Umno Youth Needs To Return To Original Struggle For People - Mukhriz

KLANG, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth executive committee member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said the movement should return to its original struggle of looking after the people's interests and operate like a non-governmental organisation in order to remain relevant.
"To win back the support of the people at the grassroot level, Umno Youth must be sensitive to their problems and help solve them, instead of being mere followers of the government," he said at an Aidilfitri function hosted by the Kota Raja division Umno Youth in Kampung Johan, here, last night.
He said one of the things that Umno Youth could do was to help improve the economy of the Malays like helping the youths to obtain trading lots from the local authorities so that they could do business.
"There are many youths who want to do business but they lack capital and find it difficult to get bank loans as the banks require their 'track record' whereas these youths have no experience as they are venturing into business for the first time.
"So, Umno Youth should help them obtain loans allocated for Bumiputeras like the Tekun loans under the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry.
"We are a political party. Being a political party means we should help people solve their problems. They don't have to come looking for us. If we can't help people, we will be rendered irrelevant," he said.
Mukhriz said the movement could also help youths, especially those in the urban areas, obtain housing from the state governments as there were cases where two young families had to share a small house or flat.
He said Umno Youth must also make it easy for youths at all levels, not just the highly educated and entrepreneurs, to join Umno by removing red tape, otherwise they would join the opposition which provided fast and easy online membership registration.

tunku : this is what umno youth suppose to do, help the youth.the youth are the most important group in a society, they need proper guidance and help to set their target right.lots of our youth are talented but has no cash or "cable" to come up.this is the group that umno youth need to help.umno youth must reach out to help them, don't just sit in the office and wait people to come with problems.if umno youth can reach out, i am sure it will be relevant all the time.that is why, umno youth chief(ketua pemuda) should not have a ministerial post, he should spend all of his time for the party,people and nation.it is a full time job.

Altantuya case: Razak acquitted

SHAH ALAM: Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda was acquitted Friday of the murder abetment charge in the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against him.
C/Insp Azilah and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, members of the Special Action Squad (UTK), were ordered by to enter their defence against the murder charge.
Both of them chose to testify under oath.
Azilah and Sirul Azhar were charged with murdering Altantuya at Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.
Abdul Razak was charged with abetting them in the murder of the beautiful 28-year-old translator.
He was seen leaving the court at 10.10am with his wife and daughter. He did not give a press conference outside the court building.
"I just want to go home," said Abdul Razak briefly to the press.
It has been slightly over five weeks since the prosecution closed its case and the court is expected to decide on the fate of all three accused today.
The trial had gone on for 151 days from November 2006, during which 84 prosecution witnesses testified.

tunku : let see what sirul and azilah has to say during their hearing soon.

Karpal: No porn actors in the cabinet, please

GEORGE TOWN: Former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik's controversial statement that it was not a problem for men to release their "extra energy as long as they don't talk about it or get caught" came under fire again.
National DAP chairman Karpal Singh said Dr Ling's statement belied his stature as a Tun and a former minister.
"It is shocking that he said it. He should mind his language.... His views could adversely affect society and lead to the break-up of the marriage institution," said Karpal in a statement.
He called on Dr Ling to retract his statement and apologise to all Malaysians. He said there was more than sufficient spotlight on the public admission by Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who had acknowledged that he was the male "actor" in a pornographic video tape.
Karpal was also shocked that the former health minister had made a political comeback and was now occupying the second spot in the MCA leadership.
"I hope that he will not, in the interest of the public, be included in the cabinet again in view of the imminent cabinet reshuffle."
Karpal said Dr Chua should have emulated Britain's former junior defence minister, the late John Profumo, who resigned voluntarily in the early 1960s at the height of the Cold War and involved himself in social work without returning to politics after he admitted to misleading parliament over an extra-marital affair with a woman associated with an alleged Russian spy.
"The image of Malaysia should not be soiled with having a pornographic actor in its cabinet."

tunku : on this matter i agree with karpal's view. we don't need a "porn" actor in our cabinet but karpal must advice opposition not to have a sodomizer as their leader .we can't have a sodomizer leader too. both porn star and sodomizer is a disgrace to our society and the image of Malaysia should not be soiled with having these type of leaders. karpal had brought up anwar's sodomizing activities in parliament before the government sacked anwar but after he was sacked karpal turned around and defended anwar.

Parents group want Maths and Science to continue to be taught in English

KUALA LUMPUR:
The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) said it is set on trying to get the Education Ministry to maintain its policy of teaching Mathematics and Science in English.
It, however, does not advocate the abolition of vernacular schools as it respects their positions as provided for in the Federal Constitution.
PAGE chairman and founding member Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim also clarified that the group was not a governmental organisation as had been reported by certain media.
“We are merely a group of parents who want to voice our concerns about education,” she said today in response to an article in a Chinese daily that allegedly reported a representative of the group had called for all vernacular schools to be abolished and replaced with national-type schools.
This remark was supposed to have been made during the fourth round table to discuss the use of English to teach Mathematics and Science.
“The person who made the remark was a participant who was airing his own views and is not related to the group.”
Noor Azimah said the group’s main concern now was the decision that the Education Ministry would be making soon with regard to the policy of teaching Mathematics and Science in English.
“We have almost 1,000 parents supporting us from all over the country, 95 per cent of whom are for continuing the policy.”
This number is in addition to the 120 parent-teacher associations (PTAs) that had responded for, and 20 against the policy being continued.
She said it was a misconception that only urban parents were for the continuation of the policy.
A strong advocator of the policy is Mohamed Saufi Shafie, president of the 13-strong Coalition of Rawang Zone Parent-Teacher Associations, who said the PTAs under the coalition were all for the policy continuing.
Support came recently via an email from parents of a school in Long Lama, Sarawak.
The group is calling for more parents to voice their take — whether for or against the policy — by early next month to be compiled into a comprehensive report.
To contact the group, email scienceandmath@skbd.edu.my.

tunku : please email the action group at the above email adrees to show your support.teaching maths and science in english is very important for our future generation.

