PPSMI, ugutan ke atas Hishammuddin mesti berterusan

Ali Bukhari Amir Sun Dec 21, 08 11:37:41 pm MYT

Prof Dr Abu Bakar Abdul Hamid terdiam sebentar sejurus mendengar lafaz Dr Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar pada 19 Disember lalu di dalam forum anjuran Pusat Dialog Peradaban dan Akademi Sains Islam Malaysia (Asasi) itu.





Dr Abdul Latiff, mungkin oleh kerana terlalu lama memendam rasa, beliau mengeluarkan segala yang terbuku di hatinya selama ini. Suasana menjadi tenang untuk seketika. Maka, cabaran Pena yang meminta supaya Gapena menjelaskan pendiriannya berhubung PPSMI ini telah pun selesai untuk pusingan pertama. Hadirin semakin jelas dan faham.

Hanya tinggal beberapa persoalan lagi yang masih berlegar di fikiran para peserta forum itu. Walaupun jumlah hadirin sekitar 40 orang, namun jumlah yang kecil ini bukan suatu hal yang boleh dipermain-mainkan.

Setidak-tidaknya sudah ada saling cabar-mencabar antara Gapena dan Kumpulan Prihatin yang disifatkan sebagai pertubuhan yang longgar kerana tak didaftarkan secara sah. Tapi, inti semangat perjuangan Kumpulan Prihatin tak boleh dipandang rendah kerana landasan wadah ini menempatkan golongan cendekiawan universiti.

"Untuk pengetahuan semua," dalam nada suaranya yang rendah Dr Abu Bakar menyebut, "ada sebuah persatuan muda yang masih bergiat cergas dalam urusan membantah PPSMI ini. Nama persatuan itu ialah PKPIM."

"Tempoh hari, mereka ada buat program di Kuantan. Malangnya, saya seorang saja yang hadir dari Kuala Lumpur.

"Mereka juga ada membuat bantahan di internet tentang PPSMI ini. Jadi, saudara semua boleh war-warkan kepada semua orang agar sejuta tandatangan boleh dihimpunkan," kata beliau lagi.
"Boleh ulang sekali lagi laman web tu?" Dato' Dr Firdaus Abdullah mencelah dari bawah pentas forum. Dia kelihatan sedang mencatatkan sesuatu.

"http://www.pkpim.net," ujar Dr Abu Bakar dengan ringkas.

"Saya tak tahu pun tentang perjumpaan di Kuantan itu," Dr Abdul Latiff menoleh ke arah Prof Abu Bakar Abdul Hamid. "Kalau saya tahu, saya pun akan pergi.."

Bantahan di Putrajaya16 Disember lalu persidangan meja bulat mengenai PPSMI dilakukan antara Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran Dato' Dr Wee Ka Siong bersama pertubuhan pelajar itu.
Seperti biasa, Dr Wee Ka Siong berkata bahawa hasil persidangan itu akan dibawa dalam mesyuarat Kabinet sebelum sebarang keputusan dibuat.

Ayat-ayat klise yang diberikan ini tentunya memenatkan. Tapi, hanya itulah yang mampu dilakukan buat sementara ini. Tetapi, ada sedikit ketegasan oleh Naib Presiden, Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM) Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz.

"Kami dengan tegas, terus membantah dasar PPSMI ini jika kerajaan memutuskan untuk meneruskan dasar ini pada masa akan datang," kata beliau selepas menyerahkan 'Petisyen Bantahan Terhadap PPSMI' kepada Dr Wee Ka Siong di Putrajaya.

Bantahan itu, menurutnya, telah berjaya mengumpulkan hampir 1,000 tandatangan dalam tempoh 14 hari dalam kalangan mahasiswa seluruh negara dan ibu bapa di kawasan luar bandar.
Demi menyelamatkan nasib bahasa Melayu, katanya, PKPIM akan terus berusaha dengan menggunakan segala saluran yang ada sebagai langkah bagi memastikan agar kedudukan Bahasa Melayu dihormati semua pihak.

Ugutan pertubuhan pelajar"Kami sebagai wadah gerakan pelajar tidak teragak-agak melangkah lebih jauh sekiranya suara kami tidak didengari kerana kami sudah bersedia ke arah itu," kata beliau.

Cara Dr Abdul Latiff agak kemas dan bernada serius apabila beliau menyebutkan tarikh 15 Mac sebagai tanda amaran kepada Menteri Pelajaran Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Hanya, anjakan tarikh itu sepatutnya diawalkan dan janganlah terlalu dekat kepada tarikh Perhimpunan Agung Umno. Bukankah ugutan ini berasal daripada ahli akademik? Tidak perlulah diambil perhitungan sangat dengan tarikh yang ada kaitan dengan politik.

Selepas tarikh itu, kata Dr Abdul Latiff, beliau dan rakan-rakannya akan meminta menteri meletak jawatan. Jika ugutan, maka sebaik-baiknya 40 hari atau sebulan saja. Tiga bulan itu, akan menyebabkan menteri pelajaran tidak terasa sangat kesan ugutannya.

Namun, ugutan PKPIM itu tidak disertakan pula dengan tarikh ajal kepada Hishammudin itu. Apa-apa pun.. sekalung tahniah dan penghargaan dilafazkan kerana persatuan pelajar itu telah cuba melakukan segala yang terbaik setakat ini.

"Kesan dasar ini tidak dirasai pemimpin hari ini, sebaliknya bebanannya tanggung oleh generasi masa hadapan. Maka, perjuangan ini adalah tanggungjawab yang wajib digalas seluruh anak muda yang sayangkan masa depan identiti rakyat dan Malaysia.

"PKPIM turut memandang tinggi kepada ketegasan beberapa badan bukan kerajaan lain yang konsisten membantah dasar ini seperti Kumpulan Prihatin, Pena, Persatuan Linguistik Malaysia (PLM), Dong Jiao Zong, dan sebagainya," kata beliau.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Fazsal berkata, PKPIM akan terus memberikan sokongan ke atas usaha mana-mana pemimpin yang konsisten memperjuang nasib bahasa Melayu.
http://bmppsmi.blogspot.com/

11:09 p.m, 21 Disember Sekolah Pemikiran Kg Baru

Guru-guru di seluruh Malaysia yang mengajar Sains dan Matematik dalam BI digalakkan mengirim saranan dan bantahan ke mel-e

ibnuamir@yahoo.com

Alamat email ini telah dilindungi dari spam bots, anda perlukan Javascript enabled untuk melihatnya


dengan subjek PPSMI. _

Citizen Journalism 101 training in Penang-FROM ANILL

Malaysiakini and Seacem are jointly organising a certified video journalism course in Penang over four weekends. Scholarships worth RM3,000 are being offered to suitable participants.
Training objectives:

* To empower trainees through experiential training and give them the knowledge, technical skills and networks necessary for them to address issues of importance* To encourage diversity, tolerance, acceptance, unity and democracy

Details:

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What’s in it for you?

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Fellowships will also be given to the best trainees

The Penang intake starts on 10-11 January 2009 weekend and continues over four weekends until 21 February. .

Please email your CV and contact details to coordinator@seacem.com or call 03-22843367 ext.111 by 5 January 2009

BN DILEMMA

But the choice of Mr Wan Farid comes with baggage. A ccontroversy linked to the former Prime Minister, will be campaign fodder for the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition, The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday.
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He is linked, through his elder brother Wan Hisham Wan Salleh, to the organising of the Monsoon Cup, an annual world-class sailing competition that has been criticised because of the perception that the event serves to benefit those with political connections, the news website reported.
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The opposition Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), which is expected to be BN’s main contender for the seat, has already indicated that they will use the Monsoon Cup to attack BN, according to The Malaysian Insider. PAS said it will announce its candidate on Jan 1, Bernama reported yesterday.
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Kuala Terengganu saw a three-cornered fight in the March polls when 89-year-old grandmother Maimun Yusuf announced her candidacy. According to the NST,Ms Maimun is considering a second attempt in the by-election.

