~penarik beca (2)

'Umno needs Perkasa'

2010-09-10T19:01:00.002+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR (NST 9/9/10): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that Umno cannot afford to distance itself from Perkasa as it represented a large number of Malay voters.

The former prime minister said Umno could lose seats in the next general election if it chose to distance itself from the Malay rights group.

"Perkasa members are Umno supporters. It would not help Umno's cause to turn them away," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

He was commenting on Wednesday's announcement by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor that Umno would not support Perkasa or its president, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, at the next general election.

On Tengku Adnan's comment that any support by Umno for Perkasa would erode support for Barisan National among non-Malays, Dr Mahathir said it was more important for Umno to worry about losing Malay voters.

"The non-Malays are unlikely to support Umno anyway. Right now, Umno and BN should be careful not to discount those who support them."

He said Umno could not afford to alienate itself from Malay groups such as Perkasa, which were formed because they believed Umno was not doing enough to protect Malay interests.

"Perkasa isn't the only group out there. There are many Malay non-governmental organisations which exist because they feel Umno is not looking after their rights and interests.

"In my time, we could afford to ignore small groups like these. In fact, there weren't any small groups -- they were all Umno supporters.

"But now Umno is weak and needs the help of these organisations which comprise a significant number of Umno and BN voters."

Nik Aziz tetap mahu muktamar khas walaupun ada yang tolak

2009-10-25T02:16:00.002+08:00

Bernama (24/10/09): Mursyidul Am PAS Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat tetap dengan keputusannya meminta pimpinan parti itu mengadakan muktamar agung khas bagi menentukan kedudukan beberapa pemimpin yang menimbulkan masalah dalaman kepada parti berhubung isu kerajaan perpaduan.

Katanya beliau tidak kisah walaupun ada negeri yang menolak cadangan itu, kerana apa yang penting hasrat untuk menyampaikan isi hatinya demi menyelamatkan parti, tercapai.

"Saya tidak akan menarik balik cadangan itu kerana ia dibuat atas hasrat dan isi hati saya sendiri yang mahu menyelamatkan parti," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Masjid Noraini, Kampung Pasir Hor, dekat sini pada hari Sabtu.

Turut hadir bekas Menteri Luar, Tengku Ahmad Rithaudden yang membiayai pembinaan masjid berharga RM500,000 di kampung itu.

Menteri Besar Kelantan itu berkata demikian ketika ditanya mengenai cadangannya, supaya PAS mengadakan muktamar khas bagi menentukan kedudukan pemimpinnya, ditolak oleh sesetengah pemimpin PAS peringkat negeri atas alasan cadangan itu tidak perlu kerana tidak wujud pergolakan kepimpinan parti itu sama ada di peringkat pusat mahupun negeri ketika ini.

Sambil menafikan bahawa cadangan itu dibuat kerana terpengaruh oleh individu tertentu dalam politik, Nik Abdul Aziz berkata beliau sudah matang dalam politik dan tidak perlu mengikut telunjuk mana-mana pihak.

Pada majlis yang sama, Naib Presiden PAS, Salehuddin Ayub berkata pimpinan tertinggi PAS akan membincangkan amanat Mursyidul Amnya itu berhubung cadangan mengadakan muktamar khas parti itu dalam masa terdekat ini, selepas mengadakan pertemuan dengan Nik Abdul Aziz.

Muktamar Khas buang pemimpin bermasalah

Sinar Harian (24/10/08): Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (gambar) mencadangkan sebuah Muktamar Khas diadakan membincangkan kedudukan ‘dua tiga kerat pemimpin bermasalah’ termasuk Presidennya, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Nik Aziz yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan dalam laman webnya www.blogtokguru.com. berkata, perlu ada perubahan dalam 'pemain-pemain penting' yang menduduki kerusi kepimpinan Pas di peringkat pusat.

Menurutnya, dengan adanya Muktamar Khas itu nanti, Pas boleh menentukan keputusan majoriti parti sama ada mahukan Kerajaan Perpaduan dengan Umno ataupun terus bersama dengan Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“Isu kita ialah isu dua tiga kerat pemimpin bermasalah, bila Muktamar Khas nanti tak mahu tukar Presiden (Abdul Hadi) misalnya, maka tidak mengapalah. Kita pakat-pakat 'belaloh' (bercakaran pendapat).

“Orang boleh terima atau tak boleh terima, bawa ke Muktamar Khas, senang cerita. Biar tentu sah, nak ikut yang mana.

"Kita nak kekal yang mana dan buang yang mana. Dengan Muktamar Khas yang boleh menjelaskan dan memutuskan banyak perkara ini,” katanya.

Nik Aziz turut menegur beberapa pemimpin Pas terutamanya Setiausaha Agung, Datuk Mustafa Ali dan Pesuruhjaya Pas Selangor, Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali yang kelihatan pro-Umno untuk membentuk sebuah kerajaan perpaduan.

“Tenggelam-tenggelam, timbul (isu kerajaan perpaduan), kemudian dihidupkan.

"Kemudian dimatikan pula bila nampak orang marah. Apa ni? Tidak boleh jadi ni, kita duk 'ghok-ghak' (kacau) begini. Orang boleh terima atau tak boleh terima, bawa ke Muktamar Khaslah, senang cerita,” katanya,

Beliau turut bersetuju dengan tulisan kolumnis Prof Dr Aziz Bari dalam akhbar ini keluaran 19 Oktober lalu yang membangkitkan mengenai isu berhubung beberapa pemimpin parti itu yang bermasalah.

Nik Aziz berkata, Muktamar Khas itu juga boleh digunakan untuk membincang mengenai golongan atas pagar yang membuat 'swing votes' dan mempengaruhi keputusan pilihan raya.

Sementara itu ketika ditemui di KOTA BHARU, Nik Aziz berkata, cadangan mengadakan Muktamar Khas kerana kecewa dengan sikap beberapa pemimpin parti itu yang pro-Umno.

Menurutnya, beliau bertanggungjawab mengemukakan cadangan tersebut setelah melihat isu yang dianggap selesai pada Muktamar Pas sebelum ini dibangkitkan pihak-pihak tertentu.

“Itu pandangan saya, jika pimpinan pusat atau Dewan Harian boleh terima. Jika tidak terimalah tidak mengapa, saya tidak terkilan, tetapi hati saya lepas lah, saya tidak mahu Pas ini ditegur tetapi buat senyap. Presiden juga boleh ditegur,” katanya.

