Anwar's behaviour towards journalist in his Blog is unacceptable

I was very disturbed by a recent posting by Anwar Ibrahim in his blog entitled " Who is Baradan Kuppusamy?" .

What disturbed me was the calling of this journalist a “shameful paid whore.” and making of other comments about his person, not just his opinions and views.

What was disturbing was a call(or a suggestion) by someone in the Anwar Ibrahim post itself (not a 3rd party comment) for banning of this reported from Press Conferences...

“Let us ban Baradan Kuppusamy from our PCs, if there is truth in this private e-mail to me. Salams.”

What has happened to freedom of expression and opinion. What is happening to Anwar Ibrahim here, for the behaviour and the stance in this posting was something which we would have expected from the current BN government - not the future Pakatan Rakyat goverment, certainly not from Anwar himself...

Is this just a blog called Anwar Ibrahim maintained by someone else without the consent or knowledge of Anwar Ibrahim personally - and if so, Anwar must not allow it. Malaysiakini list it as a 'Top Blog" and it does so possibly in the belief that it is Anwar's personal blog.

The post appears to be a letter/e-mail to some other which had been copied and pasted in the Anwar Ibrahim blog. But, as there is NO comment from Anwar Ibrahim about this post, one may assume that he fully endorses the said post and its content....The post starts with these words:-

Dear Abang Din,

Ramadhan Karim and I hope you are well and doing fine.

It is the Anwar Ibrahim Blog - and as such Anwar Ibrahim must also be very careful about what gets posted in his Blog - because all of us will assume that it is you who are posting it there, or that something is posted here on your behalf with your full knowledge and consent.

If it was an Anwar Ibrahim Fan Club Blog, or Anwar Ibrahim Supporters Blog - then Anwar cannot be said to be personally responsible.

When we go to Lim Kit Siang's Blog or Mahathir's Blog or Tian Chua's Blog or Husam Musa's blog - we rightfully expect that it is them that are posting in their own blog (or if not, it is some other posting it with their full consent and approval..).

So, if it is not Anwar Ibrahim's doing or something done with his knowledge, he better come out and clarify this soonest - and possibly re-affirm his commitment to freedom of expression and opinion...maybe even apologoze to the affected journalist, who does write about many matters that other journalist may shy away by reason of fear..

I may not agree with what Baradan Kuppusamy thinks and writes in his column/article/report - but I would respect his right to his opinion and expression.

Name calling and allegations about the person is not the way to respond - we respond by the stating of our disagreements and presenting our own opinion and perspective on things. Calling someone a “shameful paid whore.” is certainly not the way to go...

So, will the soon-to-be Pakatan Government also be censoring those that criticize it, banning them from the Press Conferences (BN was doing this to Malaysiakini reporters before), be maybe also revoking licences of the pro-Opposition newspapers, mmmm I seriously hope not ....

I look with great eagerness to a new era of freedom under the Pakatan Rakyat, as and when they do form the new government.

I see the flourishing of new independent radio and television stations, new newspapers and magazines, more peaceful assemblies of protest/expression without any permit requirements, etc..

In any event, I also had a look a the 2 so-called writings of Baradan in the "the Star commentary yesterday and today’s The Malaysian-Insider (both BN leaflets) which are simply hateful concoctions full of bigotry, biased reporting and hatred.", which I have copied and pasted below for your reading... You make up your mind whether it is "simply hateful concoctions full of bigotry, biased reporting and hatred.",

Two takeover deadlines have come and gone, and while Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s staunch supporters believe he still has the numbers to topple the BN government, the average Malaysian is asking whether it’s all empty talk.

THE people must be confounded by recent events. One day, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim challenges Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmd Badawi to hand over the government to him and the next, he is in the dock defending himself against a sodomy charge.

Anwar had used media power to ready the people to expect a march to the palace to claim the prime ministership of Malaysia but instead they saw him coming out of a court complex on Wednesday.