Tokoh Umno umum 'join' PAS

SALAH seorang ahli Umno yang dikenakan tindakan dipecat dari parti itu baru-baru ini akan mengumumkan penyertaannya ke dalam Pas esok. Pesiapan terakhir majlis kemasukan itu sedang diaturkan dan ianya akan diadakan di sebuah hotel dekat ibu kota samada esok ataupun lusa.Ahli berkenaan merupakan salah seorang pemimpin peringkat bahagian Umno yang dikenakan tindakan dipecat dari parti itu baru-baru kerana dianggap telah memalu dan menjatuhkan imej parti berkenaan.


Maklumat yang sampai kepada saya semalam dan hari ini mengatakan upacara kemasukan individu berkenaan akan berlaku di hadapan Timbalan Presiden Pas, Nasharudin Mat Isa.Tidak disebut pula apakah individu berkenaan akan menyertai Pas bersama pengikutnya ataupun hanya beliau bersendirian saja. Difahamkan individu berkenaan seorang tokoh berpengaruh dan mempunyai ramai pengikut.Dengan kemasukan individu berkenaan ia menambahkan kekuatan Pas yang mana akhir-akhir ini semakin mendapat kepercayaan dari kalangan korporat dan akademis.


Kemasukan menjelang pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu itu juga sedikit sebanyak menyuntikkan lagi semangat kepada kalangan penyokong dan ahli Pas untuk bekerja keras demi kemenangan parti itu. / msomelayu.blogspot.com


Upacara berkenaan akan berlaku di hadapan Timbalan Presiden Pas, Nasharudin Mat Isa

Calon PAS...pilihan kumpulan Erdogan

Menjelang pengumuman calon yang bakal bertanding pada pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, angin politik kecang bertiup di dalam pakatan pembangkang berhubung dengan pemilihan calon. Walaupun komponen pakatan berkenaan iaitu PKR dan DAP menyatakan, calon PAS yang akan bertanding pada pilihan raya kecil berkenaan, tetapi ia turut disusuli dengan desakan dan tekanan agar calon yang dipilih ‘memenuhi selera’ pakatan terutama iaitu PKR. Menurut sumber dalaman PAS, kepimpinan parti itu kini seolah-olah terbahagi dua dalam soal menentukan calon yang seharusnya diletakkan bagi menentang siapa sahaja calon UMNO yang bakal bertanding.


Ia dikatakan berpunca kerana adanya desakan daripada luar parti itu yang mahu mempengaruhi penentuan calon PAS yang bakal bertanding. Difahamkan kata sumber berkenaan, ‘tangan’ ketua pakatan pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dilihat turut aktif dalam mencaturkan calon yang sepatutnya di pilih oleh PAS. Bermula dengan kenyataan Mursyidul Am PAS, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat bahawa calon pilihan beliau ialah Naib Presiden parti itu, Mohamad Sabu, ia dikatakan strategi awal kumpulan Anwar dalam PAS atau lebih dikenali dengan nama Erdogan untuk memastikan ‘geng Erdogan’ terpilih menjadi calon.


Usaha ini dikatakan dilakukan oleh seorang lagi Naib Presiden PAS, Husam Musa yang merupakan ketua kumpulan Erdogan dalam PAS dan ‘anak kesayangan’ Nik Aziz. Husam difahamkan telah mempengaruhi Nik Aziz membuat kenyataan agar Mohamad Sabu dipilih kerana mahu memastikan percaturan mereka agar kalangan kumpulan Erdogan lebih ramai berada di Parlimen bagi memudahkan agenda politik Anwar. Namun, mereka sedar, orang PAS Terengganu sudah tentu akan menolak Mohamad Sabu kerana mahukan anak tempatan bertanding pada pilihan raya kecil berkenaan.


Antara nama yang disebut-sebut oleh orang PAS Terengganu ialah Pesuruhjaya PAS negeri itu, Datuk Mustafa Ali. Bagi memenuhi kriteria anak tempatan, kumpulan Erdogan turut mempengaruhi jawatankuasa PAS Pusat bahawa calon lain yang perlu diberi pertimbangan serius ialah Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri kawasan Batu Burok, Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi. Dr Syed Azman pernah menjadi Ahli Parlimen Kuala Terengganu pada pilihan raya tahun 1999.



Kata sumber itu, percaturan yang dibuat amat licik dan teratur kerana walaupun kumpulan Erdogan tahu Mohamad Sabu akan ditolak, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi yang menjadi salah seorang orang kuat Erdogan perlu diberikan pertimbangan. Ini dikuatkan lagi apabila seorang pimpinan tertinggi PKR yang ditemui dan ditanya tentang calon PAS yang mempunyai peluang untuk menang pada pilinraya kecil tersebut secara terang terang berkata, jika PAS menamakan Mustafa Ali sebagai calon, ia akan memberi laluan mudah kepada UMNO. Sebaliknya, pemimpin PKR itu berkata, jika Dr Syed Azman dipilih, ia merupakan pilihan yang tepat.



Keadaan ini mudah difahami kerana Mustafa Ali adalah antara pemimpin PAS yang jelas tidak sealiran dengan Anwar. Bukti jelas ialah apabila Mustafa Ali pernah menolak usaha Anwar untuk menubuhkan kerajaan 19 September lalu. Mustafa dilaporkan berkata, penubuhan kerajaan baru oleh pakatan pembangkang pada 16 September ini seperti yang digembar-gemburkan oleh Penasihat PKR, Anwar Ibrahim tidak mungkin berlaku. “Saya kata (perubahan) tidak akan berlaku. Bila tiba 16 September ini boleh tengok saya betul atau dia (Anwar) betul,” ujarnya. Bukti ini jelas menyebabkan Anwar tidak senang dan PKR dikatakan tidak mahu PAS membuat keputusan memilih Mustafa menjadi calon pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu. Malah pemimpin PKR itu yang ditemui mendakwa, menjelang pengumuman calon PAS, Anwwar beberapa kali cuba menghubungi Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang tetapi dikatakan Presiden PAS itu tidak menjawab panggilan berkenaan.


Berdasarkan senario tersebut, sumber itu berkata, kepimpinan PAS ini kini serba salah. PAS katanya, tidak mahu dilihat hanya mengumumkan calon tetapi hakikatnya, semua orang tahu calon tersebut adalah calon yang dipaksakan kepada mereka oleh kumpulan Erdogan. Apa yang jelas, jika PAS meletakkan Dr Syed Azman sebagai calon, walaupun beliau adalah ahli PAS tapi semua orang tahu beliau adalah calon yang dipaksakan kepada PAS oleh kumpulan Erdogan yang semakn menguasai kepimpinan PAS.

AMK PRMATANG PAUH BERJAYA ADAKAN KEJOHANAN FUTSAL

PERMATANG PAUH-AMK Pulau Pinang telah berjaya mengadakan kejohanan futsal di Safira Club semalam.YB Law EXCO pertanian negeri merasmikan kejohanan futsal yang pertama kali di adakan dan disertai oleh 61 pasukan. Johan kejohanan ini di menangi oleh A BOY FC dari Bukit Mertajam dimana menerima hadiah sebanyak RM2000.

Majlis penutup kejohanan di sampaikan oleh Yb Mohd Fairus TKM1 Pulau Pinang.

Sime Darby eyes IJN

17-12-2008: by Lim Shie-Lynn

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_42e08286-cb73c03a-53897400-82ddada1#

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has expressed interest in taking over the National Heart Institute, or Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), a move that has met with objections from the ministry of health, sources said.

It is learnt that the ministry of finance (MoF), which owns IJN, has submitted a proposal for the privatisation of the hospital to the cabinet. Health industry officials are not surprised by the MoF’s move as the ministry had sent out feelers to government-linked companies to gauge the interest in such an exercise.

