments that await mankind.


One can now begin to comprehend the significance of Congressman Mike Coffman’s urgency in stressing the importance of fast tracking the production of rare earths for our national security. No better example of this can be the presence in our own country of an indigenous mother-load of a rich rare earth assets. Read in full here.


Back home in Malaysia, while America and the rest of the world are fast tracking research and reopening  rare earth processing plants, here in Malaysia the Federal Government is being attacked by Opposition bent on closing down the Lynas high tech rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan. Sigh.

Bar Council President Lim gets a lesson he would not soon forget


Seems the Bar Council's Council members are more interested in the rights of the loud minority to hold a illegal demonstration on the streets  then the safety of majority Malaysian who just wants their normal life to be uninterrupted by these demos which could potentially become violent and dangerous to the public. Bar President Lim Chee Wee's apologist for Bershit2 press statement here:


The following is a superb rebuttal by Blogger Tuan Syed of Outsyedthebox fame, and I am reproducing it in full for my record:

The above Press Statement by Lim Chee Wee the President of Bar Council is distorted and malicious. It gives much credence to the view that other than being bottom feeders, too many lawyers in this country speak with forked tongues.

The allegation (by anyone) that the entire electoral process in Malaysia is not clean and fair is malicious. Repeating such allegations, even for reference purposes, hints at malice.

Where is the proof that the whole electoral process in the country is not clean and fair? Being a lawyer and the president of the Bar Council, can Lim Chee Wee help the Bersih mobs bring forward any evidence that the whole electoral process in this country is not clean and fair? Pending such evidence, these allegations can be deemed lies. (Lim Chee Wee can position himself appropriately)

The accusation that the entire electoral process in Malaysia is unclean and unfair is a malicious generalisation. Lim Chee Wee should not be a party to this malice in any way. Not only are you the President of the Bar Council, I believe you are also a church going person.

But what exactly is the implied meaning of the accusation that the elections are not clean and not fair? Idle gossip may prevail even within the Bar but more substance is required to get nearer to the truth.

This type of drivel will sell among the hardcore fanatics and the converted zombies among the Pakatan mob. They need this to work themselves into a frenzy. But lets do some scrutiny shall we?

How does Lim explain the fact that Bersih, which the Bar Council is clearly in support of, have NOT refuted the results of the most recent general elections in Penang, Kelantan, Selangor, Perak and Kedah? The Opposition won these States. Can Lim Chee Wee help Bersih explain this anomaly? How can the Opposition win five States if the elections are unfair and unclean?

Does Lim Chee Wee know of any cases of ‘unclean and unfair’ election in any of those five States won by the Opposition on March 8th 2008? (I ask this because you say you support Bersih. It is important that you know what you are supporting, including questions they cannot answer or for which they have no answer).
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Similarly in the recent Sarawak State elections, the Opposition DAP doubled its seats from six to 12. Can Lim Chee Wee help Bersih explain any ‘uncleanness and unfairness’ in any of the 12 seats won by the DAP in Sarawak? Or does the ‘unclean and unfair’ label only apply to seats where the Opposition lost? Lim Chee Wee, can you help Bersih show us just one example? (You say you support Bersih. Surely you must know the entirety of what you are supporting).

No bullshitting, no guesswork, no lies ok.

(This applies to the Pakatan supporters who will be sending comments in here too. Please provide facts. What your friend heard from his friend who heard it from his friend is not applicable. I will delete your comment)

As you know the allegation (through a Statutory Declaration) that Rosmah shot and killed Altantuya has now been denied by the person who made that Statutory Declaration. At that time, I personally asked him where he got the information that Rosmah shot and killed Altantuya? His reply to me was that the wife of a Malay Ruler (no need for names here) told it to someone who told it to someone else and on and on and it finally reached him.

Bear in mind that 'declarations' like these have incited the angry to become even more angry. Others who are more mischievous have manipulated 'declarations' like these to incite anger against a system they hate. You will know where to place yourself accordingly.