Although Abdullah has called Anwar’s bluff on the power grab game, and the whole issue now seems surreal, hardcore supporters of Anwar are still hoping he has the numbers and that the march to the palace will take place.

For many Malaysians, the two deadlines of Sept 16 and 23 have come and gone without the anticipated fall of the Barisan Nasional Government.

After crying wolf once too often, Anwar now says the dates were “symbolic” and not meant to be taken at face value.

He says the plan to topple the government is on but in accordance with rules, laws and constitutional processes so as not to endanger the people or the economy.

More rhetoric, and more promises.

Middle Malaysia, that section of the population that cherishes stability, status quo and likes to believe, is slipping from his grasp.

“Does he have the numbers?” they once asked. Now the same people are asking: “Why did he take us for a ride? Is he not concerned about his credibility?”

If Anwar wants to win back “Middle Malaysia” he has to answer their questions.

After having raised public anticipation to feverish levels, people need proper closure.

The thing that sticks in my mind is his constant claim that the “numbers are increasing by the hour”, meaning more and more Barisan MPs are crossing over. Was that a mere claim or was it for real?

The optimists among Malaysians now hope that when Parliament reconvenes on Oct 13, Anwar will show his “ever-increasing numbers” by asking them to cross over to the Opposition bench.

He need not produce any list, challenge anybody, call for a special parliament session or write letters to the palace. A short walk across the parliament floor will suffice.

If that walk fails to materialise, Anwar has to give up the role of PM-in-waiting and get cracking on what the people had voted him to do — to be an effective opposition leader, to act as a check and balance to the BN government.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia has asked Anwar to go back to the people and let them decide whether they want him to be prime minister. He should not just entice some Barisan MPs to jump ship and then claim to have the people’s mandate.

“Only the people can decide, not some jumping MPs,” said party president Dr Nasir Hashim.

In the meantime, Anwar should work hard to turn the Pakatan Rakyat coalition into a formidable force instead of the loose grouping it is now.

Except for Penang and probably Kedah, other Pakatan-ruled states are weak and not cohesive.

A letter by a reader in The Star on Wednesday summed it up succinctly: “His ardent desire to head the country leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. In his rush to Putrajaya, he betrayed the trust of fence-sitters and some of his supporters as the widely-criticised Barisan Nasional remained in power on Sept 16. He now has a tiny window of opportunity; he either walks the talk or shut up.” - Star, 27/9/2008,Puzzling over Anwar’s claims, Comments by BARADAN KUPPUSAMY

ANALYSIS

By Baradan Kuppusamy

SEPT 28 — With Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi eclipsed, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the rise and the Umno succession dispute all but settled, it is tough times ahead for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the erstwhile prime minister-in-waiting.

While meeting fund managers In Hong Kong on Thursday Anwar put up a brave front to questions on whether it is troubling him with Najib set to get the job he craves and whether the leadership transition in Umno means a strong and united Umno training its guns on him.

"No," Anwar told them. "In fact the changes makes it easier for me…nothing really has changed because the corrupt system remains, the cronyism remains and race and discrimination remains."

He went on to thrash Najib, attempting to link him to unexplained and unanswered questions over the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian woman who was blown up into pieces in late 2006 with C4 explosives.

Anwar also linked Najib with alleged "shady deals" involving multi-billion defence contracts and his inability to reform the corrupt system or give Malaysians a new hope of the future.

However after a string of successes, the political landscape is changing and turning hostile for Anwar.

His plans to seize power have been killed in its infancy and his allies DAP and PAS have got over the mesmerising effect of the Anwar-charm offensive and are now openly dragging their feet.

Worst is a potentially debilitating sodomy trial that will sap his energy, create distance between him and PAS and DAP and raising fresh questions about his ability and suitability to lead a nation from the docks.

On the deadline to seize power, Anwar has also changed course disappointing his legions of supporters and alienating fence sitters. "It is not an issue of deadlines any more…I urge Malaysians who believe in change to be patient."