Sources said that both Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and his deputy Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad do not agree to the proposed divestment.

“They do not agree to this sale unless there is a safety net for the poor and the underprivileged. Their needs have to be taken care of. And the time is not right,” said a source.
Sources said Sime Darby’s interest and the positive reception from the MoF do not in any way mean that a deal is certain.

“It’s a preliminary exploration. There is still a long way to go as there are a lot of things to be ironed out,” said one of the sources.

One of the concerns is whether IJN’s charges would increase should it be taken over by a private corporation.

Considering IJN is a quasi-government hospital, its fees are regulated by the government, offering first-class medical treatment at below market rate. Also, all government hospitals have referred their heart patients to IJN, providing it a steady stream of patients and income.
However, it is learnt that even if Sime Darby takes over the hospital, there would be conditions put in place to ensure that the charges are regulated and IJN does not lose sight of its social obligations.

“The government would still dictate the treatment price for patients. It would be business as usual for the heart centre,” the source said.
The conglomerate’s entry into the cardio centre is not necessarily a bad idea as IJN would be able to retain its team of doctors and specialists given that the centre would be backed by the cash-rich Sime Darby.

“Many of IJN’s doctors are leaving because the remuneration is not attractive enough. With Sime Darby in the picture, the doctors would be better paid and government hospitals would still be able to train their doctors there as well,” an industry source said.

According to IJN’s website, the heart centre has a staff strength of more than 1,000. There are 85 cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, paediatric cardiologists and anaesthe-tists. It also has close to 500 nurses.

To manage its growing operations, IJN has embarked on an expansion plan. It is building a new wing which is scheduled for completion next year.

The new wing would give it an additional 192 beds, four new operating theatre complexes, new intensive care units and coronary care units, dialysis centre, health screening centres, cafes and shops, according to the website.

A source said it was likely that Sime Darby would be allowed to set up a private wing in IJN.
IJN, which specialises in cardiovascular and thoracic cases, was part of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. In 2005, it was placed under IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, which is 99.99% owned by the Minister of Finance Inc.

Sime Darby’s interest in IJN ties in with plans to expand its healthcare business. Sime Darby Healthcare’s (SDH) supervisory committee chairman and Sime Darby board member Tan Sri Wan Zahid Noordin was quoted as saying the healthcare arm was geared up to grow its business, with the focus on specialist treatment and training.

The healthcare division contributed RM20 million in earnings for FY08. SDH runs a medical centre, a specialist centre and a nursing college.

According to filings made to the Companies Commission of Malaysia, IJN posted a revenue of RM287.3 million last year, up 11.7% from RM257.5 million in 2006. However, net profit was lower at RM13.6 million against RM22 million previously.

Since its establishment, IJN has earned a reputation as a leading centre for cardiac care in the region. It has treated well over a million patients, including former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad.

MORE BETTER IF HEALTH MINISTRY OR SIME DARBY INVOLVE IN THIS CLINIC TO......

IJN DI SWASTAKAN SELEPAS PILIHANRAYA KECIL-ANWAR

Permatang Pauh 20 Disember.Kehadiran DSAI di Permatang Pauh telah diserbu oleh para wartawan untuk bertanya khabar tentang YB Mohd Fairus TKM1 Pulau Pinang yang dikatakan dibawah prestasi.

Apabila di tanya tentang YB Fairus dari segi kehadiran , perkhidmatan dan adanya surat memorendum untuk beliau melapaskan jawatan namun di halang Fairus.Dato Seri Anwar menjelaskan bahawa beliau akan melihat akan perkara ini dan melakukan siasatan.

Ditanya soalan yang sama kepada pemangku AMK YB Ong menjelaskan bahawa ianya bukan dengan tujuan tersebut.Akan tetapi ianya adalah untuk tujuan bertemu dan AMK berharap akan dapat memberikan perkhidmatan sokongan kepada YB-YB PKR.

“Cabaran terhadap memberi perkhidmatan adalah penting kerana adakalanya saya sendiri terpaksa hadir dalam berbagai hal dan adakalanya terpaksa balik.Walau pun kadang-kadang alasan saya munasabah, namun saya terpaksa meluangkan masa untuk kembali ke Permatang Pauh.Saya tidak boleh menyatakan saya sibuk dan memberi alasan.Masa saya jadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri keadaan ini tak ada orang gaduh pun.Kesedaran rakyat sekarang ni mengharapkan dan mengharapkan sesuatu yang tinggi.Kita akan melihat keadaan ini” Demikian jelas DSAI

Apabila di tanya tentang IJN beliau meyatakan “Saya beri pandangan yang jelas kita tak boleh swastakan institusi kepada rakyat terutamanya perkhidmatan kesihatan . Saya menyatakan bahawa kita tak perlu swatakan kemudahan yang memeberikan manfaat kepada rakyat terbanyak.Dana besar diberikan untuk tujuan yang jelas walaupun dapat pulangan tetapi dari segi memberi perkhidmatan kepada rakyat berpendapatan rendah.Kebimbangan dirasakan kerana rakyat miskin terpaksa menunggu lama dan mengutip derma dan mendapatkan rawatan dan ini satu keputusan di tangguh. Saya tidak yakin ianya akan menolak. Penangguhan ini hanya sementara kerana kerajaan memikirkan pilihanraya kecil Kuala Terangganu.Selepas itu sambung lagi.Dengan demikian jika ianya di perbandingkan di US yang memberi perkhidmatan yang banyak ,dan bagaimana CUBA yang mana kemudahan kesihatannya baik kepada rakyatnya, jadi pemimpin yang rajin melawat cuba buatlah” demikian jelas Dato Seri Anwar lagi


Beliau juga menjelaskan bahawa kehadiran beliau adalah untuk menghadiri mesyuarat bahagian dan menerima pandangan dari ahli dan orang ramai.

“Dalam kongres lalu kita telah setuju supaya kita nilai prestasi pimpinan kita di semua peringkat dan akan disemak semula pada akhir bulan Februari ini untuk mengatasi dimana kekurangan dan memperbaikinya .Ia tidak ada keputusan untuk membuat perubahan tetapi keputusan untuk mendengar rungutan rakyat”.

Mengeanai pilihanraya kecil Kuala Terangganu, kita telah mengadakan perjumpaan dengan pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat .Sokongan padu dan semua bersetuju untuk turun habis-habisan , maka kerana itu Barisan Nasional takut dan menangguhkan penswastaan IJN.

Sementara itu DSAI sempat melawat seorang penyokong yang sakit dimana beliau disahkan mengidap sakit batuk kering.Sdr Mat Idris bin Hussein dari kampung Permatang Tengah menerima kunjungan DSAI bersama DSWA

DSAI kemudiannya ke rumah adinda beliau Sdr Marzuki dalam kunjungan ke Permatang Pauh untuk menghadiri kenduri kahwin anak saudaranya

FROM MALAYSIAKINI.COM

PKR not replacing Fairus as DCM

Athi Veeranggan Dec 20, 08 5:54pm

PKR is not replacing its embattled state deputy chief minister Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin, party

MCPX de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said today.“We're not replacing him or anyone in the Pakatan government,” he told newsmen after attending a local futsal tournament in Seberang Jaya, Penang.The PKR supremo was responding to a report in a blog claiming that a delegation of several former staff from Fairus’ office have met and urged Anwar to sack him from the Penang government and replace him with someone more competent.

“Anyone can meet me and air their views and opinions. But that does not mean I agree with them. There is not going to be any changes,” he said when asked whether Fairus would be replaced.Anwar’s assurance is a timely boost to the embattled Mohamad Fairus, who has been a target for several blogs, believed to be tacitly supported by several state PKR leaders.

