KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 (Bernama) -- The Information Ministry will create a special segment on RTM's news bulletin every Sunday for bloggers to directly comment on issues. Its minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the 20-minute programme, starting on April 20, would be broadcast on RTM1 as one of the segments of Warta Perdana, the prime news bulletin. He said the special segment was created not just to provide an avenue for bloggers to voice their opinions on various issues, but also to prove the government's openness in dealing with the alternative media. "As stated before, the ministry would be more open with the alternative media, so we decided to have this special slot for bloggers, to discuss current issues or issues they wish to raise. "I believe this is a step forward which the people have been waiting for and welcome," he told a press conference at his office in Angkasapuri here Thursday. Ahmad Shabery said the decision also showed that the government had always been confident of the people's mandate all this while, hence showing the strength of the government which needed not worry and hide its motives in whatever situation. On the selection of bloggers to be interviewed, he said this would be determined by the RTM selection panel from time to time, depending on the issue to be discussed. "We look at the issue, not the personality. Besides the well-known bloggers, we will also feature new ones. We leave it to RTM, this is not for the ministry to decide." On the possibility of the guest commentators (bloggers) getting out of control or speaking with no restraint, he believed they would follow the rules of conduct set. But the ministry's openness would indirectly encourage the bloggers interviewed to be more responsible with what they posted on the Internet, he said. "This is a process of educating the public, that the government’s openness should be viewed positively. This is an avenue for them to convey their feelings and opinions in a courteous way. I am confident the bloggers will respect this openness." Ahmad Shabery also announced the cabinet's decision to broadcast live the question-and-answer session in Parliament every day of the parliamentary sitting from April 30. He said the matter was agreed upon by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and the other cabinet ministers at their meeting on Wednesday. "The 30-minute programme featuring the question-and-answer session will begin at 10am on each day of parliamentary sitting. "We view the cabinet's willingness to allow the live broadcast as indicative of the government's increasing confidence, openness and transparency as promised to the people." He said the programme would be aired by RTM1, while the Klasik Nasional radio channel would include interviews with parliamentarians, including from the opposition.
tunku : a very good and welcome move by the government.Syabas.we need to listen to everyone.then only we will no the reality, the real world.
HULU LANGAT, April 3 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Thursday reiterated his call for Umno to hold an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) for the well-being of the party as well as to discuss the party's poor performance during the last general election. He said among others, the EGM could discuss amendments to the party constitution, including the matter of abolishing its nomination quota system, which would permit members to contest top party posts at the Annual General meeting (AGM) in December without having to secure the minimum nominations as stipulated at present. "If we disregard Umno members views and arrogantly dismiss their demands it might lead to a total rejection of Umno especially if the opposition alliance show they can provide better governance. If something is not done, my fear is that Umno may lose out completely. "If we believe in the well-being of the people and being transparent, there is nothing better we can do than to respond to their demands," he told reporters in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday denying speculation that he would step down as prime minister. Dr Mahathir had earlier launched the Rotary Youth Club Awards (RYCA) here Thursday. Speculation on the matter arose following calls by some leaders, including Mahathir, that Abdullah should step down to assume responsibility for the Barisan Nasional's poor showing in the March 8 general election. Mahathir said the EGM could be held if the majority of Umno's Supreme Council (MT) members supported it and could serve as a platform for members to voice their views. He said that contrary to what people said about him, when he was prime minister he always gave people the opportunity to voice their views even if they were opposed to his. "An example was when Datuk Musa Hitam (now Tun) quit as the deputy prime minister. I gave everyone a chance to speak on it and though I did not favour it, they proposed to send a delegation to meet him in London to try and persuade him to change his mind. "When he (Musa) decided he wanted to become deputy president (of Umno), he got the post. I did not try to prevent it because it was the wish of the MT for him to take up the post, not mine," he said. He did not deny there had been "yes men" during his time but said those who were vehemently against him never got thrown out of Umno or were stopped from speaking. Dr M: Vote Abdullah out in upcoming Umno polls KUALA LUMPUR: Umno members should vote Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi out in the upcoming party elections if they are concerned about the situation in the party and country, said former party president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He said party members should “find a better leader” who was conscious and concerned of the people’s feelings. The Opposition won many votes in the general election because Umno members voiced their unhappiness against the leadership and made a massive vote switch, he said after launching the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards 2008 organised by the Melawati Rotary Club yesterday. To a question that an extraordinary general meeting was unlikely to be held to abolish the nomination quota for members to contest Umno’s top posts, and that Abdullah had reiterated that he would not step down as Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir said: “The only way for members, if they really feel strongly about it, is to ensure that Pak Lah gets defeated in the election. Unfortunately, this will result in Umno also being defeated.” “They say we will split the party if there is a contest. Which is better – to split the party with the possibility of the party coming back, as in the case of Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah who challenged him in 1987) or lose the (general) election completely and people regard Umno as irrelevant?” he said. He said that if Abdullah was not going to step down, he should give the people the “chance to make their choice” and convene an Umno EGM. Dr Mahathir said the supreme council members’ duties were to abide by the people’s views but if they just wanted to support Abdullah they would not be Umno’s supreme council but “Pak Lah’s supreme council”.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today firmly stood behind his boss Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, saying that he would support the premier in restoring people’s trust and confidence in the government. In reiterating his support to Abdullah as the leader of the government and Umno despite pressure on the prime minister to step down, Najib said Abdullah still commanded the support and respect of the cabinet and Umno members for his leadership. "The prime minister has expressed his intention to continue leading the nation as he still enjoys the support and respect in the cabinet and among party members,” Najib was quoted as saying by Bernama today. "He (Abdullah) has decided to continue with his leadership and has the right to do so," he said. Najib said that he would play his role as Abdullah’s deputy in both the government and party to reinvent Umno and restore the people's trust and confidence in the government. "We'll work together as a team in the cabinet and in Umno. This will be our primary task to be focused on," he added. BN's heavy loss He also said that demands for the prime minister to step down were merely the views of certain quarters. The calls asking for Abdullah’s resignation has been getting louder by the day to the extent that the premier had to reiterate his stand yesterday that he would not run away from his responsibilities as the prime minister. His detractors, including his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad, are calling for him to resign to assume responsibility for the Barisan Nasional's poor showing in last month's general election. The BN lost its long-held two-thirds majority in Parliament after winning only 140 of the 222 parliamentary seats while the opposition captured 82 seats. It also lost control of Abdullah’s home state of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah besides failing to regain Kelantan from PAS. Abdullah is also expected to face challenge from former Umno vice president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for the party presidency post in the December party polls.
Najib throws his lot with Pak Lah, invites Dr M's rapid-fire attack Murky behind-the-scene play for Umno leadership gets just a little clearer
KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today signalled that he was a tag team with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi – a move which will make him a marked man by those who want to force the Prime Minister out of office. And also make it easier for Umno supporters to choose which team they will support in the fight for control of the party. Najib’s statement comes a few days after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad withdrew his support for Najib as Abdullah’s successor and implied that he was a weak leader. Dr Mahathir, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and other Umno veterans have asked Abdullah to take responsibility for the party’s dismal performance in the polls, and step down. Dr Mahathir upped the ante at a gathering in Petaling Jaya when he said that Abdullah carried no shame. Najib said today that the calls for the PM to resign were merely the views of certain quarters, pledged as the “second man’’ in the government to help Abdullah reinvent Umno and restore people’s faith and trust in the government. “We will work together as a team in the Cabinet and Umno. This will be our primary task to be focused on," he said, adding that Abdullah had the support of the Cabinet and Umno members. Najib’s statement will end any pretense of civility between him and Dr Mahathir. He can expect to face the full brunt of attack of the former prime minister, beginning today. After March 8, several messages were sent through intermediaries telling Najib that if he distanced himself from Abdullah, he would receive the support of the group working to remove the PM. But if he chose to remain loyal to the PM, he will be fair game. This ultimatum of sorts has troubled Najib over the past two weeks because he knows that his alleged links to the Altantuya case and defence deals will be raked up and displayed for public viewing. But in the final analysis, he believes that he sinks or swims with Abdullah. Distancing himself from Abdullah may make short term sense but there is little guarantee that he will occupy the position as party president or will be given the freedom to run the party and country if he linked up with the Mahathir camp. Najib is also not a politician given to risk taking. He has always been willing to bide his time. Over the next few days, Abdullah could come out and endorse Najib. Still, for some politicians it is too early to start taking sides. There is too much at stake and the current sentiment in Umno against the leadership is too raw. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, who is being touted by the Mahathir camp as a possible candidate for the party president’s position, remained coy about his political leanings today. He did not take any bait to bash critics of the PM. When asked if Umno needed a strong leader to reform the party, he replied: “In any political party you need a strong leader to move things through and to improve the situation and to regain the loss of confidence of the public.’ Asked whether Abdullah could provide the leadership to revive Umno and BN, he said: “That’s up to you to perceive. I don’t want to answer that question.’’
tunku: yes pak lah still enjoy supports but only from the leaders level and not the grassroot level.you have lost 5+1 states and still saying that you have strong support?keep dreaming pak lah and najib.well with najib latest statement , it means that now someone should contest against him too in december.we don't need leader like najib.if pak lah should be responsible for bad result, najib to be blamed too.
