Let's march towards a healthy democracy system Malaysia~!

政权好坏有无客观标准？跳槽，可以被接受吗？

2009-02-18T04:46:00.000-08:00

黄进发昨晚在《独立新闻在线》和隆雪华堂民权委员会联合主办的“霹雳变天：谈民主转型危机”的讲座会上，即席作了一个民调。他先问，谁认为霹雳州变天侵犯了民主，在场逾八成听众都举手，可是问道谁认为国阵掌权的森美兰州政权以同一剧本变天，践踏了民主，举手的听众只有区区三成。
因此，他说，变天一事“幸亏发生在霹雳州”，因为如果变天的是国阵掌权的森美兰州，那么恐怕现在痛心的群众，将心里暗喜，且暗骂“巫统该死”，以及赞扬跳槽的议员“投向光明”，到了民联掌权的霹雳变天时，我们就无法以民主的价值判断批评巫统篡夺政权的行为。他说：“我们会失去所有正当性。”
如果你回应，“森美兰的是个烂政权，霹雳州的是一个好政权”，黄进发会说：“好与坏有一个客观的标准吗？没有。”
他说：“你看过一个坏人跟你说，我就是坏人，我就是天下最大的坏人吗？没有，就像喝醉的人不会承认他喝醉一样，没有一个政客会承认他是被收买的。每个人都有伟大的理想，纳沙鲁丁跳槽的时候也没有跟你说，我等着一个州行政议员的位子，他会跟你说，我跳槽是因为我要支持安华的改革，我相信安华的新政策。”
他进一步指出，就连当年拉拢沙巴州议员跳槽到国阵的安华，也在演说时宣称自己当年没有收买议员，如果我们能接受安华这番论述，我们有什么资格说纳吉的做法是错的？
民主是“自作自受”
黄进发说，虽说有的巫统人士“弃暗投明”，可是“你可以把一个人从乡下带出来，可是要把他乡巴佬的本性拿掉并不容易”，就算巫统人士已经退党，可是他身上可能还带着巫统的本质。
他认为，巫统的问题也是我们的问题，我们的问题在于没有一套规范，而民主转型该从建立规范开始。他随之剖析，在国家有大议题时，选民皆“选党不选人”，当中选议员表示要“弃暗投明”时，我们怎能得知其选民是否也想要“弃暗投明”？
他直问：“如果你的选民选择黑暗，你有资格逼他们走向光明吗？没有。”
他说，民主的用意并非区分善恶，而是在政治上让我们“成为成人”，即“为自己做决定，为自己负责”，换言之，“自作自受”。如果选民要接受贪污，那是选民的选择，我们可以尝试说服他放弃，可是不可以把良好的价值强加在他身上。
他说：“你要区分，选民到底是老板还是猪仔，猪仔是给人卖的，没有办法做决定。跳槽的问题在于，你不让选民做决定。”
唐南发：好坏有客观标准
可是，唐南发认为，好坏善恶是有客观标准的。他也在讲座会现场即席作了一个民调，他问在座听众，“《内安法令》是好是坏”，全场皆认为《内安法令》是坏的，只有一个人唱反调；问道“你认为用马来主权捞取政治选票是好是坏”，结果全场一面倒认为是坏的。
因此他说：“有的东西是你赤裸裸看得到的。”
他指向纳吉的图像：“我并非污蔑他作为一个人，而是他所拥有的权力，他这些年来所作所为，他将来可能所做的，他做在我朋友身上的事情，我觉得我们没有办法再容忍。”
他表示，巫统在308大选丧失五州议席之后，不择手段夺回政权，包括用不正当的手段对付雪兰莪州行政议员黄洁冰，人民正因巫统没有意愿改革，因而才想要打倒巫统。他说：“我们要如何尊重巫统的正当性？我没有办法尊重，我真的没有办法。”
同意通过议员跳槽换政府的他且说：“我们需要学习在哪里斩线，在非常时期，要用非常的手段。”
黄进发回应时，以刘镇东提出的民调结果为例指出，华人和马来人的想法有一定的落差，同样的一个问题，“你认为用马来主权捞取政治选票是好是坏”，抛向马来群众，可能他们都会说“好”，民主该是“跟讨厌的人共存”，并非单凭正义感就能做到这一点。
他说：“纳吉反民主是确定的，不确定的是如何应对，还是我们要无所不为。什么是务实，什么是权谋，不起诉苏丹是务实，可是你一直顺应苏丹，企盼他的宠爱，就是权谋。”
他最后抛下一句：“民主化的出路不是修辞学，而是政治社会学。”
国人应接受不稳定性
唐南发（右图）在讲座会上重申，他可以接受的变天的途径，是在议会里通过不信任动议，或是在安华通过议会取得政权以后，民众施压他解散议会重新选举。他说：“你怎样跑到尼查的官邸声援尼查、给国阵压力，将来如果安华没有兑现他的选举承诺时，你也要这样去对付他！”
他指出，人民公正党实权领袖安华在“916变天计划”期间，曾尝试遵循程序，致函首相要求召开国会，以提呈不信任动议，可是“阿都拉当然不要”。他说：“这就像让火鸡投票选择要圣诞节，这是不可能的事情。他尝试走各种途径，可是巫统就是不掉入你这个陷阱。”
他认为，跳槽是应该被允许的，马来西亚人该学习接受因跳槽而起的不稳定政局，因为这种不确定性是民主选举的结果；台湾人天天被各种政治新闻轰炸，肯定觉得烦不胜烦，可是要让他们回到以前专制的时代，他们肯定说不，意大利和日本，政权更迭的情况更是司空见惯，可是，它们都没有因而制定《反跳槽法令》。
“许月凤要跳槽让她跳，纳沙鲁丁要跳回去，让他跳，但是至少你要把整套戏（在议会发动不信任投票）做完，你连这个都不做的话，你根本就是在强暴民意。”
“你说跳槽不道德，那么如果说真的有一天，议员真的非常不满意执政党的领袖，而他眼看下一届大选一定完蛋，而选择跳槽明志，你觉得这个可能吗？”
我国变泰国，怎么办？
唐南发表示，当年撒切尔夫人在执政十年后莫名其妙下台，正因为其独裁作风引起党内的不满，以致保守党议员逐个跳到自由民主党和工党，任内五、六个素质好的国会议员都选择跳槽，最终促使党内人士把她拉下马。
他认为，我们该学会应对政治的不确定性，待下届大选才来教训跳槽的人，没有必要制定《反跳槽法令》，也没有必要把所有跳槽的人都认定是遭收买的。
无论如何，黄进解释，其他国家没有制定《反跳槽法令》，原因是它们有健全的政党体系；在两党立场互异、支持者对半的情况下，跳槽是较少见的；政党体系不健全的我国，还需仰赖法律禁止跳槽的议员，直接把议席带入新的政党，剥夺了人民表态的权利。
他认为，较之意大利和日本，我国的情况较接近泰国。如果我国出现泰国的情况，一群人拉倒了一个政权之后，另一群人又来拉倒另一个政权，国家将终无宁日。
他说，“剃人头者，人亦剃其头”，如果我们没有设定规范，那么我们的心态就是亡命之徒，我们该相信，转型是有未来的，而非赌一次，就完了。

Anyone know a sodomy specialist?

2008-07-31T03:23:00.000-07:00

My friend ask, "I have stomachache for few days already, can you recommend a famous Sodomy Specialist for me?"

I was puzzle, "A Sodomy Specialist? I cannot find that particular specialist under World Medical Association. Furthermore stomachahce has nothing to do with sodomy! Why not go for an experience GP (General Practitioner) and ask him to do some basic inspection?"

He answer, "Oh no, because an experience General Practitioner is not in a position to examine the stomachache. A gastrology may not be suitable, because in Malaysia, our beloved country, stomachache may either directly or indirectly related to my ass muscle. It might be the loose tension in my ass muscle that's causing my stomachache. "

I said, "What does a stomachache has to do with your Ass muscle? That is not related at all. Where do you learn this information from? Who told you this?"

He answer, "This is from the President of Hospital Pusrawi, he said an experience GP is not in the position to examine Stomachache, and furthermore stomachache has to inspect the anal muscle, scar, etc."

I said, "....@@@@... .. No Wonder Malaysia BOLEH~! We can be the most advance country in this world given that we have found out stomachache actually related to Ass muscle!"

Pusrawi, Telling truth???

2008-07-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

Exerpt from Mahaguru blog: http://mahaguru58.blogspot.com/2008/07/pus-raw-wee-making-ass-of-sodomy-story.html

Well, I am sure that most of us rational Malaysians have just had enough of the way truth and justice have been continuously sodomized in this country!
Damn! Sodomy is now the most common word in this nation that pretends itself to be the paragon of Islamic awareness as witnessed by the endless symposiums, seminars, talks, gatherings of so called Islamic scholars with degrees and scrolls attesting to their Islamic achievements but in reality this country is fast turning into a cesspool of filth and moral degradation!!!

I for one do not recognize that this country's rulers have done all that they can to uphold the true principles of Islam nor acknowledge that the Malay Sultans have actually done anything for the state of the Muslims of this pretentious nation!!!
You want to fool around in Malaysia?
Hell yeah! There are just about anything that sin cities like Haadyai, Patpong, Amsterdam, etc. have to offer is easily available here in Malaysia Bolehland!

Today, we are seeing how irresponsible and morally bankrupt the buggers in power are attempting to destroy the future of this country by systematically and willfully break all rules of proper conduct and governance by bending, twisting, fabricating, all known acceptable norms of the implementation of justice that the rule of law is now totally just a matter of what the Executive interprets it to be and all the various departments and agencies of government of this land are nothing but mere shells of what they are supposed to be?

From Putrajaya to Parliament, the idiots in power seem to think that Malaysians are still living in attap huts and riding bullock carts to be in a state of mind and mental limbo land that we can't figure out as to who is speaking the truth and who the hell are trying their level best to screw their political nemesis in any and every way possible?My disgust is further compounded with the way so called medical professionals prostitute themselves and the remnants of any integrity that they might possess in bending over backwards to accommodate the libeling and character assassination of a human being who so happens to be the one who is rallying Malaysians to overthrow the 51 years old regime of the Barisan Nasional from continuing to dictate over this country!!!

Now, PUSRAWI officials are stating that the Medical Doctor who ruled out any attempted sodomy of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan after his medical examination of that political gigolo's arsehole to be that of a normal, unsodomized male beyond any doubts is NOT QUALIFIED to come to that decision???

Yet in another report, the hospital authorities say that Dr.Mohamed Osman is a good doctor and that they do not question his findings?
What a confusing manner is this flip flopping of statements accusing the doctor of being not specialized in the field of rectal examinations and in the same vein, say that he is an 'A Okay' doctor?
What other specialized qualifications does a well established medical doctor like Dr.Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid need in order to confirm that the political gigolo has not been buggered?

It's an insult to the professionalism of Dr.Mohamed Osman and he should sue the bollocks of those who are libelling him as being not qualified in his profession!!!

Click here to read about the good doctor's background. Don't tell me that after all these years of being a medical doctor, he can't tell the difference between someone's who has been buggered and someone who is obviously not?Link above sourced from Rocky Bru.

I have sensed all along that these dirty scoundrels masquerading as the leaders of this country's federal government will not act honorably towards their political opponents and will not waste a second using all the filthiest tricks of the trade to frame Anwar Ibrahim with the sodomite tag as best as they can?
All I can say is that I have lost all confidence in this nation's current government and all its law enforcement agencies or even the so called justice department.
It's all a sham and we all know it. Justice has long been prostituted and sold off for a pittance in Malaysia and all the extravagant luxurious buildings erected in Putrajaya come to mean nothing but empty vassals of a dictator's dream to substitute true justice for the sham that even he now regrets and bemoans in his www.chedet.com blog.

As far as I see it, the sodomy charge is just a fabrication meant to stifle Anwar's march to Putrajaya and as a desperate attempt to throw a spanner in his political reform works.In today's world, some people are willing to sell their souls and arse to the devils for a chance to live in style! To hell with principles, good manners and decency!

Seems so, doesn't it?

If you're surviving, please live with courage~!

2008-05-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

The newspaper yesterday had given big coverage to Sze Chuan Province's earth quake. It's sad to learnt that there were many victims in this incident.

However, it really caught my attention when I read the following news:-

The rescue team has found a female body with both leg squatting down, extending both hand to support the body weight from the floor. But what really catch my attention is that rescue team has found a 3 months old baby under the body. Thanks to the protection by her mother's body, this baby was found in healthy condition.

Doctor has found a handphone with this baby with the message:-
"My dear baby, if you can survive, please leave your life with courage, I love you forever~!"
Most of the rescue team members drop their tears after reading this message...

My dear friends,

Our life is unpredicted, which is why our life is precious. But have you and I live our life with courage?
For those who is looking to commit suicide, why do you want to waste your precious life? Do you know that others is struggling hard to survive, but in the end still can't escape from death?
I just don't get the point that, while someone is struggling hard to survive, some can just simply choose to end their life, just because they have no courage to confront.

Besides, do we really treasure our precious life? Have we live our life to the fullest? Have you ever think, if you were lying there to wait for the final moment of your life to reach you, will you regret for not living your life to the fullest?
If you do, why not live your life to the fullest now? Why wait?

Furthermore, have you and I express our sincere thanks and love to our parents,who is willing to sacrify their life for you to survive?

Appreciate in time, express your love before it's too late...