The blogs have attacked Fairus constantly with various allegations of under-performance since he assumed office as Penang DCM after the March general election.Two weeks ago, Anwar gave Fairus and his rival Abdul Malik a stern tongue lashing to end their quarrel and learn to work together for the betterment of the party and state government.PKR state chief Mohd Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, the Bayan Baru MP, is said to be backing Abdul Malik in this power tussle within the fledgling Pakatan state government.

Memo for all three PKR councillorsA recent posting in a blog also alleged that Mohammad Fairus had refused to meet and received a memorandum from a five-man delegation from state PKR youth movement. It is said that the memorandum was a call on Fairus to resign gracefully from his position as Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s number two.However, when contacted, the movement's acting chief Ong Chin Wen rubbished the portal mail, and denied that the youth wing has called on Fairus to step down.He revealed that it was a general memorandum meant for all three PKR executive councillors in the state government.

Besides Penanti assemblyperson Fairus, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim (Batu Maung) and Law Choo Kiang (Bukit Tambun) are other two executive councillors.According to Ong, the memorandum highlighted on areas for improvement and brought up several outstanding contentious issues to the attention of the PKR executive councillors.The memorandum also urged the trio to involve PKR youth leaders in their administration's decision-making process and policy implementation.“We never called on Fairus or anyone to resign and make way for others,” he pointed out.

Siri 23 – Fairus mengamuk ugut pengal kepala exco ...

WAN AHMAD FARID WAN SALLEH PILIHAN BN

BN telah memilih senator Wan Ahmad Farid Wan salleh yang juga timbalan menteri perumahan dan juga ketua UMNO Kuala Terengganu sebagai calon mereka dalam pilihanraya kecil Kuala terengganu.

Pemilihan beliau sebagai calon adalah pilihan Dato Najib dan menyatakan bahawa pilihan itu di terima oleh Dato Abdullah hj Ahmad Badawi.

"Untuk calon UMNo telah melihat dari berbagai aspek dan juga berbagai sudut dan Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid adalah calon yang kita pilih sebagai calon Bn pada pilihanrya kecil ini iatu P36 Kuala Terengganu", demikian jelas Dato Najib.

Jika calon ini adalah pilihan Dato Najib sudah tentulah ianya menjadi sesuatu yang seronok dilihat kerana dikatakan dalam pilihanraya kecil ini,pilihan Dato najib dianggap sebagai mewakili beliau.

All eyes on MACC,

JAC Billsby Zainon Ahmadmailto:Ahmadnewsdesk@thesundaily.com

FINALLY, the much talked-about proposed laws touted as being part of the reforms being instituted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi before he leaves office were presented to the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.

And it was to give him time to carry out the reforms – the passion for which intensified greatly after the March 8 general elction – that the Umno general assembly and the party elections have been postponed from December to March.

To demonstrate how close to his heart these reforms meant to him, Abdullah came to the Dewan Rakyat – where he had been absent for sometime because of his busy schedule – to table the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Bill (MACC) and the Judicial Appointment Commission Bill (JAC) himself.

The proposed laws will create new bodies – originally thought to be independent agencies – to oversee judicial appointments and fight corruption more effectively so that Malaysia will be a better place for all. But typical of Malaysians, they – or at least their representatives in the Dewan Rakyat – are already discussing the merits and demerits of the bills and whether they are what were promised earlier.

The Dewan Rakyat will only be debating the bills next week but already MPs from the BN and Pakatan Rakat are discussing them in the Members Lounge and in lobby.
On the surface, all BN MPs are saying the bills are likely to restore public and investor confidence in the country’s judicial system and taking the battle against corruption to a higher level.

Some of them, however, share the views of some of the opposition members.
They do not see how the bills, in the forms presented, would change public perception about corruption, or raise confidence in the judicial system.

They do not see how the agencies to be set up would be independent when the prime minister still exerts a lot of influence in their functioning.
With time to study the bills, it would be interesting how they are going to be debated next week.
It was an interesting one hour of debate on an emergency motion by Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) to discuss the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide that took four lives on Saturday. No one was really surprised that Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia allowed it.
"We want all those responsible for approving the project to be prosecuted," thundered Azmin. A few of the Pakatan Rakyat MPs also stood up to lambast the BN, especially the previous Selangor government, for approving the hill slope projects.
Some of them must have felt funny that despite their provocations, the BN backbenchers did not respond with their usual broadsides. Those who stood to speak did so quite civilly.
Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, in his response to Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan), admitted that there were sufficient laws governing approvals for projects but the problem was enforcement.

He said a preliminary report on what happened at Bukit Damansara would be ready next month but may not be made public but the full report on what actually happened on the morning of Saturday would only be ready in three months.

Two interesting disclosures were made during this week’s meeting. On Wednesday, the prime minister in his written reply to Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) said the government spends RM6 million a month on rental and maintenance on his official residence in Putrajaya. The money is paid to Putrajaya Holdings.

On Thursday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the government owned about RM3.6 billion worth of properties overseas, mainly buildings housing the country’s foreign missions abroad.

BILIK SULIT

MAJLIS PEGUAM - GERAKAN MANSUHKAN ISA - DAN TEATER BUKAN TEATER:MEMPERSEMBAHKAN : BILIK SULIT

TEMPAT : Dewan Majlis Peguam No: 13,15&17, Leboh Pasar Besar 50050 Kuala Lumpur(di belankang Pasar Seni/Central Market)

PADA : 20,21,22, 23 Disember 2008/ RM10 ( Derma untuk keluarga tahanan ISA)

SILA TALIPON UNTUK MENDAPATKAN TEMPAT DUDUK : 012-465- 16-71 dan 012-384-29-72 Sila tempah awal dan pilih hari yang sesuai kerana tempat terhad.

KINI MAHAHTHIR MENYATAKAN BELIAU RAGU DENGAN BUKTI RASUAH WANG

Mahathir Mohammad hari ini menyatakan bahawa beliau kini tidak mempunyai bukti kukuh dalam isu dakwaan yang dibuat beliau dimana menyakan bahawa terdapat sesetengah calon menggunakan wang untuk mendapatkan undi,malah menyatakan bahawa mereka tidak mahu memberikan nama mereka.

“ Kita nak kan yang bijak, namun mereka pengecut dan tidak mahu menonjolkan diri mereka.Saya perlu melihat semula akan perkara ini”, demikian jelas Mahathir apabila di tanya kepada beliau.

Mahathir juga menyakan bahawa beliau harus melihat akan perkara ini dengan serius.Beberapa bulan lepas beliau menyatakan bahawa pemberi rasuah dengan membeli undi harus dikenakan tindakan di bawah akta keselamatan dalam neger I..S.A.

Beliau juga menyakan bahawa rasuah dalam UMNO begitu serius dan jika tidak di bendung akan menjadikan UMNO akan kalah dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang.

Bila ditanya beliau berhubung dengan satu badan bebas untuk menyiasat akan kes-kes rasuah, beliau menyatakan bahawa ianya tidak akan membawa UMNO kemana-mana .

“ Jika untuk mendapatkan maklumat pun susah , maka semua bukti tidak akan membawa UMNO kemana-mana.Untuk mendapat bukti pun sukar kerana mereka tidak berguna dan pengecut” demikian jelas Mahathir lagi.

Berhubung dengan maklumat bahawa sesetengah dari pimpinan memberi maklumat kepada pihak pembangkang , beliau menyatakan bahawa sebenarnya mereka marah kepada pemimpin mereka.

Sementara itu Saifuddin Nasution menyatakan di dalam Parlimen bahawa beliau mempunyai bukti bahawa rasuah wang di gunakan untuk membeli undi bagi pemilihan pucuk pimpinan UMNO di peringkat jawatan timbalan presiden dalam UMNO.

BUKAN BUDAYA MENGENDENG TETAPI BUDAYA AMPU

Budaya mengendeng pemimpin perlu dihentikan






DALAM mana-mana pilihan raya kecil, suasana inilah yang kerap atau biasa tertonjol setiap kali pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) - merujuk Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak - turun padang meninjau kempen jentera pilihan raya.