(So if any of you commenters make these types of unsubtantiated comments I will delete it. Give proper facts. Be honest guys. It does not mean that just because you support the sodomist and philanderer, that you must always tell lies)

It is a fact that Dato Mustapa Mohamed (UMNO - BN) lost the Manik Urai State seat in Kelantan by a razor thin margin of over 60 votes. TokPa complained and asked for a recount. The recount was denied because his polling agents and helpers made a mistake. Here is the story.

Before 2003 there was NO counting of votes at the Polling Station. Instead in every constituency, all the Ballot Boxes were transported from the various Polling Stations to one centralized Counting Centre. In Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur the Bangsar Sports Complex was used as the Counting Centre. That is why in those days, the election results came in very late at night. All the ballots had to be transported to the Counting Centre, emptied out and counted.

Since 2003 the election rules have been changed. Now the ballots are counted at the Polling Station itself. No need to transport the Ballot Boxes to the Counting Centre anymore. Just like before representatives and agents of the candidates and many other representatives are present and watch with eagle eyes to make sure the Ballot Boxes are properly opened and that all the votes are properly counted.

The total number of votes counted at each Polling Station must also tally exactly with the number ofvoters who turned up to vote at that station. (Once you vote, your name is “crossed out” with that long ruler, the computer is also updated with your name and IC Number.) So the number of votes found inside the ballot box, the names and IC Numbers updated in the computer plus the number of names that have been “crossed out” on the election roll must match exactly).

So Lim Chee Wee, in the recent Sarawak Elections, please ask Bersih to show us at least one case where the number of voters whose names were crossed out DID NOT tally with the total number of votes found inside the Ballot Boxes? Give us just one example. You can especially refer the Senadin State seat where the Pakatan lost by 58 votes and kicked up a big fuss over the loss. (Blackout, floods, tempest etc).

Remember Lim Chee Wee, it is not a sin to tell the truth. You are the President of the Bar Council too.

Anyway after the votes are counted at the Polling Stations, the ballot slips are put back into the Ballot Boxes and sealed. The ballots have now become quite useless. A a form is filled up by the Polling Officer. It is called the Borang 14. Here is a copy of the Borang 14. This is an empty sample. Its no big deal - just a simple piece of stationery. You can click on the picture and then zoom in.

The Borang 14 lists down the total number of votes cast, which party won how many votes, etc. While the Polling Officer holds on to the original Borang 14, copies are immediately given to the representatives of each of the candidates contesting that seat - who are present at each individual Polling Station.

(How do I know all this? The Bloggers met with the SPR folks recently. We asked them a thousand questions. Even Ambiga would have been surprised at our questions. More to come.).

Now read this part very very carefully : This is why nowadays, after every By Election or General Election, very detailed “unofficial results” starts leaking out as early as 5.00 pm about which party has won exactly how many votes in exactly which polling station. You can figure out why. Because once the vote counting is over, every representative of each candidate at every Polling Station already has a copy of the Borang 14 in his possession. So they start smsing the results from individual Polling Station to their friends. That’s how we know the "unofficial" results so quickly.

So to the dungus who tell lies that the Ballot Boxes are stuffed with votes AFTER polling is over, they are lying. This is NOT possible. This was the accusation at Senadin in Sarawak. They say there was a "blackout" and the ballots were stuffed. (I will also be talking about Postal Votes later). Once the Borang 14 is issued, the ballot papers and the Ballot Boxes become useless. You can stuff as many votes as you want - the all important Borang 14 has already been issued.

And the Borang 14 does not become valid unless it is signed by the all the candidates or their representatives or agents at the Polling Station. So Lim Chee Wee, please tell Bersih to go and check in Senadin, Sarawak if all the Borang 14 were signed by the Pakatan candidate or not? He or his agents must have signed the Borang 14, otherwise they cannot announce the results for Senadin. Then please ask the candidate why did he or his agents sign the Borang 14 ??? Bodoh ke? If they say the ballot boxes were stuffed, conspiratorial blackout etc, why did they sign the Borang 14 ??

Remember it is not a sin to speak the truth.

The rules also say that once the election results are gazetted (within 21 days) then all the ballots must be destroyed. This is also why, after the elections are over, if for whatever reason anyone "reopens" the Ballot Boxes, they will find chewing gum wrappers etc inside these used Ballot Boxes. Election workers and staff (who are still trash throwing Malaysians) use these 'used Ballot Boxes' as trashbins. Why? Because once the Borang 14 has been issued, the ballot papers become quite useless.

