Anwar declares he won't rejoin UMNO

I'm reprising an item from Malaysia-Today run by Raja Petra Kamaruddin, and I like the spirit of the host's writing Without Fear Or Favour. I urge all Bloggers, and Commenters too, to emulate this example. Write in your own name or pseudonym linked to a persona with a webpage. Be proud of your ownership of your ideas -- your own intellectual property, Yes/No? Before I proceed to the former DPM's latest statement on his political moves, let me deal with an outstanding issue in Blogosphere I had "held in abeyance" for a few days.

It's "ABOUT US" in the relatively new "Walk Witn Us" weblog and I had visited them and commented there TWICE, and had thrown a challenge at the people beind this initiative. This weblog started as a direct response to the two defamation suits against JeffOoi of Screenshots and Ahiruddin Attan of Rockybru's.

Whe I logged onto to walkwithus.wordpress.com, I had expected to be acquainted with the NAMES OF PEOPLE behind the brave and bold act. ABOUT US? What about you?

When we wish to fight any battle, COME OUT IN THE OPEN. Don't be a guerilla, or terrorist. I believe Malaysia is still an infant democracy worth nursing, worth grooming, okay, WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

So, show your face and be responsible and accountable.
WWU, You sound the clarion call to line up and join the forces. Yes, I would like to join you too, officially, but while I reveal my true identity Desiderata-YL Chong (aka Chong Yen Long), you hide behind the clouds of anonymity.

Can I completely trust you in your Anonymity?
NO. I have had experienced several "AP" encounters -- Agent Provocateur -- visitors to my Blog, as well as detected at other Blogs, who subtly come into blogosphere to SUBVERT genuine discourse in democratic spirit. I reproduce your caution "Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”
AND I ACT IN FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF THY ADVICE. Hence, my challenge.

The challenge was thrown days ago, BUT TO DATE, NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN SIGHTED!
And I reproduce my first Comment there, with a PS, as it is self-explanatory:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two extracts at walkwithus.wordpress.com at its Maiden Post ABOUT US~~~~~~~~~~~~


ylchong Says:
January 26th, 2007 at 2:42 am

Desi is reproducing his humble Comment made yesterday (Jan 23, 2007) at the said referred site because I truly feel this subject is of utmost concern to ALL BLOGGERS — veteran, few years old like Desi, newbies alike — and I stress that my views are just One Concerned Blogger’s, and there is enough room for diversity and divergence of opinions. As I posted earlier: “Blogger’s Realm as Diverse as Journalists’”

ylchong Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm

Jeff Ooi and Ahiruddin Atan are actual persons who dare to reveal true IDs. Any initiative on their Cause also must reveal their true IDs, otherwise what standards are you following o=if not these TWO LEADERS?

You guys state as if we Bloggers in Malaysia are caught in a Cloak&Dagger situation, to wit:“Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”

Take a look in the mirror, you already have planted the seeds of fear and suspicion where in the first instance, there was NONE with me as a blogger who was inspired by Jeff and I started blogging 1-3/4years ago with my ID fully revealed.

I throw back this challenge to you: Show true grit, otherwise, cease and desisit because you can not rise to the clalenge (dilemma) faced by the owners of Screenshots (Jeff) and RockyBru.

PS: I’m RE-sending this (with original copy, typos and all!) as my first one did NOT appear since first posting. Hope I’m lucky second time around.~~ Desi

ylchong Says:
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:06 am
PPS:

I wil join the walk officially if the Movers behind this initiative today declare their identities.
DELETE this paragraph-lah: “This blogsite is set up by a group of Malaysians, scattered locally and globally, who are gravely concerned with the current state of affairs in Malaysia. However, due to occupational hazards and our job security, we have to remain anonymous to the public, but we will keep a small circle of selected bloggers informed of who we are, and what we do. This is our strategic option at the moment. Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.” from above Post as my Challenge! as we also follow Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s credo,
“Writing without Fear or Favour”!

PPS added: 2.06pm Ferb3, 2007

___________Ends two expracts of my Comments at "WalkWithUs"_____________



Okay, back to Anwar. Before you read the item, let me decalre: I AM A SUPPORTER OF Parti Keadilan Malaysia. Nothing to be shy about.
How about "ABOUT US" in WalkWithUs, coy and cowardly as handmaidens of some cloak-and-dagger operations? You advised me, and I reprise again: ""Admittedly, we are gripped in a total state of fear, and no one can trust no one. You may not even want to trust us, which is perfectly sensible and understandable. But knowing this country, we simply can’t take chances.”~~~~~~~
And I'm doing JUST that, not trusting you fellows unless, and until, you reveal your true identities! ~~ Desi @chongyl2000@yahoo.com ; HP? 012-0702285.
____________________________________________

07/02: Malaysia's Anwar rules out rejoining ruling party
Category: General Posted by: Raja Petra


(Bloomberg) -- Anwar Ibrahim, a former Malaysian deputy premier planning a return to politics, ruled out rejoining the party he was once poised to lead, even as some analysts say that's his only viable route to power.

Anwar, the heir to former premier Mahathir Mohamad until the 1997 Asian financial crisis, said he plans to challenge the ruling United Malays National Organization rather than join the party from which he was ousted the following year.

"I am committed to a reform agenda, UMNO is not,'' he said in an interview from Bangkok today. "Why does one insist that I should rejoin UMNO purely for political expediency.''

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who led a coalition of parties to victory in 2004, must call an election by early 2009. Anwar, who turns 60 this year, has insufficient public support to mount a challenge, according to political analyst Mohamed Mustafa Ishak.

"Deep down in his heart, he knows full well that given the situation of the opposition, they are not at all ready to give a formidable fight,'' said Ishak, a professor of politics at Universiti Utara Malaysia in the northern state of Kedah.

Anwar said he'll stand for a seat with his People's Justice Party, as part of what he called a "coalition of opposition.''

Anwar, who was finance minister between 1991 and 1998, is an adviser to the People's Justice Party. It is currently led by his wife and holds the seat of Permatang Pauh in Penang, western Malaysia.

Alternative Leader

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad recruited Anwar for UMNO in 1982 and groomed him to take over until the Asian financial crisis. Anwar, who called for reform then, was dismissed by his boss and imprisoned for almost six years on corruption and sodomy charges.

Malaysia's Federal Court, the highest court of appeal, quashed the sodomy conviction in 2004, although it upheld the corruption charge, which means Anwar cannot run for public office until 2008. Anwar has called the corruption and sodomy charges a conspiracy to destroy his political career.

Anwar, who described his relations with Abdullah as "cordial,'' declined to say whether his goal is to become Malaysia's prime minister.

"Whether we are going to make it, or win or not, whether we are going to contest, or anyone to be chosen as an alternative prime minister, that is not the issue at hand for the present,'' he said in the interview.

Some analysts aren't convinced. Anwar's return may yet see him stand for his wife's seat at the next election and switch to UMNO during the following five-year parliament, said Terence Chong, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

"He'll try and find his way back to UMNO,'' Chong said. "If you're an Anwar supporter within UMNO, you're going to hold your cards close to your chest.''

DESI: That "Chong" quoted in the Bloomberg story is NOT related to YLChong!