Yakni, budaya menggendeng pemimpin.






Cukup rimas dibuatnya. Kalau setakat menyambut ketibaan kedua-dua pemimpin di lapangan terbang, kemudiannya menyertai taklimat perjalanan dan operasi kempen jentera pilihan raya, tidak mengapalah. Ini sampai berbondong- bondong mengikuti ke mana arah langkah pemimpin itu pergi dari satu bilik gerakan ke satu bilik gerakan, pondok panas ke satu pondok panas dan satu peti undi ke satu peti undi, maka itu tentunya satu kerugian besar kepada parti berkenaan - khususnya dari aspek liputan menyeluruh meraih undi dan tumpuan asakan kempen ke kawasan-kawasan 'hitam' dan 'kelabu.'






''Kalau yang mengikut kedua-dua pemimpin ini dalam satu kumpulan kecil tak mengapalah, ini sehingga satu konvoi berkereta yang panjang, sudah tentu ada yang tidak kena," kata seorang ketua UMNO bahagian Terengganu yang enggan disiarkan namanya kepada Utusan Malaysia semalam.









Tanpa merujuk sesiapa, beliau membangkitkan kekhuatiran bahawa dalam situasi pemilihan parti yang menebal, dalam tempoh menjelang tidak sampai dua setengah bulan nanti (Mac 2009), pastinya unsur menggendeng pemimpin tidak 'mampu' dielakkan.





''Saya juga berkempen di Permatang Pauh tempoh hari (Ogos lalu) dan melihat budaya ini tidak ketara di kalangan parti pembangkang. Walaupun ketua menteri dan pemimpin PKR meninjau satu-satu kawasan, para petugas parti mereka pula akan sibuk dengan kerja masing-masing, edar risalah di sana sini, tampal poster di pokok malah panjat tiang lampu gantung sepanduk waktu tengah hari," katanya.




Persoalannya, siapa yang harus dijaga dalam menghadapi pilihan raya kecil seperti persaingan merebut kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu ini yang disifatkan pemerhati pasti sengit - melibatkan lima penjuru.

BLOGGER SAID

TOK JIB KENA TENGOK YANG DOK KELILING TOK JIB TU KAKI AMPUNO.TOK JIB KENA JUMPA RAKYAT,SALAM RAKYAT MARHAEN.TAPI KENA LA TOK JIB TAHAN TELINGA............

Are Malaysia’s Reforms Humbug?

Written by Kim Quek

Friday, 19 December 2008

Page 1 of 2There's less than meets the eye to Prime Minister Badawi's reform bills
If there is one lesson that we can learn from Malaysia's just-concluded parliamentary debates on the prime minister’s much hyped "reform" bills, it is that the only way to reform a corrupt autocracy is to get rid of it, not to reform it.

In three days of intensive debates from December 15 to 17, the Barisan Nasional (BN), the nation’s ruling coalition, ran rough-shod over vehement objections from the opposition Pakatan Rakyat to get the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Judicial Appointments Commission bills approved. With that, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi declared victory for having finally fulfilled his promise to clean up the judicial system and wipe out corruption.

But the truth is the opposite of what the prime minister said had taken place. Instead of freeing the judiciary and the anti-corruption agency from the clutches of the executive, whose abusive manipulations of these institutions have been the root cause of the crisis of public confidence, the passing of these two bills has in fact legally formalized the executive’s hold on these institutions.
Take the judicial appointments legislation.

The rationale was to restore independence to a system that has been critically maimed since a 1988 judicial crisis when top judges were unjustly sacked for political reasons and the constitution was amended to subject the judiciary to parliamentary authority. So the obvious solution to overcome this excessive executive interference in the judiciary is to transfer the power to appoint judges from the prime minister to an independent panel, as well as to reverse the amendment to free the judiciary from parliament’s jurisdiction.

But the bill to achieve these objectives was not accompanied by an amendment the constitution to reverse the power transfer. It continues to empower the prime minister to appoint and sack at will the majority of members of the commission the legislation creates, and to change at will the provisions of the bill by gazette notification within the first two years of its operation. Thus instead of relinquishing power, the prime minister has strengthened his hold on the system of judicial appointment.

Nor does the legislation contain enabling language to amend the constitution, meaning Malaysia has now two parallel systems that conflict and overlap each other. De facto law minister Nazri Aziz claims that the task of the appointments commission is merely to compile a list of candidates for the prime minister to choose from. Nazri’s explanation is tantamount to a confession that the appointments commission is merely a dispensable accessory to the prime minister’s decision-making process, as nothing in the bill binds the prime minister to choose the appointee from the list produced by the commission.

It is clear that the bill is unconstitutional and it not only defeats the purpose for which it is enacted but also worsens the judiciary’s present precarious position as an independent institution.

Harakah sumbangkan RM40 ribu pada mangsa ISA

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Dis (Hrkh) - Biarpun beberapa tahanan ISA sudah dibebaskan baru-baru ini, Harakah masih terus memyampaikan sumbangan kepada keluarga tahanan yang masih meringkuk di Kemta.
Iklan

Ketua Pengarang Harakah, Ahmad Lutfi Othman, menyerahkan cek bernilai RM 40,000.00 kepada GMI, hasil sumbangan pembaca Harakah dan Harakahdaily yang tidak putus-putus memberi bantuan.

Sumbangan tersebut diserahkan Lutfi kepada wakil isteri tahanan ISA, Norlaila Othman dan Bendahari GMI, Nashita Mohd Noor, di Pejabat Editorial Harakah,baru-baru ini.
Menurut Lutfi, sumbangan tersebut diharapkan dapat membantu keluarga tahanan ISA, khususnya menjelang musim persekolahan dibuka, yang dilihat akan memerlukan kewangan yang banyak.

"Saya menyerahkan kepada GMI untuk menyampaikan sumbangan kepada keluarga tahanan, khususnya menjelang buka sekolah ini. Sudah tentu, keluarga tahanan ini memerlukan sejumlah wang bagi melunaskan yuran sekolah serta keperluan-keperluan lain seperti baju, buku dan sebagainya," kata beliau.

Tambah beliau, menyedari tentang kesukaran keluarga berkorban masa dan tenaga untuk mencari nafkah setelah kehilangan tempat bergantung, Harakah sentiasa komited dalam menyantuni segala kesusahan dan keperitan mereka.

Dalam pada itu, beliau turut merakamkan penghargaan kepada para penyumbang yang prihatin dengan nasib keluarga tahanan ISA dengan terus memberikan sumbangan kepada Harakah untuk disalurkan kepada keluarga mangsa ISA.

Katanya, sumbangan daripada para pembaca Harakah dan Harakahdaily yang prihatin inilah yang berjaya merealisasikan impian untuk melihat keluarga tahanan akta zalim ini mendapat pembelaan sewajarnya.

Sementara itu, GMI yang terharu dengan penerimaan sumbangan berkenaan berkata pihaknya turut merakamkan rasa penghargaan kepada para penyumbang yang prihatin dengan nasib keluarga tahanan ISA.

"Kami benar-benar terharu dengan sumbangan yang diberikan pembaca Harakah dan Harakahdaily. Begitu juga dengan sikap prihatin Harakah yang komited dengan menubuhkan tabung ini. Sumbangan ini memberi erti yang sangat besar kepada kami yang dinafikan hak kasih-sayang dan kehidupan angkara ISA ini," kata Norlaila.

Sementara itu, Norlaila berkata sehingga kini terdapat empat tahanan ISA yang sudah melebihi enam tahun yang masih ditahan di Kamunting, termasuk suaminya, Mohd Sah Satray.
Beliau yang digelar sesetengah pihak sebagai 'wanita besi', berkata beliau tidak akan berhenti berjuang dan mendidik rakyat berkenaan kezaliman ISA yang seharusnya sudah dikuburkan. - mks._

BLOGGER SAID,

AKHBAR UTUSAN,STAR,SUARA KEADILAN,METRO,SINAR DAN LAIN-LAIN BILA LAGI?

