Din Merican: the Malaysian DJ Blogger
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Well Done PKR, Pakatan Rakyat and YBhg. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Welcome back Elizabeth Wong

www.malaysiakini.com
April 15, 2009

Wong to remain as exco member and state representative
by S Pathmawathy

khalid ibrahim selangor exco meeting on elizabeth wong issue 180209 03Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim today announced that embattled politician Elizabeth Wong will remain as both executive councillor as well as Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson. “The Selangor government today decided that Elizabeth Wong should resume her duties … with immediate effect,” Khalid told a press conference today. And Wong later in the day accepted the Selangor state’s offer to remain in office.

According to Khalid, Wong’s resignation for the two posts has been rejected by the state government.”The state government believes this is an appropriate and fair decision after taking into consideration views from all quarters, public interest and the fact that police investigations have to date failed to reach a conclusion,” he said.

“She is a victim of the (nude photo) incident,” stressed Khalid. The menteri besar also added that the Selangor sultan has been briefed of the exco’s decision.

“On behalf of the state government and the people of Selangor, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to his majesty for his stand not to interfere in political decisions, thus entrusting the state government to make a fair and just decision. It has to be stressed that morality is of utmost importance to this Pakatan Rakyat government and we will ensure that this principle is strictly adhered to,” he added.

Wong agrees to stay

Khalid was also quick to point out that should there be any conclusive evidence of any wrongdoing, the state government will not hesitate to the necessary action. “However, it must be added that the state government is equally concerned in protecting the rights to privacy and will do its utmost to protect that right,” he said.

Wong, whose leave is due to end tomorrow, issued a statement at 4.45pm today that she agreed to resume her duties. “This is the hardest decision that I have to make in my life and it is with the greatest humility that I accept the Selangor state’s offer to remain in office,” she said in her statement.

She also thanked everyone – from her constituents to the menteri besar and the state exco, her lawyers, the police and the Selangor sultan – for their guidance and support.

“These past two months have been more than an ordeal, one which I would never have wished for any citizen to have to suffer through. I have been stripped bare publicly – both figuratively and literally – by force and against my will. My personal life has been violated and assaulted by none other than criminals. Even up to this evening, I continue to receive threats from unknown persons,” she said, adding that gutter politics should not be part of our political culture.

She said that she now wished to serve her constituents and the state to the best of her abilities. “The struggle continues, and our work has just begun,” she added.

A collective agreement

According to Khalid, the nine members of the executive council which met this morning collectively agreed that she should continue as a state cabinet member. State exco members who attended the press conference with Khalid included Teresa Kok, Ronnie Liu, Xavier Jayakumar, Rodziah Ismail, Ean Yong, Iskandar Abdul Samad and Hassan Ali.

Iskandar, who holds that housing, building development and squatters portfolios, said that it was unfair for the state to make any speculation on Wong until the police completed their investigations. “But we cannot wait for the police to wrap up their investigation… as right now there is no case to say she is at fault, so we want her back,” he said. Asked whether it was a unanimous decision of the exco to reject Wong’s resignation, Iskandar said: “No it was not unanimous, it was the executive council’s decision, whether people (exco members) would agree or disagree, it is speculative”.

Wong, 37, was thrust into the spotlight following the circulation of her semi-nude photographs, which is now being investigated by the police. The PKR politician, who was an aide to party president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, had offered to quit her exco post and as Bukit Lanjan state representative. She was, however, asked to go on the leave by the menteri besar.

The police has obtained a warrant of arrest for Wong’s former boyfriend Hilmi Malek, who is wanted for questioning relating to the leaked photos. Hilmi is believed to be in a neighbouring country.

Khir: We will exploit

Meanwhile, state assembly opposition leader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo today welcomed the state government’s decision in asking Wong to return to work tomorrow, adding that it would benefit Barisan National (BN). Elaborating further, Khir said the decision showed that Pakatan was inconsistent in their values. He said the decision not to accept Wong’s resignation would be a political issue for a long time.

“Thank you (Selangor government) for the decision… we will exploit this issue,” Khir told Malaysiakini.