Whether he has the numbers or not however will be tested when Parliament reconvenes on Oct 13 to debate and approve the 2009 budget.

If he has the numbers as he claims to have he can easily kill the budget and demonstrate to the world that he really has majority support in the 222-seat parliament.

The budget of 24 ministries have to be debated and approved and if he can kill any one of the ministries' budgets, that would be a successful vote of no-confidence against Abdullah and the BN government.

"He has 24 chances to do it," said Dewan Rakyat deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar in Kuching on Saturday virtually throwing the gauntlet to Anwar.

However on Oct 7 Session Court judge Komathy Suppiah will rule whether to hear the Sodomy II case or transfer it to the High Court as the prosecutors want.

There is no real issue here because a transfer is an established procedure and even if she refuses, which is really going against established norm, the government can always appeal her decision and probably have it reversed.

A higher court can reverse her decision on appeal, if necessary, even on the same day.

Anwar's lawyers have argued that the transfer was signed by Attorney-General Ghani Patail whom Anwar is suing for fabricating evidence in the 1999 sodomy case which saw him imprisoned for six years for corruption.

In 2000 Anwar was jailed an additional nine years for sodomy but the conviction was quashed in 2004 and he was freed after serving six years altogether.

Meanwhile, the political ground is slipping under Anwar with the changes in Umno's leadership and by extension that of the country.

Abdullah had been kindest to Anwar among the top Umno leaders.

Abdullah, who had also tried to use him to scare Umno into submission, is leaving for good having to make an announcement before Oct 9 whether he is offering himself to contest as Umno president.

It was also Abdullah who Anwar had hoped to confound and stampede into handing over the government to him by triggering a mass exodus, a harebrained scheme that has since died under the weight of its own implausibility.

That small window for Anwar - Abdullah's willingness to play by the rules, an inherent sense of justice and fair play - has closed with the Prime Minister's impending departure leaving Anwar without a "friend."

Anwar could have inadvertently hastened Abdullah's departure after his Information chief Tian Chua claimed Anwar and Abdullah were meeting behind the scenes to discuss a transfer of power, something that Umno veterans feared the most.

Anwar had to rubbish Chua's statement immediately but it did not help when the Umno supreme council met a day later to decide on the transition.

Abdullah's departure leaves Anwar facing the brute force of power and real politics exposed without his breastplate as the old forces that ousted him in 1998 and benefited from the political vacuum he left behind, now gather once again to stop his march to power.

While Anwar's troubles are set to mount in the power game, public perception and support for him remains strong. He is continued to be seen as the best future leader for a new Malaysia.

However the most recent poll by the Merdeka Center also shows that the racial divide between Malays and non-Malays is wider and widening with more Malays backing Umno and Najib on one side and more Chinese and Indians backing Anwar and the Pakatan coalition on the other.

A very dangerous sign in a multi-ethnic society already widely divided over race, religion and discriminatory policies.

The poll based on 1,002 people showed that 39.3 per cent supported Anwar and 33.8 per cent backed Najib.

While about 40% of those polled supported Anwar but the remaining 60% were either not in favour, undecided or marked as "don't know" - a rather high percentage compared to the 70% or more support from non-Malays he had received on March 8.

If these figures are to be accepted it means the non-Malay support for Anwar is sliding.

His constant attempts at grabbing power are causing instability, uncertainties and people, especially the middle class, tend to worry.

For now Anwar has eased off on his "take over" games and for the future he should reaslise that the March 8 vote was for change and not a personal vote for Anwar or an endorsement of his frolics.

He leads a coalition that rules five big states and he should work at change there to win public confidence and not be carried away by his own rhetoric. - Malaysian Insider, 29/8/2008, Pak Lah's Departure May Spell Trouble for Anwar

Some of us may be ardent fans of Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat - but surely we can behave better than some of the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi 0r UMNO or BN supporters. We should stop all these name callings, and express ourselves with decorum and honour.

We should also behave consistent with our values and principles - one of which is that we support and want freedom of expression and opinion...