SWASTA IJN:KERAJAAN HARUS PEDULI RAKYAT MARHAEN

KUALA LUMPUR-19 DIS-Kebimbangan rakyat terhadap penswastaan IJN bagi menafaatkan rakyat marhaen terbanyak terutamanya golongan yang berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana kini terpaksa di tangguhkan.DARBY Syarikat yang diasaskan kepada peladangan dikatakan sanggup membayar 16 kali pegangan kerana dilihat sebagai usaha mengaut keuntungan dan menyiksa rakyat.

(IJN SDN.BHD)

Jika langkah ini diteruskan kerajaan, dalam suasana yang ada sekarang, ianya di lihat tidak akan membaikpulih reputasi kerajaan kerana selain ianya dilihat tidak perihatin kepada golongan berpendatan rendah dan menengah, ianya juga diihat sebagai satu dasar tempang bagi membantu rakyat.

Jika ianya di teruskan juga , takut-takut kerajaan akan dianggap sebagai hanya mementingkan wang dari menjadi sebagai sebuah kerajaan rakyat sepertimana yang di lakukan dan dijadikan tema Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat, iaitu kerajaan prihatin dan kerajaan untuk memakmurkan rakyat.

UMNO PERLU BERUBAH UNTUK TERUS HIDUP-AHLI PARLIMEN TERMERLOH

Oleh Amiruddin Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 –

Kata seorang timbalan menteri dari UMNO dalam buku terbaru hasil karangannya bahawa parti UMNO harus berubah atau menghadapi risiko untuk kehilangan pengundi semenjak pilihanraya umum lalu

Saifuddin Abdullah berkata bahawa parti UMNO harus lebih bersikap terbuka dan harus juga berdebat secara terbuka dan juga berbincang dengan rakan lainnya dalam Barisan Nasional.

Dalam tulisannya beliau menjelaskan bahawa hanya sedikit sahaja yang dijalankan oleh UMNO dalam mengadakan pembahruan , dan untuk mendapatkan semula sokongan dari akar umbi Barisan Nasional seharusnya lah lebih bersikap terbuka dan menjadi kerajaan yang jujur dan bertanggungjawab.

Beliau yang juga timbalan menteri dalam buku tulisannya “new politic atau politik baru” mempunyai bukti bahawa beliau bukannya mahu menentang partinya , namun menjelaskan bahawa tujuannya adalah untuk menyedarkan pemimpin UMNO bahawa protes yang ditunjukkan rakyat dan ini sudah tentunya menguntungkan Pakatan Rakyat yang pada mulanya hanya dalam bentuk protes dan kemudiannya bertukar menjadi sokongan yang jitu jika kerajaan masih tidak berubah sikap


Beliau menjelaskan bahawa kerajaan bukan seharusnya hanya bersikap retorik dalam menjalankan sesuatu perkara. Kerajaan harus kembali kepada asal usul perjuangannya membantu rakyat . Kita harus memahami bahawa sikap rakyat telah berubah, dunia juga telah berubah. Maka kerana itu kita harus juga berubah dalam menjalankan sesuatu perkara.Saya tidak menayatakan bahawa saya menentang perjuangan parti, akan tetapi sebagai seorang yang bertanggungjawab, saya menyarankan kepada parti untuk terus bergerak ke depan.

Beliau menyatakan bahawa pengalaman beliau dalam membentuk sebuah Majlis Perbandaran Termerloh yang mana menjemput ADUN PAS Kuala Semantan, Saya di halang oleh ahli parti saya supaya tidak memasukkan nama beliau dalam senarai ahli majlis perbandaran.

“Saya kira ini bukanlah satu perkara dimana dalam membentuk ahli majlis untuk memberi perkihmatan kepada maysrakat Soal parti haruslah di buang ketepi demi bekhidmat kepada rakyat”. Jelas Saifuddin


Untuk menjadi johan dalam segala bidang, segala fahaman kolot kepartian dan perdebatan tentang apa yang di perkatakan mengenai parti bahawa UMNO hanya lah lebih mementingkan satu kaum sahaja adalah tidak benar. Maka kerana itu perdebatan terbuka mengenai parti adalah perlu untuk membuka mata dan tanggapan salah masyaraklat terhadap UMNO.

BLOGGER SAID

JAGA-JAGA NANTI KENA TINDAKAN DISIPLIN...HA...HA...HA

PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Dec 18

Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:06pm IST

PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Dec 18

Following are the main stories in Malaysian newspapers.

Following are the main stories in Malaysian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE STAR (http://www.thestar.com.my/)

-- The passing of the Bills to set up the Judicial Appointments Commission and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will correct any misconception the public still have on the integrity of the two institutions, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

-- Sime Darby Bhd (SIME.KL: Quote, Profile, Research) wants to acquire a stake in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd which operates the national heart institute, Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), the company said.

BUSINESS TIMES (http://www.btimes.com.my/)

-- The government may implement a so-called "strategic package" to drive the economy and woo foreign investors, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Amirsham A. Aziz.

-- The government-owned Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd has acquired its maiden water assets for 889 million ringgit ($252 million) from the Malacca state government.
THE NEW STRAITS TIMES (http://www.nst.con.my/)

-- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said his final mission before he hands over power to his deputy is to cool racial and religious tensions in the country.

The cabinet last week approved the formation of a Malaysian-Japanese University to boost educational co-operation between the two countries, Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Noh Omar said.

THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (http://www.theedgedaily.com/)

-- Bursa Malaysia Bhd (BMYS.KL: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to launch two palm oil indices - one domestic and the other regional - in the first half of next year as part of its strategy to enhance the country's profile as the centre for commodity products, said its Chief Executive Officer Yusli Mohamed Yusoff.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserve.com)
-- The government plans to buy all water works assets in West Malaysia from both private and state-owned water utility firms by end of next year - an exercise that would cost up to 15 billion ringgit, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor said.
THE SUN (http://www.sun2surf.com/)

-- Pirates seized a Malaysian tug boat with a crew of 11, a Turkish cargo ship, a yacht crewed by just two people and a Chinese fishing boat on Wednesday, said Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau piracy reporting centre.

-- Malaysia's 2.5 billion ringgit seafood export industry is on the verge of a collapse with no concrete help thus far from the government following a ban on Malaysian seafood by the European Union (EU) in June, said Malaysian Frozen Foods Processors Association President Ch'ng Chin Hooi.

** Looking for more information from local sources? Reuters Business Briefing has 13 Malaysian sources including Business Times Malaysia. For details of the product please call your local help desk (PHONE/HELP).

Malaysia PM defends his judicial reforms

18 Dec 2008, 0848 hrs IST, AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's prime minister has defended a new law aimed at promoting judicial independence even though it gives him the final
say in appointing senior judges including the chief justice. Malaysia's Parliament passed the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill late Wednesday, hours after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in an interview that the legislation will rid the country's judiciary of its "negative perception.

" The bill is a highlight of Abdullah's reforms program, which he is pushing through before handing over power to his deputy Najib Razak in March. This week Parliament also passed a bill to set up a new anti-corruption agency. "Since I am retiring earlier than I was planning to do all these things have to be done very quickly,"


Abdullah said in the interview, adding that the drive against corruption and creating "a judiciary of integrity" were the cornerstones of his election campaign in 2004. "If that can be fulfilled that's good enough. It doesn't matter whether you do it in a hurry or not," he said.


The reputation of Malaysia's judiciary has suffered from a series of scandals including a secretly taped video showing a lawyer allegedly brokering the appointment of senior judge in a telephone conversation with someone who was later appointed the chief justice. At present the prime minister appoints the judges at his discretion without the need to justify his choice or consult others. The recent appointment of a former ruling party lawyer as the chief justice has also triggered opposition criticism about the independence of the judiciary.


