28/01/2009
IPOH 28 Jan. – Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) kawasan Bota, Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim berkata, beliau tidak ditawarkan sebarang jawatan untuk menyertai Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Beliau turut menyatakan tidak akan menyertai UMNO semula walaupun Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri Perak, Datuk Seri Mohd. Tajol Rosli Ghazali telah membayangkan hasrat untuk melepaskan jawatannya itu dalam masa terdekat.
Alang-alang menyelok pekasam biar sampai ke pangkal lenggan.
Malaysia takes delivery of first submarine from France
Kuala Lumpur, Jan 28: Malaysia has taken delivery of its first submarine as part of a plan to establish a fleet of the vessels, according to the French company that built it. The Royal Malaysian Navy received the Scorpene submarine in the French port of Toulon and a second is scheduled for delivery in late 2009.
French contractor DCNS said in a statement late Tuesday. It said the sub had completed its final sea trials in December, including the successful firing of torpedoes and missiles. The sub's delivery again raised opposition claims that a 540 million Ringgit ($149.50m) commission was paid to a close associate of Deputy Premier Najib Razak in brokering the deal.
The Deputy Premier, who is slotted to take over as prime minister when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down in March, has denied any improper involvement in the deal when he was Defence Minister. But senior opposition leader Lim Kit Siang called on Malaysia's new anti-corruption commission to investigate the allegation.
PERHIMPUNAN DAN CERAMAH DISANA SINI
HIMPUNAN & CERAMAH MEMBANTAH KEZALIMAN ISRAEL
Tarikh: 27 Januari 2009 (Selasa)
Masa: Selepas waktu maghrib
Tempat: Masjid Jamek Kajang, Selangor
Aturcara program:Solat isyak
Solat hajat
ceramah umum
Penceramah:Haji Mohamad Sabu, Naib Presiden PAS
YB Salahuddin Ayub, Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS
Ustaz Kamal Ashari, Timb. Ketua Pemuda PAS Selangor
Sdra. Sany Hamzan, Ketua Penerangan Pemuda PAS Selangor
Wakil pelajar
CERAMAH UMUM BERSAMA MOHAMAD SABU
Tarikh: 29 Januari 2009 (Khamis)
Masa: 9.00 malamTempat: Kampung Bagan Pinang, Port Dickson
HIMPUNAN RAKYAT NEGERI SEMBILAN UNTUK PALESTIN
Tarikh: 31 Januari 2009 (Sabtu)
Masa: 8.00 malam hingga 11.00 malam
Tempat: Stadium Kuala Pilah, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan
Aturcara program:Tayangan multimediaSajakPidatoPersembahan khas daripada Ito, Blues GangMaklumat lanjut: http://suarasenaling.blogspot.com/2009/01/himpunan-bersama-perjuangan-mu-palestin.html
MALAM AMAL MADANI GAZA-PALESTIN
Tarikh: 31 Januari 2009 (Sabtu)
Masa: 8.30 malamTempat: Kompleks Sukan Balik Pulau, Pulau PinangAnjuran: Ahli Dewan Rakyat Balik PulauPenampilan Istimewa: Yasin & Friends
CERAMAH AGAMA BERSAMA DATUK DR. HARUN DIN AL-HAFIZ
Tarikh: 1 Februari 2009 (Ahad)Masa: 2.30 petang
Tempat: Dewan Besar, Kediaman rasmi Menteri Besar Perak
Anjuran: Datin Seri Hajah Fatimah binti Taat, isteri MBWarga Perak dijemput hadir.
CERAMAH PENERANGAN PAKATAN RAKYAT
Tarikh: 1 Februari 2009 (Ahad)
Masa: 9.00 malam
Tempat: Padang Awam Taman Keladi, Sungai Petani
Penceramah:YB Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Pengarah Stategi PKR & ADR Machang
YB Ustaz Taib Azamuddin, ADR Baling
CERAMAH/PIDATO MEMBANTAH PPSMI
Tarikh: 1 Februari 2009 (Ahad)
Masa: 9.00 malam
Tempat: Markas Tarbiyah PAS Pusat, Taman Melewar, Kuala Lumpur
Pemidato:Hj Mohamad Sabu, Naib Presiden PAS
Dr. Shahrir (NGO Prihatin)
Pengerusi Majlis:Ustaz Idris Ahmad
PERHIMPUNAN MEMBANTAH PPSMI
Tarikh: 7 Mac 2009 (Sabtu)
Tempat & Masa: Akan dimaklumkan kemudian
Anjuran: Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP)
HIMPUNAN RAKSASA BERTEMAKAN ‘MANSUHKAN ISA’
Tarikh: Mac 2009Masa: 3.00 petang
Tempat: Kuala Lumpur (lokasi sebenar akan dimaklumkan kemudian)Anjuran: PAS Pusat, Dewan Pemuda PAS Pusat & GMI
BENGKEL ASAS BLOGGERPenyertaan: Terbuka kepada warga Pahang terutama parti-parti politik, terhad 50 peserta terawal sahaja.Yuran Daftar: RM80.00[Peserta disyaratkan membawa laptop sendiri]Dikendalikan oleh: Blogger CucumatkilauMaklumat lanjut hubungi: 012-3854400
Tarikh: 27 Januari 2009 (Selasa)
Masa: Selepas waktu maghrib
Tempat: Masjid Jamek Kajang, Selangor
Aturcara program:Solat isyak
Solat hajat
ceramah umum
Penceramah:Haji Mohamad Sabu, Naib Presiden PAS
YB Salahuddin Ayub, Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS
Ustaz Kamal Ashari, Timb. Ketua Pemuda PAS Selangor
Sdra. Sany Hamzan, Ketua Penerangan Pemuda PAS Selangor
Wakil pelajar
CERAMAH UMUM BERSAMA MOHAMAD SABU
Tarikh: 29 Januari 2009 (Khamis)
Masa: 9.00 malamTempat: Kampung Bagan Pinang, Port Dickson
HIMPUNAN RAKYAT NEGERI SEMBILAN UNTUK PALESTIN
Tarikh: 31 Januari 2009 (Sabtu)
Masa: 8.00 malam hingga 11.00 malam
Tempat: Stadium Kuala Pilah, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan
Aturcara program:Tayangan multimediaSajakPidatoPersembahan khas daripada Ito, Blues GangMaklumat lanjut: http://suarasenaling.blogspot.com/2009/01/himpunan-bersama-perjuangan-mu-palestin.html
MALAM AMAL MADANI GAZA-PALESTIN
Tarikh: 31 Januari 2009 (Sabtu)
Masa: 8.30 malamTempat: Kompleks Sukan Balik Pulau, Pulau PinangAnjuran: Ahli Dewan Rakyat Balik PulauPenampilan Istimewa: Yasin & Friends
CERAMAH AGAMA BERSAMA DATUK DR. HARUN DIN AL-HAFIZ
Tarikh: 1 Februari 2009 (Ahad)Masa: 2.30 petang
Tempat: Dewan Besar, Kediaman rasmi Menteri Besar Perak
Anjuran: Datin Seri Hajah Fatimah binti Taat, isteri MBWarga Perak dijemput hadir.
CERAMAH PENERANGAN PAKATAN RAKYAT
Tarikh: 1 Februari 2009 (Ahad)
Masa: 9.00 malam
Tempat: Padang Awam Taman Keladi, Sungai Petani
Penceramah:YB Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Pengarah Stategi PKR & ADR Machang
YB Ustaz Taib Azamuddin, ADR Baling
CERAMAH/PIDATO MEMBANTAH PPSMI
Tarikh: 1 Februari 2009 (Ahad)
Masa: 9.00 malam
Tempat: Markas Tarbiyah PAS Pusat, Taman Melewar, Kuala Lumpur
Pemidato:Hj Mohamad Sabu, Naib Presiden PAS
Dr. Shahrir (NGO Prihatin)
Pengerusi Majlis:Ustaz Idris Ahmad
PERHIMPUNAN MEMBANTAH PPSMI
Tarikh: 7 Mac 2009 (Sabtu)
Tempat & Masa: Akan dimaklumkan kemudian
Anjuran: Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP)
HIMPUNAN RAKSASA BERTEMAKAN ‘MANSUHKAN ISA’
Tarikh: Mac 2009Masa: 3.00 petang
Tempat: Kuala Lumpur (lokasi sebenar akan dimaklumkan kemudian)Anjuran: PAS Pusat, Dewan Pemuda PAS Pusat & GMI
BENGKEL ASAS BLOGGERPenyertaan: Terbuka kepada warga Pahang terutama parti-parti politik, terhad 50 peserta terawal sahaja.Yuran Daftar: RM80.00[Peserta disyaratkan membawa laptop sendiri]Dikendalikan oleh: Blogger CucumatkilauMaklumat lanjut hubungi: 012-3854400
Anwar: More crossovers soon
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — More Barisan Nasional lawmakers will cross over to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) soon following Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim’s defection, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim predicted today.
The opposition leader expressed confidence that there will be a slew of defections occurring fortnightly from February onwards.
“Now the Ox has come in, just be patient... we are working hard just like the ox,” Anwar said at a Chinese New Year party in Klang.
His confidence stemmed from the move by his old campus mate Nasaruddin, who is Bota assemblyman, on Sunday.
Effectively the Pakatan Rakyat majority in the state assembly grew from three to five.
The architect of Pakatan’s strong showing had been silent on the matter of defections since the failure of the Sept 16 federal government takeover plan.
Meanwhile according to Bernama, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin today asserted three more assemblymen, said to be from Umno, will join Pakatan.
If this comes true, then the Pakatan government in Perak which was surviving on a razor thin majority of three might increase it to 11 in a matter of weeks.
TERKINI: ADA LAGI ADUN AKAN LOMPAT
MB Perak dakwa lagi ADUN BN mahu keluar parti
26/01/2009 7:13pm
IPOH 26 Jan. - Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin hari ini mendakwa tiga lagi Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Barisan Nasional BN) dijangka menyertai Pakatan Rakyat.
Beliau berkata perbincangan dengan ketiga-tiga Adun terbabit sedang berlangsung dengan Pakatan Rakyat.
“Kita sedang berurusan. Perbincangan mengenainya sedang berjalan,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina anjuran DAP Perak di sini hari ini.
Kerajaan Bn bukan sahaja menggunakan berbagai cara termasuk menggunakan Radio Ipoh memburukkan Mohamamd Nizar setiap hari namun kesannya yang melompat adalah wakil Umno/Bn.
Najib says no more defections to Pakatan
WRLR
Anwar wants royal panel to investigate
Mon, Jan 26, 2009
The Opposition wants the Government to form a royal commission to investigate abuse and allegations of torture of suspects under police custody, following the recent death of detainee A. Kugan
PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The Opposition wants the Government to form a royal commission to investigate abuse and allegations of torture of suspects under police custody, following the recent death of detainee A. Kugan.
The Opposition wants the Government to form a royal commission to investigate abuse and allegations of torture of suspects under police custody, following the recent death of detainee A. Kugan
PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The Opposition wants the Government to form a royal commission to investigate abuse and allegations of torture of suspects under police custody, following the recent death of detainee A. Kugan.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed that some police personnel were committing abuse and torturing suspects and these were covered up by top officials in the force.
