Dr M-Pak Lah Conflict Needs No Peace Effort, Say Analysts

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- It is difficult to resolve the dispute between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi through a mediator, instead, it will fizzle off when the time comes, according to several political analysts.
"Let it (the conflict) be, it will come to an end. Dr Mahathir will return to Umno and Pak Lah (Abdullah) will resign, that's why Pak Lah said he will step down when the time comes.
"Let it be decided through time (how the crisis will end)," a former dean of the Arts and Social Science Faculty, University of Malaya, Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling told Bernama when commenting on suggestions by several people that the dispute between the two leaders be resolved by a mediator including Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Prof Zainal said he did not feel that any peace effort would be fruitful because Dr Mahathir was noted for his firmness when making a stand.
"When he makes a decison, he will not turn back. So, I don't believe any effort to unite Pak Lah and Dr Mahathir will succeed," said the expert on Malay socio-culture.
He also felt that the move by Dr Mahathir to leave Umno was not unusual in politics because the issue of Umno leaders quitting the party had occurred during the administration of the former prime minister.
The Director of the Institute of Malay World and Civilisation, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, said the suggestion for the peace effort was unrealistic.
"Those who suggested the peace efforts do not see the actual contents of the political competition and the aspirations of politicians. That's why I say it is not realistic," he said.
He said the issue between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah was also clear, that is, the former prime minister wanted Abdullah to step down from the government and party posts.
"How do we resolve this. One man wants the other to step down while the other refuses. This is a question of survival for Abdullah, how can Pak Lah make peace," the don said.
Shamsul Amri concurred with Prof Zainal that peace efforts by any group would be futile because both leaders had their own peculiarities. "There was also an effort to get them to reconcile their differences in the past, but to no avail.
Furthermore, the issue is very clear. Dr Mahathir is okay with Abdullah, it's only that he is not okay with Abdullah as prime minister and party president. So, what is there to reconcile," he said.
Meanwhile, the Dungun Umno division head, Datuk Rosli Mat Hassan said the bigger agenda now was to strengthen Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN).
"I am not in favour of Dr Mahathir quitting the party, but he had made a decision to leave. As an Umno member, I personally am loyal to the party and the present leadership.
"Whether the leadership is right or otherwise should be determined through the election," he said.
Rosli said any effort at getting the two leaders to reconcile their differences should come from the Umno Supreme Council.
Yesterday, Umno veteran Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Tapa suggested that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin becomes the mediator to resolve the crisis between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah.
Abdul Aziz felt that the crisis should be ended immediately.
The reconciliation was also suggested by another Umno veteran and former Wanita Umno head Tan Sri Aishah Ghani, who politely asked Pak Lah to make the first move to meet Dr Mahathir to discuss their differences.

tunku : it is true that no mediator could resolve this matter, the only way is for pak lah to resign but if we waits like what zainal kling said that let it be decided through time than umno will be in serious conflicts and and won't be able to raise back in time for the next general election. pak lah has to resign by this year.as for pak lah there's no such thing as politely,he must be shown the sign right infront of his face , then only will he understand.

Rahim offers to contest Umno vice-president post

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno Youth chief and ex-chief minister of Malacca Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik has offered himself as a vice-president candidate in the party’s election in December.
Abdul Rahim, who resigned from all his government and party posts in 1994 said he was ready to make a political come back, adding that the climate was right considering the that members were now clamouring for leadership change.
The man who quit as Malacca CM amidst allegations of sexual misconduct with an under-aged girl, had this to say to anyone planning to discredit him on the campaign trail, if he succeeds in getting the required nomination to contest the post:
“Do so at your own peril. I will not hesitate to take legal action for libel against anyone who levels these allegations against me in the open.”
The 58-year-old politician said he had been cleared by the court of all the allegations and had spent additional six years taking legal action against those who had slandered him, and had won every one of them.
“This time around, I am issuing an early warning, if you slander me, you must be willing to face the consequence because I will not take it quietly irrespective of whether you are a minister, deputy minister or anyone else. Don’t try to victimise me with wild allegations again,” he said in an interview at his office here Friday.
He said he had resigned as Malacca CM and Umno Youth Chief at the height of his political career 14 years ago not because he was guilty or was pressured by the party, but did so voluntarily to safeguard Umno’s image.
Abdul Rahim believed that his good track record as Malacca CM, a post that he held for 12 years, his experience as Umno Youth chief, combined with his current position as the Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Gabem) chairman and supreme council member, would put him in good stead to be in the party’s top line-up.
Umno, he said, needed a very strong leadership line-up to ensure its survival in the changing domestic political landscape brought about by the outcome of the 12th general election. “Only a strong leadership can take decisive actions to rectify mistakes and address weaknesses. Umno needs to realise that it has no choice but to face up to all of its past and present mistakes heads on, if it wants to remain relevant. "Cleaning up our internal mess is no longer a choice, but a necessity,” he added. The Barisan Nasional’s dismal performance in the past general election, he said, it should serve as a bitter lesson to Umno take serious view of people’s perception of its practices, and that of its leaders. He said, battling political corruption, one of the main scourges afflicting the party, whether perceived or otherwise, would be his main political agenda from now on to ensure a clean, fair and transparent party poll at the end of the year. Claiming that he had the support of quite a substantial number of influential groups within Umno to go for the number three position, Abdul Rahim said that leadership change in Umno should be a natural process based on its democratic practices, as Umno does not belong to any exclusive group or leaders. “We need to return Umno back to the members and they must be allowed to choose the leaders freely without any restriction. If we continue to allow Umno to be the exclusive property of any group or leader, the party will die. “But what is happening within Umno is that there are leaders who are weak and unqualified to hold their posts, but continue to do so by abusing their power and positions. They hand out contracts, offer Datukships and give away bags of money to those that matter to secure their positions." “The delegates must be ready to change their mindset and stop these bad practices. Hopefully we will get better quality delegates this year, as they are the ones with the power to stop all these shenanigans once and for all. “Otherwise, Umno will end up with a bunch of mediocre and stupid leaders who are elected simply because they are corrupt and willing to abuse their positions. In this present climate such outcome may spell the end for the party,” he added.

tunku : very true what rahim tambychik has said.the mediocre and stupid leaders compromise from the top right now in umno. the only concern is that won't a person like rahim tambychik will further tarnish umno's image with the scandal he was involved with.this is for umno members to decide whether they wants to give live bullets to the opposition or not.the only difference between rahim and mat taib is mat taib was found guilty and rahim was not.

Nazri: ACA called me on crossover claims

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz let slip yesterday that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had called him to get his view on the claim by Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan from Umno on being offered bribes to hop over to PKR.
This revelation then led to several opposition members, led by Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena), to query Nazri as to why the ACA deemed it necessary to refer to him before taking action.
Responding to a question from Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) - who said the lack of action by the ACA on Abdul Rahman's claims showed it was not committed to tackling corruption - Nazri said the ACA had called him on Wednesday to ask what action was to be taken on Abdul Rahman's allegation.
Nazri also said he told the ACA to see the Kota Belud MP for information. Jumping on this during Nazri's winding-up speech, Mahfuz asked why the ACA had called him before acting.
"It is as if they do not know what powers they have," said Mahfuz.
Nazri changed his tact, however, by clarifying that the ACA officer was not asking for his permission before taking action but merely "informing" him of the ACA's intention of seeing Abdul Rahman.
"He was not asking for permission. He was only informing me that there is this statement from an MP," said Nazri.
"I thanked him for telling me, and as usual (I told him), ‘Take action'," said Nazri.
Abdul Rahman in his debate on the royal address last week claimed he was offered a large amount of money and a cabinet position in order to jump ship to PKR.
Afterwards, Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) asked why Abdul Rahman had not reported the alleged bribery attempt to the police.
"Can Kota Belud confirm the statement? If so, we can arrest (the one who offered the bribe) by way of citizens' arrest," said Karpal.
Sabah PKR's police report
Nazri, however, said the ACA was already informed of the matter and that he believed the agency would call Abdul Rahman.
"I leave it to the ACA to do the follow-up action," said Nazri.
TheSun reported today that the ACA had initiated its investigations into Abdul Rahman's claims of being offered money and a government position in return for jumping to PKR.
ACA director of investigation Mohd Shukri Abdul was reported as saying that a report had been lodged.
The ACA is also interested to know why Abdul Rahman had failed to report the alleged bribery attempt, said the report.
Abdul Rahman had earlier said he would lodge a police report on the bribery attempt when PKR eventually names the 30 BN MPs it claimed are jumping ship.
Following Abdul Rahman's disclosure, Sabah PKR youth chief Abdul Razak Jamil lodged a police report against Abdul Rahman for linking the party to corruption.
According to Bernama, Abdul Razak said he wanted the police to investigate and determine whether Abdul Rahman had violated provisions of the Penal Code and the Election Act.
"We want him (Abdul Rahman) to give proof, as anybody can make such a claim. If he fails to do so, then he has committed slander aimed at tarnishing the party's image," Abdul Razak was quoted as saying.
Abdul Razak also said that PKR Youth would be lodging a similar report with the ACA. According him, those failing to report being a bribery attempt can be prosecuted.

tunku : this means nazri can also tell the ACA "don't take any action".after all they need to get his clearance first.this is the transparency they are claiming now.