The Judicial Appointments Commission calls for setting up a nine-member panel of judicial and nonjudicial persons who would recommend to the prime minister a set of names for the job of senior judges. However, the prime minister has the prerogative to reject the recommendations and ask for fresh names until he picks one that he thinks is a suitable candidate. Abdullah said the judicial commission will lend "more transparency" to the system, insisting that no prime minister would misuse his power. "I am sure the prime minister will not do anything that will ultimately put him in bad light.


His reputation will be at stake," he said. Opposition leaders say the country cannot rely solely on the prime minister's fear of sullying his reputation to have an independent judiciary. They say the prime minister should have no role at all in picking judges. The new law "is totally unsatisfactory and unequal to the task to restore national and international confidence in the independence, impartiality and integrity of the Malaysian judiciary," Lim Kit Siang of the opposition Democratic Action Party said.


During the interview, Abdullah also said his final mission before retiring is to cool racial and religious tensions in this multiethnic country at a time of a deepening financial crisis. Abdullah agreed to step down four years before the end of his term after facing a virtual rebellion from colleagues, shocked by the tremendous gains made by the opposition in March elections. The results robbed the ruling coalition of a two-thirds majority for the first time in four decades.


It was attributed to anger among minority ethnic Chinese and Indians who complain of discrimination in jobs, education and other areas by the majority Malays who dominate the government. They say their religious rights have also become secondary to Islam.

P. Pinang catat peningkatan mendadak penyakit malaria

17/12/2008 3:38pm


PULAU PINANG 17 Dis. — Pulau Pinang mencatatkan peningkatan mendadak penyakit malaria apabila 175 kes dilaporkan sejak Januari hingga November tahun ini berbanding hanya 54 kes bagi tempoh yang sama tahun lepas.


Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng berkata, jumlah itu menyaksikan peningkatan sebanyak 121 kes di mana penyumbang utama ialah warga asing.


“Menurut statistik Jabatan Kesihatan negeri, sebanyak 39 kes daripada 54 kes dikesan pada pekerja asing tahun lepas manakala sebanyak 153 kes daripada 175 kes dikesan pada golongan yang sama tahun ini,” katanya ketika berucap pada taklimat kesihatan berkaitan pekerja asing di sini, hari ini.


Beliau berkata jumlah itu tidak termasuk pendatang asing tanpa izin.


Katanya bagi penyakit tuberculosis (tibi) pula, ia menunjukkan penurunan apabila sebanyak 708 kes dilaporkan bagi tempoh yang sama tahun ini berbanding 882 tahun lepas.
Lim berkata, keadaan itu membimbangkan memandangkan statistik Persekutuan Majikan Malaysia (MEF) menunjukkan seramai 2.5 juta orang iaitu 25 peratus daripada tenaga kerja di negara ini adalah pekerja asing.


Katanya, paling membimbangkan ialah warga asing yang bekerja secara tidak sah di negara ini kerana mereka tidak menjalani pemeriksaan kesihatan berbanding yang bekerja secara sah.
“Jabatan Imigresen menyatakan dari Januari hingga 30 September tahun ini, jumlah pendatang tanpa izin yang ditahan ialah seramai 55,618 orang,” katanya.


Beliau berkata, perangkaan MEF menunjukkan Malaysia terpaksa membelanjakan peruntukan yang besar iaitu RM578 juta setahun bagi kemudahan kesihatan untuk warga asing. -

Malaysia leader says Proton needs foreign alliance

Associated Press Writer

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi speaks to an Associated Press reporter during an exclusive interview at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 17, 2008. Malaysia's prime minister, who is rushing through with a raft of reforms in his final days in office, said Wednesday his last mission is to cool racial and religious tensions in this multethnic country.


Malaysia's leader said that national carmaker Proton, criticized for shoddy workmanship and poor after-sales service, should tie-up with a strong foreign partner in a joint venture to remain competitive.

The comments by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came amid news Wednesday that Proton has been sued by its former Chinese joint-venture partner, Goldstar Heavy Industrial Co. Ltd., for 1 billion yuan ($146 million) in compensation for breach of contract.
Abdullah indicated in an interview with The Associated Press that Proton should be willing to give majority control to a partner in a joint venture if necessary but refused to be drawn on specifics.
Asked if a foreign partner can hold a majority 51 percent stake, he said: "It doesn't matter as long as Proton, the mother company, is entirely ours."

"This (joint venture) is our investment in collaboration with another company. We will (find) what is the best arrangement which will be entirely commercial," he said.

Pressured by dwindling sales and growing competition as Malaysia liberalizes its auto market, state-owned Proton began searching for a new foreign partner after Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp. bailed out as a major shareholder in 2004 due to its own financial problems.
Alliance talks with Germany's Volkswagen AG and General Motors Corp. failed due to the government's reluctance to cede control of Proton - seen as a national icon.

Abdullah declined to comment on speculation that Proton has revived alliance talks with Volkswagen, saying it's up to Proton to find the best suitor before it reports to the government.
Some analysts have warned it will be tough for Proton to penetrate global markets or gain new technology without a strong foreign partner, particularly amid a global economic slump.
Proton improved its domestic market share to 33 percent so far this year, from 24 percent last year, after introducing several cheap models but its exports remained weak.

The company has said it aims to boost sales by selling within China through a tie-up with Jinhua Youngman Automobile Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Proton said Wednesday it had terminated its contract with Goldstar after the Chinese firm failed to get a manufacturing license over a period of three years.
"Goldstar's failure has frustrated Proton's initiatives to get the joint venture to start producing cars in China," the company said in a statement.

The termination of the contract led to the $146 million compensation suit filed by Goldstar in China last month.

Proton said it had begun arbitration proceedings against Goldstar and also obtained an anti-suit injunction in Singapore to prevent the Chinese firm from starting or continuing with any other court proceedings.

The recent legal suit by Goldstar is violating the agreed arbitration process and the anti-suit injunction, it said.

BLOGGER SAID

IT IS A SHAME IF THE CARS THAT WERE BUILT IS NOT A GOOD QUALITY

DISANGKA KAN SEPERTI ORANG SUSAH.RUPANYA MAT GIAN

ALOR SETAR-Disangkakan memangnya orang susah yang memerlukan bantuan.Rupanya seorang penagih dadah.Setelah maklumat di terima , barulah disedari bahawa beliau adalah seorang penagih dadah.

En Mohd Rashid, Pengarah Jabatan Kebajikan Kedah yang kebetulan berada di hotel yang sama mengambil semua butiran untuk membantu, namun akhirnya kecewa apabila diberitahu oleh sumber bahawa orang yang beliau akan bantu melalui Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat adalah seorang penagih yang berkeliaran di bandar Alor Setar.

PANDAI JUGA BERLAKON.

53 KETUA ISI RUMAH DAN 2 BUAH PERTUBUHAN KEBAJIKAN MENERIMA SUMBANGAN RM20,000

SEBAHAGIAN PENERIMA YANG BERADA DI LOBI HOTEL

YTM DATO' SERI TUNKU PUTERI INTAN SAFINAZ(KUNING)DAN TUNKU HAJAH NAFISAH

Alor Setar- Satu majlis penyampaian sumbangan kepada rakyat marhaen telah diadakan di sebuah hotel terkemuka di Alor Setar siang tadi. Majlis yang dinaungi Yayasan Sultanah Bahiyah ini memberi sumbangan sempena hari krismas kepada yang tidak berkemampuan.

Turut hadir ialah seorang pemuda Mohd Firdaus yang menerima bantuan bagi menjalani semula pembedahan hidungnya.

Raja-Raja pun memberi sumbangan kepada rakyat melalui Yayasan.Maka kerana itu Raja-Raja Melayu harus dinobatkan di kedudukan asalnya.