KUALA LUMPUR: Any speculation on the Prime Minister stepping down should be put to an end because it creates political uncertainty that may affect the country's image and create worries among local and foreign investors, said Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, said whatever speculation involving the country's leader was not good and it might be a deliberate ploy by certain parties with ill intent. "If you go to another country and there is similar speculation about the country's leader, it will create worries whether there is any truth to it or not," he told reporters Thursday after his official visit to the Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF) here. "Political uncertainties caused by such speculation in any country, will not benefit the country. It will lead to great losses because people will be worried and fearful about what will happen and whether there will be changes in terms of leadership and government. That is what we don't want." Muhyiddin was asked to comment on whether such speculation should be put to a stop. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had on Wednesday denied the speculation following calls by some leaders, including former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that he should step down to assume responsibility for Barisan Nasional’s poor showing in the March general election. Asked whether such calls for Abdullah to step down were appropriate, Muhyiddin said: "That is their own assessment. It is a matter of individual perception. They want to make such demands. That is their right but as I said, it creates all sorts of speculation. It is up to them to consider whether it is appropriate or not." On his personal view whether such calls were appropriate, he said: "What's important is that it is not me. What's important are the people who made such calls. They make the consideration whether to make such calls or not. Whatever it is, it is a political statement." When asked whether Barisan Nasional and Umno needed a strong leader to reform the ruling coalition and the party, he said, "In any political party, you need a strong leadership to move things through and to improve the situation and to regain the loss of confidence of the public." Asked whether Abdullah could provide the strong leadership needed to revive Barisan and Umno, he said, "That's up to you to perceive. I don't want to answer that question." Pressed further, he said, "We work on a collective basis. (There is) not just one leader in Umno. There are many leaders in the party. We don't just depend on one leader. It's a collective responsibility." On whether he would consider that Umno was facing a crisis since the calls for the Prime Minister to resign came from within the party, he said, "It is not a full-blown crisis. It will be a full-blown crisis if things are not managed well." When asked to comment on former Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat's statement that Umno and the Malays were on the verge of losing power after Barisan lost several states to the Opposition, Muhyiddin said that many Umno and Malay leaders expressed similar sentiments. "Some even regard that Umno is in the danger zone. It is good that some felt that way because if we are careless it could lead to disaster. It is a reminder for us to rectify our weaknesses." Asked on the weaknesses that led Umno to the danger zone, he said, "We acknowledge certain matters like leadership, machinery, the Opposition pounding many issues and using technology, Internet, websites and blogs to influence voters, attitudes adopted by voters and internal problems within the party in terms of choosing the right candidates."
tunku :speculations won't make pak lah resign and if it happen then it's good news.but one thing for sure is that if pak lah resign,70% of the umno and bn's problem will be solved.
PUTRAJAYA: Umno youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein will not defend his post during the party elections in December. He said he made known his decision early to pave way for those who want to vie for the post later as well as for the betterment of the party and for the wing to move forward. However, he did not state which post he was vying for. He added that he would wait for the party and delegates to decide if he would move on to higher posts such as the vice-president or deputy president posts. "If the party wants me to move on, I will; but at the end of the day, it is not for me to decide," he said. Those whose names had cropped up recently showing interest to lead the youth wing are Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo. Hishammuddin said he had already planned to let go of the youth chief post a long time ago but did not want to make it public then. He changed his mind and decided to state his stand after hearing the two men's offer for the post and their intention not to challenge him, he said. "After being at the helm of the youth wing for 10 years from the time there was a split, I find the youths are still united and hear their call for the new generation to bring transformation to the wing and the party. "If the wing is in a situation where it does not know my plans in December, that becomes a barrier for us to move forward. "So it is time for me to give way for new faces to lead the wing in December," he told reporters Thursday after announcing the second report card of the Education Development Masterplan 2006-2010. Asked if he felt pressured to let go of the post after hearing both Mukhriz and Dr Mohamad Khir's interest, he said he was not denying that he supported Mukhriz. On whether he wanted to see his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin contesting the chief post, Hishammuddin said it was not for him to say and that he could make decisions for himself only. On his personal preference for the post, Hishammuddin said he had a personal preference but would keep it a secret as he had only one vote. Hishammuddin, however, advised those who are vying for the youth chief post to always put their party's interest first, adding that he would continue to lead, guide and monitor the wing until his responsibility ends in December. "I will always be with the party. I am confident that Barisan Nasional and Umno's struggle will always be relevant. "We have gone through situations where we have to reinvent and revamp ourselves," he said, adding that the party's duty now was to rebuild the party and hear the voice of the people and grassroots instead of chasing for positions.
Hisham not defending Umno Youth post Hishammuddin Hussein today said that he would not be defending his Umno Youth chief post in the party polls in December. He however refused to confirm if he would be contesting for one of the three vice-president posts, stating that he was leaving it to party members and delegates. Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya today, Hishammuddin said that he was making an early announcement on his intention not to defend his Umno Youth post so as to allow others to be prepared to contest for the post. Hishammuddin has been the head of the youth wing since 2000. He also refused to comment if he would back Umno Youth exco member Mukhriz Mahathir for the post. Mukhriz had previously said that he would vie for the coveted post if Hishammuddin was not defending it. Other potential contestants include Hishammuddin’s deputy, Khairy Jamaluddin, and former Selangor mentri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo. The party polls will be held from Dec 16 to 20.
More to follow tunku : that is the best.pemuda umno needs new blood as their leader but of course not kj.so far mukhriz and khir toyo already said their intention to go for the post but i believe it would be better if khir toyo go for the vice president post.
As flattered as he was when told that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had named him as a good candidate for the Umno presidency, Muhyiddin Yassin kept his cards close to his chest without a hint of his intentions come party polls this December. At the sidelines of a seminar on Malaysian Government Financial Assistance for Malaysian Companies in Kuala Lumpur this evening, the international trade and industry minister was prodded repeatedly on this issue. But Muhyiddin kept his cool and replied: "That is very flattering. But that is his (Dr Mahathir) view and I don't want to comment very much. Everyone is entitled to their own views". "Being a former leader, he has his own assessment of the situation and normally we all respect his view, not that I agree or disagree," he said. Pressed further on whether he would vie for the party’s top post, the Umno vice president said: "I'm of course contesting but which position I'm not going to tell you now." Muhyiddin also took the opportunity to refute Mahathir's claim that the current cabinet was made up of "yes men". "No! Even during Tun's (Mahathir) time, we were accused of being yes men. And now he says that we are yes men in Pak Lah's (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) cabinet. "Sometimes we say yes sometimes we say no in issues of concern to the nation. When we speak up, we speak inside and not outside. "We speak with open minds in the cabinet. This also happened during Mahathir's time. But this perception of being a yes man is not correct because we've expressed our stand many times," he said.
tunku : i hope muhyiddin will go for deputy president post, i'm sure he'll get the support.