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42 Responses to “Well Done PKR, Pakatan Rakyat and YBhg. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Welcome back Elizabeth Wong”

  1. No body dares to touch Mr Toyo, UMNO-BN biggest rogue. You know why??? You probably guess right!!

    Every one in MACC is obligated to the man, just like every UMNO-BN leader is to Mahathir.

    Malaysian politics par excellence……….

  2. She did the right thing to stay on. And it shows the maturity of the PKR. Have a nice day.

  3. “She is a victim of the (nude photo) incident,” stressed Khalid.

    She is a victim of many things – her own personal indiscretion included. I said all there is to say on the other thread on the issue.

    http://dinmerican.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/unfettered-powers-of-the-executive-pt-2/

  4. “Asked whether it was a unanimous decision of the exco to reject Wong’s resignation, Iskandar said: “No it was not unanimous …”

    Like I said earlier, it was such a divisive issue within the party that Khalid has had to seek the support of the sultan. So much so that party leader Anwar Ibrahim wants to distance himself from it. It does not bode well for PKR leadership. It appears fractured and over a simple issue of a personal indiscretion of one of its own which has been exploited by the main stream media to good effect.

    It was left to fester for far too long. It was not as if there was an uproar by the right wing of her party for her to step down. She offered to step down. That decision should be respected.

  5. What next? Should we now expect Khalid Ibrahim to recommend to the sultan that she be given a bintang? This is ridiculous.

  6. “The police has obtained a warrant of arrest for Wong’s former boyfriend Hilmi Malek, who is wanted for questioning relating to the leaked photos. Hilmi is believed to be in a neighboring country.”

    What crime has he committed? Is there a crime called ‘invasion of privacy’ under the country’s Penal Code? Anybody? If it is a civil wrong, then the ‘victim’ could always go to the courts to have damages assessed. But first the plaintiff would need to establish the defendant’s liability.

    Did this alleged wrongdoer distribute the pictures for monetary gain or perhaps unsatisfying sex with a 39-year old? Or part of a wider conspiracy to damage her reputation?

    I can just about imagine the glee with which political adversaries greeted the decision by PKR Exco members – which wasn’t unanimous. This Hilmi guy can be expected to surface from his sojourn abroad at the appropriate time to give evidence at a civil trial. It would be fun to watch.

    She is not the victim. PKR, the party, is the victim. If PKR leaders still think it is an invasion of privacy issue which they say they are sworn to defend then they are naïve and misguided.

  7. Mr Bean,
    Sori, since Din has a new posting I hope to continue from here.,
    One thing for sure.. Names get connected. No body knows Eli before the 12th GE. I don’t even know Nizar.
    But one name I am stuck with is DSAI.
    I followed his development ever since his ABIM days. Somehow after the last GE, Din Merican. RPK, Rockybru, Kickdeffela and so the list goes on…bloggers are the NEW Media now. Nobody wants to read ST or Utusan now and many are not watching mainstream TV. People are just getting feddup. Even PM Lee Hsien Loong taking steps to engage the new media now following development across the Causeway.
    I wrote an email to Datin Seri Wan Azizah in 2000 sending her greetings and knowing DSAI is at Sg Buloh and I quote” I believe, one day, DSAI will be Prime Minister and the day is very near.
    What surprised me most,she replied and she will send my greetings to DSAI if she has the chance. From that moment, I am certain this is the NEW media that will change the world political landscape.
    If Jeff can get elected online why not Din Merican.
    He is bright with vast experience and you did mentioned foreign service?
    Why not? ” The next Foreign Minister-designate” I reckoned that day will come too. Hurray!! for Abg Din
    Anyway Din Merican is my favorite ‘hit’ every time I go online and not forgetting DSAI.
    For YB Eli.. lets get the job running again. How I wish, I can apply two month paid leave too..ha ha ha.
    And lastly, for Mr Bean, many thanks for a constructive engaging.
    If not the NET will be dull without ppl like us.

    PS. Sori Abg Din – I usually don’t comment this long. Maklum lah. kita org luar.

  8. The Selangor Religious Department may want to take both of them to court to answer charges of ‘close proximity’. I can just imagine the headlines and the packed audiences.