如果你还能活着，一定要勇敢活下去～！

2008-05-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

昨天翻开报纸，阅读着一则，则的中国四川省地震新闻，不仅让人感叹世事难料～！
其中一则特别捉住了我的注意力，看了让我感慨万分。

拯救队伍于前天在废墟中发现了一具女尸，双腿跪在地上，双手挺住地上以支撑体重，背部被压得变了形。然而吸引我的地方是拯救人员在她怀里找到了还活着的3个月大婴儿，由于获得母亲以身体保护，这婴儿豪发无损，还很健康。医生在这婴儿身上找到了一部手机，里边写着：-

“亲爱的宝贝，如果你还能活着，一定要勇敢活下去，永远记住我爱你！”所有的拯救人员，看到这一幕时，无不暗然落泪！

亲爱的朋友们，

生命是多么的无常，也因为无常所以显得珍贵!
幸运的我们有没有勇敢的活下去？有些人幸运地没有遇到灾难，却自己选择结束生命。
真不明白正当有些人要活也无法活着的当儿，偏偏又有一些人可以活着，却选择结束。。。

我们是否有珍惜这份得来不易的生命？有没有好好活出生命色彩？是否想过，有朝一日，当我们也趟在那儿无奈的等待生命结束时，我们是否活得无悔？

我们又是否有真正感谢过以生命来保护我们的双亲呢？

感恩要及时，爱要趁早表达。。。

剛裝修好的公寓～！

2008-05-08T04:04:00.000-07:00

誰說裝修一定要花很多錢？我剛完成了自己的公寓裝修，相當滿意。

這一次可算是我第一次自己，在買了幾本書，看了幾個網頁后，自己設計公寓的裝修，然后再找來二手承包商動工，把原本估價的 RM12000 的裝修降低至RM4000.

現在這5星級公寓正準備出租，在檳城，靠近皇后灣廣場，有意者請聯絡我。

在這里特別登了幾張照片。。。

這是公寓的大門

這是公寓的大廳

這是廚房和飯廳

這是沖涼房

安华阐述公正党新政治路线, 提倡人民主权推翻马来主权

2008-04-15T01:31:00.000-07:00

人民公正党实权领袖安华在欢庆他恢复参政权的大集会上，向2万名支持者阐述该党的新政治路线，将以捍卫马来人宪赋特权，同时维护各族权利的“人民主权”论述（Ketuanan Rakyat），来推翻巫统一直所提倡的“马来主权”（Ketuanan Melayu）。此外，安华也宣布，该党决定禁止所有州务大臣、行政议员和首席部长参与商业活动，若有任何领袖或官员被发现涉及贪污丑闻，一律严加开除。嘲讽巫统败选后才想起马来人走多元种族政治路线的安华，选择在吉隆坡马来社区腹地甘榜巴鲁，以及马来先贤争取独立的苏丹苏莱曼俱乐部，当面呼吁以马来人为主的2万名支持者，当面挑战推翻数十年来深植于马来民族政治意识的“马来主权”概念，可谓掀开了我国政治里程碑的新一页。他在演讲中所提及的首项课题就是“马来主权”，首先他嘲讽巫统领袖，在大选中惨败，政权面对威胁时，才大谈马来人的权益与命运，大玩种族牌。“当他们的权力受到威胁时，他们才想到民族的命运，过去两个月，马来人与木屋区居民的命运没有得到关心，现在他们才来提马来主权！”安华讽刺选后不断炒作马来人主权受威胁论调的《马来西亚前锋报》，指该报以为大选还未结束，还在为巫统摇旗呐喊。“回去告诉你的老板和编辑，还未结束的是陷入激烈党争的巫统领袖，不是马来人或大马人民”，此言引起台下一阵掌声与笑声。维护各族权利马来人才能成功他认为，只有维护各族权利，让他们对这片土地拥有归属感，进而共同建设与发展国家，马来人才能在这样的基础上改善民族的命运。“马来人前途的斗争，若要真正有成果，必须要有新的精神、新的马来西亚、新的凝聚力、马来人的强大必须联合马来人、华人和印度人的力量，以撑起整个马来西亚。”“马来西亚的新政治，不是种族之间的斗争，马来人之所以被赋予领导的信任，是因为他们被视为公正，他们必须为马来人的命运而斗争，同时捍卫华人、印度人、伊班与卡达山朋友的权利。”保证不修改宪法土著特别地位安华再三向马来社群大派定心丸，强调这项新概念绝对不会忽略马来人的权益，更不会改变宪法153条文的土著特别地位，不同之处只是扶持马来人的方式与切入点。“马来人的权益不会被忽略，但是我们协助马来人的方式是扶助马来人，但是却不打压他人，我们会一起扶助华人与印度人朋友，好让他们感觉这是他们的国家。”他也尝试突出巫统以马来人主权之名，进行贪污滥权、利养朋党的勾当，来论证马来主权这项概念实际上无助马来民族，纯粹只是巫统领袖搜刮民富的幌子。“巫统的领袖不断重复他们要扶持马来人、扶持马来人、扶持马来人，事实上他们在败选后才想到马来人主权，但是若胜选就只是想到我、我的儿子，还有我的女婿。”巫统反对雪州养猪场表里不一安华也声称，尽管巫统大肆批评雪州政府决定在东目设立现代养猪场的决定，但是一家巫统朋党公司曾在大选前前往德国，准备引进现代养猪科技，在雪州经营养猪场，这充分反映巫统表里不一的作风。最后他以诚恳的语气，呼吁群众接受人民主权这个新概念，并带领全场出席者一起高喊“人民主权！”“我要呼吁马来朋友们，接受新的马来西亚主权概念，必须是人民主权！人民主权！人民主权！”从群众频频报以热烈掌声与欢呼声的反应来看，似乎都能抛弃马来主权，欣然接受人民主权的新概念。推翻国阵后将履行降油价承诺安华在演讲中的另一项重点，就是勾划出人民联盟未来的施政方针。他强调，人民联盟的目标并非修补现任政府所遗留下来的漏洞，而是推动全新议程与巨大改变、捍卫穷苦人民的权利，以及提高民族的尊严。他在保证绝不修改宪法153条文的土著特别地位的同时，也规定该党的政府要员不得参与商业活动。“153条文不是为了让雪州大臣致富，不是为了让公正党的议员致富，我们已经表明，州务大臣、行政议员、首席部长，被禁止涉及任何的商业活动。”他也承诺将严厉对付涉贪的领袖与官员，“只要我们的政治领袖或政府官员被发现涉及贪污，我们就马上开除他！”此言换来台下如雷的掌声。对于该党在本届大选的减低油价竞选宣言，至今仍然生效。安华答应，若民盟成功推翻国阵中央政府，第二天就马上宣布降低油价。“给我们一些时间，如果不是5月就6月，不是6月就7月，不是7月就8月，最重要的是，只要今天我们胜出，明天油价就降低。”在语文政策方面，除了坚持马来文作为国家语文，雪州政府必须提高政治人物与政府官员对马来人的掌握能力；安华也答应若人民联盟若执政，将会让各源流小学恢复以母语教数理，并其他更有效的方式加强英文水平。不过，安华恳求支持者给5个民盟州政府多一些时间来证明其执政能力，因为目前国阵依然控制资源丰富的中央政府，让州政府在施政反面受到局限。
保证不修改宪法土著特别地位
巫统反对雪州养猪场表里不一
推翻国阵后将履行降油价承诺

最傻的事，最好吃的一餐～！

2008-04-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

Let's take a break from politics, let's talk about nice food~!

上个周末，我们一行9人做了一件最傻的事，就是决定开9个小时的车，从檳城到 KL 和 Pahang Temerloh 而这次旅程的目地竟是为了‘吃’。够傻吧？

我们9个人是共坐一辆 Toyota Alphard 去的，所以整个旅程算是舒服。我们星期五晚上在檳城开车前往KL。当晚我们停在怡保吃著名的芽菜鸡。

过后，我们在我KL的公寓睡一晚，隔天早上我们在 The Curve 的‘迎客楼’ 吃客家点心，由于该家酒楼的点心，价钱不大众化，所以我们知吃到半饱就‘埋单’走人。随后到楼下到相当出名的 ‘Big Apple’ 吃 Donut，哇噻, 好吃！随后我们步行到不远的Ikea走走，并吃在Smaland cafe 相当有名的Curry Puff。

下午3点，我们正式展开重点旅程，前往Pahang Temerloh 吃啊贤人情味介绍，一桌大约RM900++ 的‘佛跳墙’晚宴。我们6点到 Temerloh 的toll，但由于不熟悉当地的路，所以找了超过一个小时才找到店面不显眼的‘全记餐厅’在那里，服务非常差，人潮非常拥挤，吃得我们满头大汗，但却是我们所吃当中，其中最‘劲’的一餐，只点了5样菜，吃了大约Rm900++，就吃得我们9人都走不动了。

这就是一锅RM450的 ‘佛跳墙’了

这就是佛跳墙的材料

这就是一锅RM120 的鱼翅

吃了这餐后，我们都非常的满足，觉得还会再去吃！

吃完后，我们再回到KL去睡一晚。

星期日早餐，我们只随随便便吃了些水果，午餐吃大人餐厅，觉得食物素质比以前差了很多，再去吃Satay Kajang。

晚餐我们到怡保的孖宝餐厅，点了7样菜才RM130++ 相当值得。过后就回檳城了～！

能在一个周末里，不间断地享受美食，果真是人生一大乐趣~! 太过瘾了，但是回来后，我必须去运动一整个星期才能消耗那周末所摄取的热量，哈哈～！

Vincent

雪州实行集中养猪区计划

2008-04-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

【本刊记者撰述】雪兰莪州务大臣卡立依布拉欣（Khalid Ibrahim）澄清，其政府是延续前任大臣基尔多益（Khir Toyo）政府在今年1月30日通过的现代养猪场（Modern Pig Farming Project）计划，并承诺以高效率的管理方式，确保不会造成环境污染。
卡立依布拉欣（左图）今日发表文告，透露其州政府在4月2日议决，延续这个位于瓜拉冷岳（Ladang Tumbuk, Mukim Batu Kuala Langat）的计划，并以符合农业及农基工业部、天然资源及环境部以及雪州政府高素质要求的水平进行。
他强调，养猪场的排泄物将转为沼气（biogas），循环为电能；而清理养猪场的污水则用来灌溉猪只食用的农作物。
文告说，这意味着雪州不再批准新的养猪场，其他养猪场也必须迁入这个集中养猪区。他补充，雪州政府考量了多元族群社会的商业、文化需求，批准这个计划，旨在维持各族群的和谐。
颁1万6637租赁地契
早前霹雳州政府给该州新村捎来颁布“永久地契”的好消息，雪州政府今日则宣布，他们将颁布1万6637张租赁地契（hak milik）给雪州新村居民。文告解释，那些还未获得租赁地契的村民，是因为其地属于沿海地区保留地，而州政府的政策是不会将该地转让任何一方。
另外，雪州政府也表示将调查“土地拥有权重叠”问题，并向警方举报舞弊案件。
最后，总面积为79万6084公顷的雪州，拥有24万1568公顷的森林保留地。雪州新任政府发现，在2000年至2007年间，共有4325.5公顷的森林保留地被转让。雪州政府已下令调查获得森林保留地的一方，并确保能够即时解决此问题。

两线制为华教带来新契机, 董总赞民盟州政府新作风

2008-04-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

大选所带来新政治地景之下，华教运动获得新契机，除了霹雳州外，董总未来将与民盟其他4州政府，展开对话以期突破原有的华校问题。董总主席叶新田今天在第26届董总常务委员会扩大会议后，向记者表示，由于政局的改变，使得他们拥有更多解决问题的管道。“基本上国阵过去控制了各种议题，对改善华教的各种限制十分困难。甚至有时候，要去见有关的部门或者教育部都不容易。特别是董教总尝试反映各种措施（的问题），那是相当的困难。”他进一步表示，由于大选结果，马来西亚政局已接近两线制，“起码我们有比较多的管道去反映、商谈和解决华教的问题。”“民盟起码让我们有机会见到他们，反映我们的看法。与此同时，我们也可以找回中央政府，会见教育部和高教部的部长，也就是说起码我们有两个管道。有更多的管道去见他们。”会教长很难，半年未成事叶新田表示，董总将陆续会跟民盟的五个州政府见面会商，它是在上周发信给各民盟州政府，并且获得对方的迅速回应。除了昨天会见霹雳州政府之外，董总也预定下周一会见槟州政府，即4月14日早上，与槟州首席部长林冠英在光大首席部长办公室会面。“因为政治局势有变，这次有5个州属由人民联盟执政，我们觉得新人新作风，所以我们就先写信去，也得到他们很快的回应。”“（他们）好像有效率，上次我们跟教育部长谈了大半年，还是认为诚意不足，未能见面。”接下来董教总在会面中所商讨的课题，基本会跟霹雳州政府会面的三项课题一致。不过，也会依不同州属董联会的建议，加入一些地方性议题。至于其他三个民盟政府，由于董总本身最近忙于其他事务，因此还未敲定具体会面日期。上述三项基本课题包括：建议对各源流学校提供土地以建设学校、建议减收学校地税，以及州政府每年为州内独中提供固定拨款。询及与霹雳州政府会面的结果，叶新田表示相当满意，霹雳州政府给予积极和正面的回应。不过他也强调，当中都是原则性问题，最终的成果还端视未来的落实。赞许魏家祥何国忠愿听取另外，叶新田也表示，董总也继续寻求跟中央政府部门和部长接触，以求解决华教各项的课题。董总已联同教总，约定教育部副部长魏家祥在4月10日假布城教育部会面，讨论华教基本和重要的课题进行交流。由于议题繁多，因此董总准备为会面草拟一份备忘录，其中重要的议题包括：大选前国阵的增建6华小的承诺、白小重开的问题，以及今年数理科考题用语的决策等。之后，高教部副部长何国忠也答应在本月11日早上亲自走访董教总教育中心。在该会面上，董总将提出新纪元学院升格大学，以及中央政府承认独中统考文凭，以便容许独中生进入各国立大专院校和师训等课题进行交流。对于这两位副部长，叶新田表达了他的赞许，“很欣赏这两位副部长，新官上任，立刻要来听取董教总对华教的一些看法，通过交流来寻找出一些方法来解决一些问题。这是很好的开始。”至于其他国阵执政的州属，叶新田表示，“只要那些州（政府）比较有亲民的作风，欢迎我们，我们将写信去。”许海明：首相曾答应会董总至于是否将会见民盟三党党魁，如安华，叶新田表示，“目前我们的重点还在州政府，因为涉及校地和税务等重要和迫切问题，所以我们先见它（州政府）。”“那个看下一步啦！我们不考虑说有什么问题啦，如果有需要，我们会考虑的。”另外，询及是否还要会见首相时，叶新田简短表示，假如可能和有需要的话，董总会还是会跟首相见面。“我们写过信要求跟他见面，假如他老人家能够拨出时间来见我们，我们也会跟他谈我们的问题。”董总副主席许海明则补充说，大选前，首相曾在与槟州华团的交流会上承诺会尽快安排与董总见面。