Umno information chief Muhammad Muhd Taib today lashed out at former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad for launching scathing attacks on his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Defending his party president during a press conference at his Rural And Regional Development Ministry in Putrajaya, Muhammad said people should stop pointing fingers at Abdullah. "What Mahathir and people are doing now is very, very wrong. It is not fair to point fingers at one person when everybody knows there were many contributing factors. "It is very unfair to dump the blame on the PM. This is unfair and done in bad faith," he said. Muhammad was referring to "unfair" comments from Mahathir made at a forum yesterday on how Abdullah was shameless in refusing to resign for Barisan Nasional’s biggest election setback last month. 'Not a level playing field' He pointed out that there were also other contributing factors to BN’s performance including the role played by bloggers, news portals and short messaging service (SMS). "It wasn’t a level-playing field (between the BN and opposition). BN did not use the portals, SMS and ICT (information and communications technology) to the fullest," he said. Muhammad noted that the BN lost in the "virtual elections" while opposition had cashed in on using video CDs showing temple demolitions which caused the swing of Indian voters. The former Selangor mentri besar also questioned why are the people picking on Abdullah when other leaders have also previously lost in the elections. "We lost Terengganu in 1999. How come nobody asked Mahathir to step down then? When PAS lost Terengganu in 2004, how come nobody told (PAS spiritual leader) Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to step down?" he quizzed. Muhammad noted that Mahathir was a good leader but his comments are not helping the party at this particular time. "We are trying to fight one person but our guru is hitting us at the same time. Nobody can call for Mahathir to be disciplined because he is kebal (untouchable). This is too much," he told reporters. Football analogy Asked whether ‘yes-men’ in the party had made Abdullah’s administration different from his predecessor, Muhammad said ‘no’. "The ‘yes-men’ did not make a difference to the administration. I was under Mahathir since 1982 for 11 years. I think the way they did business and dealt with things is almost the same," he asserted. "Leaders are saying things that are pedas (scathing), bebankan (burdensome) and they label Pak Lah with all kinds of labels. That’s unfair," he added. The Umno veteran also said that what some party leaders are trying to do in abolishing the nominations quota system is like changing the rules of a football game. "It is like changing the rules [...] and the goalpost itself while the game is going on. It should happen after the game," he said. With that, Muhammad stressed that the abolition of the nominations system should be done after the party’s elections in December this year.
tunku : khaled nordin was telling that pak lah's cabinet is more open compare to tun's cabinet but mat taib said it's the same.who's telling lie here. mat taib for your info, tun mahathir only lost 2 states in 1999 and he won in his home state.where else pak lah lost 5+1 states including his home state.can you see any difference there??? how come a person who is not cleared by ACA for election candidate can becomes a minister.only under pak lah because he knows mat taib will be his strong hatchet man. i am 100% sure BN will never wins back selangor under mat taib.
SUNGKAI, April 2 (Bernama) -- The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) will boycott two events if the government fails to decide on its five demands by then. The events are Labour Day celebrations organised by the Human Resources Ministry at the Bukit Jalil Stadium on May 3 and Public Sector Employees' Day assembly at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on May 29. However, Cuepacs would hold a separate Labour Day celebration in Johor Baharu on May 1 which was expected to draw 1,000 union representatives nationwide, said its president, Omar Osman, after a meeting of Cuepacs Congress Council here Wednesday. The five demands are a RM2,000 honorarium payment regardless of positions, housing allowance increase from RM180 to RM230, improvement in the Efficiency Level Assessment, reinstatement of critical allowances for support group II which was withdrawn in February, extension of the compulsory retirement age from 56 years to 60 years. Omar said Cuepacs would reconsider its decision to boycott the events if the government was willing to negotiate the demands before May 29. He said the move to boycott was not a threat but he admitted that it was drastic. Cuepacs had to make the heavy decision in the interest of all public sector employees, especially those in support group I and II, he added. Omar said Cuepacs wanted the five demands to be implemented based strictly on the discussions between the congress and the government since August. He said he was disappointed with the government's delay in making decisions and added that the government had failed in terms of its delivery system as it had failed to decide on the demands even though Cuepacs had asked for it over six months ago. He said the Cuepacs Congress Council had also agreed to send an official letter to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to express regret over his reported "shyness" to discuss Cuepacs' request for the RM2,000 honorarium with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He said Cuepacs would hold briefing sessions at all departments nationwide on the demands from next week. Meanwhile, Omar advised all public sector employees in the states run by "Pakatan Rakyat" (People's Alliance) to work as usual and report to Cuepacs should there be any form of discrimination and injustices. Cuepacs would meet union leaders in Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor in June, he said.
tunku : when you have weak leader, everyone starts demanding and blackmailing.
PUTRAJAYA, April 2 (Bernama) -- Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin Wednesday dispelled the notion that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is surrounded by `yes men' who are afraid to speak their mind. On the contrary, he said, they were bolder in voicing their opinions under the Abdullah administration as his leadership was more open. "One thing that is different under Pak Lah (Abdullah), he doesn't dictate. We are free to say anything," he told reporters here Wednesday. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Tuesday said members of the Umno Supreme Council (MT) and Cabinet were 'yes men' who were afraid to express views that differed from Abdullah's. Dr Mahathir was also reported to have said that Umno could be rehabilitated if all members were bold in expressing their views and "if they still refuse to voice whatever is the truth, then Umno will face destruction". Describing the claim as unfounded, Mohamed Khaled said every MT member had their own stand on any particular issue. "What does he (Dr Mahathir) know, he does not sit in these (MT and Cabinet) meetings," he said. Mohamed Khaled said an example that showed that the MT members dared to express their own opinion and were not acting merely as 'yes men' was on the quota issue in the contest for top posts in Umno. "Look at the reaction on the issue... some had said yes, some said otherwise. It (the news) was reported in the press... who supported and who did not," he added.
tunku : at last khaled nordin spoke.i wonder why this chaps like him and nazri shuts their mouth. just because some of you agrees to abolish the quota system does not mean that you are brave. pak lah did not comment on it and this is just a show off thing.what you know about tun mahathir's handling of cabinet as you too did not sit in those meetings.for your information, tun always gets the update in the cabinet.
PUTRAJAYA, April 2 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday denied speculations that he would step down as prime minister. Abdullah reiterated his stand that he would not run away from his responsibility as the prime minister. "I am here. I am here. I am here. They make all the speculations that I want to run away, I've resigned. Why should I resign. "My Government has got a strong majority (although) not the two-thirds (majority), but very strong... that is the stand of support. Why I must run away from my entrusted responsibility," he told Bernama after a "four-eye" meeting with Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said at his office here. Abdullah was asked to comment on the speculations. Speculations on the matter arose following calls by some leaders, including his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that Abdullah should step down to assume responsibility for the Barisan Nasional's poor showing in last month's general election. The BN lost its long-held two-thirds majority in parliament after winning only 140 of the 222 parliamentary while the Opposition captured 82 seats. The BN also lost control of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah besides failing to regain Kelantan from PAS. Abdullah's lack of public appearance lately also lent credence to the speculation.
tunku : abdullah man with no shame and full of arrogance
(Bernama) -- All the 1,938 members of the Village Security and Development Committees (JKKK) as well as members of the District, Municipal and City Councils from Umno have been asked to resign effective yesterday following the defeat of the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the state in the March 8 general election. Kedah Umno Liaison chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the decision was reached at a meeting of the Liaison Body chaired by him at the Kedah Umno headquarters, here last night. He said all the JKKK members, appointed for a two-year term by the BN government in 2006 and last year, who attended the meeting agreed unanimously to resign. "However, effective yesterday, all the JKKK members will be appointed as Federal JKKK members and their appointment would be gazetted in the near future," he told reporters after the meeting. Mahdzir, who was the former Kedah Menteri Besar, said the functions of the Federal JKKK were similar to that of the state JKKK. Earlier, all members of the local councils from the BN component parties had relinquished their posts after the BN lost in the state in the recent general election.