Anwar factor lurking on the sidelines says Tun Dr Mahathir

FORMER Umno member Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues to be defiant against the party leader in this interview in Tokyo. He reminds Umno of the "Anwar factor" lurking on the sidelines.

Q: After your announcement, there is no mass defection of Umno members? Are you disappointed that there is no "tsunami" of Umno members leaving the party?

A: I think it will take time for them to think because to leave the party is a very serious thing, they have been attached to the party for so long. Unless you get rid of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, at the next election I am sure and I have not been too wrong in my predication, Umnno, Barisan Nasional, MCA, MIC Gerakan will be finished. They will be totally irrelevant.

Q: When you say time, how much time do they need to leave the party? Your announcement came before the branch and division meetings start? Is that the deadline you are hoping to see

A: I know When several members of parliament wanted to have a meeting, Pak lah heard about it and he called them up. Somehow they feel a bit shy to take up the step.People are not given the freedom to voice their true opinion.

Q: One of your sons, Datuk Mokhzani resigned, but Datuk Mukhriz did not, don't you think that your move might have upset some people and they will take it out on Datuk Mukhriz should he go for the Umno youth chief

A:They can take it out on him (Mukhriz). But I think he is not in Umno just to become Ketua Pemuda, he is in Umno because he has to serve the country and people. If he is thinking of about himself of becoming Ketua Pemuda then of course that is selfishness but he has said clearly that he wants Abdullah to resign as soon as possible. If Abdullah resigns, there should not be any problem (for Mukhriz). Others are afraid to say it. Now they are threatening to take action against him in order to threaten other people from doing what from Mukhriz has done.

Q: Umno lawmakers described your move as destablising the government and open up the way for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to form the government

A: Today the Barisan has been destablised by Abdullah not being able to lead it to victory. Barisan in some cases have become irrelevant. Gerakan has become irrelevant, MIC could not win. All this is due to him. He not only destabilised Umno, he destablised component parties and he destablised Barisan Nasional.

Q: But he led Barisan to win the last general election

A: He did not win the way he should win, he talked about sweeping clean, he could not even get two thirds majority. All this while except 1969 when Tunku Abdul Rahman has just less than 2/3 majority, all the elections under different leaders achieved 2/3 majority. Even in 1999 when I was quite unpopular because of Anwar, I still achieved 2/3 majority and I did not lose the states, except for Kelantan and Terengganu.

Q: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has said he is prepared to meet you to review your decision to quit. Would you meet him

A: Yes I will see him but it does not mean that I am going to accept whatever he is going to suggest. I am going to remind him of the role played by his father.

Q: Is there any chance of you meeting Pak Lah

A: I met him before. It doesnt do anything.

Q: You said recently ago that Najib was not allowed to meet you but the meeting eventually took place

A: Yes after I said Najib was not allowed, Pak Lah himself said no he did not stop. But Najib himself told me that he was stopped from seeing me, he told other people also.

Q: When you met Najib was there anything achieved because a few days later that you quit Umno

A: Because I don't see him taking any positive action. Nothing came out of the meeting.

Q: Do you see your move to quit Umno as an opportunity for Anwar to form a government

A: Anwar may try to seize the opportunity but it is up to Barisan MPs. If they switch over to his side, he can be but I am offering an alternative which is less dangerous for Barisan. Instead of jumping to other party, I am telling them you form your own group which will be the determining force in parliament. If pak lah does not go, then he will be in the minority because these people have already left. Then he has to give up being the Prime Minister. If in that case Anwar wants to come in, this group will give support to Barisan and Barisan with a new leader can still go on to become the government.

Q: With you being outside Umno, you will be irrelevant to Umno

A: They can consider me irrelevant. It is their funeral, not mine.

Q: By getting Pak Lah to step down, who do you think will be able to take over

A: Traditionally, it will be Najib, but if Najib does not want and if there are challenges, there will be a struggle between them. If they do that they run the risk of Anwar taking advantage.

Dr M: I’m offering alternative for Barisan

TOKYO: Umno is preparing its own demise and that of Barisan Nasional if it continues to have Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the helm, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Thursday.
He also said that his son Datuk Mukhriz, who decided against following his move to quit Umno, might face “difficulties” staying on should Abdullah continue to be the president.
“Yes, Umno can consider me irrelevant. It is their funeral and not mine. Today the Barisan has been destabilised by Abdullah not being able to lead it to victory in the general election.
“Barisan, in some cases, has become irrelevant. Gerakan has become irrelevant, MIC could not win. All this was due to him. He not only destabilised Umno, he destabilised component parties and he destabilised Barisan,” Dr Mahathir told The Star Thursday in an interview here.
Dr Mahathir, who is here for a dialogue session at the Nikkei conference, said he predicted Barisan would be finished in the next elections if Abdullah continued to serve as Prime Minister.
Asked if his move would provide PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take over the Government, Dr Mahathir said:
“I am offering an alternative which is less dangerous for Barisan. Instead of jumping to another party, I am telling them to form your own group which will be the determining force in Parliament.”
He added that if Abdullah did not go, he would be in the minority because the other had already left and he would have to give up his post as Prime Minister.
“If in that case Anwar wants to come in, this group will give support to Barisan and Barisan with a new leader can still go on to become the Government,” he said.
Earlier, at a press conference with the Malaysian media, Dr Mahathir was asked why he was being disloyal to Umno.
“If we are against the president, it does not mean we are against the party. We are misinterpreting things.
“If we look back at history, Tun Razak did not agree with Dato Onn Jaafar to open up Umno to other races. To Tun Razak, his disagreement did not mean he was being disloyal to Umno.
“The same goes when in 1969, the Alliance did not perform well in the elections and many criticised Tunku Abdul Rahman. Razak was clearly sympathetic towards his critics, including me.”
He also said that when Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Tun Musa Hitam and Abdullah challenged him when he was Umno president in 1987, he never accused them of being disloyal.
Asked if he was willing to meet Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Dr Mahathir only had one question to ask Najib.
“I want to ask him whether he is loyal to the party or president? I just want to remind him of the Onn and Tunku cases where his father was clearly disloyal to the party leader.
“If Najib wants to say those who are not loyal to the president is also against the party, I want to remind Najib of what his father did back then,” he said.