Abdul Hadi yang dihubungi di KUALA TERENGGANU pula enggan memberi sebarang ulasan dengan alasan tidak mengetahui perkara itu kerana masih belum membaca kenyataan tersebut.

"Saya akan menghubungi Nik Abdul Aziz untuk mendapatkan pengesahan tentang Muktamar Khas tersebut sebelum memberi sebarang kenyataan," katanya.

Nik Aziz sanggup PAS pecah berikutan cadangannya mengadakan muktamar khas

2009-10-23T23:39:00.001+08:00

Bernama (23/10/09): Mursyidul Am PAS, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat berkata beliau sedia menghadapi sebarang kemungkinan jika cadangannya supaya PAS mengadakan Muktamar Agung Luar Biasa boleh mencetuskan perpecahan di kalangan anggota partinya.

Katanya beliau sedia berbuat sesuatu bagi menyelamatkan parti daripada terus menimbulkan tanda tanya berhubung cadangan beberapa pemimpin tertinggi parti berhubung isu kerajaan perpaduan sehingga menimbulkan kecelaruan dalam parti.

Katanya, beliau bosan dengan gelagat beberapa pemimpin yang membangkitkan isu kerajaan perpaduan yang disifatkan sesekali timbul dan sesekali tenggelam.

"Ini untuk mengelakkan orang tertanya-tanya dan teraba-raba, dan tergantung tanpa diambil sesuatu tindakan.

"Sedangkan kita (PAS) sebuah parti Islam, maka saya kena buat sesuatu untuk menentukan kedudukan pemimpin, termasuk Presiden sendiri," katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditemui di rumahnya di Pulau Melaka, dekat sini, Jumaat.

Beliau mengesahkan mengemukakan pandangan itu dalam laman blognya semalam, kerana kecewa dengan sikap beberapa pemiMpin yang sering menimbulkan masalah dalam parti kerana membangkitkan isu kerajaan perpaduan sedangkan PAS sudah membuat keputusan muktamad tidak akan bekerjasama dengan Umno atas dasar politik.

Ini kerana, katanya, ia telah diputuskan dalam Muktamar Aung parti itu tahun lepas.

Ditanya sama ada muktamar luar biasa itu boleh menimbulkan perpecahan di kalangan anggota parti, Menteri Besar Kelantan itu menegaskan: "Nak pecah, pecah gi lah apa boleh buat. Saya tak suka orang tegur Presiden saya, kedudukan pemimpin (termasuk Presiden atau pemimpin lain) bergantung kepada keputusan muktamar.

Menurutnya cetusan cadangan supaya mengadakan muktamar biasa itu lahir daripada artikel penganalisis politik Aziz Bari dan teguran rombongan daripada Sabah dan Sarawak yang mempersoalkan beberapa kerat pemimpin PAS yang condong kepada Umno berikutan usaha mewujudkan kerajaan perpaduan.

"Saya sedih kerana ada pemimpin yang tidak menghormati keputusan muktamar agung itu, dan saya tidak suka orang tegur parti dan pemimpin saya, tanpa saya berbuat sesuatu, senyap," katanya.

Menurutnya, soal untuk mengadakan muktamar luar biasa atau apa bentuk sekalipun ia terpulang kepada parti kerana baginya beliau sudah berpuas hati dapat menyuarakan perasaannya dalam menangani isu itu.

Markas Pemuda PAS diceroboh, petugas ditetak

2009-10-08T11:57:00.004+08:00

BAGAN PINANG (Harakahdaily 8/10/09): Lebih enam orang petugas Dewan Pemuda PAS (DPP) dipukul dan ada yang ditetak dangan parang oleh sekumpulan lelaki ketika sedang bertugas di beberapa tempat termasuk di markas induk DPP di Bagan Pinang.

Dalam kejadian jam 3.30 pagi tadi, sekumpulan 20 lelaki bermotosikal dipercayai penyokong BN telah menyerbu dan menceroboh markas induk DPP dan menumbuk petugas yang berada di situ.

Selain ditumbuk, pemuda PAS terbabit juga dihalau keluar meninggalkan markas itu.

Turut difahamkan ramai lagi petugas PAS di pukul malah ada juga yang dikejar dengan parang hingga ke rumah.

Seorang Exco DPP, Suhaizan Kayat yang maklum berkenaan kejadian tersebut berkata, penyokong Umno BN terbabit tidak berpuas hati kerana mandakwa pemuda PAS telah menjatuhkan bendera dan kain rentang parti mereka.

"Mereka tuduh kita jatuhkan berndera dan poster Umno BN. Mereka semua datang ke markas induk, terus tumbuk petugas kita bertubi tubi. Bayangkan dari luar mereka tumbuk sampai la ke dalam markas," ujar Suhaizan yang juga Ketua Penerangan DPP.

Kejadian sama juga berlaku di beberapa lagi markas pemuda yang lain, namun semua bukti dan maklumat lengkap sedang dikumpulkan.

(Gambar: Salah seorang mangsa yang ditetak dengan parang)

Suhaizan juga kesal di atas kejadian itu menganggap penyokong Umno BN tersebut bertindak membelakangi undang-undang.

"Sepatutnya kalau ada bukti, buat lah laporan Polis, bukannya datang serang macam ni," katanya.

Ekoran kejadian tersebut, DDP telah mengarahkan semua pemuda di seluruh negeri datang ke Bagan Pinang hari ini bagi membantu gerak kerja kempen di sini.

Satu taklimat khas kepada pemuda yang hadir akan di adakan malam ini di markas induk mereka.

"Kita arahkan semua pemuda seluruh negeri datang bantu kita di sini, kita bukan nak buat kacau, tapi kita nak berkawal untuk keselamatan," ujar Suhaizan lagi.

Mereka juga yakin tindakan penyokong Umno tersebut sebgai terdesak dan cuba memerangkap pemuda PAS agar bertindak agresif bagi dijadikan modal kempen mereka.

"Kita yakin, ini satu provokasi dan perangkap mereka. Modus operandi sama sebelum ini diguna Abdul Azeez, tapi nampaknya tak berjaya. Jadi ini dia agenda mereka seterusnya," ujarnya lagi.

Dalam perkembangan lain, seorang saksi mendakwa dia melihat kumpulan samseng tersebut menggunakan senjata semasa melakukan serangan di beberapa tempat lain.

"Saya nampak mereka guna kayu, topi keledar, pedang dan senjata lain seperti besi semasa melakukan serangan," dakwa seorang saksi yang tidak mahu namanya didedahkan.