tunku : mahdzir khalid should resign as Kedah Umno and BN chief. Shame on you, please follow the footstep of Khir Toyo.you think that pak lah will be there forever to guard you.he has just given you a new job(deputy chairman of tourism malaysia) despite you lost the state of kedah,just concentrate on your new job.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Wanted: Independent-minded person, personality and charisma optional but must seem able to rise above the ashes of Election 2008 and sound like a reformist on one day and a status quo lover on another. And oh yes, it would help if this person is willing to dump some mud on Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his son-in-law Khairy Jamaludin just to prove his credentials. This is not a fictitious job. Stung by the election results of 2008, troubled by the weight of opinion in the party shifting against the party president and Prime Minister and sensitive to what a political tsunami can do to political ambitions, a growing number of Umno leaders have begun hedging. For some of them like Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, it is a question of political opportunism. He senses that in this fluid system, neither Abdullah nor his anointed successor Najib Tun Razak is safe. He knows that he is being watched and discussed by the party rank-and-file, who expect him to show “leadership’’. So there are days when he flirts with dismantling the party quota system and lends voice to grassroots grievances and there are days when he speaks like a statesmen. For some of them like former Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khir Toyo, it is a question of political survival. His state was snatched from him by the Opposition and he no longer has the choice job of the Umno state liaison chief. Craving political relevance, he has started a blog and tried to remodel himself as an independent-minded politician. To be fair to him, he made his move 24 hours after March 8, blaming Abdullah and Khairy for the huge defeats suffered by the Barisan Nasional. Never mind that he and Khairy were close pals and had formed an informal political pact going into the party election year. He discovered early that his good friend was a major political liability, and will in the days ahead cast more aspersions on the son-in-law’s influence on decision-making in Umno. When he was asked at a function yesterday if Khairy had any influence on BN candidates in the recent general election, he fudged his answer. He said he gave the names for Barisan candidates in Selangor and this was scrutinised by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and party secretary-general. “But I will admit that there were some outside influences,” he noted. Hard to blame Muhyiddin, Khir Toyo, Ali Rustam and other members of the Umno Supreme Council for posturing. They are auditioning for future employment. They understand that the Umno grassroots is in a mood to find a scapegoat for Election 2008. At the moment, it is a short list of Abdullah, Khairy, and the PM’s circle of advisors. But the list of scapegoats could include Umno supreme council members who do not exhibit enough “independence’’ or “strong leadership”. With party elections in December, some supreme council members are worried about being punished by the ground. Some of them are torn between allegiance to the party president and loyalty to themselves. As a compromise, their supporters and aides are speaking to reporters and sending encouraging messages to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. For Muhyiddin, even though he was given a senior Cabinet position, he still carries the wounds of not being consulted enough by Abdullah over the last four years. There have been SMSes floating around about him teaming up with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to challenge the Abdullah-Najib team for the top two positions in the party. This SMS is likely to be the work of mischief makers but no one should write off the possibility of such a pairing. Not in this is the season of hedging and political auditioning.
tunku : speak out for the truth. If umno want to survive they should speak out and not only listen.Put the party struggle as your priority not self interest.
"UMNO PASCA PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE 12: SATU PENILAIAN"
Umno's sins of commission and omission
It was to be the first Umno-dominated forum to discuss what went so disastrously wrong for the party and its Barisan Nasional allies in the 12th general election on March 8. Umno supporters’ club MyKMU.net brought in Youth executive council member Mukhriz Mahathir, Johor information chief Dr Mohd Fuad Zarkashi and former Selangor head Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, but the main attraction was the ascerbic former party president, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The frustration that has run deep in many sections of the party spilled over into three hours of pin-the-blame-on-the-president, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Mohd Fuad kicked off the three-hour session by comparing the party to a weary frog. He said Umno has become lethargic because of many leaders who are sluggish but that a change of leadership could raise the party to its glory days again. Using the 1999 elections as a benchmark, Mohd Fuad said then president Dr Mahathir Mohamad had instituted many changes after that setback. These included the formation of the Puteri Umno wing to reach out to young voters. Although Umno did well in 2004 under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - who had taken over from Mahathir in November 2003 - the party saw unprecedented losses last month. BN not only lost a long-held two-thirds majority in Parliament, it also lost four additional states to opposition parties and failed to take back Kelantan which PAS has ruled since 1990. But unlike 1999, the current leaders have been slow to react, said Mohd Fuad, who proposed reform of the Umno Youth wings and the supreme council. “Intellectual ability is becoming more important in the current age especially for youth movements,” he said, suggesting that Umno has to be managed like a country if it is to stay relevant. Umno ‘at the crossroads’ Mukhriz offering few arguments beyond pointing to Abdullah’s “weak and corrupt” leadership. Peppering his speech with anecdotes on how he has joined Umno only recently - because a “certain family member” had blocked his entry - he had audience in stitches. “But I understand why my father (Mahathir) prevented me from joining earlier. He didn’t want to be influenced by family members when he made major decisions. “When my father made decisions, he only wanted to be influenced by the people and not his family members.” The rest of his 15-minute time slot was spent on taking potshots at Abdullah and son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also Umno Youth deputy head and new parliamentarian for Rembau. “We have reached the crossroads now and need to discuss issues which determine the survival of Umno and Malays, although there are those who don’t want us to speak up,” said Mukhriz. “In fact, there is a SMS going around preventing Umno members from attending this forum. Some quarters are preventing us from speaking up today because there is a problem with the country, party and leadership.” He identified the main problems as nepotism, cronyism, rising inflation, corruption, rising crime and the failure of positive effects of development to trickle down to the public. “On top of that, we have a prime minister who can’t solve these issues,” Mukhriz noted. The mainstream media also does not reflect the realities on the ground, and "only serve the interest of selected individuals”. Because members are afraid of losing their positions and contracts, nobody says anything “...and we are afraid until we have forgotten our struggle for the Malay agenda”. “If you don’t see the flaws of Pak Lah’s leadership, then there is no need for change. But if you see what I see, if you realise what I realise and if you want to seek the truth like me then I urge you stand beside me to seek the solution, truth together and convince the people especially the Malays in Umno,” said Mukhriz. Mohd Khir’s 10-year theory Mohd Khir steered clear of criticising Abdullah, reasoning that Umno is experiencing a common 10-year cycle - as had happened during the 1969 election, about 10 years after the country’s Independence in 1957. In 1981, the third prime minister Hussein Onn vacated the post for Mahathir and in 1987, there was the Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah-Mahathir battle in Umno. In 1999, Umno again faced a crisis when deputy president Anwar Ibrahim was sacked after a fallout with Mahathir. This, he explained, was cyclical and all the BN component parties too face such setbacks. Just as the New Economic Policy came out of the 1969 electoral setbacks, new policies will have to be crafted to address the needs of all the people now. “We have to be objective when we look at this and not get emotional,” he said. Mohd Khir (photo, far left) said leadership changes are not the only option - reform of the economic, education, religious and social policies is also necessary. But the audience was hostile. Booed throughout, Mohd Khir's assertion that he is a clean politician was met with shouts of “Liar!” Khir, who remained calm, was repeatedly taunted with questions about alleged cronyism during his tenure as Selangor menteri besar. His answers were met with jeers, prompting the organisers to appeal for decorum. The forum was a robust affair, even leading to a Youth chief from the Sekinchan branch being hustled out of the hall. During the question-and-answer session, Hasnizan Adham (right) had first asked if Umno was coming up with programmes to attract more youth. He then asked if Umno would ever consider taking back former deputy president Anwar Ibrahim, now PKR de facto leader. Before he could even complete his question, other participants erupted in shouts of “Get out!” and “Bastard!”. He was escorted out by the organising team before the situation worsened. The recent elections saw an erosion of support from all communities for BN, which received only 48 percent of the popular vote. Indian support fell to 48 percent from 83 percent in 2004; Chinese votes went down to 35 percent (from 65 percent) and Malay votes dropped to 58 percent (from 63 percent).
PM has 'no shame' for refusing to quit
Veteran ex-leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched his strongest ever attack against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today, and again called for his resignation following disastrous election results. Abdullah, also president Umno, is facing increasing calls to quit from party leaders. "I ask (Abdullah) to resign," the former prime minister, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years, told a gathering of at least 1,000 Umno members. The focus of the meeting was to analyse the March 8 election results but it turned out to be a platform to demand Abdullah's resignation. Umno members criticised Abdullah and the alleged influence son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, who is a deputy leader of the powerful Umno youth wing, has over him in decision-making. "Anyone else would have already resigned but (Abdullah) has no shame," Mahathir, who hand-picked Abdullah to succeed him in October 2003, told a cheering crowd. Dr M: Stand by my side Mahathir said Abdullah had ignored the will of the people, while the veteran's son, Mukhriz, a lawmaker, echoed the call for Abdullah to go. "To bring about (reform), the top leadership has to be held responsible. The prime minister must gracefully withdraw," Mukhriz said. He urged Umno members to speak out and not be intimidated. "Be brave, if you love your country and speak out," he said. "We have been told to keep quiet but I ask you now to stand by my side." Abdullah, 68, has claimed a mandate to rule despite unprecedented election losses, but observers say he is on borrowed time. Senior lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had said he would challenge Abdullah's leadership if he received enough support.