Mukhriz accuses Zaid of working for Pakatan

More signs of a deepening Umno strife surfaced in the Dewan Rakyat today with controversial BN Jerlun member of Parliament Mukhriz Mahathir taking a bold swipe at fellow party member and de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim.
Zaid, who during his winding-up speech on the royal address, was in the midst of speaking on government’s effort to introduce judicial reform was interrupted by Mukhriz.
Mukhriz proceeded to accuse Zaid as a BN minister who was more keen on implementing opposition Pakatan Rakyat’s agenda.
Zaid, who during his winding-up speech on the royal address, was in the midst of speaking on government’s effort to introduce judicial reform was interrupted by Mukhriz.
Mukhriz proceeded to accuse Zaid as a BN minister who was more keen on implementing opposition Pakatan Rakyat’s agenda.
"Congratulations, minister as you have done well in realising the opposition’s goals then that of your own party," was the beginning of Mukhriz’s (right) tirade against Zaid, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for legal affairs.
Following up on his caustic remarks, the rookie MP then questioned how a lawyer like Zaki Azmi could have leapfroged over other more experienced judges to be appointed as the Court of Appeals president. Zaki, a former lawyer for Umno, is known to be on close terms with Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. His appointment as appellate court president in December last year was controversial with various quarters questioning his capability to be impartial due to his past affiliation with Umno. "And this person was recommended by your prime minister himself," Mukhriz said, causing a ruckus in the BN's side of the House.
Serious judicial reform
Zaid wasn’t inclined to take Mukhriz’s jibe lying down and in a subtle but immediate rebuke replied that "maybe the person who made this statement is not comfortable being in BN".
The de facto law minister, himself a former owner of one of the country’s biggest law firms, was referring to the heated dispute between ex-PM and Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah that has led to the former quitting Umno in hope of de-stabilising the latter.
Party observers say Mahathir’s move was made in order to trigger a mass exodus from Umno in order to put pressure on Abdullah to quit.
The former strongman’s plan, however, has failed to take effect so far with only his one other son, Mokhzani Mahathir following him in exiting the party.
Mukhriz has stated his intention of staying on in Umno though he echoed his father’s demand for Abdullah to step down.
Zaid, continuing with his winding-up speech, assured the opposition that the government was serious about reforming the judiciary.
He said one of the measures taken by the government was the establishment of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
The commission would make accountable the entire process of the appointment of judges including the prerogative of the prime minister to recommend candidates to the King.
"The prime minister cannot simply make decisions. He will have to accept the recommendations made by the commission. If he rejects the proposals by the commission, he must explain why," claimed Zaid.
He added that a bill to set up the commission would soon be introduced and expressed hope it would be accepted by the people.
ISA, SCC to be reviewed
Zaid, however, said that while the Internal Security Act would not be repealed despite pressure for the government to do so, certain sections of it would be reviewed.
He said that he, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail have been tasked to review certain sections of the draconian law, which allows detention without trial.
But he did not specify which parts of the act were to be targetted.
As for the long-awaited Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) bill, Zaid remained vague saying that while the government had drafted a substitute bill to the IPCMC - which is the Special Complaints Commission - this will be revised yet again.
He said this was the result of the SCC meeting fierce criticism for its supposed lack of enforcement powers and for being a ‘watered down’ version of the IPCMC.
The SCC bill was tabled last year but the government decided to withdraw after facing strong opposition.
Zaid said the government will take into consideration the concerns raised by various parties including the royal commission that had proposed the IPCMC when reviewing the SCC, he added.
The revised SCC bill will be tabled in Parliament later this year.

tunku : you are wrong mukhriz.zaid is not working for pakatan but working for both pakatan and barisan.this person was found guilty of money politics in umno and now he is a minister.during that time he criticized umno here and there and was more with the opposition.now pak lah has made him a minister he need to oblige pak lah and oblige pakatan too where his actual heart is. about the appointment of zaki, the umno lawyer as president of the appeal court, that was a a great question from mukhriz.they will not answer that but i'm sure mukhriz will be bombarded again this time.keep up the good work mukhriz.

Malays Will Not Be Divided, Says Zaid

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Malays will not be divided although they have differences of opinion, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
"When the leaders quarrel, there will be supporters taking sides but this does not mean that the Malays are divided.
"The Malay mind is not so fragile nor their thinking so narrow for this to happen because they know to judge which is right or wrong," he said when met at the parliament lobby today.
He said people who said that the Malays were in disarray were those who were unhappy with the present leadership's openness.
"Actually, these groups are angry with the prime minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). The want to scare the Malays because they are afraid of the changes taking place, such as the government's openness.
"They are so used to the old culture that they are uncomfortable with such openness although it benefits the people."
On the action by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno on Monday, he hoped the issue would not be played up.
He said though there were talks that 1,000 Umno members had left the party as they were in support of Dr Mahathir, the number was small compared to Umno's total membership of more than three million.
"The people must ask themselves what are the main issues involved that the disagreement had come to this.
"What wrong did Pak Lah (Abdullah) do? The prime minister was lambasted for losing five states in the last general election but that was not his fault alone but all of us in Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN)."
Zaid said the prime minister himself had admitted the party's weaknesses and the approach taken now should be on findng ways to strengthen the party.
"Unfortunately, no one is talking about reformation or change in BN.
What I always hear is people asking Pak Lah to step down and transfer power. These are statements by power-crazy people," he said.

tunku : another denial syndrome disease affected person in umno.before the election he criticized pak lah government and now after being made a minister he said "what wrong pak lah do? keep it up zaid, the new hatchet man of pak lah.

Do Not Involve The King, Says Dr M

TOKYO, May 22 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said here Thursday it was not necessary to involve the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to help resolve his spat with Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"This is a question of Umno politics. We should not take the issue to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong," he said when asked to comment on a suggestion by Umno veteran Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Tapa to seek the king's mediation in the dispute.
Abdul Aziz was quoted as saying today that the quarrel between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah had reached a stage where it could only be resolved by the intervention of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin as the mediator.
Dr Mahathir was approached for his comments after a dialogue session at the Nikkei International Conference on "The Future of Asia", here.
The former prime minister also said that he had no objections if Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wanted to meet him.
The dispute between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah reached a "shocking" stage last Monday when Dr Mahathir, who had served as Umno president for 22 years, announced that he was quitting the party after having lost confidence in Abdullah's leadership, and that he would only rejoin the party after Abdullah had stepped down as Umno president and prime minister.
Many quarters see the move as a last-ditch attempt by Dr Mahathir to remove Abdullah from Umno and the government.

Anifah rejects offer to head Umno MPs club

Kimanis member of parliament Anifah Aman today rejected an offer to be the chairperson of the newly revived Umno Parliamentarian Club in the Dewan Rakyat.
He had previously declined to take up an appointment as a deputy minister after the March 8 general election as he was hoping for a more senior post.
Coming at the heels of wide speculation that he is being enticed by the Pakatan Rakyat to defect, his decision will surely be seen as yet another blow to Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
It was only two days ago when the Umno MPs in a meeting with the prime minister decided to revive the club. Anifah's name was proposed to head the club, a move largely seen by many as an attempt to placate the Sabah MP.
Speaking to Bernama today, Anifah said he was rejecting the post as he wanted to focus on being the chairperson of the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers.
"I want to be chairperson of the Sabah BN backbenchers. I cannot deny that it is an honour to be chairperson of the Umno Parliamentarians Club.
"I must thank the leadership for nominating me. However, as of now, I want to voice something that is more relevant for Sabah.
"That's why I want to continue as Sabah BN backbenchers chairman in the Dewan Rakyat," he said.
Disappointed not picked as full minister
Anifah said he will be conveying his decision to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz next Monday.
Previously Anifah sprang a surprise when he turned down his appointment as deputy transport minister in the new cabinet line-up announced by Abdullah after the general election.
Anifah, the younger brother of Sabah chief minister Musa Aman, was first elected as the member of parliament for Beaufort in the 1999 general election.
He was re-elected in the 2004 election, in the Kimanis constituency, and retained the seat in a four-cornered fight this year.
Anifah, who has previously served as deputy minister of plantation industries and commodities, was disappointed that he was not made a full minister.

tunku : good decision by anifah.he should decline anything pak lah offers him unless it's a minister post.pak lah should ask mat taib to resign and give the rural development post to anifah aman.mat taib is a liability to umno,a thorn in the flesh which will worsen umno/bn chances of winning back selangor.sabah should get another ministerial post and the best would be rural development ministry and this will make sabahan be more grateful to the ruling government.