So Lim Chee Wee, the president of the Bar Council, can you please assist Bersih to provide us evidence of just one case where ballots boxes were stuffed with votes?

How about the 16 By Elections that we have had since January 2009? Can you assist Bersih to show us just one case where ballot boxes were stuffed AFTER polling had closed? None? Not even one? But this is what Bersih is alleging also isn’t it? When you choose to throw your support behind Bersih, you must know all that they stand for - including their lies and b.s.

Let me make it even more easier for you. How about from the March 8, 2008 General Elections? Do they have even one complaint filed by anyone that Ballot Boxes were stuffed with votes? Ada ke tak ada? Just one ok. Remember Lim Chee Wee, it is not a sin to tell the truth.

Here is another one : do they have even one case where one person voted more than once? This has been the talk of the coffee shops for a long time also. Phantom voters, five Chinese voters registered in Mohd Azmij Ali's mothers house address. (Stay tuned folks I have the names of the five Chinamen who are registered as voters using Azmin's mother's house address). But can anyone bring forth just one case? Just one case where someone voted twice? Ada ke tak ada? Helloooo Lim Chee Wee?

But I want to go back to Dato Mustapa Mohamed (UMNO - BN) in Manik Urai, Kelantan. He complained that since he lost to PAS by a razor thin margin (within 4% of votes cast) he deserved a recount. But the election rules since 2003 say that the request for the recount must be made at the Polling Stations. This was not done by TokPa’s boys. They raised the protest after all the Borang 14s from the many Polling Stations were being compiled at the Vote Tallying Centre for the final announcement by the Returning Officer. It was too late. These are the rules folks. You can object but it must be done at the Polling Station. NOT AT THE VOTE TALLYING CENTRE. And once Tokpa and his agents had signed off on the Borang 14, you cannot object anymore. These are the rules.

In the recent Sarawak Elections that Pakatan candidate lost by just 58 votes in Senadin. Again he raised the objection too late, after they themselves had signed off on the Borang 14. This was the same issue raised by Dato Mustapa Mohamad (UMNO-BN) at Manik Urai. They apply equally to Tokpa (UMNO - BN) and anyone else.
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Both in Manik Urai and in Senadin the candidates, their agents and reps etc WOULD NOT SIGN OFF the Borang 14 unless the number of voters whose names were manually cancelled on the electoral roll using the long ruler, the names and IC Numbers updated on the computer plus the actual number of ballots emptied from the Ballot Box all tallied. They must tally, otherwise it will become a big issue. And once the Borang 14 has been signed by all the candidates, Anwar Ibrahim can stuff as many ballot papers as he wants where the sun does not shine. It is too late. Borang 14 has been signed and issued.

Like all democratic countries with an established electoral process, Malaysia too has Courts which deal with elections petitions. Lee as a lawyer and President of the Bar should know this better. If legitimate disputes arise in any elections, then the affected parties have the right to approach the Court. This happens all the time too.

Then there are also election disputes which are settled “out of Court”. For example Lim Chee Wee must also explain the agreement that was achieved by both PAS and UMNO in Kelantan after the 2004 General Elections. There were nine Election Petitions filed by both UMNO and PAS against each other involving State seats in Kelantan. One of the State seats in dispute was Nik Aziz’s own seat.

Both sides were confident of presenting their evidence in Court. But some horse trading took place between PAS and UMNO. To avoid unnecessary risk of losing their seats in Court, Mustafa Ali of PAS met with representatives from UMNO and settled the matter out of Court. Both sides agreed to maintain the status quo. Both sides dropped their Election Petitions. This happened in 2004.

Since Mohd Sapu B.O, the main organiser behind the Bersih Rally is also the Deputy President of PAS, Lim Chee Wee must ask Mohamed Sapu B.O. why and how did the PAS come to make such an agreement with UMNO in 2004 to withdraw their Elections Petitions.?

