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Monday, December 15, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Let them rot in jail
Let them rot in jail
EVERY right-thinking Malaysian should applaud Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman. She has come out in the open and exposed the wrongdoings of people under her purview. She offers no protection for the wrongdoers. On the contrary, she has warned of serious consequences. She has asked the state-owned Pempena Sdn Bhd and its subsidiaries to assess their operations and consider if they should continue.
The minister’s outburst is understandable. Some of these companies operated as if there were no norms or rules to govern them. Some of the people running them considered the companies to be their own fiefdoms and their private bank, drawing monies through dubious means.
They ventured in businesses and deals that were sure losers from the start. Why in the world would a government-owned company get involved in businesses in which it neither has the expertise nor the experience?
Were feasibility studies done before millions of taxpayers’ money was pumped in? Did those who made the decisions ask themselves: Why do we want to get into such businesses when our core business is promoting tourism? Azalina was quoted by the NST as saying: "If they have cheated the government in any way, they will be severely dealt with." This can be no further than the truth. Two audit reports – one done internally and another by PriceWaterhouseCoopers – have revealed the intrigues, the manipulation of funds, fraud, deception and above all, a lack of common sense which a reasonable person is expected to do when he is entrusted with public money.
Instead of acting as people with business acumen, they acted as godfathers and Santa Clauses, dishing out money from a bottomless pit. There were no due diligence tests with supposed partners; there were no checks on current market rates, but what is more damning is their failure to take action to recover monies which is rightfully theirs.
For example, Pempena advanced RM300,000 to one Umi Hafilda (does the name ring a bell?) for a Amir Diab Live in Kuala Lumpur concert. The report says that "Pempena did not even sight the contract between the parties before issuing the cheque" and as expected, the concert did not take place.
The first question to ask is: Why is Pempena paying show promoters? The second question is: How does a concert help promote tourism? Perhaps, they took a leaf out of the Sport Ministry which paid RM17 million for the Champions Youth Cup tournament to "promote tourism" last year. We’ll leave that to rest, at least for the moment.
Back to Umi Hafilda. When the concert did not materialise, she issued three cheques to Pempena – all of them bounced – there was no money in her account. What did Pempena do? Sat with arms folded because those in the know were aware that she was an undischarged bankrupt, one of the report states.
But that’s not all. As Azalina points out, RM11 million went into the taxi business and she also asks: "We need to find out where all the money that was invested went to. The company has failed to pay the hire purchase loan for the taxi instalments."
Absolutely right! For that kind of money, working at a conservative cost of RM100,000, there should be 111 taxis – bought outright without a loan, but records show that all of them were bought via hire purchase. So, where did the money go?
What stands in an empty lot somewhere in the Klang Valley are taxis – repossessed by the bank for not servicing the loan – ready to be auctioned. It’s a standing monument of shame that has been brought on by the companies’ own doing. In the first place, why should it go into the taxi business and compete with commercial operators? It can be understandable if it created a niche market but in this case, it was competing with individuals and companies who had both the know-how and the experience.
That’s not all. The report states that Pempena bought one million shares at RM1 each in a company called SD Corp Sdn Bhd, which had forecast a turnover of RM8 million and a profit of RM100,000 for the first year. But the company ran up a loss of RM2 million. To add insult to injury, Pempena paid RM2.1 million for the shares but the share certificates had yet to be delivered as of July 31.
But more shocking are the claims that minutes of meetings of the board of directors of Pempena had been changed by hidden hands. The internal audit confirms this by saying: "The amendments of the minutes are a serious offence as it involves the appointment of contractors without going through the proper process. No action was taken against those responsible for changing the minutes although it was brought to the attention of the management."
These are some of the startling revelations made by the auditors. The report is a catalogue of shame and it exposes the looting of people’s money carried by a few officials using tourism as a front. It outlines the methodologies used to fraudulently siphon public money into the pockets of individuals. Besides, it highlights payment of monies to people without going through the proper checks. The sad part is that some of these monies cannot be re-couped – some of the recipients are either bankrupt or have been blacklisted by Bank Negara.
No one will disagree with Azalina. She is doing the right thing by exposing the scam committed by people entrusted with public money. They should go to jail for cheating the people. But the inevitable question is: Will the law be allowed to take its course? For that to happen, an official complaint must be made to the police, not the Anti-Corruption Agency because there are no elements of graft – they are simple cases of fraud. But even if a police report is made, will action be taken or will these perpetrators and cheats have some "godfathers" protecting them.
R. Nadeswaran believes that there’s nothing for thieves of public money to mitigate. They should end up in the slammer for perpetrating fraud on the people of Malaysia. He can be reached at: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com
EVERY right-thinking Malaysian should applaud Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman. She has come out in the open and exposed the wrongdoings of people under her purview. She offers no protection for the wrongdoers. On the contrary, she has warned of serious consequences. She has asked the state-owned Pempena Sdn Bhd and its subsidiaries to assess their operations and consider if they should continue.
The minister’s outburst is understandable. Some of these companies operated as if there were no norms or rules to govern them. Some of the people running them considered the companies to be their own fiefdoms and their private bank, drawing monies through dubious means.
They ventured in businesses and deals that were sure losers from the start. Why in the world would a government-owned company get involved in businesses in which it neither has the expertise nor the experience?
Were feasibility studies done before millions of taxpayers’ money was pumped in? Did those who made the decisions ask themselves: Why do we want to get into such businesses when our core business is promoting tourism? Azalina was quoted by the NST as saying: "If they have cheated the government in any way, they will be severely dealt with." This can be no further than the truth. Two audit reports – one done internally and another by PriceWaterhouseCoopers – have revealed the intrigues, the manipulation of funds, fraud, deception and above all, a lack of common sense which a reasonable person is expected to do when he is entrusted with public money.
Instead of acting as people with business acumen, they acted as godfathers and Santa Clauses, dishing out money from a bottomless pit. There were no due diligence tests with supposed partners; there were no checks on current market rates, but what is more damning is their failure to take action to recover monies which is rightfully theirs.
For example, Pempena advanced RM300,000 to one Umi Hafilda (does the name ring a bell?) for a Amir Diab Live in Kuala Lumpur concert. The report says that "Pempena did not even sight the contract between the parties before issuing the cheque" and as expected, the concert did not take place.
The first question to ask is: Why is Pempena paying show promoters? The second question is: How does a concert help promote tourism? Perhaps, they took a leaf out of the Sport Ministry which paid RM17 million for the Champions Youth Cup tournament to "promote tourism" last year. We’ll leave that to rest, at least for the moment.
Back to Umi Hafilda. When the concert did not materialise, she issued three cheques to Pempena – all of them bounced – there was no money in her account. What did Pempena do? Sat with arms folded because those in the know were aware that she was an undischarged bankrupt, one of the report states.
But that’s not all. As Azalina points out, RM11 million went into the taxi business and she also asks: "We need to find out where all the money that was invested went to. The company has failed to pay the hire purchase loan for the taxi instalments."
Absolutely right! For that kind of money, working at a conservative cost of RM100,000, there should be 111 taxis – bought outright without a loan, but records show that all of them were bought via hire purchase. So, where did the money go?
What stands in an empty lot somewhere in the Klang Valley are taxis – repossessed by the bank for not servicing the loan – ready to be auctioned. It’s a standing monument of shame that has been brought on by the companies’ own doing. In the first place, why should it go into the taxi business and compete with commercial operators? It can be understandable if it created a niche market but in this case, it was competing with individuals and companies who had both the know-how and the experience.
That’s not all. The report states that Pempena bought one million shares at RM1 each in a company called SD Corp Sdn Bhd, which had forecast a turnover of RM8 million and a profit of RM100,000 for the first year. But the company ran up a loss of RM2 million. To add insult to injury, Pempena paid RM2.1 million for the shares but the share certificates had yet to be delivered as of July 31.
But more shocking are the claims that minutes of meetings of the board of directors of Pempena had been changed by hidden hands. The internal audit confirms this by saying: "The amendments of the minutes are a serious offence as it involves the appointment of contractors without going through the proper process. No action was taken against those responsible for changing the minutes although it was brought to the attention of the management."
These are some of the startling revelations made by the auditors. The report is a catalogue of shame and it exposes the looting of people’s money carried by a few officials using tourism as a front. It outlines the methodologies used to fraudulently siphon public money into the pockets of individuals. Besides, it highlights payment of monies to people without going through the proper checks. The sad part is that some of these monies cannot be re-couped – some of the recipients are either bankrupt or have been blacklisted by Bank Negara.
No one will disagree with Azalina. She is doing the right thing by exposing the scam committed by people entrusted with public money. They should go to jail for cheating the people. But the inevitable question is: Will the law be allowed to take its course? For that to happen, an official complaint must be made to the police, not the Anti-Corruption Agency because there are no elements of graft – they are simple cases of fraud. But even if a police report is made, will action be taken or will these perpetrators and cheats have some "godfathers" protecting them.
R. Nadeswaran believes that there’s nothing for thieves of public money to mitigate. They should end up in the slammer for perpetrating fraud on the people of Malaysia. He can be reached at: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com
Friday, October 10, 2008
Azeez
'Tough nut' sets pace for Putera
By: (Fri, 24 Jun 2005)
WHEN UMNO president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched Putera Umno last Sunday (June 19) in Malacca, his message to the 20,000-odd youths who turned up was clear -- be good.
Addressing an audience that would include some future leaders of the country, the prime minister said youths should be guided in discipline and courtesy to be spirited, diligent and free from misdeeds and scandals. One man has been assigned the onerous task of fulfilling that agenda and changing the mindset of the Malay youth.
In an interview with theSun, Putera head Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, 38, speaks to R. Manirajan and outlines his plans to marshall the youths and to give them the right platform to move forward in nation-building.
Azeez believes he has the willpower to make it happen as he himself is a street fighter who knows what life is without education, living in a squatter area and not having proper nutrition. He describes himself as "brutal and a person with a laser mouth" but with a good heart.
theSun: What is Putera Umno all about?
Azeez: It's actually a feeder organisation for the Umno Youth movement and we are also the facilitator of development programmes for Malay youths. We are not a new wing in the party; more of a bureau in the movement. Our objective is to turn them into viable citizens relevant to the global economy and steer them to become towering Malay personalities.
Why is there a need for Putera Umno when there is already Umno Youth?
Our roles are different. Entry into Putera is only for those aged 18 to 25 years. The agenda underlining our existence lies in the main objective, which is to bring the right political awareness within Malaysia and perhaps South East Asia to Malay youths of this age group. Fostering political maturity is crucial to inculcating patriotism, nationalism and cooperation and to achieving sovereignty, economic development and equitable wealth-distribution. We also need to foster the attitude among Malay youths that voting is a duty that defines us as Malaysian citizens.
How will Putera go about achieving this agenda?
Through the progressive, conscientious and consistent formation and implementation of relevant and viable plans and programmes. We also need to produce a balanced individual in terms of education, language, social awareness, duty to country and relevant skills for living. In short, we need to give identity and substance to the concept of Islam Hadhari.
Have you set a time frame to achieve this, since you will only have three years before your term as exco member in Umno Youth expires?
I think with the limited time frame I have in office -- till 2008 -- and with the blessing of Pak Lah and (Umno Youth head Datuk Seri) Hishammuddin (Hussein), I will be able to achieve this as ... I am a street fighter, bulldozer and a go-getter.
We already have 107,032 members. I want to recruit 500,000 members by then and that's my wish. I can guarantee this and am very confident of recruiting at least 100,000 youths annually.
We have about 420,000 students who leave school every year after SPM and STPM. About 200,000 of them join local and international colleges and universities. The balance of 220,000 who might be working part-time and studying or have decided to join the workforce ... this is the group we are focussing on and I will be the discipline master.
We will tell them not to think that they are left out or have no platform. Some of these youths are smart but because they are poor, they have to work part-time to support their family and studies.
As you know, most university students are females and we don't want to see the males going to Pusat Serenti. Therefore, I want to win their hearts and turn them into good people.
I have very good support from Hishammuddin, his deputy and the party president and deputy president as well my fellow brothers in the youth exco.
What about university students?
We have to abide by the law governing universities and colleges as students are not allowed to join politics. Only with the permission of the university ... I think they can join.
We don't campaign in such places. Putera basically provides the avenue and platform for youths to interact and be involved in programmes initiated by us to be leaders of their own. People should not be afraid of us.
Our focus of recruitment covers all segments of Malay youths from rural areas, middle class, lower ... even from the upper class. We will go to nightclubs and discos to flush out all the potential guys who are wasting their precious times.
I came to know very recently of an upper class Malay father who has problematic children. When the father advised his kids, they turn around and told him "I am educated, papa ... I am a lawyer, a doctor and I know what I am doing and know how to take care of myself". He asked me when I was setting up Putera so he could get one of his children to join. So ... this is the kind of excitement that we have from people.
We want to provide the youths a channel ... a platform so they will be good youths and citizens to the nation and not get involved in undesirable activities. Therefore, I think parents will not be an obstacle to their children joining Putera.
We have been to 12 states to promote Putera and we have formed many small clubs, such as the motorcycle club. We have a major illegal motorbike racing problem in KL and Sabah. To solve this, we are discussing with police to close certain roads in the city on Friday or Saturday for the youths to race. If they can close the roads for pasar malam, I don't know why they can't do so for the youths.
But if youths want to participate, they will have to wear the proper gear and use motorcycles with licence and road tax. While we allow this, we will also hold campaigns against illegal racing by putting up posters of (accident) victims and testimonies of those who survived and their families. This will be part of our strategy to create awareness and to build the relation between youths and police.
You seem to have a big task ahead, especially in changing the mindset of the youths?
As I told you earlier ... I am a street fighter. I grew up in the squatter area of Kampung Medan, Petaling Jaya, and came up in life. I know how life is like being poor. I will use my experience in life, including receiving a Datukship at a very young age, to boost the spirit of the youths.