High Court Justice Chin has resigned

KUALA LUMPUR: High Court Justice Ian Chin, who once said that he had been among judges sent to a boot camp back in 1997 that sought to encourage judges to rule in the Government’s favour, has tendered his resignation and will leave office on Dec 1.
Justice Chin wrote a letter to the king on July 16 to resign and went on leave from August 21 till November 30.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department T. Murugiah said this in reply to Tian Chua (PKR - Batu) who asked if the government had taken steps to investigate Justice Chin’s allegations against former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Murugiah said there was no need to investigate the matter as Justice Chin had resigned.
Earlier, Murugiah told Mukhriz Mahathir (BN - Jerlun) that the Government did not intend to make a representation to the king to cite Justice Ian before a tribunal.
In June, Justice Chin caused a stir when he claimed that Dr Mahathir had made a thinly veiled threat against the judges at the Judges Conference on April 24, 1997, that they could be sacked if they failed to deliver judgements in the Government’s favour.
Justice Chin also said that Dr Mahathir was dissatisfied over his unwillingness to award astronomical sums in damages in two libel suits in 1997 and that "errant" judges were sent to a boot camp in an "attempt to indoctrinate them to hold the view that the Government's interest was more important than all else."
Dr Mahathir, in his blog, has denied the claims, saying the judges had never been sent to a boot camp.

tunku : good for the judiciary that a person like ian chin is resigning. he was abusing his power as a judge when he was accusing people in a hearing.if he has the guts,he should say it outside or make a police report but he did not. may be after this we will see ian chin as an election candidate for pkr soon.

Court affirms Dr Munawar conviction

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s former speech writer Dr Munawar Anees on Thursday failed in his final avenue to remit the appeal relating to a sodomy charge to the High Court for arguments on merit, after the Federal Court here dismissed his application.
Chief Justice Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi who sat with Federal Court Judges Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Abdul Rahman and Datuk Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin unanimously dismissed Dr Munawar’s application to remit his appeal to the High Court.
Justice Zaki said the grounds for the dismissal would be given later in a written judgment.
Dr Munawar, 60, was present in court.
With the decision, the conviction against Dr Munawar, who had served six months in prison in 1998 after he pleaded guilty to allowing Anwar to sodomise him, is affirmed.
Dr Munawar had served his sentence but filed the appeal in a bid to clear his name.
On Tuesday, Dr Munawar’s counsel, Manjit Singh Dhillon, asked the Federal Court to review the Court of Appeal’s decision on the High Court’s dismissal of Dr Munawar’s appeal against the conviction and sentence, and to remit the appeal to the High Court to allow him to argue on its merits.
High Court Judge Datuk Ahmad Maarop had on Sept 9, 2003 struck out Dr Munawar’s appeal without hearing the merits of the case on grounds that Dr Munawar had failed to appear at any of the appeal proceedings.
The Court of Appeal had also dismissed Dr Munawar’s appeal against the High Court decision without giving any grounds.
He filed for the review to the Federal Court under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995 which provides the Federal Court with the inherent powers to hear any application or to make any orders as may be necessary to prevent injustice or to prevent an abuse of the process of the Court.
Normally, when a case originates at the subordinate courts, the final appeal is at the Court of Appeal. - Bernama

tunku : courts reaffirms that munawar was sodomized by anwar.that is the fact.but anwar always helps his lovers, he puts munawar as a project management consultant with the US-based John Templeton Foundation.

Money politics 'hard to contain in Umno'

KUALA LUMPUR: Money politics in Umno has now become too deeply rooted for the party to completely deal with it.
The problem began about two decades ago, worsened over the years and was now showing no sign of getting any better, Umno disciplinary board chairman Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said. "It seems to be getting worse with every party election," the former party vice-president told the New Straits Times when contacted yesterday.
The party machinery, in particular the board that he heads, is trying to do everything it can to help eradicate the problem.
"We are trying our best, but it seems we can't deal with it completely. It is now rooted to the core," he admitted.
Tengku Rithauddeen feared that if the scourge of money politics were to take a further hold in the party, there would be no avenues left to turn back.
"It would eventually destroy the party for good."
Tengku Rithauddeen said money politics was becoming a norm in the party as all those who indulged normally benefited from it.
"It is not something that is easy to deal with these days simply because it is being practised even at the lowest levels, something that was unheard of in the past. "It is now up to the party leadership to devise effective strategies to root out the problem."
Supreme council member Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad also echoed the same sentiments and felt that money politics could only be curbed if there was strong will to rehabilitate the party from within.
"You will see less of it only after there is proper internal cleansing of such practices," he said.
He believes that while there seems to be much talk about money politics in Umno of late, no one seems to be seriously doing anything about it.
"The complaints are endless, you read it in the newspapers, but is anything really being done (about it)?"
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister also questioned if party officials who were supposed to be looking after such matters had the clout to effectively deal with the problem.
"Perhaps, what they (need) is to be given more bite."
On the other hand, Shahrir said the job entrusted to these party "disciplinary guardians" was sometimes being made more difficult by the party members themselves.
He took some of them to task, citing examples of complainants who either were afraid to come forward or failed to back their allegations with substantial evidence.
Prof Mohammad Agus Yusoff, lecturer at the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, however, has an entirely different understanding of the matter.
Agus believes the whole money politics issue has been blown out of proportion.
"Everyone seems to be getting confused with money politics and political money. There is a difference between the two."
Agus said Umno had imposed much restrictions of late that everything that involved money was perceived to be a form of bribery.
He felt that to a certain extent, this was stifling democracy in the party.
"If a leader wants to meet delegates to explain his or her vision for the party, and treats them to meals or so on, it somehow ends up being perceived as a form of money politics."
The fact remained that politicians do have to spend money, and like it or not, there would be recipients, he added.
Agus agreed that vote buying was bribery, but said that unless it could be proven that the recipients had taken money to specifically vote for a certain person, the transaction was considered political money.

tunku : umno new leadership must take fast action and steps to curb or at least minimize the involvement of money politics in umno. eventually it will destroy umno one day if left as it is.rakyat will get fed up as it is getting fed up now.so the new leadership must take appropriate steps and actions to curb/minimize it. as for the campaign, making "kenduri" should be allowed as it is part of campaign. the candidates needs to go from one place to another to explain his/her mission and vision.they need some function for it and of course when there is a function, there must be some"kenduri".giving out cash/gifts as donation/bribes is strictly prohibited.

The Faces of Umno Youth Chief Candidate

more sensation photos here and here



Is this the material we are looking for as Umno Youth Chief? You be the judge and decide. He is not only a good orator but good in other things too.

Umno Must Eradicate Money Politics, Says Dr Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Umno must eradicate money politics to ensure the people were not frustrated with the behaviour of leaders, said former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"If, in the present situation, the culture of money politics among leaders is not eradicated, I fear the voters will get frustrated with their behaviour," he said when interviewed over TV channel Astro Awani here Tuesday night.
The former prime minister said Umno should also have an advisory body whose members did not have any self-interest to ensure the party's rebranding proceeded smoothly.
"If they are on the advisory body but use their influence to get something for themselves, then, there is a conflict and their advice may not be good.
"However, if the advisory body is free from self-interest, then it can give good advice," he said.
Dr Mahathir said, to restore Umno's strength and regain the votes from the five Opposition-held states, Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties must be united.
"If they (the parties) quarrel, it is of no use. Actually, in the BN's performance in the March 8 general election, not only did Umno lose badly, so did Gerakan, MIC and MCA.
"To strengthen BN again, all must go to the ground. Be close to the people and set good examples," he advised.