Selain mengoyakkan poster dan kain rentang PAS, samseng terbabit juga dikatakan turut memecahkan cermin dan merosakkan kereta milik penyokong Pakatan.

Harakaydaily bagaimanapun dalam usaha mancari kesahihan maklumat tersebut.

Berikutan itu DPP akan mengadakan satu sidang media tergempar dai Pejabat Agung PAS Jalan Raja Laut, jam 11 pagi ini.

Sidang media tersebut akan diketuai Ketua DPP Pusat, Ustaz Nasarudin Hassan dan Suhaizan sendiri.

Turut akan didedahkan dalam sidang media tersebut adalah berkaitan maklumat terbaru penyelewengan undi pos.

Calon pemilihan Pas bidas larang kempen di Harakah

2009-05-29T02:08:00.000+08:00

Kenyataan terbuka Mustafa boleh burukkan imej parti

Berita Harian Online (27/5/09): Pemimpin dan calon Pas yang bertanding pada pemilihan parti membidas tindakan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pemilihan, Datuk Mustafa Ali, yang mengeluarkan kenyataan secara terbuka mengenai larangan berkempen dalam Harakah, lidah rasmi parti itu.

Ketua Penerangan Pas, Datuk Mahfuz Omar, berkata, tidak wajar Mustafa membuat kenyataan secara terbuka mengenai larangan itu, sebaliknya memadai dengan menjelaskan kepada kakitangan Harakah untuk tidak menyiarkan apa saja kenyataan yang boleh dikaitkan dengan kempen.

Beliau yang juga calon Naib Presiden, berkata tindakan itu boleh dilakukan secara senyap kerana semua pihak terutama calon sedia maklum bahawa parti tidak membenarkan Harakah menyiarkan sebarang kempen kecuali yang membabitkan isu atau kenyataan daripada biro yang diketuai calon berkenaan.

"Tidak perlu disebut di khalayak, seolah-olah menggambarkan betapa seriusnya isu itu cuba ditangani oleh parti sedangkan perwakilan sudah matang memilih pemimpin," katanya.

Akhbar semalam melaporkan kenyataan Mustafa mengenai larangan berkempen dalam Harakah, tetapi mereka dibenarkan berkempen dalam media arus perdana.

Ketua Dewan Muslimat, Nuridah Mohd Salleh, berkata kenyataan secara terbuka mengenai isu itu mengundang pelbagai spekulasi yang boleh memburukkan imej parti, sedangkan ia tidak seteruk yang digambarkan.

"Tidak perlu membuat kenyataan seperti itu kerana saya lihat setakat ini tiada calon kenyataannya disiarkan dalam Harakah adalah semata-mata untuk berkempen, sebaliknya hanya menyatakan pendirian biro atau dewan diketuai mereka.

"Saya sendiri tidak pernah terfikir untuk berkempen walaupun saya mempunyai laman blog sendiri kerana saya yakin keupayaan perwakilan untuk memilih pemimpin mereka," katanya.

Timbalan Pesuruhjaya Pas Terengganu, Datuk Harun Taib yang menang tanpa bertanding jawatan Ketua Dewan Ulama Pas turut memberi reaksi yang sama apabila mempertikaikan tindakan Mustafa.

"Tidak perlu mengeluarkan kenyataan seumpama itu kerana beliau adalah Pengerusi Harakah yang boleh memberi arahan secara terus supaya akhbar itu tidak dijadikan alat untuk berkempen oleh mana-mana calon.

"Saya yakin perwakilan lebih matang dan takkanlah perwakilan boleh disamakan dengan pengundi kawasan pilihan raya," katanya.

'Ulamak' must hold top PAS posts, says scholars

2009-05-02T14:28:00.000+08:00

The Star (2/5/09): PAS’ council of Islamic scholars wants the two top posts in the party to be held by the alim ulamak (learned men in Islamic studies).

This was to ensure the continuity of the party’s policies of setting up an Islamic country, said the Dewan Ulamak chief Datuk Mohamed Daud Iraqi.

“The men are to play a pivotal role to provide advice and to make sure the Islamic approach is the basis of the party’s direction,” he said in an interview.

According to him, it was important that the president and deputy president posts be helmed by the ulamak.

“An ulamak must be chosen for the two top posts and there is no two ways about it,” Mohamed said.

He said they should “follow the Islamic approach to the hilt,” citing leaders from Islamic history who were ulamak.

“And then we had a leader like Yazid Muawiyah who did things that were against Islam, resulting in civil unrest. This is the outcome of having a leader who isn’t an ulamak.”

Thus, Mohamed said the ulamak must be given priority although non-ulamak were also vying for such posts, he said, referring to the campaigning for the June party election where there could be a possible tussle for the deputy president’s post.

For the other posts, Mohamed said it did not matter whether the intellectuals or professionals or even modernists took them up.

Five names have surfaced as likely contenders for the deputy president’s post – incumbent Nasharud-din Mat Isa, PAS vice-presidents Datuk Husam Musa and Mohammad Sabu, Kedah PAS commissioner Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak and Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hassan Ali.

Of the five, only Husam has yet to state whether he would be vying for it, saying that the party’s direction was now doubtful following the “secret” meeting between PAS and Umno early this year.

Mohamed said Nasharuddin and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang were learned men but if there were better ones, the delegates could make a change.

Mohamed also said that he would relinquish his duty as the council chief at the coming PAS general assembly due to his age.

“There are other capable leaders like Datuk Haron Taib (PAS central committee member) and Datuk Ahmad Yakob (Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar) to take over,” he added.

Nik Aziz’s PAs blamed for friction

2009-04-29T11:09:00.000+08:00

The Star (29/4/09): The son of PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has blamed his father’s personal assistants for the friction with party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang on the matter of a unity government.

Utusan Malaysia quoted Nik Abduh, who is also the deputy Kelantan PAS Youth chief, as saying that the assistants had given his father the wrong impression on the concept for the sake of political mileage.

“So, the concept of a unity government that he rejected is the one that he’s been made to understand by assistants who claim to be knowledgeable. They are happy to create friction between my father and the party president.

“They thought they were doing good but they are actually lost. May they receive retribution for their evil deed from Allah!” he wrote in his blog.

Nik Abduh said it was evident that his father had changed his mind on the unity government because he stopped issuing statements against it after meeting with Abdul Hadi and 10 PAS ulamas recently.

The Kelantan Mentri Besar had earlier written in the same blog that if Barisan Nasional wanted to form a unity government with PAS, it should consider giving up the senior posts of finance and education ministers.