He said investigations into Kugan's case must be open and independent instead of being conducted by the police themselves.
"This (setting up of a commission) will restore the image and credibility of the police force and protect the good name of the majority of the policemen who are doing a good job," he said at a press conference yesterday.
Anwar, who had assured Kugan's family that the Opposition was serious in taking up the cause, said the Opposition MPs would press the issue in Parliament until the Home Minister could give an assurance that such incidents would not recur, not only to Indian detainees but to all.
Pointing out that there had been 80 deaths in police custody since 2000, he said there was also an attempt to turn it into a racial issue by relating it to crimes or thefts committed by Indians.
He also claimed that the media was being used to divert attention by highlighting the incident where the deceased's family members had barged into the mortuary.
"What was not reported was the mortuary guard's admission that he had opened the door of the mortuary," he said.
Asked if PKR was co-operating with MIC leaders who were also assisting the grieving family, Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, who was present, said they were not.
"In fact, the MIC leaders have been missing for the past two days," said the MP, who has been with the family since the mortuary incident.
On another matter, Anwar said that since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had welcomed US president Barack Obama's decision to close down the Guantanamo military prison and release the detainees, the Government should not re-detain Malaysian detainees released from the Internal Security Act (ISA).
"If he says that the Guantanamo Bay centre should be closed down because it goes against the law, then it is only appropriate to release the ISA detainees immediately," he said.
Tamparan Hebat Buat Umno
JAN 26 — Semua rakyat Malaysia tahu Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim telah gagal dalam usahanya untuk memujuk Ahli-Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional menyertai Pakatan Rakyat bagi membolehkan beliau mengambil alih pemerintahan negara pada 16 September tahun lalu.
Tetapi ada orang yang telah lupa bahawa bekas Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali juga gagal dalam usahanya untuk menumbangkan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di Perak melalui lompat parti menyertai BN pada 31 Ogos tahun lalu.
Setelah lima bulan berlalu, Tajol yang masih memegang jawatan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Negeri dan merangkap Pengerusi BN Perak mungkin berharap ramai orang akan terus lupa dengan episod politik yang agak memalukan itu.
Tetapi langkah sumbangnya itu tiba-tiba kembali menghantui beliau apabila berlaku sesuatu yang tidak disangka sama sekali.
Hari ini, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Umno dari Bota di Perak Datuk Nasarudin Hashim mengumumkan penyertaannya ke dalam Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Beliau mencatatkan sejarah politik pasca-tusnami politik 8 Mac tahun lalu apabila menjadi Adun pertama dari BN yang melompat kepada parti gabungan Pakatan Rakyat.
Difahamkan, Nasarudin yang menjadi mangsa politik wang dan tekanan dalaman Umno khususnya di bahagian Parit telah membuat keputusan meninggalkan parti yang semakin sukar dipulihkan kemelut dalamannya.
Malah, kalangan pemerhati politik Umno di Perak meramalkan keputusan Nasarudin, yang juga bekas Pengerusi Felcra, akan menyerlahkan lagi masalah perebutan kuasa dan pengaruh di negeri itu.
Hakikat ini berbeza sama sekali dengan harapan besar Tajol Rosli pada tahun lalu yang berazam merampas kuasa dari Pakatan Rakyat di negeri. Pada Julai tahun lalu, Tajol Rosli begitu yakin dengan kemungkinan lebih dari dua wakil rakyat Pakatan Rakyat menyertai Umno.
Pada masa itu, BN hanya memerlukan dua kerusi untuk berkuasa semula berikutan majoriti kecil Pakatan, iaitu 31 kerusi berbanding BN 28.
Setelah usaha awal memujuk Adun PKR menyertai Umno gagal, Umno mencuba nasib dengan Pas tetapi jemputan itu dipandang sepi sahaja walaupun menawarkan Pas untuk terus memegang jawatan Menteri Besar dengan ditambah perwakilan dalam exco negeri.
Jika Pas benar-benar kemaruk kuasa, pujukan Tajol Rosli adalah tawaran terbaik untuk parti Islam itu kerana walaupun calonnya Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin kini adalah Menteri Besar, Pas hanya mempunyai enam wakil rakyat. Parti yang dominan dalam Pakatan Rakyat Perak adalah DAP dengan 18 kerusi dan PKR tujuh.
Tajol Rosli amat mengharapkan Pas menyertai Umno kerana ia akan memberikan sejumlah 34 kerusi kepada kerajaan campuran BN-Pas. Tetapi suara rasional dalam Pas khususnya dari Mursyidul Am Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat telah menghampakan Umno.
Kepada mereka yang telah lupa, pada 3 Ogos tahun lalu, Tajol Rosli telah dipetik oleh media massa sebagai berkata: “Pakatan Rakyat Perak kini berada dalam keadaan goyah dan terumbang-ambing dengan pelbagai isu. Ini mungkin menyebabkan timbulnya rasa tidak puas hati dan kecewa di kalangan wakil rakyat mereka. Sebab itu saya beritahu dengan Adun BN, yakinilah yang kerajaan negeri Perak akan tumbang pada 31 Ogos (2008)”.
Kini apa yang sebaliknya pula telah berlaku. Apa yang amat membimbangkan Umno di Perak ialah kemungkinan Adun-Adun dan Ahli-Ahli Parlimen Umno yang merasakan diri tertekan atau dipinggirkan dari parti mungkin mula berfikir untuk menyertai Nasarudin.
Lebih membimbangkan pucuk pimpinan Umno pusat ialah kemungkinan langkah Nasarudin akan menimbulkan rasa berani di kalangan wakil-wakil rakyat Umno, sama ada di peringkat DUN atau Parlimen, untuk mengubah selera.
Khabar-khabar angin semakin bertiup kencang dengan cerita lompat parti di beberapa negeri termasuk Sarawak yang berkemungkinan mengadakan pilihan raya negeri lebih awal dari jangka hayat DUN pada 2011.
Pada November tahun lalu, Adun bebas dari Ngemah Gabriel Adit telah memilih untuk menyertai PKR setelah mendapati parti-parti komponen BN di Sarawak terlalu banyak dilanda masalah dalaman terutama dalam perebutan kuasa di kalangan pemimpin mereka.
Bagi Anwar dan para penyokongnya, 16 September tahun lalu adalah kepahitan politik yang terpaksa ditelan. Namun kini usaha menarik wakil-wakil rakyat BN mungkin lebih berhasil jika dilaksanakan secara diam-diam.
Tekanan semakin meningkat buat pucuk pimpinan Umno khususnya menjelang perhimpunan agung parti yang diadakan pada minggu akhir Mac depan untuk memilih barisan kepimpinan baru.
Keadaan bertambah buruk buat Umno apabila tewas di kubu kuat dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu pada 17 Januari lalu di mana dengan jelas dilihat undi Melayu telah beralih kepada Pas.
Jika Umno terus memekakkan telinga dan membutakan mata terhadap desakan rakyat untuk berubah menjadi parti yang lebih bersifat terbuka, tidak mengamalkan politik wang, tidak menyalahgunakan kuasa dan tidak perkauman, tidak mustahil lebih ramai lagi “Nasarudin” akan menyeberangi jambatan menuju kea rah Pakatan Rakyat.
Sama ada melompat parti sekarang atau menanti untuk berentap dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang, senario politik negara semakin teruja kerana rakyat yang mula sedar hak-hak mereka kini menuntut pelaksanaan keadilan dan kebebasan.
Tetapi ada orang yang telah lupa bahawa bekas Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali juga gagal dalam usahanya untuk menumbangkan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di Perak melalui lompat parti menyertai BN pada 31 Ogos tahun lalu.
Setelah lima bulan berlalu, Tajol yang masih memegang jawatan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Negeri dan merangkap Pengerusi BN Perak mungkin berharap ramai orang akan terus lupa dengan episod politik yang agak memalukan itu.
Tetapi langkah sumbangnya itu tiba-tiba kembali menghantui beliau apabila berlaku sesuatu yang tidak disangka sama sekali.
Hari ini, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Umno dari Bota di Perak Datuk Nasarudin Hashim mengumumkan penyertaannya ke dalam Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Beliau mencatatkan sejarah politik pasca-tusnami politik 8 Mac tahun lalu apabila menjadi Adun pertama dari BN yang melompat kepada parti gabungan Pakatan Rakyat.
Difahamkan, Nasarudin yang menjadi mangsa politik wang dan tekanan dalaman Umno khususnya di bahagian Parit telah membuat keputusan meninggalkan parti yang semakin sukar dipulihkan kemelut dalamannya.
Malah, kalangan pemerhati politik Umno di Perak meramalkan keputusan Nasarudin, yang juga bekas Pengerusi Felcra, akan menyerlahkan lagi masalah perebutan kuasa dan pengaruh di negeri itu.
Hakikat ini berbeza sama sekali dengan harapan besar Tajol Rosli pada tahun lalu yang berazam merampas kuasa dari Pakatan Rakyat di negeri. Pada Julai tahun lalu, Tajol Rosli begitu yakin dengan kemungkinan lebih dari dua wakil rakyat Pakatan Rakyat menyertai Umno.
Pada masa itu, BN hanya memerlukan dua kerusi untuk berkuasa semula berikutan majoriti kecil Pakatan, iaitu 31 kerusi berbanding BN 28.
Setelah usaha awal memujuk Adun PKR menyertai Umno gagal, Umno mencuba nasib dengan Pas tetapi jemputan itu dipandang sepi sahaja walaupun menawarkan Pas untuk terus memegang jawatan Menteri Besar dengan ditambah perwakilan dalam exco negeri.
Jika Pas benar-benar kemaruk kuasa, pujukan Tajol Rosli adalah tawaran terbaik untuk parti Islam itu kerana walaupun calonnya Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin kini adalah Menteri Besar, Pas hanya mempunyai enam wakil rakyat. Parti yang dominan dalam Pakatan Rakyat Perak adalah DAP dengan 18 kerusi dan PKR tujuh.
Tajol Rosli amat mengharapkan Pas menyertai Umno kerana ia akan memberikan sejumlah 34 kerusi kepada kerajaan campuran BN-Pas. Tetapi suara rasional dalam Pas khususnya dari Mursyidul Am Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat telah menghampakan Umno.
Kepada mereka yang telah lupa, pada 3 Ogos tahun lalu, Tajol Rosli telah dipetik oleh media massa sebagai berkata: “Pakatan Rakyat Perak kini berada dalam keadaan goyah dan terumbang-ambing dengan pelbagai isu. Ini mungkin menyebabkan timbulnya rasa tidak puas hati dan kecewa di kalangan wakil rakyat mereka. Sebab itu saya beritahu dengan Adun BN, yakinilah yang kerajaan negeri Perak akan tumbang pada 31 Ogos (2008)”.