Difficult For Small State Umno To Compete, Says Shahidan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has described as "a bit unfair" the contest for posts in Umno as candidates from small states like Perlis would be at a disadvantage.
The former Perlis Menteri Besar said it would be difficult for candidates from small states to compete compared to those coming from big states like Pahang, Sabah, Perak and Johor which had huge number of delegates.
He also expressed concerned over what he claimed as the notion that the country's leaders should come only from three states, namely Pahang, Kedah and Johor.
"So, when there is a leader, for instance Pak Lah (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) from Penang, entering the picture, he will be there only for a short while.
"But that has been the case at the moment. Malaysia's leadership has been coming from Kedah, Pahang and Johor and so is the upcoming leadership.
"Others who wanted to 'tumpang sekaki' (enter the fray) would find themselves being sidelined," he said at a Hari Raya gathering organised by the Muslim Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim).
On the proposed open debate for candidates vying for the Umno Youth chief's post, Shahidan said, "Why should we confine the debate only to the Youth? Why not a debate for Wanita, Puteri, vice-president and deputy president as well?"
He also said it would not be proper to have only Umno Youth vice-chief Khairy Jamaluddin and executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir participating in the debate as it would be viewed as a proxy debate between former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his successor Abdullah.

tunku : i don't agree with shahidan on this matter.if you are a very very good leader, you can come from utan aji in perlis and still be the pm of malaysia but if you are not even like by the people and royalty of your own state than don't complaint.

Have Clear Rules On How Much Candidates Can Spend, On What - Syed Hamid

BAGAN SERAI, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The time has come for Umno to introduce clear rules on how much a candidate in the party elections could spend, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
He said the rules should, among others, also state what a candidate could spend on and the contributors to the fund for the candidate to spend.
"You cannot say that a candidate cannot spend in facing the party elections. You can't live without money. Now, everything costs money but there must be rules that state clearly what tantamounts to corruption and what does not," he said after attending a briefing on the floods in and around Alor Pongsu, at the penghulu's office, near here, Tuesday.
Also present at the briefing were the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, director of Internal Security and Public Order Datuk Husin Ismail and Perak police chief Datuk Zulkefli Abdullah.
Syed Hamid, who is Kota Tinggi Umno division chief, said the method of choosing the United States president could be used as a guideline.
He said the US presidential campaign allowed the candidates to collect funds and this was public knowledge, while all the expenses were declared so that they would not come under dispute by any quarters.
"In politics here, we sometimes receive contibutions from companies, inviduals and others, and there is a thin line between what is acceptable and what is corruption.
"If we have clear rules on such matters, it will be easier... the people will know where the money comes from and for what and those involved will know what they can and cannot do," he said.
Syed Hamid, whose nominations have exceeded the quota required to contest a party vice-president post, said the systems in Umno which were no longer in tune with the current times should be abolished, and cited the nomination quota as one.
He said a new formula should also be introduced to replace the voting through the party delegates at the divisional level, so as to enable more grassroot members to be involved in the decision making at the national level.
"We need to look at new approaches to enable us to move towards what is called participative democracy, for greater overall involvement of the grassroots in party affairs and also to prevent money politics," he proposed.

tunku : we can't simply follow usa style for umno's election. just imagine for a post of youth chief, one is very popular and the other one is not, for sure the popular one will receive more donation/contribution.he will then spend more and for sure will win the election.i agree that they be given some space where they can spend money but it should only stricly be for campaign materials and gathering functions and not for bribing the delegates.

Open House Practice Will Erase Negative Perception Of Islam - Dr Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The open house concept as practised in Malaysia during festive celebrations like Aidilfiti should continue as it could help erase negative perception of Islam, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said in a multicultural and multireligious country like Malaysia, the open house practice would also help non-Muslims not to feel fear of Islam or regard it as a strange religion.
"We should continue with this open house practice as it will bring about greater understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims," he said at an Aidilfitri function of the Malaysia Muslim Welfare Organisation (Perkim) which was attended by about 1,500 people, here Tuesday.
Dr Mahathir, who is Perkim president, said due to the lack understanding of Islam, some quarters had wantonly labelled the actions of some Muslims as acts of terrorism and associated such acts with Islam.
"But Islam is a religion of peace. And peace and unity in Malaysia will be strengthened even further if we bring Muslims and non-Muslims closer together. "Malaysia has the opportunity to show to the world how Islam is practised, which has brought good to the people and country, unlike in some countries where the people are often at war with each other," he said.

photo courtesy of bro jinggo

tunku : that is the beauty of malaysia, there are so many open houses from all races,religions.please maintain this and stop listening to some morons out there who will destroy the peace we are having.

Not The Time To Abolish Bumiputera 30% Equity, Says Dr M

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has disagreed with the MCA's proposal for the condition of 30 per cent Bumiputera equity ownership in public-listed companies be abolished.
He said this was not the right time to do so, while the target for Bumiputera equity participation had not been achieved.
If we have achieved the 30 per cent target for Bumiputeras, 40 per cent for non-Bumiputeras and 30 for foreigners, then we can do away with the condition.
"We have not reached that yet...there's still a lot to be done. If we reduce it to 20 per cent today and it does not expand while the economy does, the Bumiputera equity participation will get smaller. We have to take all this into consideration.".
He was speaking to reporters at an Aidilfitri function of the Malaysia Muslim Welfare Organisation (Perkim), here today.
Dr Mahathir, who is also Perkim president, said although the equity ownership could be changed, the target for Bumiputeras needed to be protected.
"I think this is not a suitable time to make any adjustment as the world is in turmoil. It does not mean that if we abolish the equity quota, it will make the companies stronger and more competitive.
"If we reduce the Bumiputera equity participation to 20 per cent, then the others must also reduce theirs," he said.
Dr Mahathir said such a matter should have been brought to the Barisan Nasional's attention as it was raised by a BN component party.
Yesterday, MCA vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the condition for 30 per cent Bumiputera equity in public-listed companies should be abolised in order for them to remain competitive.
Liow was also quoted as saying that the 30 per cent target set was a hindrance to the creation of true partnership between Malay, Chinese and Indian businessmen in the country.
Asked about Malay special rights, he said many people talked about it but the non-Malays too have their rights.
"If we take away the rights of the Malays, then we have to do the same with the rights of the non-Malays. We have to be rational, just don't see only one side."
On the proposal for debates to be held among Umno candidates vying for the top party posts, he said Malaysians had not reached the level of the Americans yet to have such debates.
"Our people don't care about what we debate. The Umno people will support Umno, Pas supporters will support PAS, and MCA supporters will support MCA or other Chinese-based parties. What we debate on will have no bearing on them. It (debate) is only good for showing off how articulate we are."
On Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who has offered to contest the party presidency but has yet to receive even one nomination, he said it would be tough for Tengku Razaleigh to contest in the party elections.
"Since we have agreed to still have the quota system, then we have to follow. But if you can't even get one nomination, then you won't be able to contest."
On the view that the keen contest for the Umno Youth chief post involving his son Datuk Mukhriz and the movement's deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin could cause a split among members, Dr Mahathir said it could still happen even if there was no contest for the post.
"Previously, Khairy had won the Umno Youth deputy chief post uncontested, but when his name was called out, he was booed. It means the members were divided although there was no contest," he said.