    The crowd will not be interested to know who is guilty of what and which court has jurisdiction but will be there to listen to the titillating details of the sexual encounter. It would be fun to watch sales of newspapers skyrocketing.

  9. “It would be fun to watch sales of newspapers skyrocketing” – Bean.

    This could be the only recourse left for the mainstream media to increase sales and may be readership. They have ran out of ideas. But to hear the duo slug it out in court is not too enticing a chance considering the how tame the Altantuya case had become.

  10. Din,

    After all that has been said & done….

    Just compiling the comments:

    “She offered to step down. That decision should be respected.”

    “She is a victim of the (nude photo) incident,” stressed Khalid.

    “She is a victim of many things – her own personal indiscretion included. I said all there is to say on the other thread on the issue.”

    “The police has obtained a warrant of arrest for Wong’s former boyfriend Hilmi Malek, who is wanted for questioning relating to the leaked photos. Hilmi is believed to be in a neighboring country.”

    “What crime has he committed? Is there a crime called ‘invasion of privacy’ under the country’s Penal Code? Anybody? If it is a civil wrong, then the ‘victim’ could always go to the courts to have damages assessed. But first the plaintiff would need to establish the defendant’s liability.”

    “She is not the victim. PKR, the party, is the victim. If PKR leaders still think it is an invasion of privacy issue which they say they are sworn to defend then they are naïve and misguided.”

    “The Selangor Religious Department may want to take both of them to court to answer charges of ‘close proximity’. I can just imagine the headlines and the packed audiences”.

    “The crowd will not be interested to know who is guilty of what and which court has jurisdiction but will be there to listen to the titillating details of the sexual encounter. It would be fun to watch sales of newspapers skyrocketing.”

    “Elaborating further, Khir said the decision showed that Pakatan was inconsistent in their values. He said the decision not to accept Wong’s resignation would be a political issue for a long time.”

    “Thank you (Selangor government) for the decision… we will exploit this issue,” Khir told Malaysiakini.”

    In my opinion, she could still be the much needed personality in PR….

    BUT it should be at the “Think Tank, Operational & Facilitator” role instead of being the Frontliner in Exco.

    Just how can PR & Eli “MOVE FORWARD” when the State Opposition Leader has “Threatened PR” with his Phase 2 Exploitations KAU, KAU!!!

    May God Almighty save PR, Eli and the Selangor citizens.

    Cheers Bro.

  11. “She is not the victim. PKR, the party is the victim.” Bean.
    Couldn’t agree with you more. In all things regarding ‘perceived’ morals or lack thereof, the wisest course is to walk on the thinnest of lines.
    PKR has not done the right thing, for the sake of political expediency. It was as if no other option was available.
    In any ‘compromised’ state, a proper justifiable course is difficult to achieve. To the rightwingers and conservatives this would be an atrocious affront. To the leftwingers and liberals this is a ‘victory’. Mediating this would be a nightmare! But there was no compromise, sigh…
    To be honest, i personally don’t think Eli did anything wrong.
    Being a cowardly wallsitter albeit only on this issue, i would prefer she continues as Adun but gets booted out of the Exco. Although this doesn’t do much, it may help in perception with the conservatives. Politics is getting that part right.
    Hypocritical extremis Toyol and his bunch of goons are clapping their paws with glee…

  12. “But to hear the duo slug it out in court …” Tok Cik

    The ‘slugging’ is not between the duo but between the duo and the state.

    They had to be close for a case of ‘close proximity’ under shariah law to be made out by the state. And for that kind of pictures? The photographer and his ‘victim’ had to be up close and personal and behind locked doors. So no defence to rely on there! The pictures serve as an out-of-court confession and speak for themselves. Unless, of course, they opt for the VK Lingam defense which is it looks llike me, sounds like me but it is not me.

    Just pay the fine – and hopefully a few strokes of the rotan across the buttocks for both. Since Malaysia is an Islamic state, the canning should be made public.

  13. “May God Almighty save PR, Eli and the Selangor citizens.” flyer168

    God doesn’t want to know.