Indelible ink: Police report lodged against PM, EC chairman

KUALA LUMPUR: A police report was lodged against Election Commission chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the last-minute cancellation of the use of indelible ink in the 12th general elections on March 8.
The report was lodged by the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) and National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) after Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar told Parliament that the decision to cancel the use of the indelible ink was based on ‘hearsay’ received by the police.
A spokesman, Faisal Mustaffa said Abdul Rashid had announced days before the 12th general election, at a press conference, that the usage of indelible was scrapped after some irresponsible people had smuggled in the ink.
Also present at the press conference were Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail.
The report, which was lodged at the Dang Wangi police headquarters, also urged an investigation be to carried out against Musa and Abdul Ghani.
The commission had spent RM2.4mil to buy 48,000 bottles of the ink from India to be used in the general election.

tunku : pak lah said it was EC who recommended to cancel it,EC said it was the cabinet decision and some saying the police did recommend for it to be cancelled. so right now,let us wait for the investigation.this is one of the reason that made thousands voted against the government. will there be a scapegoat here ?

MB to Mahkota Cheras residents: We're with you

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has assured the 38,000 residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras that the government is with them in their struggle to resolve their access route issue.
The residents are caught in the middle of a right-of-way tussle between Cheras-Kajang Expressway concessionaire Grand Saga Sdn Bhd and Bandar Makhota Cheras (BMC) developer Narajaya Sdn Bhd.
Recently, the long suffering residents dismantled the barricades erected by Grand Saga barring them use of a shorter and toll-free route into their housing area.
Khalid said the matter was between two business entities and it was up them to iron out the issue.
"As a developer Narajaya believes it has the right to the land while Grand Saga differs in this view and that is why they resorted to closing the road,” he pointed out.
“Both firms can battle it out in the courts. If Grand Saga is not successful the road will be open, and if Narajaya fails in court the road will also be open, but they would have to pay compensation to Grand Saga,” he added.
“The tussle between the two firms would go on until it is settled, but in the end the residents will get to use the road.” Khalid, reiterating that the state understood the resident’s plight and would be with them until the issue was resolved, said to date he had however not received any information from Grand Saga, Narajaya or the Works Ministry on their efforts to resolve the issue.

tunku : any ahmad,ah keong and raju can say we are with you.you are the menteri besar,the government of the day, you should solve their problem not just saying that we are with you and leave the matter to resolve by itself.don't you forget you are the government now there not the opposition.

Call For King To Intervene In Mahathir-Abdullah Spat

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- An Umno veteran feels that the spat between former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reached a stage where it can only be resolved by the intervention of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin as the mediator.
Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Tapa, 85, said only the intervention of Tuanku Mizan, as the representative of the Malay rulers, can bring the two leaders together for talks to end their quarrel.
"It (the spat) has reached a difficult stage for them to resolve on their own. As such, I would suggest that, if possible, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong summon both of them to have discussions.
"I feel no one else can act as the mediator because both of them are like fire. You cannot fight fire with fire. The matter has even gone beyond the stage where Umno veterans can help," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Saying that Malays were bound by the deep-rooted traditional values of the rulers, he explained that it was not wrong for the Malay rulers to intervene in the dispute because it was Umno which had championed the cause of restoring the powers of the Malay rulers.
He said the Malayan Union proposed in 1946 would have usurped the powers of the Malay rulers except for their status as head of the Islamic religion but Umno championed the cause of restoring these powers through the initiative of the party's founder Datuk Onn Jaafar.
He also said that at stake in the dispute between the two leaders was not just Umno but the Malays in general.
"I see this (dispute) as a harbinger of the destruction of Umno and disunity of the Malays. Pak Lah (Abdullah) heads a Cabinet now. He has won the elections. How can he step down? He cannot resign just because of that (Dr Mahathir's quitting Umno).
"Many (people) have stated their expression of support to Pak Lah. Those who do not support him are maintaining silence. These are indications of a breakup," he said.
Abdul Aziz expressed his feelings on what was happening to the Malays in a "pantun" (poem) which implied that the Malays were in dire straits due to envious leaders, as follows:
Anak raja menjunjung kayu,
Kayu dibawa dibuat titian,
Malang sungguh anak Melayu,
Sebab pemimpin berdengki-dengkian.

Former Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Aishah Ghani feels that the spat between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah was Umno's domestic problem.
"It is unnecessary to involve the Yang di-Pertuan Agong because this is a party matter. Furthermore, this is not the first time that Umno has faced a crisis. It has been up against worst crises before, and we have resolved all of them.
"It is also not easy to bring these two leaders together for discussions. They are not children," the Umno veteran said.
Aishah said she was convinced that the dispute between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah could be resolved if all quarters involved placed party interests above personal interests.
"I feel the matter can be settled if Pak Lah is a little accommodating. My suggestion is for Pak Lah to say when he would step down. He has mentioned that he would step down but has not said when. Now is the time for him to dislose that.
"When there is a time frame, people wanting Pak Lah to step down will no longer keep urging him to do so because they know when he will do just that," she said.
Aishah said she has been hearing talk among party members who have cynically questioned Abdullah's statement on his stepping down.
"That's the problem. It's just talk. The same goes for (Deputy Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak's) statement that he will discuss the transition of power with Pak Lah. Do so quickly. Do not just talk," she said.
She said that as a veteran who had moved up the ranks in the party, she was saddened by what was happening in Umno now.
"We are unable to do anything. We are powerless. We are just ordinary members. What we have are experience and our love for Umno. It is due to this love for the party that we continue to give our views and advice. It is up to them (the current leaders) whether they want to listen to us," she said.
Recently, political analyst Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussein had voiced similar views, saying that it would not be wrong for Abdullah to make the first move and meet up with Dr Mahathir.
"What more when it is in the interests of Umno and the Malays," said the lecturer of the Law and Public Administration Faculty of Universiti Utara Malaysia.
However, it may be difficult to carry out the suggestions of Aishah and Ahmad Atory because since the spat between Dr Mahathir and Abdullah began, both leaders have met but the dispute has remained unresolved.
And, Dr Mahathir has continued to hurl criticisms at Abdullah and has described the prime minister as weak and being under the influence of people close to him, including his family.
Abdullah, who took over as prime minister, Umno president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman from Dr Mahathir on Oct 31 2003, has maintained silence rather than reply to the criticisms.
The dispute between the two leaders reached a "shocking" stage last Monday when Dr Mahathir, who had served as Umno president for 22 years, announced that he was quitting the party after having lost confidence in Abdullah's leadership.
Many quarters see the move as a last-ditch attempt by Dr Mahathir to remove Abdullah from Umno and the government.

tunku : why would we want the King to be as a mediator? the problem here is not for the King to resolve..i think what Tan Sri Aishah Ghani said is very true.

Thorn In The Flesh ??

by Tun Dr Mahathir
www.chedet.com

"Duri dalam daging"

Saya telah ikuti laporan berkenaan keputusan saya keluar dari UMNO yang disiarkan RTM 1, 8 malam, 19 hb Mei. Komen oleh dua pemimpin UMNO amat menggelikan hati saya.
Tun Musa Hitam dakwa saya adalah ‘duri dalam daging yang sekarang sudah dikeluarkan.’
Tun, apakah Tun lupa Tun jadi duri dalam daging UMNO tahun 1986 - 87 dahulu? Semasa Tun jadi Timbalan Perdana Menteri [di lantik oleh saya]. Tun telah letak jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Timbalan Presiden UMNO kerana hendak saya berhenti daripada jadi Perdana Menteri dan diganti oleh Tun. Atas rayuan ahli Majlis Tertinggi, Tun kembali sebagai Timbalan Presiden UMNO. Rupa-rupanya Tun masih punyai niat untuk jatuhkan saya.
Oleh itu Tun menghasut Tengku Razaleigh yang menjadi musuh ketat Tun supaya lawan saya. Demikianlah bencinya Tun kepada saya sehingga sanggup terima musuh ketat Tun bertanding Presiden, dan Tun jadi Timbalannya; Tun sebelum itu rayu supaya saya sokong Tun untuk rebut jawatan Timbalan Presiden dalam pertandingan lawan Tengku Razaleigh.
Akhirnya pecahlah UMNO dan muncullah parti serpihan Semangat 46. Tetapi dengan bijaknya Tun tidak menyertainya. Tun selamat dan dilantik oleh saya sebagai perutusan bertaraf Menteri ke Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu. Tengku Razaleigh terkeluar daripada UMNO Baru dan menjadi mangsa perancangan Tun. Syabas Tun. Saya tak tahu sekarang Tun ahli UMNO atau tidak.
Satu lagi pemimpin UMNO ialah Shahrir Samad yang lupa bagaimana dia keluar UMNO, jadi calon bebas dan lawan dengan UMNO, dalam Pilihanraya Kecil dengan simbol kunci.
Siapakah kamu yang nak kritik tindakan saya? Jika tidak kerana kakak Tun Musa sebagai Ketua Wanita Johor Bahru datang pagi-pagi ke rumah saya untuk merayu supaya Dato dibenar kembali ke pangkuan UMNO, Dato akan jadi duri dalam daging UMNO lebih lama. Walaupun Dato maki hamun saya semasa pilihanraya kecil saya bersetuju Dato masuk balik UMNO.
Saya ucap tahniah kerana Dato dapat sekali lagi jadi Menteri. Jagalah harga barang baik-baik. Tak usahlah komen tentang diri saya.