tunku : definitely, it is not the time yet to abolish bumis equity as it has not achieved its target yet. bumis equities are way behind and right now it's not even 20%. i guess liow should discuss this matter in the bn meetings not in the media.today mca demand something, tomorrow mic then umno and so on, it will never finish.it is best for all to sit down and discuss things rather than being champions in the media.bn are in weaker condition nowadays and it should not take things to the media.they should discuss in a proper platform among them and solve things out but of course with a strong leadership.

Tun Mahathir @ Astro today ( 28th October 2008)

Bloomberg (Channel 519)
1pm
Repeats at 8.30pm and 11.30pm
Astro Awani (Channel 501)
9pm

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Umno Elections Should Be Held More Regularly To Control Money Politics - Tajol Rosli

IPOH, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The triennial Umno elections should be amended to annually for branch, biennially for division and triennially for the supreme council to control money politics.
Perak Umno chairman Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali said by having more regular elections, candidates would have to depend on their ability and interaction with members at the grassroots level for support.
"This will help reduce claims of money politics. Not all are involved, only a few are doing it.
"The general election must also not get in the way of elections at branch, division and supreme council level," he told reporters at the Deepavali open house by Perak MIC chairman Datuk G. Rajoo here Monday.
Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam had also made a similar proposal aimed at reactivating members at the grassroots.
Tajol Rosli dismissed talks that the sudden increase in Perak nominations for deputy president candidate Mohd Ali was because delegates were disappointed that Pagoh did not nominate Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for vice president.
He said the nominations came from members at the grassroots and was prove of the democratic process.
Pagoh which is headed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had nominated Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim and Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal for vice-presidents.
Mohd Ali who last week received only one Perak nomination, Parit Buntar, had since received seven more nominations.
They were from Bukit Gantang, Ipoh Barat, Batu Gajah, Tapah, Kuala Kangsar, Parit and Gopeng.

tunku : if umno elections held more regularly then everyone will be busy with politicking and lobbying all the time and work less. the best time for umno election should be after the GE.we want them to have enough time to carry out their promises and responsibilities. two years is very short time to carry out any reform,vision,mission etc.

Not Time Yet To Hold Open Debate - Mustapa

JELI, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the time had not arrived to hold an open debate as a way to elect party leaders.
He said that at the present situation, the party needed to think various aspects including the risk when holding an open debate as suggested by several Umno leaders.
"Speaking up is already there but to me, Ummo has not fully matured. We have not reached that stage yet. If we want to hold debates, we must be ready to face the risk."
Mustapa who retained the post of Jeli Umno head uncontested told reporters this after opening the division's delegates conference at Bukit Bunga Umno Complex here Monday.
He said that if an open debate was to be held, his concern was that the grassroots members would only elect good orators rather than really credible candidates who can work for the party.
"It's important for us to make the correct choice, not because he is a good orator. If debates were held, our concern is members, charmed by his eloquence, will elect the candidate even though he cannot do work," said the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister.

tunku : that is right, a good orator does not mean a good leader. a good orator can be con man like anwar and many others.look at mustapa mohamed, he is not a good orator but he is a good and a very hard working leader.

Azalina: I will contest against anyone

KUALA LUMPUR: Though no more a Puteri and not quite a Wanita leader yet, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said is ready to graduate into the ranks of the women's wing of Umno.
Speaking on the sidelines of the soft launch of Savings Sales 2008 at Mid-Valley yesterday, the tourism minister said: "I will contest anyone in that position if I meet the quota."
Azalina was asked whether she would vie for the seat if incumbent Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil decides to defend it.
The former Puteri chief had said on Tuesday that she would vie for the Wanita deputy chief seat if she obtained enough nominations.
Azalina, who has received six nominations, needs 20 to contest the position.
Kuala Kangsar Wanita Umno division head Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim has qualified with 21 nominations, along with Shahrizat who has received 73 nominations.
Azalina, the Pengerang division chief, was equally confident her perceived good ties with the prime minister and his son-in-law would not jeopardise her chances.
Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said in CheDet.com blog that as a result of her ties, Azalina's chances for the Wanita chief post were slim and that incumbent Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz was still popular.
Rafidah is currently leading the Wanita chief race with 81 nominations while Shahrizat has obtained 41.
"But that comment is not very relevant to me as I'm not going for the top post," said Azalina.
"Anyway, I'm not just close to them (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Khairy Jamaluddin) but I'm close to everybody."
Being a Malay and a Muslim, she said that it was important to be polite to leaders and members alike.
"I'm also extremely polite to other personalities in the party, be they from the Wanita, Youth or Puteri wings. I don't practise any discriminatory tendencies towards anyone," she added.

tunku : we have to respect azalina as she always wins uncontested.she has means to do so.she is very very close to the man of the day.during tun mahathir's time she was sniffing behind him all the time, now behind pak lah and soon behind najib.one thing good about azalina now is that she's looking more feminine than before although still not enough of femininity.may be she should do extreme makeover.

Shahrir Receives Threats Via SMS

JOHOR BAHARU, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Johor Baharu Umno division chief Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad has received more than 10 threats via short message service (SMS) since two weeks ago.
Shahrir said the sender had instructed the Johor Baharu Umno division to nominate two candidates of his choice for the top party posts.
"Otherwise, should the candidates win, the division will be victimised and severely dealt with.
"The sender should have been more tactful when canvassing for support as we are open minded," he told reporters after opening the Johor Baharu Umno division delegates' meeting here Sunday.
Shahrir, who is also Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, said he would not make a police report on the threats as it was a political matter.
Meanwhile, former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who was present as an observer, said he used to receive threats via SMS but chose to ignore them.

tunku : go and make police report, why making it a fuss.why don't you make a fuss getting 'threat' from putrajaya on who to nominates?see how shahidan from up north is there as an observer or as eyes and ears of his boss in putrajaya.