If the elections are so dirty and unfair in this country as alleged by Mat Sapu B.O, why did PAS come to agree with UMNO to withdraw their Election Petitions in 2004? Lim Chee Wee, it is not a sin to tell the truth. So please go and ask Mohd Sapu B.O. to explain to you. He is the main organiser behind Bersih for which you have openly declared your support.

So someone, anyone please provide evidence of “unfair” and “not clean” elections. Be specific. Coffee shop talk cannot be presented as evidence. It is also unbecoming of a lawyer and Bar Council president to be persuaded by coffee shop talk. Where is the evidence which persuaded you to support Bersih?

If Bersih wishes to dispute the electoral process minus evidence, based on mere accusations, wild allegations or based on deceit, as an excuse to demonstrate in the streets, what then is their real intention ? Do you want to be a party to this? If your answer is yes, why so? What are the demons that are propelling you in such a direction?

The announcement by Bersih that they wish to hand over a Memo to the YDP Agong on July 9th is dishonest. Till today they have not made any attempt to even communicate with the Office of the YDP Agong. Isnt this strange? You say you want to hand over a Memo to the YDP Agong. But todate you have NOT even written to the YDP Agong asking for an appointment to hand over the Memo to him. Isnt that kurang ajar? This is the King, the YDP Agong you are talking about. Not the “Friends In Conversation” with whom you have ‘teh’ tarik.

It is obvious that they are merely abusing the YDP Agong’s good name for their political agenda. The Malaysian public is not that obtuse to be not able to see through this ruse.

They have made known to the whole world that they will be marching to the gates of the Istana to hand over a Memo. But they have not had even the slightest courtesy to petition the YDP Agong to seek an audience, even at his front gate. Ambiga is manifesting a riff raffness that seems to be written on her forehead.

Bersih’s fear is that the Agong may indeed agree to receive a Bersih delegation to meet him privately to hand over their Memo.

BUT what if the YDP Agong changes the date? Say BEFORE or AFTER the 9th of July.

What if the Agong says, ‘Ok guys, since you want to give me a Memo, send three Bersih people to see me on the 7th of July.’ Their demo planned for July 9th will die a quick and natural death.

Or if the YDP Agong says “OK send three people to see me but on the 12th of July. I am busy on the 9th.” Bersih will be caught with their pants down. (L*wat may get excited though).

Or what if the YDP Agong says, “OK I will meet you on the 9th of July but come to my palace in Kuala Terengganu”. Ambiga and Mat Sapu B.O may be gasping for oxygen.

Or the YDP Agong says, ’Ok guys. Come over and give me your Memo at the riding club’.

That will be really quite disastrous for Bersih. The YDP Agong can really mess their plans to run mad in the streets. That is why they have no intention of asking the YDP Agong permission to meet him. (Anyway sources say that the YDP Agong will not even be in the country over 9th of July).

But so what? Bersih does not want to meet the YDP Agong. They don’t want to go early on the 7th either. Neither do they want to show any respect to the Agong in Kuala Terengganu. Or met him at the riding club. They just want to demonstrate in the streets. This is a mob.

Please note that almost 1400 Police Reports have been lodged against the Bersih rally by various people. Never before in the history of Malaysia have 1400 Police reports been lodged against any one single disruptive event.

Then Lim Chee Wee also exhibits stupidity when he tries to draw parrallels with Dato Onn Jaafar’s protesting against the colonialist Malayan Union threat in 1946. Malaya was not yet an independent nation at that time. There were no free elections at all. Period.

Dato Onn Jaafar the founder of UMNO, was fighting against the British colonialists for the establishment of a free and democratic country. Lim Chee Wee apa pasal lu dungu sangat? He cycled to the kampongs and spoke to the people about their freedoms. He did not run amok in the streets like Bersih.


.If elections had been made available to Dato Onn by the British, he would have certainly made use of the electoral process. We know this for a fact because after the formation of UMNO in 1946, Dato Onn Jaafar suddenly left the party because he wanted non Malays to join UMNO and be given equal voting rights in all affairs of the UMNO party.

When his ideas were rejected, Dato Onn did not demonstrate in the streets. Instead he stuck to the democratic process and formed a new multi racial political party called Party Negara. After Independence when his new party was defeated at the ballot box (Dato Onn himself won just one seat in Terengganu in 1959) Dato Onn faded away from the scene. He died in 1962. But he will be forever renowned and remembered for sticking so closely to democratic ideals. He was truly a man who was far ahead of his time.