Kini apa yang sebaliknya pula telah berlaku. Apa yang amat membimbangkan Umno di Perak ialah kemungkinan Adun-Adun dan Ahli-Ahli Parlimen Umno yang merasakan diri tertekan atau dipinggirkan dari parti mungkin mula berfikir untuk menyertai Nasarudin.
Lebih membimbangkan pucuk pimpinan Umno pusat ialah kemungkinan langkah Nasarudin akan menimbulkan rasa berani di kalangan wakil-wakil rakyat Umno, sama ada di peringkat DUN atau Parlimen, untuk mengubah selera.
Khabar-khabar angin semakin bertiup kencang dengan cerita lompat parti di beberapa negeri termasuk Sarawak yang berkemungkinan mengadakan pilihan raya negeri lebih awal dari jangka hayat DUN pada 2011.
Pada November tahun lalu, Adun bebas dari Ngemah Gabriel Adit telah memilih untuk menyertai PKR setelah mendapati parti-parti komponen BN di Sarawak terlalu banyak dilanda masalah dalaman terutama dalam perebutan kuasa di kalangan pemimpin mereka.
Bagi Anwar dan para penyokongnya, 16 September tahun lalu adalah kepahitan politik yang terpaksa ditelan. Namun kini usaha menarik wakil-wakil rakyat BN mungkin lebih berhasil jika dilaksanakan secara diam-diam.
Tekanan semakin meningkat buat pucuk pimpinan Umno khususnya menjelang perhimpunan agung parti yang diadakan pada minggu akhir Mac depan untuk memilih barisan kepimpinan baru.
Keadaan bertambah buruk buat Umno apabila tewas di kubu kuat dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu pada 17 Januari lalu di mana dengan jelas dilihat undi Melayu telah beralih kepada Pas.
Jika Umno terus memekakkan telinga dan membutakan mata terhadap desakan rakyat untuk berubah menjadi parti yang lebih bersifat terbuka, tidak mengamalkan politik wang, tidak menyalahgunakan kuasa dan tidak perkauman, tidak mustahil lebih ramai lagi “Nasarudin” akan menyeberangi jambatan menuju kea rah Pakatan Rakyat.
Sama ada melompat parti sekarang atau menanti untuk berentap dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang, senario politik negara semakin teruja kerana rakyat yang mula sedar hak-hak mereka kini menuntut pelaksanaan keadilan dan kebebasan.
Umno jadi pembangkang, Pakatan perlu sedia jadi pemerintah
Ahmad Lutfi Othman Sun Jan 25, 09 10:25:42 pm MYT
Semua pihak mengakui bahawa Umno kini hadapi saat-saat paling sukar dan paling getir. Bukan ia tidak pernah lalui zaman-zaman gerhana sebelum ini tetapi suasana mendung sekarang jauh berbeda.
Ragam rakyat, khususnya pengundi, juga berlainan. Minda mereka lebih kompleks. Kesedaran berpolitik juga bertambah matang. Mereka semakin terbuka dengan pendedahan luar. Manakala perubahan yang digembar-gemburkan pimpinan Umno hanya retorik.
Prestasi hambar
Pemimpin, aktivis dan penyokong Umno riuh-rendah mengulas prestasi hambar parti itu dalam pilihan raya umum ke-12, Mac 2008. Pencapaian rakan-rakannya dalam BN, terutama MCA dan MIC, lagilah teruk.
Selain kritikan pedas Dr Mahathir Mohamad, ramai juga pimpinan Umno sendiri melakukan muhasabah dan kritikan terbuka. Presidennya, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dianggap penyebab utama kegagalan Umno. Desakan agar beliau berhenti tidak mudah diredakan.
Seperti lazimnya, timbalan beliau, Najib Razak dalam diam mengambil peluang. Abdullah yang kesempitan dibiarken kelemasan. Akhirnya pelan peralihan kuasa yang sepatutnya berlangsung 2010 terpaksa dipercepatkan ke bulan Mac akan datang.
Lima bulan selepas pilihan raya umum lalu, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Presiden KeADILan mengosongkan kerusi Permatang Pauh. Dalam pilihan raya kecil itu, Anwar Ibrahim memang dijangka menang mudah tetapi pemimpin karismatik berkenaan berjaya meningkatkan majoriti isterinya meskipun serangan peribadi terhadap beliau dipertingkatkan.
Najib terduduk
Sebagai penerajui kempen BN yang berkampung di kubu Anwar, Najib terduduk. Belum pun duka diubati, keputusan pilihan rayaa kecil Kuala Terengganu 17 Januari lalu menambah bisa dan pedih Najib. Kerusi Parlimen Umno di negeri yang dikuasai BN ditawan PAS.
Soalnya, apakah Umno yang gering kini mampu sembuh selepas musim beredar? Mungkinkah kes yang menimpa Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh merupakan suatu pengecualian atau jika calon lain dipilih BN, maka Pakatan Rakyat mungkin dapat dikecewakan? Benarkah seperti kata A Kadir Jasin, "Umno masih jauh daripada fasa nazak"? Rasionalkah telahan Mahathir bahawa "semua isyarat menunjuk bahawa Umno akan ditewas dan hancur dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13"?
Sebagai ahli PAS dan petugas Harakah yang turun mengikuti kempen pilihan raya Kuala Terengganu tempoh hari, turut merasai debar menanti keputusan diumumkan, pastinya saya mengharapkan andaian Mahathir itu menjadi realiti walaupun banyak idea dan pendirian bekas Perdana Menteri itu sukar saya terima.
Umno hampir pasti jadi pembangkang
Saya juga mengharapkan pendapat Kadir Jasin itu tersasar; Umno memang gelisah menghadapi nazak dan saatnya menjadi parti pembangkang di seluruh negara hampir tiba. Naluri kewartawanan saya juga merasai detik PAS dan sekutunya dalam Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih kuasa makin dekat.
Bagaimanapun, ia tidak semudah itu. Memang Umno yang sakit belum tentu disembuhkan segera. Begitu juga, PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat yang menang belum pasti secara automatik dapat menggantikan Umno-BN dalam pilihan raya akan datang. Harapan dan impian satu hal yang berbeda dengan cabaran untuk mencapai cita-cita kudus itu.
Hanya kerana parti pemerintah yang seusia dengan Umno sudah menyembah bumi, seperti berlaku di negara-negara lain, namun tidak bermakna PAS bersama Pakatan Rakyat dapat mengambil alih posisi itu dengan mudah.
Umno sendiri mungkin sudah menyediakan resepi secukupnya untuk parti berkenaan digulung sejarah. ia semakin dilihat tidak relevan dan ketinggalan zaman, satu tuduhan yang dahulunya dilemparkan kepada parti-parti pembangkang.
Soalnya, di mana kedudukan PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat hari ini? Bagi saya, seperti ungkapan Musa Hitam, Umno kini menghidap penyakit tua, namun tidak bermakna orang tua mati lebih awal daripada golongan remaja misalnya.
Kemampuan menyesuaikan diri
Keupayaan PAS-Pakatan membentuk sejarah menerajui pemerintahan negara lebih ditentukan oleh parti berkenaan untuk menyesuaikan dirinya dengan tuntutan semasa dan perubahan zaman, lebih daripada mengharapkan Umno perlahan-lahan mati dengan sendirinya.
Sejauh mana selama hampir setahun ini PAS-Pakatan dapat membuktikan komitmen membela kepentingan rakyat, memenuhi segala janji dalam manifesto pilihan raya lalu, menyuntik keyakinan bahawa ia mampu melaksanakan dasar dan rancangan kerajaan yang lebih baik, juga tidak mengulangi kesilapan yang dilakukan wakil-wakil rakyat Umno-BN?
Apakah pimpinan PAS tetap mesra rakyat, turun mendekati dan menyelesaikan masalah rakyat, tidak meninggi diri walaupun sudah menerajui negeri, tetap hidup sederhana meskipun boleh bermewah-mewah, mengelak dari dilihat sombong dan angkuh dengan kuasa?
Bukti di saluran mengundi
Anak muda dan golongan belia, seperti dibuktikan melalui saluran mengundi tertentu di Kuala Terengganu, sememangnya menolak BN. Kecenderungan ini berakar dan berlanjutan daripada trend mengundi, Mac 2008.
Sifat orang muda yang terbuka dengan maklumat, kritis terhadap persekitaran, ghairah dengan perubahan, pantang diperbodohkan, bersedia untuk menyanggah, membuka jalan untuk Pakatan bertapak lebih kukuh.
Jumlah pengundi muda ini semakin ramai. Dianggarkan menjelang pilihan raya ke-13, tiga tahun akan datang, dua juta pengundi baru bakal menjadi pemilih berdaftar.
Kesedaran berpolitik yang lebih matang akan mendorong empat juta lagi rakyat yang selama ini tidak mendaftar untuk berbuat demikian. Sudah tentu Umno bertambah gerun menghadapi ketidak-tentuan ini.
Walaupun Abdullah berundur dan Najib melakukan re-branding terhadap Umno, saya yakin imiginasi pengundi muda tidak mudah untuk bersama bakal Presiden Umno itu. Malah, imej buruk dan membusuk Umno tidak dapat dipulihkan Najib hanya dengan usaha-usaha kosmetik, apatah lagi bagasi sejarahnya cukup berat untuk diheret.
Umno sukar dipulih
Melalui media, kelihatan ada tekanan supaya Umno segera berubah sebelum ia ditolak pengundi. Pandangan kritis memulihkan Umno disiarkan walaupun ia umpama ubat yang pahit yang sukar ditelan. Ahli-ahli diperingatkan bahawa tanpa kuasa Umno tiada sebarang makna.Pimpinan Umno tentu sedar tentang derita penyeksaan apabila kuasa terlucut dan payahnya merangkul kembali.
Pilihan buat rakyat semakin jelas. Dulu BN sukar digugat kerana rakyat tidak nampak siapa alternatifnya. Lorong penyediaan sistem dua parti semakin luas dan hampir menjadi realiti.
Signal penubuhan Majlis MB-KM
Parti-parti bukan BN menunggu masa untuk digabungkan secara legal dalam Pakatan Rakyat. Halangan mendapatkan tujuh ahli dalam gabungan itu rasanya mudah dileraikan sekarang. Kesediaan parti-parti dalam Pakatan untuk berbincang tentang perbezaan dan bersetuju dengan persamaan kian terserlah. Penubuhan majlis Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri lima negeri Pakatan Rakyat adalah signal awal yang "cukup menjanjikan".
Saya memang berdoa agar impian ini mudah direalisasikan. Mudah-mudahan
blogger said-mudahan-mudahan,dan bertindaklah dan berfikir macam nak jadi pemerintah
Semua pihak mengakui bahawa Umno kini hadapi saat-saat paling sukar dan paling getir. Bukan ia tidak pernah lalui zaman-zaman gerhana sebelum ini tetapi suasana mendung sekarang jauh berbeda.
Ragam rakyat, khususnya pengundi, juga berlainan. Minda mereka lebih kompleks. Kesedaran berpolitik juga bertambah matang. Mereka semakin terbuka dengan pendedahan luar. Manakala perubahan yang digembar-gemburkan pimpinan Umno hanya retorik.