MB akan jawab isu negara perpaduan, ‘pembantu sesat’

2009-04-29T11:05:00.002+08:00

Sinar Harian (29/4/09): Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat akan memperjelaskan isu berhubung negara perpaduan dan ‘pembantu sesat’ seperti yang didakwa anaknya, Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz sebaik tiba di tanah air selepas mengerjakan umrah.

Menurut sumber terdekatnya, beliau akan tiba di tanah air pada Ahad ini selepas lebih dua minggu mengerjakan umrah bersama isteri, Datin Tuan Sabariah Tuan Ishak dan anak bongsunya, Nik Salsabila Nik Abdul Aziz.

“Insya-Allah Tok Guru akan selesaikan isu negara perpaduan dan dakwaan mengenai pembantu sesat beliau itu setiba beliau di tanah air nanti,” katanya ketika menghubungi Sinar Harian, semalam.

Menurut sumber itu, tidak timbul soal pembantu sesat kerana Mursyidul Am itu kenal setiap pembantunya dan kebanyakan mereka telah lama bekerja dengan beliau.

“Bagi saya dakwaan kononnya wujud pembantu yang menyalurkan maklumat tidak tepat seperti yang didakwa Nik Abduh itu tidak berasaskan kerana Tok Guru bukanlah seorang yang menerima pandangan sewenang-we-nangnya.

“Sebaliknya beliau akan meneliti setiap pandangan yang diterima dengan teliti dan mengkajinya sebaik mungkin,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas dakwaan Nik Abduh dalam laman blog rasminya mendedahkan bahawa dia percaya ‘pembantu-pembantu’ ayahnya berkonspirasi dengan niat untuk melaga-lagakan Nik Aziz dengan Presiden Pas itu.

“Sebenarnya cadangan untuk menubuhkan kerajaan perpaduan yang dicadangkan Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang telah ditolak oleh perwakilan pada Muktamar ke-51 yang lepas. Jadi soal itu tidak timbul sekarang,” katanya.

Khairy tegur syarat Pas

2009-04-29T11:02:00.001+08:00

Berita Harian (29/4/09): Pemuda Umno menyambut baik kesediaan Pas berbincang dengan Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi membentuk kerajaan campuran tetapi mahu ia diadakan tanpa syarat.

Ketuanya, Khairy Jamaluddin, berkata kenyataan Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat yang tidak menolak kerajaan campuran dengan BN adalah titik tolak penting untuk parti itu dengan BN.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, perbincangan itu perlu diadakan tanpa syarat seperti kemahuan Nik Abdul Aziz yang mahu Kementerian Kewangan dan Kementerian Pendidikan diserah kepada Pas.

“Jika Pas ikhlas membentuk kerajaan campuran, jangan letak syarat,” katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

Khairy mengulas kenyataan Nik Aziz yang BN mesti menyerahkan dua kementerian penting itu jika ingin menawarkan kerajaan campuran.

Perkara itu dinyatakan anak lelaki Nik Abdul Aziz, Nik Abduh, dalam blognya yang menafikan bapanya tidak bersifat terbuka dalam soal kerajaan campuran atau perpaduan.

Khairy berkata, Pemuda ingin menjemput Pas mengadakan perbincangan dengan BN mengenai soal itu tanpa syarat ditetapkan.

Beliau berkata, melalui perbincangan itu, BN dan Pas boleh menentukan formula perkongsian kuasa yang diperlukan.

Sementara itu, ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, gembira dengan keprihatinan Nik Abdul Aziz yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan bagi mengadakan kerjasama dengan Umno dan BN.

Namun, katanya, perbincangan perlu diadakan tanpa syarat kerana ia boleh menjejaskan asas persefahaman.

“Yang terbaik kita dahului kemurnian persahabatan antara pemimpin kedua-dua parti. Kita harus bertegur sapa dan kunjung mengunjungi sesuai dengan kehendak Islam.

“Selepas kedua-dua intim dan akrab, barulah kita bercerita soal siapa buat apa dan siapa ambil jawatan apa,” katanya.

Nik Abduh buat pendedahan jujur, Pas perlu bertindak

2009-04-27T14:47:00.001+08:00

Sinar Harian (27/4/09): Pas perlu bertindak serius bagi memastikan pemimpin dan ahli kekal di landasan perjuangan sebenar tanpa terpengaruh dengan usaha memecahbelahkan perpaduan parti itu, kata Ketua Dewan Pemuda Pas Selangor, Sallehen Mukhyi.

Menurutnya, sesiapa sahaja yang berada dalam saf kepimpinan parti itu seharusnya bersikap ikhlas dan tidak terlalu mengejar agenda peribadi berbanding menjaga kepentingan parti.

"Pas perlu serius dan tidak membiarkan elemen melaga-lagakan antara pemimpin parti berterusan sebaliknya kembali kepada asas parti yang mementingkan kesatuan amal, fikrah dan tindakan.

"Mana-mana pihak yang berusaha ke arah itu dinasihatkan lebih baik menghentikannya dan kembali kepada landasan politik sebenar," katanya.

Sallehen berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas laporan Sinar Harian semalam berhubung pendedahan anak Mursyidul Am, Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz yang mendakwa wujud konspirasi didalangi 'pembantu-pembantu' yang melaga-lagakan hubungan bapanya, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan dengan Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Sallehen berkata, pendedahan Nik Abduh itu wajar diberi perhatian serius dan tidak disalah anggap ahli parti.

"Beliau adalah orang yang paling rapat dengan Mursyidul Am dan saya melihat apa yang didedahkan itu sebagai sesuatu yang jujur dan ikhlas selepas merasakan barangkali ada sesuatu yang tidak kena dalam kalangan orang sekeliling bapanya itu.

"Apa yang didedahkan itu juga sekurang-kurangnya meredakan keresahan saya dan mungkin ahli parti lain yang keliru serta beranggapan seolah-olah ada sesuatu yang tidak kena sehingga kerap berlaku kenyataan kontradik melibatkan kedua-dua pemimpin ini," katanya.

Sallehen berkata, segala kemelut tidak harus berpanjangan dan pemimpin Pas sepatutnya dikelilingi individu yang ikhlas dan setia kepada agenda parti.

"Pas kekal mendukung kepimpinan ulama tetapi dalam masa sama mengalu-alukan penyertaan golongan profesional demi memantapkan parti," katanya.