Sorry lah but Lim Chee Wee’s attempt to sully the good name of Dato Onn Jaafar exposes a “New Village” idiot - of the same pedigree as riff raff. Dato Onn was a great man. Please do not try to equate his achievement to the mobs that you support. Or try to elevate the mobs up to the level of Dato Onn. Dia punya kasut pun lu tak boleh pegang.

Lim Chee Wee’s dungu-ness continues. He also says : “Subsequent UMNO leaders have also led street demonstrations, for example to call for independence, and those in support of the Palestinians”.

.The Malayan Union was mooted in 1946, 11 years before Independence in 1957. There were no free elections in 1946. We were a colony, colonised by the British. The anti - Malayan Union movement was calling for freedom from colonialism.

Today we are an Independent nation, with our own King, Parliament and we govern ourselves. There are no more British colonialists around. UMNO did NOT run wild in the streets in the same scale Bersih already did in Kuala Lumpur once before in 2007, and is planning to do again.

When the Colonial British gave up their plans for the Malayan Union in January 1948, the protests led by UMNO also stopped. Malaya walked peacefully towards Independence from 1948 onwards, despite the fact that there were no elections at all in colonial Malaya until seven years later in 1955. The first “General Elections” were held peacefully in Malaya in 1955. The Alliance (Barisan Nasional) won 51 out of 52 seats. There were no street demonstrations.

Lim Chee Wee should know that it was the Communists who could not accept a non Communist Malaya or a non violent political process. They chose to wage war against the Malayan people. At that time Chin Peng had no idea that his face would one day be printed on a T shirt by supporters of Bersih.

Clearly, Lim Chee Wee is conveniently ignorant of truth and quite dense when it comes to the history of the nation.

As a lawyer and President of the Bar Council, Lim Chee Wee must also advise the people that Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 – requiring a permit for a public rally – has not been abolished. It is still therefore the law of the land. And the Police have the discretion to allow or refuse permits for public gatherings.

The President of the Bar Council is stoking flames if he even suggests that the people of Malaysia NEED NOT obey Section 27 of the Police Act or any other laws of Malaysia. (That is what you are doing when you say you support the illegal Bersih Rally which has NOT been given a Police Permit).

Inciting the people to disobey the Law of the Land is an act of Sedition. Anyone can be arrested, tried and jailed for sedition if he tells people to disobey Section 27 of the Police Act or any other Law.

If a law is seen as unjust, then Lim Chee Wee as the president fo the Bar Council must know that the correct means to address the issue is through the Electoral Process and the Legislature. Since the majority vote in this democratic system finds it to their great benefit to maintain such legislation, it is therefore not the right of the minority mobs to impose their will on the majority through dubious and malicious methods outside the democratic process. It will become gangsterism. The law of the jungle.

Let us settle our differences through the Ballot Box. This country is a democracy. For 56 years UMNO and the Barisan Nasional have made sure that General Elections are held every five years like clockwork.

Even when we had a glitch in 1969, and inspite of the absolute powers granted to the National Operations Council headed by Tun Abdul Razak, the father of the present Prime Minister, our country still went to the polls like clockwork in 1974. Among the member nations of the Commonwealth, Malaysia along with very few other countries, now boasts of the longest tradition of a safe and predictable electoral process.

Being the president of the Bar Council, which often becomes unduly inebriated over issues like this, Lim Chee Wee must understand that in a democracy it is a fundamental principle that the majority brings into effect legislation through which the people then govern themselves.

The Police Act does not derive its powers from the IGP or the Minister of Home Affairs. Neither should the Police take instructions from Bersih or Lim Chee Wee.

The Police Act remains in force because we the people have given it such powers. If the Police wish to exercise their discretion according to Section 27 of the Police Act it is because we the majority of the voters have elected to grant the Police such powers. And todate the majority of voters are quite happy with what we have done.

.It becomes the law of the jungle when riff raff and mobs seek to dictate to the majority that the majority should listen to the whims of the mob.