Prestasi hambar
Pemimpin, aktivis dan penyokong Umno riuh-rendah mengulas prestasi hambar parti itu dalam pilihan raya umum ke-12, Mac 2008. Pencapaian rakan-rakannya dalam BN, terutama MCA dan MIC, lagilah teruk.
Selain kritikan pedas Dr Mahathir Mohamad, ramai juga pimpinan Umno sendiri melakukan muhasabah dan kritikan terbuka. Presidennya, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dianggap penyebab utama kegagalan Umno. Desakan agar beliau berhenti tidak mudah diredakan.
Seperti lazimnya, timbalan beliau, Najib Razak dalam diam mengambil peluang. Abdullah yang kesempitan dibiarken kelemasan. Akhirnya pelan peralihan kuasa yang sepatutnya berlangsung 2010 terpaksa dipercepatkan ke bulan Mac akan datang.
Lima bulan selepas pilihan raya umum lalu, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Presiden KeADILan mengosongkan kerusi Permatang Pauh. Dalam pilihan raya kecil itu, Anwar Ibrahim memang dijangka menang mudah tetapi pemimpin karismatik berkenaan berjaya meningkatkan majoriti isterinya meskipun serangan peribadi terhadap beliau dipertingkatkan.
Najib terduduk
Sebagai penerajui kempen BN yang berkampung di kubu Anwar, Najib terduduk. Belum pun duka diubati, keputusan pilihan rayaa kecil Kuala Terengganu 17 Januari lalu menambah bisa dan pedih Najib. Kerusi Parlimen Umno di negeri yang dikuasai BN ditawan PAS.
Soalnya, apakah Umno yang gering kini mampu sembuh selepas musim beredar? Mungkinkah kes yang menimpa Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh merupakan suatu pengecualian atau jika calon lain dipilih BN, maka Pakatan Rakyat mungkin dapat dikecewakan? Benarkah seperti kata A Kadir Jasin, "Umno masih jauh daripada fasa nazak"? Rasionalkah telahan Mahathir bahawa "semua isyarat menunjuk bahawa Umno akan ditewas dan hancur dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13"?
Sebagai ahli PAS dan petugas Harakah yang turun mengikuti kempen pilihan raya Kuala Terengganu tempoh hari, turut merasai debar menanti keputusan diumumkan, pastinya saya mengharapkan andaian Mahathir itu menjadi realiti walaupun banyak idea dan pendirian bekas Perdana Menteri itu sukar saya terima.
Umno hampir pasti jadi pembangkang
Saya juga mengharapkan pendapat Kadir Jasin itu tersasar; Umno memang gelisah menghadapi nazak dan saatnya menjadi parti pembangkang di seluruh negara hampir tiba. Naluri kewartawanan saya juga merasai detik PAS dan sekutunya dalam Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih kuasa makin dekat.
Bagaimanapun, ia tidak semudah itu. Memang Umno yang sakit belum tentu disembuhkan segera. Begitu juga, PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat yang menang belum pasti secara automatik dapat menggantikan Umno-BN dalam pilihan raya akan datang. Harapan dan impian satu hal yang berbeda dengan cabaran untuk mencapai cita-cita kudus itu.
Hanya kerana parti pemerintah yang seusia dengan Umno sudah menyembah bumi, seperti berlaku di negara-negara lain, namun tidak bermakna PAS bersama Pakatan Rakyat dapat mengambil alih posisi itu dengan mudah.
Umno sendiri mungkin sudah menyediakan resepi secukupnya untuk parti berkenaan digulung sejarah. ia semakin dilihat tidak relevan dan ketinggalan zaman, satu tuduhan yang dahulunya dilemparkan kepada parti-parti pembangkang.
Soalnya, di mana kedudukan PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat hari ini? Bagi saya, seperti ungkapan Musa Hitam, Umno kini menghidap penyakit tua, namun tidak bermakna orang tua mati lebih awal daripada golongan remaja misalnya.
Kemampuan menyesuaikan diri
Keupayaan PAS-Pakatan membentuk sejarah menerajui pemerintahan negara lebih ditentukan oleh parti berkenaan untuk menyesuaikan dirinya dengan tuntutan semasa dan perubahan zaman, lebih daripada mengharapkan Umno perlahan-lahan mati dengan sendirinya.
Sejauh mana selama hampir setahun ini PAS-Pakatan dapat membuktikan komitmen membela kepentingan rakyat, memenuhi segala janji dalam manifesto pilihan raya lalu, menyuntik keyakinan bahawa ia mampu melaksanakan dasar dan rancangan kerajaan yang lebih baik, juga tidak mengulangi kesilapan yang dilakukan wakil-wakil rakyat Umno-BN?
Apakah pimpinan PAS tetap mesra rakyat, turun mendekati dan menyelesaikan masalah rakyat, tidak meninggi diri walaupun sudah menerajui negeri, tetap hidup sederhana meskipun boleh bermewah-mewah, mengelak dari dilihat sombong dan angkuh dengan kuasa?
Bukti di saluran mengundi
Anak muda dan golongan belia, seperti dibuktikan melalui saluran mengundi tertentu di Kuala Terengganu, sememangnya menolak BN. Kecenderungan ini berakar dan berlanjutan daripada trend mengundi, Mac 2008.
Sifat orang muda yang terbuka dengan maklumat, kritis terhadap persekitaran, ghairah dengan perubahan, pantang diperbodohkan, bersedia untuk menyanggah, membuka jalan untuk Pakatan bertapak lebih kukuh.
Jumlah pengundi muda ini semakin ramai. Dianggarkan menjelang pilihan raya ke-13, tiga tahun akan datang, dua juta pengundi baru bakal menjadi pemilih berdaftar.
Kesedaran berpolitik yang lebih matang akan mendorong empat juta lagi rakyat yang selama ini tidak mendaftar untuk berbuat demikian. Sudah tentu Umno bertambah gerun menghadapi ketidak-tentuan ini.
Walaupun Abdullah berundur dan Najib melakukan re-branding terhadap Umno, saya yakin imiginasi pengundi muda tidak mudah untuk bersama bakal Presiden Umno itu. Malah, imej buruk dan membusuk Umno tidak dapat dipulihkan Najib hanya dengan usaha-usaha kosmetik, apatah lagi bagasi sejarahnya cukup berat untuk diheret.
Umno sukar dipulih
Melalui media, kelihatan ada tekanan supaya Umno segera berubah sebelum ia ditolak pengundi. Pandangan kritis memulihkan Umno disiarkan walaupun ia umpama ubat yang pahit yang sukar ditelan. Ahli-ahli diperingatkan bahawa tanpa kuasa Umno tiada sebarang makna.Pimpinan Umno tentu sedar tentang derita penyeksaan apabila kuasa terlucut dan payahnya merangkul kembali.
Pilihan buat rakyat semakin jelas. Dulu BN sukar digugat kerana rakyat tidak nampak siapa alternatifnya. Lorong penyediaan sistem dua parti semakin luas dan hampir menjadi realiti.
Signal penubuhan Majlis MB-KM
Parti-parti bukan BN menunggu masa untuk digabungkan secara legal dalam Pakatan Rakyat. Halangan mendapatkan tujuh ahli dalam gabungan itu rasanya mudah dileraikan sekarang. Kesediaan parti-parti dalam Pakatan untuk berbincang tentang perbezaan dan bersetuju dengan persamaan kian terserlah. Penubuhan majlis Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri lima negeri Pakatan Rakyat adalah signal awal yang "cukup menjanjikan".
Saya memang berdoa agar impian ini mudah direalisasikan. Mudah-mudahan
blogger said-mudahan-mudahan,dan bertindaklah dan berfikir macam nak jadi pemerintah
Politik wang:Tiada lagi tolak ansur????KATA Umno
25, 2009 :
Mana-mana ahli UMNO yang terlibat dalam politik wang kini tahu risiko yang bakal dihadapi.Mesej dari Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Sabtu cukup jelas bahawa tiada jalan keluar lagi bagi mereka yang kena cekup dan didapati bersalah.
Malah Presiden UMNO dan timbalannya itu memberi backing penuh kepada tindakan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) yang menyaksikan 3 orang didakwa di mahkamah Khamis dan 12 lagi diserbu di sebuah rumah Temerloh Rabu.
Mana-mana ahli UMNO yang terlibat dalam politik wang kini tahu risiko yang bakal dihadapi.Mesej dari Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Sabtu cukup jelas bahawa tiada jalan keluar lagi bagi mereka yang kena cekup dan didapati bersalah.
Malah Presiden UMNO dan timbalannya itu memberi backing penuh kepada tindakan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) yang menyaksikan 3 orang didakwa di mahkamah Khamis dan 12 lagi diserbu di sebuah rumah Temerloh Rabu.
Ekoran tindakan SPRM itu timbul polimek dikalangan sesetengah ahli UMNO itu yang bimbang tindakan berterusan seumpama itu akan menjejaskan nama baik parti.Ada juga yang berpandangan agensi penguatkuasa kerajaan seperti SPRM tidak wajar dilibatkan dalam soal dalaman parti. Perdana Menteri yang diminta mengulas mengenai perkembangan terbaru itu semasa di Dubai Jumaat malam menegaskan UMNO tidak akan bertolak ansur lagi dengan amalan politik wang.
bla...bla...bla....lagi lucon yang sama sejak berabad lamanya
Excuses by enforcement officers slammed
Illegal loggers in M'sia are protected by the very people who should be nabbing them.
Sun, Jan 25, 2009
PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA - It is no wonder that forests and protected areas in the country are often encroached on by illegal loggers. The very authorities who should be nabbing the illegal loggers are protecting them.The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission said it would crack down on not only on loggers but officers in agencies that have been in cahoots with them.Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said the agencies in question include the Forestry Department, Malaysian Timber Board, Customs, police and the Department of Environment.
"You won't believe what is happening to the forests in the Klang Valley," Ahmad Said said in an interview with the New Sunday Times yester-day."It has become so rampant and it is not only one agency that is involved."You name it, they have a part to play, and these officers are only interested in making money.
"He revealed that these illegal loggers had even gone to the extent of adjusting the delineation of forests reserves by hundreds of metres to cut down trees that are hundreds of years old.Ahmad Said said it was unacceptable for enforcement agencies to claim that they were not in the know of illegal clearing of land as it was impossible for log-laden lorries to move about being unnoticed."We are talking about heavy machinery going into the jungle and coming out with huge logs jutting out from the lorries.
"In Sabah last year, the MACC, then known as the Anti-Corruption Agency, intercepted a four-kilometre line of lorries carrying logs.His officers were then told by the authorities that all were "clear", but upon conducting checks, it was discovered that the felled logs worth millions of ringgit were illegally sourced."We are getting all the evidence and will get them soon."People like these couldn't care less about the environment and are only interested in enriching themselves.
"They close one eye while jungles are flattened and have allowed this to happen for a long time."He said the MACC had a good reason to focus on the environment as the corruption involved posed a severe threat to the country.Ahmad Said said unless the MACC came in to arrest the problem, Malaysia would continue be seen as a nation that did not protect its environment."Some countries are already boycotting our timber products after they were found to be illegally sourced."