You know, I used to walk 16 to 20km to my primary, and later the Bukit Bintang secondary school, in Petaling Jaya. When I was in secondary school, at the age of 14, I did so well in my exams that the Lions Club bought me a bicycle. Today, being successful in life, I have donated about 3,000 bicycles around the country to poor youths who have to walk miles to school.
With my SPM education and experience in business, I did my Masters in Business Management and Administration in one of the universities in the United States. I really hope to inspire the youths by giving them the encouragement.
What is the level of political awareness among Malay youths in the country?
I would say it's very poor. Some of them don't even know their own wakil rakyat. They don't know Umno as a political party is here to fight for the Malays. All this, I suppose, happens because they are unaware of the platforms available to them. Some boys don't even go out of the house, some spend time in clubs, doing drugs and illegal racing. We have to understand them first before we can educate them.You cannot go and tell them what you want ... you have to ask them what they want.
So we are going to tell the youths to wake up ... "look you have to buck up, you might be the prime minister of this country one day or a mentri besar".
Our aim is to keep youths from drugs and other illegal activities. We have so many Malay youths with double degrees and who are professionals, but many of them are afraid to join Umno because they think it's an elite club. No ... we are not. This is the wrong mindset we want to set right.
Do you make it clear to all members you recruit that joining Umno and Putera is not for self-interest or a platform to become rich?
Yes, we tell them again and again not to be involved in politicking and money politics. I became the Umno Youth chief in Baling in 2004. To tell you the truth, I was an illiterate in politics at the start. My parents were from Baling, Kedah and I decided to do some charity work through the mosques there in the late 90s even though I was a PJ boy all the while.
Then, I was elected treasurer for Belia 4B in Kedah in 1998.
Slowly, I became involved in the Baling Umno Youth division, and now I am the division head there and national youth exco member and also the chairman for 4B in Baling. I rose fast in Umno Youth as I am result-oriented.
As you are aware, I am also the executive chairman of Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia, which is directly under the Prime Minister's Office.
Heading the Putera is another "delivery time" for me and I am sure I will succeed in this. I am here to serve and make the Malays towering personalities.
Apart from the motorcycle club, are there anything else that would attract youths to join Putera?
We have a special task force which will act like Rela officials during official functions. The other is the Disaster and Rescue Unit which will provide training in first-aid and others, so members can respond and help out during natural disasters, floods and fires.
Apart from that, we also have a Renjer Unit, which will be the eyes and ears for the police and other law enforcement agencies. We also aim to get closer to professionals. We will be arranging sessions with professionals from various fields to meet the youths to give them encouragement, including telling them the importance of having an education. So this bureau is like a fun-fun thing for youths to mingle but with a serious agenda.
You were a businessmen before. How did you get involved in politics?
I was successful in business first before I joined politics. I started in the car business with this company -- FD Auto -- in Kelana Jaya. The showroom is now the Giant hypermarket. I started at the age of 18, with a lot of ups and downs. After that, I bought the late Sultan of Selangor's company, Wilayah Arm, and through this company, I moved up and started providing assistance to the needy, especially orphans and the poor.
At that time, with my SPM qualification and my work experience, I decided to pursue a masters in business management and administration in the United States.
One day, a few religious leaders came to my house asking for help, saying their pondok school had been burnt down. I gave them RM500 and told then to leave their address and I would visit them soon. A week later, I went there and spent RM200,000 to rebuild the school, not knowing whether they were PAS people or otherwise.
At that time, I was very naive in politics ... my sincere belief then was that I am God's servant and I had to help people. I went to Baling to help as many people as I could, regardless whether they were PAS members or not. During that time, I did not realise there were some Umno members who were very uncomfortable with me in Baling.
I am a very straightforward person and this Umno leader there, Datuk Nol, did not tell me anything and when I wanted to be an Umno member in Baling at the initial stage, it was very tough.
Now, I am the division head for Ceruk Cincin, Baling and I am not sure what the situation is in Umno but many people are
saying all kinds of things about me, like ... there is a rich man with a luxury car, don't know whether he is a robber or a mamak gangster ..., and these people were spreading some form of fear.
But luckily, there were some grassroots members and village heads who really loved me.
A lot of questions have been raised on how you were elected to head Putera?
It all started at the Sungai Duyung mosque in Malacca after the handing-over of bicycles during the fasting month. Suddenly, Datuk Hishammuddin tapped me on the back and asked me, "I want to ask you something, Zeez."
I asked him what it was, and he again asked: "You want to head Putera Umno?"
I said, "Putera! ..."
Hishammuddin said, "Only you can ... you can go to the ground and join the youths."
I said, "Ok boss ..."
He then said, "Thank God ... my problem is solved."
With this, I started the task given to me immediately and discussed the plans with Hishammuddin.
I am also known to be brutal, with a laser mouth ... but I don't have any bad intention, everything I do is for everyone's good. If my good friend makes a mistake, I will caution him.
I have started my work and till today, I have not met a minister or anyone to ask for projects here and there.
God has given me enough.
--- end ---
By: (Fri, 24 Jun 2005)
WHEN UMNO president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched Putera Umno last Sunday (June 19) in Malacca, his message to the 20,000-odd youths who turned up was clear -- be good.
Addressing an audience that would include some future leaders of the country, the prime minister said youths should be guided in discipline and courtesy to be spirited, diligent and free from misdeeds and scandals. One man has been assigned the onerous task of fulfilling that agenda and changing the mindset of the Malay youth.
In an interview with theSun, Putera head Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, 38, speaks to R. Manirajan and outlines his plans to marshall the youths and to give them the right platform to move forward in nation-building.
Azeez believes he has the willpower to make it happen as he himself is a street fighter who knows what life is without education, living in a squatter area and not having proper nutrition. He describes himself as "brutal and a person with a laser mouth" but with a good heart.
theSun: What is Putera Umno all about?
Azeez: It's actually a feeder organisation for the Umno Youth movement and we are also the facilitator of development programmes for Malay youths. We are not a new wing in the party; more of a bureau in the movement. Our objective is to turn them into viable citizens relevant to the global economy and steer them to become towering Malay personalities.
Why is there a need for Putera Umno when there is already Umno Youth?
Our roles are different. Entry into Putera is only for those aged 18 to 25 years. The agenda underlining our existence lies in the main objective, which is to bring the right political awareness within Malaysia and perhaps South East Asia to Malay youths of this age group. Fostering political maturity is crucial to inculcating patriotism, nationalism and cooperation and to achieving sovereignty, economic development and equitable wealth-distribution. We also need to foster the attitude among Malay youths that voting is a duty that defines us as Malaysian citizens.
How will Putera go about achieving this agenda?
Through the progressive, conscientious and consistent formation and implementation of relevant and viable plans and programmes. We also need to produce a balanced individual in terms of education, language, social awareness, duty to country and relevant skills for living. In short, we need to give identity and substance to the concept of Islam Hadhari.
Have you set a time frame to achieve this, since you will only have three years before your term as exco member in Umno Youth expires?
I think with the limited time frame I have in office -- till 2008 -- and with the blessing of Pak Lah and (Umno Youth head Datuk Seri) Hishammuddin (Hussein), I will be able to achieve this as ... I am a street fighter, bulldozer and a go-getter.
We already have 107,032 members. I want to recruit 500,000 members by then and that's my wish. I can guarantee this and am very confident of recruiting at least 100,000 youths annually.
We have about 420,000 students who leave school every year after SPM and STPM. About 200,000 of them join local and international colleges and universities. The balance of 220,000 who might be working part-time and studying or have decided to join the workforce ... this is the group we are focussing on and I will be the discipline master.
We will tell them not to think that they are left out or have no platform. Some of these youths are smart but because they are poor, they have to work part-time to support their family and studies.
As you know, most university students are females and we don't want to see the males going to Pusat Serenti. Therefore, I want to win their hearts and turn them into good people.
I have very good support from Hishammuddin, his deputy and the party president and deputy president as well my fellow brothers in the youth exco.
What about university students?
We have to abide by the law governing universities and colleges as students are not allowed to join politics. Only with the permission of the university ... I think they can join.
We don't campaign in such places. Putera basically provides the avenue and platform for youths to interact and be involved in programmes initiated by us to be leaders of their own. People should not be afraid of us.
Our focus of recruitment covers all segments of Malay youths from rural areas, middle class, lower ... even from the upper class. We will go to nightclubs and discos to flush out all the potential guys who are wasting their precious times.
I came to know very recently of an upper class Malay father who has problematic children. When the father advised his kids, they turn around and told him "I am educated, papa ... I am a lawyer, a doctor and I know what I am doing and know how to take care of myself". He asked me when I was setting up Putera so he could get one of his children to join. So ... this is the kind of excitement that we have from people.
We want to provide the youths a channel ... a platform so they will be good youths and citizens to the nation and not get involved in undesirable activities. Therefore, I think parents will not be an obstacle to their children joining Putera.
We have been to 12 states to promote Putera and we have formed many small clubs, such as the motorcycle club. We have a major illegal motorbike racing problem in KL and Sabah. To solve this, we are discussing with police to close certain roads in the city on Friday or Saturday for the youths to race. If they can close the roads for pasar malam, I don't know why they can't do so for the youths.
But if youths want to participate, they will have to wear the proper gear and use motorcycles with licence and road tax. While we allow this, we will also hold campaigns against illegal racing by putting up posters of (accident) victims and testimonies of those who survived and their families. This will be part of our strategy to create awareness and to build the relation between youths and police.
You seem to have a big task ahead, especially in changing the mindset of the youths?
As I told you earlier ... I am a street fighter. I grew up in the squatter area of Kampung Medan, Petaling Jaya, and came up in life. I know how life is like being poor. I will use my experience in life, including receiving a Datukship at a very young age, to boost the spirit of the youths.
You know, I used to walk 16 to 20km to my primary, and later the Bukit Bintang secondary school, in Petaling Jaya. When I was in secondary school, at the age of 14, I did so well in my exams that the Lions Club bought me a bicycle. Today, being successful in life, I have donated about 3,000 bicycles around the country to poor youths who have to walk miles to school.
With my SPM education and experience in business, I did my Masters in Business Management and Administration in one of the universities in the United States. I really hope to inspire the youths by giving them the encouragement.
What is the level of political awareness among Malay youths in the country?
I would say it's very poor. Some of them don't even know their own wakil rakyat. They don't know Umno as a political party is here to fight for the Malays. All this, I suppose, happens because they are unaware of the platforms available to them. Some boys don't even go out of the house, some spend time in clubs, doing drugs and illegal racing. We have to understand them first before we can educate them.You cannot go and tell them what you want ... you have to ask them what they want.
So we are going to tell the youths to wake up ... "look you have to buck up, you might be the prime minister of this country one day or a mentri besar".
Our aim is to keep youths from drugs and other illegal activities. We have so many Malay youths with double degrees and who are professionals, but many of them are afraid to join Umno because they think it's an elite club. No ... we are not. This is the wrong mindset we want to set right.
Do you make it clear to all members you recruit that joining Umno and Putera is not for self-interest or a platform to become rich?
Yes, we tell them again and again not to be involved in politicking and money politics. I became the Umno Youth chief in Baling in 2004. To tell you the truth, I was an illiterate in politics at the start. My parents were from Baling, Kedah and I decided to do some charity work through the mosques there in the late 90s even though I was a PJ boy all the while.
Then, I was elected treasurer for Belia 4B in Kedah in 1998.
Slowly, I became involved in the Baling Umno Youth division, and now I am the division head there and national youth exco member and also the chairman for 4B in Baling. I rose fast in Umno Youth as I am result-oriented.
As you are aware, I am also the executive chairman of Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia, which is directly under the Prime Minister's Office.
Heading the Putera is another "delivery time" for me and I am sure I will succeed in this. I am here to serve and make the Malays towering personalities.
Apart from the motorcycle club, are there anything else that would attract youths to join Putera?
We have a special task force which will act like Rela officials during official functions. The other is the Disaster and Rescue Unit which will provide training in first-aid and others, so members can respond and help out during natural disasters, floods and fires.
Apart from that, we also have a Renjer Unit, which will be the eyes and ears for the police and other law enforcement agencies. We also aim to get closer to professionals. We will be arranging sessions with professionals from various fields to meet the youths to give them encouragement, including telling them the importance of having an education. So this bureau is like a fun-fun thing for youths to mingle but with a serious agenda.
You were a businessmen before. How did you get involved in politics?
I was successful in business first before I joined politics. I started in the car business with this company -- FD Auto -- in Kelana Jaya. The showroom is now the Giant hypermarket. I started at the age of 18, with a lot of ups and downs. After that, I bought the late Sultan of Selangor's company, Wilayah Arm, and through this company, I moved up and started providing assistance to the needy, especially orphans and the poor.
At that time, with my SPM qualification and my work experience, I decided to pursue a masters in business management and administration in the United States.
One day, a few religious leaders came to my house asking for help, saying their pondok school had been burnt down. I gave them RM500 and told then to leave their address and I would visit them soon. A week later, I went there and spent RM200,000 to rebuild the school, not knowing whether they were PAS people or otherwise.
At that time, I was very naive in politics ... my sincere belief then was that I am God's servant and I had to help people. I went to Baling to help as many people as I could, regardless whether they were PAS members or not. During that time, I did not realise there were some Umno members who were very uncomfortable with me in Baling.
I am a very straightforward person and this Umno leader there, Datuk Nol, did not tell me anything and when I wanted to be an Umno member in Baling at the initial stage, it was very tough.
Now, I am the division head for Ceruk Cincin, Baling and I am not sure what the situation is in Umno but many people are
saying all kinds of things about me, like ... there is a rich man with a luxury car, don't know whether he is a robber or a mamak gangster ..., and these people were spreading some form of fear.
But luckily, there were some grassroots members and village heads who really loved me.
A lot of questions have been raised on how you were elected to head Putera?
It all started at the Sungai Duyung mosque in Malacca after the handing-over of bicycles during the fasting month. Suddenly, Datuk Hishammuddin tapped me on the back and asked me, "I want to ask you something, Zeez."