Dr M: Blame the 'Sultan' and the Kid
Umno was thrashed in the general election because of poor selection of candidates by ‘Sultan’ Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and ‘Kid’ Khairy Jamaluddin - so claimed former party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad. In full cry this morning in Petaling Jaya, Mahathir amused some 1,000 party supporters with his caustic wit as he expanded on a pet theory - how Umno has been turned into a “family party” where power is concentrated in the hands of Abdullah and his son-in-law. The event was organised by pro-Mahathir Umno supporters’ group MYKMU.Net, as a post-election forum. The three-hour session first featured three speakers - former Umno Selangor chief Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, Umno Youth executive committee member Mukhriz Mahathir and Johor Umno information chief Dr Mohd Fuad Zarkashi - who analysed why the party had done badly in the March 8 polls. Mahathir, who took the podium alone at the end, kept his audience captivated for about 30 minutes, with his delivery entirely in Bahasa Malaysia. “Of course, everyone knows that the list of candidates is chosen and submitted to Sultan Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) by state leaders but once it reached to the party president, somebody else takes over,” he said. “There is somebody in the ‘next office’ that has a say when choosing the candidates. This led to better and capable Umno candidates being dropped to make way for candidates that ended up losing.” Saying that this nexus is destroying Umno, Mahathir told his audience with trademark sarcasm: “But this is just a rumour, don’t listen to my bad mouth!” To thunderous applause, he continued the verbal offensive against Khairy (right), painting him as a power-broker in Umno and a significant influence on Abdullah’s every decision in politics and economics. “The baffling thing is why Umno leaders so afraid of this kid. The ministers should have no problem to tenyeh (smash) this kid, but it seems that they are too afraid and I don’t know why,” Mahathir said. Abdullah ‘shameless’ Predictably, Abdullah was pulled into the tirade, for his weak leadership of the party and country. “Crises in Umno are normal. When leaders at the time of each crisis could not handle it well, for the sake of the party, they resigned. This particular leader, however, has refused to do so. “This leader is the country’s only prime minister to ever come from an opposition state (Penang)...,” said Mahathir. Loud laughter prompted him to pause before he completed his statement to more laughter: “When I was prime minister, the state I come from (Kedah) belonged to BN. Has he (Abdullah) no shame?” Mahathir said he believes that Abdullah has no option but to step down in order to save Umno from further humiliation and destruction. In this respect, he expressed support for Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to be held immediately. “Umno must conduct an immediate review of the party’s poor performance. The EGM must also discuss the possibility of amending the party constitution,” Mahathir said, explaining that this would enable other leaders to mount a serious challenge for the top post. Umno rules stipulate that any candidate who wants to contest for the presidency must obtain 30 percent of the nominations (currently, 58 of the 191 divisions). The rule was introduced during Mahathir’s tenure “to ensure that only serious candidates” offer their candidacy. However, he is now of the view that “times have changed” and that abolition of the quota system would not be detrimental to the party in any way. “In my time, if anybody wanted to challenge me it was permissible to do so as long as (they had) sufficient support. I never stopped anybody from challenging me,” he said. “But now the quota system has been abused to quell any challenges to the presidency post and this is not right. It must be changed.” He also fielded questions at the end of his presentation, including: Do you think that Najib Abdul Razak is still capable of becoming a good successor now that he seemed to be Pak Lah’s ‘yes’ man? Mahathir: We cannot be exact any more about anything. That is why we need to amend the party constitution so that more capable candidates can challenge if the leadership is seen to be weak. What is your reply to Zam (former information minister Zainuddin Maidin) who blamed you as a factor for BN’s poor performance in the polls? (With a smirk) Yes, I admit this. I don’t want to be seen as supporting a weak leader. I will never support a weak leader. BN people voted against BN because of the party’s weak leadership so I don’t mind being blamed for it. Asked if he would lead a movement to reform Umno, he asked for stronger support for the suggestion, saying “we have to fight together”. There was no doubt of his popularity in this quarter of the party. As he was escorted to his car, it was to shouts of Hidup Mahathir!
Mukhriz backs Najib as Umno chief
Umno Youth executive committee member Mukhriz Mahathir said he would support deputy president Najib Abdul Razak should he challenge Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the party presidency. At a press conference after the MyKMU.net forum in Petaling Jaya today, Mukhriz was asked who he would support to replace Abdullah. “I’ve not made that decision. Of course, I will have to consult my boss (Hishamuddin) to decide and announce where he will go next.” As to whether there is factional fighting within Umno and if he is ready to face the consequences of this, he said the party’s problems “do not come from me”. “The election results everywhere indicate that there is dissatisfaction with the current leadership. Umno members are now voting for other parties in big numbers and this seldom happens. What we want to do is to reassure everyone of Umno’s leadership.” As for the implications, the 44-year-old businessman said that if action is taken against an Umno member for voicing his position, it would only confirm his belief that Umno has no more room for dissent. “Take for instance my letter (calling for Abdullah’s resignation). Although, this was referred to the Umno Youth disciplinary board, no action was taken. And this gives us the confidence to speak up,” he added. He also clarified that he was speaking on his own behalf, although many members share his opinion. Former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was asked again if he had shredded documents prior to the opposition-led coalition taking office in the state. “I didn’t shred any documents,” he said. When told that this involved the state secretary’s office, he replied: “That’s his office, not my office. I also did not give any instructions to shred any documents. Please ask the officer involved. “(Every) three months, we do an audit of the administration and items which are deemed not necessary are destroyed.” Mohd Khir stepped down as Umno head in the state following the loss of Selangor to the opposition in the March 8 elections.
M'sia's ruling party dissidents launch attack on PM Abdullah
(Straits Times) KUALA LUMPUR - RULING party dissidents in Malaysia launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday, saying there is 'something very wrong' with his leadership following disastrous election losses last month.
Led by former leader Mahathir Mohamad, about 2,000 party members gathered at a hotel, in the most serious challenge to Mr Abdullah's leadership since he presided over the ruling National Front coalition's dismal show in the March 8 elections.
The meeting's agenda was to analyse the unprecedented losses suffered in the vote. But as speaker after speaker took the stage, the meeting turned into a free-for-all session to bitterly criticise the 68-year-old prime minister, who is watching his grip on power weakening day by day despite claiming to have the full support of his United Malays National Organisation.
The party is the dominant component of the 14-party National Front.
'We cannot deny the truth when there is a cancer,' said Mahathir, adding that Mr Abdullah has lost touch with reality because he is surrounded by 'yes men.'
'I call on him to resign. Anyone else would have done so already, but he is shameless,' Mr Mahathir said.
Mr Mahathir ruled Malaysia for 22 years before handing over power to Mr Abdullah in 2003. Although Mr Mahathir hand-picked Mr Abdullah, he is now the prime minister's most vocal critic. His son Mukhriz, a senior party official, also urged Mr Abdullah to resign.
'We have reached a crossroads. There is something very wrong with our leadership, which is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,' Mr Mukhriz said to loud applause.
Clear sign of deep crisis in National Front The open display of anger is a clear sign of the deep crisis in the National Front, which is reeling from its worst electoral performance ever, raising the possibility of the opposition dislodging it one day.
For the first time in history, the National Front lost five of Malaysia's 13 states. It also lost its traditional two-thirds majority for the first time since 1969.
The election results were 'not a wake up call but a slap in the face,' Mr Mukhriz said.
He also accused Mr Abdullah of failing to control rampant corruption, nepotism and cronyism at high levels, apparently referring to his son-in-law, Mr Khairy Jamaluddin, who is believed to wield enormous influence in the government.