Malaysia lawyers urge independent probe into death in custody
: 25 January 2009
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Malaysia orders murder probe over death in custody
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar Council called Sunday for an independent investigation into the death of a man in police custody after his relatives stormed a morgue to find evidence he was killed. A. Kugan, an ethnic Indian 22-year-old suspected car thief, died on Tuesday while undergoing police questioning, and Malaysia's attorney general has ordered a murder investigation.
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Malaysia orders murder probe over death in custody
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar Council called Sunday for an independent investigation into the death of a man in police custody after his relatives stormed a morgue to find evidence he was killed. A. Kugan, an ethnic Indian 22-year-old suspected car thief, died on Tuesday while undergoing police questioning, and Malaysia's attorney general has ordered a murder investigation.
"This is not the first custodial death in recent years and our fear is that it will not be the last," bar council president Ambiga Sreenivasan said in a statement calling for an 
independent probe. An initial autopsy reportedly found that Kugan died of "fluid in the lungs," but this did not satisfy his family and friends, who on Thursday barricaded themselves into the state morgue to take photographs of his remains. Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail said police had shown him pictures of the body taken by relatives. "We agreed that the incident be classified as murder as there were bruises on the body," he told the New Straits Times daily. “If investigations reveal that he died from being assaulted, then those responsible will be charged with murder.
independent probe. An initial autopsy reportedly found that Kugan died of "fluid in the lungs," but this did not satisfy his family and friends, who on Thursday barricaded themselves into the state morgue to take photographs of his remains. Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail said police had shown him pictures of the body taken by relatives. "We agreed that the incident be classified as murder as there were bruises on the body," he told the New Straits Times daily. “If investigations reveal that he died from being assaulted, then those responsible will be charged with murder." Human rights groups say Malaysian police have a reputation for violence against suspects, with one reporting at least seven deaths in police custody last year. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said the government should not allow race to affect the case. Issues of race are very sensitive in Malaysia which saw race riots in 1969. "We must not make this a racial issue. Just because an Indian is involved does not make it any less important" he told reporters Sunday. "As a Malay, I don't think it is wise to defend the crimes and abuses of the government. We must defend the rights of all Malaysians," he added.
Muslim Malays, who make up 60 percent of the country's 2.7 million population, control the government and ethnic Chinese, at 26 percent, dominate business. Indians make up eight percent of the population and run a distant third in terms of wealth, opportunities and education. In November 2007, Indian rights group Hindraf organised a major anti-discrimination rally which saw 30,000 people take to the streets with five leaders of the group held under a tough security law shortly after. - AFP/yb
Game over for anti-Fairus blogs?
Athi Veeranggan Jan 24, 09 4:05pm
Embattled Penang deputy chief minister Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin is probably heaving a huge sigh of relief after learning that evidence revealing the identities of the people behind a spate of ‘anti-Fairus’ blogs was submitted to top PKR leaders early this week.
MCPX
The evidence was collected by certain party grassroot leaders in Penang on their own initiative while surfing the cyber world.
The evidence, it is learnt, was mostly an accumulation of email transactions, conversations and anti-Fairus postings by ground level perpetrators, who are part of a conspiracy to allegedly topple Mohamad Fairus.
The evidence has also revealed the identities of grassroots conspirators from within the party.
Malaysiakini learnt that the evidence was handed over to PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, national disciplinary committee head Dr Syed Husin Ali, state PKR chief Zahrain Mohamad Hashim, Mohamad Fairus and PKR state secretary Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff.
Anwar, who is believed to be deeply disturbed by the anti-Fairus conspiracy, and Syed Husin are now scrutinising the evidence to identify and plan disciplinary action against the culprits.
There are at least five anti-Fairus blogs in the cyber world, believed to be closely linked to a top state leader who aims to replace Mohamad Fairus in the Pakatan Rakyat Penang government.
Besides Penanti assemblyperson Fairus, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim (Batu Maung) and Law Choo Kiang (Bukit Tambun) are other two PKR executive councillors in Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s state administration.
It is learnt that a handful of grassroot leaders have formed a clique to oust Mohamad Fairus since he was appointed Lim’s number two after Pakatan stormed into power in Penang following a landslide victory in the March general election.
The blogs have attacked Fairus constantly with various allegations of under-performance.
He has also been accused of not being people-orientated, not connecting with the grassroots and not carrying out field work, accusations which Mohamad Fairus has vehemently denied.
Recently, an anti-Fairus blog even threatened to publish an upside-down picture of Anwar on its web page to pressure on the PKR supremo to sack Mohamad Fairus from the state government.
The blog even published an upside-down picture of the newly appointed Penang PKR youth chief and Balik Pulau Member of Parliament Yusmadi Yusof, because of his close ties with Mohamad Fairus.
Yusmadi had earlier declared that he would mobilise his youth movement to strengthen Mohamad Fairus’ position in the party and government.
Yusmadi’s intentions obviously did not go down well with Fairus’ detractors.
Reshuffle to strengthen PKR
"This is a work of people jealous of my political success at such a young age," said the 33-year-old Mohamad Fairus, who was dropped as the party state deputy chief during a reshuffle on Thursday.
The reshuffle also saw Law being dropped as deputy chairperson.
Mohd Fairus has been replaced by Dr Mansor Othman while Law's position fell to Machang Bubuk state assemblyperson Tan Hock Leong.
However, the anti-Fairus blogs were quick to capitalise on the reshuffle, saying it was a clear indication that Mohamad Fairus was on his way out of the state administration as well.
Mohamad Fairus and Law were removed and appointed ordinary committee members as part of a strategy to strengthen the party’s state political administration and operations.
Zahrain explained that the reshuffle was to separate party leadership with that of the state government to avoid conflict of interests and allow leaders to focus on their respective tasks.
Realising the internal plot to oust Mohamad Fairus, Anwar has frequently warned state leaders and members not to indulge in smear campaigns to tarnish Mohamad Fairus’ image since it would also damage the party.
He has also threatened stern action on anyone found to be involved in the anti-Fairus campaign.
With fresh evidence now in his hands, Anwar is set to wield his axe to chop off these negative elements, said a party source.
Embattled Penang deputy chief minister Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin is probably heaving a huge sigh of relief after learning that evidence revealing the identities of the people behind a spate of ‘anti-Fairus’ blogs was submitted to top PKR leaders early this week.
MCPX
The evidence was collected by certain party grassroot leaders in Penang on their own initiative while surfing the cyber world.
The evidence, it is learnt, was mostly an accumulation of email transactions, conversations and anti-Fairus postings by ground level perpetrators, who are part of a conspiracy to allegedly topple Mohamad Fairus.
The evidence has also revealed the identities of grassroots conspirators from within the party.
Malaysiakini learnt that the evidence was handed over to PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, national disciplinary committee head Dr Syed Husin Ali, state PKR chief Zahrain Mohamad Hashim, Mohamad Fairus and PKR state secretary Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff.
Anwar, who is believed to be deeply disturbed by the anti-Fairus conspiracy, and Syed Husin are now scrutinising the evidence to identify and plan disciplinary action against the culprits.
There are at least five anti-Fairus blogs in the cyber world, believed to be closely linked to a top state leader who aims to replace Mohamad Fairus in the Pakatan Rakyat Penang government.
Besides Penanti assemblyperson Fairus, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim (Batu Maung) and Law Choo Kiang (Bukit Tambun) are other two PKR executive councillors in Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s state administration.
It is learnt that a handful of grassroot leaders have formed a clique to oust Mohamad Fairus since he was appointed Lim’s number two after Pakatan stormed into power in Penang following a landslide victory in the March general election.
The blogs have attacked Fairus constantly with various allegations of under-performance.
He has also been accused of not being people-orientated, not connecting with the grassroots and not carrying out field work, accusations which Mohamad Fairus has vehemently denied.
Recently, an anti-Fairus blog even threatened to publish an upside-down picture of Anwar on its web page to pressure on the PKR supremo to sack Mohamad Fairus from the state government.
The blog even published an upside-down picture of the newly appointed Penang PKR youth chief and Balik Pulau Member of Parliament Yusmadi Yusof, because of his close ties with Mohamad Fairus.
Yusmadi had earlier declared that he would mobilise his youth movement to strengthen Mohamad Fairus’ position in the party and government.
Yusmadi’s intentions obviously did not go down well with Fairus’ detractors.
Reshuffle to strengthen PKR
"This is a work of people jealous of my political success at such a young age," said the 33-year-old Mohamad Fairus, who was dropped as the party state deputy chief during a reshuffle on Thursday.
The reshuffle also saw Law being dropped as deputy chairperson.
Mohd Fairus has been replaced by Dr Mansor Othman while Law's position fell to Machang Bubuk state assemblyperson Tan Hock Leong.
However, the anti-Fairus blogs were quick to capitalise on the reshuffle, saying it was a clear indication that Mohamad Fairus was on his way out of the state administration as well.
Mohamad Fairus and Law were removed and appointed ordinary committee members as part of a strategy to strengthen the party’s state political administration and operations.
Zahrain explained that the reshuffle was to separate party leadership with that of the state government to avoid conflict of interests and allow leaders to focus on their respective tasks.
Realising the internal plot to oust Mohamad Fairus, Anwar has frequently warned state leaders and members not to indulge in smear campaigns to tarnish Mohamad Fairus’ image since it would also damage the party.
He has also threatened stern action on anyone found to be involved in the anti-Fairus campaign.
With fresh evidence now in his hands, Anwar is set to wield his axe to chop off these negative elements, said a party source.
No end to deaths under police custody?
Reading of the recent death under police custody, we are bewildered and have to pose this question to our Prime Minister, “Will there be no end to this?”
Why are there so many deaths under police custody? And why do these corpses bear marks of police brutality? Do we have professional personnel or sadists interrogating suspects? Do we really get to the truth or force confessions out of these unfortunate suspects through coercion and brutal means?
The 22-year-old Kugan Ananthan, who it was claimed collapsed during interrogation and subsequently died, had markings all over his body which clearly establishes that he had been subjected to torture and inhuman treatment while under custody. Who inflicted these injuries and why was this necessary?
Instead of addressing this issue, the police seem to be after those who managed to obtain this evidence to expose the horrors that take place in police stations.
What has happened is not an isolated case. Apparently, they take place on a regular basis. Why is this so? We need answers. Can the Inspector of Police go public to provide the answers? He is duty-bound to respond to this challenge.
We have had another incident that took place last month involving two Malaysians, B Parabakar and C Solomon. According to Parabakar, “he was tortured in various ways by 11 policemen” for failing “ to provide the police with any information”. These are not professional policemen but goons in police uniforms who resort to barbaric antics to coerce suspects to confess. In this case they poured boiling hot water on them. Parabakar was terribly scalded.
We need to ask the IGP whether suspects are human beings? Do they have their rights? Are they entitled to their human rights? Do they lose their human dignity the moment they are detained?
