Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Statement on the Israeli Invasion of Gaza

The Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War is shocked and angered over the Israeli invasion of Gaza since Saturday 27 December 2008. Our hearts go to the people of Gaza in this time of great distress.

We call upon the international community to immediately act in concert to call upon Israel to stop the bombing of Gaza and the slaughter of innocent lives forthwith. We support the call by the United Nations for an immediate ceasefire and an end to all military operations to facilitate relief work and delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

The Foundation also calls upon the governments of the United States, Britain and other major powers to put necessary pressure on Tel Aviv to stop the inhuman slaughter of Palestinian men, women and children in Gaza with bombs and other weapons.

DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Chairman
Kuala Lumpur Foundation To Criminalise War


chedet.com will have a new address from 1st January 2009, http://www.chedet.co.cc

Aman Malaysia Condemns the Zionist

The international community must condemn the abhorrent and blatant aggression by the Zionist state of Israel perpetrated against the innocent and defenceless Palestinians living in the Gaza strip that has so far claimed at least 250 lives and wounding 700 people.

We exhort the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to stand in unity with our Palestinian brethren against the state sponsored acts of terrorism intended to inflict irreparable damage to the meagre existence of a people robbed of their land by Israel and its allies. Muslims all over the world strongly condemn the murderous attacks that have not spared the old, women and children. Furthermore, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) is deliberately targeting civilian targets when it bombed Gaza's Islamic University.

We call upon the world's Muslims to be steadfast in rejecting this act of terror that has the tacit support of the United States.

The people of Malaysia denounce Israel's military operations and call for the Israeli government to forthwith cease and desist its attacks on the densely populated Gaza Strip. Israel has neither the moral high ground nor the legitimacy in carrying out its actions. The IDF has stoked the anger of peace loving citizens throughout the world and must therefore halt the mobilisation of its troops along the Gaza Strip border with Israel.

In this regard, we are prepared to volunteer and extend humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people in their hour of need. For your information Kassem Aina of the National Institution of Social Care and Vocational Training (NISCVT) is organizing humanitarian aid in the form of essential food items such as milk and medicine. Monetary donations are welcomed. Contributions can be sent as 'Donations for Children' to the National Institution of Social Care and Vocational Training-Account number: 000 1 10684 5002- First National Bank, Immobilita Building- SWIFT Code: FINKLBBE, Hamra Street, PO Box 113-5453. Beirut, Lebanon.

Sincerely,

Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir

Chairman
UMNO Youth International and NGO Relations Bureau/

Coordinator

Peace Malaysia

more stories click here

Election System Needs To Be Reviewed - Abdul Rashid

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the country's election system need to be reviewed to give it autonomous power and total control over the election process, the media included.
Speaking on his last day in office after 25 years service, the retiring EC chairman said a review was necessary to stop others from making accusations against the commission.
"EC has to defend itself against accusations that it is toothless. How can we act when the rules do not allow us? The rules are there but our action cannot satisfy everyone," he told reporters at the ground breaking ceremony for the site of the new EC headquarters in Presint 2 here.
The new EC building costing RM70-80 million in the shape of a ballot box is scheduled for completion in two years.
Abdul Rashid, 66, will be replaced by Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof effective tomorrow.
His service was extended by another year after Dewan Rakyat passed the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2007 to extend the retirement age for EC members from 65 to 66 years.
Abdul Rashid who had handled seven general elections said EC should be in control during the campaign period telling people what to do and what not to do, and not other authorities.
"EC should be in the position to control the total network of media during elections. It should be able to tell the media their limit and role they can play during elections."
He proposed that a body be created to review the needs of EC and the country's elections laws, although it may take two, three or ten years.
However, it was up to the government whether to accept the concept or not.
"If the government accepts the concept, then it must make appointments but if it wants to wait, then I cannot comment.
"I don't know whether the situation warrants it or not. I am just speaking as a former chairman based on his experience."
Abdul Rashid said he had forwarded the proposal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and offered himself to be the adviser should the body be created.
He said other countries had similar setups during elections where the EC had full control over the election process, not ministries or departments.
"It existed in other developing countries. I feel we have to follow their foot steps as it is the strengthening of democratic practices."
Abdul Rashid also said he was considering taking legal action against several opposition party members for making personal attacks against him.
He declined to reveal their names but said he had adequate information and proof for his lawyer to act.
"I did not want to sue these people earlier because I did not want to drag the EC into it. Now that I have retired and a free person, I am considering a suit against those who had said so many untruthful and bad things against me," he said.

tunku : this is where it needs reform, guess pak lah didn't think it is important. nevertheless, i have full confident in our EC , if they were corrupted or under the control of BN, the opposition would not have won in those 5 states.that showed that EC did a very good job. you can ask the opposition, where the wins,the EC is very good and where they lost EC is corrupted. typical Malaysian opposition. hope najib will review the election system asap after march 09.to tan sri rashid, happy retirement, you did a good job at EC.

PMR: More answered in English

PUTRAJAYA: A majority of students who sat for the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) this year answered the Science paper entirely in English.
A total of 51.2% of candidates chose English, compared with 30.8% who answered in Malay and 18% who used a combination of both languages.
Last year, only 21.5% of candidates answered the PMR Science paper wholly in English.
Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom described the increasing trend of candidates using English as “very encouraging.”
“This year marks the fourth batch of students who took the PMR after studying Mathematics and Science in English since Form One,” he said.
Alimuddin said that the final decision on whether the two subjects would continue to be taught in English rests with Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
“We have already decided that the 2009 PMR will remain bilingual. Students can still opt to answer in English, Malay or use both languages,” he said at a press conference to announce the 2008 PMR results.
The subject that showed the biggest improvement in performance was English — the pass rate increased by 3.6 points from an average of 71.2% from 2003-2007 to 74.8% this year.
A total of 26,378 candidates or 5.96% scored straight As in the PMR, Last year the figure was 5.65% while in 2006 it was 4.83%. The number of candidates who failed or scored Es in all subjects also declined, from 0.13% to 0.10%.
Alimuddin said that at least 15% of candidates scored As in all the 16 subjects offered under the PMR.
“In many subjects, more than 20% of candidates scored As,” he said.
The subjects with the most number of A scorers were Punjabi (56.2%), Iban (30%) and Living Skills - Technical (30.1%).
The disparity between the performance of urban and rural students was also narrowing, said Alimuddin.
“Each year we see an improvement in the achievements of rural students, and this is in line with the national education blueprint of levelling the playing field,” he said.
An expert from Cambridge International Examinations in the United Kingdom, Kate Newcombe, sat in on the evaluation process and setting of standards of this year’s PMR.
“She remarked that the standard of our Mathematics and Science paper was higher than the United Kingdom’s,” claimed said Alimuddin.

tunku : that's prove that teaching maths and science in english is not a mistake and the students are getting used to it.the teaching of these two subjects in english should continue. we hope the government will think of the future of our young generation rather than making a popular decision but not a wise one.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

DAP sets terms to support PAS’ choice

PETALING JAYA: The DAP will support a PAS candidate for the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election only if the Islamist party does not pursue its agenda for an Islamic state with hudud and qisas laws.
DAP chairman Karpal Singh said DAP has never been inconsistent in its stance against the introduction of such laws because this went against the provisions of the Federal Constitution.
On Dec 23, Karpal had also released a statement reminding that a five-man Supreme Court panel, led by former Lord President Tun Salleh Abbas, had made a judicial pronouncement in 1988 that Malaysia was a secular state, not an Islamic one, according to the Constitution.
“Following my statement, (PAS vice-chairman) Datuk Husam Musa retracted his statement unconditionally. I stated that with the retraction, DAP would support the PAS candidate for the by-election.”


tunku : this is all stage drama by the pakatan.anyway looks like pas is really scared of karpal and dap, with karpal's statement, husam bow down and retracted his earlier statement on hudud like a ........(for you to guess).