  14. Eli is caught in a mire of what is term ‘morality’ a code of conduct put forward by society.
    PKR has to be wary and not be conceited at the adulation that it receives from her supporters.
    Wining over the masses is one thing , ethical obligation is another.

  15. “To be honest, I personally don’t think Eli did anything wrong.” meyalak-er

    You don’t need to do anything wrong to resign in order to save the party from being made a mockery of and ridiculed by political adversaries who would stop at nothing to destroy it. You’re not indispensable. No one is.

    She did right to resign even though I suspected it came from remorse for having been caught in compromising positions, rather than any genuine desire to save the party from public ridicule.

    She did right to defuse the situation by resigning but stupid EXCO went on to compromise the party’s position and played right into the hands of UMNO spin masters. It is now political fodder for those out to destroy PKR.

    Good luck!

  16. “I would prefer she continues as Adun but gets booted out of the Exco.”

    Menyalak-er

    Shouldn’t it be the other way round??

    Resigning from all official party positions does not mean she has to cease to be a party member. She can still contribute to the party from the sidelines. There’s nothing to stop her. Plan for her return in a few years.

    Danildaud,

    She’s a 39-year old unmarried woman. Think about that for a minute. Show some compassion. For you and me, we can go to the ‘tukang urut’ and let things hang out for a while! It is OK for us men to do it i.e. let off steam but not OK for our womenfolk to do the same even within the privacy of their bedrooms. That’s not fair but that is the standard demanded by society. Who says life is fair?

  17. “…. a booklet featuring her nude scandal was circulated and this may be foretaste of what’s to come should more pictures or worse videos, emerge.” Malaysian Insider

    Reports at the time said she offered to resign. I have never heard anybody offering to resign. You either resign or you don’t. Now she says she’s “humbled” by the offer for her to continue. When politicians like that say they are “humbled” by anything, what they really mean to say is “You’re damn right you need me and so do my constituents.”

    No one can put it more succinctly than Isa Manteqi. The Selangor MB made a serious error. Anwar should step in and use his veto power (instead of staying aloof and oblivious to what’s happening around him). It is a little too late for that.

    You can make pigs fly but ‘bila nasi dah jadi bubor’ even PKR’s master magician cannot reverse the process. It is a little too late. Expect images of a nude 39-year old woman in various compromising positions to haunt PKR administration and disrupt parliamentary proceedings. Expect Parliament to continue to be the circus that it has become.

    This is a serious distraction from the business of the people – all in the effort to save one woman who should have known better.

  18. Wong, 39, who is also Bukit Lanjan assemblyman and State executive councillor for tourism, consumer affairs and environment, told Malay Mail during a meeting last Friday that she had broken up with her boyfriend.

    Malay Mail editors, who had alerted Wong to the pictures at the same meeting, handed over two images to senior police officers, who later recorded a brief statement from them last night.

    One was a picture of her sleeping on the sofa of her Bukit Gasing home, and the other, with her private parts exposed.

    http://malaysianjudges.blogspot.com/

  19. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/16/nation/3706546&sec=nation

    Selangor MB reiterated that Wong was a victim and that even though it was an issue of morality, everyone was innocent until proven guilty.

    I have never come across a more stupid statement made by a public official. Was this woman ever in danger of being indicted for a crime?

  20. Bean,

    Pussy and money are men greatest enemies ( in this case the penis). Now, PKR cannot be shouting about moral issue anymore. What she did was wrong. Unmarried woman sleeping naked is not wrong. But when you open your room for someone to come in and take your naked picture then you are not wise. Assuming she had sex with the man, than she is morally corrupt. A morally corrupt people cannot be trusted to be a leader.

    If she can hide in her room for sex than she can also hide in her office to do bigger damage to the post she is entrusted with.

    PKR is not wise in allowing a tainted person to continue holding on to her post. Toyol will be happily dancing with his broom to celebrate.Who can blame him if we give him “bola tanggung”.

    In short, if you want to be a fucker then don’t hold any public office.
    That is why Bean and Tean are happy people. Din was also lucky as Cik Cun protected him from being caught sleeping naked with someone.