Mr Mukhriz said party members had received anonymous messages warning them not to attend Tuesday's conference.
'We have been told to keep silent ... I urge you to stand with me to seek the truth and find a resolution,' Mr Mukhriz said, adding that it was vital for the party's survival.
An Abdullah loyalist, Mr Mohammed Khir Toyo, acknowledged that the party needs reforms but stressed that a leadership change was not necessary. As soon as he finished speaking, he was bombarded with questions from the audience whether Mr Khairy had influence in choosing election candidates.
'There was some influence by some people,' Mr Mohammed Khir acknowledged, without naming Mr Khairy.
Forced on the back foot, the enfeebled Mr Abdullah has postponed party elections, which were due in August, to December. Critics say he is trying to avoid losing a re-election to the post of party president, but Mr Abdullah says he is not running away.
However, postponing the elections will also give more time to his detractors to gather support against Mr Abdullah. Party rules require a challenger to be endorsed by 30 percent of the party's 191 divisions in the country, a tough proposition for someone not entrenched.
Dissidents have demanded that the 30 per cent clause be abolished to allow a more democratic election.
Mahathir: Khairy tukar calon BN Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hari ini menuduh menantu perdana menteri Khairy Jamaluddin mempengaruhi senarai calon-calon BN menjelang hari penamaan calon akhir Februari lalu. "Siapa yang tukar (nama calon)? Siapa yang duduk bilik sebelah?" katanya, dengan melambangkan secara sinis naib ketua Pemuda Umno itu sebagai penasihat di istana "duli yang maha mulia sultan (Datuk Seri) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) shah". Dr Mahathir berkata akibat campur tangan Khairy itu, ramai calon penting Umno tidak dapat bertanding dalam pilihanraya 8 Mac lalu dan mereka digantikan dengan muka-muka baru. "Ramai jaguh-jaguh Umno tidak dapat bertanding, orang baru diberikan tempat." "Inilah reformasi baru ala KJ," katanya, disambut sorakan dan tepukan gemuruh kira-kira 1,000 peserta. Bekas perdana menteri itu berucap selepas forum 'Umno Pasca Pilihanraya ke-12: Satu Penilaian', anjuran kumpulan penyokong parti itu MyKmu.net, di sebuah hotel tengah hari ini.(MK)
Mukhriz: Berdiri disisi saya
“Berdiri disisi saya, untuk cari Kebenaran, yakinkan rakyat, yakinkan orang UMNO kembali, syiarkan ugama Islam, martabatkan Bangsa dan majukan Negara!”, desak Exco Pemuda UMNO di Forum UMNO PASCA PRU12 anjuran KMU.net disebuah hotel di Petaling Jaya. Ahli Parlimen Batu Pahat Dr. Hj. Mohd. Fuad Zarkashi berpendapat bahawa MT UMNO perlu rombakan, sebagaimana pengharaman UMNO 4 Feb 1988, berlaku “Pembetulan, pembersihan dan ‘akhlak politik’ pemimpin”. “UMNO dipimpin oleh ramai yang suka ‘mengangguk”. Reform keatas UMNO ini perlu dilakukan segera untuk mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat, terutama orang Melayu dan pandangan suara golongan muda perlu dikaji dan jadikan aspirasi untuk membuat keputusan. Mantan Pengerusi Perhubungan UMNO Dato’ Seri Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo mengulas mengenai semua pihak tidak puas hati mengenai perlaksanaan DEB dan perlu melihat semula formula yang perlu diguna-pakai. Mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad mengulas gema sorakan dan respons para hadirin hari ini merupakan “Bunyi UMNO dahulu”. Beliau juga menjelaskan sistem kuota yang diperkenalkan oleh UMNO kerana pemimpin seperti Anwar Ibrahim mampu mengulingkan seorang pemimpin UMNO yang amat berjasa seperti En. Ghaffar (Baba) tetapi sekarang bersetuju sistem kuota ini dimasuhkan kerana ahli ahli UMNO kini dilarang ‘bersuara’ dan ujud budaya takut.” Beliau juga menambah Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah mencabar beliau untuk jawatan Presiden UMNO dan beliau hampir kalah. Tun Dr. Mahathir kini membuat ‘fikiran kedua’ mengenai Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak sebagai calon mencabar Kepimpinan dan juga menegaskan mana mana pemimpin yang berhasrat untuk menerajui parti perlu dipilih Perwakilan dan mendapat sokongan kuat akar umbi. Beliau menyokong mesyuarat agung luar (EGM) UMNO sebagaimana yang dicadangkan oleh Tengku Razaleigh tetapi menambah EGM juga wajar memutuskan sistem kuota ini dimansuhkan. Dalam sidang media, apabila ditanya pemberita, Mukhriz mengaku bahawa pilihan peribadi beliau untuk Presiden UMNO ialah Timbalan Presiden UMNO Dato’ Serii Mohd. Najib Tun Razak dan bersedia menimbang untuk dicalonkan sebagai Ketua Pemuda UMNO hanya selepas Dato’ Seri Hishamuddin Hussein membuat keputusan mengenai kedudukan beliau dalam pergerakan sayap kiri UMNO itu. (http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/)
Khir: Tidak cukup ubah pemimpin
Bekas menteri besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo berkata, menukar Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tidak akan menyelesaikan masalah dalam Umno. Sebaliknya, kata beliau yang paling penting ialah menukar sistem secara keseluruhan sistem dalam kerajaan dan parti bagi mengembalikan semula keyakinan orang ramai. Tambah Dr Mohd Khir, Umno dan BN telah mengalami krisis dan pertukaran kepemimpinan dalam tempoh 10 tahun sekali, bermula kekalahan teruk pada 1969 dan rusuhan kaum. "Kerajaan boleh guna formula tahun 1969 iaitu memperkenalkan Mageran (Majlis Gerakan Negara) selepas Perikatan kalah di Kelantan, Perak dan Pulau Pinang yang akhirnya berlaku perubahan dalam politik dan kerajaan. "Akibat kekalahan itu, kerajaan memperkenalkan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) untuk membantu ekonomi khususnya orang Melayu. "Hari ini Barisan Nasional (BN) sedang mengalami krisis kerana orang tidak puas hati bukan sahaja terhadap kepimpinan parti dan negara tetapi juga kepada bidang ekonomi, pendidikan dan agama," kata Dr Mohd Khir ketika berucap di forum 'Umno pasca pilihanraya umum ke-12: Satu penilaian' di Hotel Singgahsana di Petaling Jaya hari ini. Umno juga, katanya, membuat pertukaran kepemimpinan pada 1981 selepas krisis perpecahan PAS daripada BN, dan kemudian diikuti pertembungan kumpulan Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah dengan presiden waktu itu Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Krisis dalam Umno muncul lagi, kata Dr Mohd Khir, pemecatan timbalan perdana menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pada 1998 dan kemunculan gerakan reformasi dan kini parti itu berdepan krisis susulan ketewasan mengejut dan besar-besaran dalam pilihanraya umum lalu. Di majlis tersebut, Dr Mahathir menyampaikan ucap utama dan sesi soal jawab selepas forum tersebut. Manakala anak mantan perdana menteri itu, yang juga exco Pemuda Umno, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir dan ketua penerangan Umno Johor, Datuk Fuad Zakarshi dua lagi ahli panel forum yang dihadiri kira-kira 1,000 orang. Dr Mohd Khir berkata, daripada 500 maklum balas yang diperolehi melalui blognya yang dibangunkan sejak tiga hari lalu, orang Melayu, Cina dan India tidak berpuas hati dengan DEB. "Untuk itu, (kita) perlu membuat perubahan bukan sahaja dalam kerajaan dan parti tetapi juga membabitkan pendidikan dan ekonomi yang memberi kepuasan kepada semua orang," katanya lagi. "Orang sudah hilang kepercayaan terhadap kerajaan dan parti (Umno)," katanya lagi. Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata, kepimpinan perlu mengambil tindakan untuk memulihkan semangat rakyat terhadap kerajaan dan parti. Ketika ditanya peserta mengenai pemilihan calon-calon BN di Selangor dalam pilihanraya umum lalu, Dr Mohd Khir berkata, ia dibuat berdasarkan kelulusan dari enam jabatan kerajaan untuk memastikan benar-benar bersih dan layak. "Saya (sebagai pengerusi BN negeri), Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, Pak Lah (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) dan setiausaha agung Umno (Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad) duduk untuk menentukan senarai calon. "Walaupun ada pengaruh dari pihak tertentu, orang yang kita rasa boleh menang, kita kekalkan walau tidak disenangi oleh pihak tertentu. "Kini mereka (yang cuba mempengaruhi calon) telah belajar dari kekalahan tersebut," katanya apabila ditanya sama ada naib ketua Pemuda Umno, dan menantu perdana menteri, Khairy Jamaluddin mempengaruhi senarai calon BN sehingga negeri itu berjaya ditawan pembangkang dalam pilihanraya umum lalu. Dr Mohd Khir juga berkata, menteri besar baru Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim boleh menyiasat kepimpinan kerajaan BN Selangor semasa beliau menjadi menteri besar. Katanya, mereka boleh siasat nombor akaun bank untuk melihat jumlah wang yang dimiliknya.