Raja Dr Nazrin: Focus on economy

IPOH: Political leaders should concentrate on freeing the country from the negative impact of the global economic crisis instead of politicking and arguing, said the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah.
He said if they continued to do so, it would not only be unproductive, but could sometimes become counterproductive.
“In facing such difficult times, it is compulsory for leaders to place priority on the rakyat, and to be united in their resolve and understanding in order to overcome challenges,” he said. “This is not the time to find fault, but the time to rectify the situation,” he said during the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration at the State Secretariat here yesterday.
Earlier, Raja Nazrin said the world was experiencing its worst economic crisis in 25 years, adding that not only was the world economy expected to slow down but the Group of Seven countries was anticipating negative growth.
In Malaysia, the electronic and electrical manufacturing sector would see a 14.6% drop in exports to the United States due to low demand, he cautioned.
The sector, he noted, contributed to 62% of the country’s total exports and 43% of all jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Noting that demand for prime commodities, especially palm oil, was expected to drop, he expressed concern for the future of school leavers and graduates, and those who might lose their jobs.
Raja Nazrin also said the present economic crisis was a combined result of destructive activities carried out over a period of time.
“The grim economic situation is a reminder from God to human beings.
“It is to remind the leaders that no matter how much power has been entrusted to them, they must always remember that their main responsibility is towards humans.
“It is a reminder to leaders who have become power hungry, greedy and arrogant until the misuse of their power leads to disaster,” he said.
Raja Nazrin added that it was vital for the country to create an effective mechanism to monitor any abuse of power.
“Further steps are needed to fulfil expectations by the rakyat for a clean and transparent administration that is supported by a fair judiciary,” he said.
He added that judges of high integrity were needed in order for a fair judiciary system to exist.
“Whatever judicial reforms that are introduced must be translated into action, failing which the rakyat will lose their trust,” he said.

tunku : that is what all the state's leaders suppose to do, focus on the economy, how to come out from the economy crisis, not politicking all the time. the states control by pakatan especially,should start focusing on building the states and stop finding the past fault by the past government as it is past not present. stop politicking as the general election is still few years to come and concentrate on economy now.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Muharram - The Muslim New Year

The ‘new year’ in Islam is marked in a way which perhaps no other nation or community marks their own ‘new year’. In fact most, if not all civilizations, take this as a time of happiness and joy in which the people party and celebrate, committing sins most of the time. However in Islam, and particularly the school of the Ahlul Bayt, the new year is one which begins with grief and sorrow and a call to stamp out corruption, evil and sin – not to indulge in it! It is a time in which we not only call for the eradication of all forms of outward tyranny by whoever is enacting it over ANY oppressed individuals, but it is also a time to purge the inner tyranny which our own lower passions and desires pull us towards.

This belief is best seen in the beautiful supplication which the Prophet used to recite when he saw the new moon of Muharram, a portion of which reads: “O’ Allah! You are the Pre-Existing Lord and this is a new year so then in this (new year), I ask you for protection from the Satan and strength against this lower soul which pulls towards evil and that you make me busy with that which makes me closer to You, O’ the Noble … O’ our Lord! Do not divert our hearts after You have guided us and grant us, from Yourself, mercy. Surely You are The Granter.”

This Muharram, if anything, we need to keep the movement of Abi Abdillah in mind and heart and make a conscious decision to make a change in our lives and work towards a reformation within our own hearts and beliefs. Islam is in no need for reform – there is no ‘trouble with Islam’ as some ‘enlightened’ people will have us believe. Rather, it is the followers who need to heed the lesson learnt through Kerbala and the victory of truth over falsehood – and apply it to our lives and reform ourselves.

The Hijrah

Muslims do not traditionally "celebrate" the beginning of a new year, but we do acknowledge the passing of time, and take time to reflect on our own mortality.

Muslims measure the passage of time using the Islamic (Hijrah) calendar. This calendar has twelve lunar months, the beginnings and endings of which are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. Years are counted since the Hijrah, which is when the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Madinah (approximately July 622 A.D.).

The Islamic calendar was first introduced by the close companion of the Prophet, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab. During his leadership of the Muslim community, in approximately 638 A.D., he consulted with his advisors in order to come to a decision regarding the various dating systems used at that time. It was agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijrah, since it was an important turning point for the Muslim community. After the emigration to Madinah (formerly known as Yathrib), the Muslims were able to organize and establish the first real Muslim "community," with social, political, and economic independence. Life in Madinah allowed the Muslim community to mature and strengthen, and the people developed an entire society based on Islamic principles.

The Islamic calendar is the official calendar in many Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia. Other Muslim countries use the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes and only turn to the Islamic calendar for religious purposes. The Islamic year has twelve months that are based on a lunar cycle. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) - so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth...." (9:36).

"It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory, and the moon to be a light of beauty, and measured out stages for it, that you might know the number of years and the count of time. Allah did not create this except in truth and righteousness. And He explains His signs in detail, for those who understand" (10:5).

And in his final sermon before his death, the Prophet Muhammad said, among other things, "With Allah the months are twelve; four of them are holy; three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumaada and Sha'ban."

Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar. The months of the Islamic year are:

1. Muharram

2. Safar

3. Rabia Awal

4. Rabia Thani

5. Jumaada Awal

6. Jumaada Thani

7. Rajab

8. Sha'ban

9. Ramadan

10. Shawwal

11. Dhul-Qi'dah

12. Dhul-Hijjah





Sunday, December 28, 2008

AL FATIHAH


Negri ruler and former Agong Tuanku Ja’afar dies

Negri Sembilan Yang diPertuan Besar Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman, who was the nation’s 10th Yang diPertuan Agong from 1994 to 1999, died at about 11.45am Saturday. He was 86 years old.
Born in 1922, Tuanku Ja’afar studied at Malay College Kuala Kangsar before graduating from the University of Nottingham. He then attended Balliol College in Oxford.
During the Japanese occupation, he served at the Seremban Land Office and as district officer of Rembau from 1946 to 1947. Upon his return from Britain in 1952, he held several posts in the civil service.
In 1957, he took up a special course for diplomatic services in London and was appointed Charge d’ Affaires in Washington DC, then as First Secretary with the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and later was Consular and Deputy High Commissioner at the High Commission of Malaya in London.
Tuanku Ja’afar was later appointed the Malaysian Ambassador to Egypt and then High Commissioner to Nigeria and Ghana.
He was recalled by the Negri Sembilan state government after the death of his brother Tuanku Munawir, the state ruler, and was appointed Ruler in 1967.
Tuanku Ja’afar was the 10th Yang diPertuan Agong of Malaysia.
He leaves behind wife Tuanku Najihah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, three sons and three daughters.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

The Right Of Return

by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
courtesy of kelab chedet.com

1. Bismillahhirohmanirrohim.Assalamualaikum warahmatulla hiwabarakatuh.

2.Firstly I would like to thank the Government of Syria for the hospitality extended to me and for its unfailing support for the Palestinian cause.

3.All Praise be to Allah by whose grace we are able to gather here today to remember, to not forget the injustice perpetrated upon our brothers and sisters, the peoples of Palestine 60 years ago, in May 1948.



