Why didn't Daim appear in person to sign the Citizens' Declaration?

This image viral in the social media. It shows the name of Hishamuddin Rais strucked out from the signatory to the Citizens' Declaration announced by Tun Dr Mahathir.

Four names were mentioned as "agreed in absentia".

Tun M's loyal former Political Secretary, Mathias Chang may have agreed though in absent. However, Tan Sri Zaman Khan has made statement denying that he agreed. Maybe he will not be caught dead signing something together with Lim Kit Siang.

His fellow Kelantanis, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was expected to attend and sign but he did not, thus left Dato Ibrahim Ali stranded at the Cafe downstairs with Ku Li's conspiracy fabricators whose theories for decades have never materialised.

Though Dato Shafie Apdal is in the list, one cannot assume he is agreeable. So the question, did Tun Daim agreed in absence?

Most UMNO people spoken do not believe he is involved.

Even though many conspiracy theories have been spun of his involvement, they say he is a businessman and not a politician. It is not to his interest to fight with anybody - be it the BN government or DAP-led Pakatan Harapan government.

Daim may have made comments on 1MDB or certain policies of government, which is fine to Dato Najib, but till he is seen present, it cannot be assumed.  

Just because pictures of Tun Daim with various people have viral since published by Geng Loceng in their blog, it means nothing.

That breakfast get-to-gather had existed long before Tun M's onslaught on 1MDB and Najib. Many joined and left since Geng Loceng's presence. The photo was published by Geng Loceng to deceive the public and create a certain perception.

Never ever trust the Geng Loceng. A common heard joke says that in Myanmar, they kill Geng Loceng first before venomous snake. Please do not have racist perception.

Strange bedfellows

The thing about the Citizens' Declaration is that it is a political ploy, or more accurately a political campaign. Political rhetorics and cliches are already coming from the interested "UMNO" players.

Tun M ignored the explanation given and politicised the OSA of Auditor's Report. Maybe it failed his 5 Tan Sri conspiracy, wallahu alam. As far as the practise, materials presented at PAC are OSA.

That is why are our mole in PAC back then dare not give a copy of the ECM Libra-Avenue hearing presentations many years ago. Lim Sian See has answered the issue in his FB before Tun M wrote of it and he made a long rebuttal of his latest posting here. 

Muhyiddin said more will support the declaration.

Though majority in UMNO has branded him as "opposition", his in-denial statement is still UMNO in style. How could he be so optimistic when many political columnists are calling the grouping involved in the Citizens' Declaration as strange bedfellows?

Joceline Tan's piece was entitled "Meeting of strange bedfellows". Reme Ahmad at Singapore's Strait Times titled his as "90-year-old ex-premier Mahathir and his strange bedfellows". Malaysia's New Strait Times had written earlier as "Strange bedfellows dreaming different dreams".

It does not take a week before Charles Santiago of DAP criticised Tun M. He is basically saying he cannot accept the coalition and said the rot started with Tun M.

Wan Azizah degraded him to say yesterday that Mahathir has lost so PKR gave him a platform to speak. So the previous posting to say the declaration is about Tun M and hardly about rakyat or Pakatan Rakyat (now under new grouping without PAS as Pakatan Harapan).

She also said the Citizens' Declaration by Tun M is admittance of the cruelty against her husband, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Obviously, Tun M is aware that PKR and the reformasi movement is about their opposition to him. And, Azmin Ali and Lim Kit Siang is asking the public to see the bigger picture of reform and let bygone be bygone.

Power to NGOs?

In the meeting with opposition leaders prior to Tun M's announcement of leaving UMNO (see picture), he told those present that there must be a reform to change the political landscape in Malaysia away from the politicians and political party.

In trying to get those opposition leaders present to buy-in to his bizarre move to align with the opposition, he said the power must go back to the people via NGO.

Not many knows what transpired in the meeting, including some dumb ass reporter that have been going around quoting Dr Mariah's response to her enquiry that it is only a presentation of the book by Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

It is not a bad idea really.

It is something yours truly have long dreamt of to happen. But there is more to it for Malaysia whose still not politically matured and appreciate the responsibility that comes with freedom of speech, press and expression.

An activist by the name of Gayathry Venkiteswaran disagreed in her letter to FMT, "Why I will not sign the Citizens’ Declaration". Extract below:

I expect political parties to make negotiations and compromises, sometimes wrongly, but they do have a constituency and I do believe in the power of the elections, through which I can tell them what I think.

Now, with NGOs, it’s another story. To whom are they accountable? How can they be effective checks and balances if they sit at the same table, not to discuss implementation of reforms, but merely to offer legitimacy to what I think is an undemocratic group? You can’t be leaders of influential movements and then claim to be only individuals in this political move.

Of course, I acknowledge that we are not forced to sign the declaration so why make all the noise: but NGOs cannot make political decisions and expect not to be criticised, especially if supporters feel they have acted with little accountability.

And she went on to give her four reasons here.

She reminded that Ambiga used to say, "Mahathir has taken them for a ride". Her words to Ambiga was: “We are not that stupid” – my response, to those who feel they have to lecture us on the bad situation of the country.

It is not many days yet but already cracks are showing as civil societies differ over Tun M's Citizens' Declaration. So it is not belonging to all that signed but the Citizens' Declaration is seen as Tun M's. That's exactly what we wrote here.

Speaking of the devil, Kadir Jasin posted this here.

Till ...

So, ....

... till Daim make his presence and give his official statement of support, ....

... till the proof of Najib's wrongdoing is shown by Tun M himself (instead of endless doubt raising questions and political style accusations), ...

... till someone from MACC or BNM or Police or AG openly say what is convincingly and specifically wrong, without attempt to create perception to influence public opinion, ... 

... till it is truly credible media (neither Sarawak Report nor Rupert Murdoch is acceptable) that is reporting, ...

... till it is discussed without politicians' political motivation for power, ....

... till stupid, shallow and unschooled spin like this one here is not given publicity, and ...

...till public discourse in not accusation based issues not directly related and unqualified as proof in the court of law on the alleged wrongdoings, ...

... THEN it is all a wayang to oust the Prime Minister undemocratically for the personal power and wealth interest of each and every one involved, particularly of the stateman!

This grouping is unrealistic and will implode just like Pakatan Rakyat imploded. The question from our previous posting is: What has Tun M compromised to get DAP's support and confidence?

Quite sure the proTun will be in denial as much as their answers were shallow and in-denial to why Tun M is together with DAP. They can't and do not have an un-debatable answer.