Suara NGO bangang

2009-04-23T05:48:00.001+08:00

'Mohammad Nizar angkuh tolak kerjasama Umno, Pas'

NGO anggap pembangkang sanggup gadai maruah Melayu, Islam

Berita Harian Online (21/4/09): Pelbagai pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) menyifatkan kenyataan bekas Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin bahawa Pas tidak akan bekerjasama dengan Umno sebagai bukti parti itu sanggup mempertikaikan kedudukan orang Melayu dan agama Islam.

Mereka juga berpendapat, kenyataan Mohammad Nizar yang juga Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gantang itu mencerminkan keangkuhannya dan sikap sebenar Pas yang tidak berminat berjuang untuk menegakkan perpaduan atau syiar Islam.

Pengerusi Pertubuhan Pergerakan Perpaduan Islam Malaysia (PPIM), Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad, berkata kenyataan Mohammad Nizar bukan saja menggambarkan kesombongan dan keangkuhan, malah beliau rela diperkudakan oleh DAP yang sentiasa mencari jalan untuk meneruskan agenda mereka.

"Mohammad Nizar menjadi mikrofon suara kepada DAP sedangkan parti itu mengamalkan pendekatan 'baling batu sembunyi tangan' namun saya sentiasa yakin jalan menyelamatkan orang Melayu adalah menerusi permuafakatan Umno dan Pas di meja rundingan," katanya ketika dihubungi, di sini, semalam.

Akhbar semalam melaporkan kenyataan Mohammad Nizar bahawa Pas tidak akan bekerjasama dengan Umno walaupun untuk kestabilan politik di Perak, sebaliknya meminta Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah membubarkan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).

Presiden Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa), Datuk Ibrahim Ali, berkata beliau yakin keangkuhan Mohammad Nizar yang juga Timbalan Pesuruhjaya Pas Perak itu akan sampai ke peringkat rakyat benci pada Pakatan Rakyat walaupun ketika ini ada yang menyokong tindakan itu.

Ketua Umum Barisan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (BBPM), Osman Abu Bakar, berkata kenyataan itu menggambarkan bahawa Mohammad Nizar seorang pemimpin yang emosional sehingga mengeluarkan kenyataan bersifat peribadi.

Malah, katanya kenyataan itu mungkin tidak mewakili keseluruhan pemimpin Pas, terutama pada peringkat jawatankuasa perhubungan negeri dan pucuk pimpinan parti termasuk Presidennya, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang dan Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Bagaimanapun, Presiden Pertubuhan Profesional dan Pewaris Bangsa (Prowaris), Feriz Omar, berkata beliau melihat kenyataan Mohammad Nizar itu mungkin sebagai pintu kejayaan mencari titik pertemuan antara Umno dan Pas.

Katanya, semua pihak perlu duduk semeja untuk merungkai apakah alasan pemimpin Pas terbabit membuat kenyataan seumpama itu kerana ia dilihat lebih baik berbanding jika tiada kenyataan dibuat.

Tiada puak dalam PAS

2009-04-17T20:38:00.002+08:00

Sinar Harian (17/4/09): Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat menyifatkan tidak wujud ‘team A’ atau ‘team B’ dalam parti tersebut, sebaliknya semuanya bersatu dalam usaha mengukuhkan lagi kedudukan parti pada masa kini.

Menteri Besar Kelantan itu berkata, apa yang penting sekarang ialah mengukuhkan parti dan mencari pemimpin yang benar-benar layak untuk menerajui parti.

“Dalam Pas tidak ada ‘team A’ dan ‘team B’ atau ‘team tok guru’ dan ‘team presiden’. Sebaliknya kedua-duanya adalah sama. ‘Team tok guru’ adalah ‘team presiden’ dan ‘team presiden’ adalah ‘team tok guru’,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian selepas melancarkan Tabung Penambah baikan Masjid Al-Mukhlisin di sini, semalam.

Beliau berkata, apa yang penting sekarang ahli perlu memilih pemimpin yang benar-benar layak untuk menerajui parti dan memimpin masyarakat.

“Saya nak bagi amanat beginilah, saya nak ulang balik amanat sebelum pergi umrah, pemimpin yang kita akan pilih untuk memimpin masyarakat dan kawasan mestilah orang yang selalu berjemaah, selalu datang berusrah dan bukan perokok dan tidak menghisap rokok.

“Saya tidak mahu peristiwa tahun 1970-an berulang lagi. Masyarakat menolak Pas sebab dianggap parti ini sama dengan UMNO. Sebab itulah kita nak pilih pemimpin yang betul-betul layak,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas dakwaan yang kononnya wujud pergolakan sehingga timbul team Tok Guru dan Team Presiden, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang di dalam parti itu ekoran perebutan kuasa menjelang Muktamar Pas Jun ini.

“Kita tidak mahu peristiwa yang sama berulang. Jangan berlaku kali kedua,” katanya.

Najib's challenge: Clean up Umno

2009-03-29T00:44:00.004+08:00

FEER (6/3/09): Malaysia’s planned leadership transition at the end of March from Ahmad Abdullah Badawi to Mohamed Najib Razak masks a fundamental reconfiguration of Malaysian politics. The United Malays National Organization is in long-term decline, after losing support among Malays for at least a decade. Non-Malays are increasingly reluctant to back the 12 other parties in the UMNO-led National Front coalition, especially those representing ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, given their limited ability to influence government policy. Doubts that the National Front will be viable much longer without a major overhaul are mounting at a time when the political opposition is surging, reorganized and invigorated by the charismatic former deputy premier, Anwar Ibrahim.

NajibThe magnitude and complexity of Mr. Najib’s challenge can be gauged by the fate of the hapless Prime Minister Abdullah, who is being forced out early in his second term by UMNO power brokers after losing five of 13 state governments and the National Front’s two-thirds majority in Parliament in last March’s general election. Mr. Abdullah recognized what needed to be done: He won a landslide in 2004 by promising to end pervasive corruption, substitute transparency for cronyism and inject integrity into weakened state institutions. When he failed to deliver, obstructed by entrenched UMNO interests and hobbled by lassitude, he was punished by the electorate last year—and UMNO’s inexorable slide resumed.