L*wat has declared in public that he can pick up the phone, call Ambiga and ask her to call off the mob. Despite Ambiga’s play acting rebuttal, it simply goes to show the gangster attitude behind his statement : ’I can ask her to call it off anytime’. Macam bapak dia punya negeri.

.If the lawyers, if the President of the Bar Council itself and Opposition Members of Parliament (who are themselves lawmakers) do not want to respect the Laws of the Land, then how do you expect the ordinary people to obey the Laws of the Land?

Many years ago, the DAP sent flowers to one Prime Minister with a note reading, ‘Where democracy fails, revolution is the answer’. Let me repeat to you this most pertinent observation by the DAP. Indeed “where democracy fails, revolution is the answer“.

If the majority of the electorate in this democratic country get fed up with the incessant demand by a minority mob, that the laws of this country should be broken or bent to suit their whims and fancies, then indeed democracy has failed..

It is turning out to become the tyranny of the minority mobs against the majority. Democarcy has failed. What you are asking for then is a revolution. If that is your wish, let me assure you that the majority will not shy away from heaping such a revolution on your head.

The country is heading towards chaos because of the gangsterism and the tyranny of the minority. If you don’t stop, a time will come when this will have to stop. Please be on notice.

.May I also take this Opportunity to advise the Minister of Home Affairs and the IGP to rise to the occasion. The majority of the people are behind you wholeheartedly. It rests upon your shoulders to save the nation from the mobs. Also from the sodomists, adulterers, liars and their lying wives, lying children, lying families and friends with their lies and deceptions.

I must also put the Minister of Home Afairs and the IGP on notice. The new IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar is reputed to be a straightforward and hardworking man who lives in a regular terrace house..

Todate over 1400 Police Reports have been made against this illegal riot that is being planned by this mob. It is enough evidence that the majority of the people do not want to see the peace and harmony of the nation disrupted by these mobs. So please take decisive action. If even one single individual (it does not matter whether from bersih, kotor, anugerah tuhan, Pemuda UMNO, Perkasa or whoever) gets hurt or gets his or her head cracked - then the IGP must resign. You must take responsibility Tuan..

And if anyone gets killed on July 9th, (from any side at all) then both the IGP and the Minister of Home Affairs must resign. 1400 Police reports have already been made. That is an extremely loud and clear message to you from the people, to do your job. Do not say that you could not do anything..

Since Lim Chee Wee is said to be a church going man, here is something from the Al Kitab which you believe is Allah's Word :

Romans 1
21 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
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22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
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23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
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24 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:
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25 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: (passions of dishonor)

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27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.

So Lim Chee Wee, you well know that the man is a sodomist, an adulterer, a philanderer, a liar, a cheat. A bad actor. A nothing. This little romp he is planning on the streets is to divert attention away from the demons which posses him. For he is certainly possessed.

Where do you come in? We can understand your hatred against the status quo in this land, the religious bigotry and the thousand other things that have gone not so well. Ok, you can say this is your enemy. And the enemy of your enemy is of course your friend..

But consider this though : What if it is you who are the enemy? Or the enemy is also in you. And you dont realise it. Then, should the enemy of your enemy still be your friend?.

No matter how great your anger against the status quo, do not cohabit with the serpent. You will get bitten. Read in full here,

Ya Lim it'll be  a peaceful walk in the park, by the way can you give a Personal Guarantee that it would be peaceful when the demonstrators consisting mostly of PAS and PKR  supporters not interested about a clean election but rather insistent to create chaos and nuisance on the streets to provoke the police to take action to disperse them by force? I think its naive indeed to think the illegal demo on the streets will be anything but peaceful. 

Perhaps after a whipping in public by a blogger never before received by a Bar Council President, Lim  should do the right thing and resign and  join either PKR, PAS or the DAP.

Tuesday 28 June 2011

What the Arab revolts leave unanswered by Rami G. Khouri

The Arab spring the so called Jasmine Revolution that started almost seven months ago in Tunisia  is still raging in Libya and Yemen and Syria with no end in sight yet. Has it been a successful revolution? The jury is still out as to the final outcome. 