Aliran calls on the Prime Minister to set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the police conduct when they interrogate suspects. This is the only way to get to the truth. Internal inquiries by the police do not command the public’s respect or confidence.
P Ramakrishnan
President
23 January 2009
YB HAMDAN TURUT SAMPAIKAN SUMBANGAN
PERMATANG PAUH- YB Hamdan semalam turut menyampaikan sumbangan wang tunai kepada Pn Rahaya dari pejabat daerah sebanyak RM1000 dan dari PUZ RM2000.Sumbangan awal ini yang diusahakan oleh pejabat ADUN Permatang Pasir adalah langkah awal dan menurut YB Hamdan lagi usaha-usaha bagi membantu mangsa kebakaran akan diteruskan di amana bantuan dari Jabatan kebajikan Masyarakat akan turut di lakukan.
Menurut YB Hamdan lagi , jika tanah ini kepunyaaan milik mangsa , ianya boleh diberi bantuan rumah, namun keadaan tidak dapat dilakukan kerana tanah ini diatas nama orang lain.
Dalam hari yang sama juga YB Hamdan turut menyampaikan bantuan kerusi dan meja untuk keperluan kanak-kanak sekolah tadika di kampung Tanjung Putus dan juga sumbangan Canopy untuk keperluan surau kampung Tanjung Putus.Semua jumlah sumbangan bernilai RM5000 di sampaikan oleh pejabat ADUN Permatang Pasir.
DATO ZAHRAIN SAMPAIKAN SUMBANGAN BERSAMA WANITA PKR PERMATANG PAUH
PERMATANG PAUH-Satu majlis sumbangan dan bantuan kepada anak-anak yatim dan ibu tunggal telah dilakukan di dewan Yayasan Aman.Sumbangan di sampaikan oleh Ketua Perhubungan PKR Negeri Dato Zahrain.
Sumbangan zakat dan hamper kepada anak yatim dilakukan oleh Dato Zahrain .Turut hadir ialah Ketua Wanita PKR Hjh Khalijah,Ketua AMK Permatang Pauh Sdr Amir,Sdr Surani Pegawai Khas DSAI.
PKR BATU KAWAN MENYAMPAIKAN SUMBANGAN GONG XI FA CHAI
BATU KAWAN-Satu majlis penyampaian sumbangan limau dan sedikit ang pow telah dijalankan di jalankan oleh PKR Batu Kawan.Gambar-Gambar Penyampaian Ang Pow Raya Tahun Baru Cina oleh Wanita KeADILan Bahagian Batu Kawan kepada Pesakit-Pesakit di Pusat Hemodialisis Seberang Perai Selatan pada 24 Januari 2009turut sama ialah YB Law Ketua wanita Batu Kawan Dr Joyce Lee
KASIHANILAH MEREKA INI.REKOD HAK ASASI KEMANUSIAAN MALAYSIA MASIH DITAHAP BURUK
Gambar-gambar ini dan beberapa lagi mungkin akan menjadikan kita rakyat Malaysia merasakan bahawa hak asasi manusia di negara kita begitu teruk.Namun gambar in mungkin antara yang menjadi bahan betapa desakan dan tekanan harus di berikan kerana ianya bukan sahaja di lihat tidak sepatutnya berlaku, malahan haruslah di insafi kita tidak seharusnya melakukan perbuatan ini atas dasar perikemanusiaan.
Kasihanilah keluarga ini kerana ianya bukan sahaja akan menjatuhkan imej pihak berkuasa, namun ianya juga menjatuhkan kredibiliti kerajaan Barisan Nasional yang pernah dituduh zalim.Mana mungkin jika ianya berterusan pihak pemerintah dapat membaikpulih imej dan ini sudah tentulah sukar bagi pihak pemerintah ntuk membaik pulih sistem yang koyak rabak di sana sini.Untuk membetulkan disana, ianya koyak di sini. Maka kerana itu saranan beberapa cerdik pandai bahawa satu rombakan yang menyeluruh harus di lakukan oleh Umno/Bn untuk mengembalikan zaman kegemilangan meraka sebagai pemerintah yang di sukai.
YB HAMDAN SAMPAIKAN SUMBANGAN KEPADA MANGSA KEBAKARAN
Permatang Pauh-YB Hamdan menyampaikan sumbangan sebanyak RM2000 kepada mangsa kebakaran di kampung Tok Panjang.Sumbangan di sampaikan kepada Ibrahim b Othman.Sumbangan di terima oleh anakanda beliau Pn Syarifah Bt Ibrahim.Baru-baru ini satu kebakaran berlaku di mana rumah keluarga En Ibrahim dan kerugian dianggarkan sebanyak 80,000.
SATU LAGI BERITA LUCON
SPRM bantu pulihkan UMNO
KUALA LUMPUR 23 Jan. - Tindakan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) menahan dan mendakwa beberapa pemimpin UMNO berhubung politik wang akan membantu memulihkan imej parti itu.
Ahli Parlimen Batu Pahat, Dr. Mohd. Puad Zarkashi melihatnya sebagai sesuatu yang positif, ketika imej UMNO semakin tidak disenangi ramai.
"Tindakan tegas SPRM itu membantu mengembalikan kepercayaan umum. Ia membuktikan kerajaan dan UMNO telus membanteras rasuah," katanya.
Beliau diminta mengulas kenyataan Timbalan Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak semalam yang menyerahkan kepada pihak berkuasa mengambil tindakan terhadap pemimpin dan ahli parti yang terlibat dalam politik wang.
Dalam pada itu, Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd. Khir Toyo memberitahu, Lembaga Disiplin UMNO perlu meneliti kes politik wang membabitkan ahli-ahlinya sebelum ia diserahkan kepada SPRM.
"Jika individu berkenaan didapati bersalah oleh Lembaga Disiplin barulah mereka diserahkan kepada SPRM untuk didakwa mengikut undang-undang," katanya.
Berbeza dengan Mohd. Puad dan Mohd. Khir, Ketua UMNO Bahagian Cheras, Senator Datuk Syed Ali Al Habshee pula mahu skop siasatan SPRM diperluaskan daripada tertumpu kepada UMNO saja.
Beliau memberitahu, siasatan SPRM juga perlu adil agar masyarakat tidak menyalah tafsir dan berpandangan serong terhadap UMNO.
"Masalahnya, SPRM hanya tertumpu kepada UMNO seolah- olah parti ini saja yang korup sedangkan gejala rasuah membabitkan banyak pihak termasuk agensi kerajaan," katanya.
Ketua UMNO Bahagian Pasir Salak, Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman pula berkata, SPRM perlu memastikan individu yang bakal didakwa benar-benar bersalah.
Sementara itu, Ketua UMNO Cawangan Kampung Baru Kulai, Datuk Syed Hussien Al Habshee berkata, dalam politik tiada individu yang benar-benar bebas daripada perbuatan memberi wang.
Bagaimanapun, katanya, ia dibezakan sama ada ia berbentuk sumbangan atau meraih undi.
Jika generasi kini membaca berita sebegini ianya bukan sahaja akan merosak kan UMNO malah menjadi bahan lelucon orang ramai dan rakyat marhaen.mana mungkin satu badan yang lain menolong badan yang lain sedangkan 800 aduan belum selesai diambil tindakan.Ada berapa suruhanjaya yang masih gagal berfungsi dengan sejujur-jujurnya.
Another setback for Malaysia's UMNO
By
Anil Netto
PENANG - A key parliamentary by-election on Saturday that fell to a resurgent opposition alliance has piled more pressure on Malaysia's premier-in-waiting, Najib Razak. At issue now is whether the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition Najib will lead beginning in March is capable of pushing through the reforms many believe are vital for the government's
long-term survival.
Najib, who spearheaded the BN's campaign in Kuala Terengganu, capital of the oil-rich east coast state of Terengganu, was unable to stop another electoral swing to the People's Alliance, which consists of the three main opposition parties. The ruling coalition had won the Terengganu seat by a 628-majority in last March's watershed general election, which saw the opposition making sharp electoral inroads by taking control of five of the federation's 13 states. This time Kuala Terengganu fell to the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, which is represented in the People's Alliance, by a 2,631 majority.
Much of the vote swing came from young Malays, which some believe spells trouble in the long run for the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the dominant party in the BN coalition. Although the by-election had no bearing on the parliamentary balance of power - the People's Alliance increased its share of seats to 83 in the 222-seat parliament - many saw it as an early referendum on Najib. The deputy premier will soon take the top job from Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, following a leadership transition scheme hatched last September by UMNO leaders. During that meeting, they effectively pinned the blame for the BN's general election setback last year on Abdullah.
This time much of the responsibility for the defeat falls on Najib's shoulders. ''If Najib thought he was going to have it easy, this by-election has been a rude shock for him,'' says opposition activist Medaline Chang, who helped to campaign for the People's Alliance in Kuala Terengganu. It is the second time Najib has led the ruling coalition to defeat in a by-election campaign. Last August, the ruling coalition lost a by-election in Permatang Pauh to the People's Justice Party, another member of the People’s Alliance. That result saw the Alliance's de facto leader - and now parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim - returning to politics after a 10-year absence. Even the use of state machinery, including control over the mainstream media, which provided lop-sided coverage in favor of the BN, could not stem the tide.
Opposition activists, independent journalists and bloggers provided a counterweight, using the Internet to expose allegations the government used money politics to influence voters. "The great thing about the results of the Kuala Terengganu by-election is that the old politics of the Barisan Nasional will no longer work,'' says P Ramakrishnan, president of the social reform group Aliran. ''The past winning formula - money, media and machinery - could not woo the voters to throw in their support for the BN,'' he said.
Najib, the son of Malaysia's second premier, Abdul Razak, also holds the key Finance portfolio and faces a huge challenge as Malaysia's export-oriented economy slows in tandem with the global downturn. (See Malaysia's ostrich economics, October 30, 2008.) Weakening global demand for semi-conductors and electronic products and a slump in global petroleum and palm oil prices will make this a difficult year, with extensive job losses expected. Najib already has political troubles, stemming in part from his implication by association in the murder of a Mongolian female interpreter. He has vehemently denied any links to the case, for which two special forces operatives are currently on trial.
Meanwhile, top UMNO leaders recognize that the party will have to reinvent or reform itself if it wants to check its slide and remain in power after the next general election. Najib has asked BN leaders to move out of their comfort zones and build closer rapport with the grassroots population. He has said that development projects must be based on the needs of the people - an admission of sorts that many projects have not been people-oriented in the past. ''The BN government cannot afford a disconnection between the people's aspirations and the government's direction," Najib was reported as saying. But the big question now is whether, after five decades in power, the UMNO is capable of instituting such reforms, given that corruption, vote-buying and a system of patronage is so deeply entrenched.
UMNO vice president Muhyiddin Yassin said Najib would have to perform "political surgery" on the coalition. ''The people want radical improvements after what happened in the last election,'' he was reported as saying. ''We must be able to do something that would attract the public.'' He said the party had to be reinvented and not just re-branded. But it's not just the UMNO that needs to be reformed. The credibility of key democratic institutions has suffered under BN rule, with critics claiming their independence has been compromised to ensure that the BN retains its grip on power. Reforms to the judiciary, law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, as well as the election commission, are seen as essential to restore the BN government's credibility.