I asked him what it was, and he again asked: "You want to head Putera Umno?"
I said, "Putera! ..."
Hishammuddin said, "Only you can ... you can go to the ground and join the youths."
I said, "Ok boss ..."
He then said, "Thank God ... my problem is solved."
With this, I started the task given to me immediately and discussed the plans with Hishammuddin.
I am also known to be brutal, with a laser mouth ... but I don't have any bad intention, everything I do is for everyone's good. If my good friend makes a mistake, I will caution him.
I have started my work and till today, I have not met a minister or anyone to ask for projects here and there.
God has given me enough.
--- end ---
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
41 BN backbenchers head for Taiwan
09-09-2008: 41 BN backbenchers head for Taiwan
By Pauline Puah
SEPANG: Forty-one Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers left for Taiwan yesterday on a agriculture and industrial technology study trip, while another eight are expected to join them today.
The group led by BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin departed from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here on two flights at 1.45pm and 2.20pm.
Bung Mokhtar, who is Kinabatangan member of parliament (MP), said out of the 41 MPs, nine were from Sabah, 10 from Sarawak and the other 22 from the peninsula. He said another eight BN backbenchers led by BNBBC chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing would leave for Taiwan today.
Bung Mokhtar (seated, centre) checking the names of BN MPs at the KLIA yesterday before 41 of them departed for Taiwan on a study trip. Photo by Suhaimi Yusuf
Bung Mokhtar reiterated that the trip had nothing to do with the opposition front’s claim that it already had a sufficient number of BN MPs to cross over on Sept 16 to form a new government.
He said the 10-day self-sponsored trip, which includes visiting three factories in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, was planned three months ago but only confirmed two days back.
Interestingly, the backbenchers when met in the airport, appeared in the dark about their itinerary. Some of them also did not know when exactly they would be retuning to Malaysia.
However, they also brushed aside speculation that the trip was prompted by the Sept 16 crossover deadline mooted by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The question of crossing over does not arise. If one wants to cross over, even if we are there, we can still cross over. Anwar is dreaming that we will be crossing over,” said Batu Pahat Umno MP Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
He said the backbenchers would take this opportunity to discuss strategies which they could use when the Dewan Rakyat reconvened on Oct 13. Dewan Rakyat has been adjourned for the fasting month and Hari Raya.
Other MPs spotted at the airport included Datuk Ismail Kassim (Arau-Umno), Datuk Abu Bakar Taib (Langkawi-Umno), Datuk Lee Chee Leong (Kampar-MCA), Chua Tee Yong (Labis-MCA), Liang Teck Meng (Simpang Renggam-Gerakan), Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique (Tenggara-Umno), Tan Ah Eng (Gelang Patah-MCA), Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (Putatan-Upko), Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah (Batu Sapi-PBS) and Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong-PBB).
--- end ---
By Pauline Puah
SEPANG: Forty-one Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers left for Taiwan yesterday on a agriculture and industrial technology study trip, while another eight are expected to join them today.
The group led by BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin departed from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here on two flights at 1.45pm and 2.20pm.
Bung Mokhtar, who is Kinabatangan member of parliament (MP), said out of the 41 MPs, nine were from Sabah, 10 from Sarawak and the other 22 from the peninsula. He said another eight BN backbenchers led by BNBBC chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing would leave for Taiwan today.
Bung Mokhtar (seated, centre) checking the names of BN MPs at the KLIA yesterday before 41 of them departed for Taiwan on a study trip. Photo by Suhaimi Yusuf
Bung Mokhtar reiterated that the trip had nothing to do with the opposition front’s claim that it already had a sufficient number of BN MPs to cross over on Sept 16 to form a new government.
He said the 10-day self-sponsored trip, which includes visiting three factories in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, was planned three months ago but only confirmed two days back.
Interestingly, the backbenchers when met in the airport, appeared in the dark about their itinerary. Some of them also did not know when exactly they would be retuning to Malaysia.
However, they also brushed aside speculation that the trip was prompted by the Sept 16 crossover deadline mooted by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The question of crossing over does not arise. If one wants to cross over, even if we are there, we can still cross over. Anwar is dreaming that we will be crossing over,” said Batu Pahat Umno MP Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
He said the backbenchers would take this opportunity to discuss strategies which they could use when the Dewan Rakyat reconvened on Oct 13. Dewan Rakyat has been adjourned for the fasting month and Hari Raya.
Other MPs spotted at the airport included Datuk Ismail Kassim (Arau-Umno), Datuk Abu Bakar Taib (Langkawi-Umno), Datuk Lee Chee Leong (Kampar-MCA), Chua Tee Yong (Labis-MCA), Liang Teck Meng (Simpang Renggam-Gerakan), Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique (Tenggara-Umno), Tan Ah Eng (Gelang Patah-MCA), Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (Putatan-Upko), Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah (Batu Sapi-PBS) and Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong-PBB).
--- end ---
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
WTF??? DNA too OLD??? Pak Lah R U DUMB?
Friday, July 18, 2008
WTF??? DNA too OLD??? Pak Lah R U DUMB?
WTF? WTF? WTF?
According to Malaysiakini, Existing DNA sample too old, says PM - http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86391
The authorities require a fresh DNA sample from Anwar Ibrahim because the sample extracted 10 years ago is too old, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.
How can a DNA be too old? I guess all of us watched CSI before. Even if a body has rotten and left with only bones. We can still identify a person with its DNA or you can even just grab a single hair from a person to get its DNA.
How can a DNA be too old? What kind of lame reason is this? The Government can say that we have already reach out to space but yet our Government can make such an idiotic statement.
Can we just absorb and believe such statement made by our Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi? I think he made this statement because he hear someone in the cabinet saying that DNA has an expiry date or something...Well Pak Lah is not a scientist and never studies DNA before but to make such statement, this is gonna be another laughing stock to the whole world...
WTF??? DNA too OLD??? Pak Lah R U DUMB?
WTF? WTF? WTF?
According to Malaysiakini, Existing DNA sample too old, says PM - http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86391
The authorities require a fresh DNA sample from Anwar Ibrahim because the sample extracted 10 years ago is too old, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.
How can a DNA be too old? I guess all of us watched CSI before. Even if a body has rotten and left with only bones. We can still identify a person with its DNA or you can even just grab a single hair from a person to get its DNA.
How can a DNA be too old? What kind of lame reason is this? The Government can say that we have already reach out to space but yet our Government can make such an idiotic statement.
Can we just absorb and believe such statement made by our Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi? I think he made this statement because he hear someone in the cabinet saying that DNA has an expiry date or something...Well Pak Lah is not a scientist and never studies DNA before but to make such statement, this is gonna be another laughing stock to the whole world...
Bung Mokhtar Radin
DAILY EXPRESS NEWS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lewd gesture?
11 July, 2008
KINABATANGAN MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin shows the hand gesture in Parliament on Tuesday that landed him in the latest controversy.
He said that he merely slapped the back of his hand with the palm of the other.
The issue was again raised in Parliament, yesterday.
He gave the demonstration when asked about the "lewd gesture" he was seen making in the the Dewan Rakyat during a verbal spat with the opposition MPs, with each calling the other "bodoh" (stupid).
Viewers who saw the live telecast on RTM1 called up their MPs to complain.
Bung, who is no stranger to controversy, admitted he was roused to anger by the opposition camp, but denied he made a lewd gesture.
Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng said she did not notice the gesture in the Dewan but said she received a few calls from her constituents asking her why an MP who is BN Backbenchers Club Deputy Chairman, had behaved in such a manner.
Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjung) had earlier said that Bung did not know how to count as there were more opposition MPs than BN backbenchers in the Dewan at that time. This was following a protest by Bung over the mileage being given to the opposition as responses to their questions were being aired live over RTM.
Asked what he meant with his gesture, Bung Mokhtar said: "I was angry with him, I make like that (hand gesture again). He called me bodoh, I say you bodoh too."
When told that a lot of people who watched the incident on live television saw it as a lewd gesture, he said: "No, I don't know what is their interpretation but it was nothing for me."
The incident prompted Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to say that even with years of university education, the MPs still could not follow decorum.
"I have been around for a long time and see the culture changes, and we seem to be moving backwards. I wonder how we can achieve first world Parliament status this way," he added.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lewd gesture?
11 July, 2008
KINABATANGAN MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin shows the hand gesture in Parliament on Tuesday that landed him in the latest controversy.
He said that he merely slapped the back of his hand with the palm of the other.
The issue was again raised in Parliament, yesterday.
He gave the demonstration when asked about the "lewd gesture" he was seen making in the the Dewan Rakyat during a verbal spat with the opposition MPs, with each calling the other "bodoh" (stupid).
Viewers who saw the live telecast on RTM1 called up their MPs to complain.
Bung, who is no stranger to controversy, admitted he was roused to anger by the opposition camp, but denied he made a lewd gesture.
Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng said she did not notice the gesture in the Dewan but said she received a few calls from her constituents asking her why an MP who is BN Backbenchers Club Deputy Chairman, had behaved in such a manner.
Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjung) had earlier said that Bung did not know how to count as there were more opposition MPs than BN backbenchers in the Dewan at that time. This was following a protest by Bung over the mileage being given to the opposition as responses to their questions were being aired live over RTM.
Asked what he meant with his gesture, Bung Mokhtar said: "I was angry with him, I make like that (hand gesture again). He called me bodoh, I say you bodoh too."
When told that a lot of people who watched the incident on live television saw it as a lewd gesture, he said: "No, I don't know what is their interpretation but it was nothing for me."
The incident prompted Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to say that even with years of university education, the MPs still could not follow decorum.
"I have been around for a long time and see the culture changes, and we seem to be moving backwards. I wonder how we can achieve first world Parliament status this way," he added.
Friday, June 13, 2008
People fed up with Pakatan Rakyat, says Mat Taib
People fed up with Pakatan Rakyat, says Mat Taib
Posted by Super Admin
Friday, 13 June 2008
(The Star) - The opposition-ruled states of Perak and Selangor are wasting their time “digging” for flaws in the previous Barisan Nasional administration rather then concentrating on moving forward.
Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said the people were getting fed up with their attitude as they are not governing the states.
“For example, in Selangor, they are digging into developers’ permits. This will stall the projects, causing suffering to some 12,000 house buyers,” said Muhammad, who is the Rural and Regional Development Minister, after meeting Sabah's elected leaders.
He said he was confident that the Barisan would take back the opposition states as the rakyat regretted electing a party that had shown nothing in its 100 days in power.
“Barisan had its flaws but we worked for the benefit of the rakyat. What has opposition Pakatan Rakyat done so far?” he added.
Asked about claims on the Internet that Umno supreme council members were divided over the succession plan in the party at the Shah Alam retreat, he said the matter had been left to Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said the June 5 retreat was good and they would be coming out with a strategic plan for revitalising the party.
Posted by Super Admin
Friday, 13 June 2008
(The Star) - The opposition-ruled states of Perak and Selangor are wasting their time “digging” for flaws in the previous Barisan Nasional administration rather then concentrating on moving forward.
Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said the people were getting fed up with their attitude as they are not governing the states.
“For example, in Selangor, they are digging into developers’ permits. This will stall the projects, causing suffering to some 12,000 house buyers,” said Muhammad, who is the Rural and Regional Development Minister, after meeting Sabah's elected leaders.
He said he was confident that the Barisan would take back the opposition states as the rakyat regretted electing a party that had shown nothing in its 100 days in power.
“Barisan had its flaws but we worked for the benefit of the rakyat. What has opposition Pakatan Rakyat done so far?” he added.
Asked about claims on the Internet that Umno supreme council members were divided over the succession plan in the party at the Shah Alam retreat, he said the matter had been left to Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said the June 5 retreat was good and they would be coming out with a strategic plan for revitalising the party.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
JKKK diarah sabotaj S'gor, kata PKR
JKKK diarah sabotaj S'gor, kata PKR
Jimadie Shah Othman Jun 5, 08 1:57pm
Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib didakwa mengarahkan sekumpulan ketua kampung dan ahli Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK) di Selangor "mengacau" pentadbiran kerajaan negeri.
Senator itu, yang juga ketua penerangan Umno, didakwa mengadakan sebuah pertemuan dengan kumpulan ini di sebuah hotel di Shah Alam tidak lama selepas dilantik sebagai menteri kemajuan luar bandar dan wilayah pada Mac lalu.
Dalam pertemuan itu, beliau menggariskan beberapa langkah yang perlu dilakukan oleh ketua kampung dan ahli JKKK untuk mengganggu kerajaan negeri yang kini ditadbir Pakatan Rakyat, kata satu sumber PKR kepada Malaysiakini hari ini."
Muhammad berkata, (dalam pertemuan itu) jangan terima arahan daripada setiausaha kerajaan dan pegawai daerah.
"Jangan letak jawatan. Dapat elaun, (tetapi) buat bodoh saja.
Kalau (kerajaan) negeri tidak bagi duit, (kerajaan) pusat akan bagi," kata sumber itu, dengan mendakwa maklumat didedahkan kepadanya oleh seorang penghulu yang hadir.
Kelmarin, Muhammad memberitahu Dewan Negara bahawa kerajaan persekutuan terpaksa mengadakan Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung Persekutuan (JKKKP) di empat negeri Pakatan "bagi memastikan keberkesanan pelaksanaan projek-projek pembangunan kerajaan persekutuan di peringkat kampung."
Beliau juga mendakwa empat negeri yang dikuasai Pakatan sejak pilihanraya Mac lepas "bertindak agresif" dengan menukar pegawai dan menghalau agensi kerajaan keluar dari bangunan yang ditadbir mereka.
Menurut sumber itu lagi, Muhammad juga merancang membuat penyelarasan pengurusan JKKK di peringkat persekutuan dengan mewujudkan jawatan baru – penyelaras daerah di negeri-negeri Pakatan." Pusat akan melantik penyelaras daerah di negeri-negeri pembangkang, di bawah kementerian beliaulah," kata sumber.