  21. Bean

    I am no MCP , i do’ve compassion for the lady but being a public figure she should’ve known better. It’s of her on personal indiscretion , now she has to lick her own ‘wounds’
    What beats me is the many protruding tongues violently lashed out defending her. Surely in those intimate encounters she did not suffer any pain but one filled with gratification

    In the States its the plumber , England the milkman – Bean

    Over hear its the ‘ cloth vendor ‘ – The immigrant Pakistani cloth vendor.

  22. “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”. Seems like we have a lot of sinners out who are all enjoying casting stones on Eli. What a world!!!

  23. Bean, while we both can agree on the ‘scape-goat’ ideation of the masses, politically it may be suicidal for PKR to force another by election.
    The mood of the rakyat on the ground now is quite depressed – secondary to ‘political fatigue’ coupled with worries over the economy. What it does show, is that they will have difficulty chosing another candidate to fill the exco post. While we talk about ‘lack of depth’ in the cabinet, the same must be happening within PR… Lot’s of infighting too.
    PKR has another battle on going in Penang, and they can ill afford another in Selangor which will further deplete their scarse ‘war-chest’.

  24. Guys/Gals

    Leave YB alone. Let her continue with her work, please.
    She is a good ADUN and EXCO. Bkt Lanjan has spoken.
    WE are all human..indeed. We make mistakes and fall but importantly, we pick up the the pieces and MOVE on.
    Bill Clinton does, Dr Chua Soi Lek does so we should leave YB alone.

    I will need to travel fast and have breakfast with her tomorrow,
    hmm? sounds to good to be true….LET’S SEE.

    http://hangkebun61.blogspot.com/

  25. “Seems like we have a lot of sinners out who are all enjoying casting stones on Eli. What a world!” Sirusa

    No wonder my roof rattles – so many stones raining on my house. Some have landed on Bean’s Morris Minor too.

  26. Tok Cik, it’s poltergeist activity. My Ford Cortina kaput already.
    Actually, we weren’t discussing morality issues here were we? Yet, somehow, Billy and CSL got “sucked” into this…
    Maybe, we should start a course in ‘Moral Politics’ for them who can’t see the forest from the trees. Bean will be the head honcho, and teach them ‘forestry of the disjointed nose’!

  27. tean and danildaud,

    So you guys are back on the job while yours truly is fast asleep.

    You guys are hilarious until someone woke up from a bad dream to talk about stones being cast borrowing a line from scriptures. Then Tok Cik was moved to life to save the day and took cover at the back seat of his Cooper S from all the stones raining on his roof with his assault weapon between his legs – and Menyalak-er a former member of Chin Peng’s MCP (no relation of the pig that flies) took his cover in the boot of his old Ford Cortina. (I remember Ford Capri better than I do Ford Cortina).

    It is better than waking up listening to news about how Obama failed to run after the pirates off the Somali coast and more gloomy news about the economy – and about how Dick Chenny is doing.

    To sirusa,

    No offence but no one is casting stones at anyone here. But it would not be a bad idea to approach UMNO if you’re thinking of operating a quarry. Si-Rusa Inn (I think it was) was the shelter I sought whenever I find myself in Port Dickson. Someone had the dick to name the port after him.

    …. and Hang Kebun,

    Jokes about Bill Clinton and his Cuban cigar have long ceased to make the headlines. But now that his wife is Secretary of State, he is very careful not to provoke her – not when she’s visiting the Saudi King for favors. It is alright for Obama to bow from the waist but for Hilary it could be a different ball game.

  28. I know where this is leading to….

    Come July, Anwar will play victim too, and all will support him as de facto leader , (even if the evidence turns out to be revealing).

    Its the trend in PKR – conspiracy etc.

    Just recall the fiasco and drama Anwar did in hiding at Turkish embassy. Death threat? really? And we all believe that one too…

    Haven’t we learnt?

  29. “Pussy and money are men greatest enemies” tean

    Say what you want, but the two are partners in life. One needs the other.

  30. “In the States it’s the plumber, in England the milkman. Over hear its the ‘cloth vendor’ the immigrant Pakistani cloth vendor.” Danildaud

    Are you sure it is not the Bangladeshi gardener who sells cow grass to the wives when husbands are busy at work?