4.On that infamous day in May 1948 our brothers and sisters, their fathers and mothers and their children were expelled from their country, from their land and their homes, expelled cruelly by Zionist forces as the British, the Americans and the Russians looked on and basically abetted in these heinous crimes. The rest of the world cared nothing for the catastrophe, the Nakba the tragedy that had been deliberately visited by the Zionist upon the people who had been their hosts before, who had allowed them to immigrate and settle on their land thinking that as in the past, during the great days when Muslims ruled the land, the newcomers would live in peace with them.

5. But the immigrants from Europe and elsewhere had other intentions. They came not to live in peace with the Palestinian people but to seize the country and make it their own.

6. Perhaps it is not strange at all to see the Americans and the British aiding and abetting the Zionists. The British and the Americans had done this very thing to a lot of other people before. In the Americas, Australia and New Zealand they had also seized other peoples’ land and committed genocide in the process.

7. This is the way of the British and other Europeans. This is the way of the Americans. Seizing other people’s land and setting and committing genocide is normal and proper to them.

8. It is not surprising therefore that in order to atone for their crimes against the Jews they should abet in the seizure of other people’s land to create a Jewish state.

9. The expectation of these people who seized other people’s land is always the same. They expect their past black deeds to be forgotten and their ownership of the land they had stolen would in time no longer be disputed. But their seizure of other peoples land must never be forgotten.

10. That is why this gathering is very important.

11. The Palestinians must not forget the Nakba and the world must also not be allowed to forget this injustice.

12. Today the Palestinians have to live outside their land as refugees, living mostly in makeshift camps, without proper facilities, housing etc. They are denied their rights to live like normal people.

13. There are now 4 million of them, deprived of their rights as citizens of their country. Their children do not have the same rights and future as other children.

14. The Palestine refugees are not even allowed to return to the land which was theirs before.

15. Everyday more and more of their land is stolen. Illegal Jewish settlers build permanent settlements on their land. They are not even allowed to use the roads built on their land. And they are forcibly separated by walls from their own kith and kin. Even villages are split by the wall. The Jews have learnt a lot about Nazi methods.

16. Truly no other people have been treated the way the Palestinian people have been treated.

17. The world talks of human rights. If one Chinese man is denied the right to speak against his own Government the whole world would condemn this deprivation of a minor right of just one person. But when four million Palestinians are expelled from their own country, are not allowed to return, are frequently attacked by the Zionists and their American and British allies, the world is deathly silent.

18. There really is a lot of hypocrisy in the world today.

19. I am against violence. I am against war. But when people are violently attacked they have a right to defend themselves.

20. When people are deprived of their country and are not able to fight conventional wars to liberate their country then then they will have to resort to other ways.

21. Blowing oneself up is not the most pleasant way to die. But when this is the only way to attack the oppressors, to defend yourself, then, pleasant or not you will have to blow yourself up.

22. If by doing this your enemies are blown up together with you, can these desperate suicide bombers be called terrorists? If they are terrorists because they allegedly commit acts of terror, because they terrify people, don’t the people who drop bombs on innocent people, who fire missiles at people, don’t they terrify their victims? If they terrify people, are not their acts also acts of terror? Are they not terrorists?

23. Actually more people, ordinary civilians are terrified of being bombed and killed by trained military murderers than are the people who are terrified and killed by suicide bombers. By any standard the bombers and people who launched missiles at human targets are worst terrorists. They do not even risk being killed or injured. Whereas the suicide bombers invariably get killed when they explode their bombs, the trained bombers will go back to celebrate over glasses of beer their murderous acts.

24. If we do not want to see suicide bombers blowing themselves up, than the people who drop bombs or launch missiles against innocent people should stop such acts of terror.

25. If we do not want to see both acts of terror, if the world abhors terrorism then the world must not close their collective eyes to the injustice perpetrated against the Palestinian people.

26. Let us not hear of the Jews being the first people in Palestine and that there never were a Palestine or Palestinian people. If the first people must be recognised as having a greater right, then let us see America, Australia and New Zealand return to the Red Indians, the aborigines of Australia and the Maoris of New Zealand their lands. If the world would not accept this kind of claim then the Jews should not use this as the basis for their claim.

27. The fact is that the Palestinian people had been living in Palestine long before the Crusades. When the Crusaders came Palestinians were under the rule of the Arabs. The people the Crusaders seized the country from were Arabs. The people who re-conquered Palestine and ruled it until after the First World War were Arabs. The Palestine that was made a Mandated territory under the British was the Palestine of the Palestinian Arabs. It was not the Israel of the Jews, though there were Jews in Arab Palestine.

28. At no time did the Crusaders or the First World War Allies deal with a Jewish Government or with Jews when they conquered Palestine, or when they made Palestine a Mandated territory.

29. The Jews who were involved in setting up Israel on Palestine soil were never the inhabitants of the land the world recognized as Palestine. They were foreigners, most of whom were citizens of European countries.

30. At the time when Palestine became a mandated territory there was only a tiny number of Jews in Palestine. These were mainly the descendants of the Jews who had lived in the land they called Palestine. They never called it Israel, nor claim that the Palestinian Arabs were living in their State of Israel.

31. So how can the Jews claim they have a legitimate right to the land of the Palestinians which they now call Israel? The State of Israel is totally artificial – a creation of people foreign to the land, a creation of non-Jews of Europe in collaboration with European Jews.

32. It is this artificial state unjustly created by foreigners on Palestine land which ever since its creation has plunged the region and indeed the whole world into violence, terrorism and wars.

33. It is this disregard for the rights of the Palestinians, in particular the right of return that has triggered off tension between people who had for centuries lived together in peace.

34. It is this gross injustice which has made a reality of the clash of civilization.

35. The clash, the tensions, the violence and the wars will not end until justice is done to the most unfortunate victims.

36. The Palestine peoples whether Muslims or Christians must continue their struggle for the right of return.

37. Theirs is a just struggle and justice must triumph finally.

38. The cost will be high for the Palestinians but the cost will be higher for those who aided and abetted in this act of injustice.

39. We are with the Palestinians in their just struggle and we will support it till justice is done.

40. Thank you.

RM3 Million In IJN Coffers This Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- The National Heart Institute (IJN) Foundation has collected RM3 million this year from charitable organisations, private companies and the society to help fund heart treatment for the poor.
IJN Foundation manager Alawiyah Yussof said six private companies had been making regular contributions annually while organisations and individuals contributed from time to time.
Contributors to the IJN foundation include Pfizer Malaysia, Airasia and the Tenaga Nasional Foundation.
"The contributions were not only in monetary form but also as partners in our programmes," Alawiyah told Bernama recently.
Formed in 1995, the IJN Foundation collects funds to treat poor heart patients and to fund IJN's research programmes.
She said the foundation was never short on funds when called upon to help and last year funded 85 patients at a cost of over RM2 million.
"Sometimes, we also help to buy additional equipment for patients."
IJN treats three categories of patients, namely government staff or retirees, patients who could afford to pay, and those who could not afford like farmers and fishermen.
She the foundation did not receive any complaints on lack of equipment or poor service from patients or their family members.
On the deferred plan to privatise IJN, Alawiyah said the privatisation of IJN would drive away donors.
"This is because the society regards private companies as profit-driven and wholly dependent on capital expenditure," she added.
Sime Darby Bhd was recently reported as planning to buy a 51 per cent stake in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, the operator of IJN.
IJN, the leading medical heart centre in the region is 99.99 per cent owned by the Ministry of Finance.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Dec 19 the privatisation of IJN had been postponed pending an indepth review by the relevant ministries.