Hishammuddin Wants Delegates To Make Wise Choice, Uphold Grassroots' Trust

KLUANG, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein today advised delegates to make a wise choice and uphold the trust of the grassroots who want a smooth transfer of power.
He said the delegates must also not misuse the trust given to them as it was against the party's tradition.
"Please do not trade off or pawn your votes," he said after opening the Sembrong division delegates' meeting, here.
He said each ballot would help shape the national landscape as the country needed a strong leader.
"Each delegate must understand the basis of the power transition. What we decide today may change the country's political landscape," he added.
He also said that Umno members should take note of the party's weaknesses and help correct them so as not to provide an avenue for other BN component parties to make accusations and threats against Umno.
On Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim's statement that today's politics were the politics of threats, Hishammuddin said that was why Umno needed to be strong and effective to avoid from continuously being tested by the other component parties.

tunku : delegates are upholding the grassroot's trust but will the G7 uphold the grassroot's and delegate's trust? hishammuddin's division does not uphold grassroot's trust.on rais comments that today's politics were the politics of threats, it is 100% correct.even hishammuddin bow down to the threats but he is right when he said umno needed to be strong and for umno to be strong is to have good,honest,firm and smart leaders.

Dr M Suggests Think Tank To Deal With Effects Of Global Economic Crisis

LANGKAWI, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Saturday proposed the setting up of a monitoring think tank to find ways to save the country from the effects of the global economic crisis. He said the think tank should comprise economic experts to discuss relevant matters and collect data in coming up with solutions to the problem for submission to the government. "We must not think that the global economic crisis will not affect our country as many other countries are involved," he said in his keynote address at the opening of the Public Service Conference, here.
Dr Mahathir said that during his time as prime minister, such a think tank was set up and they took time to carefully analyse things and collect data to come up with strategies to overcome Malaysia's economic problems during the recession.
On the resolution by the Langkawi Umno division which met last Saturday for Dr Mahathir to rejoin Umno, he reiterated that he would only do so after the power transition next March on the condition that those who left with him would also be accepted back into the party.

Make Wars Of Aggression A Crime, Says Dr Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Make wars of aggression a crime as it would result in less wars and less need for defence, founder and chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said tonight.
Dr Mahathir said war made beasts of ordinary men and women, and the cruelties perpetrated were beyond imagination. "Yet they are perpetrated by ordinary human beings who have been trained by civilised governments to kill. Perhaps there is a case for defensive war. But if we make wars of aggression a crime, there will be less wars and less need for defence," he said at the royal charity dinner and launching of the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here.
The foundation was launched by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Also present were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
Expressing his sadness over innocent women and children who became the war victims, Dr Mahathir said people needed to understand the horrors of war and to be concerned about the fate of the young victims. "Yet we all, every single human society regard killing a crime, a crime so serious that it warrants the harshest of punishment. How do we reconcile this with the legitimacy of killing people on a massive scale, in their hundreds of thousand, accompanied by extensive destruction to towns and cities?," he said.
Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War Royal Charity Dinner Committee chairman, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, in her speech, said the dinner was to raise funds to carry out the foundation's voluntary programmes on a national and global basis as well as to acquire a suitable premises to serve as the foundation's headquarters.
"Your kind and generous support will certainly contribute immensely to the foundation's voluntary work to create awareness among the public that war as an instrument of foreign policy is a crime, a crime against humanity, against peace and the whole mankind," she said.
The foundation was established last year to provide assistance and relief to victims of war as well as promote education of individuals and communities suffering from the effects of war or armed conflict.

Tun Dr Mahathir Sees No End to Financial Crisis, Impact on Asian Trade

Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Mahathir Mohamad, the leader who steered Malaysia through the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, said the current global turmoil is far from ending and will soon spread to the region's export-dependent economies.
``The worst is not over yet. We do not even understand what is happening,'' Mahathir, who stepped down as prime minister in 2003, said in a Bloomberg Television interview yesterday in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur. ``Asian countries are going to feel the pinch of a world where the market has collapsed.''
Global leaders are starting to acknowledge the worst still lies ahead for their economies as stocks and commodities plunge, forcing a growing number of countries to shore up their battered banking systems. Mahathir bailed out Malaysian banks in 1998 and pegged the ringgit, ignoring advice from the International Monetary Fund, which later endorsed his capital controls.
Mahathir, 82, reiterated his belief that governments worldwide should consider a new international monetary system that doesn't depend on any single currency. ``You may have to use a number of currencies for trading purposes, or you may have to use a special trading currency, probably based on gold,'' Mahathir said. ``Gold has intrinsic value. Money has no value, just pieces of paper and government assurances.''
The IMF this month forecast global growth would drop to 3 percent next year, the dividing line between recession and expansion. World leaders plan a financial summit in Washington next month to discuss efforts to fix the crisis.
``A lot of people say rescue plans will work,'' Mahathir said. ``It's a question of confidence. You don't have confidence in money that is suddenly made to appear by magic.''
Asian Crisis
Mahathir in 1998 defied the IMF's call to raise interest rates to stem a currency slide and instead provoked worldwide condemnation by pegging the nation's currency to the dollar and imposing controls on foreign money flowing out of Malaysia, insulating it from the external fallout.
The capital controls gave Mahathir room to cut interest rates, overhaul banks and boost spending to help pull the country out of its recession. To free up banks to lend, he set up a state-run agency to buy bad loans and infused them with fresh capital. The U.S. and several European countries this month announced plans to buy stakes in banks.
``I can't help feeling I'm vindicated,'' said Mahathir, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years.

Najib: Umno leaders must look beyond the party

KUALA LUMPUR: The time has come for Umno leaders to look beyond the party and members if it wants to stay in power, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Umno deputy president admitted that there was a tendency for party leaders, particularly at divisional level, to look at Umno within the context of just Umno alone.
“I have always said that holding a post in Umno, say as a divisional head, it not the end of it all.
“It’s just the beginning of your responsibility and your responsibility is not only to the members of Umno but also to the people at large,” he told reporters on Thursday after the soft launch of Malaysia Savings Sale 2008.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Umno leaders should realise that if they want to stay in power, they have to appeal to the wider audience.
“This includes all sections of people incuding those who are not Umno members and non-malays as well,” he added.
He was commenting on former deputy Prime Minister Tun Musa Hitam’s remarks that Umno had “penyakit tua” (grown old) and had become too introverted and needed to change if it wanted support from the people.
Najib said in terms of party leadership, many members feel there was a need for generational change in Umno at all levels.
“For me, this is a natural process in the party,” he added.
On views that the Umno elections were too far away and, therefore, might give rise to even more money politics, he said, the party had given its full mandate to the disciplinary board to act on this.
He said the party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had even met the board chairman Tengku Rithauddeen to ask that it act sternly to curb the menace.
He said the party election had been fixed for March and as of now there was no change.
On the Umno president saying in Sabah recently that there was nothing wrong in Datuk Seri Ali Rustam Mohd Ali going for the deputy post as an indication that Pak Lah wanted the Malacca Chief Minister as his (Najib’s) deputy, Najib said: “it’s not wrong.”
“Any member can contest for any post in the party with the condition that he fulfils the requirement in the party constitution,” he said.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is the favourite in the Umno deputy president post and has qualified to contest the seat.
But following Abdullah’s remarks in Sabah, there was a surge in the nominations for Ali Rustam who is also vying for the post.
He (Ali Rustam) has not reached 39 nominations yet, the number needed to be eligible to contest the post.
On nominations from the Pekan division which has yet to have its meeting, Najib who is the division chief was non-committal. “Wait first. I haven’t thought about it,” he said.