Outgoing Premier Abdullah says he is determined to push through legal reforms and he has tabled two bills in parliament - the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Bill and the Judicial Appointments Bill - towards that end. A third bill concerning police and other law enforcement agencies rounds out his promised reform agenda and Abdullah has vowed to see through the bills' implementation even after he leaves office in March. After failing to push through such reforms at the height of his popularity following a landslide general election win in 2004, it's unlikely the BN, led by a divided UMNO, will have the political will to follow through on such meaningful reforms, especially considering their full implementation could end prematurely the careers of many party functionaries and loosen the BN's stranglehold on power. ''This by-election leaves the BN having to do some deep soul-searching,'' says Chang, the opposition activist. ''I think they need to look outwards and get outsiders to provide some frank views, as the people in the BN seem to be in a state of perpetual denial.''
The next electoral test will come in the form of possible by-elections and polls for the state assembly of Sarawak, another resource-rich state long considered a stronghold of the ruling coalition. But faced with a resurgent opposition, Najib will have to battle hard to restore his and the ruling coalition's electoral fortunes.
(Inter Press Service with editing by Asia Times Online.)
Anil Netto
PENANG - A key parliamentary by-election on Saturday that fell to a resurgent opposition alliance has piled more pressure on Malaysia's premier-in-waiting, Najib Razak. At issue now is whether the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition Najib will lead beginning in March is capable of pushing through the reforms many believe are vital for the government's
long-term survival.
Najib, who spearheaded the BN's campaign in Kuala Terengganu, capital of the oil-rich east coast state of Terengganu, was unable to stop another electoral swing to the People's Alliance, which consists of the three main opposition parties. The ruling coalition had won the Terengganu seat by a 628-majority in last March's watershed general election, which saw the opposition making sharp electoral inroads by taking control of five of the federation's 13 states. This time Kuala Terengganu fell to the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, which is represented in the People's Alliance, by a 2,631 majority.
Much of the vote swing came from young Malays, which some believe spells trouble in the long run for the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the dominant party in the BN coalition. Although the by-election had no bearing on the parliamentary balance of power - the People's Alliance increased its share of seats to 83 in the 222-seat parliament - many saw it as an early referendum on Najib. The deputy premier will soon take the top job from Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, following a leadership transition scheme hatched last September by UMNO leaders. During that meeting, they effectively pinned the blame for the BN's general election setback last year on Abdullah.
This time much of the responsibility for the defeat falls on Najib's shoulders. ''If Najib thought he was going to have it easy, this by-election has been a rude shock for him,'' says opposition activist Medaline Chang, who helped to campaign for the People's Alliance in Kuala Terengganu. It is the second time Najib has led the ruling coalition to defeat in a by-election campaign. Last August, the ruling coalition lost a by-election in Permatang Pauh to the People's Justice Party, another member of the People’s Alliance. That result saw the Alliance's de facto leader - and now parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim - returning to politics after a 10-year absence. Even the use of state machinery, including control over the mainstream media, which provided lop-sided coverage in favor of the BN, could not stem the tide.
Opposition activists, independent journalists and bloggers provided a counterweight, using the Internet to expose allegations the government used money politics to influence voters. "The great thing about the results of the Kuala Terengganu by-election is that the old politics of the Barisan Nasional will no longer work,'' says P Ramakrishnan, president of the social reform group Aliran. ''The past winning formula - money, media and machinery - could not woo the voters to throw in their support for the BN,'' he said.
Najib, the son of Malaysia's second premier, Abdul Razak, also holds the key Finance portfolio and faces a huge challenge as Malaysia's export-oriented economy slows in tandem with the global downturn. (See Malaysia's ostrich economics, October 30, 2008.) Weakening global demand for semi-conductors and electronic products and a slump in global petroleum and palm oil prices will make this a difficult year, with extensive job losses expected. Najib already has political troubles, stemming in part from his implication by association in the murder of a Mongolian female interpreter. He has vehemently denied any links to the case, for which two special forces operatives are currently on trial.
Meanwhile, top UMNO leaders recognize that the party will have to reinvent or reform itself if it wants to check its slide and remain in power after the next general election. Najib has asked BN leaders to move out of their comfort zones and build closer rapport with the grassroots population. He has said that development projects must be based on the needs of the people - an admission of sorts that many projects have not been people-oriented in the past. ''The BN government cannot afford a disconnection between the people's aspirations and the government's direction," Najib was reported as saying. But the big question now is whether, after five decades in power, the UMNO is capable of instituting such reforms, given that corruption, vote-buying and a system of patronage is so deeply entrenched.
UMNO vice president Muhyiddin Yassin said Najib would have to perform "political surgery" on the coalition. ''The people want radical improvements after what happened in the last election,'' he was reported as saying. ''We must be able to do something that would attract the public.'' He said the party had to be reinvented and not just re-branded. But it's not just the UMNO that needs to be reformed. The credibility of key democratic institutions has suffered under BN rule, with critics claiming their independence has been compromised to ensure that the BN retains its grip on power. Reforms to the judiciary, law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, as well as the election commission, are seen as essential to restore the BN government's credibility.
Outgoing Premier Abdullah says he is determined to push through legal reforms and he has tabled two bills in parliament - the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Bill and the Judicial Appointments Bill - towards that end. A third bill concerning police and other law enforcement agencies rounds out his promised reform agenda and Abdullah has vowed to see through the bills' implementation even after he leaves office in March. After failing to push through such reforms at the height of his popularity following a landslide general election win in 2004, it's unlikely the BN, led by a divided UMNO, will have the political will to follow through on such meaningful reforms, especially considering their full implementation could end prematurely the careers of many party functionaries and loosen the BN's stranglehold on power. ''This by-election leaves the BN having to do some deep soul-searching,'' says Chang, the opposition activist. ''I think they need to look outwards and get outsiders to provide some frank views, as the people in the BN seem to be in a state of perpetual denial.''
The next electoral test will come in the form of possible by-elections and polls for the state assembly of Sarawak, another resource-rich state long considered a stronghold of the ruling coalition. But faced with a resurgent opposition, Najib will have to battle hard to restore his and the ruling coalition's electoral fortunes.
(Inter Press Service with editing by Asia Times Online.)
MALAYSIA: By-Poll Debacle May Hit Reforms
Written by Anil Netto
PENANG, Jan 22 (IPS) - A key parliamentary by-election on Saturday that fell to a resurgent opposition alliance has piled pressure on Malaysia's prime minister-to-be, Najib Razak.At issue now is whether the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN) coalition he leads is capable of pushing through reforms which many believe are vital for the long-term prospects of the coalition.Najib, who spearheaded the BN's campaign in Kuala Terengganu, capital of the oil-rich east coast state of Terengganu, was unable to stop a swing to the People's Alliance, made up of the three main opposition parties.The ruling coalition had won the Terengganu seat by a 628-majority in last March's watershed general election, which saw the opposition making sharp inroads, wresting control of five states in the 13-state federation.But this time, Kuala Terengganu fell to the Islamic Party (PAS), representing the Alliance, by a 2,631 majority. Much of the vote swing came from young Malays, and that spells trouble in the long run for the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the dominant party in the BN coalition.Although the by-election had no bearing on the balance of power - the Alliance increased its share of seats to 83 in the 222-seat Parliament - many saw it as a referendum on Najib.The deputy premier is expected to take over the top job from Abdullah Badawi in March, following a leadership transition scheme hatched out last September by UMNO leaders, who had effectively pinned the blame for the BN's general election setback last year on Prime Minister Abdullah.This time much of the responsibility for the defeat falls on Najib's shoulders. ''If Najib thought he was going to have it easy, this by-election has been a rudeshock for him,'' says opposition activist Medaline Chang, who helped to campaign for the Alliance in Kuala Terengganu.It was the second time Najib had led the ruling coalition to defeat in a by-election campaign. Last August, the ruling coalition lost the Permatang Pauh by-election to another People's Alliance party, the People's Justice Party.That by-election saw the alliance's de facto leader - and now Parliamentary Opposition Leader - Anwar Ibrahim, returning to the House after a 10-year absence.The heavy deployment of state machinery in the by-election campaign and the massive mainstream media campaign which provided lop-sided coverage in favour of the BN could not stem the tide.Opposition activists, independent journalists and bloggers provided a counterweight, repeatedly highlighting over the Internet cases of money politics and the use of government allocations to influence voters.It was the third time in 10 months that money politics had failed to halt the opposition's momentum. ”The great thing about the results of the Kuala Trengganu by-election is that the old politics of the Barisan Nasional will no longer work,'' says P. Ramakrishnan, president of the social reform group, Aliran.''The past winning formula - money, media and machinery - could not woo the voters to throw in their support for the BN,'' Ramakrishnan said.As if the burden of taking over the premiership is not heavy enough, Najib, the son of Malaysia's second premier, Abdul Razak, also holds the key finance portfolio. He faces a huge challenge as Malaysia's export-oriented economy slows in tandem with the global slowdown.Weakening global demand for semiconductors and electronic products and a slump in petroleum and palm oil prices will make this a difficult year with more job losses expected.Najib himself has been implicated in the murder of a Mongolian woman - though he has vehemently denied any links to the case - for which two special forces operatives are on trial.Meanwhile, top UMNO leaders recognise that the party will have to reinvent or reform itself if it wants to check its slide and remain in power after the next general election.Najib has asked BN leaders to move out of their comfort zones and build closer rapport with the people or be punished at the next general election. He said that development projects must be based on the needs of the people - an admission of sorts that many projects had not been people-oriented in the past.''The BN government cannot afford a disconnection between the people's aspirations and the government's direction,” he was reported as saying.But the big question now is whether, after five decades of holding power, UMNO is capable of instituting such reforms given that corruption and vote-buying are so pervasive and a system of patronage is deeply entrenched.UMNO vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin said Najib would have to perform ”political surgery”.''The people want radical improvements after what happened in the last election,'' he was reported as saying. ''We must be able to do something that would attract the public.''He said the party had to be reinvented and not just re-branded.But it's not just UMNO that needs to be reformed. The credibility of key democratic institutions has suffered under BN rule, as critics believe their independence has been compromised to ensure that the BN retains its grip on power.Reforms to the judiciary, law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies and the Election Commission are deemed essential in restoring the eroding credibility of the BN government.Outgoing premier Abdullah Badawi is determined to push through legal reforms to restore the credibility of some of these institutions. Already he has tabled two bills in Parliament - the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Bill and the Judicial Appointments Bill.A third on the police force and other enforcement agencies completes his agenda - though he has promised to see through the implemention even after leaving office in March.But after failing to push through such reforms at the height of his popularity following a landslide general election win in 2004, it remains to be seen whether the BN, particularly a wounded, divided UMNO, has the political will to now ensure meaningful reforms.UMNO might not have the stomach to do so, especially when such reforms could bring to a premature end the careers of many party functionaries and even loosen the BN's stranglehold on power.''This by-election leaves the BN having to some deep soul-searching,'' says Chang, the opposition activist. ''I think they need to look outwards and get outsiders to provide some frank views as the people in the BN seem to be in a state of perpetual denial.''The next electoral tests will come in the form of possible by-elections and elections to the state assembly of Sarawak, another resource-rich state considered a stronghold of the ruling coalition.Faced with a resurgent opposition alliance, Najib will have to battle hard to restore his - and the ruling coalition's - battered fortunes.