Mr. Najib’s background doesn’t recommend him for the role of reformer, which is what is required to recover the affection of disenchanted voters. The son of the country’s second premier, Abdul Razak Hussein, and a nephew of Hussein Onn, the third premier, Mr. Najib is from an aristocratic family that is staking its claim to be Malaysia’s first political dynasty. A cousin, Mr. Hussein’s son Hishammuddin Hussein, is education minister and head of UMNO Youth. The youngest member to sit in Malaysia’s Parliament, Mr. Najib was only 22 years old when he was elected to represent the Pekan constituency formerly held by his father, who died in office in 1976. At 23, he was a deputy minister and at 29 he became chief minister of his home state, Pahang. Since joining then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s Cabinet at 32, Mr. Najib has held senior portfolios for the past couple of decades, without questioning the ethnic-based political system or proposing significant innovations in his areas of direct policy responsibility. “He is not only part of the system,” says one close associate and supporter. “He trusts the system. He is the system.”

Moreover, Mr. Najib brings to the job much political baggage. In particular there is the case involving an adviser to Mr. Najib of a Mongolian woman who was shot and blown up with specialized C4 plastic explosives in Malaysia in 2006. The adviser, the woman’s former lover, was cleared of ordering her death in a protracted court case that drew harsh public criticism and left vital questions unanswered. Two members of an elite police bodyguard unit assigned to Mr. Najib, who were asked by the adviser to “do something” about the woman because she was blackmailing him, have to answer murder charges. The adviser said he had contacted the two policemen through Mr. Najib’s aide-de-camp, and one of them, a chief inspector, testified that the aide-de-camp had instructed him to help the adviser.

Before the adviser was charged, Mr. Najib sent a text message to a lawyer representing his adviser saying that the adviser “will have to face a tentative charge but all is not lost,” according to a transcript of their exchanges. One of the country’s most popular bloggers and online journalist-editors, Raja Petra Kamarudin, faces sedition and libel charges after allegedly implicating Mr. Najib and his wife in the killing. Although Mr. Najib has denied ever knowing the victim, taking the unusual step of swearing his innocence in a mosque, he has been unable to stem an avalanche of gossip, speculation and serious analysis, much of it circulated on the Internet.

Mr. Najib also has long been embroiled in allegations of corruption in the purchase of big-ticket weapon systems during his two lengthy terms as defense minister (1990-95, 1999-2008; he retained the defense portfolio after becoming deputy prime minister in 2003), when he drove an aggressive military modernization program. According to Foreign Policy in Focus, a Washington-based think tank, foreign arms manufacturers use well-connected Malaysians as lobbyists, paying them commissions of 10% to 20% to win contracts. Malaysia’s political opposition says much of the money goes to people closely associated with UMNO, including Mr. Najib’s contacts, though the police and anticorruption authorities have not investigated particular cases to the satisfaction of complainants.

For example, the 115 million euros “coordination and support services” payment for Malaysia’s purchase in 2002 of two new Scorpene and one reconditioned Agosta submarine for 1 billion euros was paid to Perimekar Sdn. Bhd. Perimekar at the time was owned by a company called K.S. Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd.—later by two other companies as well—which was in turn owned by Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, the Najib adviser who stood trial for abetting the murder of the Mongolian woman. The Defense Ministry denied paying a commission and said Peremkear was awarded a genuine contract to support the acquisition of the submarines.

Why UMNO would opt for such a beleaguered leader says a lot about the mood of the party and the depth of the crisis confronting it. Just how much Mr. Najib represents the old order and not a fresh start is reflected in one salient fact: Although Mr. Najib at 55 years of age is considerably younger than Mr. Abdullah, 69, Mr. Najib has been active in politics longer. And yet, within UMNO Mr. Najib is the only candidate to succeed Mr. Abdullah as president. After a series of rule changes during the lengthy Dr. Mahathir presidency, UMNO is tightly controlled, with power concentrated at the top—at division, state and national level—and the 3.2 million ordinary members having little say in party affairs. UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, a finance minister from a bygone era, attempted to challenge Mr. Najib, but needed nomination by 30%, or fifty-eight, of UMNO’s 191 divisions, one of many rules adopted to protect the leadership. Tengku Razaleigh got one nomination, his own Gua Musang division.

Musa Hitam, a former deputy prime minister and respected party elder, has diagnosed UMNO’s problem as one of old age, with “introverted” party leaders preoccupied with self-interest and oblivious to public concerns about corruption, abuse of power and lack of accountability. The accuracy of his assessment was demonstrated as UMNO heavyweights maneuvered late last year to discard Mr. Abdullah, reluctant to allow him time to implement promised anticorruption, judicial and other reforms. Indeed, influential sections of UMNO strongly resisted the reforms, apparently fearful that independent agencies and courts might put an end to many of the money-making arrangements that have alienated the public. No discernible progress was made in combating so-called “money politics,” an entrenched system of payments in cash and kind that puts a price on nearly every post in UMNO in expectation of contracts and other business opportunities in return.

UMNO, of course, is not Mr. Najib’s only immediate concern. With limited experience in finance, he must prepare to steer Malaysia through the global recession that is engulfing the region. He also is under pressure to address the extremely sensitive issue of affirmative action, still known colloquially by its original name, the New Economic Policy. This is a source of acute unhappiness among not just ethnic Chinese and Indians, but also increasing numbers of Malays without the right political connections. Economists and business executives blame the nep for undermining Malaysia’s competitiveness when China and India loom large, while much of the corruption that taints UMNO can be traced to abuses in various nep programs to assist bumiputras, predominantly Malays.

Mr. Najib as well must match wits with the opposition’s Anwar Ibrahim, a skilled, articulate and seasoned political strategist whom Mr. Najib was happy to acknowledge as a superior when they were allies in UMNO. Mr. Anwar has long declared that Mr. Najib is not an acceptable leader of Malaysia while he fails to clear doubts about both the murder and military commissions. It may not quite add up to a perfect storm that will break over Mr. Najib’s head when he is installed as premier, but he is unlikely to be given the customary honeymoon period that would allow him to settle in with ease.

More energetic and purposeful than Mr. Abdullah, however, Mr. Najib is aware of the need to respond promptly to the multitude of challenges, according to the long-time associate. He points to the action Mr. Najib took after he nearly lost his parliamentary seat 10 years ago as an example of his ability to focus on a problem. In the 1999 general election, dominated by Mr. Anwar’s dismissal and marked by mass defections from UMNO, Mr. Najib’s 10,793 majority in Pekan fell to just 241 votes. Shocked and conceding he had been guilty of neglect, says the associate, Mr. Najib subsequently visited the constituency regularly and encouraged development that helped turn Pekan town into an industrial hub to complement its agricultural base. In the 2004 election, even allowing for the gains from Mr. Abdullah’s overwhelming victory and a drastic boundary delineation exercise that almost doubled the number of Pekan voters, Mr. Najib’s winning margin was stratospheric: 22,922 votes. And he substantially increased his majority to 26,464 last year, despite the government being struck by what was called an electoral tsunami.