PM meets Guan Eng: 30 mins, 2 statements, no feelings hurt

2008-04-03T02:36:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi met for 30 minutes in Putrajaya today and both of them came away with something - no loss of face.
The island’s newly-minted chief executive was able to raise all the issues on his agenda, including the need for Petronas to fund the construction of the second Penang bridge, and said so at an impromptu press outside the PM’s office.
Careful not to be outflanked, Abdullah issued a statement through Bernama and said that he had advised Guan Eng to be to be careful with his statements as he was now a chief minister. Their different take on what was the news point of their discussion shows how important posturing is to politicians.
Guan Eng said he received the assurance that major infrastructure projects in the state will continue to be funded and driven by the Federal government.
He also made the case for Petronas to fund the Penang Second Bridge, a point he has repeatedly pushed since Election 2008 vaulted him and other members of the People’s Pact into the state assembly.
It was always going to be a tough sell but Guan Eng showed that he was not awed by the setting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Guan Eng said: “I suggested that Petronas fund the bridge if not fully at least partially. Abdullah said it was not
possible because of the fuel subsidies and other commitments.
“Of course I feel otherwise.’’
On his part, the CM said that the state government will expedite land acquisition and push for the completion of the bridge by 2011.
“We will whatever possible to hasten the construction process. And the PM is trying to ensure that we can reduce the cost of the bridge so that the financial burden imposed on motorists can be reduced," said Guan Eng.
Abdullah told Guan Eng that he should not be a populist. “I told him that he has been observing closely what is happening in Penang. I advised him that he is the leader of the government there and that he should be careful in making statements.’’
In particular, he should not be making statements equating NEP with corruption.
Abdullah said that the federal government would honour all its commitments to Penang and asked Guan to ensure that there was growth with equity in the state.
When Guan Eng was asked about the atmosphere of the meeting, he said he said it was closer to a good meeting than a cordial one

No Holds Barred

2008-04-03T02:33:00.000-07:00

by Raja Petra Kamarudin

More than 50 years or so ago, when I was still a baby, my mother weaned me off my bottle in quite a shattering manner, literally-speaking of course. After I finished drinking my milk, I would hurl the bottle over the cot and it would go crashing to the floor and shatter into a million pieces. In those days, milk bottles were made of glass, not of plastic like nowadays. Plastic technology, then, was not as advanced as today so bottles were made of glass -- and tins from tin, tyres from rubber, car dashboards from wood, and so on. Today, of course, nothing is original any longer and most products are manufactured from synthetic materials. Even 'wooden' car dashboards and faces of certain Menteri Besar are made from plastic.The cost to replace my bottles was certainly pretty exorbitant and eventually it became cheaper to carpet the entire room to cushion the bottles when they came crashing to the floor. One day, however, my mother removed the carpet and when I threw my bottle out of my cot it hit the floor and smashed into smithereens. My mother stormed into the room and raised quite a ruckus. "That's it," she said, "now you have no more bottle. You will have to drink from a cup from now on."When it came time for my next milk routine, my mother brought my drink in a cup and I of course refused to drink it out of a cup. I wanted my bottle. My mother then reminded me that I had just smashed my bottle that very morning so I would now have to drink out of a cup or else no milk for me. It was either a cup or no milk so I reluctantly agreed to the cup. It was I, after all, who had smashed my bottle so I really had no one else to blame except myself. Eventually the cup became second nature until I discovered that there are certain drinks that are best drunk straight from a bottle. But that would be another story for another time though.When my wife and I got our first baby, the deal was: she had carried our daughter for nine long months so it was now my turn to suffer -- I had to wake up at 3.00am to feed the baby. The first week was very tiring and I went to office the following day feeling very groggy. The second week, however, I filled the bottle with plain water and after three days or so my daughter no longer woke up in the middle of the night. She probably did not find it remunerating enough to wake up just for a drink of plain water.There is currently quite a bit of brouhaha about the continuation of the New Economic Policy or NEP. Even 'progressive' Malays like Shahrir Samad, surprisingly, are of the opinion that the NEP must be retained because the Malays are not yet ready for the removal of their 'security blanket'. I suppose, as long as you still bottle-feed the Malays, they would continue to demand it. But once the bottle is smashed or you feed them plain water, they may decide to move on and not keep clinging to their baby ways.There are two things about the NEP. One concerns education and the other business opportunities. The education part is actually not as complex as what some make it out to be. Sure, there are certain quotas allocated to Malays while non-Malays are given a token quota. And because of the limited places in local universities, the non-Malays have to pay for their own education, in particular at overseas universities.But does this need to be so? China has more than 1,000 universities with more than 100 in Beijing alone. Malaysia , which has only twice the population of Beijing , does not even come close to the number of Beijing universities. Based on the Beijing population to number of universities ratio, Malaysia should have at least 250 universities as opposed to less than 10% that at the present moment.Why can't we build more universities? We spent RM100 million to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Merdeka last August. That is one university complete with equipment, fittings, libraries, and whatnot. We spend RM300 million a year on the Terengganu Monsoon Cup. That would be another three universities a year. We are spending more than RM3 billion on the second Penang bridge. That would be about 35 universities. With savings from this, that and the other, we could have 100 new universities built over 10 years.Yes, we do have money. It is only that the money is spent on the wrong things. According to Umno circles, Daim Zainuddin has transferred RM42 billion of our taxpayers' money out of the country and has sunk this colossal amount into about ten banks that he owns in Africa and Eastern Europe . That RM42 billion plus all the other money that has disappeared into the pockets of Umno cronies could have built 1,000 universities, as many as they have in China though our population is just twice that of Beijing .If our money had been well-managed and better-spent, today we would have more universities than students. We would be begging Malaysians to go to university because most of the lecture halls would be empty. Who would need the NEP? There would be no need for racial quotas. Our problem would not be about limiting places in universities so that these places could be reserved for Malays. Our problem would be about how to convince non-Malays to stop going overseas and instead go to local universities because there are just not enough students for the too many universities.But the reality of the situation is, our money has been wasted. Billions have disappeared into the pockets of Umno warlords and their cronies. Billions have been spent on the wrong things. I have estimated that, over 30 years, Petronas has earned about RM1 trillion. One Petronas consultant tells me that I am wrong. The figure should be RM2 trillion, he says. RM1 trillion or RM2 trillion what's the difference? Both figures are equally exorbitant.If just part of that money had gone into building one new university a year, today Malaysia would have no less than 50 universities. They could have even built 100 universities over 30 years with RM2 trillion. And we would then no longer need to reserve places in these universities. We would no longer require racial quotas. And this means we would no longer need the NEP.The NEP started in 1970 and has gone on for 38 years now. We started earning petroleum revenue in 1974 and have continued earning for 34 years now. But the petroleum money did not go into addressing what ails this country. And soon this petroleum money will dry up but what ails us will remain. We missed a golden opportunity to resolve our race problems with the income from the black gold. But we did not. And because of that we still need the NEP because, without the NEP, Malays would not have places in local universities.The NEP is not just about education or places in universities, some would say. It is also about business opportunities. Sure, but is that an excuse not to solve at least half the problem; racial quotas in universities. If we solve one problem then we will have only one problem left to solve. Now, after 38 years, we still have two unresolved problems, and both involve race and racial quotas.Okay, say that the government had solved the problem of racial quotas in local universities by building so many universities that there are no longer enough students, Malays or otherwise, to fill them up. This would still not solve the second problem of creating more business opportunities for Malays, many would argue. Actually this is not quite true. Malays have been in business since before 1969 and these Malays were actually very successful in their time.Take Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ex-father-in-law as one example. Mahmud Ambak was a very successful businessman, as were his peers such as Safuan, Mat Jan, HM Shah, and so on. No doubt there was only a handful of such people and you could count them on your fingers of one hand. But the numbers were beginning to grow and, in the East Coast, the Malays were involved in all types of businesses and were even beating the non-Malays on top of that.Then came the NEP and with it came the quotas and Umnoputeras. Eventually the rent-seekers and commission agents monopolised the scene. Furthermore, you had to be an Umno warlord to obtain businesses, contracts and quotas -- so eventually your Umno membership and not your business acumen decided whether you got ahead or not. The genuine businessmen soon folded up and the Ali Babas; Umno Malays backed by Chinese towkays; took over. And what we see today are products of the NEP rather than genuine businessmen who made it because they are good in business.The NEP killed the 'real' Malays. In their place emerged the Umnoputeras. Without the NEP and with a level playing field, Malays would have made it -- but only the good Malays, not the commission agents. Granted, without the NEP, there would have been fewer Malays in business. But these few Malays would have been the quality Malays. Now we have the 'low-class' Malays who made it only because they are Umnoputeras and for no other reason. Why play the numbers game? Why go for quantity without quality? Would it not have been better to see the birth of the Robert Kuoks, Queks and Tan Chin Tuans of the Malay community, people we could be proud of?To say that the Malays would never reach the level of the Robert Kuoks, Queks and Tan Chin Tuans without the help of the NEP is an insult to the Malays. I, for one, believe I can make it with or without the NEP. To say I am who I am because of the NEP and that I would be nothing if not for the NEP is a great insult and I take it as an insult. I believe that without the NEP and without the unfair advantage given to the Umnoputeras there would be no 'ceiling' above my head and the sky would be my limit.But alas, I need to be Umno to get ahead and I need to be an Umnoputera to get my hands on quotas, contracts and permits to make it in the business world. It is not a level playing field and unless I am prepared to play the game according to the rules of the game then I had better not bother to play at all.The NEP is our milk bottle. But eventually we need to grow up and discard the bottle. We are now 38 years old so surely we should stop drinking from the bottle by now. But we are still being given the bottle. And the bottle is in the form of the NEP. And because of that we are still babies even at 38 years old. And our 'mother' tells us that we are still going to be given the bottle over the next 50 years. I will not live another 50 years. I may not even live another ten. But I shall still be offered the bottle till the day I go to my grave.Yes, we Malays are going to die as babies. We shall never be allowed to grow up. We shall never see that bottle go crashing to the ground and getting smashed into a million pieces. And because we have never be weaned out of the bottle we shall know no other way in which to drink our milk. And we will never learn how to eat rice because we do not know how to grow and cook rice. But one day, when the 'mother' dies, we shall cry and cry, asking for our milk that will never come. And the baby will die when the mother dies because the baby knows no other way in which to feed itself other than waiting for the mother to bring the bottle.That is the sad future for the Malays. Do you now know why the baby does not want the mother known as Umno to die? This is because the baby needs its daily dose of milk which only the mother can provide.