Tepuk dulang paku serpih.
Katakan orang awak yang lebih.

tunku : before you open your mouth think first, but people like shahrir,musang hitam etc talks without thinking. the should see their face in the mirror first.

Ezam to rejoin Umno

PETALING JAYA: Former PKR Youth leader Ezam Mohd Nor will be rejoining Umno after receiving the green light from the top Umno leadership.
He will also cease to head the anti-corruption NGO, Gerak, from June 1 in preparation for his return to Umno. Mohd Nazree Yunus has been named to take over as chairman of Gerak.
Sources said he has met both the Umno president as well as deputy president for discussions in connection with his move.
His return to Umno is expected to be announced soon and will be seen as a blow to PKR.
Ezam, 40, was a rising star in Umno when he chose to follow Datuk Seri Anwar Irahim out of Umno after the latter’s sacking in 1998.
He was then Anwar’s political secretary and had also gone to jail under the ISA and OSA.
He resigned from PKR last year after an internal power struggle with PKR vice-president Azmin Ali. At the time of his resignation, he criticised Anwar for his “dictatorial politics” and accused Azmin of being “a schemer who dominates Anwar.”
Ezam has since concentrated on Gerak which is aimed at promoting a corruption-free culture, free media and independent judiciary.
There is some speculation about his future role in Umno including the possibility of appointing him a Senator. But the source said that he was content to be an ordinary member for a start.
Sources said the timing for his rejoining Umno could not be better given the Government’s initiative to strengthen judicial independence and the anti-corruption legislation.
tunku : at last he return to pak lah's family. this man is corrupted too, that's why he's quitting GERAK as if he heads GERAK than it will be difficult for him as people will question him of why he is not doing his job.by quitting GERAK he can embrace pak lah and family and may be join them hand in hand now(tumpang sekaki).another anwar man in umno.

Umno accepts Mahathir's resignation

The Umno supreme council today accepted the resignation of former president Dr Mahathir Mohamad from the party.
Party deputy president Najib Abdul Razak told reporters after almost a three-hour meeting that the party had received and accepted Mahathir's resignation.
Najib also said that he hoped Mahathir would rejoin the party in the future.
The meeting, held at the Menara Datuk Onn at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, was chaired by Umno president and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The meeting started at 9pm and ended at about 12 midnight, following which Najib held a short ten-minute press conference.
At the press conference, Najib said that the meeting discussed two matters - Mahathir's resignation as well as on how to strengthen the party.
Najib added that the supreme council members also pledged to continue the support for Abdullah.
"We will also create a plan to strengthen the party to regain the trust of members and the people," he said.
Meeting brought forward
Abdullah was also present at the press conference but he allowed Najib to address the media on behalf of the council members.
This meeting was originally scheduled to be held later this week but was brought forward due to Abdullah's official trip to Japan tomorrow.
Mahathir’s sudden decision to quit has triggered a number of emergency meetings, including one yesterday when Abdullah met with Umno parliamentarians to head off possible similar resignations.
The former premier, who had led Umno for 22 years, quit the party on Monday and said he would not rejoin until Abdullah stepped down, causing a panic in the ranks who feared a mass exodus of party members.
So far there has been little indication of a big number of members following Mahathir’s example.
The only notable resignations were Mahathir’s son Mokhzani and former minister and Kedah mentri besar Sanusi Junid, known to be a loyalist to the former party strongman.
Mass resignations in Umno branches
Joining Mokhzani today is former Kota Setar parliamentarian Dr Abdul Hadi Derani.
According to Star Online, 300 members from an Umno branch from Mokhzani's division in Merbok had resigned en masse.
This was followed by a few hundred members from another branch in Pokok Sena, also in Kedah, and a branch in Petaling Jaya Selatan in Selangor.
In the next few days, it is expected that a few more Umno branches will see mass resignations of members.
However, Mahathir's other son, Mukhriz did not follow suit, arguing that he would remain in the party to fight for reforms.
Nevertheless, Abdullah will need to ensure that the resignations today will not pick up momentum in the coming days and weeks.

tunku : if they were sincere, they will ask Tun to consider but no, they are pleased with the situation.now you had it, more will follow tun's step.you can create 1001 plans but umno is going in the wrong direction and it will not succeed.i thought najib said that he will meet tun, may be no clearance from boss.pak lah has no guts to take questions from the reporters, that's why he asked najib to conduct the pc.

Branch members in Pokok Sena leave the party en bloc

ALOR STAR: The Umno flag was rolled up in Kampung Inggeris here as 156 members from the Sri Tanjung branch in the Pokok Sena Umno division quit the party last night.
Sri Tanjung branch chairman Baharuddin Mahmood said they would only rejoin Umno when party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down.
“We are driven to this because we love Umno so much. We need to take drastic action to stop the rot,” he said after the branch committee members rolled up the Umno flag.
On Monday, more than 300 members from the Jalan Badlishah branch in the Merbok Umno division quit the party after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his decision to leave Umno.
Representatives from six other branches – Langgar A, Langgar B, Limbong, Tasak, Taman Teratai and Kampung Bersatu – all in Pokok Sena division said members from the bran-ches would be quitting in stages within the next few days after holding emergency meetings. They were at Kampung Inggeris last night as observers when the Sri Tanjung members quit.
Baharuddin said the members were very upset with former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Musa Hitam who said that Dr Mahathir was a thorn in the flesh.
“Musa should look at himself in the mirror first before criticising a statesman like Dr Mahathir,” he said.
Branch permanent chairman Jamali Shahi said they were quitting en masse because they do not want Dr Mahathir to fight the rot in the party alone.

Mesyuarat tergempar MT malam ini

Majlis Tertinggi Umno akan mengadakan mesyuarat tergempar malam ini, dua hari selepas mantan perdana menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad keluar dari Umno.
Ekoran tindakan Dr Mahathir itu, beberapa pertemuan tergempar diadakan, termasuk perjumpaan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dengan ahli parlimen Umno semalam.
Dr Mahathir yang menerajui Umno dan kerajaan selama 22 tahun, mengumumkan keluar dari Umno Isnin lalu kerana tidak yakin lagi dengan kepimpinan Abdullah.
Mantan perdana menteri berkata beliau akan kembali menyertai Umno selepas Abdullah meletakkan jawatan.
Tindakan Dr Mahathir itu turut mencetus kebimbangan ramai ahli dan pemimpin Umno akan menurut jejak langkahnya meninggalkan Umno.
Sehingga ini Star Online melaporkan bahawa 300 ahli Umno di Merbok (Kedah), 420 (PJ Selatan) telah keluar parti manakala 2,000 lagi ahli Umno di Pokok Sena (Kedah) dijangka berbuat demikian.
Turut keluar parti ialah bekas menteri besar Kedah, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, bekas ahli parlimen Kota Star, Dr Abdul Hadi Derani dan anak lelaki mantan perdana menteri itu, Datuk Mokhzani.

tunku : more should follow asap.we need to send them strong 'tsunami warning signal'.they can't(the leadership) understand the normal language.now it's time for action.