tunku : a leader must serve all not only certain group. if he fails to serve all then he should not be a leader and we should not elect such leaders to lead us. as for ali rustam surging nominations, that was pak lah indirectly directive to divisions to nominate ali rustam by bashing muhyiddin and tun mahathir. he can do that but not others.he had now gone personal with muhyiddin.

Anwar Says Time Not Right To Topple Government

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who erstwhile had been saying the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition led by him would topple the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, now says the time is not right to do it.
He said it was not appropriate to make such a move now in view of the global economic crisis.
"Let's leave it as it is now...we are working towards it. We want to take everyone by surprise," he told reporters at Parliament's lobby today.
Anwar said the government was "poking fun" at the PR's stated aim of overthrowing the BN through constitutional means as though it was a very light matter.
Earlier, he had given reporters copies of PR's alternative budget for 2009 which he said took into consideration the global economic crisis.
The PR's budget forecast government revenue for 2009 to fall by 11 per cent, from RM176 billion to RM157 billion.

tunku : only morons will believe a moron.may be he wants to concentrate on this now.

Rithauddeen: Umno campaign period too long

KUALA LUMPUR: The long campaign period may contribute to more cases of money politics and other offences, said Umno disciplinary board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail.
However, he did not deny that the long period can also benefit the board to do extensive investigations on more alleged cases.
“We need cooperation from party members to report these offences to the board and not keep quiet for fear of their identity being exposed.
“We have already guaranteed immunity for those who come to us with evidence,” he said at a press conference in the Umno headquarters on Thursday.
To a question, Rithauddeen said those who filed complaints and subsequently withdrew them without concrete reasons would also be charged as the move raised suspicions of conspiracy.
A total of 15 cases were solved with eight members found guilty by the board including two who will be referred to the Supreme Council to be stripped off their memberships.
The offences include money politics, sabotage and misuse of power.
“These people have committed serious offences and are dishonest to the party,” he said.
On Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim’s proposal for Umno to have a tender system so that anyone who was able to contribute the highest amount of money could be a leader, Rithauddeen questioned the practicality of the suggestion.
“There is no provision (in the party’s constitution) for us to use such system. Are we able to get the right people to lead the party and the country with this method?” he asked.

tunku : the long campaign period will mean more money politic will be involved.pak lah seems don't understand about this.people are telling him that he can stay as pm till march but let the umno GA be held in december but he is stubborn.may be he needs another round of bashing at the supreme council.as for rais suggestion, he was saying it sarcastically.

Poser Over Wanita Umno Power Transition Plan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Pressure is building up in Wanita Umno as more and more divisions have called on deputy chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to go for the movement's number one post.
This runs smack against the power transition plan from Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Abdul Aziz to Shahrizat in June next year, three months after the party elections.
Shahrizat, who had declared that she would not be going for the number one post, has already secured the required quota of nominations to mount a challenge.
So far she has obtained 41 nominations out of 118 divisions which have conducted their meetings while Rafidah has garnered 78 nominations. The qualifying quota is 39 nominations.
Some members are puzzled why Rafidah will only hand over the reins three months after retaining the post.
Despite the outcry, Shahrizat is keeping mum on the turn of events. She has so far received 78 nominations for the deputy chief post.
Bandar Tun Razak Wanita chief Salmah Pin said there was no way of curtailing the tide from the grassroots.
Six of nine divisions in Federal Territories Umno have picked Shahrizat for the Umno Wanita chief post while the rest including the Bandar Tun Razak division backed Rafidah.
Salmah, who is also Umno Federal Territories Liaison Committee secretary, said Bandar Tun Razak division supported the transition plan.
"What is happening is shocking as one day before the Federal Territories divisional meetings, Shahrizat told all division heads to back the transition plan. But this is what the grassroots wanted," she told Bernama.
Jerlun Wanita chief Datuk Maznah Abdul Hamid said members do not want the number one post to be contested to avoid disunity.
"Actually, when we give our nominations, it does not mean that we are goading the candidate to contest. It is an indication to Rafidah and Shahrizat to sit down and discuss again for the well-being of Wanita," she said.
The Jerlun Wanita Umno division nominated Shahrizat for the Wanita chief post and Kuala Kangsar Wanita chief Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim as deputy chief.
Maznah said her division had proposed Rafidah as Wanita Umno adviser to enable her to continue to contribute to the wing.
"I hope Shahrizat will state her stand and take the risk as she has the support of the grassroots," said Maznah.
Permatang Pauh Wanita chief Normala Abdul said the nomination for Shahrizat was out of sincerity from members who wanted her to go for the number one post.
"There will not be much changes if she (Shahrizat) were to take over the reins three months after the party elections. It is better to hand over power to her right away.
"However, it depends on Shahrizat to make the decision but it is our hope at the grassroots' level that she agrees with us," said Normala, adding that if the transition plan was followed, Shahrizat would be acting Wanita chief without a deputy for three years before the next party elections.

tunku : when rafidah and shahrizat planned the transition, umno GE was supposed to be held in december.now that it has been postponed to march 09, they need to discuss again.the best is for rafidah not to contest and let shahrizat contest for the chief post. this will allow others to contest for the deputy chief post.this is what the grassroot wants and rafidah should understand it. no point for rafidah to contest in march and in june she resigns or may be she wants to continue ???