MalaysiaInsider PETALING JAYA, April 1 – While Anwar sought to present a united opposition today, in another part of town, the main ruling party was in open revolt, with hundreds of supporters meeting at a Kuala Lumpur hotel this morning to demand that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's resign. Faces in the packed lobby of Hotel Singgahsana in Petaling Jaya were all turned to the projector screen displaying a live broadcast of the forum inside the ballroom, just steps away. The ballroom itself was filled with people squeezed from wall to wall, like gas molecules trying to become one solid. They came from every part of the country, the 500, and even from as far as London to hear from Umno elders like former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno brand names like his son Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir, who is Umno Youth Exco member and a new member of parliament. What a mixed crowd. There were men in suits, women in blings, young people in jeans and T-shirts. The scene was set for a high-voltage gathering. When Datuk Mukhriz took the microphone, the room erupted into cheers. Yes, they knew what was coming and were eager for it. How the Prime Minister had been misadvised by his own, how those advisers included his son-in-law Khairy Jamaludin; talk of cronyism, etc. When one woman asked a question in English, shouts of “Cakap Melayu!” and the like almost drowned out her query of how Umno was hoping to engage with younger voters like herself. But the biggest ruckus came when a man asked why Umno did not want to take back Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The crowd went wild. Shouts of “Kurang ajar!” “Biadab!” rang around the hall and a riot nearly broke out. In the end, the young man had to be escorted out of the hall by the organisers. More for his safety than anything else really. When former MB Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo tried to address the crowd, he was also shouted down. Obviously they blamed him for losing Selangor. One member of the audience said: “It is quite brave of him to come here and address the people.” Khir called for an urgent reform of Umno. "We can no longer allow this to be handled in an ad hoc manner," he said in the panel, joined by Umno Johor Information Chief Dr Mohamad Fuad Zarkashi. Khir did, however, make a point that Umno seemed to get into trouble every 10 years, a point that the keynote and final speaker, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was about to refute. When the former Premier took to the stage of deliver the closing address, the ballroom erupted into wild cheers and shouts of “Hidup Tun Mahathir!” (“Long live Tun Mahathir!”) He brought the audience’s attention back to the issue of the day – how Umno, especially its leadership, needs to reform and how they need to go about it. The crowd nodded emphatically in agreement and slowly but surely reduced its decibels to better listen to the soft-spoken but well-seasoned politician. It was clear many still held him in high regard, even in the present climate. More than two handsful showed their support outwardly, in the button badges they wore on the collars of their Polo tees and lapels of their business suits. He held them in thrall from the start, spicing his speech on conducting a post-mortem with jokes that seemingly poked fun at himself and his profession even as it sank barbs into his appointed successor. “In a post-mortem, we cut open the body and find out a lot of things. If it’s cancer, say it’s cancer. If it’s TB, say it’s TB. Don’t go and tell family members that it’s something else because you think that is what they want to hear,” said Mahathir, to great applause. He spoke about the need for the party to remember its roots, the direction it came from, in order to move forward and not in confusion move backwards. The crowd nodded. He reminded them that Umno is always full of crisis, not just “once every 10 years or so” as said by Khir Toyo during the panel discussion. The trick to handling such crises, said Mahathir, is to remember Umno’s “roh pejuang”, the fighting spirit that infused the party’s original struggle as championed by party founder Onn Jaafar. The crowd roared in response, particularly when he mentioned that Umno had always in the past, evolved from “reformasi-reformasi kecil”. He blamed the disastrous results of the party’s performance on the elements of fear and loathing. Fear from the people who dared not stand up for the truth, who failed to convey the people’s wishes to the leadership; fear from the leadership who failed to listen objectively to the people’s wishes; and loathing from the people who could see that their messages were being manipulated by certain individuals who bore the initials KJ. Mahathir spoke about the restrictions on the media, a topic which his son Mukhriz had brought up earlier during the panel session. Mukhriz had alleged that the government of the day had turned much of the media machines into propaganda machines, to further interests of “certain individuals”. The biggest cheers were saved for the calls by Mahathir and his son for Abdullah's leadership to be challenged to save the party. "Umno risks becoming no longer relevant because there are now more 'yes men' than those who are willing to give dissenting views," said Mahathir. "We must look at ourselves and be brave and take action to correct Umno.” The meeting, which began at 9.30am, ended before lunch, at 12.30pm.
The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has called on MIC president S Samy Vellu to issue an apology to the families of the movement’s incarcerated leaders and the Indian community. In a press statement today, Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy said Samy Vellu’s recent call to free the five leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) was ‘appalling’. "He was part of the system that incarcerated those "messengers of truth" and suppressed the legitimate voice of democracy. "Whilst the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was a "gentleman" in accepting his errors and pledging to rectify his mistakes, Samy Vellu is playing politics by his regular antics now, seeking the release of the five," added the lawyer who is in self exile in London. Waythamoorthy said the MIC president should tender an apology for the following reasons: a) Failure to openly oppose the arrest of Hindraf leaders by the government openly on Dec 13. b) Misleading the government and public that Hindraf is a threat to national security. c) Misleading Hindraf’s struggle for his own political survival. d) Denying the 18 demands of Hindraf as absurd and claiming that the Indians were not marginalised. "It is plainly clear the initiative now (calling for the Hindraf five’s freedom) is to gain popularity and to repair the damage done to his reputation as an obsolete leader," he said. Samy: I did not lie about Mano's wife
MIC president S Samy Vellu today clarified that he did not lie about detained Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader M Manoharan's wife approaching him for help. "I never said she met me. It was only R Kengadharan's wife who met me. Manoharan's wife rang me up twice to seek my help for the release of her husband," he said in a statement. Manoharan and Kengadharan were among the five Hindraf leaders currently held without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA). On Sunday, Samy Vellu said he will push for the release of the five, but this has since met with strong criticisms as the MIC president was highly critical of Hindraf in the past. Yesterday, Manoharan's wife S Pushpaneela denied that she had met Samy Vellu. She also quizzed why Samy Vellu wanted to press for the five’s freedom at this point in time. "Why now, when he could have done it earlier?" she asked. 'Intentions are genuine' Meanwhile, Samy Vellu claimed his intentions are genuine in seeking the release of the five who were arrested shortly after organising a mammoth rally on Nov 25 in Kuala Lumpur which drew some 30,000 people. "It's absurd to say that I am doing this to seek publicity and popularity. No matter what, I will pursue their release with the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) and home minister (Syed Hamid Albar). "Whatever it is, I will do what I have said in order to seek their release," said the veteran politician. Yesterday, Umno vice-president and Malacca chief minister Ali Rustam criticised Samy Vellu for using the Hindraf issue to seek publicity for his own political interest. Whereas Syed Hamid yesterday ruled out the possibility of releasing the five.