Mukhriz attacks gov't in Parliament

The morality of the government was put to the test in the Dewan Rakyat today when a controversial BN backbencher stood up to ask why the allegedly biggest corporate supporter to the US military campaign in Iraq has been allowed to invest in Malaysia.
Mukhriz Mahathir (Umno-Jerlun) demanded why Halliburton, a top American oil and gas services company and defence contractor, has been allowed to open a factory in Johor when the government had in the past professed to be against the war in Iraq.
“This corporation is involved in the murder of more than one million innocent Iraqi civilians and I want to know why our government has allowed it to open a factory in Johor,” he asked.
The youngest son of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who like his father, has been an ardent critic of the Iraq war and US president George W Bush.
In response, International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Jacob Dungau Sagan said that Halliburton - which has a US$7 billion no-bid oil and infrastructure contract in Iraq - was allowed to set up a factory only after the corporation no longer associates itself with supplying arms.
“We granted Halliburton licence to operate on April 6 last year and they started operating in October 2007 the same year. This means that the licence was granted only after the corporation had stopped manufacturing military products,” said Sagan.
He added that Halliburton’s factory in Johor only manufactures tools and products meant for the oil and gas industry like packers, nipples, flow control equipment, safety valves and other parts.
Apart from that, Sagan also said that it was imperative for the government to attract foreign investments and suggested that it was in Malaysia’s interest to have Halliburton invest here as it is one of world’s biggest corporations.
Build and run US military bases
Mukhriz however was not satisfied with the minister’s reply and argued that he was of the view that no corporation which is involved directly in the US invasion of Iraq be allowed to invest in Malaysia.
“Yes, I agree that we have to attract foreign investments but my question is this: can’t the government filter out corporations investing in this country so that those profiting from blood money would no be allowed to invest here?” asked Mukhriz.
Sagan argued that the government had studied the background of Halliburton and found that it was one of its subsidiaries, Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR), that was directly linked to the war in Iraq.
One of KBR’s key activities are the construction and running of US military bases, some in secret locations.
The deputy minister also said that because of the massive negative impact that the parent company had received from its subsidiary’s involvement in the Iraq war, Halliburton had since divested all its shares in KBR.
Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang demanded Sagan to explain if the ministry was aware that Halliburton was linked to allegedly Zionist fundamentalist groups in US which back the Israeli government.
“Has the government taken into consideration the sensitivity of Malaysian Muslims or is the Malaysian government receiving political pressure from foreign powers (to allow its corporations to invest in this country),” asked Hadi.
Sagan however did not answer Hadi’s question. Instead he said the government was doing its best to develop Malaysia based on Islamic and ethical principles.

tunku : halliburton is sponsoring pak lah, that's why they are here to invest with the blood money. pak lah can involve in oil for food programme in iraq through the sister in-law , his son's scomi was involved in making the centrifuge and BSA Tahir became the victim or scapegoat to be under ISA etc.for pak lah the damn care about halliburton's background ,what's important is to stay on as pm and gets all the money out of this country with the help of people like from the halliburton organization.

Muhkriz Denies Having Said He'll Quit Umno In July

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth Executive Council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir Wednesday denied he had stated he would quit Umno in July should Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi not step down as Umno president and prime minister by then.
He said he had only said that he had the right to change his stand at any time according to developments and had also not stated that there was only one way out, and which was to quit the party, when there were many other options.
"I did not say that by July if the prime minister does not step down, then I will quit the party," he told reporters at the lobby of Parliament House, here.
Mukhriz, who is the Member of Parliament for Jerlun, said the reference to July was because of the Umno branch meetings scheduled to begin then and he hoped that a drastic change would take place before the branch meetings begin, and not that he would quit the party.
He had said Tuesday that he would not quit Umno as his father, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, did two days ago because there was much work to be done and his struggle was not for the party alone but for his parliamentary constituency as well.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had expressed regret over Mukhriz's statement and said he would refer the matter to the party's management committee.
Mukhriz said he was prepared to face any penalty that would be imposed on him and said he felt that the process he was undergoing now would strengthen Umno Youth.
"I would not have issued any statement if I was not prepared to accept any penalty, including from the management committee," he said, adding that Hishammudin's statement resulted from a misunderstanding over his (Mukhriz's) statement Tuesday.
Mukhriz said he would attend the Umno Youth executive council meeting on Friday, adding that this would not be the first time he would be up against criticism from his colleagues.



tunku : mukhriz never said that he will quit the party in july if pak lah still there,what he said was he will change his stand.well mr hisham keris always jump on mukhriz.i wonder why.by right he had asked mukhriz first before making any statement but no,i'm brave with smaller group but i'm coward with the larger group.that's hishamudin.hisham running for vice president,has he got the quality of it? i don't think so.he is just exco level type not a national leader type.if umno and bn wants to face the enemy they should not have generals like hisham, they will definately lose the battle before it starts.

Dr M's Quit Umno Move Said To Favour Tengku Razaleigh's Bid For President

KOTA BAHARU, May 21 (Bernama) -- The move by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno has given momentum to the proposal by Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to garner support to contest the post of Umno president in the party elections in December, according to the Kelantan Justices of the Peace Council.
Council president Datuk Shukri Mohamed said Dr Mahathir's move was an expression of his concern for the credibility of the leadership of Umno and the country.
Sukri, who is the former Barisan Nasional (BN) Member of Parliament for Machang, said Dr Mahathir's move should be viewed seriously because the former Umno president could be looking at things on a wider perspective.
Tengku Razaleigh is travelling the length and breadth of the country to appeal to party members to support his bid to contest the post of president.


tunku : if there is no one else who have guts like Ku Li then we all should support him in his bid to contest the post of president.i have a feeling that something will happen in July or August.may be another contestant will offer himself to contest.this is the final year for umno to recover, if it does not then sorry to say that it will be the future opposition party at federal level as it is an opposition party in few states right now.

"Letter" to Prime Minister of Israel

by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
www.chedet.com

1. There is a letter being circulated purporting to be from me when I was Prime Minister, to Ehud Barak, Prime Minister of Israel congratulating him on his appointment and requesting for the “Clinton Fund”, for “the purpose of withstanding the onslaught of Islamic Fundamentalist in Malaysia”.
2. This letter is not from me or from my office. Firstly, the font used is not the same as the type in all my letters from the Prime Minister’s office.
3. The Malaysian Coat of Arms at the top is not similar to the one on all my letters from the Prime Minister’s office.
4. The address at the side of the Coat of Arms is not the same as on my official paper. Often no address is printed, only “Prime Minister Malaysia” on the top right-hand corner.
5. The contents of the letter is totally different from the one I sent to Ehud Barak. Unfortunately, the Government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi refuses permission to reproduce my letters to Israeli Prime Ministers condemning them for their oppression of the Palestinians. This action by the Abdullah Government will lend credence to the letter that is being circulated.
6. I deny categorically that the letter which is being circulated with annotation “Sumbangan kakitangan JPM untuk Rakyat Malaysia” originated from me. This is the kind of dirty tricks that my detractors have to resort to because they have found nothing to blacken my name with.



tunku : i hope this will stop all the speculations.after i had read it, i knew it it was not from tun mahathir.only fools will believe it.

Hishammuddin condemns Mukhriz for conditional membership

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein condemned Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir for setting conditions in asking Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down as party president.
"Mukhriz pressuring the president to step down is nothing new. But what I cannot accept is that he set conditions for his membership. He said he would leave the party if the president did not resign by July," Hishammuddin told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
He said he was not empowered to impose disciplinary action on Mukhriz but would raise the matter to the management committee headed by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
On Tuesday, Mukhriz said he hoped "action will be taken before the party’s branch level meetings in July, and if the Prime Minister still does not step down by then, I reserve the right to take a different stand.
“If there are no positive developments within the party in the shortest period of time, my fear is that if the leadership crisis is to drag on, we will lose other states in the next general election. So there is no compromise. The Prime Minister should just resign,” said Mukhriz.

tunku : don't just raise but recommend to the management committee to sack him. after all he's going to challenge your buddy kj in december.so better cut him off before that. is there any democracy in Umno now? can't the member speak out ? then i guess many had did the right thing by quitting the party and i believe if things continue the way it is, more will follow.

