No News Is Bad News
PMX Anwar in defiance against possible US sanctions on Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3, 2023: Malaysians! Brace for possible hard times if the US imposes economic sanctions on Malaysia.
Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX) Anwar Ibrahim has taken a hard stand against the US’ move to impose economic sanctions against individuals and countries that support Hamas terrorists and the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine.
Anwar indicated that Malaysia would not budge on its position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“We are a free and independent country,” he told reporters today.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on Anwar’s response to possible US sanctions on Malaysia and previous postings:
We’re a free country, says PM in face of US sanctions over Hamas
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim indicates that Malaysia will not budge on its position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Mohd Farhan Darwis - 03 Nov 2023, 2:43pm
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia is a ‘free and independent country’. (Bernama pic)
PUCHONG: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has indicated that Malaysia will not budge when it comes to its position on the Israel-Palestine conflict and Hamas.
This is despite the United States House of Representatives to pass a bill regarding restrictions on foreign entities that support Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine
“We are a free and independent country,” he told reporters briefly after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Taman Putra Perdana here.
Anwar was asked to comment on the bill passed by the US House of Representatives, which is reportedly aimed at preventing international funding for Hamas.
Thursday, 2 November 2023
PMX Anwar may have to pay the price for ‘playing with fire’ with the US
No News Is Bad News
PMX Anwar may have to pay the price for ‘playing with fire’ with the US
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2, 2023: Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX) Anwar Ibrahim must be a worried man and perhaps problem sleeping.
This follows the US House of Representatives approval of a bill to sanction foreign supporters of the Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist movements today.
The bill would require the president to periodically report to Congress a list of each foreign person who knowingly provides “significant support or services” to a senior member or supporter of Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Should the US sanction Malaysia, it will seriously jolt and damage the country’s economy and send the Ringgit diving to new lows.
The effect on Anwar’s political standing and future would be at stake.
Anwar should have known not to play with fire with the big boys, especially the US which is the most powerful nation in the world.
Malaysia is a tiny nation and would not be able to withstand the negative economic effects like China.
Perhaps, the suspected CIA-backed political website, Malaysia Chronicle (MC), for saw what is coming and had been “ridiculously” lobbying for former Umno elite and defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein to succeed as Malaysia’s 11th prime minister.
MC in its reports had ignored the numbers in the 222-seat Parliament but, if US sanctions Malaysia, anything is possible in Malaysian politics.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a slew of related past reports:
Thursday, 2 November 2023
US to sanction Malaysia?
No News Is Bad News
US to sanction Malaysia?
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2, 2023: The Anwar Ibrahim-led Madani Unity Government (UG) may be in serious trouble.
The US House of Representatives has approved a bill to sanction foreign supporters of the Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist movements today.
The bill would require the president to periodically report to Congress a list of each foreign person who knowingly provides “significant support or services” to a senior member or supporter of Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Should Malaysia be sanctioned, the already ballooning RM1.5 trillion national debt is set to soar as the country’s economy will be stressed, to say the least, and further weakening the Ringgit.
Who then is responsible for inviting such a sanction? And, not forgetting, the domestic political impact?
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the US bill:
US House approves bill to sanction Hamas supporters
Some 45 Democrats and one Republican voted in opposition to the bill.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFNOVEMBER 2, 2023 02:13Updated: NOVEMBER 2, 2023 09:28
Newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) gets a standing ovation from Republican members of the House as he addresses members after being elected to be the new Speaker of the House at the US Capitol in Washington, US, October 25, 2023(photo credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)
The US House of Representatives approved a bill to sanction foreign supporters of the Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist movements on Wednesday night.
The bill, titled the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act, passed 363-46. Some 45 Democrats and one Republican voted in opposition of the bill. First introduced in the House in January, it will now head to the Senate.
The bill would require the president to periodically report to Congress a list of each foreign person who knowingly provides “significant support or services” to a senior member or supporter of Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Any such person must have two or more sanctions imposed on them.
The president would also be required to provide Congress with a list of any foreign governments that have repeatedly provided material support for the terrorist groups’ activities. These governments will be barred from receiving US assistance or the exports of controlled munitions for one year. International financial institutions will also be instructed to oppose providing assistance to these governments for a year.
AIPAC | Text ISRAEL to 24722 | #StandWithIsrael
@AIPAC
The House just overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill to sanction supporters of Hamas, following the terrorist group’s brutal terrorist assault against Israelis on Oct. 7. The Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act targets foreign entities and nations that continue to support Hamas. Thank you
and
for leading this important bipartisan initiative.