tunku : dey mr. samy, the hindraf don't need your help lah.stop being hero lah.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Popular comedy actress Yusni Jaafar died of liver failure at Selayang Hospital early today. The 63-year-old Yusni, who was admitted to the hospital on Jan 31, breathed last at 2.30am, her daughter, Raja Ema, told Radio24 Bernama. Raja Ema said her mother's body was taken to their family home at No. 37, Jalan USJ 3/2, Taman Seafield Jaya, Subang Jaya, for family members, relatives and friends to pay their last respects. The funeral rites were performed at the mosque in USJ 15 before she was buried at the USJ 21 muslim cemetery. The Tumpat-born Yusni is survived by five children. Among her notable achievements in her movie-acting career was winning the "Best Comedy Actress Award" at the 8th Malaysian Film Festival in 1989. Yusni last acted in the film "Cuci" last year. Her first movie was " Panglima Badol" in 1978. She had acted in about 20 local movies. -- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 – The epitaphs are being written for Khairy Jamaludin. And the consensus is that the Umno Youth deputy chief’s political shelf-life will end after he has completed his term as a Member of Parliament for Rembau. After that, he will be a bit player, a subject when reporters do “what-ever-happened’’-genre articles, a reference point when dinner table conversations turn to young politicians who never lived up to their potential. And a piece of radioactive material in the Umno political scene. This downward spiral to anonymity will be confirmed when he does not contest the Umno Youth president’s position in December. But will it spell the end of Khairy? Yes, say even his closest friends, arguing that a politician in Umno without a power base is an impotent politician. Also, it will be a gargantuan task to remain the flavour of the month if his father-in-law Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is no longer president of Umno and Prime Minister Not necessarily, say political pundits who argue that Election 2008 and its aftermath showed that old politicians don’t fade away despite setbacks. They just keep coming back. Here is a sampling of some written-off political players who are making their presence felt. Anwar Ibrahim – He was dismissed as a tainted package of contradictions even after the Federal Court overturned his conviction for sodomy. Critics said his passage to the top was closed forever because he would not be accepted back into Umno. In any case, during his 6 years in jail, others had moved into the vacuum left by him. At best, he would be a niggling irritant as an opposition member in Parliament. The cynics grew louder when Anwar started talking about dismantling the New Economic Policy. Within the corridors of power in Umno, they welcomed his new pitch, predicting that he would have as much success with attracting Malays as a used car salesman. The Malaysian voters have proved the cynics wrong. Anwar is back on the covers of international magazines and back on the lips of many Malaysians and foreign investors who predict that he will be the next Prime Minister. His language of democracy and a desire to move beyond race-based policies is the currency of the day. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah This man has been written off more times than Malaysia’s gold medal prospects in the Olympics. He was written off when he lost by 43 votes to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1987. He was written off when he disbanded Semangat 46 and rejoined Umno in 1996. He was written off when he was not named to the Cabinet after the 1999 elections. He was written off again when he managed to obtain only 1 nomination to take on Abdullah for the party presidency in 2004. Even the most charitable observers had to concede that the 2004 rebuff was the final signal that his ambition of leading the party and Malaysia was over. But he is still around. He retained his Gua Musang parliamentary seat in Kelantan when others were swept away by the green tidal wave of Parti Islam SeMalaysia. And today, the Kelantanese prince is mounting a credible challenge to Abdullah. He is working the ground and offering himself as the man who could reform Umno. Ground reports suggest that division leaders are willing to give him a hearing and may support his move to call a special assembly on May 11 to discuss the election performance of Umno and the future of the Malays. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad It remains unclear whether he is interested in rehabilitating Umno or is solely driven by the need to destroy Abdullah – the man who he believes undermined his legacy – or both. But he is back in the limelight. Quite a development for someone who was laid up in hospital after major heart surgery last year, and dismissed as someone who built up modern Malaysia but did so at a great cost to the integrity of institutions. History has shown that Mahathir should never be treated lightly, even when he seems down and out. He was in the political wilderness from 1969 till 1972 for writing a letter criticising Tun Abdul Rahman after the race riots, but came back strongly after that. His 22 years in power were marked by many difficult periods – economic recession in 1985, a clash with Ku Li in 1987, Operation Lallang in 1987, loss of Kelantan in 1990, constitutional crisis in 1990s, the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim in 1998, loss of Terengganu in 1999 – but he always managed to bounce back. Today, he smells blood, knowing that Abdullah is blamed for BN’s poor showing in Election 2008. Could he be harboring hopes of leading the party and Malaysia again? Lim Guan Eng He lost much in 1998 after he was found guilty with falsely and maliciously publishing pamphlets in the following words: "The Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik sex scandal. Whither justice and women's rights? Victim imprisoned, criminal free." The Kota Melaka MP was sentenced to jail for 18 months, most of it spent in solitary confinement. He was disqualified from Parliament, lost his pension, lost his professional status as an accountant. He had to sit out the 1999 and 2004 elections and was viewed as a political lightweight in the run-up to these polls. But his guts in standing up for the small man, his integrity and ability to reach out to Malaysians from all races turned him and the DAP-PKR-PAS alliance into giant killers in Penang. Perhaps the best example of how persistence and staying loyal to principles of a Malaysia for all Malaysians can turn anobody into a political player. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim After he lost the Ijok by-election last year despite the full firepower of the oppositon arsenal, it looked like the end of the road for the former corporate figure. The view then was that he would remain as the treasurer of the PKR and remain known as the former Guthrie boss who left under a cloud. His critics say that he was offered a 5-per-cent stake in the plantation giant at RM2.50 a share, or RM125 million. On the day of the offer, Guthrie’s stocks closed at RM3.96. This resulted in a windfall for Khalid and opened himself to a barrage of criticism. His days were numbered after his protector – Anwar Ibrahim – was sacked from government. On March 8, he contested a state and a parliament seat and won both, comfortably. Today, he is the chief executive of Selangor, the country’s most industrialised state. In short, the Malaysian experience shows that it is best never to say never and write off anybody. Politicians can change their messages and appeal to the masses as Anwar Ibrahim has done. Or they can be rewarded when the electorate votes for change like in the case of Lim Guan Eng’s comeback. Or they can resurrect political ambitions when the incumbent suffers serious losses as Ku Li and Dr Mahathir are doing. In Khairy’s case, nothing short of a political makeover will help him. MalaysiaInsider
tunku : without pak lah, kj is nothing and he will have no more supporters(umno leaders) like he enjoys now.but i believe kj is not laying low right now, he is doing something behind the scenes to make sure pak lah will survive in umno's election.
Muslim intellectuals and youths who have been campaigning for the opposition through the Internet should now join forces in condemning a film that accuses the Quran of inciting violence. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that since they were Internet savvy, they should now show their indignation against the film through the medium. “They should take advantage of their resourcefulness and skills which they had used against the establishment, this time to defend Islam,” he told reporters after opening the National Fatwa Council meeting here today. He was commenting on growing Muslim outrage worldwide over Geert Wilders’s short video which was posted on the Internet last Thursday. Wilder launched the film on the Internet after Dutch distributors refused to release it. “As they (Muslim intellectuals and youths) had contributed to the opposition’s success (in the recent general election), I hope they can defend Islam. “I am urging them to unleash their energy and put aside their political and ideological differences and counter the slander against Islam,” said Zahid. He said although the film was short, it could influence Muslims who had poor knowledge of Islam, including Quranic teachings. Claiming that the film was planned by anti-Islam proponents not only in the Netherlands but elsewhere, and that there were hidden hands behind it, he urged Muslims to unite and act rationally in showing their protest. In KUALA LUMPUR, the Malaysian National Islamic Students Association has sent a protest note to the Netherlands government, expressing its disappointment over the film. Its secretary-general Abdul Muntaqim Zulkipli said the government, non-governmental organisations and the people should show their wrath by boycotting Dutch products.
tunku : muslim shoudl not react physically to condemn geert wilder's video.all they want is to see muslim to react physically so that they can show to the world that muslim are terrorist.we just need to boycott all dutch products to teach them lesson.muslim should unite to boycott dutch products or any of these people's products.the dutch business committee already said that if their export to muslim countries drops, they will sue geert wilders.so let us do our part.
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By Samra Arshad
International Conference "Expose War Crimes – Criminalise War"
“Wars increasingly involve the killings of innocent people and are therefore, abhorrent and criminal. Killings in war are as criminal as the killings within societies in times of peace. Since killings in peace time are subject to the domestic law of crime, killings in war must likewise be subject to the international law of crimes. This should be so irrespective of whether these killings in war are authorised or permitted by domestic laws.”
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