tunku : if sime darby really wants to help IJN as social obligation, why don't they donate to IJN every year like other companies? I am not sure about Pzifer and TNB Foundation but Airasia has been collecting donation from its passengers for IJN. I guess IJN can stand by it's own with the back up from MoF. There are enough generous Malaysian and it's companies that willing to donate to IJN.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Live TV coverage brings parliament 'circus' to the living room

The Dewan Rakyat session has never been the same since Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) started live coverage showing government backbenchers in a war of words with the opposition.
The key players are oldtimers like Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading), Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang), Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) and Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur).
The new kids on the block include Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau), Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (BN-Jerlun), Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak), Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Machang).
The high temperature in parliament was due to the political tsunami from the last general election where Barisan Nasional (BN) only won 140 seats of the 222 seats with 82 going to the opposition, thus losing the two-thirds majority.
Veterans Karpal Singh and Datuk Bung Moktar turned parliament into a circus when they traded barbs, calling each other names like 'bigfoot' and 'big monkey', resulting in only three questions answered during the question and answer session.
Karpal: "I hope that the 'bigfoot' from Kinabatangan will not disturb me. 'Bigfoot' sit down".
Bung Moktar: "I dare you to stand. If I am 'bigfoot', you are 'big monkey'," he told off Karpal who kept questioning the manner a member of parliament (MP) had taken his oath.
The name calling did not end there as Karpal then dragged seasoned politician Ibrahim Ali into the fray calling him 'frog' for contesting on a PAS ticket but remaining an independent.
It all broke loose on the first day of the parliament sitting where RTM1 made live coverage for 30 minutes, keeping many Malaysians glued to the TV sets.
After this episode, several quarters called on the government to review the rationale of the live coverage aimed at proving its media transparency with some calling for it to be scrapped.
The Cabinet then decided that the live coverage should continue while the MPs were advised to behave properly and choose their words carefully.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia and his two deputies Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Datuk Ronald Kiandee had been likened to headmasters trying to control a bunch of schoolchildren.
Some of Pandikar Amin's decisions had caused dissatisfaction to Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah), Chong Chieng Jan (DAP-Bandar Kuching) and Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) who were ejected and suspended from questioning them.
The entry of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim into parliament replacing wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail as opposition leader in August only served to crank up the heat in the Dewan Rakyat.
Anwar, who won the Permatang Pauh seat vacated by Wan Azizah, wasted little time in making his presence felt by claiming that some BN MPs would switch to the opposition enabling him to form the federal government on Sept 16.
His claim that at least 13 BN MPs from East Malaysia would jump ship fueled talks of a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, prompting calls for an anti party-hopping law.
It turned out to be a bluff as no BN MPs had defected except for Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (BN-Sepanggar) and Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui (BN-Tawau), who quit Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) to become independents.
The Dewan Rakyat was also at the centre of a boycott by the media as pressmen were barred from making coverage in the lobby area.
The boycott was called off after government backbenchers stepped in by cutting the ribbon put up to prevent pressmen from entering the lobby.

tunku : we hope that more airtime be given to parliamentary debate as it gives the people the chance to follow the debate as they are the one who chooses the parliamentarians there.they need to know what their parliament member doing there.some are just sleeping to past time and collect allowance while some are doing what they are suppose to do, that is voicing out for the people.with more live coverage and airtime, we believe they will be more discipline and will make sure that they are talking the right thing there,not just making jokes, teasing each other etc.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Tribunal rejects flat residents’ claims

The Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia today rejected a claim for compensation of RM20,000 by 31 flat dwellers of Taman Sentul Utama who alleged that the developer had failed to provide satisfactory maintenance services.
Rungit Singh, in his decision, said that residents had not paid all the maintenance fees required.
“After examining the statements and documents from both sides, I find that the problem had been going on for seven years.
“The court finds that the developer had been professional in this matter such as providing a claims statement, police report and notice to the residents.
Their actions are justified and orderly and that is why I reject the residents’ claims,” he said.
On Nov 17, 31 flat residents filed a claim to the tribunal naming the developer, Sentul Murni Management Sdn Bhd, as the defendant.
In the claim, the residents asked for half of the maintenance fees paid from November 2005 to June 2008 to be returned to them.
They also wanted exemplary compensation worth RM20,000 from the developer for failure to provide satisfactory maintenance services.
The Taman Sentul Utama flat issue received media coverage after the residents complained that the developer did not provide maintenance, and had not repaired a lift, causing the body of a resident to have to be carried down the stairs from the high-rise building.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah got involved in the matter by issuing a statement that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, under the Federal Territories Ministry, had to repair the lifts after receiving complaints that they had been out of serviced the past six months.
When met outside the court, Block 211 Action Committee secretary Azmi Abd Aziz, who represented the flat residents, expressed his disappointment with the decision.
The committee members would discuss whether or not to file for a judicial review of the decision, he said.

tunku : we hope someone will get their feet moving and help those residents there. it's not easy for those people.they live in misery for a long time. please help them once for all. after this if they don't pay their maintenance bill, cut their water or electricity supply.the residents there must be responsible too and pay their maintenance bill on time.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

DAP outlines objections to PAS plan for hudud laws

PETALING JAYA: The statement by Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat that PAS would implement hudud laws did not consider the political reality in the country, Karpal Singh said.
The DAP chairman said Nik Aziz, the PAS spiritual leader, also did not take into account the reasons given by DAP for objecting to the implementation of the laws in a multiracial and multilingual country like Malaysia.
“Nik Aziz has asked for reasons why we are objecting to the move. To start off, the Federal Constitution does not provide for an Islamic state from which introduction of Islamic criminal laws like hudud could follow.
“Next, PAS cannot afford to ignore the five-man unanimous decision of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, in 1988 that the country was not an Islamic state but a secular state,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
He noted that it was Tun Salleh Abbas, who was at one time a PAS state exco member in Terengganu, who headed the five-man panel of the Supreme Court that had made that judicial pronouncement.
“The Federal Constitution is a sacred document which must be accepted and respected by everyone, including PAS.
“Its leaders, including Nik Aziz, should not defy and continuously be in contempt of it when insisting on the implementation of hudud laws in the country.
“It is wrong for PAS, for political expediency, to crave what is clearly against national interests,” he added.
Karpal said PAS should also be careful not to scuttle the smooth running of the Pakatan Rakyat alliance and reminded the party that threatening to go ahead with its plan would be counter-productive to its interests.
He also urged PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to speak up on the issue.


tunku : if pas has the majority what can dap do about it? nothing. but at the moment pas is just saying it for making them look more islamic as the Kuala Terengganu by election is coming soon.they are the minority in pakatan,there's nothing they can do.karpal urged anwar the moron to speak out, don't worry,he will but with two statements. in front of non Muslims he will say no to hudud and in front of Muslims crowd he will say that they will consider whatsoever.he will change his colours according to the surround like a chameleon.