Mokhzani quits Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman and former Youth wing treasurer Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir announced Wednesday that he was quitting Umno.

His announcement comes two days after his father Dr Mahathir resigned from the party.

On Tuesday, Umno Youth exco member and Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz, who is also Mokhzani's brother, had announced that he will not quit the party.

He however called on Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign.

Mokhzani Mahathir Quits Umno

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, the second child of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Wednesday announced he is quitting Umno, heeding his father's call to members to leave the party to pressure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down.
When contacted by Bernama, Mokhzani, 47, confirmed that he had decided to leave Umno and had sent his resignation letter to the Merbok Umno division office via fax on Tuesday.
"I decided to quit Umno as I concurred with my father's views that the Umno of today is not the real Umno," said the former Merbok Umno division youth chief who is now more active in the corporate sector.
On Tuesday, Mokhzani's younger brother, Datuk Mukhriz, who is also Jerlun member of parliament, said he would remain in Umno eventhough he agreed with his father that Abdullah should step down as prime minister and Umno president immediately to save Umno.
On Monday, Dr Mahathir, who was Umno president for 22 years between 1981 and 2003 and a life member, announced he was quitting Umno as he had lost confidence in Abdullah's leadership and would only rejoin the party after Abdullah stepped down or was no longer the country's leader.
In SUNGAI PETANI, Merbok Umno division deputy head Datuk Tajul Urus Md Zain, expressing disappointment over Mokhzani's move, said his decision would not have any impact on the division's leadership as he was only an ordinary member of the Sungai Layar Hujung branch.
"He was no longer active after his tenure as division youth chief ended in the last term," he told Bernama.
He said the division received a letter on Mokhzani's intention to quit the party this morning and regarded it as his personal right.
Tajul Urus said another member from the Merbok division, who is also Jalan Badlishah Umno branch chief, Mejar (B) Anuar Abdul Hamid, had also resigned from Umno.
He said Anuar, an appointed committee member of the division, sent his resignation letter Wednesday.
"The division has no problems with their decision to leave Umno as so far none had followed suit," he added.

Opposition Parties Invite Dr M To Join Them

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) have asked former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to join them, now that he has decided to quit Umno.
PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and PKR President Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail extended the invitation to Dr Mahathir.
Abdul Hadi said he always welcomed Dr Mahathir or other Umno members to join PAS.
Dr Wan Azizah said PKR's doors were always open for Dr Mahathir if he was interested in joining the party.
Dr Mahathir Monday announced his decision to quit Umno, saying he had lost confidence in Umno President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and that he would only rejoin the party after Abdullah had stepped down as party president and prime minister.

tunku : thanks but NO THANKS. Tun Mahathir will never join the oppositions.don't waste your time.how come the oppositions invites Tun Mahathir when they always accuses him for everything? Are they gone mad or desperate attempt to get more supports from the public?

156 Umno members quit in Kedah

ALOR STAR: A total of 156 members from the Sri Tanjung branch in the Pokok Sena Umno division quit the party Tuesday night.

Sri Tanjung branch chairman Baharuddin Mahmood, who led the group, said they would only rejoin Umno after party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down.

“We are driven to this because we love Umno so much. We need to take drastic action to stop the rot,” he said after the branch committee members rolled up the Umno flag.

tunku : GOOD MOVE SRI TANJUNG BRANCH. WHEN ARE OTHER BRANCHES GOING TO FOLLOW THE FOOT STEP OF THIS BRAVE BRANCH ? QUIT BUT DO NOT JOIN THE OPPOSITIONS.

Mat Taib: History not on Dr Mahathir’s side

KUALA LUMPUR: All former Umno presidents except for Tun Abdul Razak ended up outside the party, yet support from the grassroots continued to be strong, said Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.
“(Founder) Datuk Onn (Jaafar) left to start Parti Negara but the Malays stayed (with Umno). Tunku Abdul Rahman, (and) Tun Hussein (Onn) were not in Umno when they died.
“The irony is that Umno members remained (each time a former leader quit the party) and continued to support the leadership at that time,” he said.
Tun Abdul Razak was Umno president and Prime Minister when he died.
However, Muhammad said it was unprecedented for a former party leader to ask for the removal of the present leader.
Muhammad urged party members to stay in the party and make it stronger.
“We hope they will remain calm and not resort to actions that will weaken the party. What is important is for the party to remain intact,” he said.

tunku : i guess you are right, history is not on Dr Mahathir's side,may be not yet.But as for you, let us see whether history will be on your side.so far lady luck i still with you.though everyone knows that of your scandals and wrongdoing during your time as selangor menteri besar, still pak lah appointed you as a minister now.majority of malaysian hates you but still pak lah apoointed you. let us see how long your lady luck will be with you mr. ungrateful.

Rafidah: Dr Mahathir is disloyal

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation was an act of disloyalty to the party, said Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.
She said she was shocked to hear about Dr Mahathir’s departure, considering that he was someone who always talked about being loyal to Umno.
“We understand that the issues raised by Tun was about leadership but this is a process that must take place graciously and it should not come to (the level of) bringing people down.”
Rafidah said that Umno’s position as the backbone of the Government also had to be taken into consideration.
“What he did was to be disloyal but I think most members are still loyal and that everyone will remain calm,” she added.
In Malacca, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam called on Dr Mahathir to reconsider his decision.
He also urged party members to remain calm and loyal to the party in the light of recent developments.
“It is crucial for party members to remain steadfast and to strengthen Umno.
On Dr Mahathir’s move being capitalised by the Opposition, Mohd Ali said the Opposition would try to capitalise on every single issue if possible, including resorting to wearing turbans and songkok merely to entice support from the people.
Perak Umno chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali expressed shock and disappointment over Dr Mahathir’s decision.
All those in Umno and the Malay community too, he believed, were saddened by the sudden turn of events.
“After Dr Mahathir had led Umno for 22 years, his decision to leave the party is beyond expectations.
“On behalf of the state liaison committee and for the sake of our race, religion and country, I beg Tun Dr Mahathir to abandon his intention to leave so that we can together strengthen Umno and complete our unfinished struggles,” he said.
Tajol Rosli also called on all Umno members to remain calm.
Batu Pahat Umno division chief Dr Puad Zarkashi hoped that senior Umno leaders would meet Dr Mahathir to persuade him to reconsider his decision. “Obviously Tun is sending a strong signal to Abdullah to step down and to take the power transition seriously,” he added.

tunku : this is what tun has been saying,those people who were crying/supporting/kissing his hand last time ( rafidah one of them ) now condemning him. that shows the true character of a person. they will only 'kiss the hand' with powers not the hand of an old man without powers.by right people like rafidah and all the veteran leaders go and meet Tun Mahathir and sort things out, but no, they condemn him left and right.musa hitam said he's glad tun left the party as there is no more thorn in the flesh. it's true Tun Mahathir is a thorn in the flesh but only for abdullah badawi , his cronies and those who are the culprits.God Save Malaysia.

AirAsia owes MAHB RM100mil

KUALA LUMPUR: Low-cost carrier AirAsia owes Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) more than RM100mil for its use of airports in the country, said Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat.
He said AirAsia owed MAHB RM110.36mil since 2002 until March 31.
The minister who was replying to matters raised during winding up the debate on the motion of thanks on the royal address, said AirAsia felt that the rates were "too high" and had appealed for the amount to be reduced.
“AirAsia did not agree with the outstanding balance and had asked for a lower rate, so the matter has been forwarded to the Finance Ministry," he told Wee Choo Keong (PKR – Wangsa Maju).
He said the debts included RM5.4mil that the low cost carrier owed when it was operating the Rural Air Services (RAS) in Sabah and Sarawak.

tunku : mr tony, when are you going to pay back your debts to MAHB ? after all you charge airport tax to your passenger and make them suffer by walking in the rain and shine.what i don't understand here is how airasia don't agree with their outstanding debt balance and had asked for a lower rate ? can any other company do that ? or only airasia can do that ?