Palestinians take part in a protest in support of the people of Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Hebron in the West Bank, October 20, 2023. (credit: WISAM HASHLAMOUN/FLASH90)
The bill provides for certain exceptions and waivers.
AIPAC welcomed the passing of the bill, thanking Rep. Brian Mast (R-Florida, 21st District) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey, 5th District) for leading the effort to pass the bill.
Wednesday, 1 November 2023
US desperately wants pro-Hamas PM Anwar ousted
No News Is Bad News
US desperately wants pro-Hamas PM Anwar ousted
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2, 2023: The US, via its suspected CIA-backed website, Malaysia Chronicle (MC), is unbelievably desperate to have Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim toppled as soon as possible.
Thge US is apparently exctremly upset and uncomfortable with Malaysia strong support for the Palestine’s terrorist Hamas.
It has come up with a second speculative story lobbying for former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein - no matter how ridiculous it sound.
Where is Hishammuddin’s support in the 222-seat Parliament?
This was a comment posted on the story:
Jonas Lee said…
This is the most gossipy, albeit clueless, commentary on Malaysian politicians.The Ringgit's decline is a function of aggressive US interest rate hikes, not domestic policies. Anwar may be a mediocre policy maker but he represents Malaysia well in the international scene.
None of your candidates can even talk about global issues without mispronouncing or making fool of themselves and the nation.
As Jonas Lee said: “albeit clueless …”. It just ignores the numbers game in Parliament!
No News Is Bad News reproduces below how MC takes readers for stupid:
EXIT GANG PUBLIKA, EXIT ANWAR, EXIT ZAHID - ENTER HISHAM, ENTER 'DYNAMIC DUO'? - CHANGING FORTUNES & MAJOR CHANGES SEEN IMMINENT & UNSTOPPABLE IN MALAYSIA'S POWER EQUATION
posted by politics now! on November 01, 2023
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - The changing fortunes of sacked Umno bigwig Annuar Musa has cast a light into the future of Malaysia's volatile political scene, marked by 4 changes in prime ministers in the past 5 years - with the ineffective Anwar Ibrahim looking set to lose the post he has coveted for decades - not due to elitism, racism or political manoeuvring but plain and simple, his own massive underperformance!
Annuar Musa was named the number 2 man to Pas' fast-rising star Sanusi Md Nor - and will take on the role of deputy election chief, in a move that slams the door shut on his long-held and once-prized Umno roots and perhaps also his personal ambition to be prime minister.
Once seen as a potential candidate for the PM's post, Annuar at the height of his power was the man who effectively called the shots for Umno in former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin's embattled Cabinet. He spoke louder and fiercer even than his own Umno party president Zahid Hamidi, as Muhyiddin, the Bersatu president, made him a minister but not Zahid!
Together with Pas secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and Bersatu's Hamzah Zainuddin, Annuar was the third member of the trio called the 'Gang Publika'.
They were reputedly the most powerful faction in the then ruling PN coalition as Hamzah had Muhyiddin's ear. Few of the major and perhaps disastrous political and policy decisions made during the Muhyiddin administration were not 'brainstormed' from their war room at the Publika mall.
'WASHOUTS' NO LONGER IN THE RUNNING?
Gang Publika - Takiyuddin (left), Annua Musa (center), Hamzah (right)
Unfortunately, none of the trio can be said to be doing well these days.
Hamzah, now the Opposition Leader in Parliament, is facing corruption and abuse of power charges. So is his son. Whilst Takiyuddin, once seen as the right-hand man and alternative PM candidate to Pas chief Hadi Awang, has been sidelined by younger talent springing up in the party. As for Annuar, his 'fall' has been the most spectacular of the three so far.
Whither the trio as Malaysia prepares for yet another political rollercoaster - a powder keg, tooth and nail fight for power and the coveted prime minister's post even as the nation prepares to welcome a new King for a new 5-year term that begins on Jan 31, 2024.
"I think unless you stretch your imagination, all three have to be described as 'washouts' rather than 'still in the running' candidates for top tier power," a political pundit told Politics Now!
"They had their chance but blew it, not only because they overplayed the race and religious card to the extent they didn't want to give even an inch of space to the non-Malays but at the end of the day, the Muhyiddin and Ismail Sabri regimes performed so badly it was clear even to the Malays, there would be no hope for the economy if they stayed on in power."
"And the same goes now for Anwar Ibrahim. His administration may be less Malay-centric and more friendly to non-Malays but look how the Ringgit is now at its lowest in history while the economic uncertainty is getting really scary. No amount of posturing, race or religious championing can help. Just like Publika gang, Anwar too has become a relic, a 'washout' and will have to go."