‘Perak exco members need bigger cars’

IPOH: Perak executive councillors need cars with higher capacity engines because they have to travel a lot.
Defending the state’s decision to buy the 2.4-litre Toyota Camry instead of the 2.0-litre model, state senior executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said the difference between the two models was only RM7,000.
“The 2.0 model is said to be underpowered. In our line of duty, we need to rush and travel around extensively,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin had on Dec 12 announced that the state government would upgrade its official cars from the Proton Perdana V6 to Toyota Camry for state executive councillors and ex-officios.
Nizar had cited the high cost of maintaining the Perdana cars as a reason for the change.
Ngeh also pointed out that the Toyota Camry was one of the cheapest imported cars at RM167,000 each.
“We are paying RM97,000 for each car and the balance of RM70,000 is taxes imposed by the Federal Government and so we are paying to the rakyat (people), not to Toyota.
“Because the Federal Government refused to exempt us from paying the taxes, the state is paying the money, which we hope will be channelled back to the rakyat,” he added.
Ngeh, who admitted that the state had initially declared that it would not change its fleet of Perdana cars, said the government later decided to make the change because its present fleet of Perdana cars kept going in and out of workshops.

tunku : this is another excuse by perak government. there are some people who are travelling few hundred kilometres a day in a kancil . there is big different in 2.0 and 2.4 litre, first the price, second the maintenance and third the petrol consumption. i am sure if pakatan is the opposition, for sure they will create chaos of this issue.by buying perdana perak government can save about 60000 per car and can use the money to develop or help the poor in the state instead of paying 70000 taxes to the federal government.don't give stupid excuses.this is what happened to some people when out of all sudden the gets the power.

Disciplinary Action Against Muthu?

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- The MIC central working committee (CWC) is mulling disciplinary action against party presidential aspirant Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan for allegedly issuing public statements against the interest of the largest Indian political party in the country.
Sources revealed that the monthly CWC meeting, chaired by MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu last Thursday, decided that the matter be looked at by the party disciplinary committee, headed by party veteran Tan Sri G. Vadiveloo.
Contacted by Bernama Tuesday, Vadiveloo neither denied nor confirmed that Muthupalaniappan was being investigated for issuing statements against the interest of the party, only saying: "I cannot comment on that".
Muthupalaniappan, the former MIC vice-president, announced his intention for the party presidency a month ago and has since been issuing statements on party matters.
However, it is not clear if any of these statements were in violation of the MIC constitution, which entitles the president, on the advice of the CWC and the disciplinary committee, to expel any member found guilty for issuing public statements against the interest of the party.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Muthupalaniappan's press secretary V. Thiagarajan said his boss was aware that he would be investigated by the MIC disciplinary board but "he has nothing to hide because he did not issue any statement against the interest of the party."
"He knows of the CWC's decision. We have gone through all the newspaper cuttings and whatever my boss said, and there is nothing that was said against the interest of the party. We will see what the disciplinary committee wants and cooperate with them," he told Bernama, when contacted.
He also claimed that Muthupalaniappan was at the verge of victory at the party's presidential election, expected to be in first quarter of the year.
"We are looking at a glimpse of victory. We have touched base with the branch members and things are looking positive," he said.
Thiagarajan also said that Muthupalaniappan had also written a letter to Samy Vellu and party secretary-general appealing that new branches were not formed this year as the election year was 2009.
"But we have not got any reply to that, so we have to see first," he added.
The MIC presidential race will be decided by the party's branch leaders, who would at the polls pick the party president. The positions of deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 CWC members will be picked by some 1,500 divisional delegates at the party's general assembly in the later part of 2009.

tunku : looks like samy of mic and kayveas of ppp can't accept any rivalry or challenges. they will try their best to punish their challenger or sack them from the party.such cowards leading mic and ppp.be brave.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Stop Allegations On Phantom Voters, Terengganu MB Tells PAS

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- PAS was on Monday reminded not to use the issue of phantom voters in the Kuala Terengganu by-election on Jan 17 as it is baseless.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said whether it was the general election or a by-election, the opposition had always used the issue as a weapon in their psychological war.
He said PAS supporters had also used the issue as an excuse to behave aggressively like preventing voters working and/or residing outside the state from returning home to vote, as had happened before.
"When they (PAS) won the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat before, the Election Commission (EC) running the election is the same as the current one, but the issue of phantom voters did not emerge back then.
"Now that they have controlled five states, the issue also seems to have vanished. We (Barisan Nasional) believe in democracy. If we lose, we will accept it," he told reporters here on Monday.
Ahmad said, on polling day, it would be compulsory for the voters to bring their identity cards, and for women voters wearing the "jilbab" (face cover) to lift it if requested by the candidate's representative.
The Kuala Terengganu seat is left vacant following the sudden death of its MP Datuk Razali Ismail, who was also Deputy Education Minister, on Nov 28.
BN has chosen Kuala Terengganu Umno Youth chief Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh to contest the seat, while Pas has yet to name its candidate.
The nomination day for the by-election is Jan 6.

tunku : it is very simple, if the pakatan wins that means no phantom voters and if bn wins then there are lots of phantom voters.if pakatan wins, spr is fair in carrying out their duty but if bn wins, then they are not fair and corrupted.this is what is taught in pakatan's brain.

Mat Sabu out

Although endorsed by PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar, Nik Abdul Nik Mat, it appears party vice-president Mohamad Sabu had been ruled out as candidate to contest in the Kuala Terengganu by-election.
PAS has yesterday finalised its candidate for the crucial by-election next month at its central committee meeting chaired by party president Hadi Awang.
Although Hadi said an announcement would be made on Jan 1 - five days before nomination day - the likelihood of an outsider who is not from Kuala Terengganu being picked to contest the parliamentary seat looked very slim.
According to party's mouthpiece Harakahdaily, the doors seemed to be "almost closed" on Mohamad (right) - a party leader from Penang who was PAS candidate for Kuala Terengganu in the March general elections - following claims he as an “outsider” would not be generally accepted by the voters.
This is despite that the veteran politician is best known for his witty oratory skills and has the blessings from influential party leader, Nik Aziz.
Generally, the PAS candidate for Kuala Terengganu had always been a local and this trend is expected to continue despite Mohamad's choice in the March 8 general elections.
Hadi has yesterday strongly hinted that the likely candidate is a ‘professional who is close to the people’.
It is learnt two lists of names - one from Terengganu PAS and the other from PAS headquarters - were discussed at yesterday’s meeting and the candidate was picked after much deliberation in what party insiders say was very long meeting.

tunku : there goes nik aziz's man. i am sure it will be from the group close to anwar's camp as the candidate from this group will be sponsored by anwar.anwar wants his people to rule pas as it will be easier for him to control the pakatan.

Hudud : Pas Biggest Lie

PAS Admits Difficulty Getting Consensus On Hudud From Opposition Partners

KOTA BAHARU, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- PAS has admitted that the implementation of Hudud and Qisas laws would have to be postponed even if Pakatan Rakyat is able to take over the government in future.
This is because it will require the agreement of its two other Pakatan Rakyat partners, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP, which has already objected to the plan.
The admission was made by PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa at a press conference, here, today as the three opposition components had signed an agreement in August, stating that any policy change should have a multilateral agreement among them.
Husam said PAS would not act unilaterally in coming up with the Hudud law if the party ruled the country but would instead work together with DAP and PKR on the matter.
"However, PAS will continue with its struggle to implement Hudud law, which is God's law, by explaining to all quarters, including the Pakatan Rakyat component parties, until they are ready to accept the law.
"We will discuss the Hudud law and if they cannot accept its implementation when the time comes, we will postpone it," he said.
In Islamic law, Hudud usually refers to the punishments that are fixed for certain offences including theft, robbery, illicit sex, alcohol consumption and apostasy. Punishment for these offences are corporal in nature, involving whipping, stoning to death and amputation of limbs.
Qisas (law of retaliation) refers to offences that involve bodily injury or loss of life. The punishment is death or imprisonment, but compensation in the form of money or property is accepted if the victim's guardian forgives the offender.
Husam said many things had be done before the Hudud and Qisas laws could be brought to Parliament, including holding a referendum or discussions with the legal bodies.
He said at the same time, several national issues such as racial unity, the New Economic Policy (NEP), corruption and the economy, would also have to be addressed fast.
"The Hudud law is still hypothetical. There are other issues that have to take precedence," he said.
He cited the NEP which focused on the advancement of the Malays in the field without taking into consideraton the poor among the Indians and Chinese who also needed assistance, hence PAS regarded the NEP as unIslamic.
He said PAS would continue to explain to the people Hudud and Qisas laws to discourage them from committing crime.
Asked how long would the people have to wait for the implementation of the laws, Husam said: "What's wrong with waiting longer? Umno has not done it after more than 50 years in power."

tunku : yesterday he was saying something else and today he said something else.is this a teaching of Islam? is this what pas preaches....telling lies? pas has no right to say what is Islamic and what is not as it has lost it's credibility. i hope husam will never ever talk about hudud anymore.