三大在野党筹组人民联盟, 五州政府将统一施政方针

2008-04-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

为了响应人民在3月8日全国大选所反映的求变心切，国内三大在野党，民主行动党与回教党决定抛开歧见，并与人民公正党达至初步协议，筹组“人民联盟”（Pakatan Rakyat），正式朝向执政中央政府之路迈进。人民联盟不仅将设有一个领导理事会与联合秘书处，也会为5个由三党执政的州政府，拟定统一的施政方针。至于回教党与行动党过去僵持不下的回教国课题，三党领袖异口同声表示，这已不再是一项课题。三党最高领袖今早在安华位于八打灵再也的办公室召开联席会议后，召开记者会宣布上述消息。无论如何，代表三党宣读声明的安华表示，“人民联盟”只是初步达致的名称，仍有待三党最后核准。设领导理事会，没最高领袖目前的具体步骤是成立一个由三党领袖所组成的领导理事会，并在理事会底下成立一个联合秘书处，其成员由三党各派一名领袖组成。秘书处负责拟定人民联盟的框架与基础，之后再交由领导理事会通过。公正党实权领袖安华表示，这个在野党联盟不会委任一名最高领袖，而是由三党领袖集体领导，享有平等的地位。“主导联盟的是人民，我们的议程非常清楚，无论是回教党、公正党或行动党出任州务大臣，都没有分别。”4月举行三党国州议员大会由三党执政的吉兰丹、吉打、槟城、霹雳与雪兰莪州政府，也将被称为人民联盟州政府。所有5州的施政将根据人民联盟的统一方针来执行。“我们将会召开定期会议来决定政策，意味着施政将会出现某种程度的共识。”至于类似的合作关系是否会延伸至区部与支部层次，安华回答说，他们将从州领导层开始合作关系，联合秘书处将提出更多的建议。他也宣布，为了建立各党领袖对5州共同政策的相互了解，人民联盟将在今年4月27日举办三党国州议员大会。异口同声表示回教国非课题三党巨头都出席今午的记者会，包括公正党主席旺阿兹莎、行动党中央策略与政策委员会主席林吉祥、回教党主席哈迪阿旺，以及三党的其他领袖。回教党与行动党针对回教国的分歧，成为记者会上的焦点之一。安华解释说这项课题已经不存在，回教党在竞选宣言、党代表大会和公共场合中，已绝口不提回教国，只是国内的主流媒体仍不断在操弄挑起。“我们致力于改革议程，回归宪法精神、尊重基本人权、正义与自由、惠及全民的大马经济议程，我看不到有什么困难，公正党、行动党和回教党对这些大原则都达致共识。”林吉祥：须吸取替阵失败教训林吉祥（左图）则表示，3月8日的大选反映人民求变的心态，希望看到三党进一步合作，而人民联盟的诞生正是响应人民的要求。“我们曾经组成多元种族的替代阵线，我相信我们应从上次的失败中吸取教训，将之间的合作建立在人民支持的基础原则上。若我们能够坚持人民在3月8日大选中所要求的原则，新的政治景观将会成真。”林吉祥在记者会后向媒体表示，他相信行动党党员与支持者能够接受该党再度与回教党合作，因为这是选民在大选所传达的强烈讯息。他希望看到三党在公正、自由与良好施政的基础上合作，此举并不等于支持回教国与断肢法。哈迪：注重实际，名堂不重要哈迪阿旺（左图左）也同意说，两党的支持者在大选中投票支持对方，已传达非常明确的讯息，因此三党必须尊重民意，优先推动三党共同达致的原则，而且这些原则也是回教所推崇的价值之一。不过，哈迪阿旺拒绝回应该党是否已经放弃了建立回教国的理念，只说重要的是目标和实际行动，并非名堂。这是三党在1999年大选前夕组成“替代阵线”后，第二次组成政治联盟与国阵抗衡。当初三党在烈火莫熄政改运动后所缔结的合作关系并不长久，因为回教党在1999年大选崛起成为国会最大在野党之后，在执政的登嘉楼州推行回教刑事法，导致行动党蒙受马华和民政的大肆抨击，最后在美国911恐怖袭击事件后宣布退出替阵。此外，安华也表示，人民联盟与国阵在原则上有天壤之别，无论在民主、自由、负责任、良好施政、大马经济议程，以及铲除贪污朋党方面都截然不同。“我们将废除许多过时的恶法，并遏制贪污与滥权。”
设领导理事会，没最高领袖
4月举行三党国州议员大会
异口同声表示回教国非课题

轰阿都拉输掉九个州毁五个党, 马哈迪促效仿翁惹化东姑下台

2008-04-01T05:13:00.000-07:00

www.malaysiakini.com

前首相马哈迪（左图）今日继续对现任首相阿都拉左右开弓，炮轰他只会一昧控制媒体，不愿聆听巫统党员和人民说出的真话，根本不晓得基层意愿，结果导致国阵及巫统在本届大选中蒙受空前惨败。国阵在3月8日的第12届全国大选中经历有史以来最惨痛的挫折，不但失去了三分二多数国会议席，更失去了原有的4州政权即吉打、槟城、霹雳及雪兰莪州，也无法从回教党手中重夺吉兰丹州政权。连并输隆、玻、登及柔四州马哈迪强调，阿都拉在这次选举中其实是输掉了9个州政权，包括吉隆坡联邦直辖区、玻璃市、登嘉楼和柔佛4个州属或地区，并且一手摧毁（hancur）掉五个政党，即巫统、马华、国大党、民政党和国阵。在这次大选，在野党於吉隆坡总共赢得11席国会议席中的10席，国阵仅赢得1席；至于另外三州，巫统所提呈的属意大臣人选，也遭到该州马来统治者的否决。这名在任长达22年的前巫统主席呼吁，阿都拉应该效仿首两任主席翁惹化（Onn Jaafar）和东姑阿都拉曼（Tunku Abdul Rahman），为本届大选败绩引咎辞职，以免最终遭人赶下台。支持开特大修改提名固打制他也支持东姑拉沙里召开特别代表大会的建议，检讨巫统这次大选的败绩，以及探讨大选后的方向，并修改巫统党章中的提名固打制。他强调，在大选后一天已率先开炮呼吁阿都拉引咎辞职，现在就要看巫统党员是否能够勇敢发表本身的意见，共同在选后挽救巫统的命运。马哈迪是在今日出席巫统外围组织－－虚拟巫统俱乐部(Kelab Maya UMNO，简称KMU)所主办的“第12届全国大选后的巫统：一项评估”时，如此表示。除了邀请马哈迪发表主题演讲之外，主办当局还邀请其他的主讲人如前雪兰莪州务大臣莫哈末基尔(Khir Toyo）、前首相马哈迪幼子慕克里兹（Mukriz Mahathir）以及柔佛州巫统宣传主任莫哈末弗亚（Mohamad Fuad Zarkashi）同台演讲。这场讲座获得千名巫统党员和支持者出席，普遍上被视为巫统党内反阿都拉势力的首场造势大会。许多出席者更戴上印着马哈迪肖像，并写着“始终记得您的贡献”的微章。“以为亲吻其手就是喜欢他”马哈迪在开始演讲不久后，便先不点名抨击阿都拉封住党员的嘴巴，不允许他们发出任何异议的声音，只能称“是”全力支持领导层。“我们也看到报章受到控制，只允许它们报导领袖喜欢聆听的声音，因此领袖才会获得与基层情况截然不同的印象。”“他根本不懂得发生什么事，他以为亲吻其手的人是非常诚恳并喜欢他，也有人上台送花给他。”他指出，国会其实拥有长达5年的任期，但是阿都拉却在聆听这些假象后，决定在3年半后便解散国会举行大选。他讥讽阿都拉以为国阵可以“扫清所有议席，让在野党只剩下零席，并攻下吉兰丹。”对领导失信心党员投反对票马哈迪也表示，不仅普通人民在这次大选转投在野党，连国阵与巫统的党员都决定不投本身的政党，只是他们一直都选择静默，因为担心失去政府合约或遭对付而不敢表达意见。“但是，他们之所以会选择投票给在野党，并不是因为他们对巫统或政府失去信心，而是对现有的领导层失去信心。”他表示，这可以从历届大选成绩获得证明，除了1969年大选，国阵向来都赢得超过3分之2的议席，甚至在一些州属获得100%的国州议席。讥阿都拉仍瞌睡不承认败绩马哈迪继抨击说，结果国阵在阿都拉的领导下赢得最糟糕的成绩，甚至连自己的州属都遭在野党攻下，立即赢得出席者的拍掌与喝彩。他讥讽说，“我们从来没有首相是来自的敌对阵营的州属……他难道不知羞？在槟州明明是输了，他还声称国阵大获全胜。”他表示，国阵不仅输掉5个州政权，其实也输掉隆、玻、登及柔四个地区，“我们只是赢得5个州属，还少过这9个州属！不！不！5州还多过9周。”他抨击阿都拉到现在还不承认国阵惨败，并讥讽后者到现在可能还没有挣开眼睛，尚在睡觉中，“5个政党已毁在他手上，我说毁了是因为多数党员都给在野党，这是巫统、马华、国大党、民政党和国阵”。马哈迪也引用即首任主席翁惹化在提出巫统开放门户遭反对后而选择退出巫统，以及第二任主席东姑阿都拉曼在输掉了1969年大选之后就选择下台的例子，呼吁阿都拉应该在“有尊严和知羞”的情况下，自行选择引退。他进一步透露，本身当年也是在听闻很多人呼吁他辞职后，而选择在2003年下台引退。凯里插手选候选人导致败阵马哈迪（左图）在其演讲中也指控凯里插手遴选巫统候选人，最终委派上阵的候选人与州务大臣当初呈上的名单不同，导致巫统在多个选区败阵。他声称自己听说一个“并非谣传，也非事实”的故事，形容每个州务大臣在会晤苏丹阿都拉沙（意指阿都拉）提呈大选候选人名单之前，都必须把名单呈交给隔壁房间先行过目和修改，然后才交到阿都拉的手中。马哈迪质疑，“究竟是谁身处在隔壁的房间？”，立即引起出席者起哄说是“牛津”。他最终揶揄说，这就是凯里改革巫统的方式（Ini process pembaharuan reformasi ala KJ）。促党选拒绝带来灾难的领袖他随后表示，因为阿都拉就是凯里的丈人，所有他才会要求前者下台。由于阿都拉坚拒下台，所以他决定支持召开特别代表大会，来讨论巫统败绩，以及选后的方向，并修改党章中的提名固打制。他承认，提名固打制是在其任期内提出，不过当时的巫统代表敢于发言，甚至提名安华取代原任署理主席嘉化峇峇，但是现在的巫统党员已经没有勇气。不过，他指出，特大的建议会面对阻难，遭最高理事会否决。不过，他认为，巫统党员必须提起勇气，拒绝任何将为党带来灾难的领袖，才能在大选后挽救该党。他表示，如果党员能拒绝受贿，施压召开特大修改党章，那么他们将能在12月当选挽救巫统。“如果我们这一切都成功，我们将能在12月大会举行党选遴选新领导层，我们必须在勇敢挽救我们的政党……必须拒绝那些为党带来灾难的领袖。”在问答环节中，一名出席者也呼吁马哈迪领导“倒阿都拉运动”。对此，他表示，在选举隔日已经召开记者会呼吁阿都拉下台，但是基层却保持一片寂默。
一并输隆、玻、登及柔四州
支持开特大修改提名固打制
凯里插手选候选人导致败阵

黄家定入主柔佛州引爆决裂, 蔡细历：他不适合领导华社

2008-03-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

选后入主柔佛州的决定，让马华前副总会长蔡细历与马华总会长黄家定公开决裂！

蔡细历今日炮轰黄家定亲自出任柔佛州联委会主席，目的就是要分裂蔡氏在该州的势力，更直指黄家定可能适合领导一个政党，但是却不配领导华社。
本月25日起接任马华柔佛州联委会主席的黄家定，昨日在主持首次会议后宣布柔州联委会改组后的新阵容，把早前受委为顾问的蔡细历除名。
此外，黄家定也安插本身的人马入主柔佛州联委会关键职位，包括对调原任州副主席何襄赞和原任州秘书郑修强的职务，以及委任原任组织秘书邓文村取代卷入“公寓门亮枪风波”的刘德贤，转任州财政。
郑修强和刘德贤皆是蔡细历的中坚支持者，黄家定所宣布新阵容被视为是以“明升暗降”的方式排挤蔡细历的人马。
蔡细历在今年1月爆发性爱光碟风波后，宣布辞去马华副主席和柔州主席职，由原任署理联委会主席陈国煌暂时接管柔佛州。
他今日在接受《当今大马》电询时表示，已经收到许多区会领袖和柔佛议员们的投诉，他们皆不满黄家定接掌柔佛州联委会主席。
“黄家定放弃其他输掉州属”蔡细历说，虽然黄家定身为马华总会长，有权力到任何州属担任主席，但是后者选择在此时出任柔州主席，却属于不合时机之举。
“黄家定说，他不要担任部长，是因为要重建马华。但是，柔佛州马华在本届大选获得超过85%的胜利，是最不需要黄家定来领导的州属。”
“但是，他本身领导的森美兰州只输剩下一个议员，更需要他老人家的才华和组织能力。他也可以去雪州、霹雳和联邦直辖区。”
“根据我所了解，他在昨日的会议上表示，他要确保柔佛州这个堡垒，不会在下届大选沦落在反对党的手上。这番谈话意味着，日后有任何成就，就是归功于他的领导。”“所以，结论就是说，他已经放弃了其他输掉给反对党的州属。”蔡细历也以措辞强烈的语气抨击黄家定，选择出掌一向来“非常团结”的马华柔佛州，目的就是要制造分裂。“因为我有一股势力在柔佛，因此他进来之后，将会有人不喜欢我的人，到时候将会出现分裂。”根据《东方日报》今日报道，蔡细历昨晚在双溪大年出席一项活动上，也公开放话形容黄家定作为一个天兵，勿把任何事都当作理所当然，假如他在接管柔州马华后，搞分裂或小集团是没有意义的。

领导层不肯检讨以免人头落地他也批评说，虽然有一些人认为黄家定“可能”有能力领导一个党，但是却绝对没有能力领导整个华社。接受英文教育的蔡细历，也以英文重复其说法，“he may be suitable to lead a party, but definitely not to lead the chinese community”。
询及黄家定没有能力领导华社有何根据时，蔡细历回答说，“如果他有能力领导华社的话，国阵就不会输到那么惨”。“他们整天在怪巫统，但是你是代表华人，却不能够反映华社的不满，没有反映华社不能接受希山慕丁举马来短剑，没有反映巫统议员把国会当作游戏。”
“黄家定无法有效的领导华社，如何作为华社与政府飞沟通桥梁？这使到巫统认为华社没有问题。”

《当今大马》曾经在上周六独家报道中，引述一名马华中委的匿名谈话，透露说马华在上周四和周五举行的脑力激荡会议上，把国阵及马华在本届大选的败因完全归咎于巫统，却不肯探讨检讨党内既存的弱点。唯马华妇女组主席黄燕燕却否认这项报道，指马华把败因全归咎于巫统，是一项很严重的指责。蔡细历认同说，马华领导层根本没有针对败选进行自我检讨，因为“如果自我检讨的话，很多人头就要落地”。询及他是否同意黄家定应该为大选败绩引咎辞职时，蔡细历笑说，“党选要到了，这给中央代表决定。我讲了也没用，他也不会辞职的”。当记者再三求证其激烈的批评是否可以见报时，蔡细历强调，“当然可以，我昨日与中文报也是这么说，我一向来都是有话直说的”。

The future of Khairy

2008-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

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 Gus 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.