Paper may close in 'Allah' row

Catholic newspaper in M'sia may have just two more weeks in print unless the government backs off a threat to close it down. -Reuters

Wed, Dec 17, 2008Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR - A CATHOLIC newspaper in Malaysia may have just two more weeks in print unless the government backs off a threat to close it down over its use of the word 'Allah' to describe the Christian god.
The 'Herald - the Catholic Weekly' has a circulation of 14,000 and has been published since 1980 but in July was told its license was being reviewed as its use of the word Allah could inflame the Asian country's majority Muslim population.
The newspaper says that it is a victim of politics and that the government that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years since independence from Britain is stoking religious conflict in a bid to retain power after big losses in elections earlier this year.
Other religious groups have complained of persecution in this country of 27 million in which almost 60 per cent of the population is Malay and Muslim but which has substantial ethnic Indian and Chinese minorities who practise a variety of faiths.
'The Catholic Herald's 'Allah' is seen as a threat to national security,' Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of the paper, told Reuters at his office behind an early 20th century church in the heart of the Malaysian capital.
The Herald publishes in English, Mandarin and Tamil languages but it was the use of the Malay language that especially irked the government. It publishes in Malay to cater for tribal communities in the states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo Island, many of whom converted to Christianity long ago.
'We are now a scapegoat, a means for the Malay-Muslims to rally together,' Father Andrew said of the paper which needs the license to publish in 2009.
In recent weeks, ethnic Chinese Malaysians have expressed alarm after a leading politician from the main government party called for Chinese language schools to be closed.
An ethnic Indian group that organised a huge anti-government protest in 2007, triggered in part by the demolition of what authorities said were illegal temples, was banned in October as a threat to national security.
Under the Malaysian constitution, Malays must be Muslim and enjoy special privileges in job opportunities, cheap loans and access to an affirmative action programme in universities.
Those privileges have come under attack from the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim, a one-time Muslim activist who was deputy prime minister until he was sacked and imprisoned on what he says were trumped up sodomy and corruption charges in the late 1990s.
The issue of the use of Islam for political ends has started to cause alarm among some Muslim scholars and even the Sultans of Malaysia's states have warned the government that they are the guardians of Islam under the constitution.
When the government-backed National Fatwa Council last month declared that Muslims should not practise the Indian physical regime of yoga it was rebuked by the Sultan of Selangor, one of Malaysia's eight sultans who take it in turn to be king.
With internal elections due in March in the main government party, the United Malays National Organisation, the Herald looks unlikely to get a break.
'The pressure is coming from within (the government) and also the Malay-Muslim NGOs, who will be opposed on no uncertain terms to any non-Muslim using the word,' said Mr Osman Bakar, deputy chief executive of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies Malaysia.
The government insists it is still reviewing the Herald's license and that it is following due process.
'Until Dec 31, we are not going to announce anything.
There is plenty of time till then. Let them wait,' Deputy Home Minister Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh told Reuters. -- REUTERS

MALAYSIA: Protestors Pedal to Parliament, Brave Police

PENANG, Dec 17 (IPS) - Dozens of cyclists promoting workers' rights are on an extraordinary odyssey across the country, scheduled to climax with the handing over of memorandums in Parliament on Thursday.It has been a rough ride, so far, with arrests and police harassment constantly threatening to bring their journey to a premature end.Two cycling teams -- four dozen from the north of the peninsula and three dozen from the south -- each accompanied by a dozen or so activists have been pedalling their way to Kuala Lumpur since early December.

Along the way, they have met with almost daily police action including road blocks, detentions and arrests.Organisers, cyclists and those distributing leaflets have been hauled up, bicycles have been carted to police stations, and dozens of arrests made as police continue to look for possible violations of the law.In one mysterious incident on mainland Penang, eight bicycles were torched -- three of them badly damaged -- by arsonists at dawn.The ”People, the Force of Change” cycling campaign is organised by the Oppressed People's Network, known by its Malay acronym ‘Jerit'. The Jerit network brings together factory workers, plantation workers, students and youths, urban settlers and civil society groups.

The memos to be presented to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim contain economic demands such as calls for the enactment of a Minimum Wage Act, adequate housing for all, price controls for essential goods, and an end to the privatisation of water supply, health care, education and other basic services.There are also pro-democracy demands such as the repeal of oppressive laws and the re-introduction of local town council elections, which were suspended in the 1960s and 70s.The bicycle campaign has been endorsed by 47 civil society groups, federal-level opposition political parties belonging to the People's Alliance and some of their parliamentarians and state assembly members.On Monday, the teams encountered police action typical of the sort they experienced since the start of their journey.

Both cycling teams were confronted by police as they approached Kuala Lumpur from the north and south.Of the 59-member northern team, about 30, including organisers, were arrested for illegal assembly. Another 27 cyclists below 18 years of age were held by police for their parents to collect them. Police are also holding on to their bicycles, says one of the Jerit organisers.The police chief of Selangor state Khalid Abu Bakar said the arrests were made to stop children from being exploited or misused by irresponsible groups. ”When giving their statements, these children said they did not know why they were asked to participate in the cycling event,” he was quoted as saying by the national news agency Bernama.Organisers disagree. ''Many of those below 18 are children from areas where there have been struggles -- land struggles, plantation workers fighting eviction from their homes or other similar struggles,'' says Rani Rasiah, a Jerit coordinator. ''Others are children of activists, like my son who is taking part, and there are also cyclists from the public who have joined in.''By Tuesday afternoon the 27 teenage riders but only after their parents turned up to vouch for them.

Nearly all of them said they wanted to continue cycling, but the last leg of the journey could be scaled down to avoid further delay.''The children are saying they won't leave until all the organisers and their colleagues are released,'' said Rani. ''They are very spirited and angry with the harassment.''Over in the south, some 20 organisers and 37 cyclists, about 20 of them below 18, were threatened with arrests after a convoy of a dozen police vehicles had tailed them in the morning. After a five-hour stand-off in the afternoon near the town of Bangi, the cyclists were 'released'.”All the youths have consent letters from the parents,” Kohila Yanasekaran, national coordinator of Jerit told IPS.

Organisers lodged a police report against the police on Tuesday, while the parents are expected to make a similar complaint.One text message, making the rounds, jokes that all these arrests are a bit late: they should have been made 67 years ago, when Japanese forces on bicycles were invading Malaya on their way to Singapore during World War Two!Along their way to Parliament, the Jerit teams have already submitted memorandums to the state governments in Kedah, Penang and Perak -- all ruled by the People's Alliance -- as well as Negeri Sembilan and Johor, both of which come under the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition.So far, chief ministers of three PA-ruled states -- Penang, Perak and Selangor -- have personally endorsed the campaign.

The onset of the global economic stagflation has added to the workers worries in this export-oriented economy. Neo-liberal economic policies since the 1980s had already taken their toll among workers, especially marginalised communities who are finding it hard to make ends meet. Privatisation of essential services has added to the burden of ordinary workers.Urban-rural income disparities remain high and despite its relatively high human development, Malaysia has the widest income disparity in South-east Asia with the top 10 percent earning 22 times what the bottom 10 percent earn.Many plantation workers and urban settlers have been dispossessed of their homes with minimal compensation as landowners turn to property development.

Although the official benchmark for measuring poverty is a household income of around 700 ringgit per month (200 US dollars), many believe the real poverty line should be closer to 2,000 ringgit (571 dollars). If that benchmark is used, 38 percent of Malaysian families could be classified as low-income and struggling.Activists were due to submit a memorandum to the Selangor chief minister before delivering their memorandums to Abdullah and Anwar on Thursday.How they will get there, in the face of police action, is another matter, says Kohila. ”The Thursday appointment in Parliament is definitely on; how we are going to reach there -- walking, cycling or taking a bus -- we will discuss.''Whether they succeed or not, their campaign message has already received publicity beyond anything the cyclists could have expected.