Seems some Malaysian like the former Bar Council President Ambiga wants Malaysian to emulate the violent Arab Revolution here in peaceful Malaysia, though she say different. I think she and her band of supporters would not succeed as Malaysians by and large are peaceful people. We will see how successful Ambiga and her supporters from the DAP, PKR and PAS will be on 9 July 2011.


Anyway, I would like to share this interesting article from Lebanon's the Daily Star by Mr.Rami G Khouri:

What the Arab revolts leave unanswered
June 25, 2011 02:22 AM
By Rami G. Khouri
The Daily Star


My pleasure at speaking this week in Ottawa at a gathering at the International Development Research Center of Canada was compounded by the very thoughtful questions and comments that members of the audience offered.


The audience raised new questions in my mind about what is likely or possibly may occur in the Arab region, as the current citizen revolt moves into its seventh month. The issues they raised revolved around the reality that there is no certain outcome to the developments in assorted Arab countries. While I and many other Arab citizens feel that the wave of democratic transformations will continue to wash across most of the region, sweeping away old and young autocrats and opening the door to new democracies, this is by no means certain.


Economic pressures, for one, could easily create such immense stresses on families that many Arabs who celebrated the Tunisian and Egyptian regime changes may welcome the return of strongmen who restrict citizens’ powers but provide more jobs. I doubt this will happen, but we can never rule it out. The demands of children’s stomachs crying out for food that many families cannot afford to buy are immensely powerful drivers of political behavior.


Another threat that some audience members raised was related to the potential break-up of some countries into smaller units that could be more easily controlled by regional or foreign powers. The first Arab revolt against the Ottomans around a century ago occurred simultaneously with the Sykes-Picot accord, by which France and Great Britain carved up the Arab east into smaller units that were put under the rule of locally chosen leaders whom the Europeans knew they could trust. It is possible that the current transformations might result in security vacuums that local parties or foreign powers could exploit to fragment some Arab states into smaller units that would then be more reliant on foreign support or protection.


Sudan has already split into northern and southern states, while Yemen, Iraq and possibly a few others are similarly susceptible to subdivision into smaller statelets. This raises difficult issues about the inviolability of the current Arab borders that the retreating Europeans created last century. I thought the secession of South Sudan was a perfectly acceptable development, if it reflected the will of the people of the south, and was not imposed on them. The operative principle in such possible developments is whether change reflects the consent of the governed and represents the will of the majority, while protecting the rights of minorities. If Yemenis decide to split again into two or even three states, and this reflects the free will of the Yemeni people, they should be allowed to do so without external interference.


There is nothing sacred or permanent about the borders of any country, especially Arab countries that were mostly created by the handiwork of European colonial officers. Countries evolve and sometimes change shape as a routine historical process. If some Arabs decide they are uncomfortable with their existing state boundaries and they wish to break away and form a separate country, that should always be an option. After all, the world mostly rejoiced when the former Soviet Union and its empire collapsed and some of its constituent republics fragmented into smaller units, notably Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.


We should be prepared to deal with the specter of existing Arab countries that reconfigure their frontiers and populations while they are reconfiguring their political governance systems.


Another point that was raised in several different forms related to how the current Arab revolt would affect relations with major Western countries, especially since many Western powers actively supported the Arab autocrats who are now being challenged and, in some cases, removed from office. Would newly liberated Arab citizenries seek revenge against Western powers?


My impression is that this will depend on the new policies that these Western powers adopt, rather than on what they did in the past. Most Arabs are critical of Western powers because they unquestioningly back Israel or support Arab autocrats. Should those policies be moderated and replaced by more even-handed postures toward the Middle East, newly liberated Arab citizens would probably be too busy building their new countries to allow themselves to be distracted by lingering resentments from the past.


What is the single most important development that could trigger regime change in some countries now facing domestic challenges and unrest, one person asked? Three reasons come to mind: economic collapse could do so; or key figures in the military and security agencies could stop protecting the regime; or strategically placed commercial, tribal, sectarian and business leaders in society could decide that the current course was disastrous and, in consequence, could bring about the fall of the regime. Read in full here.


Rami G. Khouri is published twice weekly by THE DAILY STAR.

Yes many questions still remains unanswered.