DAP Perak Rep retracted his resignation

2008-03-31T17:51:00.000-07:00

In a dramatic turnaround, newly-elected Buntong state assemblyperson A Sivasubramaniam has retracted his resignation from DAP hours after he made the announcement today.His sudden resignation would have affected the tenuous grip on power by the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition, giving it only a one-seat majority over the Barisan Nasional opposition.Sivasubramaniam's about-turn was announced at a hastily-organised press conference at 6pm in Ipoh.
Sivasubramaniam’s decision to quit seven hours earlier was due to his unhappiness over the party’s allocation of only one position to an Indian in the state cabinet, the executive council.
Contacted by Malaysiakini this evening, Sivasubramaniam said he retracted his resignation after state leaders have assured him that there would be other opportunities for Indians in the state administration. He said that he had settled the matter amicably after speaking to both party leader Lim Guan Eng and DAP Perak chief Ngeh Khoo Ham earlier today. However, he defended his earlier decision to quit because the exco lineup which was announced on Saturday had disappointed the Indian community who had staunchly backed DAP, PKR and PAS. “I received many calls and SMSes yesterday saying that the Indians had been sidelined again,” he said. He said he had queried Ngeh (left) on the matter yesterday but was merely told “an announcement would be made later”, prompting him to submit his resignation this morning. “I couldn’t wait any more, so I handed in my resignation. But the situation was only explained to me today. If this was done earlier, there wouldn’t have been this problem,” he added.“I believe what I’ve done today is a plus-point for the Indians,” he stressed, when asked if he regretted his move to hand in his resignation letter. In view of the latest development, Sivasubramaniam also apologised for causing uneasiness to the public, the Buntong electorate, the party and the media. An Indian for assembly's speaker
Meanwhile, Ngeh told Malaysiakini that the resignation scare was the result of a misunderstanding. Contrary to Sivasubramaniam’s claims, Ngeh said that the state government plans to equitably allocate important positions to the Indian community. This includes the nomination of an Indian to fill the state assembly speaker’s post. It is unclear whether Sivasubramaniam would be “rewarded” the post after his U-turn today."Out of respect for the state assembly, I could not announce it. When he asked about why only one Indian was given an exco post, I told there would be further announcements. "Unfortunately, he misunderstood and thought that we behaved like Barisan, and would allocate only one exco post for the Indians. "I have contacted him and clarified the matter and he agreed that the Indians are well represented,” said Ngeh. Ngeh urged the public and party members not to judge the party’s leadership prematurely, adding that there are a host of vacancies which needs to be filled. He assured that all groups would be given due consideration, including minority groups and women. However, Ngeh refused to reveal the name of the person nominated for the speaker’s post.In a letter to DAP secretary-general Guan Eng earlier today, Sivasubramaniam claimed that Ngeh had reneged on a promise to appoint two exco members from the Indian community.“This is a major blow and lie to the Perak Indian community,” Sivasubramaniam wrote, according to a copy of the letter that was made available this morning to Malaysiakini. [See letter]He stressed that DAP’s electoral victories in Perak were the result of makkal sakthi (‘people's power’ in Tamil), which has been the rallying cry for Indian Malaysians who felt marginalised by the BN government.Buntong is a state seat where nearly 50 percent of voters are from the Indian community. Sivasubramaniam won with 10,311 votes - double that of his opponent Lee Tung Lai of MCA.

Serious questions over landdeals in Penang

2008-03-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 – When the Penang state government disclosed recently that it was revisiting certain land deals, the first name that escaped the lips of most people was the controversial Penang Global City Centre project. After all, the plan to turn this choice real estate into a mixed development of high-rise condominiums, bungalows, hotels and parks has been as popular as the plague.
But The Malaysian Insider has learnt that the state government is more concerned about a more down-to-earth project in the district of Penanti. As the story goes, land belonging to a clan association was “hijacked’’ by the previous state government and offered as a concession to a businessman in the quarry business.
How the state government or Land Office approved this transaction, bearing in mind that the land belonged to a third party, is unclear.But after going through the books, the Penang state government under the DAP-PKR-PAS alliance has found out that it is in a Catch 22 situation. It is being sued by the clan association and also by the businessman who was given the concession.
The businessman is claiming compensation for the equipment he bought to run the quarry and this has run into several million ringgit. The state government is also investigating how some developers, including E&O, managed to convert the status of their land from leasehold to freehold.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said recently that his government would examine land deals and even review several property projects which have raised the ire of Penangites.
This includes Hunza Properties Berhad's upmarket RM650 million Gurney Paragon project along Gurney Drive.
Two non-governmental organisations – the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) and Bar Council's National Legal Aid Bureau – are against the project, which will consist of two 43-storey service apartment towers, a 37-storey business tower and other commercial buildings.
The PGCC, the brainchild of Datuk Patrick Lim, will most certainly be scrapped unless a scaled-down version of the development is offered. The businessman, a close friend of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, submitted plans to turn the choice Penang Turf Club land which he bought into the KLCC of Penang.
The plan was rejected by several groups, who felt that it would rob the island of a green area and complicate an already bad traffic situation. The business community was unsure if Penang could sustain a project the size and scale of the PGCC.
PGCC became a potent election issue and there is every chance of the project being killed on the drawing board unless Lim offers a more modest plan with a strong component of low and medium-cost housing.

A New Malaysia~!

2008-03-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

by Dr. Chen Man Hin
MARCH 8TH 2008 was a defining day for Malaysia. The voting results clearly sent out messages by the voters.
The first message indicated that the people want
A NEW MALAYSIA WITH GOOD GOVERNANCE AND A NEW SOCIETY OF RACIAL EQUALITY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WITH EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION , EMPLOYMENT AND IMBUED WITH A VISION TO TURN MALAYSIA TO BE A LIBERAL MODERN GLOBAL NATION.
Since March 8th there has been a noticeable difference in society. The people are happier and more optimistic because they feel that change is in the air. They see the changes happening.
The political map has changed. There are now five new states under opposition rule, This is the beginning of a two party system of government, as in advanced countries like Australia, Canada and USA. it is accepted practice in these countries to have states controlled by opposition parties.
The new opposition states have immediately implemented new populist policies like stopping waste of public funds, simple lifestyle for chief minister and mentris besar, ban on application of land by elected DAP MPs and SAs, weeding out corruption.and an amnesty of fines for humble traders and hawkers.
THE SECOND MESSAGE message which is fundamental and show a radical change in the thinking of Malaysians on politics.
This change was voiced out aptly by Malaysia think-tank director-general Wan Saiful Wam Jian. He said
“The results indicated the voters had broken the ethnic and religious barriers. Voting no longer based on ethnicity or religion any more.
“Voting also shows we are heading more towards a Malaysia that is suitable for all Malaysians regardless of race and creed as in Perak where the Malays had voted for the DAP and Chinese for PAS…”
This is one message which PM Dato Abdullah and UMNO should take note. Umno should reform and initiate party reforms and take a multiracial approach in future. instead of sticking to its Malay agenda, reform and change to a policy of Malaysian agenda which would serve the interests of all Malaysians.
Wan Saiful Wam Jian also hinted that the challenge for political parties was to offer alternative policies which were no longer based on ‘defending Malay rights’ or ‘we’re an islamic country’. The debate should be on who can promote Malaysian rights best and on issues such as improving the school system and hospitals.
Political debates must revolve arouind policy issues rather than sentiments.
These are the messages of the people who want a change, and from the director general of Malaysia think tank, which UMNO should take heed.
UMNO must be aware that the popular votes of the opposition in peninsular Malaysia is 52% for the opposition whereas only 48% supported Barisan National
UMNO is no more the top dog in parliament, as it has only 79 MPs compared with the figure of 82 for the opposition coalition of DAP, PKR and PAS. Its old partners MCA and MIC are in tatters. UMNO should eat humble pie and accept the new political reality. It must be prepared to reform its old ‘Rip Van Winkle’ policies.
The people want a “Malaysian Agenda” not a Malay Agenda to lead the nation to peace, unity and prosperity

又有副部長辞职

2008-03-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

天然资源与环境部副部长，阿都嘉夫，在8天前接受首相拿督斯里阿都拉的委任後，週三（3 月26日）向首相呈辭。他是第3個辭去副部長職的國陣國會議員。
他是沙巴加拉巴干國會議員，曾任沙巴副首席部長（於1997年辭去此職）、4州財政部長和首長署部長，今年64歲，育有7名孩子。
他傍晚受詢時表示，他已向首相呈交辭職信，並表示他對任何官職沒有興趣，目前只想做一些本身的事。
不過，他否認他將退出巫統而加入反對黨，並表示他仍然是加拉巴干區部主席。
他說，他不想人們猜測他對巫統的承諾及對首相阿都拉的支持。
指不想被公職“捆綁”
詢及為何遲至現在才辭去副部長職時，他披露，他不想被政府公職“捆綁”。
“我的呈辭交由首相進一步定奪。”
在這之前，首相於3月18日組織新內閣陣容後，受委為交通部副部長的拿督阿尼法（55歲）拒絕受委，也於次日早上正式向首相提出婉拒。
阿尼法是律師，也是沙巴州首席部長拿督慕沙阿曼的胞弟。他說，由於擔任副部長已兩屆，是時候讓路予新人。
同樣的，來自彭亨而連突的東姑阿茲蘭在受委為外交部副部長後，也向首相提出婉拒，原因是不想原地踏步，連續三屆擔任副部長。東姑阿茲蘭是彭亨州蘇丹王弟。
阿尼法與東姑阿茲蘭雙雙沒有出席次日在國家皇宮舉行的宣誓就職儀式

Kesetiaan kpd. raja & negara / kesetiaan kpd. Umno?

2008-03-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

The prime minister certainly does not decide on the question of who will be Menteri Besar. It is the elected members of state legislative assembly who decide - the menteri besar is the one who has the confidence of the majority of the members elected.
Ahmad Said has been appointed the mentri besar by the Sultan of Terengganu. He has the support of seven of the eight Umno division leaders in the state. Twenty-two (or should we say 23?) of the 24 BN Aduns apparently supported the choice of the prime minister, that is the former MB, one Idris Jusoh..
Ahmad Said has been stripped of his Umno membership for disobeying party leadership. Where was the show-cause letter? Where was that disciplinary board hearing? Where was his right to be heard and 'fair trial' principles? But what am I talking about for it is Umno and things work differently there. Leaders say jump and all who do not jump are no more a member. Since when has it become an offence for a member to disobey the party leadership?
Derhaka - would the behaviour and the boycott by the 23 amount to that? If the Sultan orders that you do A, and your PM orders that you do B? What do you do? Who will you obey? Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara.

When Lim Kit Siang asked the Perak DAP assemblymen to boycott the Perak MB swearing-in-ceremony, there was huge uproar and illegal gatherings at various spots in Perak demanding that Lim KS apologise in what they perceived as an insult to the Perak royalty.
Now, not only we see a similar scenario in Terengganu, it is worse! Umno assemblypersons, federal cabinet ministers, the PM and Deputy PM are defying the instructions of the Terengganu palace. So where are the demonstrators? Why no outcry? Why no street gatherings demanding apologies? Others can't do this or that but when it comes to Umno, everything can? So readers, judge for yourselves.

Idris Jusoh and his 22 BN cronies were apparently not taught the Rukun Negara on loyalty and respect to the King and Ruler. Their actions of defying the decision of the Terengganu palace are tantamount to a revolt or waging war against the King. According to the constitution, they can be punished. A more appropriate way to educate them is to strip off their beloved Datukship titles.

登新州务大臣，今正式上班

2008-03-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

refer to www.merdekareview.com

尽管巫统主席阿都拉巴达威恫言开除登嘉楼州基惹（Kijal）候任议员阿末赛益（Ahmad Said）的党籍，但他在今早觐见登州苏丹米占再纳阿比丁（Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin）后，宣布将于明日到州务大臣办公室履行其职务。

阿末赛益（左图）今天下午四时，在登州基惹召开记者会作出这项宣布。

根据《新海峡时报在线》报道，阿末赛益今早十一时之前到登嘉楼州苏丹行宫觐见登州苏丹米占再纳阿比丁，不过阿末赛益较后从其他通道离开，避开了在门外守候的记者。据悉，阿末赛益于12时35分离开行宫，登州苏丹则于1时37分乘坐其座架离开。

回教党支持登州皇室决定

阿末赛益较早前接受《大都会日报》（Harian Metro）访问时表示，登州的局势在未来几天将明朗化。他深信自己将得到州议员的支持，继续领导登州。虽然许多州议员表面上不支持他出任大臣一职，但事实上有部分州议员支持他。不过他没有透露支持他的议员的名字。

他也表示，将尽快安排州内阁阵容，稳定该州的局势。

虽然国阵另外23位州议员不支持阿末赛益任大臣职，但是，回教党主席哈迪阿旺（Hadi Awang）今天发表文告表示支持登州皇室委任阿末赛益的决定。回教党相信摄政王咨询理事会考虑了人民的意愿才作出这样的决定。

回教党相信登州皇室的决定乃因人民和皇室对前任州务大臣依德里斯（Idris Jusoh）感到不满。人民必定能够体谅皇室的是项决定。回教党也呼吁登州人民尊重皇宫的决定。

东姑拉沙里：首相说法错误

根据《太阳报》报道，巫统元老东姑拉沙里（Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah，右图）继高调表示要挑战党主席一职后，今天又指阿都拉昨日说“委任依德里斯以外的人当州务大臣乃违反宪法”的说法是错误的。

他说：“苏丹有权根据其判断委任能够获得大多数州议员信任的议员出任州务大臣。阿末赛益的委任是有效的，而他现今是登州的州务大臣。”

他也说，登州目前的情况是政府的危机，而不是宪法危机。

拉沙里也指出：“备忘录、恐吓、高压手段以及表明支持首相和其候选人，对苏丹委任本身的人选没有合法性的问题。”

Who is biadap now?