Traditionally Malay, Mr. Najib has always taken pains not to appear overly ambitious, preferring to do his politicking behind the scenes with the help of allies. In retrospect, it was a sensible strategy under Prime Minister Mahathir, since he eliminated three prominent UMNO rivals, two of them his deputies, whom he felt threatened his leadership. Buoyed by his pedigree, Mr. Najib has long given colleagues the impression that he expects to inherit his father’s crown in time by patiently building bases in the bureaucracy, business and UMNO. His vast network of loyalists makes him the best connected politician in Malaysia. Many of his followers in the party go all the way back to when he was UMNO Youth chief, says political analyst Joceline Tan, and now a large number of them are heads of divisions, “powerful warlords who call the shots on the ground.”

Significantly, it was when Mr. Najib was acting head of UMNO Youth in 1987 that he sounded a discordant racial note, which raised questions about him in the minds of non-Malays and dogged him for years. It came as communal tension had been building for weeks and he led a huge rally in Kuala Lumpur to confront what was perceived as a Chinese threat to Malay special rights. In the air were ethnic grievances on both sides, though the immediate issue was the government appointment of non-Mandarin-speaking Chinese to administrative posts in Chinese-medium primary schools. As party barriers were overrun by ethnicity, two National Front members, the Malaysian Chinese Association and Gerakan, joined with the opposition Democratic Action Party on occasions in defense of Chinese interests. Mr. Najib was photographed at the demonstration with several other UMNO Youth leaders, wearing white headbands with fists raised, above a banner naming four high-profile opponents, all ethnic Chinese and Indian (though one was a Muslim) and the words, “destroy them.” Followers waved other banners bearing racially provocative slogans. “Our elders should not compromise anymore,” said Mr. Najib. “We are simply fed up.”

Over the years, Mr. Najib was thought to have lived down any suggestion that he is a Malay supremacist. Most analysts attributed his lapse to youthful enthusiasm to prove his Malay credentials and confirm his leadership of UMNO Youth. Almost nobody who knows him thinks he harbors anti-Chinese or anti-Indian sentiment. But the past may be returning to haunt him, as some opponents harp again on the 1987 incident and embellish it with all sorts of extremist actions. A recent opinion poll showing Mr. Najib’s support among Chinese and Indian Malaysians to be only half or one-third that of Malays indicated the campaign to paint him as an extremist may be having an impact. Mr. Najib himself remains sensitive to accusations of chauvinism. “I’m not racist,” he volunteered privately to an opposition member of parliament after last year’s electoral setback, pointing out he had Chinese friends to affirm it.

Another reason middle-class Malaysians remember the 1987 episode is that Dr. Mahathir used the ethnic conflict to justify the biggest crackdown on dissent in Malaysia’s history, codenamed Operation Lalang. The police arrested 119 people over a few months and held them without trial under the Internal Security Act. They included the then parliamentary opposition leader, Lim Kit Siang, other members of parliament and state assemblies, academics and many social activists who had not participated in the ugly communal exchanges. Some, including Mr. Lim, were jailed for two years. It remained a sore point in the community that none of the prominent UMNO protest organizers, especially Mr. Najib, was detained.

Mr. Najib did himself no favor when he declared in 2007 that Malaysia was an Islamic state and had never been secular, igniting a firestorm. His comment contradicted the historical record and split Mr. Abdullah’s cabinet and the community when the country was supposed to be celebrating 50 years of independence. While Mr. Abdullah sought to quell the debate with a statement that Malaysia was neither a theocratic nor a secular state but a parliamentary democracy, Chinese and Indians found a further reason to be wary of Mr. Najib.

Nonideological like most UMNO politicians, Mr. Najib has moved in and out of informal political alliances as opportunities presented themselves. Crucially, he supported Prime Minister Mahathir in 1987, when he was challenged for the party presidency by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who had been groomed by Mr. Najib’s late father.

Mr. Najib was part of Anwar Ibrahim’s so-called Vision Team that swept into office in UMNO in 1993, when Mr. Anwar marshaled so much support he forced then Deputy Prime Minister Ghafar Baba to withdraw from the contest for deputy president of the party. Comprising then Youth and Sports Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and then Selangor Chief Minister Muhammad Muhammad Taib, as well as Mr. Najib, the Vision Team took all three vice president’s posts, though the team disintegrated the following year.

Mr. Najib’s allegiance to Dr. Mahathir eventually paid off, though not before Mr. Najib suffered a huge disappointment and endured many anxious moments about his future. In 1998, Dr. Mahathir passed over Mr. Najib and chose Mr. Abdullah Badawi, a former member of Tengku Razaleigh’s dissident faction, to replace the sacked Mr. Anwar as deputy prime minister. Dr. Mahathir explained later that he hoped Mr. Abdullah would occupy the prime minister’s office for one term and then make way for the younger Mr. Najib. In fact, Mr. Najib—more personable, eloquent and better educated, with a degree in industrial economics—was Dr. Mahathir’s first preference to succeed him. But since he had dismissed Mr. Anwar as morally unfit and the government was under pressure from the sectarian Parti Islam SeMalaysia (pas), Dr. Mahathir opted for Mr. Abdullah, who did not smoke or drink and had impeccable Islamic credentials.

Although Mr. Abdullah duly named Mr. Najib his deputy in 2003, he did so only after Dr. Mahathir publicly pressured him, and Mr. Abdullah later showed no interest in retiring after his first term. As Dr. Mahathir waged open warfare on Mr. Abdullah from 2006 for abandoning many of the former premier’s projects and policies, he tried to goad Mr. Najib into open revolt against the prime minister, at one point branding him a “coward” for not doing so. But Mr. Najib preferred to wait for his turn, publicly playing the loyal deputy while working his extensive factional network in UMNO to ensure his succession.

Although long, Mr. Najib’s record offers few clues as to how he might approach his prime ministerial assignment, beyond acting cautiously and pragmatically. So light has been his ministerial touch, except in defense, that it is hard to establish where he stands on major issues, or how he would like Malaysia to adapt to the strong currents buffeting the country, from globalization externally to so-called “creeping Islamization” within. The charitable explanation is that he was long overshadowed by the dominant Dr. Mahathir, who involved himself in almost every major policy his administration pursued for 22 years.