EXIT 'GANG PUBLIKA' - ENTER HISHAM?
Hamzah (left) and Hisham (right)
Hamzah, perhaps the brightest of the three, was also the quietest. Seen as the gang-leader, he let Annuar and Takiyuddin do all the chest-thumping and arm-waving.
Touted as Bersatu's PM candidate as Muhyiddin is still widely unpopular, Hamzah's performance as Opposition Leader has been disappointing - he is still extremely quiet and has not been able organize fresh campaigns or rebuttals against Anwar's government.
Speculation is rife Umno elite Hishammuddin Hussein may cross over to become Bersatu's prime minister candidate and lead a coordinated effort by the opposition to oust Anwar as PM.
Even if Hishammuddin stays in Umno, Hamzah would lose ground in Bersatu to party mate and also rival Azmin Ali, who is close to Hishammuddin, if the ouster succeeds.
TAKIYUDDIN - OVERTAKEN!
Muhyiddin (front), Takiyuddin (back)
Takiyuddin, regarded by the village-based Pas as one of its most polished politicians, always careful to don Western attire in Parliament, tried his best to pull his party's Muslim cables.
But he was outshone as dynamic and younger trailblazers from within Pas pulled the rug out from under him.
Silently, Takiyuddin fell from his perch, unnoticed and left in the background as the 'dynamic duo' of Sanusi Md Nor, the Kedah chief minister, and Samsuri Mokhtar, the Terengganu chief minister, climbed over his head to the forefront.
Now they and not him are wanted by Pas members to be their PM candidate.
CAN DYNAMIC DUO BEAT HISHAM?
Sanusi (right) and Samsuri (left)
Will this duo will contend against Hishammuddin, who is regarded as the best choice for PM now by the Malay elites due to his more centered and balanced stance despite an episode during his Umno Youth days when he waved the keris or Malay sword as if to threaten the non-Malays?
"It remains to be seen and how the final power equation is written - who and who on which side to balance who and who on the other side. But I think it's highly unlikely because the PM must be PM for all Malaysia and not just the Malays. So far, Sanusi and Samsuri only know how to speak for the Malays but not the non-Malays, so how can either of them qualify yet?" the pundit said.
Pas had won a record 49 seats and is now a credible government-in-waiting despite its radical, even extremist political stance as Malays, who form the largest bloc of voters in the country, rooted for it instead of Umno and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's PKR party.
The controversial Sanusi is also the Kedah chief minister while Samsuri Mokhtar is the Terengganu chief minister. Shahidan Kassim is the Arau MP who joined Pas after falling out with other top leaders in Umno.
The amazing explosion in Sanusi and Samsuri's popularity came after their political strategies yielded unprecedented and beyond-all-expectations results for their party.
Indeed, the wheels of fortune have turned in Pas' favor and it is now the biggest and most influential Malay political party in the country, winning the most seats of any single party in the federal Parliament and controlling four of the country's 14 states.
ANNUAR - OVERCONFIDENCE LED TO HIS DOWNFALL
Zahid (left), Annuar (right)
As for Annuar, who was most vociferous and brash of the three, perhaps his fate might now be the coldest.
Annuar had lost out to Ismail Sabri, his Umno colleague who took over as PM after Muhyiddin was forced to surrender the post after a series of bungles in a brief stint marked by underwhelming performance.
And last year, when Zahid chose to form a unity government with Anwar Ibrahim instead of maintaining the Umno alignment with Muhyiddin's PN coalition, which includes Pas, Annuar lost 'everything'.
CUTTING OLD TIES, LEARNING NEW TRICKS - CAN ANWAR'S OWN LITTLE NAPOLEONS FARE AS WELL?
The former Ketereh MP was not only expelled for openly agitating Umno members to revolt against the Zahid decision, he was forced to join Pas to keep his political career alive. So too was his colleague Shahidan Kassim, another former Umno minister who was dropped as a candidate in last year's general election,
Shahidan and Annuar - tired faces?
And although Annuar may never admit it, chances are if he could, he would still rather be in Umno. The party not only gave him his political roots but the chance to make his money and establish himself. Still, Annuar should count himself lucky to be in the 'new' Pas.
"Of course he cannot throw his weight around like he did in Umno because he is a 'junior' in Pas and they have their own culture and system," a Pas watcher told Politics Now!
"But it's not too bad to be named No. 2 to Sanusi even though Annuar's older and has more experience because Sanusi and Samsuri are seen to be the future of Pas. Either one of them will be Pas' prime minister candidate but not Annuar or Shahidan.