DAP Opposes PAS' Plan To Implement Hudud

KOTA BAHARU, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The DAP has made it clear that it is opposed to PAS' pledge to implement hudud laws if the opposition coalition takes over the administration of the country.
Its secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng, said the implementation of hudud laws was not included in the Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto in the March 8 general election.
"The DAP does not agree and definitely opposes the plan," he told reporters here Monday.
Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, said he would seek a clarification from Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the matter.
The local media on Monday quoted PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa as saying that PAS had never forgotten its principle to uphold the Islamic administration including implementing the hudud laws.
He said the PAS-led Kelantan had been organising the Hudud Day annually as it could not implement the laws because the ultimate decision rested with the federal government.
Meanwhile, Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said PAS should at least seek the opinions of its allies before making decision on the matter.
"PAS should refer to all the component parties in Pakatan Rakyat. It's not nice to make the decision by itself," he said, adding that Husam's statement was probably his personal stand and not that of the party.
Penang PAS commissioner Salleh Man, however, said that the Penang PAS would adhere to any the decision made by the party leadership.
In KOTA BAHARU, Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said there was no problem for PAS to implement Hudud and Qisas laws because the obstacles lay only in the minds of those who did not understand the laws.
If death penalties could be imposed on drug traffickers, then there should be no problem for the people to accept the hudud laws, which among others, carried the same death penalty for murderers and the cutting of hand for robbers, he said.
"Hudud laws was not created by PAS but by Islamic teachings since the era of Prophet Muhammad. So, it is compulsory for Muslims who administer the country to implement the hudud laws," he told reporters.
The Kelantan Menteri Besar said PAS leaders like himself could only draft the Hudud and Qisas laws, but the implementation would be judged by the courts based on facts and evidence.
"If the evidence is not sufficient, the judge will not impose the hudud laws on the defendant, just like other laws," he said.
Asked on the negative feedback from the Pakatan Rakyat component parties, Nik Aziz said PAS was willing to discuss the matter with them.
"If they feel that they cannot accept it, they must have good reasons. Islam allows discussion for all," he added.

tunku : dap and pkr is against hudud and pas can do nothing about it as they are the minority in pakatan. pas must get lim guan eng's advice before taking any action as husam has said before that lim guan eng is like Khalifah Umar.

Umno Disciplinary Board Refutes Mubarak's Claim

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The Umno Disciplinary Board today refuted an allegation by the Association of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) that the board dragged its feet over action against complaints of money politics and corruption in the party.
Board chairman Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail circulated to the media a six-page document containing the dates of meetings of the investigation panel, tribunal and appeals panel, and said the documentary evidence was proof that the board did not delay investigations.
He said the investigation panel met 39 times between Jan 29 and Dec 16 to look into cases involving 39 divisions, the tribunal met 10 times to hear the cases of 25 divisions, and the appeals panel met twice to hear the cases involving two divisions.
"You can see for yourselves from these statistics, and I refute the allegation of Mubarak. The disciplinary board members have even to be away from their homes for a day or two to look into these cases. And, they claim that we are not working.
"I feel hurt. It is easy for them to talk. The members of the disciplinary board are not young people. It is not easy for us to find (select) them. They have to be veterans, honest and dedicated in their service to the party and country," he told reporters here.
Mubarak, in a statement last Friday, claimed that the delay of the disciplinary board in investigating the cases seemed to imply that the board wanted the complaints to be forgotten over time.
Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said the board worked not only in Kuala Lumpur but also in the states because of the cost involved for the complainants and witnesses to travel to the party headquarters in the federal capital.
He also said that the board did not want complaints based on hearsay and had to ensure that every complaint was genuine and not evil-intended.
At the same time, the board also wanted to study the demeanour of the witness to determine the authenticity of the complaint, he added.
Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said 11 new members had been appointed to the disciplinary board in the past week to expedite investigations and hearing of cases, bringing the total number of members to 25.
He said these new members were former judges, former Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) personnel, former policemen and ex-servicemen.
On the allegation by Machang Member of Parliament Saifuddin Nasution Ismail of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) of the existence of money politics at the level of the Umno deputy presidency, Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said only Umno members could lodge complaints on alleged irregularities in the party.
"It is up to him (if he wants to report to the ACA). I cannot advise him. He should know what to do," he said.

tunku : you can meet 1000 times but if no action taken then no point.anyway we hope that the disciplinary board will take some action before the general assembly.

Monday, December 22, 2008

DAP Youth Criticizes Penang PAS Youth Over I-dance Protest

PENANG, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- The DAP Youth wing has criticised the Penang Pas Youth wing (DPP) for demonstrating against the 'I-Dance' contest in the state.
Its head, Loke Siew Fook described the action taken by the DPP as irrational because he believed that the street dance competition was a healthy recreational activity.
"I regret the action (by the DPP) because it came from a component party of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Dancing is a form of sports.
"I hope Penang Pas can differentiate between sporting activities and immoral activities," he told reporters at a media conference, here today.
On Friday, more than 200 members of the DPP held a demonstration at the Permatang Janggus Mosque grounds, near here by carrying various banners criticising the state government which supported the 'I-Dance' street dance contest despite protests from various quarters.
The DPP had urged the state government to cancel the contest or to proceed without the involvement of Muslim youths in the state.
It is learnt that the state government, through its Youth and Sports Committee, supported the competition organised by Danzity Productions to promote a healthy lifestyle for youths during their free time.
The preliminary rounds of the competition had been held at the New World Park, while the final round will be held on Dec 27 at Queensbay Mall.

tunku : dap should understand,it is pas they are talking about. after all pas had said that they will implement hudud if pakatan rules the country so there should be no dancing event whatsoever.after all this is what we call marriage of convenience.this is nothing, there are more to come.

PAS to reveal its candidate on New Year’s Day

KUALA TERENGGANU: PAS will wait until New Year’s Day to name its candidate for the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.
“We have shortlisted the candidate and I have the name in my pocket, keeping it close to my heart, but you all have to wait,” party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang told reporters after chairing a central committee meeting here.
Hadi said he would make the announcement on Jan 1 during a gathering at the state stadium in Batu Burok, here.
Asked about the delay as Barisan Nasional had already named its candidate, Hadi said it was the party’s right and “furthermore, we don’t have any internal squabbles like Umno.”
“Our machinery is united and therefore we don’t have to follow Barisan Nasional and announce the candidate earlier,” he said.
Hadi described the candidate as “a professional, people-oriented person,” and said he has “the charisma of a leader while meeting all criteria that party had set. He has received all of our (leadership) blessings to contest.”
Asked whether the candidate has a better aptitude and dynamism than Barisan’s candidate Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, he said: “The PAS candidate is more qualified. Furthermore, it is Barisan’s right to evaluate its own candidate. We don’t want to comment on this.”
Political pundits have picked Batu Burok assemblyman Datuk Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi as the most likely choice for PAS to wrest the seat from Barisan.
In an immediate response, Wan Ahmad Farid said Barisan would not be intimidated by PAS’ candidate.
“We have our own strategies, we have our own edge. We are not worried,” he said.
He took a swipe at PAS for saying that Umno was facing internal disputes, and said PAS leaders were also at loggerheads over the choice of candidate.
He was referring to the recommendation made by PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to field vice-president Muhammad Sabu while the state PAS had its own views on the candidate.

tunku : actually pas is having difficulties in choosing the candidates as nik aziz choice is mat sabu,the terengganu's choice is mustafa and the president choice is dr syed azman. hadi is lying that there is no internal squabbles in pas, there is.pas is now divided into 2 groups.one supports and loyal with pas's struggles and vision and another group are pro pkr and trying to change the party's direction.