Nazri Says Dr Mahathir Blackmailing Umno

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- The decision by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno is deemed as blackmailing the party, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said Tuesday.
"Nobody, no matter how big he is, has the right to use dirty tactics to bring down a person who is democratically elected," he said in reference to Dr Mahathir's move to unseat Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Umno president with his decision to quit Monday.
"It's not something that we condone and it's undemocratic; that's blackmailing the party," he said at the Parliament lobby when asked to comment on Dr Mahathir's decision to leave the party.
Dr Mahathir announced Monday that he had resigned as an Umno member with immediate effect together with his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, saying that he had lost confidence in the leadership of Abdullah as the party president and would return to Umno only after Abdullah had stepped down or was no longer the prime minister.
Dr Mahathir, who had led Umno and the country for 22 years, also suggested that branch and divisional leaders in the party resign as well as a signal for Abdullah to step down as party president before the Umno elections in December. Abdullah has stated that he would contest the president's post in the forthcoming Umno elections.
Asked whether Umno would accept the former prime minister back if he wanted to rejoin the party in future, Mohamed Nazri said party leaders would decide on the matter when the time came.
"This is democracy. Nobody (in Umno) asked him to leave, he is no longer a child. I am sure he has given it thought and still wants to leave," he said.
Earlier, Members of Parliament (MPs) from Umno expressed their solid support for Abdullah as party president and gave the assurance that they would not leave Umno.
The statement of support was made at a special one-hour meeting Tuesday with the prime minister when the Parliament sitting broke for lunch.
Asked if Dr Mahathir's decision to quit Umno meant that he had cut ties with the party, Mohamed Nazri said it was not fair to pose such a question to him or other Umno members.
"Don't ask me ... ask him," he said in reference to Dr Mahathir.
"We did not sack him, so it is not fair to ask us in Umno because we did not leave Umno. He (Dr Mahathir) left Umno," he said.
Asked whether Dr Mahathir's son and Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz had attended the special meeting with the prime minister, Mohamed Nazri said he was not sure of that.
He said he hoped that the media would not put pressure on or force Mukhriz into a difficult situation over his father's move.

tunku : how would an ordinary umno member could blackmail the party? he is no longer in power or hold any position?

Mukhriz Press Conference 20th May 2008

Q&A: 'He may be disappointed I'm not following

Mukhriz Mahathir explains his rationale for staying on in Umno in wake of his father’s resignation saying that he will try and effect change from within.

MCPX

Yesterday, Dr M said that Umno is not what it used to be now that it is under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Do you agree?

Mukhriz: I agree that the party now is different than before (when it was under Dr Mahathir). The party now has changed to a party that neglects Malay rights and therefore there are some members who decided to take an exit door from Umno. But my friends and I have made a decision to stay in Umno and fight from within.

Regarding pressuring the prime minister to step down; if there’s no compromise, he should resign?

For me, there’s no compromise and he should resign.

What are some of the possibilities that will see you resigning from Umno?

If there are no positive developments within the shortest period of time and if it were to drag on with the leadership crisis we face. If it doesn’t resolve soon, my fear is that at the next elections, we will face defeat in many other states.

This means if Pak Lah does not step down sometime soon, you will quit?

I leave that as one of the alternatives.

How long is the time-frame you are talking about?

My preference of that action will be taken before our branch meeting in July.

What if it takes longer than July?

Then I will decide to take a different stance on the matter.

Did you consult with Dr M?

I consulted him about his decision (to quit Umno) but I did not consult him about my decision to stay on.

Have you been pressured in any way to leave the party?

I must admit that there have been certain parties, friends included, who have talked to me about leaving and some of them have actually left the party. But at the same time, an equal number of friends have urged me to stay on and to try to effect change from within.

Just to clarify, you will not be running for the Umno youth chief post?

No, I did not say that.

What has influenced you to stay on?

Firstly, I’m the Jerlun MP. So I haven’t got around to discussing this matter with my friends there regarding the actions I should be taking. For the time being, I think it is appropriate for me and my friends to stay in the party. We also have to voice out our opinions, be more outspoken so that a drastic change at the top level can be made.

If Pak Lah does not intend to resign, will you support his challenger who will be running against him in the upcoming party elections in December?

I will support if democracy is practiced in the party. If the PM before this has clarified that he would retain his position as president, there’s a possibility that other parties will go against him in the election to fight for the position. If there’s any challenger, then I will give my full support to him.

Even if it is Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah?

We’ll see who will be running for the party elections. I think that we are very open but most importantly, the quota system should be abolished.

Are you worried about criticisms that say while your father has called for other members to emulate him, you as his son, have decided to stay on.

I understand the situation and I have clarified it in my statement. I understand and agree with his decision yesterday. The most important thing is, we have the same goals and visions to save the party and we will start this process by pressuring Pak Lah to step down.

Regarding this issue, I am share this vision with my father.

What is your view regarding the possibility of any Umno member defecting from the party?

Well, again, for the lack of any law disallowing ‘hopping’ from one party to another, there’s no stopping them actually. No one can instruct them to stay and impose upon them to be loyal to the party. If there are any Barisan MPs who are seriously thinking about it, I’m not sure how the leadership could stop them from doing so.

The opposition says in making an exit from Umno, Dr M is desperate and that he should have stayed on until he clears his name regarding the Lingam tape scandal. How do you respond to that?

Resigning from the party does not mean that he is absolved from any supposed accusations against him. He already said before this that he would like to be dragged to court so that he is able to defend himself. And he prefers that this case not be closed so that he could do something about it. So those are mistaken assumptions.

Are you staying back in Umno in order to go for the Umno Youth chief’s post?

I’m staying in Umno to fulfill my aspirations to do something good for the party. Whether it is for any position, it is for the Umno Youth to decide.

Nazri Aziz has claimed that Dr M’s exit from Umno is a ‘dirty tactic’ to pressure Pak Lah to step down.

There’s nothing ‘dirty’ in pressuring the prime minister to step down. Individualism doesn’t matter as much as the importance of the party.

We have to save Umno first. If we were to ignore the rights of the members, and support a weak leadership, then we will have a president with no party. What are we doing all this for if in the next election we will be defeated.

Do you intend to meet Pak Lah personally?

If he wants to see me and if he calls for me to come and see him, I will, of course, oblige.

What would Dr M think about your decision to stay on in Umno, knowing that you haven’t talked to him about it?

To be frank with you, I think he may be disappointed that I’m not following him. When I have the chance, I will explain to him my reasons.

Have you persuaded your father to stay on in Umno?

No, I think it’s not for me to try and persuade him to stay on. He has made a decision and he’s not the type to change his mind.

Why were you absent at the lunchtime meeting Umno MPs had with Pak Lah in Parliament today?

At the end of the lunch, the statement issued would be that all the Umno MPs are 100 percent behind him (Pak Lah). I don’t want to be a part of that.

In the future, will you boycott such meetings?

If I know what the intentions are, and actually I must say, during lunch time, I was getting feedback from my friends about what I should do and I hate to be part of a meeting with the PM which endorses him as the leader when I do not share the same feelings about that. I also have the feeling that some other MPs do not share the stance.

Dr M has criticised that Umno has become a ‘family affair’ but the current PM has said it is the same in your situation.

Dr M is no longer the president of the party. He has no posts whatsoever. When Pak Lah said Dr M resigned, the fact is he was not holding any position. He was just a member, that’s why he said he took an exit from Umno rather than resigning from Umno [...] it means that he returns his membership, unfortunately as the No1 member of the party.

What my father has done is to save the party and he said if Pak Lah steps down at 10 am, he will apply again for Umno membership an hour later.

Some might say that your decision to stay on in Umno is to save the party while some might say that it will just cause a mess in Umno. Your comment.

For me, Umno is already in a mess. I have submitted a personal letter to the prime minister, but no actions have been taken. I took that as a (bad) sign, and I am not the only one who agrees on this.

I am not worried if any action will be taken against me.