Ditanya tujuan jawatan itu diwujudkan, sumber itu berkata: "mungkin untuk menyelaraskan dana daripada pusat kepada JKKK."
Muhammad, yang juga ketua perhubungan Umno Selangor, turut meminta ahli JKKK "mengacau" setiausaha politik kepada menteri besar negeri itu Nik Nazmi Nik Nik Ahmad, tambah sumber.
"Kacau Nik Nazmi.
Dia (masih) bujang, muda dan dia setiausaha politik Tan Sri Khalid (Ibrahim)," katanya, yang juga seorang pembantu wakil rakyat PKR.
"Tidak tahulah kacau macam mana, … tidak tahulah, tetapi beliau sebut bujang, muda, setiausaha politik Tan Sri Khalid," kata sumber.
(Nik Nazmi, juga ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Seri Setia, telah berkahwin selama lebih dua tahun.
Isterinya dilaporkan sedang menuntut dalam bidang perubatan di Universiti Newcastle dan dijangka pulang bulan depan.)
Merampas kembali Selangor
Menteri itu didakwa meminta semua ahli JKKK bekerja untuk mengambil semula Selangor yang kini jatuh kepada Pakatan.
"Muhammad membuat kesimpulan bahawa semua JKKK mesti bekerja keras merampas kembali Selangor daripada Pakatan," kata sumber.
Muhammad juga didakwa berkata Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tidak seharusnya dibiarkan menjadi perdana menteri kerana ketua umum PKR itu "mahu menjual negara".
"Muhammad juga berkata, jangan bagi Anwar perintah (Malaysia) sebab Anwar mahu menjual negara. Sebab itu dulu (Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) pecatnya.
"Beliau sebut, contohnya, macam (ketika krisis kewangan 1997) Anwar nak IMF (Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa)," kata sumber.Pemimpin Umno itu juga menuduh PKR berfahaman sosialis dan tidak memperjuangkan Melayu seperti Umno.
"PKR parti sosialis, sebab itu bergabung dengan Parti Rakyat (Malaysia). PKR bukan parti nasionalis macam Umno," kata sumber, yang mendakwa maklumat dalam taklimat itu diberikan kepadanya sehari selepas pertemuan tersebut.
Semalam, Khalid menyatakan Selangor bersedia melantik ketua kampung dan JKKK, termasuk anggota Umno, jika mereka sanggup berkhidmat kepada masyarakat tanpa mengira fahaman politik.
"Pada pandangan kerajaan negeri, ketua kampung sepatutnya mesti menjadi ketua kampung untuk semua masyarakat di kampung tanpa kira fahaman politik.
"Pada saya kalau orang itu sanggup kerja untuk semua masyarakat, ia memenuhi kriteria yang kita perlukan," beliau dipetik sebagai berkata, sambil menambah kriteria itu akan dijadikan kayu ukur oleh pegawai daerah yang mencadangkan calon-calon yang layak mengisi jawatan tersebut.
Khalid turut menafikan dakwaan Muhammad bahawa kerajaan Selangor "bersikap agresif" apabila menghalau keluar operasi sebuah stesen radio dari bangunan setiausaha kerajaan negeri itu.
"Kami tidak halau tetapi mereka yang merajuk. 
Saya cakap kalau kita tak boleh guna Radio Selangor untuk beri penerangan tentang pembangunan di negeri ini, jadi buat apalah mereka dipanggil FM Selangor," katanya.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Pengakuan Ezam Mohd Nor
Pengakuan Ezam Mohd Nor
Jun 1, 08 11:25am
Jun 1, 08 11:25am
Dalam wawancara selama hampir dua jam dengan Malaysiakini semalam, antara soalan utama yang dikemukakan kepada bekas ketua Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK), Ezam Mohd Nor ialah kisah sebenar yang membawa beliau kembali semula ke pangkuan Umno.
Untuk berkongsi sepenuhnya dengan para pembaca, di bawah ini kita siarkan jawapan Ezam penuh terhadap soalan tersebut.
Saya berterima kasih pada soalan tersebut, sebab itu soalan penting kerana ada perbezaan yang besar di antara cakap-cakap dan pertemuan-pertemuan saya dengan pemimpin Umno sebelum pilihanraya baru-baru ini, pilihanraya 2004 dan sebelum itu, dengan keputusan saya kali ini.
Saya mengakui dalam 2004 khususnya, ialah kita bermula dengan 1999 lagi, setelah saya ditahan di bawah ISA dan semasa saya di Kamunting, tidak ada usaha untuk menarik saya balik ke Umno, tiada ada usaha yang bersungguh-sungguh. Tetapi selepas itu dipisahkan dengan rakan-rakan di penjara Kajang dan sendirian, masa itu ada usaha untuk cuba mengajak saya untuk meninggalkan perjuangan PKR, memimpin Pemuda PKR untuk masuk Umno.
Saya tolak masa itu kerana prinsip saya, saya tidak akan deal (berbincang) dan bertolak ansur dalam keadaan saya dalam penjara. Bagi saya, apapun, kena keluar saya (dari penjara).
Saya bebas dalam 2003, dan selepas itu Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menjadi menteri. Beliau berbeza dengan (Tun) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad). Kalau Dr Mahathir, approach (pendekatannya) adalah menekan. Lagi kuat anda lawan, lagi kuat dia tekan, masukkan dalam penjara. Tapi pendekatan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menarik. Sebab itu apabila pilihanraya 2004 ada usaha untuk menarik saya dan rakan-rakan lain untuk kembali ke Umno.
Dan usaha tersebut, saya lihat satu peluang pada masa itu, untuk deal (berbincang) untuk mendapatkan kebebasan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, sekurang-kurangnya membebaskan beliau untuk mendapatkan rawatan. Kalau tak bebas sepenuhnya pun tetapi untuk mendapatkan rawatan. Pada masa itu, keadaan Datuk Seri Anwar adalah kritial. Setelah bincang dengan beberapa teman-teman senior dan kawan-kawan lama Anwar sendiri, yang non-partisan dan sebagainya, maka mereka merasakan keutamaan harus untuk menyelamatkan Anwar Ibrahim.
Sebab itu kita melangkah untuk membuat keputusan untuk memulakan perbincangan dengan pemimpin Umno. Antara pemimpin tertinggi yang kita temui termasuk Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, Datuk Aziz Shamsuddin - antara pemimpin besar Umno. Dan semua ini saya lakukan dalam pengetahuan Datuk Seri Anwar.
Dalam pertemuan kedua bersama Datuk Sri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, Datuk Seri Anwar sendiri yang minta supaya saya membawa bersama dua pemimpin PKR untuk berbincang - Mereka adalah Datuk Kamarul Bahrin dan seorang lagi Hajah Rahmah Othman. Kita berempat, seorang lagi Johari Abdul. Kita berempat berjumpa dengan Datuk seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo dan saya yang mengetuai perbincangan tersebut. Ini atas keputusan Datuk Seri Anwar. Kata OK macam mana, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo nak berbincang - 2004 sebelum pilihanraya umum - Anwar kata Ok tapi bawa tiga orang, biar ada saksi. Nanti orang kata apa-apa (pula) kat you.
Memang saya yang deal, sepatutnya, Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob, ketika itu setiausaha agung (Umno) hadir (sama) dalam pertemuan yang kedua itu tapi tak hadir, jadi Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo sahaja, di rumah Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo. Jadi, line (hujah) saya ialah sebarang deal atau usaha untuk bincang mestilah dimulakan dengan membebaskan Datuk Seri Anwar. Itu saya firm (tegas), mesti dimulakan dengan membebaskan Anwar Ibrahim, sekurang-kurangnya untuk mendapatkan rawatan. Dan saudara boleh tanya Datuk Kamarul, Johari Abdul dan Rahmah Othman. Saya sengaja sebut nama kerana semua ini saksi.
Apabila Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo tidak boleh komit yang itu, kita back out. Dia kata you masuk (Umno) dulu dan (kemudian) bincang tentang Anwar. Tapi you kena masuk dulu, you kena bertanding... saya kata no,no, kita tolak kerana tidak minat dengan apa yang kami akan dapat. Fokus kita adalah jelas.
Lepas itu berjumpa dengan Datuk Aziz Samsuddin, bersama dengan sebelas atau dua belas kawan-kawan, Ruslan Kassim dan teman-teman lain. Begitu juga. Dia cakap-cakap, akhirnya dia minta kita masuk (Umno) tapi saya kata apa pun sama juga, mesti bebaskan Datuk Seri Anwar. Jadi (bila) dia tidak boleh komit, saya keluar. Saya tamatkan di situ.Selepas saya tamatkan, kawan-kawan teruskan dan sebab tu mereka masuk (umno) sebelum pilihanraya. Bagi saya itu keputusan masing-masing dan saya faham ketika itu mereka sudah dalam keadaan susah, tertekan dan sebagainya, masalah kewangan, peribadi dan sebagainya. Mungkin mereka perlukan wang dan saya tidak dapat halang sebab saya pun dalam keadaan yang tidak senang. Kita dah berjuang lama, ini saya faham. Sebab itu saya masih berkawan dengan mereka hingga hari ini. Bagi saya itu bukanlan an act of betrayal (berpaling tadah) walaupun saya tidak bersama (mereka) sebab saya punyai bottom line iaitu bebaskan Datuk Seri Anwar. Selain dari itu, saya tidak akan terima.
Selepas pilihanraya, keadaan Datuk Seri Anwar semakin teruk. Semakin kritikal selepas pilihanraya (di mana) Barisan Nasional (BN) menang besar. Datin Seri Wan Azizah jumpa saya minta supaya diusahakan untuk rawatan. Buka pintu balik (perbincangan), bukan untuk bertanding atau bukan untuk masuk Umno tetapi untuk Datuk Seri Anwar. Kita cuba pelbagai-bagai. Saya jumpa sendiri Datin Paduka Rahmah Othman yang baik dengan Abdullah sebab dia Team B dulu, tapi simpati dengan kita. Saya jumpa dia, kita hantar rombongan jumpa mufti-mufti, kita jumpa beberapal lagi pemimpin Umno yang lain yang dekat dengan perdana menteri.
Tetapi mesej tak sampai, hinggalah satu hari, seorang wartawan asing memberitahu saya, jika hendak (mesej) sampai kepada PM, dapatkan (bantuan) Khairy (Jamaluddin). Saya jumpa Datin Seri Wan Azizah dan tanya macam mana. Ini pandangan mereka, mungkin kita boleh cuba. Saya tidak kenal Khairy. Ini penting untuk rekod, sebab (ada) tuduhan (yang mengaitkan) saya dengan Khairy. Ini kisah benar. Saya tidak kenal Khairy tapi ada cadangan untuk saya cari Khairy sebab dia dapat sampaikan mesej dengan cepat kepada perdana menteri. Sejurus selepas pilihanraya, dekat-dekat dengan tarikh Anwar bebas, September 2004, jadi mungkin Mei atau Jun.
Saya cari Khairy melalui kontak di London, melalui kawan-kawan, akhirnya saya dapat jumpa Khairy. Di situlah bermulanya hubungan saya dengan Khairy. Masa itu dia belum (jadi) naib ketua pemuda. Dan saya bagi tahu dia kebimbangan kita tentang keadaan kesihatan Datuk Seri Anwar dan mintalah sampai kepada perdana menteri. Selepas dua pertemuan, Khairy aturkan pertemuan antara Datuk Seri Abdullah dengan Datin Seri Wan Azizah di pejabat perdana menteri.
Saya hadir tapi saya tidak masuk ke dalam. Saya biar Datin Seri Wan Azizah berjumpa dengan Datuk Seri Abdullah. Saya tidak tahu secara terperinci (apa yang dibincangkan), tapi pada asasnya ialah untuk kesihatan, perubatan dan minta Anwar dikeluarkan dari penjara duduk di hospital, sebab (masa itu) dia berulang, kerana tidak ada pihak berkuasa yang berani benarkan Anwar duduk di hospital.
Masa itu juga Pak Lah ambil telefon, hubungi menteri kesihatan dan arahkan, masa itu petang dah, keluarkan Anwar Ibrahim on the spot dan lepas tu kita minta rawatan keluar negara , PakLah tak komited, dia kata dia akan tengok. Dan ketiganya, Datin Seri Wan Azizah minta Pak Lah adil dalam penghakiman (kes rayuan Datuk Seri Anwar di Mahkamah Persekutuan), jangan campur seperti Dr Mahathir. Pak Lah beri komitmen, dia tak akan campur, Masa itu tengah (perbicaraan), dah hujung-hujung (di peringkat penghakiman dibuat).
Mengikut kata Datin Seri Wan Azizah, Pak Lah kata OK, katanya, dia seorang pemimpin Islam, itulah yang beliau (Wan Azizah) beritahu saya, Pak Lah kata: "saya komited, saya pemimpin Islam, takkan saya nak buat macam tu".
Selepas Datuk Seri Anwar ke hospital, saya masih lagi jumpa Khairy sebab target saya masih lagi nak dapatkan rawatan ke luar negara. Khairy mencuba, hingga pada suatu ketika, dah ada keputusan pun untuk mendapatkan rawatan di luar negara tapi bukan di Jerman tapi di Singapura.
Pada mulanya, Datin Seri Wan Azizah tidak setuju. (Kemudian) jumpa Anwar dan beliau kata OK ke Singapura. Jadi saya (pun) sampaikan pada Khairy. Tiba-tiba Jabatan Peguam Negara nasihatkan jangan, walaupun menurut Khairy, Pak Lah telah bersetuju. Kata peguam negara ianya bertentangan dengan peruntukan undang-undang. Perkara tu habis di situ, tak jadi, walaupun sebenarnya telah ada keputusan dari perdana menteri.