Lest those who now walk the corridors of power be tempted to smirk at Annuar and Shahidan, it won't be long before they too face the same stark reality as Lady Luck casts her smile else in Malaysia's political arena.
Once swept into power, Malaysian politicos always tend to forget their roots, where they came from and how they got there.
Indeed, Anwar looks set to have the shortest term and worst legacy of all Malaysia's prime ministers. Less than a year in power, his ministers, political secretaries and coterie of sycophants have already started pushing, shoving and bullying their critics.
It goes without saying that many will be happy to see the back of this pack of self-aggrandizing but substance-less lot. Once out of power, can they fare better than Annuar Musa and Shahidan?
Highly unlikely given their lack of skills - but as the saying goes, let karma show the way!
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
MC's first story:
Tuesday, 31 October 2023
PMX Anwar to be toppled next month?
No News Is Bad News
PMX Anwar to be toppled next month?
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1, 2023: Suspected CIA-backed website Malaysia Chronicle (MC) is now speculating that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim would be toppled soon.
The earliest opportunity for rivals to topple Anwar, it predicted, will be at the tabling of Budget 2024 next month.
And MC is “lobbying” for former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein to be the next prime minister! He does not even hold a post in Umno which has only 26 seats in the 222-seat Parliament.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below the MC report for readers’ reading pleasure:
PMX ANWAR TO SOON BECOME XPMX? - BUT WHO WILL BE THE NEXT PM? HISHAMMUDDIN HUSSEIN ONN? - AS 'ME, MYSELF, I' ANWAR FUMBLES ON ISSUE AFTER ISSUE, FOCUSING ON HIS OWN "GREATNESS' - THE PEOPLE ARE LOSING PATIENCE & SO ARE THE ROYALS!
posted by politics now! on October 31, 2023
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - As disappointment with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's performance becomes palpable across the nation, Malaysia's political scene is once again rocking with conspiracy theories of when and how he will be ousted and by whom - not if!
"I think the push is now quite easy to see. It is Hisham who is seen as the most acceptable candidate to take over from Anwar who is likely to end up the shortest-termed PM ever," a political pundit told Politics Now!
"So long as Hisham is backed by a very strong King who is known for multiracial and no nonsense ways, such as the Johor Sultan, then I think the non-Malays will accept Hisham notwithstanding their concern about Pas extremism. They can see Anwar is not up to the job and his PKR party has become a disgrace, good only at bullying critics but bungling and at a loss when it comes to hatching workable plans for the nation's future. So whether Hisham becomes PM via Umno as it is now or has to go over to PN-PAS with other Umno MPs is less important. The final structure remains to be seen."
The earliest opportunity for rivals to topple Anwar will be at the tabling of the Budget for 2024 next month. The change of King due to take place on Jan 31, 2024 is another key date to watch and a change of government is possible before or soon after that day. A snap general election is however unlikely as the power 'wheeling and dealing' is likely to transacted via statutory declarations of support presented to the King.
IT'S TRUE, NON-MALAYS DO TRUST JOHOR SULTAN - FROM BANGSA JOHOR TO BANGSA MALAYSIA?
Indeed, non-Malays' fear of Pas and the still widespread public rejection of ex-premier Muhyiddin Yassin who performed just as badly if not worse than Anwar, are no longer enough to keep him propped up as the country's 10th prime minister.
Even DAP, the political party within Anwar's Pakatan Harapan coalition that he has been banking on to reel in the non-Malay vote, is starting to lose its shine with the Chinese and Indian voters.
Critically, the disgust displayed by Sarawak's all-powerful GPS coalition, without whose support Anwar's unity government would immediately crash, has been too visible to be missed by political watchers.
In recent weeks, Premier Abang Jo and his state government have slammed the door on almost every one of Anwar's half-baked efforts that seem aimed to make himself popular with the Malay heartland and the civil service, rather than in the nation's interests.
These include refusing to comply with a 'Return to Sender' order from Anwar that Malay language must be used on all official communications or to compel Sarawak schools to hold a controversial 'Palestine Solidarity Week'.
Sarawak's ministers did not mince their words - reiterating that English would remain their state's official language, while rebuffing the Palestine Solidarity Week that has now backfired badly on Anwar on the grounds that one-sided political ideology that comes with violence and ethnic hatred had no place in the state's primary and secondary schools.
TMJ'S KNOCKOUT PUNCH
But perhaps the latest blow - a thundering, knockout punch from Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail - was the most powerful indicator yet that the end of the road is near for Anwar and his coterie of self-aggrandizing political secretaries and ministers.