Pas Reiterates Pledge To Implement Hudud Laws

KOTA BAHARU, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- PAS will implement "hudud" laws if the Pakatan Rakyat coalition takes over the administration of the country in a general election, according to party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa.
He reiterated the party's pledge to implement the laws at a discourse on political transformation in Malaysia here last night after fellow panelist and Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin challenged him to state the party's stand on the matter which he claimed had waned after the general election in March this year.
The other panelist, besides Husam and Khairy, was International Islamic University (UIA) law lecturer Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari at the discourse chaired by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) political science lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff.
Husam, however, said the responsibility of implementing hudud laws should be shouldered not only by PAS but by all Muslims, particularly their leaders.
"Why must (implementation of) hudud laws be the agenda of PAS when all (Muslims) must be responsible for them?" he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Aziz said it was the responsibility of the federal government to implement hudud laws if the state governments did not want to implement them.
"The criminal laws come under the jurisdiction of the federal government and not under that of the state governments," he said.

tunku : with the by election in kuala terengganu around the corner and 90% voters are muslim pas with their usual game, trying to fool people again. their partners in so called pakatan rakyat are against hudud, karpal singh had said it clear, over his dead body and anwar said a BIG no to islamic rule.so how on earth pas will implements hudud if pakatan rules the country. i hope malaysian are not stupid enough to fall into this cheap and hopeless type of politics.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Give Priority To KT By-Election Instead Of Party Election - Najib

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reminded leaders to give priority on Barisan Nasional's (BN) victory in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on Jan 17 instead of thinking about the party election.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he was aware that some of the Umno leaders who came to assist the BN election machinery here had been nominated to contest in the party election in March.
"I'm aware that the Umno election is not over yet. So, I don't want those involved in the election machinery to focus on the Umno election instead of the major task to achieve victory for the BN candidate.
"So, this is a reminder to those concerned so that such things will not happen," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Terengganu BN at the Menteri Besar's residence at Seri Iman, this afternoon.
Earlier, Najib announced to approximately 4,000 BN supporters that Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, who is also the Kuala Terengganu Umno division head, had been selected as the BN candidate for the by-election.
The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election is being held following the death of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28.
Commenting further, Najib, who is also Umno deputy president, said he noticed that understanding between the Umno and BN leaders in facing the by-election was very good.
"All parties, including the BN wings, had given their commitment to work hard and contribute in the best possible way to ensure victory for the BN candidate," he said.
With the early announcement on the BN candidate, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the party could make early preparations for the by-election, which would start on the nomination-day on Jan 6.
"We can start the by-election in an environment where there will be less internal problems with the Umno machinery being very strong. Our candidate is the (Kuala Terengganu) Umno head himself.
"This is also the candidate chosen by the 103 branches (in Kuala Terengganu Umno) and the candidate is also supported by the BN component parties. (In fact) we believe that with less internal problems, the Umno machinery is very strong," he said.
Earlier, in his speech during the announcement of Wan Farid, 46, as the BN candidate, Najib called on the Umno leaders and members to place the interests of Umno and the BN above personal interest.
"I hope we have no other agendas or conspiracies," he said.
He said the by-election was crucial to the BN to regain its dignity after the party lost in the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26, besides repaying the deeds of the late Razali who had contributed a lot in the field of education in Kuala Terengganu.
In addition, it was also to give the mandate to the Terengganu government under Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said to continue with the programmes to bring development to the people and state in future.
Najib said Umno and the BN had faced various challenges and they had succeeded in overcoming them.

tunku : we hope that all members of BN will come to P36 with full force and unity.all the components party in bn should not come out with any statement that may jeopardize the party chances of winning the seat and all umno members too should join hands and help bn's victory in P36 no matter what.we hope to see the candidates contesting in umno general assembly this march will campaign together, hand in hand to show the unity and strenght of the party.they should be able to do it.

Wan Farid To Prove People Still Support BN

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election, is determined to prove that Umno and the BN still have the support of the people by winning the parliamentary seat on Jan 17.
Saying that he was surprised and touched by the trust given by the party leadership, the Deputy Home Minister was confident that the maturity of the constituents in Kuala Terengganu would again give BN the victory.
The 46-year-old Wan Ahmad Farid, who is Kuala Terengganu Umno division head, was also confident that the support of the 103 Umno branches in the constituency would foil the opposition's plan to wrest the seat which was won by the late Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail in the general election on March 8.
"I humbly accept (the nomination), this is the time for us to prove to everyone that the BN will always uphold the tradition of championing the cause of the people," he said to the applause of more than 4,000 suporters who were present during the announcement of the candidate by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today.
The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election is being held following Razali's death on Nov 28.
Najib, when announcing Wan Ahmad Farid as the BN candidate, explained the selection made by him and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as they were confident that the candidate would again bring victory to the BN.
Meanwhile, Wanita Umno head Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, when asked to comment on the selection of Wan Ahmad Farid, said she too shared the top leadership's confidence in the candidate's ability to achieve victory for the BN.
She said the Wanita movement had already started their activities to assist the BN candidate in the by-election.
Umno Youth head Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, meanwhile, said the cooperation of everyone including the Umno and the BN component parties' wings would ensure victory for the BN.

tunku : wan farid will have to deliver the trust the party put on him.it's do or die mission for him.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Now Dr M admits he has no proof of vote-buying in Umno

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today admitted that he has no concrete evidence on money politics in Umno despite previously claiming corruption flourished under his successor Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi.
"I have to study first, as a lot of information is hearsay, they are not willing to give their names," said the former Umno President.
"We want brave people. They complain but are afraid to come forward, so I have to look carefully into it," said Dr Mahathir when asked when he would reveal the names of Umno leaders involved in money politics.
Apart from threatening to reveal names, Dr Mahathir had also in the past suggested the use of the Internal Security Act against party members involved in vote buying.
He had also claimed that vote-buying was so rampant in Umno that the party was doomed to lose in the next elections.
When asked whether having an independent body to monitor the Umno election would help, he said that the formation of another body would not solve the problem.
"Even if more bodies are formed, but the witnesses refuse to give information to corroborate evidence, they will be useless. To get evidence that is beyond reasonable doubt is very difficult," said Mahathir.
On the action by certain Umno members who gave information on vote buying practice to opposition leaders, Mahathir said they were probably angry with the leadership.
Recently PKR lawmaker Saifuddin Nasution revealed in Parliament that he has evidence to prove candidates for the Umno deputy presidential race are involved in money politics.

tunku : yes, Tun M had no proof of vote buying but his statement that he would made public the names had made so many "candidates" can't sleep well till they have to attack Tun M in their cadet's blogs etc. "siapa makan cili dia terasa pedas".at least with that statement we can somehow "see" those dirty hands.