Selepas beberapa ketika, mahkamah tetapkan tarikh untuk keputusan (rayuan) di Mahkamah Persekutuan. Jadi kita tangguh dulu perbincangan untuk rawatan (Anwar) di luar negara dan kita tunggu keputusan. Kalau keputusan bebaskan (Anwar) oklah. Kalau tidak bebas, kita sambung (perbincangan). Tapi bila keputusan (Anwar) bebas, sebagai tanda hormat, saya bagi tahu Khairy (Anwar) bebas, dan Khairy bertanya apa lagi yang boleh dibantu. Saya tanya Datuk Seri Anwar dan beliau minta pasport sebab dia nak terbang cepat. Itulah yang diminta oleh Datuk Seri Anwar dan saya sampaikan kepada Khairy dan dia sampaikan kepada bapa (mentuanya). Malam tu juga Khairy datang dan esoknya saya uruskan pasport Datuk Seri Anwar. Itulah peristiwa yang berlaku bila Khairy datang ke rumah Datuk Seri Anwar pada malam itu. Ini yang sebenarnya berlaku.
Sebab itu saya hendak tekankan di sini (ialah) keseluruhan proses ini hanya membabit dan memfokuskan kepada soalan untuk menyelamatkan Datuk Seri Anwar. Tidak ada deal (masuk Umno) seperti yang dituduh terhadap saya. Saya sebenarnya expect (harap) Datuk Seri Anwar dan Datin Paduka Wan Azizah untuk menyatakan perkara ini, sekurang-kurangnya untuk membela saya bila orang (mengaitkan) saya dengan Khairy kerana mereka tahu perkara yang sebenar. Seluruh proses yang saya deal dengan Khairy, dengan Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo dan semua proses ini bukan untuk saya, malah saya menolak semua tawaran lain, hanya semata-mata - dan saya tidak berganjak dengan permintaan saya - untuk membebaskan Anwar Ibrahim. Jadi itu ceritanya.
Selepas itu, Datuk Seri Anwar bebas, tidak ada lagi deal, Khairy pun saya tak jumpa dah. Khairy pun takut nak jumpa saya kerana dia telah dikritik hebat kerana datang ke rumah Anwar... (setakat itulah) hubungan kami. Kadang-kadang terjumpa di lapangan terbang (tapi) tidak ada hubungan, tidak ada perjumpaan selepas itu.
Selepas setahun Anwar bebas, saya ada masalah dengan Keadilan dan sebab itu saya dah mula jauhkan diri pada 2006. Saya dan tubuhkan Gerak. Saya tidak ada deal sehinggalah sebelum pilihanraya 2008, datang lagi kawan-kawan dalam Umno dan sebagainya untuk meminta saya bertanding tapi bukan (pemimpin) peringkat senior, tapi di peringkat negeri dan bahagian, yang minta saya timbang bertanding dan balik semula ke Umno dan itupun saya tolak. Kawan-kawan (dari PAS) juga memang secara ikhlas mahu saya tanding di kerusi selamat di Kelantan.
Pada masa itu, kita tidak tahu yang (kawasan-kawasan lain) juga selamat. Itupun saya tolak kerana fokus saya sekarang ini, berbalik kepada persoalan reform. Walaupun fokus awal saya tidak pada reform kerana nak selamatkan Datuk Seri Anwar yang kritikal dan sakit. Bila dia keluar, kita tidak cerita dah bab kemanusian, kerana semua sudah bebas, jadi saya fokus kepada reform.
Pada 2008 ada usaha untuk menarik saya supaya bertanding tapi saya tidak bertanding kerana saya tidak nampak ada reform dalam Umno untuk saya kembali kepada Umno. Sebab itu saya tolak tawaran (bertanding) dalam pilihanraya umum lepas. Saya ingin meneruskan usaha dalam Geraka kerana saya merasakan usaha reform penting atau peranan lebih baik dapat saya mainkan dalam sivil society, dalam Gerak.
Selepas pilihanraya yang tsunami baru-baru ini, ada usaha yang dilakukan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang bagi saya merupakan satu langkah signifikan untuk reform, tentang badan kehakiman, tentang rasuah. Jadi, selepas itu ada beberapa pegawai beliau dan pimpinan Umno minta pandangan saya dan saya nyatakan saya amat setuju dengan reform ini dan ini bagi saya fundamental dan signifikan dan saya yakin ini sebenarnya membuka ruang kepada proses reform dalam negara.
Selepas itu, mereka aturkan saya berjumpa dengan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, saya rasa hampir sebulan yang lalu. Bagi saya, kalau nak dikatakan deal, itulah deal yang pertama yang masuk Umno. Saya nak katakana bezanya, deal yang dulu-dulu tu bukan masuk Umno, tetapi adalah deal untuk bebaskan Datuk Seri Anwar
Dan saya mahu berbicara dan berbincang kerana saya yakin ada ruang untuk reform yang dibawa oleh Datuk Seri Abdullah dalam BPR dan badan kehakiman. Setelah berjumpa beliau selama dua jam, saya yakin bahawa beliau memang komited tentang usaha reform tersebut dan beliau mempelawa saya untuk bersama-sama dalam Umno.
Setelah saya mengambil masa seminggu untuk berbincang dengan keluarga dan kawan-kawan, akhirnya, saya membuat keputusan untuk masuk Umno. Itu keseluruhan prosesnya.
Saya sebut nama-nama di atas tadi, - Datuk Kamarul dan Johari dan Rahman - kerana mereka masih dalam PKR. Mereka tidak ikut saya (masuk) dalam Umno. Jadi mereka seharusnya tampil dan menyatakan apakah perkara i(pelbagai tuduhan terhadap Ezam) tu benar. Jika mereka benar-benar ikhlas dan jujur, seharusnya mereka memberitahu memang segala tuduhan terhadap saya, tuduhan tawaran dan imbuhan, dan sebagainya, semuanya itu adalah fitnah. Saya ada bukti, termasuk Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Datin Seri Wan Azizah sendiri (bahawa) proses saya deal dengan Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo dan Khairy, semuanya dalam pengetahuan Datuk Seri Anwar dan semuanya fokus untuk membebaskan beliau.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Rahim offers to contest Umno vice-president post
Friday May 23, 2008 MYT 7:57:13 PM
Rahim offers to contest Umno vice-president post
By SA’ODAH ELIAS
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno Youth chief and ex-chief minister of Malacca Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik has offered himself as a vice-president candidate in the party’s election in December.
Abdul Rahim, who resigned from all his government and party posts in 1994 said he was ready to make a political come back, adding that the climate was right considering the that members were now clamouring for leadership change.
The man who quit as Malacca CM amidst allegations of sexual misconduct with an under-aged girl, had this to say to anyone planning to discredit him on the campaign trail, if he succeeds in getting the required nomination to contest the post:
“Do so at your own peril. I will not hesitate to take legal action for libel against anyone who levels these allegations against me in the open.”
The 58-year-old politician said he had been cleared by the court of all the allegations and had spent additional six years taking legal action against those who had slandered him, and had won every one of them.
“This time around, I am issuing an early warning, if you slander me, you must be willing to face the consequence because I will not take it quietly irrespective of whether you are a minister, deputy minister or anyone else. Don’t try to victimise me with wild allegations again,” he said in an interview at his office here Friday.
He said he had resigned as Malacca CM and Umno Youth Chief at the height of his political career 14 years ago not because he was guilty or was pressured by the party, but did so voluntarily to safeguard Umno’s image.
Abdul Rahim believed that his good track record as Malacca CM, a post that he held for 12 years, his experience as Umno Youth chief, combined with his current position as the Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Gabem) chairman and supreme council member, would put him in good stead to be in the party’s top line-up.
Umno, he said, needed a very strong leadership line-up to ensure its survival in the changing domestic political landscape brought about by the outcome of the 12th general election.
“Only a strong leadership can take decisive actions to rectify mistakes and address weaknesses. Umno needs to realise that it has no choice but to face up to all of its past and present mistakes heads on, if it wants to remain relevant.
"Cleaning up our internal mess is no longer a choice, but a necessity,” he added.
The Barisan Nasional’s dismal performance in the past general election, he said, it should serve as a bitter lesson to Umno take serious view of people’s perception of its practices, and that of its leaders.
He said, battling political corruption, one of the main scourges afflicting the party, whether perceived or otherwise, would be his main political agenda from now on to ensure a clean, fair and transparent party poll at the end of the year.
Claiming that he had the support of quite a substantial number of influential groups within Umno to go for the number three position, Abdul Rahim said that leadership change in Umno should be a natural process based on its democratic practices, as Umno does not belong to any exclusive group or leaders.
“We need to return Umno back to the members and they must be allowed to choose the leaders freely without any restriction. If we continue to allow Umno to be the exclusive property of any group or leader, the party will die.
“But what is happening within Umno is that there are leaders who are weak and unqualified to hold their posts, but continue to do so by abusing their power and positions. They hand out contracts, offer Datukships and give away bags of money to those that matter to secure their positions."
“The delegates must be ready to change their mindset and stop these bad practices. Hopefully we will get better quality delegates this year, as they are the ones with the power to stop all these shenanigans once and for all.
“Otherwise, Umno will end up with a bunch of mediocre and stupid leaders who are elected simply because they are corrupt and willing to abuse their positions. In this present climate such outcome may spell the end for the party,” he added.
Rahim offers to contest Umno vice-president post
By SA’ODAH ELIAS
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno Youth chief and ex-chief minister of Malacca Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik has offered himself as a vice-president candidate in the party’s election in December.
Abdul Rahim, who resigned from all his government and party posts in 1994 said he was ready to make a political come back, adding that the climate was right considering the that members were now clamouring for leadership change.
The man who quit as Malacca CM amidst allegations of sexual misconduct with an under-aged girl, had this to say to anyone planning to discredit him on the campaign trail, if he succeeds in getting the required nomination to contest the post:
“Do so at your own peril. I will not hesitate to take legal action for libel against anyone who levels these allegations against me in the open.”
The 58-year-old politician said he had been cleared by the court of all the allegations and had spent additional six years taking legal action against those who had slandered him, and had won every one of them.
“This time around, I am issuing an early warning, if you slander me, you must be willing to face the consequence because I will not take it quietly irrespective of whether you are a minister, deputy minister or anyone else. Don’t try to victimise me with wild allegations again,” he said in an interview at his office here Friday.
He said he had resigned as Malacca CM and Umno Youth Chief at the height of his political career 14 years ago not because he was guilty or was pressured by the party, but did so voluntarily to safeguard Umno’s image.
Abdul Rahim believed that his good track record as Malacca CM, a post that he held for 12 years, his experience as Umno Youth chief, combined with his current position as the Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Gabem) chairman and supreme council member, would put him in good stead to be in the party’s top line-up.
Umno, he said, needed a very strong leadership line-up to ensure its survival in the changing domestic political landscape brought about by the outcome of the 12th general election.
“Only a strong leadership can take decisive actions to rectify mistakes and address weaknesses. Umno needs to realise that it has no choice but to face up to all of its past and present mistakes heads on, if it wants to remain relevant.
"Cleaning up our internal mess is no longer a choice, but a necessity,” he added.
The Barisan Nasional’s dismal performance in the past general election, he said, it should serve as a bitter lesson to Umno take serious view of people’s perception of its practices, and that of its leaders.
He said, battling political corruption, one of the main scourges afflicting the party, whether perceived or otherwise, would be his main political agenda from now on to ensure a clean, fair and transparent party poll at the end of the year.
Claiming that he had the support of quite a substantial number of influential groups within Umno to go for the number three position, Abdul Rahim said that leadership change in Umno should be a natural process based on its democratic practices, as Umno does not belong to any exclusive group or leaders.
“We need to return Umno back to the members and they must be allowed to choose the leaders freely without any restriction. If we continue to allow Umno to be the exclusive property of any group or leader, the party will die.
“But what is happening within Umno is that there are leaders who are weak and unqualified to hold their posts, but continue to do so by abusing their power and positions. They hand out contracts, offer Datukships and give away bags of money to those that matter to secure their positions."
“The delegates must be ready to change their mindset and stop these bad practices. Hopefully we will get better quality delegates this year, as they are the ones with the power to stop all these shenanigans once and for all.
“Otherwise, Umno will end up with a bunch of mediocre and stupid leaders who are elected simply because they are corrupt and willing to abuse their positions. In this present climate such outcome may spell the end for the party,” he added.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Muhd Taib: Calon antara punca kalah teruk
Muhd Taib: Calon antara punca kalah teruk
Muda Mohd Noor May 13, 08 4:18pm
Masalah dalaman, termasuk pemilihan calon, antara sebab utama Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) kalah teruk dalam pilihanraya umum lalu, kata ketua penerangan Umno, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib.
Menteri kemajuan dan pembangunan luar bandar itu berkata, kerana masalah tersebut, ada kawasan yang sepatutnya dimenangi oleh calon BN, telah jatuh ke tangan pembangkang.
Di tempat-tempat tertentu, katanya, pengundi BN tidak mengundi calon parti itu kerana mereka mahu menghantar isyarat kepada kerajaan.
"Mereka sakit hati, oleh kerana ini hal-ehwal rumah tangga Umno, mereka tidak mahu sokong orang (calon) lain (yang dipilih oleh parti)."Mood pegundi telah beralih ketika itu.
Mereka bukan hendak melihat BN kalah, cuma mahu memberi isyarat, iaitu kalah sedikit sahaja.
"Tetapi kalau tiap-tiap bahagian ada fikiran macam tu, maka BN telah kalah teruk.
Keadaan ini luar biasa kerana pada mulanya pengundi mereka (setakat) nak beri isyarat sahaja," katanya dalam temubual dengan Malaysiakini di bangunan Parlimen semalam.
Dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac lalu, BN kalah empat negeri - Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak dan Selangor - selain gagal merampas semula Kelantan yang dimenangi PAS sejak 1990.
Penyokong kecil hati
BN juga hilang majoriti dua pertiga di parlimen apabila hanya menang 140 kerusi berbanding 82 oleh pembangkang.
Muhammad yang juga pengerusi badan perhubungan Selangor, berkata, penyokong Umno berasa kecil hati dan kerana itu telah menolak Umno dalam pilihanraya lalu.