Muhyiddin: Set priorities right

KUALA LUMPUR: The new Umno leadership should set its priorities right to restore economic and political stability in the country, party vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
He said the new leadership should do this so that there would be a positive perception of Malaysia among the global community.
“Malaysians at large will expect something more promising from the change of leadership. There will be higher expectations,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the Malaysian Institute of Directors’ Corporate Leaders luncheon on Wednesday.
“It is important that the new leadership set its priorities right. Political stability is our selling point. It is on top of our list. What the new leadership should do is to bring back political stability,” said Muhyiddin, who is vying for the deputy president’s post.
He was responding to a question on how the new leadership could be different following the power transition plan during the March 2009 party general assembly.
“We want to reassure local and foreign investors that things are as usual. We want to bring back the so-called good old days. We want to regain the confidence that we’ve lost among some Malaysians. “We want to bring back the spirit of trust. We want to reinstate stability,” he said.
To a question whether the Government would enhance the business environment, Muhyiddin, who is Minister of International Trade and Industry, said:
“We are open to consider providing incentives and how to lower costs of doing business. I agree that we need to do more.”
Earlier, he listed five basic aspects that corporate leadership should consider during uncertain times such as the current economic environment.
These were having a strategic vision; assembling a highly competent crisis management team; producing a powerful effective team; empowering capable employees to be organisational change agents; and emphasising responsible business practices.

tunku : the key of success for the new leadership is the economic and political stability.otherwise it is not any difference with the leadership of today. the current leadership has failed miserably in these two areas which saw political tsunami in the country.the new leadership has to work with full/extra ordinary effort to ensure the stability of the economic and politic in this country.what people need is peace and prosperity.

Musa: Umno has lost its popularity

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is in dire need of a drastic change and young blood with new ideas are the plausible solution, said former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam.
“I understand that the experience of seniors are needed for top posts like president or vice-president, but other than that, they should choose the younger ones,” he said.
Musa said the party had been raising the same issues which were raised 20 or 30 years ago, and bickering about emotional rather than substantial issues, such as the economy.
“Umno is already over 61 years old and is experiencing penyakit tua (old age sickness) which cannot be remedied by senior citizens but rather the younger generation with new ideas,” he said after launching the Bridges “ Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace forum here yesterday.
He also claimed that Umno was “too introverted” by focusing on its own problems and looking for acceptance among its own members, but not the rakyat, whose perceptions would determine its future.
“It is important for Umno to realise that it has lost its popularity because of public opinion.
“The party has many problems that it cannot rectify, like corruption, accountability issues and abuse of power,” he said.
“The new generation will not accept wholesale what politicians are saying because they don’t accept the politicians,” he said.
Musa believed that certain politicians were fighting for their own benefit rather than for the benefit of the larger community.
“What the nation wants is a party that is sensitive to their needs and is one step ahead of the citizens’ thinking,” he said.
“These are hard words, I know, but I will only say it once. When I say it, I mean it and I’ve been thinking long and hard about it,” said Musa.

tunku : i wonder if pak lah will ask musa to shut up and don't tell people who to choose or not to choose.ooh, musa is his mentor, how can he tell musa that.other people can say anything but not Tun Mahathir.

Penang-Kedah lock horns over water

If the Kedah government wants to collect revenue from Penang for pumping out Muda River water for its public consumption, it should drop the idea.
A furious Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng returned fire at the suggestion, saying that his government was instead entitled for a hefty compensation from Kedah for causing floods in northern part of the Penang mainland.
He was responding to the Alor Star administration's proposal yesterday to collect revenue from Penang for using water from Muda River, which Kedah claims as its own.
Muda River runs between the two northern neighbours on a 40km-border stretch from Sidam, Kedah in the east and the sea in the west and the stretch splits to two halves each side belonging to Kedah and Penang.
Lim pointed out that Penang has been pumping water from its side of the border river not Kedah's and stressed since the river was god's gift, no one should ever claim ownership over it.
Penang derives some 70 percent of its water from Muda River.
'We can ask for compensation too'
"The Kedah government should not ask money for it," he said, adding that the Penang government could also seek compensation for flood-related damages in the northern Perai district caused by the overflowing of Muda Dam in Kedah.
Currently Kedah is releasing 85 cubic litres of water per second from a overflowing Muda Dam to avert damages and Lim said this had caused frequent floods in northern interior areas bordering the river during normal circumstances, let alone during heavy downpours.
"Shall we too ask Kedah government to compensate for this?" he asked, adding that its northern neighbour should be more considerate and accommodating on the issue.
This is the second time Lim was involved in a public spat with Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak government over the Muda River water supply issue.
Previously both governments were entangled in a row over Alor Star's proposal to carry out 'heli-logging' in six forests in the Muda catchment area to compensate the loss of RM100 million in federal funds.
However, the altercation subdued after both governments had a heart-to-heart talk over the issue and Kedah seemed was no longer pursuing the project, which could earn it billions in revenue.
Stop-work order issued
Meanwhile, Lim's government had issued a stop-work order to Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) on its double-railway track project across the state due to damages done by its contractors on Jawi River bank near Titi Hitam in the sourthern Perai district.
The damage has caused flood in the Perkampungan Jawi area affecting some 50 households.
Lim said the gag order would last for an indefinite period until the state government was satisfied that KTMB would be more responsible when carrying out its work, repaired all damages done so far and compensate the flood victims.
He slammed KTMB for causing damages to rivers, drainage and irrigation systems due to its irresponsible construction of access roads.
The state government has set up a special task force led by executive councillor Law Choo Kiang to check all sites to ensure the project was not causing anymore damages.
The RM12.4 billion double-track stretch from Ipoh to Padang Besar, undertaken by MMC-Gamuda, is expected to be ready in 2013.
The alignment for the 329km Ipoh-Padang Besar double-track project cuts across the four northern states of Penang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis. It will be linked between Ipoh and Rawang with another 179km double-track.
Piling works for the electrified double-track rail project in Penang started in April and has covered most of southern part of the mainland.
Lim also warned Penangites that they should be prepared for 'wet times' ahead as the state would face heavy downpours, 40 percent more than usual, until mid-November as the state was being be hit by the annual monsoon intermittent season.
Weather forecasters did not rule out the repeat of rainfall measured at between 180ml and 200 ml within 24 hours that happened two weeks ago due to the combination of high tide effect and torrential downpours.
High waves rising between 1.5 and 2.5 metres are also expected to hit the shores of Bagan Ajam, which houses fishing villages and boat building cottage industry.
The Pakatan Rakyat-led Penang government has already sought RM1 billion under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) from the federal government to carry out mitigation projects and once for all solve its flood woes.

tunku : they call themselves "pakatan" but they can't even meet and discuss for some important matters. they rather fight it through the media.i guess azizan should just collect revenue from Penang for pumping out Muda River water for its public consumption.as for KTM , they should look into legal action against penang government for delaying their work which involves the tax payer money.the project brings benefits to penang too.i guess the construction of the bridge is causing some flood too at batu kawan area,but guan eng is asking them not to delay on that.