Mukhriz enlightens the critics

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the BN MP for Jerlun, was recently castigated in the Press and elsewhere for advocating the abolition of vernacular education — but this may testify more to our own insecurities about individual ethnic identities than what the first-term MP actually said.

“I was particularly careful not to use words like ‘abolish’, so for it still to be reported that way — with headlines that are quite sensational — is disappointing.

This is why I need to clarify the issue again,” he told Malay Mail at Parliament.

“I may have been misunderstood in that the only thing I touched on was the medium of instruction. I feel that there needs to be one language. In Singapore, it’s English; other countries have their own languages. In Japan, it’s Japanese of course. This unifies us.”

His main concern was the growing sense of racial polarisation in Malaysia: “The perception, at least, is that we are all heading separate ways — that the forces pulling us apart are getting stronger. Things today appear to have gone from bad to worse; people are talking about why politics is still based on racial lines — and I think our divided education is a major factor.”

Referring to the Razak Report of 1956 and the Barnes report of 1961, Mukhriz said that even early in the nation’s history, government leaders were already concerned about the divisive dangers of a multi-streamed national education system.

“Today, I fear that we are in some kind of denial syndrome that will not get any better if left unattended: To say that the disunity we see now is not at least partly the result of the education system that we have — well, I haven’t seen any clear evidence contrary to what I think is the case.

“This really isn’t anything original. A lot of people have thought this way before me, and the fact remains that we have to start at a young age if we’re to instill the right culture and values that bring people together.”

Was it, however, too late to make the necessary changes? Vernacular education appears increasingly to have become entrenched in our political vocabulary as an inalienable constitutional right.

“I’d rather not think it’s too late. That would be giving up, and we admit that we don’t mind if it gets worse. It all boils down to the realisation that we do have a problem, and the first thing we need is political will.”

He argued against the common assumption that vernacular education was backed by a constitutional guarantee: “Article 152 clearly states that one has the right to learn and teach one’s mother tongue — it does not say we have the right to learn in our mother tongue.

“There’s a vast difference by virtue of a single preposition: in. The fact that we have vernacular schools is, I think, a part of the discretionary authority of the minister. As (Deputy Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib (Razak) said, as long as you want it, we will allow it.

“In this sense it’s a privilege — he can’t say he will ‘allow it’ if it was a right enshrined in the Constitution, can he? It’d be a law and it wouldn’t be for him to allow or disallow it.”

However, Mukhriz admitted that national schools needed a great deal of improvement, and vernacular schools could lead the way: “There are many things practised by vernacular schools that are good. The way they teach mathematics, for example — and this has nothing to do with Mandarin because it’s now done in English — and their methods, should be emulated.

“We must pick out the things they are doing right and make sure that national schools also do the same.

I’d really like to see the day when all Malaysians of all races voluntarily send their children to national schools — if they themselves felt compelled to do this because national schools provided the best education, then the whole subject wouldn’t arise.”

He added that there were currently some 50,000 non- Chinese children in Chinese schools, which indicated to some extent the confidence parents felt in the ability of vernacular schools.

“I also said that languages like Mandarin and Tamil should be made compulsory in national schools for those who consider it their mother tongue, and optional for those who don’t. Imagine an Indian who speaks good Mandarin, or a Malay speaking good Tamil — this in itself also creates unity. Surely it must be good?”

Vernacular school organisations, however, protect their independence fiercely.

The powerful Dong Jiao Zong (the federation of Chinese school committees’ and teachers’ associations) recently threatened to take to the streets in a nationwide protest against continued use of English in the teaching of science and mathematics.

“I think they’re missing the point,” said Mukhriz, whose father (former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed) initiated the policy in 2003. “The whole idea of teaching maths and science in English isn’t to improve English proficiency — it’s to provide access to important knowledge in science and mathematics, and later to use English as a means of obtaining this information”.


tunku : i guess those who opposing the idea are the one who wants all malaysian to be divided and never unites.again we hope one day there will be only one type of school and languages like mandarin , arabic and tamil be taught in it.bahasa malaysia and english, of course as the main languages.

Dr M: Yes, they lobbied for judicial appointments

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today backed his son Mukhriz's allegation that the Bar Council had lobbied for the appointment of judges during the former’s tenure.
However, Mahathir said the lobbying process was done "indirectly".
"Yes, there was lobbying, there were people (from the Bar Council) that lobbied (for the appointment of judges) but whether or not I appointed them is a different story.
"There were people who talked (so the lobbying did take place) but indirectly-lah" he told reporters at a press conference held after attending an event in Kuala Lumpur.
Asked to elaborate, Mahathir said: "Currently they want to have the power to appoint judges, the same lawyers that asked for this will then face the same judges in court that they picked and if the judge says something to these lawyers they can say 'I was the one that appointed you, aren't you grateful?'"
Quizzed on when the lobbying occurred, Mahathir gave another cryptic answer and said that he "moves around often but hears about it."
"If somebody whispers something like 'this judge is not suitable for appointment', I will know. The ears are open all the time so I can definitely hear," he added.
Mukhriz while debating on the Judicial Appointment Commission Bill in Parliament yesterday claimed that representatives from the Bar had met with 'someone influential' in the appointment of judges at a dinner organised by the British High Commission back then.
The Umno Youth leader, who also present at this evening's event, revealed that the 'someone influential' was his father's former political secretary Matthias Chang.
The Bar Council has denied the allegation, saying they "would never think of doing such things."
Welcomes decision on IJN
On another matter, Mahathir welcomed the government's decision to defer the proposed sale of the National Heart Institute to Sime Darby.
He said it was a good decision as the specialist hospital "holds a special place in the hearts of the public."
"Well, I am very glad... I think I posted something on my blog today saying that I don’t think the privatisation of IJN is a good idea. It is a unique institution that you cannot find anywhere else," he said.
Mahathir added that IJN is an efficiently operated hospital and was loved by the public as anybody regardless of their income background can afford to seek medical attention there.
He further said that privatisation of government agencies should only be done if it would benefit the people.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak today announced that the deal has been postponed until an in-depth review is undertaken by the relevant ministries.
In another development, Mahathir reiterated that he does not have enough evidence to name the Umno members involved in money politics.
He said several witnesses have refused to step forward and he cannot force them to do so.
Mahathir had repeatedly said in the past that money politics in Umno is rife especially in the building up to the fight for the deputy presidency in the party polls scheduled for next March.
He then issued a threat to reveal the names of those involved if the party leadership failed to act.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Cabinet shelves IJN sale proposal

The cabinet has decided not to proceed with the proposed sale of the national heart institute (IJN) to Sime Darby.
MCA president Ong Tee Keat revealed this today at a press conference held at his Transport Ministry in Putrajaya.
Details of the cabinet decision is expected to be announced by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak this evening.
Yesterday, Najib said the government in principle agreed with the Sime Darby proposal to buy a stake in the heart institute.
Following that many quarters expressed their opposition to the proposed deal, expressing concern that Sime Darby's fee structure would be too high for the poor.
Doctors make a stand
Earlier today, IJN specialists issued a statement stating that they were happy to serve the institute in its present form.
The specialists said that they do not wish to become 'scapegoats' in the proposed privatisation of the institute.
In a statement signed by 33 of the 35 medical consultants working for IJN, they stressed that the proposed privatisation was not a response towards their demands for better pay.
"We would like to reiterate our commitment to serve IJN in its current form and want to stress that the move must not be seen as a response to our demands for better pay," the statement said.
The doctors added that the medical personnel were not at all involved in the negotiations for the proposed takeover.

tunku : a very good decision by the cabinet. there should be no further discussion about IJN being privatised as the doctors there too are happy with current scenario.