"Tetapi mereka bukan tidak suka parti (Umno), cuma mood telah beralih ke pembangkang.
"Sebab itu saya kata pembangkang menang bukan kerana mereka popular tetapi kerana faktor penolakan pengundi kepada calon BN yang berlaku ketika itu," katanya lagi.
Bekas menteri besar Selangor itu percaya, trend tersebut hanya untuk sementara kerana selepas pilihanraya umum lalu, sudah ramai ahli parti yang datang berjumpa dengan beliau, menceritakan kejadian ketika itu.
Mereka memberitahu apa yang berlaku ketika itu sehingga menyebabkan mereka tidak mengundi calon-calon BN, kata Muhammad lagi.
"(Jadi) pembangkang jangan terlalu ghairah kerana fenomena ini hanya sementara. Umno dan BN akan bangkit semula kerana mereka (penyokong) sudah kembali semula kepada BN," katanya lagi.
Rakyat sokong BNMuhammad berkata, jika tidak berlaku penolakan tersebut, BN akan menang 14 kerusi parlimen lagi dan 22 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) lagi di Kedah, Perak dan Selangor.
Katanya, rakyat tidak sokong pembangkang, tetapi mereka masih tetap menyokong keadilan BN dalam mengurus negara seperti dalam bidang ekonomi dan pelajaran.
Sementara itu, bekas menteri besar Selangor itu juga mengulas mengenai kenyataan-kenyataan oleh ahli parlimen BN dari Sabah dan cerita mengenai lompat parti.
Salah seorang yang lantang memperjuangkan hak-hak itu ialah ahli parlimen Kalabakan, Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh.
Bagaimanapun, Muhammad tidak fikir ketua bahagian Umno itu bermaksud ahli parlimen BN di Sabah akan melompat parti seperti yang dihebohkan sekarang.
"Dia bercakap sebagai wakil rakyat Sabah menuntuk hak mereka yang lebih munasabah. Dia memperjuangkan hak Sabah.
"Saya ambil berat pandangan beliau.
Orang pembangkang cuba menimbulkan kekeliruan secara berterusan dan serba salah di kalangan BN.
Nafi Umno bertelagah
"Saya yakin kepada ahli parlimen BN. Eloklah mereka suarakan rasa tidak puas hati supaya kerajaan memandang tuntutan mereka.
Tetapi hak Sabak dan Sarawak tidak dinafikan," tambahnya.
Dalam tembual tersebut, Muhammad mengucapkan terima kasih kepada perdana menteri kerana melantik beliau sebagai menteri kabinet dan ketua penerangan Umno.
Katanya, beliau merupakan seorang pekerja parti dan amat patuh kepada parti.
Tetapi, Muhammad tidak mahu bercakap mengenai kritikannya terhadap bekas perdana menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan bekas bekas menteri besar Selangor, Datu Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
"Saya sudah bercakap sebelum ini, (jadi) saya tidak mahu ulang lagi.
Elok fikir untuk kukuhkan parti supaya mendapat semula keyakinan rakyat," tegasnya.
Muhammad juga menafikan Umno dalam keadaan sedang bertelagah sebaimana yang didakwa oleh pihak-pihnk tertentu.
" BN bukan seperti Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat dengan Karpal Singh.
Saya tidak nampak prinsip gabungan mereka," katanya lagi.
Menurut Muhammad lagi, apa yang BN lakukan ialah pimpinan berunding dan bermesyuarat secara bersama dan jika tiada persetujuan, akan diperhalusi lagi.
"Saya mengucapkan syabas kepada perdana menteri dan menteri kabinet kerana dalam keadaan yang sukar, dapat membantu golongan yang ketinggalan.
"Dan golongan yang ketinggalan itu ialah orang Melayu.
Walaupun kerajaan membantu orang Melayu, kaum lain juga bersetuju," tambahnya.
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Sunday, May 11, 2008
Ibrahim questions silence of Opposition MPs
Ibrahim questions silence of Opposition MPs
PASIR MAS: Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali questions why Malay members of Parliament from opposition parties are silent over the issue of Malay supremacy and the statement by Karpal Singh allegedly questioning the powers of the Perak Sultan.
However, DAP life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin sprang to Karpal Singh's defence, saying he was right in making his statement.
“The Malay MPs from PKR and DAP are silent when these issues are raised in Parliament,” claimed Ibrahim.
“Are they afraid to deal with it? Are they in cahoots since they are part of the Pakatan Rakyat alliance?” asked the independent MP from Pasir Mas.
He said the pin-drop silence from PKR and DAP had created suspicions.
“At least to a certain degree, senior leaders in PAS, such as Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, have presented their views,” he said.
Ibrahim felt that many MPs from the Opposition had gone overboard in questioning the sovereignty of the Malay rulers, and that they had not been duly reprimanded by their Malay leaders.
In light of the political developments, the Internal Security Act was needed to deter anarchy in the country, he added.
Dr Chen said it was legally correct for Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh to say that the appointments in the state civil service are under the jurisdiction of the respective Mentris Besar and executive committees.
He said that since Karpal Singh had also said the full jurisdiction over religious and Malay custom matters was under the state ruler, he had not been disrespectful to the Perak Sultan.
“All the claims that Karpal Singh was disloyal are baseless and is the work of Umno plotting together with a few civil servants.
“It is an open secret that the civil service heads in Perak have been uncooperative and defiant of the state government,” Dr Chen said.
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PASIR MAS: Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali questions why Malay members of Parliament from opposition parties are silent over the issue of Malay supremacy and the statement by Karpal Singh allegedly questioning the powers of the Perak Sultan.
However, DAP life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin sprang to Karpal Singh's defence, saying he was right in making his statement.
“The Malay MPs from PKR and DAP are silent when these issues are raised in Parliament,” claimed Ibrahim.
“Are they afraid to deal with it? Are they in cahoots since they are part of the Pakatan Rakyat alliance?” asked the independent MP from Pasir Mas.
He said the pin-drop silence from PKR and DAP had created suspicions.
“At least to a certain degree, senior leaders in PAS, such as Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, have presented their views,” he said.
Ibrahim felt that many MPs from the Opposition had gone overboard in questioning the sovereignty of the Malay rulers, and that they had not been duly reprimanded by their Malay leaders.
In light of the political developments, the Internal Security Act was needed to deter anarchy in the country, he added.
Dr Chen said it was legally correct for Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh to say that the appointments in the state civil service are under the jurisdiction of the respective Mentris Besar and executive committees.
He said that since Karpal Singh had also said the full jurisdiction over religious and Malay custom matters was under the state ruler, he had not been disrespectful to the Perak Sultan.
“All the claims that Karpal Singh was disloyal are baseless and is the work of Umno plotting together with a few civil servants.
“It is an open secret that the civil service heads in Perak have been uncooperative and defiant of the state government,” Dr Chen said.
======================================================
Lingamgate Royal Commission
written by ez24get, May 11, 2008 12:19:33
These are the comments picked up in the MSM at the Lingamgate Royal Commission:-
Last Chief Justice - Fairuz
I have written to the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz…. I’m innocent, the video was a fabrication and a slander !
Lingam was bragging…
Prominent Lawyer - Lingam
It looks like me and it sounds like me… but it wasn’t Fairuz on the other side of the line.
My brother is of unsound mind…
AG – Abdul Gani Patail
There were no criminal elements in the video clip and that Lingam’s conversation was a ‘monologue’ in nature.
ACA Lingam forgot his phone numbers and therefore I couldn’t obtain his mobile phone number….
I asked Fairuz whether Lingam had telephoned him and Fairuz replied he had not. Therefore I did not check further…. (by Chuah Lay Choo)
Instead of checking on Lingam and Fairuz, ACA harassed and threatened Anwar by “name source or face jail” and whistleblower Loh Mui Fah.
The ACA gave me $3,000…(Lingam Ex-secretary, Jeyanthi)
Previous Chief Justice - Eusoff
I accidentally bumped into Lingam in New Zealand and coincidentally on the same flight, van and visit itinerary with Lingam… (on the infamous NewZealand holiday)
Ex-Prime Minister - Dr M
I couldn’t remember…. I don’t have to explain why…
Ex-Tourism Minister - Adnan
Lingam is either mad or drunk…
Ex-Law Minister - Nazri
My press officer gave me the wrong information on Witness Protection Bill … (on his ignorance that the bill had not been passed in Parliament)
They are all crazy lawyers….(on the Bar Council 2,000 lawyers march)
What crises? I don’t see any.…
Because I’m his minister …. (on why he replied on behalf of Fairuz and his ignorance of the separation of the legislative and judiciary)…
People not familiar with Malaysia would be totally amazed to see this very elaborate web of deceit and conspiracies made by people of high places from the Prime Ministers, Ministers, Chief Justices, Judges, Attorney General, ACA, PDRM, Lawyers to Prominent businessmen! Judging from the above extensive inter-link of people of power and the many government departments across the board, any legal issues could easily be twisted to suit the powers-to-be and the accused dispatched to jail in an instant!
For that matter does RPK, Karpal Singh or the Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents or anybody not politically connected ever have a chance in court?
You have a Prime Minister who has ursurped the power of the judiciary and executive and had given an order for the police and the AG to expedite the case. What chance has the common people got?
May god protect over the common, non-politically connected citizens of Malaysia!
These are the comments picked up in the MSM at the Lingamgate Royal Commission:-
Last Chief Justice - Fairuz
I have written to the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz…. I’m innocent, the video was a fabrication and a slander !
Lingam was bragging…
Prominent Lawyer - Lingam
It looks like me and it sounds like me… but it wasn’t Fairuz on the other side of the line.
My brother is of unsound mind…
AG – Abdul Gani Patail
There were no criminal elements in the video clip and that Lingam’s conversation was a ‘monologue’ in nature.
ACA Lingam forgot his phone numbers and therefore I couldn’t obtain his mobile phone number….
I asked Fairuz whether Lingam had telephoned him and Fairuz replied he had not. Therefore I did not check further…. (by Chuah Lay Choo)
Instead of checking on Lingam and Fairuz, ACA harassed and threatened Anwar by “name source or face jail” and whistleblower Loh Mui Fah.
The ACA gave me $3,000…(Lingam Ex-secretary, Jeyanthi)
Previous Chief Justice - Eusoff
I accidentally bumped into Lingam in New Zealand and coincidentally on the same flight, van and visit itinerary with Lingam… (on the infamous NewZealand holiday)
Ex-Prime Minister - Dr M
I couldn’t remember…. I don’t have to explain why…
Ex-Tourism Minister - Adnan
Lingam is either mad or drunk…
Ex-Law Minister - Nazri
My press officer gave me the wrong information on Witness Protection Bill … (on his ignorance that the bill had not been passed in Parliament)
They are all crazy lawyers….(on the Bar Council 2,000 lawyers march)
What crises? I don’t see any.…
Because I’m his minister …. (on why he replied on behalf of Fairuz and his ignorance of the separation of the legislative and judiciary)…
People not familiar with Malaysia would be totally amazed to see this very elaborate web of deceit and conspiracies made by people of high places from the Prime Ministers, Ministers, Chief Justices, Judges, Attorney General, ACA, PDRM, Lawyers to Prominent businessmen! Judging from the above extensive inter-link of people of power and the many government departments across the board, any legal issues could easily be twisted to suit the powers-to-be and the accused dispatched to jail in an instant!
For that matter does RPK, Karpal Singh or the Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents or anybody not politically connected ever have a chance in court?
You have a Prime Minister who has ursurped the power of the judiciary and executive and had given an order for the police and the AG to expedite the case. What chance has the common people got?
May god protect over the common, non-politically connected citizens of Malaysia!
1st Class ixxot!
You're An Idiot If...
You're an idiot if... you throw away a donut because it had a hole in it
You're an idiot if... you think manuel labor is the president of puerto rico
You're an idiot if... you check your mail box in the front yard after your computer says " You've got mail."
You're an idiot if... You have a strange desire to post a definition for no apparent reason...hmmmm
You're an idiot if... Your computer came with a 40 ounce drink holder.
You're an idiot if... You watch your collegue start up the new office PC and think the password is a row of asterii
You're an idiot if... you move and take the numbers on your house because you dont want to change your address
You're an idiot if... you drown in your car and its a convertible
You're an idiot if... you get fired from a m&m factory for throwing out all the W's
You're an idiot if... you take your radio with you on vacations so you can pick up your favorite station
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Alahai Shabery... Blog di RTM
Alahai Shabery... Blog di RTM
Amin Iskandar Apr 30, 08 10:22pm
Sebaik sahaja dilantik sebagai menteri penerangan Ahmad Shabery Cheek mengumumkan beliau akan berinteraksi dengan penulis-penulis blog.
Dalam temuramah akhbar The Star (20 Mac) menteri tersebut menyatakan kesediannya untuk bertemu dengan penulis-penulis blog bagi membincangkan mengenai apa yang terbaik yang boleh dilakukan untuk negara.
Kalau dahulu, ketika kementerian diterajui Zainuddin Maidin mengambil sikap bermusuh dengan penulis blog, Shabery membuat perubahan dengan mengambil sikap bertoleransi dengan penulis blog.
Kenyataan bekas ketua penerangan Parti Melayu Semangat 46 itu mendapat reaksi positif daripada pelbagai pihak termasuk penulis-penulis blog terkemuka.
Tidak kurang juga yang “pesimis” dengan langkah ahli parlimen Kemaman.
Penulis blog terkemuka Ahirudin Attan yang popular dengan blognya Rocky’s Bru mencadangkan Shabery memulakan sebuah blog seperti yang dilakukan oleh menteri penerangan Indonesia, Mohammad Nuh.
Keterbukaan menteri penerangan negara jiran itu dalam berinteraksi dengan penulis-penulis blog berada di tahap “kemuncak” apabila beliau mengumumkan tanggal 27 Oktober sebagai “Hari Penulis Blog Kebangsaan”.