Malaysia's press freedom ranking on a free fall

Malaysia crashed into the bottom quarter of 173 countries in the worldwide press freedom ranking index released today by Paris-based watchdog Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF, Reporters Without Borders).
In the latest 2008 ranking, Malaysia fell eight spots to 132. Last year, it was placed 124th while in 2006, it was at 92.
According to the index, Malaysia was placed fifth among 10 Southeast Asian countries after Timor-Leste (65), Indonesia (111), Thailand (124), Cambodia (126).
“In the face of mounting criticism, the government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reacted with a crackdown,” lamented RSF, referring to several incidences last year.
It said that the mainstream press made no attempt at balance remarks by the authorities attacking the organisers of two major demonstrations last year which were led by election reform movement Bersih and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
“The Internal Security Ministry asked some media on three separate occasions in November not to report on unauthorised demonstrations.
“Thus a march on Nov 10 calling for free and transparent elections passed off without any coverage, apart from online, including by the daily Malaysiakini, which also revealed in June (2007) that the authorities had ordered radio and television not to allow too much airtime to the speeches of opposition leaders.”
Umno-linked NST ticked off
RSF also ticked off Umno-linked New Straits Times for abruptly halting the columns by two independent-minded writers.
“Officially for technical reasons, the columns written by Zainah Anwar, promoting the rights of women, and another by Amir Muhammad disappeared within five days or one another.
“Zainah had headlined her last piece, ‘Let’s give freedom a good press’. Amir Muhammad, a respected film-maker and writer, had broken one of the country’s taboos by rehabilitating communists who fought for independence in the 1940s.
“He posted on his blog the uncut versions of his articles, which were regularly re-written by the daily’s management.”
The press freedom watchdog also said that the management and former managers of NST sued bloggers Jeff Ooi and Ahiruddin Attan for “defamation”, after they posted articles “demonstrating that some news and editorials in the daily lacked objectivity”.

tunku : this can't be true.under pak lah there are more press freedom, openness, and mother of all "ness". nst used to be umno-linked but now it is more badawi-linked, thanks to kalimullah.anyway it is not only nst sues for defamations but now the mps joins the fray.right now,teresa kok is on the top spot for suing people.

Dr M: No need for media council

KUALA LUMPUR: It is not neccessary to have a special council to regulate the media as it should be self-regulating, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“It is not necessary. It is up to the media. If you deal in a lot of rumour and speculation, then you will not sell newspapers,” he said on Wednesday after launching a school adoption programme between University of Teeside in Middlesbrough and SMK Aminuddin Baki.
He was asked to comment on Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar’s statement that the Government had started drafting a media policy and intended to set up a media council.
Syed Hamid did not state whether the current Printing Presses and Publications Act, which requires the media to apply for an annual permit, would be reviewed or repealed.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek told Bernama on Wednesday the proposed National Media Council (NMC) was not aimed at restricting press freedom but at ensuring a more transparent and responsible media in the country.
He said many countries had their own Press commissions or media councils because it was a better way to monitor the media.
"Some countries like the United Kingdom have press complaint commissions where people dissatisfied because they had been defamed or put in a bad light can seek remedy," he told reporters after attending his ministry's Aidilfitri open house at Angkasapuri. He said this when asked if the intention to establish the council was to restrict press freedom in the country.
On Monday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the council would be established soon to identify existing weaknesses to ensure better accuracy in reporting.
Ahmad Shabery said having the council would also put an end to the prevailing perception that if complaints were made about the government, it would take a long time before action was taken.
Ahmad Shabery said before the NMC was formed, his ministry would hold discussions with stakeholders to identify existing weaknesses so that appropriate remedial action could be taken. "This is a serious matter as it concerns how the Fourth Estate can be better supervised so that it is more transparent and responsible.
"When we say more responsible, we do not want to see only the agenda of certain groups being pushed forward and not the interests of all Malaysians," he said, adding that the models in countries like Australia and Britain would be studied before the matter was finalised.
He also said bloggers and Internet media practitioners must also be held responsible though the numbers abusing the medium was small.

tunku : i thought under pak lah's regime there is more "openness" .if the media lies too much, people won't buy /read/listen to it.if they still insist to have one then it should only act as an advisory role or where people can lodge complaint, not for taking action.let that role be under KDN.

Dr M: Reduce wealth gap to narrow race gap

BANGI: All races living in this country will refer to themselves as Malaysians once the economic gap between them is reduced, says former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Although we have not achieved full unity, I believe that once the wealth gap is not so great, then the race gap will not be so great either,” he added, addressing a forum entitled Unity Towards 2020 last night.
He said that all the races were responsible for ensuring the success of the country, adding that it had been difficult to get all the races to really get together be­­cause of Malaysia’s demographic profile.
Asked to comment on the issue of the social contract, he said it should never be rescinded.
“The Federal Constitution was based on that contract and more than that, its spirit is such that it ensures each race sacrifices something to gain something else, ” Dr Mahathir said.
“If we destroy it, then there will be no more Malay reserve land, the Chinese will lose their mother tongue in schools and citizenships may be revoked,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said that the balance must be protected and that it was only an issue now as there were politicians who wanted to gain popularity.

tunku : that is what the government should do now, reduce the WEALTH gap between races as it is not balance right now.only then we can talk about equality.

Pick Capable Leaders, Says Muhyiddin

PENANG, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today said that in the coming march party polls he wants the concept of meritocracy to be practised by electing capable leaders and rejecting those who indulge in money politics.
He said only genuine leaders would be on the frontlines of the party's agenda, especially in facing Umno's "enemies", and who would not "hide" behind party members.
"We have to develop in our country's politics a system of meritocracy. We should not elect a leader just because we know him and he has money but we must choose based on ability, credibility and experience," he said.
Muhyiddin said this to reporters after delivering a lecture titled 'Malay-Islamic Politics: Crisis and Solution' organised by the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) and the Nurul Yaqeen Foundation at Dewan Budaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here today.
Muhyiddin, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said that the matter was important in view of the fact that Umno as a political party had rejected money politics.
"This is a serious matter and has to be handled as soon as possible, the party has long rejected such practice and the people too cannot accept it," he said.
Muhyiddin voiced concern on the possibility of such culture during the party's divisional meetings that were being held throughout the country now.
"A high level of commitment is needed by all quarters, including from leaders who are contesting, and delegates who nominate.
"If this practice is not stopped, I worry that it can adversely affect Umno's image as the largest political party in Malaysia. It can also destroy Umno," he said.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin expressed happiness and thanks for the nominations he received so far as a party deputy president candidate.
He said the support he received from the grassroots would spur him to serve and devote himself to the party.
"Thank God for the nominations I have received so far. This is just a start, the meetings have a long way to go. I hope those at the grassroots will continue to support me and that the support will remain for a long time," he said.

tunku : nowadays they will see leaders who have money, who can sponsor them etc, then they will support the leader. these we can see almost everywhere.again,this will kill off umno if this disgusting act keeps going on. it is so sad to see all these. we hope some drastic changes on rules and regulations been carried out immediately to stop or to curb money politics.