Intel to close 2 plants in Penang, no layoffs
(updated)
By LOOI SUE-CHERN
GEORGE TOWN: US chipmaker Intel Corporation is planning to close two its existing assembly test facilities in Bayan Lepas, Penang, but said the more than 1,000 affected employees would not be laid off.
In a statement released Thursday from its Santa Clara, California office, the company said the plans were part of the company’s move to restructure some of its manufacturing operations and align its manufacturing capacity to current market conditions.
When contacted, Intel Corp’s corporate affairs manager in Penang Loo Cheng Cheng said the two affected facilities, the PG6 and PG7 plants, where manufacturing takes place, were the company’s older and smaller plants.
“We have a total of six plants in Malaysia running manufacturing, research and development and other services.
“With three plants in Penang and another three in Kulim, Kedah, Intel Corp in Malaysia has about 10,000 employees,” she said.
Loo said the closure of the two plants in Penang would affect over 1,000 of employees but the company would be offering the effected workers comparable job positions in its other Malaysian plants.
“It is safe to say that the company has no plans to lay off any workers for now,” she said.
However, it is still unknown when the two facilities will stop its operations in Penang.
Following the move to close the two plants here, the company’s operations in its Kulim Hi-Tech Park site will assume the role as Intel’s global manufacturing hub.
When asked to comment on the relocation to Kulim, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government appreciated that no jobs would be lost due to the plant closures.
“Although Kulim and Penang are usually seen as one, we are still unhappy with the relocation.
“We cannot blame Intel but the question is why efforts were not made to set up operations in Bukit Minyak on mainland Penang, which is closer to the island than Kulim,” he said.
Apart from the two test facilities in Penang, Intel will also close one plant in Cavite in the Philippines and will halt production at a water fabrication facility in Hillsboro, Oregon in the United States.
By LOOI SUE-CHERN
GEORGE TOWN: US chipmaker Intel Corporation is planning to close two its existing assembly test facilities in Bayan Lepas, Penang, but said the more than 1,000 affected employees would not be laid off.
In a statement released Thursday from its Santa Clara, California office, the company said the plans were part of the company’s move to restructure some of its manufacturing operations and align its manufacturing capacity to current market conditions.
When contacted, Intel Corp’s corporate affairs manager in Penang Loo Cheng Cheng said the two affected facilities, the PG6 and PG7 plants, where manufacturing takes place, were the company’s older and smaller plants.
“We have a total of six plants in Malaysia running manufacturing, research and development and other services.
“With three plants in Penang and another three in Kulim, Kedah, Intel Corp in Malaysia has about 10,000 employees,” she said.
Loo said the closure of the two plants in Penang would affect over 1,000 of employees but the company would be offering the effected workers comparable job positions in its other Malaysian plants.
“It is safe to say that the company has no plans to lay off any workers for now,” she said.
However, it is still unknown when the two facilities will stop its operations in Penang.
Following the move to close the two plants here, the company’s operations in its Kulim Hi-Tech Park site will assume the role as Intel’s global manufacturing hub.
When asked to comment on the relocation to Kulim, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government appreciated that no jobs would be lost due to the plant closures.
“Although Kulim and Penang are usually seen as one, we are still unhappy with the relocation.
“We cannot blame Intel but the question is why efforts were not made to set up operations in Bukit Minyak on mainland Penang, which is closer to the island than Kulim,” he said.
Apart from the two test facilities in Penang, Intel will also close one plant in Cavite in the Philippines and will halt production at a water fabrication facility in Hillsboro, Oregon in the United States.
YB HAMDAN SAMPAIKAN SUMBANGAN PUZ KEPADA GURU
PERMATANG PAUH-YB Hamdan hari ini menyampaikan sumbangan kepada 18 guru sekolah agama rakyat SRIBU Sekolah Rendah Islam Bahrul Ulum yang di uruskan oleh Dewan pemuda PAS negeri Pulau Pinang.Sekolah agama yang ditubuhkan pada tahun 2002 itu bertempat di Taman Arowana pada mulanya hanya mempunyai 65 murid kini telah mempunyai 240 murid dan 27 kakitangan pengajar.
Sumbangan kepada kakitangan sebanyak RM600 ini adalah bertujuan untuk memberi semangat kepada kakitangan agar bertugas dengan lebih berdedikasi.
Is the BN becoming irrelevant?
The great thing about the results of the Kuala Trengganu by-election is that the old politics of the Barisan Nasional will no longer work. The past winning formula – money, media and machinery – could not woo the voters to throw in their support for the BN.
The BN poured in money in the millions to tantalise the voters; it mobilised both the federal and state machinery to mount an aggressive campaign; it had the solid support of the pliant media to give the widest one-sided coverage. This was the winning formula the BN had consistently resorted to in the past with great success. But this time it did not work in its favour.
In fact, this formula was an utter failure in the March 8 general election. This same formula failed to make a difference in the Permatang Pauh by-election when the BN was given a drubbing. And for the third time in ten months, the old formula of money politics failed to deliver the votes for the BN.
Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN) (National Consciousness Movement) 103 Medan Penaga, 11600 Penang, Malaysia Tel: +60 (0)4 658 5251 Fax: +60 (0)4 658 5197 e-mail: aliran@streamyx.com Website: http://www.aliran.com/ALIRAN is a reform movement dedicated to Justice, Freedom, and Solidarity and is listed on the roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations To subscribe to Aliran Monthly, click http://www.aliran.com/oldsite/subsform.htmlTo become an Aliran member,
click http://www.aliran.com/content/view/2/8/To donate to Aliran,
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Money politics has definitely lost its allure and the voters cannot be enticed into voting for the BN solely on goodies given and promised even more if they were to win the election.
Even fear tactics of dire consequences should the BN be rejected did not make any impression on the voters.
By now, the BN must be throughly lost and confused. And deservedly so!
If the BN fails to abandon its politics that has kept the people apart; if it doesn’t discard its unfair policies that reward its cronies and punish its critics; if it doesn’t openly condemn the extremists among its midst; if it doesn’t reject the bigots who destroy our harmony and unity, then it is doomed to become irrelevant to Malaysian politics.
P Ramakrishnan
President
21 January 2009
PIMPINAN PKR PMT PAUH SAMPAIKAN UCAPAN GONG HI FAT CHAI
PERMATANG PAUH-Pimpinan PKR bahagian telah melakukan sumbangan petang tadi dengan memberi buah limau kepada orang ramai di kawasan pasar jalan Tenggiri seberang jaya dan juga di Kampung Cina Kubang Semang serta kampung Cross Street.
Bergambar beramai-ramai dengan pimpinan bahagian yang di ketuai oleh En Mat Hashim Tim ketua Bahagian,Ketua Wanita Hj Khadijah,Peg Khas Dato seri Wan Azizah Hjh Che Wa,Pegawai Khas DSAI Surani,S/U bahagian En Roslai dan juga AMK Permatang Pauh.
Bergambar beramai-ramai dengan pimpinan bahagian yang di ketuai oleh En Mat Hashim Tim ketua Bahagian,Ketua Wanita Hj Khadijah,Peg Khas Dato seri Wan Azizah Hjh Che Wa,Pegawai Khas DSAI Surani,S/U bahagian En Roslai dan juga AMK Permatang Pauh.
TEATER BILIK SULIT TAWAN PULAU MUTIARA
Teater “Bilik Sulit” arahan aktivis reformasi Hishamuddin Rais berjaya menawan Pulau Pinang selama 2 hari baru-baru ini.Persembahan ulung teater Bilik sulit yang pertama kali di pentaskan di Pulau Pinang ini berjalan selama 2 hari iaitu Sabtu malam 17hb Januari dan juga 2 pementasan pada hari Ahad 18 Januari iaitu padan jam 3 petang dan juga 830 malam bertempat di Zheng Zheng studio jalan Lebuh Light.Turut hadir menyaksikan persembahan tersebut ialah Presiden Aliran P.Ramakrishnan, danjuga para aktivis, dan juga orang ramai.
.Persembahan selama 1 jam 15 minit itu menarik perhatian penonton dengn gaya persembahan yang begitu professional dan pelakonnnya berjaya menyampaikan mesej kepada masyarakat tentang kekejaman dan penindasan selama mana tahanan di penjarakan dan juga di dedahkan tentang sessi soal jawab OKT dengan pihak berkuasa.
Pada keseluruhan gambaran yang disampaikan melalui pementasan ini di anggap begitu profesiaonal oleh para pelakonnnya kerana selain bersahaja, mesej jelas iaitu digambarkan tentang pengalaman yang dilalui oleh pengarahnya Hishamuddin Rais sendiri sewaktu di tahan bersama beberapa tahanan lain pada tahun kebangkitan era Reformasi di mana pada ketika itu 6 tahan iaitu Tian Chua,hishamuddin,Gobalakrishnan,Ezam,Saari sungip serta Ghani Harun yang dituduh cuba menjatuhkan kerajaan dengan menggunakan senjata berbahaya.
Mesej akhir yang hendak di sampaikan ialah bagaimana yang menyoalsiasat itu ialah seorang pegawai polis yang beragama islam,menyoal seorang yang juga beragama islam dengan soalan yang tidak sepatutnya ditanya bukan untuk mencari bukti tentang senjata berbahaya yang didakwa , di tuduh menyimpan senjata membahaya untuk menjatuhkan kerajaan paimpinan Mahathir Mphammad ketika itu tetapi ianya lebih kepada penyiksaan mental.
Menurut Hishamudin mereka akan bergerak ke Ipoh pada 6,7 dan8 Februari di taman budaya Ipoh sebagai satu persembahan mereka untuk menunjukkan betapa ISA adalah sesuatu yang harus di hapuskan dan bagaimana soal siasat itu adalah keterlaluan dan bukan untuk mencari kebenaran akan tetapi hanya untuk menyeksa para tahanan dari segi mental dan juga fizikal.
Sebelum berjaya mengadakan persembahan di studio yang menurut beliau pertama kali di adakan didalam studio, walau agak sempit boleh memuatkan 50 penonton dan pada mulanya bekalan elektrik terputus beberpa jam sebelum persembahan di lakukan.namun berjaya di atasi dan dengan kerjasama krew dan ketabahan para pelakon, ianya berjaya di adakan dan beliau berpuas hati dan bercita-cita untuk mengadakan persembahan di tempat yang lebih ramai lagi kerana ini menjadi agenda beliau untuk menjelaskan kepada masyarakat tetang ISA.
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