Ada juga penulis blog yang sinis dengan langkah yang cuba dilakukan oleh Shabery.
Penulis blog www.chanlilian.net mengingatkan pembaca blognya tentang kenyataan daripada Shabery ketika timbul isu rakyat China yang dipaksa bogel dan ketuk ketampi oleh polis satu ketika dahulu.
Antara langkah radikal yang diambil Shabery sebaik sahaja menjadi menteri, mewujudkan rancangan “Blog” di RTM 1.
Setakat ini, A.Kadir Jasin yang menggendalikan blog “The Scribe A Kadir Jasin” dan Raja Petra Kamarudin yang menggendalikan “Malaysia Today” telah diundang untuk berbicara.
Kadir dalam tulisannya yang mengulas mengenai rancangan TV itu menyebut, masih banyak yang perlu dilakukan oleh RTM untuk memperbaiki rancangan tersebut.
Antaranya, masa yang diberikan kepada ahli panel untuk bercakap seharusnya lebih lama berbanding masa yang diberikan.
Kadir turut memuji langkah Shabery yang dianggapnya sebagai satu tindakan yang berani.
Blog menjadi begitu popular dan mula diterima oleh pemimpin- pemimpin kerajaan selepas "tsunami" politik yang melanda negara pada pilihanraya umum 8 Mac.
Keputusan pilihanraya itu menjadi sejarah besar negara apabila menyaksikan BN hilang majoriti dua pertiga di parlimen.
Selain itu, BN kehilangan empat negeri seperti Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Pulau Pinang dan 10 kerusi parlimen di Kuala Lumpur.
Kelantan yang diperintah oleh PAS juga gagal dirampas.
Keputusan pilihanraya yang mengejutkan ini mendorong ramai menteri dan pemimpin tertinggi BN memulakan blog mereka.
Ali Rustam, Muhammad Mohd Taib, Mohamad Khir Toyo dan Chua Soi Lek telah mempunyai blog masing-masing selepas berlakunya “tsunami” yang hampir-hampir menyungkurkan BN.
Mungkin ada ramai lagi pemimpin BN mempunyai blog atau yang sedang membuat blog tetapi belum saya jumpai.
"Sindrom blog" yang melanda pemimpin-pemimpin BN ini, pada pendapat saya, kerana mereka sedang berada dalam tahap penafian selepas pilihanraya umum ke-12.
Mereka ini tidak dapat menerima hakikat tentang prestasi buruk BN dan menjadikan blog atau internet sebagai punca utama kekalahan.
Pada pandangan mereka, punca utama kekalahan itu kerana mereka tidak memberi perhatian kepada blog atau internet.
Mereka cuba lari daripada masalah sebenar yang menyebabkan kekalahan BN.
Mereka terlupa bahawa BN telah menjadi parti politik kepada golongan elit dan bukannya rakyat marhaen seperti dahulu.
Contohnya, jika kita melihat Umno.
Kalau dahulu Umno dipenuhi golongan bawahan seperti guru, tetapi kini tidak lagi.
Umno sekarang sarang peniaga-peniaga Melayu yang bergantung kepada kontrak kerajaan.
Kalau dahulu orang Melayu masuk Umno untuk jadi pejuang, kini telah berubah.
Orang Melayu sekarang masuk Umno dengan harapan kelas ekonomi mereka dapat dipertingkatkan. Pemimpin-pemimpin BN juga terlupa bahawa rasuah dan penyelewengan telah menyebabkan mereka menjadi tidak popular.
Tambahan lagi sikap sombong dan angkuh telah mendorong rakyat bangkit menghukum mereka.
Rakyat tidak mungkin melupakan bagaimana menantu perdana menteri dan PM sendiri menggeluarkan kenyataan angkuh sebelum perhimpunan Bersih pada 10 November 2007. Mengapa blog menjadi begitu popular di Malaysia?
Popularnya blog di sini jauh lebih tinggi berbanding di negara jiran kita seperti Thailand, Filipina dan Indonesia. Rakan-rakan saya dari negara tersebut terpesona dengan perkembangan media baru di Malaysia seperti laman web dan blog.
Jawapannya mudah - kerana di Malaysia, kerajaan mengawal ketat seluruh media arus perdana. Pelbagai akta yang tidak demokratik seperti Akta Penerbitan dan Mesin Cetak digunakan untuk memastikan segala maklumat, pandangan dan tafsiran dapat dikawal oleh kerajaan.
Kawalan ini menyebabkan media arus perdana berada di tahap “tepu” dan sukar berkembang lagi.
Laporan-laporan yang berat sebelah dan memihak kepada kerajaan mendorong rakyat yang semakin bijak mencari media-media alternatif seperti laman web dan blog di internet.
Buktinya boleh dilihat apabila berlakun peristiwa-peristiwa politik besar di Malaysia seperti perhimpunan Bersih dan Hindraf, laman web seperti Malaysiakini dan Malaysia Today mengalami “kesesakan yang teruk” oleh kerana terlalu ramai pembaca cuba mencapainya hampir serentaj sehingga ia sukar diakses.
Shabery harus bertanya mengapa pembaca memilih untuk mencari maklumat di laman web dan laman blog untuk mengetahui tentang isu-isu semasa berbanding dengan media arus perdana?
RTM yang dimiliki oleh negara seharusnya menjadi media yang pro-rakyat dan berhenti menjadi “mesin propaganda BN” untuk terus relevan di Malaysia.
Laporan dalam RTM seharusnya tidak lagi berat sebelah dan terbuka kepada semua pihak termasuklah Pakatan Rakyat.
Jika Shabery mahu RTM naik setaraf BBC, beliau harus bersedia menjadikan RTM sebuah media yang bebas dan independen.
Beliau harus bersedia memastikan RTM menyiarkan kritikan-kritikan kepada perdana menteri, timbalan perdana menteri dan menteri kabinet termasuk diri beliau sendiri.
Kerana inilah yang dilakukan oleh BBC.
Walaupun didanai oleh kerajaan British, BBC tetap menyiarkan kritikan-kritikan kepada perdana menteri Britain dan parti pemerintahnya.
Jika perkara ini tidak dilakukan oleh Shabery, RTM akan tetap menjadi tidak popular.
Jika alasan utama mengawal RTM ialah untuk memastikan pengundi-pengundi Melayu di luar bandar terus bersama BN, hentikanlah.
Pengundi-pengundi Melayu di luar bandar kini sudah bijak.
Kalaupun mereka tidak dapat mengakses maklumat alternatif, mereka mempunyai anak-anak yang belajar atau bekerja di Kuala Lumpur.
Anak-anak inilah yang menyampaikan kepada mereka apa yang sebenarnya berlaku di Malaysia.
Rancangan “Blog” di RTM bukanlah bermakna RTM sudah bebas dan independen.
Reformasi pertama yang harus dilakukan oleh Shabery ialah "membebaskan RTM daripada politik kepartian".
Jika ia berjaya dilakukan, RTM tidak mustahil akan berubah dan menjadi media rakyat.
Jika tidak, reformasi yang cuba dilakukan oleh Shabery bolehlah dianggap perubahan kosmetik semata-mata.
Alahai Shabery...
Amin Iskandar Apr 30, 08 10:22pm
Sebaik sahaja dilantik sebagai menteri penerangan Ahmad Shabery Cheek mengumumkan beliau akan berinteraksi dengan penulis-penulis blog.
Dalam temuramah akhbar The Star (20 Mac) menteri tersebut menyatakan kesediannya untuk bertemu dengan penulis-penulis blog bagi membincangkan mengenai apa yang terbaik yang boleh dilakukan untuk negara.
Kalau dahulu, ketika kementerian diterajui Zainuddin Maidin mengambil sikap bermusuh dengan penulis blog, Shabery membuat perubahan dengan mengambil sikap bertoleransi dengan penulis blog.
Kenyataan bekas ketua penerangan Parti Melayu Semangat 46 itu mendapat reaksi positif daripada pelbagai pihak termasuk penulis-penulis blog terkemuka.
Tidak kurang juga yang “pesimis” dengan langkah ahli parlimen Kemaman.
Penulis blog terkemuka Ahirudin Attan yang popular dengan blognya Rocky’s Bru mencadangkan Shabery memulakan sebuah blog seperti yang dilakukan oleh menteri penerangan Indonesia, Mohammad Nuh.
Keterbukaan menteri penerangan negara jiran itu dalam berinteraksi dengan penulis-penulis blog berada di tahap “kemuncak” apabila beliau mengumumkan tanggal 27 Oktober sebagai “Hari Penulis Blog Kebangsaan”.
Ada juga penulis blog yang sinis dengan langkah yang cuba dilakukan oleh Shabery.
Penulis blog www.chanlilian.net mengingatkan pembaca blognya tentang kenyataan daripada Shabery ketika timbul isu rakyat China yang dipaksa bogel dan ketuk ketampi oleh polis satu ketika dahulu.
Antara langkah radikal yang diambil Shabery sebaik sahaja menjadi menteri, mewujudkan rancangan “Blog” di RTM 1.
Setakat ini, A.Kadir Jasin yang menggendalikan blog “The Scribe A Kadir Jasin” dan Raja Petra Kamarudin yang menggendalikan “Malaysia Today” telah diundang untuk berbicara.
Kadir dalam tulisannya yang mengulas mengenai rancangan TV itu menyebut, masih banyak yang perlu dilakukan oleh RTM untuk memperbaiki rancangan tersebut.
Antaranya, masa yang diberikan kepada ahli panel untuk bercakap seharusnya lebih lama berbanding masa yang diberikan.
Kadir turut memuji langkah Shabery yang dianggapnya sebagai satu tindakan yang berani.
Blog menjadi begitu popular dan mula diterima oleh pemimpin- pemimpin kerajaan selepas "tsunami" politik yang melanda negara pada pilihanraya umum 8 Mac.
Keputusan pilihanraya itu menjadi sejarah besar negara apabila menyaksikan BN hilang majoriti dua pertiga di parlimen.
Selain itu, BN kehilangan empat negeri seperti Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Pulau Pinang dan 10 kerusi parlimen di Kuala Lumpur.
Kelantan yang diperintah oleh PAS juga gagal dirampas.
Keputusan pilihanraya yang mengejutkan ini mendorong ramai menteri dan pemimpin tertinggi BN memulakan blog mereka.
Ali Rustam, Muhammad Mohd Taib, Mohamad Khir Toyo dan Chua Soi Lek telah mempunyai blog masing-masing selepas berlakunya “tsunami” yang hampir-hampir menyungkurkan BN.
Mungkin ada ramai lagi pemimpin BN mempunyai blog atau yang sedang membuat blog tetapi belum saya jumpai.
"Sindrom blog" yang melanda pemimpin-pemimpin BN ini, pada pendapat saya, kerana mereka sedang berada dalam tahap penafian selepas pilihanraya umum ke-12.
Mereka ini tidak dapat menerima hakikat tentang prestasi buruk BN dan menjadikan blog atau internet sebagai punca utama kekalahan.
Pada pandangan mereka, punca utama kekalahan itu kerana mereka tidak memberi perhatian kepada blog atau internet.
Mereka cuba lari daripada masalah sebenar yang menyebabkan kekalahan BN.
Mereka terlupa bahawa BN telah menjadi parti politik kepada golongan elit dan bukannya rakyat marhaen seperti dahulu.
Contohnya, jika kita melihat Umno.
Kalau dahulu Umno dipenuhi golongan bawahan seperti guru, tetapi kini tidak lagi.
Umno sekarang sarang peniaga-peniaga Melayu yang bergantung kepada kontrak kerajaan.
Kalau dahulu orang Melayu masuk Umno untuk jadi pejuang, kini telah berubah.
Orang Melayu sekarang masuk Umno dengan harapan kelas ekonomi mereka dapat dipertingkatkan. Pemimpin-pemimpin BN juga terlupa bahawa rasuah dan penyelewengan telah menyebabkan mereka menjadi tidak popular.
Tambahan lagi sikap sombong dan angkuh telah mendorong rakyat bangkit menghukum mereka.
Rakyat tidak mungkin melupakan bagaimana menantu perdana menteri dan PM sendiri menggeluarkan kenyataan angkuh sebelum perhimpunan Bersih pada 10 November 2007. Mengapa blog menjadi begitu popular di Malaysia?
Popularnya blog di sini jauh lebih tinggi berbanding di negara jiran kita seperti Thailand, Filipina dan Indonesia. Rakan-rakan saya dari negara tersebut terpesona dengan perkembangan media baru di Malaysia seperti laman web dan blog.
Jawapannya mudah - kerana di Malaysia, kerajaan mengawal ketat seluruh media arus perdana. Pelbagai akta yang tidak demokratik seperti Akta Penerbitan dan Mesin Cetak digunakan untuk memastikan segala maklumat, pandangan dan tafsiran dapat dikawal oleh kerajaan.
Kawalan ini menyebabkan media arus perdana berada di tahap “tepu” dan sukar berkembang lagi.
Laporan-laporan yang berat sebelah dan memihak kepada kerajaan mendorong rakyat yang semakin bijak mencari media-media alternatif seperti laman web dan blog di internet.
Buktinya boleh dilihat apabila berlakun peristiwa-peristiwa politik besar di Malaysia seperti perhimpunan Bersih dan Hindraf, laman web seperti Malaysiakini dan Malaysia Today mengalami “kesesakan yang teruk” oleh kerana terlalu ramai pembaca cuba mencapainya hampir serentaj sehingga ia sukar diakses.
Shabery harus bertanya mengapa pembaca memilih untuk mencari maklumat di laman web dan laman blog untuk mengetahui tentang isu-isu semasa berbanding dengan media arus perdana?
RTM yang dimiliki oleh negara seharusnya menjadi media yang pro-rakyat dan berhenti menjadi “mesin propaganda BN” untuk terus relevan di Malaysia.
Laporan dalam RTM seharusnya tidak lagi berat sebelah dan terbuka kepada semua pihak termasuklah Pakatan Rakyat.