2008-03-24T02:47:00.001-07:00

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has declared unconstitutional the appointment of Ahmad Said as the new Terengganu menteri besar, in a rare showdown with the nation's royal rulers, reports said today.
Terengganu is the only state that has yet to install a government chief, two weeks after elections in which Abdullah's ruling coalition suffered its worst ever results.
The coalition led by Umno retained control of Terengganu but Abdullah's choice for menteri besar, incumbent Idris Jusoh, was overlooked by the state palace which appointed another Umno figure.
"Idris Jusoh commands majority support (among the elected state representatives). This has not changed," Abdullah said according to the official Bernama news agency.
"As such, the appointment of any other person to the post is unconstitutional," he said.
Low point for Umno
Malaysia's elections, which delivered four more states and a third of parliamentary seats to the opposition, triggered tussles with royals in other states but appointees there had the support of the majority of lawmakers.
The New Straits Times said in an editorial that an unhappy relationship between the menteri besar and royal rulers could result in "trouble and acrimony".
Analysts say the clash between the Terengganu palace and Abdullah's government is symptomatic of the prime minister's weakened position after the unprecedented election losses.
"Abdullah was already weak to begin with and the crisis in Terengganu just shows how much more worse off his position is," said Tricia Yeo from the Centre for Public Policy Studies.
"It shows the rampant infighting within the party that is now preventing the government from getting down to rule the country," she added. "It is definitely a low point for Umno."
Under Malaysia's rotating monarchy, the Sultan of Terengganu is at present the Malaysian king and has delegated his powers to his son who is only eight years old and so co-reigns with a three-member Regency Advisory Council.

形容负责人不可继续瞌睡下去, 姑里挑战伯拉打响党选第一炮

2008-03-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

refer to www.malaysiakini.com

巫统话望生国会议员东姑拉沙里今日宣布，他准备在来届党选挑战巫统主席阿都拉。拉沙里今日在哥打峇鲁住家举行新闻发布会，巫统和国阵领导层不能对大选惨败的问题坐视不理。“负责人不可以继续睡觉。”能改革“百病缠身”的巫统他表示，本身能够为目前“百病缠身”的巫统带来改革。现年71岁的拉沙里表示，本身仍然“年轻”，同时也拥有政治能力，愿意接受任何人向他提出挑战。“我仍然有不少看法，我仍然很勇敢，因为我是独立及不依赖任何人。”“如果仍然需要我的服务，以及需要我的力量，我愿意为民服务。” “虽然我的年纪大了，但是我仍然很健壮。如果在巫统党选被提名及需要我的话，我愿意给予服务。”明日区部开会讨论特大建议拉沙里形容，巫统在大选中惨败是他从政以来最惨痛的经验，因此他将在明天於其区部召开特别会议，以便讨论其之前提出举行巫统特大的建议。他认为，有关特大必须在今年8月巫统党选前举行，以免引起混淆。“我认为常年大会必须处理许多课题，因此应该召开特大专注讨论大选成绩。”“我希望其他巫统区部能够考虑这个建议，根据党章，这是可以办到，而并非不正常的事情。”“我们必须讨论败选的问题，难道巫统党员还没有觉醒我们已经失去5个州政权？他们还在睡觉吗？”执政者滥用新经济政策针对5州的新阵线政府有意废除新经济政策，拉沙里把这归咎于一些执政者滥用权力，引起党内外人士的不满。“新经济政策并非只为一小撮人而设，人民应该从其整体目标来看，它目的是要塑造国民团结。我原则上支持这个政策，但是它必须回到以前的原状。”关注欧美经济衰退影响这名前任财政部长也促请国家领袖，关注美国和欧洲经济衰退对大马造成的影响。也是巫统前副主席的拉沙里，支持前首相马哈迪幼子慕克里兹致函促请阿都拉下台的做法。针对拉西辞去国阵兼巫统总秘书的职位，东姑拉沙里认为，巫统领导层必须认真看待拉西呈辞的事件。他表示，阿都拉新成立的内阁肩负重任，必须尽快恢复人民对政府的信心。在国阵面对有史以来的惨败后，拉沙里於3月12日致函所有巫统区部主席，呼吁该党针对大选惨败召开特别代表大会。但是，拉沙里的建议已经被阿都拉否决。在1987年，东姑拉沙里与前副首相慕沙组成B队，挑战前主席马哈迪而引发激烈的党争，并在党主席之战中以微差43票落败。在巫统被法庭判为非法组织后，东姑拉沙里另起炉灶，成立46精神党与马哈迪领导的新巫统分庭抗礼。但是在7年的在野斗争不果后，东姑拉沙里在1996年宣布解散46精神党重返巫统。当时阿都拉隶属东故拉沙里的B队，而且还是唯一赢得巫统副主席职的B队领袖。不过，阿都拉并没有追随东姑拉沙里加入46精神党，而是留在新巫统默默耕耘。东姑拉沙里在重回巫统后并未获委一官半职，只保留了从1974年掌控至今的话望生国会议员，同时也是巫统话望生区部主席

2 new deputy ministers reject their posts

2008-03-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

source: www.themalaysianinsider.com

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 -- Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar, appointed Deputy Foreign Minister, and Datuk Anifah Aman, appointed Deputy Transport Minister, both rejected their Cabinet appointments. Tengku Azlan said to The Star, in this morning's edition: "I have not moved up the ladder. I was a deputy minister for two terms and since I cannot go any further, I feel it is time to move on."Anifah told Bernama last night: "I have already been a deputy minister for two terms and I feel it is time for me to make way for a younger person to hold this post."The rejections are a big blow to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was involved in choosing the Cabinet for the first time, as it is probably the first time in recent memory that ministers have rejected their appointments after they have been announced. However, the new Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad is quoted in today's NST as saying he was offered a minister's post in Abdullah's first cabinet in 2004 but he declined. He said he accepted a ministerial appointment this time round as he felt ready.Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has told his new Cabinet they must make a public declaration of all their assets. This is seen by some as a move to take the wind out of the sails of the Opposition's refrain on corruption, a major election issue. In the past general election, the Democratic Action Party's candidates, when asked about their inexperience in running an administration, would respond consistently that it meant they were inexperienced in corruption.
More than anything else, these eight names show how March 8 has prodded Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to do what he was unwilling to do four years ago – go for a Cabinet that will be more acceptable to Malaysians.
In Zaid, the new minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Abdullah has gone for someone who sounds more like an Opposition politician than the Kota Baru Umno chief that he was. The job of reforming the country’s judiciary will be in his hands as the de facto Law Minister. Zaid will be sworn in as a senator today because he is not a member of parliament, not having contested the election.In Shahrir, he has opted for an Umno leader who is not afraid to attack sacred cows or even tangle with Khairy Jamaludin. The Johor Baru MP will handle the Consumer and Domestic Affairs portfolio and will have to keep a lid on rising prices, a sensitive issue.
In Amirsham, he has plumped for a professional who won the respect of the market for the way he ran Maybank, Malaysia’s largest banking institution. He will be in charge of the Economic Planning Unit.
Perhaps the only question mark in the new line-up is Rural Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, the Selangor politician who forever will have an asterisk next to his name for trying to take $4 million out of Australia.
His inclusion is a reminder of one of the realities of politics – that change, however drastic, is only possible in this country if some concession is made to Umno.
By and large, Abdullah has gone for change.
He trimmed the number of ministries from 32 to 27 and didn’t appoint any parliamentary secretaries. Only 17 of the 32 ministers in the previous cabinet were retained. Some were given new portfolios like Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, the new Minister of International Trade and Industry and Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, the Foreign Minister.Datuk Seri Najib Razak is Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister. The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that for the first time, Abdullah involved Najib in choosing the Cabinet. This will be read by the Umno faithful as a sign that Abdullah is considering handing over the reins mid-term.
These are some of the developments picked out by The Malaysian Insider:
Even winners were dropped
Those dropped were winners in the general election but they lacked that one ingredient necessary to be part of government – credibility on the ground.
Rafidah, the long-serving Minister of International Trade and Industry, a portfolio she has held for just over 20 years, has had difficulty shaking off the perception that the fiasco about the Approved Permits was her doing.
Ironically, Rafidah wrote a lengthy letter making a case for more women to be included in the Cabinet. She did not see the writing on the wall.
Tengku Adnan was implicated in the V. K. Lingam video scandal.
Datuk Jamaluddin Jarjis, Datuk Azmi Khalid and Datuk Radzi Sheik Ahmad paid for largely lacklustre performances in the previous Cabinet.Security
The issue of tackling crime will now be the job of Datuk Syed Hamid Albar. The long-serving minister will also have to tackle the foreign illegal immigrant problem. He will head the Home Affairs and Internal Security Ministry. In the last Cabinet, Abdullah headed the Internal Security Ministry.
Promotion of the second liners
Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (PM’s Department), Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Information), Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor (Energy, Water and Telecommunications) and Datuk Zin Mohamed (Works) represent the new face of Umno.
Arguably, Ahmad Shabery will have his work cut out for him. He will have to overhaul the government’s information ministry and reach out to younger Malaysians who inhabit cyberspace. Zin Mohamed could become the most “popular’’ minister in Umno by virtue of being in charge of a ministry that dishes out infrastructure projects.No room for parliamentary secretaries
In the last cabinet, there were 20 parliamentary secretaries. This time around, the job of going to parliament and taking questions from the Opposition will fall on the shoulders of ministers and deputy ministers. This is probably an admission by Abdullah that with 82 Opposition MPs in the House, the BN government can no longer treat Parliament lightly.Ng Yen Yen gets a surprise
When her name was announced as Women, Family and Community Development Minister, there was a gasp among the press corp in the room. Traditionally this ministry goes to an Umno leader. Also Yen Yen is widely considered a lightweight. Like many others, the press had expected Datuk Ng Yen Yen to be appointed Health Minister. She still earns the record of becoming the first Chinese woman to become a minister in Malaysia. That portfolio fell to Datuk Liow Tiong Lai. Datuk Ong Tee Keat (Transport) and Datuk Ong Ka Chuan (Local Government and Housing).His political career is over
Running through the Cabinet list, it is quite clear that this time around, Abdullah had to leave aside sentiment and go with what he believed Malaysians wanted. That is why Khairy Jamaludin’s name is missing from the line-up. Though Khairy is the number two in Umno Youth, it would have been disastrous for the son-in-law to have been given any position in government, given the anger against him within Umno. Party members blame him for the poor showing in the polls, arguing that he had a hand in the selection of candidates. They also resent his quick ascent up the political ladder.

安华：新内阁换汤不换药

2008-03-18T02:36:00.000-07:00

refer to www.malaysiakini.com

人民公正党实权领袖安华今午警告，首相兼巫统主席阿都拉刚宣布的新内阁排阵将导致巫统内部更动荡，并批评新阵容无法达至改革的期望。“巫统领导层现在已处在纷争之中。在新内阁宣布后，党内预料会有更多的纷争。”“其他成员党同样处在严重的问题，他们不再能宣称自己获得本身族群和选区的支持。”他今午是在八打灵再也的办公室会见华总代表团后的记者会上，受询及巫统近日极力炒作新经济政策时，如此表示。安华也表示，如果巫统是在捍卫马来人的利益，那么他们就不会容许领袖通过新经济政策来攫取数亿令吉的合约和股票。不过，他并没有进一步做出解释。指巫统继续种族主义叫嚣虽然安华对阿都拉今早撤换数名部长的宣布表示欢迎，但是他也批评这项安排“换汤不换药”，未能达到人民在选举中所传达的改革期望。“人民要求新气象、新领导层、新的经济政策、更透明和负责任的政府，以及更具竞争力和抵抗力的经济，但是这些东西从来都没有出现改变。”“我们没有看到任何改变的迹象，特别是我希望能够停止，巫统领袖和党员所发出的种族主义叫嚣。”“影子内阁”尚在讨论中今午的记者会是在阿都拉於中午12时宣布内阁名单不久后召开。安华也似乎接获消息指，原任国际贸易及工业部长拉菲达将会从新内阁中除名。他对记者笑称，“你们知道她会不会辞（国会议员）职？”受询及在野党的“影子内阁”时，安华表示，他们目前还在商谈之中，并未急着成立“影子内阁”。他笑称，“我们到时可能不再是影子。”他也强调，在野党与国阵拥有截然不同的行事作风，“国阵拥有首领来决定一切，但是我们在商讨过程中却是非常民主。我们的强项是，基本原则非常清楚。”针对在野党领袖一职，安华也不愿透露详情，仅表示在野党目前还在商谈中。为选举报道向部落客致谢安华也在记者会结束前特地针对这次选举的报道，向媒体和部落客致谢。“我必须感谢媒体，除了一些例外，以及部落客，他们在这次选举非常棒。”苏启文出现在安华办公室值得一提的是，著名商人苏启文今日也出现在安华的办公室，成为媒体们的关注焦点。苏启文在受询时否认，他已经加入公正党。不过，被问及未来是否会入党时，他笑说，“我从不妄下论断”。他接着补充说，因为一些“策略原因”才没有加入公正党。不过，他并没有透露进一步详情。曾经代表马华攻打八打灵再也的苏启文，被视为与前马华总会长林良实和林熙隆有着错综复杂的商业关系。仍持有马华党籍的苏启文，曾於去年出席公正党代表大会