This inner circle of loyalists from Anwar's own PKR party may have single-handedly made Anwar's fall inevitable due to their bullying and oppressive ways towards critics - thus eroding the key fundamentals of the reformist platform, which includes free and fair speech, that swept Anwar to power.
TMJ, the moniker by which Tunku Ismail is known, had a day ago called Anwar indecisive, saying he lacked a good team and did not show enough courage to carry out tough decisions.
Indeed, all eyes are on whether Anwar can "execute" his development plans unveiled recently in an unprecedentedly massive Budget for 2024 or will he stay as many have predicted - a disorganized 'tin kosong' (empty vessel) administrator?
"Just to address what the TMJ said, my view is (Anwar) is not entirely indecisive. He does make decisions," said a prominent blogger Syed Akbar Ali in his website.
"But he lacks that most essential and cherished of all essentials - common sense, knowledge and intelligence. Lacking all three, his decisions are all cantankerous. But nothing seems to stop him. He just bulldozes through. It is nothing more than 'Me, myself and I'."
OMINOUSLY FOR ANWAR - NEW AGONG HAS 'CLEAR AGENDA' TO 'RESTORE ORDER'
More ominously still, TMJ said his father, who is due to become Malaysia's next King for the next 5 years effective from January 31, 2024 had a "clear agenda" and was keen to "restore order".
“He always says something about restoring order because of the unstable (political) situation in the country,” Tunku Ismail said during the“Keluar Sekejap” podcast which aired on Monday.
According to news portal Malaysiakini, Tunku Ismail also believes his father’s impending reign would be an “interesting time”.
“His Majesty has his own plan…He wants to work together with the prime minister and share his views with the latter. So, we will see,” he said.
DON'T BE A BULLY, ANWAR - EVERY MALAYSIAN HAS A RIGHT TO COMMENT ON POLITICS, INCLUDING ON YOUR PERFORMANCE
Tunku Ismail himself set the tone when he pointed out that as a citizen, he had the right to comment on political matters, including Anwar's performance.
It was indeed a pointed reference and a direct slap to Anwar's minders who have been busy trying to build him into some sort of 'cult hero' who could not be criticized.
Their clampdown on critics is perhaps the single-most damaging issue that has angered civil society and the activists, whose decades-old push for a better Malaysia had helped bring Anwar and the DAP to power.
"This is called karma. When they were in opposition and needed strident critics against Najib, then against Mahathir, Muhyiddin and Ismail Sabri, they were only too happy," a veteran political watcher told Politics Now!
"Now that they are in power, they think they did it all by themselves. They don't remember the past contributions, they even forget their own reforms. This shows they don't have much principles - the Sedition Act is not only still there but they are actually using it on their critics, so is SOSMA. Serves them right when they get kicked back into the opposition and these laws are used again on them. Nobody will protest for them anymore, nobody will even vote for them. They're just opportunists, behaving like tinpot dictators the moment they get to Putrajaya."
KARMA, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY DRAWN TO HYPOCRISY, NEVER MISSES!
Third prime minister Hussein Onn
Worse than the backpedaling on election promises and underwhelming performance in getting the economy back on track, Anwar turned to the politics of hypocrisy to appease the Malay heartland, where he holds little traction and is not trusted.
Unfortunately by doing so, Anwar antagonized his own largely non-Malay electorate, foolishly falling into the trap set by the Malay-centric parties including Pas, the largest and most powerful political party in the country.
Despite a glaring lack of visionaries and talented administrators, Pas now controls the governments of 4 states and the hearts and minds of Malay voters - due to the politics of race and religion that it plays. However, its reach and expansion may have hit limit, with analysts saying it has to tone down its stance and start to woo the non-Malays which make up almost 40 per cent of the country's population.
Indeed, "interesting times" are ahead for Malaysia as the TMJ predicted. Under Anwar and DAP, the massive change and transformation that Malaysia needs is clearly not possible. DAP can push behind the scenes but Anwar is just too weak and has not the capability to pull. The result - a still dying Malaysia, albeit at a slower pace!
Can the younger Hisham, whose father was the country's 3rd prime minister Hussein Onn and whose grandad Onn Jaafar wanted to open Umno to non-Malay members, pull better than the ageing Anwar?
Who can push Hisham better than DAP? Perhaps Pas or Bersatu or even DAP again with GPS and Umno-BN too? Obviously, all under the overarching, strong and watchful eye of the King! Long live his Majesty, long live Malaysia!
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
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