  31. ooops … sorry it was danildaud who said he was no MCP (male cunnilingus pig). For those not quite familiar with the term you may want to go here http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Cunilingus

  32. “One was a picture of her sleeping on the sofa of her Bukit Gasing home, and the other, with her private parts exposed.” http://malaysianjudges.blogspot.com/

    My sympathy goes to her. She’s nearer to 40 than 30. She needs some air.

  33. “After an enforced leave of two months, Selangor exco member Elizabeth Wong this morning punched in for work at 9.30am at the state secretariat in Shah Alam. Wong, sporting a bob-cut hairstyle and a new pair of glasses, arrived to work in her official Toyota Camry and was received with a bouquet of flowers from exco colleague Ronnie Liu.”http://www.malaysiakini.tv/video/16962

    In our MU days, the catch phrase was “No smelling around” and I think that applies to DAPs’ Ronnie Liu today – not that there’s anything much to smell anyway. Leave the poor woman alone. Like I said, “She needs some air” and if she wants to sleep with her insides exposed then it is her constitutional right to do so.

  34. If she wants to serve the people like she says she wants, she’s gonna need more than air.

    But I blame PKR for putting this ‘nearer to 40 and still unmarried’ woman in a compromising position. Will she be able to put up a straight face when pictures of her airing her ‘grievances’ appear all over town??

  35. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/23483-federal-court-rules-against-perak-speaker

    What is there left for Nizar to do now? Sue Zambry and the BN government for monetary damages for unlawful termination? He may want to try that.

    Let’s see. How much does an MB earn these days? Anybody? An annual salary of RM150,000 multiplied by number of years till the age of retirement, add interest and adjust for inflation and less a cash discount, that’s a lot of ringgits!

    Nizar may want to sleep with his sarong raised above his waist. If an UMNO intruder were to take pictures, that would add up to a nice bonus.

  36. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/16/nation/20090416100901&sec=nation

    Newspaper THE STAR can’t even get her sex right! Bkt. Lanjan assemblyman??

    We could be wrong. Maybe the journalist knows something we don’t! Maybe Hilmi her former boyfriend was trying to tell all of us something he had discovered to his shock and awe??

  37. “Malaysian police will be notifying their counterparts in Interpol to assist in tracking Hilmi down and sending him back to Malaysia.” http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/26/nation/3559436&sec=nation

    Big deal!

    Interpol has better things to do. They deal with mostly drug traffickers and serious criminals who are trying to escape jurisdiction – not some personal assistant of an unknown politician from a third world country who recently discovered that his ‘female’ boss was male after all these years.

  38. Mr Bean,

    Did the photos show YB “smiling confidently” or “Remorsefully…under duress” whilst posing for the cameraman???

    Hello, who squeezed the info from her friend Hilmi & guess who planned & executed his disappearance out of this country?

    Someone commented that he was smuggled out from Kukup, Johore & living a great life in Indonesia…..paid for by our tax money mah!

    Aiyoo, MB, DSAI & PR, with the Penanti resignation as well…..

    Now Toyo has his prayers answered Kau, Kau!

    Let us all sit back to watch the next greatest show in Bolehland!

    This Blogsite is great where everyone’s imagination can “Run Wild”….

    Why wait for the shit to hit the “Ceiling Fan”….let us all sit back & Laugh out Loud!

    Cheers Mr Bean & everbody!

  39. flyer168,

    You don’t think she has the right to air her ‘grievances’??

  40. Mr. Bean,

    Ofcourse she has the right to air her ‘grievances’….

    I am sure the rayaat already “Bosan” with Toyo & PR charades!

    But does DSAI, MB & PR want to move forward ?

  41. Was this woman on 2-month leave at taxpayer expense? If she was, then PKR loses my vote. It is that simple.

  42. Bean
    Is it okay for her to air her ‘greviences’??

    If the audience were you and me it would be A-ok
    Tok Cik a military man fimiliar with ‘catch 22 situation’ , i reckon would aproved too..but Din Merican being decent and all , i would’nt know..


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