Jika Shabery mahu RTM naik setaraf BBC, beliau harus bersedia menjadikan RTM sebuah media yang bebas dan independen.
Beliau harus bersedia memastikan RTM menyiarkan kritikan-kritikan kepada perdana menteri, timbalan perdana menteri dan menteri kabinet termasuk diri beliau sendiri.
Kerana inilah yang dilakukan oleh BBC.
Walaupun didanai oleh kerajaan British, BBC tetap menyiarkan kritikan-kritikan kepada perdana menteri Britain dan parti pemerintahnya.
Jika perkara ini tidak dilakukan oleh Shabery, RTM akan tetap menjadi tidak popular.
Jika alasan utama mengawal RTM ialah untuk memastikan pengundi-pengundi Melayu di luar bandar terus bersama BN, hentikanlah.
Pengundi-pengundi Melayu di luar bandar kini sudah bijak.
Kalaupun mereka tidak dapat mengakses maklumat alternatif, mereka mempunyai anak-anak yang belajar atau bekerja di Kuala Lumpur.
Anak-anak inilah yang menyampaikan kepada mereka apa yang sebenarnya berlaku di Malaysia.
Rancangan “Blog” di RTM bukanlah bermakna RTM sudah bebas dan independen.
Reformasi pertama yang harus dilakukan oleh Shabery ialah "membebaskan RTM daripada politik kepartian".
Jika ia berjaya dilakukan, RTM tidak mustahil akan berubah dan menjadi media rakyat.
Jika tidak, reformasi yang cuba dilakukan oleh Shabery bolehlah dianggap perubahan kosmetik semata-mata.
Alahai Shabery...
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Ex-minister had no intention of outraging my modesty, says lounge promoter
Ex-minister had no intention of outraging my modesty, says lounge promoter
By LOURDES CHARLES
KUALA LUMPUR: The woman who alleged that a former Cabinet minister had outraged her modesty now wants to withdraw her report, claiming she “misunderstood” the incident.
The 30-year-old promoter at a lounge in a five-star hotel here, in a statutory declaration sent to Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail through her lawyer Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said she was “sensitive and moody” at the time of the incident last Thursday.
She said she had known the former minister over the past five years, and that he had acted in jest without any bad intention. However, she said she felt offended at that time due to her “complicated mood which led to her lodging a police report the next day.
“I realise now that I may have misunderstood the entire episode that took place last Thursday.
“When he jokes, he sometimes likes to touch my shoulder or arms but it is something that I accepted as normal among friends especially those we have known for a long time,” she said in her statement.
The woman also said she regretted lodging the police report, as there was no intention on the part of the former minister, who is still an MP, to outrage her modesty or act inappropriately.
She said she was used to the VIP’s jokes and “rough ways” and had never objected to his actions nor felt offended by it previously.
“I cannot remember exactly the conversation between me and the VIP although in my statement to the police I may have said something else.
“I am afraid I may have misinterpreted or misheard (him). The VIP concerned is known to always joke like that and it is normal for him to be like that,” she said, and apologised for lodging the report.
Gani confirmed he had received a fax copy of the statutory declaration from Muhammad Shafee.
“I will forward this request to the police and it is up to them to investigate and get back to me,” he said.
By LOURDES CHARLES
KUALA LUMPUR: The woman who alleged that a former Cabinet minister had outraged her modesty now wants to withdraw her report, claiming she “misunderstood” the incident.
The 30-year-old promoter at a lounge in a five-star hotel here, in a statutory declaration sent to Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail through her lawyer Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said she was “sensitive and moody” at the time of the incident last Thursday.
She said she had known the former minister over the past five years, and that he had acted in jest without any bad intention. However, she said she felt offended at that time due to her “complicated mood which led to her lodging a police report the next day.
“I realise now that I may have misunderstood the entire episode that took place last Thursday.
“When he jokes, he sometimes likes to touch my shoulder or arms but it is something that I accepted as normal among friends especially those we have known for a long time,” she said in her statement.
The woman also said she regretted lodging the police report, as there was no intention on the part of the former minister, who is still an MP, to outrage her modesty or act inappropriately.
She said she was used to the VIP’s jokes and “rough ways” and had never objected to his actions nor felt offended by it previously.
“I cannot remember exactly the conversation between me and the VIP although in my statement to the police I may have said something else.
“I am afraid I may have misinterpreted or misheard (him). The VIP concerned is known to always joke like that and it is normal for him to be like that,” she said, and apologised for lodging the report.
Gani confirmed he had received a fax copy of the statutory declaration from Muhammad Shafee.
“I will forward this request to the police and it is up to them to investigate and get back to me,” he said.
Sidang akhbar Balkis
Sidang akhbar Balkis
Tujuan sidang akhbar ini dibuat adalah bagi menjelaskan isu berkaitan dengan pembubaran Persatuan Badan Amal dan Kebajikan Isteri-isteri Selangor “BALKIS” supaya tidak timbul lagi tohmahan yang tidak berasas dari pelbagai pihak terhadap BALKIS.
1. BALKIS telah ditubuhkan atas inisiatif isteri Menteri Besar, isteri-isteri semua ahli-ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri “ADUN” dan ahli Dewan Rakyat dalam negeri Selangor yang dianggotai oleh ahli biasa iaitu isteri Menteri Besar, isteri speaker, isteri-isteri ahli-ahli EXCO, isteri-isteri ADUN, isteri-isteri Ahli Dewan Rakyat Selangor, isteri-isteri ahli Dewan Negara Selangor termasuk isteri-isteri bekas-bekas ahli Dewan yang disebutkan tadi. Keahlian juga meliputi ahli bersekutu namun ahli bersekutu tiada kuasa mengundi. Ianya selaras dengan Fasal 5 Perlembagaan BALKIS. Penubuhan utamanya bertujuan sebagai satu badan amal yang dapat membantu mereka yang kurang bernasib baik dari segi mengembeling tenaga, daya usaha dan bantuan kewangan. Penubuhan BALKIS adalah di bawah Akta Pertubuhan 1966 dan berfungsi sepertimana badan-badan dan pertubuhan-pertubuhan lain yang dibentuk di bawah Akta Pertubuhan 1966. Adalah ditegaskan di sini BALKIS tidak ditubuhkan di bawah mana-mana undang-undang lain.
2. Sebelum seorang Menteri Besar dilantik menjadi Yang Di Pertua BALKIS, ianya hendaklah disahkan dahulu oleh satu mesyuarat Agung serta mendapat persetujuan dari isteri Menteri Besar itu sendiri dan ini selaras dengan peruntukan fasal 9.3(a) Perlembagaan BALKIS. Saya menegaskan di sini pada tarikh pembubaran BALKIS, Menteri Besar Selangor yang baru belum dilantik dan oleh itu isteri Menteri Besar belum dilantik menjadi Yang Di Pertua BALKIS. Ini bermakna saya masih memegang jawatan Yang Di Pertua. Oleh itu tidak timbul saya tiada mempunyai kuasa untuk mempengerusi mesyuarat Agung yang dipanggil untuk tujuan pembubaran BALKIS.
3. BALKIS telah dibubarkan di atas persetujuan ahli-ahli BALKIS sendiri yang mana lebih daripada dua pertiga (2/3) ahli biasa BALKIS telah bersetuju supaya BALKIS dibubarkan pada tarikh 11 Mac 2008 semasa Mesyuarat Agung Khas BALKIS diadakan. Seramai lebih daripada satu perlima (1/5) ahli biasa BALKIS telah memanggil satu mesyuarat agung khas bagi tujuan pembubaran tersebut. Pemanggilan mesyuarat agung khas ini dan pembubaran BALKIS telah dibuat selaras dengan peruntukan fasal 15(1) Perlembagaan BALKIS dan fasal 12 Perlembagaan. Minit-minit mesyuarat BALKIS boleh mengesahkan pematuhan segala peruntukan undang-undang ini.
4. Tindakan yang dilakukan oleh ahli-ahli BALKIS sebaik pembubarannya iaitu dengan memindahkan segala baki wang BALKIS kepada BAKTI adalah selaras dengan peruntukan Fasal 15 (2) Perlembagaan BALKIS yang memperuntukkan bahawa segala baki wang yang ada, setelah menjelaskan hutang dan tanggungannya, akan didermakan kepada kerajaan atau tabung lain yang serupa yang diluluskan oleh Ketua Pengarah Hasil dalam Negeri Malaysia. BAKTI sebagai satu badan yang dibentuk atas tujuan yang hampir sama dengan BALKIS dirasakan paling sesuai untuk didermakan wang baki tabung BALKIS ini. Segala keputusan berkaitan dengan pembubaran dan mendermakan wang BALKIS ini telah dibuat oleh ahli-ahli biasa BALKIS semasa mesyuarat agung luar biasa dan bukannya keputusan saya sebagai Yang Di Pertua atau pun keputusan Jawatankuasa BALKIS dan ianya telah dilakukan dengan mematuhi segala peruntukan undang-undang.
5. Berkaitan dengan wang sumbangan yang diterima oleh BALKIS, ianya adalah mengikut peruntukan Fasal 8 Perlembagaan BALKIS yang mana punca kewangan BALKIS boleh di antara lainnya datang dari sumbangan kerajaan. Ini bermakna ianya termasuklah juga daripada syarikat-syarikat yang berkaitan dengan kerajaan. Oleh itu, apabila sumbangan yang diterima oleh BALKIS ianya menjadi milik BALKIS. Justeru itu, tidak timbul persoalan bahawa wang tersebut telah dikeluarkan semula dan dipulangkan kepada kerajaan negeri atau mana-mana syarikat kerajaan yang telah memberi sumbangan tersebut. Tambahan pula ianya telah disalurkan kepada pertubuhan lain yang juga berkaitan dengan tujuan kegiatan kebajikan. Mana-mana pihak tidak perlu bimbang kerana pihak BALKIS berkeyakinan penuh wang tersebut akan terus digunakan bagi tujuan kebajikan oleh pihak BAKTI.
6. Kenyataan ini adalah bagi menjawab segala tohmahan yang tidak berasas dan tidak tepat terhadap saya dan pihak BALKIS selama ini. Harapan saya setelah pejelasan terperinci ini dibuat tiada mana-mana pihak melemparkan tuduhan dan tohmahan yang tidak berasas, BALKIS akan merujuk dengan peguamnya untuk mengambil tindakan selanjutnya.
BADAN AMAL DAN KEBAJIKAN ISTERI-ISTERI SELANGOR (BALKIS).
Mara will handle money, not Pakatan governments
The Star Online > Nation Sunday April 27, 2008
Mara will handle money, not Pakatan governments
IPOH: The Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry has rerouted its funds meant for the five Pakatan Rakyat states, claiming that the move would prevent the rakyat from being “victimised”.
Its minister Datuk Noh Omar said the funds would be channelled through Mara in those states. He however did not explain what he meant by the word “victimised”.
“Previously, the funds were channelled through the respective State Economic Development Corporation,” he told reporters after opening the Perak Malay Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting here yesterday.
Noh also criticised the Selangor and Perak state governments for their decision to charge rental on the land occupied by the ministry’s training centres in the two states.
“The centres provide training for everybody regardless of their political beliefs.
“But the state governments are more interested in profit and failed to see the services provided by the ministry to the people,” he said.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Jamaluddin Jarjis
Background
Jamaluddin is a highly qualified electrical engineer. He graduated with first class honours in Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
He went on to pursue his higher degrees in Canada. He obtained a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Manitoba and a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Power System) from McGill University in 1980. The title of his PhD thesis is "Loadflow Feasibility Conditions in Power Networks".
Jamaluddin Jarjis has held a number of positions throughout his professional career. He began his career as a lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1974.
In 1984, he established his own engineering consultancy firm, J&A Associates. Since then, he has become the Executive Vice Chairman of EPE Power Corporation and Chairman of Tenaga Nasional Berhad, the national power supply company.
Jamaluddin is a highly qualified electrical engineer. He graduated with first class honours in Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
He went on to pursue his higher degrees in Canada. He obtained a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Manitoba and a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Power System) from McGill University in 1980. The title of his PhD thesis is "Loadflow Feasibility Conditions in Power Networks".
Jamaluddin Jarjis has held a number of positions throughout his professional career. He began his career as a lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1974.
In 1984, he established his own engineering consultancy firm, J&A Associates. Since then, he has become the Executive Vice Chairman of EPE Power Corporation and Chairman of Tenaga Nasional Berhad, the national power supply company.
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Police today record a statement from former Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis regarding sexual harassment report made by the five star hotel employee.Its is learn that Jamaluddin well know as JJ give his statement at 11am today.
The victim, a 32-year-old assistant supervisor, lodged a police reportagainst JJ last Friday at 9pm, a day after the alleged molest.
The woman claimed in the report that the ex-minister had entered thehotel's tobacco outlet she was employed at and asked for a closer look ata selection of cigars displayed in a glass case. She claimed that the 57-year-old former minister touched her waistwhile he was choosing a cigar from the case placed on the glass counter.
In the report, the woman also claimed that the former minister'slanguage was filled with sexual overtones. Shocked by the former minister's attitude, she politely told him off.
He stopped but she claimed that, as he was leaving, the man touched heragain and allegedly made another sexually-charged remark before walkingout of the premises and acted like nothing had happened.
A source said the former minister paid for the cigar before walking outof the outlet and had instructed the victim to deliver the item to him atthe hotel's lobby lounge.
The victim complied with the request. At the lounge, the woman claimed the former minister uttered moresexually offensive remarks that made his friends laugh.
Annoyed, the woman told him off again and walked away.
She lodged thepolice report the next day.
But on Wednesday, the woman withdrew her report through her lawyer, claiming that she had "misunderstood” the incident.
The woman’s lawyer, Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (one of the top and expensive lawyer in town), said she was “sensitive and moody” at the time of the incident happen.
He said that the statutory declaration to withdraw the police report was handed over to the AG's Chambers and the police.
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