给檳州巫统的公开信～！

2008-03-18T02:10:00.000-07:00

给读幼稚园的阿知哈 & 凯里兄，
我觉得你真的幼稚得可笑，如果你认为在光大的非法示威能提高你的政治本钱的话，我就真的要捧腹大笑了。

1. 我要笑你不从错误中学习，要知道人不贵于无过，知贵于肯改过！3月8号你们已经彻底失败了，难道你还不知道导致失败的其中一大因素是巫统太会玩弄种族课题吗？要举剑就举剑，要说檳州边缘化马来人，就乱说，巫统从来就学不会对其举止负责！如果，你不从错误中学习，只会逐渐将自己和巫统推向深渊，永不超生，醒醒吧！

2. 我要笑你在打伯拉的脸，伯拉曾经说过街头示威将不是大马文化，但是你现在却大大力往首相脸上打了一巴掌！哈哈，这只会让人更清楚看见你们持双重标准而已！如果几万人的Hindraf 示威不能代表大马文化，难道巫统的500人示威就能代表本土文化吗？

3. 我要笑你脸色终于苍白了，冷汗终于流了，否则你怎么会那么‘好’在烈日当空站上接头呀？

别再当小丑了，悬崖勒马，未为晚也！醒醒吧，否则再过4年，巫统在你们手中就玩完了。。。

VTWS

藉新经济政策操弄族群情绪, 巫统自私！

2008-03-18T02:09:00.000-07:00

refer to www.merdekareview.com

人民公正党青年团抨击槟城巫统领袖利用槟城民主行动党、人民公正党和回教党联合政府拒绝新经济政策（Dasar Ekonomi Baru）课题，操弄马来人情绪以图一已政治利益。
人民公正党青年团中委哈斯姆扎伊（Hasmuzair Hassan）今天发表文告表示，1971年推行的新经济政策已在1990年终止，并由国家发展政策（Dasar Pembangunan Nasional, 1991-2000）和宏愿发展政策（Dasar Pembangunan Wawasan, 2001-2010）所取代，槟城巫统领导人也是前副首席部长阿都拉昔阿都拉（Abdul Rashid Abdullah）应当知晓这样的政策改变。
此外，该团也对前上议员慕沙非益法兹（Musa Sheikh Fadzir ）无法区分新经济政策与《联邦宪法》第153条款阐明的马来人特权的差异，感到失望。
上周五（3月14日），槟城巫统动员大约500名马来人到槟城光大示威，抗议新任槟城州政府撤除新经济政策。新任槟城州首席部长林冠英宣誓就任当天声明，由民族行动党和人民公正党所组成的联合政府将不会采取新经济政策的模式施政，绝不会纵容朋党主义与贪污腐败的滋长。【点击：恢复地方选举公布个人财产林冠英宣誓就任宣布新政策】
人民公正党青年团认为，槟城巫统有意挑起州内马来人愤怒的族群情绪，以显示他们在第12届全国大选失去州政权后仍然获得马来人的支持。
他们强调,槟城新政府不实施新经济政策并没有错，因为该政策并未列入《联邦宪法》，它只是一个政策或巫统的政纲，而被纳入政府的施政，可以根据首相的选择而改变。
“因此，新经济政策的地位不会比前首相马哈迪所倡的2020宏愿和首相阿都拉所倡的文明回教來得高。”
人民公正党青年团认为，新经济政策经常被巫统领袖以争取马来人支持，但它也只是在巫统感觉到失去马来人支持时，以及当巫统领袖及其朋党在分配政府合约和工程时才会抬出来。
最大成就令巫统朋党致富
“所以，新经济政策成为巫统领袖及其朋党取得政府合约和工程的护身符，纵使他们并没有资格得到这些工程和合约。”
“巫统经常宣称没有巫统捍卫新经济政策，马来人就会落后；事实上，只有巫统和他们的朋党从新经济政策中受惠。既便是低层的巫统领袖，也只能从新经济政策里享受极征少的好处，这些小恩小惠也只是巫统高层及其朋党所剩余的。”
该团认为，新经济政策实施了近40年，最大成就就是让巫统领袖及其朋党致富，而新经济政策所订下的马来人占国家经济30%的控制权则一直无法兑现。
该团强调，该党倡议的国家经济议程（Agenda Ekonomi Malaysia）会是更公正和平等，更能确保不分宗教和族群地让没有任何人会遭到遗弃，而马来人的利益和回教将持续受到照顾。

打压新闻自由面不改色, 曹智雄再当副内政部长

2008-03-17T23:55:00.000-07:00

refer to www.merdekareview.com

首相阿都拉巴达威今天宣布新内阁阵容，曾在国会回答在野党议员质询时承认“打电话给报社是很普通的事”的前副内政部长曹智雄，再次“回锅”出任副内政部长。阿都拉巴达威今天中午12时在布城宣布新内阁阵容，将国内安全部及国内事务部重新合并，由原任外交部长的赛哈密阿巴出任部长，另一名副部长是旺法立旺沙列（Wan Farid Wan Salleh）。

现年53岁的曹智雄（左图）在1990年首次当选亚罗士打区国会议员，1995年卫冕后出任交通部政务次长，在1999年全国大选后出任副国安部长，但在2004年全国大选后被除名。他在2005年的马华公会党选竞选副总会长，也在九人大混战中败下阵来，仅获得629票，排名第七或倒数第三。

在3月8日的第12届全国大选，曹智雄五度蝉连吉打州亚罗士打区国会议员。曹智雄只以184张多数票险胜人民公正党候选人魏晓隆，他得票20557张，而魏晓隆得票20741张。废票1757张。

给报社打电话很普通

曹智雄胜选后曾公开放话说，希望马华公会总会长黄家定推荐官职时，让他出任内阁部长。曹智雄现任马华公会吉打州联委会署理主席、亚罗士打区会主席、中央国际事务局主任及中央纪律委员会委员。

曹智雄在副内政部长任内打压新闻自由面不改色，他曾于2000年11月在国会回答民主行动党马六甲市区国会议员郭金福质询时，大言不惭地说内政部给报社打电话“是很普通的事情”。

2001年，他以没有官方发出的记者证为理由，禁止《当今大马》的记者采访官方活动，并且扬言如果这家新闻网站接受开放社会基金资助的事属实，政府将对《当今大马》采取必要的行动。曹智雄发表上述言论之后，一些内阁部长开始拒绝让《当今大马》记者进场采访。

巴生自贸区丑闻被点名

曹智雄虽然在2006年内阁改组时丢官，但在去年4月19日受委出任巴生港务局主席。去年12月19日，前副首相安华依布拉欣揭露巴生港口自由贸易区丑闻的新内情，剖析政府部门与巴生自贸区计划承包公司之间错综复杂的关系，暴露了曹智雄是其中一家二线承包商Wijaya Baru私人有限公司的母公司Wijaya Baru Global有限公司的副主席职.

马华公会党籍的国会议员第一次进入国安部（前内政部），是在1991年黄家定受委内政部政务次长，黄家定后来在1995年擢升为副内政部长，直到1999年由曹智雄接任。不过，2004年大选后，内政部一分为二，改组为国内安全部及国内事务部，马华公会失去在国安部的副部长职位，由民政党总秘书谢宽泰接任。

首相阿都拉巴达威在2006年2月14日改组内阁时，将谢宽泰调任副新闻部长，改由在2005年马华公会党选竞选副总会长败北的胡亚桥接任副国安部长。不过，原任彭亨州关丹区国会议员的胡亚桥在本月八日的第12届全国大选卫冕失败；无独有偶，谢宽泰在本届大选时寻求卫冕槟州升旗山区国会议员也败北，成了民主行动党候选人刘镇东的手下败将。

Selangor: Rebuild hindhu temple, free RM11 water / mth

2008-03-17T23:44:00.000-07:00

Tan Sri Khalid, newly appoint Menteri Besar of Selangor, visited Kampung Rimba Jaya in Shah Alam – the site of Sri Maha Mariamman Temple which was demolished in November last year. This act of pulling down the temple a few days before Deepavali ignited anger among Indians across the country.
Mayor Mazalan Md Noor said the temple would be rebuilt soon on 10,000sq feet of land.
“The developer has been directed by the state government to provide the land and RM40,000, the cost of the building construction. It is up to the temple committee and the developer to decide when to start the temple construction,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Khalid announced that he would propose that every household in the state gets 20 cubic metres of water supply free monthly. It is expected to be implemented starting next month. Based on the estimated one million domestic users in Selangor, an exemption of water rates for usage of up to 20 cubic metres translates to a monthly value of RM11.4 million.
At a time when those in the lower-income bracket are groaning under inflation, the savings of RM11 per month per household will be welcomed.

Anwar: MEA replace NEP, Opposition form alliance

2008-03-17T23:42:00.000-07:00

refer to www.themalaysianinsider.com

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 – Anwar Ibrahim and the Opposition continued to throw the government off-balance with bold pronouncements yesterday.
The de-facto Opposition leader told Singapore’s only Malay-language newspaper, Berita Harian, that the PKR-DAP-PAS will formalise their alliance in a few days and will then replace the New Economic Policy with a landmark Malaysian Economic Agenda (MEA), a colour-blind initiative aimed at lifting the fortunes of all Malaysians.
The move to formalise the alliance will be cheered by Malaysians who believed that the gains made by the Opposition on March 8 would lead to a two-party system here. It will also shred like wet tissue the argument by the Barisan Nasional that the Opposition alliance is akin to a sham marriage.Even more important, the MEA will pose a major challenge to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s reform credentials. By proposing to do away with affirmative action for one race, Anwar is setting the bar very high for a coalition which has been allergic to any talk of dismantling the NEP.
In the interview with Singapore BH, Anwar said the Opposition alliance had been working on the MEA for the past one year.
“I would like to assure the Malays that the Malay agenda will remain but we also have to sketch a new agenda for Chinese and Indians,” he said. On his website, Anwar said the MEA can be implemented at state level to reduce race-based affirmative action policies and replace it will a more competitive, merit-based system.
“This will immediately increase foreign investment, improve the state’s tax revenue and begin to promote equity and income parity,” he argued.
Political analysts say that the Chinese and Indian voters deserted BN in droves because they felt that the ruling coalition had turned a deaf ear to their grievances over the NEP. BN’s ability to respond to an imaginative idea like the MEA will be watched closely by the communities.
It is unclear how Malays will react to the removal of NEP from the Malaysian vocabulary.
But Anwar believes that even the Malays will accept that there has been a distortion in implementing the NEP. Another PKR leader who captured the imagination yesterday was Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

Anwar: BN MPs want to join keADILan

2008-03-17T23:40:00.001-07:00

refer to www.themalaysianinsider.com

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed today that many lawmakers in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition want to defect to his camp after their election debacle.
Anwar told reporters he has been approached by many ruling party lawmakers who won in the March 8 general election. They are welcome to defect but no bribes will be paid to make them to cross over, he said.
''We will remain consistent and committed to the code of ethics. If you want to surrender at a price you have chosen the wrong party,'' he told reporters.
Buying political support, especially by paying voters money, is common in Malaysia, and bribing lawmakers to defect, while not widespread, is known to occur.
The three-party opposition alliance stitched together by Anwar won an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament in the election. It needs 30 more lawmakers to get a majority needed to unseat the BN coalition government.
Anwar's claim could not be immediately confirmed, but would add to persistent rumours of political horse-trading in the aftermath of the disastrous poll results for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's coalition.
Abdullah says he has the full support of his party, and has rejected calls to step down. But Anwar's claim, if true, would add pressure on him to keep the party together.
Anwar did not say how many BN members have approached him, but said they belonged to Abdullah's Umno, the main party in the BN, as well as other smaller parties.
''People have approached and discussed ... but no one dared raise the issue of price (of defection) to me,'' he said, without elaborating. He said he believes some will eventually defect, even without monetary inducement.
But he refused to say if the numbers would be enough to topple the BN government, which is facing its worst political crisis in the 51 years it has been in power.
Although the BN suffered losses in some previous elections, notably in 1999, it is the first time its parliamentary majority has been eroded to this extent. In addition, Anwar's opposition alliance won control of governments in five of Malaysia's 13 states.
Anwar said many of those who approached him won their seats in Sabah and Sarawak, which have emerged as Umno's political stronghold after its spectacular loss of support in Peninsular Malaysia.
The BN won 54 out of the 56 seats in the two states, accounting for nearly 39 per cent of its total 140 seats it Parliament.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was once an Umno star before being accused of corruption and sodomy by then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998. He was convicted of both charges but the sodomy charge was later overturned.
While he was in jail, Anwar's wife formed the PKR, which emerged as the largest opposition party in the elections with 31 parliamentary seats. It is in a coalition with the DAP and PAS. — AP

Shahidan's fall set stage Perlis to PAS in next election~!

2008-03-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

refer to www.themalaysianinsider.com

KANGAR, March 18 – Former Perlis menteri besar Shahidan Kassim spurned the swearing-in ceremony of his rival, Dr Md Isa Sabu, as the new menteri besar yesterday, signaling more trouble for Umno in the next election in Perlis. This is because Shahidan is seen even by the Opposition itself as a very strong presence on the ground, with his wife as a major asset, for their common touch.The tussle in Perlis stands out in stark comparison to events in Penang, where outgoing Gerakan Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon handed over the reins of administration smoothly to the new incoming Democratic Action Party boss Lim Guan Eng, and even called upon the federal government to continue with the the federal mega-projects for the state, instead of punishing Penang for voting in the Opposition as some have said should be done.
Dr Md Isa Sabu today took the oath of office as the 6th menteri besar of Perlis at the Istana Arau here, ending a week-long tussle for the post with Shahidan, which saw both groups practically camped out in Kuala Lumpur, lobbying the Prime Minister-elect Abdullah Badawi.
Md Isa said he had the support of 8 BN state assemblymen, a majority of the 15 state assemblymen.
Perlis has 14 BN and one PAS assemblyman. The PAS assemblyman is Russeli Eizan, the elected representative for Simpang Empat.
The Malaysian Insider has learnt that even the sole PAS assemblyman was in favour of Md Isa, and this is believed to be because PAS believes Shahidan is the stronger man on the ground.
Md Isa took his oath of office at 5.30pm before the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, in a ceremony witnessed by the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail.
Except for Shahidan, the rest of the 15 Perlis state assemblymen were present at the ceremony.
After the ceremony, Md Isa told reporters he hoped that the issue of who was more eligible to be the menteri besar would not come up again.
Md Isa had received the instrument of appointment from the Raja of Perlis last Friday but Shahidan claimed that he had the letter of recommendation from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to be appointed the menteri besar.
This resulted in Md Isa, Shahidan and several other Perlis state assemblymen shuttling between Kangar and Putrajaya as well as Kuala Lumpur to meet with Abdullah and the Raja of Perlis separately to resolve the impasse.
Md Isa said he hoped that the people of Perlis, regardless of political affiliation, would come together as one to help develop the state.
Replying to a question, Md Isa said he preferred to stay in his own “simple house” in Taman Guru Jaya here instead of moving to the chief minister’s official residence vacated by Shahidan.
It was reported, however, that Shahidan was moving out of residence yesterday, with moving trucks seen even as late as 1.30 am last night. Shahidan himself could not be reached by the media for comment

PM for all? Time to show~!

2008-03-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

With reference to the recent Umno protest rallies organised in the aftermath of the opposition victories, I would like to see our PM acting as the prime minister of all Malaysians. These rallies are instigated by SMSes messages calling for Malays to come out and defend their rights which they see as being threatened. This is the time when Pak Lah should step up to the plate and be the one to call for calm among his Umno supporters. He should issue a public statement that those who are sending out these provocative messages will be arrested or fined.
And if the opposition has been humble and level-headed enough to not hold victory parades, likewise Umno should also refrain from organising mass rallies that are racially-based. To their credit, the opposition has not clamped down on these Umno rallies on the basis of respecting democracy.
But BN does still have a simple majority and Pak Lah needs to exercise some show of grit now instead of being worried about the internal collapse and infighting within Umno. Be our prime minister. Now more than ever.

Azhar Ibrahim is a politician who engages in gutter politics. He would rather sacrifice the plight of the Malays as well as others just to so that he still has an audience. If the PM and BN have truly learned their lesson, Azhar should be taken out of politics as soon as possible before his tactics, not unlike BN's pre-election strategy, backfire on them even more.

The sinking of UMNO

2008-03-17T23:33:00.000-07:00

by KJ John

If what Raja Petra wrote in Malaysia Today before the elections is true, an Umno vice-president had said, “Even God could not sink Umno!” The article began with the true story about the infamous Titanic from which the quote about Umno must have been derived.‘This ship is unsinkable, even God Himself can’t sink it!’ screamed a newspaper headline just before the Titanic’s maiden voyage. The rest is history. Maybe it is time for Hollywood or Bollywood to consider a movie about Umno and its voyage into the 12th general election - and how it foundered on the iceberg of bullying, arrogance and ignorance.Its leaders will have to collectively admit that they have failed the people - at the last Umno annual general meeting, some 2,500 members spoke with an arrogance that has come back to haunt them. Only three million out of some 10 million people voted for Barisan Nasional (BN). What then of the way forward towards a mature and fully democratic Malaysia? I believe that the first and critical step has been taken; the evolution of a potential two-party state system. Indian Malaysians were liberated from the shackles of a post-colonial mindset of blind subservience, thanks to Hindraf. The majority of Malays clearly expressed a desire to see a cleaner culture of politics and good governance, thanks to Bersih. The Bar Council marched for judicial integrity. The new media has reported on corruption and rampant abuse of power.The tipping point and a critical mass were reached and maybe jom membersihkan was written in the hearts of voters, especially when the Election Commission announced four days before the polls that even the fatwa-supported indelible ink was not to be used. Enough was enough. Ordinary Malaysians do not have any grand agenda. They simply want a comfortable life without too much hassle or bother. They love Malaysia and their teh tarik and roti canai. They like Vision 2020; and most of them can handle the concept of Bangsa Malaysia and want to simply become Barisan Rakyat Malaysia, absent of racial overtones! This may be the true Malaysia Boleh spirit; that Malaysians can and will mobilise for creativity and innovation, to add value in the most unique Malaysian way if given the chance. The elections with new promises offered them that chance, and they took it.New agenda neededBeyond the two-party system and democratic governance, what Malaysia needs is a new Malaysian Agenda. Fortunately, there is already one proposed by CPPS that has been adopted by about 42 civil society groups. Launched last August, it is called the Merdeka Statement.CPPS argued for “working together for a more united, competitive, innovative and prosperous Malaysia”. Now, who could really disagree with that? Some Umno ministers did and I believe one lost his seat! With the tagline, ‘Striving to cultivate a national identity that recognises and celebrates our diversity’, the Merdeka Statement comprises eight thrusts:1. Strengthening national unity2. Enhancing international competitiveness3. Creating an innovative economy4. Redressing imbalances5. Reinforcing institutions6. Reforming education7. Ensuring quality of life8. Improving governance, fighting corruptionThere are 102 recommendations for action. Every Malaysian must come to acceptance of these recommendations - only then can there be a new Malaysian Agenda owned by Malaysians for a united Bangsa Malaysia.Two recommendations under the First Thrust are worth considering as a post-election step. The first is to set up a National Unity and Integration Commission. It could consist of former heads of political parties as well as notable and retired senior judges. They could review recommendations of the previous administration’s National Unity Panel and report directly to Parliament. These wise-leaders, who were good enough to lead us before, must know where we are falling and failing. We just need to give them a chance to make another contribution as Senior Members, as Lee Kuan Yew (photo) does in Singapore. Let us not be too proud to learn from this example. Of course, the moderator would have to be a neutral and wise leader of high integrity, someone like Salleh Abas.The other recommendation is the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Again, if we can gather credible judges and senior civil servants of the past, they can quite easily address the pain and abuse of Malaysians over the years.If it is true that 30,000 Indian women are without proper documentation, could not this be considered ‘intentional ethnic cleansing’? Or, if as the former Selangor MB has admitted, there are 5,000 Indians youths in the state without a birth certificate, wouldn’t this be a clear and deliberate policy oversight?
When new immigrant Indonesians are given red ICs at will or ‘new Sabahans’ are created overnight, surely it is not wrong for some groups to be very aggrieved over this. I suggest that the Parliamentary Committee on Integrity should be expanded into a Truth and Reconciliation Commission reporting to Parliament, and working to resolve genuine hurts and grievances.If South Africa, which had more serious problems during the apartheid era can do this, surely it can be a case of Malaysia Boleh as well.

Should voters apologize to UMNO?

2008-03-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

The Malaysian electorate has been naughty. They have been ungrateful and need to be taught a lesson. At least that's how it comes across when you read about the press conference given by Penang state Umno leaders last Thursday.
Here we have people elected into office to bring out the best things for their state and country. But instead, those from Umno have banded together to teach the people of Penang a lesson. As quoted from The Sun, ‘Penang assemblyman Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, who is opposition leader, said he will apply to the federal government to stop all mega projects such as the Penanag second bridge, Monorail Transit System, Penang Outer Ring Road and to leave Penang out of the Northern Corridor Economic Region scheme.
"He told a press conference the Barisan National government had promised all these to the people, but yet they rejected the BN government by voting for DAP and PKR. 'Let them see what DAP and PKR can do for them,' he said.
What do they expect Penang voters to do? Are they supposed to say, ‘I'm so sorry for exercising my right to choose. I promise I won't do it again. Just don't punish us, please! You can do whatever you want in the government! You are so right! We have no right to hold you accountable. Please don't cut off our state funds! We'll behave ourselves next time and fall into line!’
Yes, let us see what the new Penang government can do. It's bound to be better than what we've seen for the last 50 years. When you've gone so far down, with change, there's only room for improvement, no matter how small it may be.
Even now, when they should be taking responsibility, reflecting upon and working to improve their performance, Penang Umno remains arrogant and unrepentant. It's not surprising because a large portion of Umno is doing the same thing all over the nation. The interesting thing is that in BN, we see Umno whining the most and the loudest.
We see the likes of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Hishammuddin Huessin Onn trying to whip up racial sentiments about Penang's open tender system. We have Mohd Khir Toyo making sarcastic and bitter comments about working with the new state government. And now these 11 Umno state assemblypersons in Penang. T
They only know how to think about race and themselves. When relating to the electorate, they only know how to use fear tactics and threats. They don't know how to discuss things constructively, offer compromises and work cooperatively with others. They have no game plan for where to go from here. They don't seem to be interested in changing anything, despite a strong tide of rejection. They're too busy moaning over what they've lost, squabbling over what's left and plotting ways to get revenge.
Everyone keeps talking about watching the new state governments and parliamentarians closely to be sure they keep their promises. But even more so, we must watch BN closely for signs of humility and change. We must keep track of how BN reps vote in parliament. When bills for local council elections, civil liberties and judicial, parliamentary and electoral reform, etc. (things the rakyat voted for in this election) come up in Parliament, how did the MPs vote?
Let's keep track of who votes for or against these things. Let's keep track of who submits the bills, what sort of amendments are suggested and who is suggesting them. Will the BN reps suggest any bills for change in these areas? Will the bills be quality legislation or some kind of watered-down appeasement for the electorate? Will BN reps continue to vote along party lines even if they know they are voting against the wishes of the people?
And what about the state governments controlled by BN? What sort of changes are they going to make? Are they just going to keep to the old habit of touting state development as the answer for everything? Will they take steps to improve transparency and accountability?
Just as there will be a website keeping track of tenders for Penang, there should be website keeping track of the actions of our MPs and state reps. Then we will know who truly deserves to be voted into office at the next election. I honestly hope that four years from now, the electorate will not have collective amnesia and vote these guys into office if they are still the same as today.
We need to see BN make changes. Maybe the component parties of MCA and MIC and others should leave BN and work toward forming one multi-racial party without Umno. They might want to seriously consider this option if Umno doesn't start doing some soul-searching soon. Time is ticking away to the next election and they have a lot of work to do to regain the people's confidence or they could be completely wiped out the next time - completely.
And if you voted for the following Umno candidates for Penang - Mahmud Zakaria, Syed Amerruddin Syed Ahamad, Muhamad Farid Saad, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Azahar Ibrahim, Roslan Saidin, Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Shabudin Yahaya, Jasmin Mohamed, Jahara Hamid and Zakariah Abdul Wahab - please consider voting for people who actually have the best interests of the rakyat in mind.

2008 Cabinet! Taib IN, WHY???

2008-03-17T23:06:00.000-07:00

Rafidah Aziz dropped. Why?She won the election. She performed as Minister.
She is Wanita Chief.
JJ dropped. Why?He won with a bigger majority. He performed as Minister.Muhammad Muhammad Taib aka Mike Tyson is IN.Why-lah?

(refer to www.malaysiakini.com)
The following is the list of cabinet ministers and their deputies as announced by the prime minister at 12 noon today.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Umno)
Deputy Prime MinisterNajib Razak (Umno)

Finance Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Umno)
Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop (Umno)
Deputies: Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (Umno), Kong Cho Ha (MCA)

Defence Minister Najib Razak (Umno)
Deputy: Abu Seman Yusop (Umno)

Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Chuan (MCA)
Deputy: Robert Lau Hoi Chew (Supp), Hamzah Zainuddin (Umno)

Works Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed (Umno)
Deputy: Yong Khoon Seng (Supp)

Energy, Water and Communications Minister: Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy: Joseph Salang Gandum

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamad (Umno)
Deputy: Rohani Abdul Karim (Umno)

International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (Umno)
Deputy: Leow Wei Keong (LDP), Yaakob Dungau Sagan

Foreign Minister Rais Yatim
Deputy: Sultan Azlan Abu Bakar (Umno)

Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (Umno)
Deputies: Dr Wee Ka Siong (MCA), Razali Ismail (Umno)

Transport MinisterOng Tee Keat (MCA)
Deputy: Anifah Aman

Health MinisterLiow Tiong Lai (MCA)
Deputy: Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Umno)

Human Resources MinisterS Subramaniam (MIC)
Deputy: Noraini Ahmad (Umno)

Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Syed Hamid Albar (Umno)
Deputies: Chor Chee Heung (MCA), Wan Ahmad Farid (Umno)

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen (MCA)
Deputy: Norliah Kasmon (Umno)

Culture, Arts, Heritage and National Unity Minister Shafie Apdal (Umno)
Deputy: Teng Boon Soon (MCA)

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximum Ongkili
Deputy: Fadillah Yusof

Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister Noh Omar (Umno)
Deputy: Saifudin Abdullah

Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin (Umno)
Deputies: Idris Haron (Umno), Dr Hou Kok Chung (MCA)

Information MinisterAhmad Shabery Cheek (Umno)
Deputy: Tan Lian Hoe (Gerakan)

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas (PPB)
Deputy: Abdul Ghapur Salleh (Umno)

Rural and Regional Development Minister Senator Muhammad Muhammad Taib (Umno)Deputy: Joseph Entulu

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Abdul Shahrir Samad (Umno)
Deputy: Jelaing Mersat

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui (Supp)
Deputy: Kohilan Pillay (Gerakan)

Youth and Sports Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno)
Deputy: Wee Jack Seng (MCA)

Tourism MinisterAzalina Othman Said (Umno)
Deputy: Sulaiman Abu Taib (PBB)

Federal Territories Minister Zulhasnan Rafique (Umno)
Deputy: M Saravanan (MIC)

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Zaid Ibrahim (Umno, to be appointed senator) -

legal affairs Zahid Hamidi (Umno) Bernard Dompok (Upko) Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (Umno)