One area where Mr. Najib did leave his mark is education, although typically it was Dr. Mahathir who took the initiative to liberalize policies in an effort to turn Malaysia into an education hub in the region. Education Minister from 1995-99, Mr. Najib introduced in 1996 the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act, which allowed private foreign universities to establish campuses in Malaysia and grant degrees. It was one of several measures that created more options for students, especially nonbumiputras. The number of private universities rose to 16 in 2001 from zero in 1995, while the number of private colleges more than quadrupled to 690 in 2001 from 156 in 1992. Mr. Najib also pleased nonbumiputras by amending other legislation so that the minister no longer had the power to convert Chinese- and Tamil-medium primary schools into national schools. The Chinese and Indian communities interpreted the move as strengthening existing commitments that they would continue to have their own mother-tongue education.

As a survivor who has been through the mill and does not fluster easily, Mr. Najib faces a challenge not unlike what confronted his father, Razak, after the 1969 general election, the only other time that the Malaysian government lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority. After bloody racial riots in the wake of the poll and the suspension of Parliament, Razak broadened the three-party Alliance into the National Front by co-opting opposition parties to widen its appeal, and adopted the nep to help close the economic gap between the Malays and the Chinese. Nearly 40 years later, one key to Mr. Najib’s success may be to dismantle his father’s economic legacy, which is now impeding development, widening inequality and perpetuating ethnic fissures in society. Mr. Anwar has proposed a Malaysian Economic Agenda to replace the nep and help all needy Malaysians rather than bumiputras alone. As Mr. Najib’s brother, Nazir Razak, chief executive of Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd., the country’s second largest bank, observed, “It doesn’t take much genius to look at some of the present policies arising from the nep that are undermining national unity and also investment.”

Overhauling the nep would take political courage, however, since any dilution of affirmative action potentially threatens the entire patronage network on which the UMNO edifice is built. And, in Mr. Najib’s case, he has been put in charge, implicitly, to nurture and protect the system rather than undermine or overturn it. His limited room for maneuver was obvious when he commented that the nep would be liberalized and eventually abolished. Although the backlash from vested Malay interests forced him to retreat, Mr. Najib persisted with the liberalization of rules covering new listings on Bursa Malaysia. Stressing that 30% bumiputra equity participation remains government policy, he said companies that could not attract bumiputra investors would be able to sell their shares to the wider public. A relatively bold move, it is likely to be the model as Mr. Najib proceeds with his juggling act: to maintain the form but gradually abolish the substance of the nep.

For similar reasons, Mr. Najib is unlikely to attempt to clean up UMNO, since that would antagonize the divisional warlords and others who delivered the votes for him and now expect to reap the business rewards. As the close associate of Mr. Najib puts it, “He won’t cut his own throat.” Having been protected from challenge by the widely criticized quota system in UMNO elections, Mr. Najib has retained it. And he has dampened expectations that he will put a quick end to corruption in the party, which is so endemic that Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen, chairman of UMNO’s disciplinary board, suggested the elimination of four subordinate wings, including the male and female youth sections, in an effort to reduce the number of internal elections and limit bribery to buy posts. Ruling out such radical surgery, Mr. Najib said vote-buying in the party must be fought with “political will,” thus adopting much the same stance as his predecessors.

Mr. Najib has talked often of the need for the National Front to change to meet public aspirations, warning that “If we don’t have the courage to change, the people will change us” at the next general election. But almost everything about Mr. Najib proclaims the status quo. Among other things, he has defended the Internal Security Act, adopted originally to counter communist subversion, though sometimes used by the government against legitimate political opponents and even by one faction of UMNO against another. While praising the Internal Security Act for keeping Malaysia safe from terrorism, Mr. Najib acknowledged “some controversies relating to how the act has been used lately,” which he said would be addressed at an unspecified point “in future.” As academic analyst Ooi Kee Beng wrote, “No nominee for the top posts in the coming party elections can be taken seriously as a possible agent of change.”

Leading the government campaign in two high-profile by-elections, Mr. Najib lapsed easily into old habits, notwithstanding his rhetoric extolling change. After Mr. Anwar scored heavily last August to regain his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, conveniently kept warm for a decade by his wife, Mr. Najib called on UMNO to reclaim the party’s dignity by retaining the Kuala Terengganu constituency it won in 2008. UMNO fielded a deputy minister who, though locally born, had served as the prime minister’s political secretary and was seen as elitist and identified with Mr. Abdullah’s discredited leadership. To compound the error, Mr. Najib tried to secure victory the familiar way by doling out tens of millions of U.S. dollars in projects, including government contracts for nearly 600 Malay small-contractors on one occasion. Still he failed to meet the mood for change in the country, and the seat fell to the opposition.

Once in office, Mr. Najib is expected to rejuvenate the government by appointing a number of new ministers and tightening management of the country. He will try to meet economic goals by reducing waste and improving performance in a bloated and fairly inefficient bureaucracy, according to associates. Recognizing that he will not be able to disband the patronage network, the associates suggest, Mr. Najib will seek to open the system and spread the benefits more widely.

A pertinent question is how well the blue-blooded Mr. Najib can relate to ordinary Malaysians and persuade them he feels their pain in the economic downturn. One of the Four Noblemen of the Pahang Royal Court by virtue of an inherited title, Mr. Najib completed his secondary education at a boy’s college in Worcestershire before attending Nottingham University. Polished, with receding gray hair and moustache, he speaks competent English and cuts a worldly figure. “I am equally comfortable sitting in a surau in my constituency or having dinner at Simpson’s on the Strand,” he was once quoted as saying, referring to an upscale London restaurant. Some of his comments, though, have suggested he might be more at home with cosmopolitan diners than local worshippers. Mr. Najib’s recommendation, in response to unpopular fuel price rises in 2006, that people adjust their lifestyle, “like using public transport,” struck many as similar to the “let them eat cake” comment popularly attributed to Marie Antoinette before the French Revolution. Two years later, Mr. Najib still seemed to be grasping for the common touch, when he advised UMNO leaders to be humble and friendly towards “village folk,” whom he said were not hard to please. “When we are in our car, we cannot fall asleep as we won’t be able to wave back at them,” he said. “Otherwise they could feel hurt.”

A danger for Mr. Najib is that he has left himself exposed to ridicule by his fiercest political opponents, who will not accord him the minimum respect due to a Malaysian leader. At points during the Kuala Terengganu by-election, as in Permatang Pauh earlier, he was greeted with posters of the murdered Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu, and chants of “Al-tan-tu-ya,” or worse. The protesters were invariably supporters of Mr. Anwar’s People’s Justice Party. Mr. Najib seemed to recognize the excruciating embarrassment when he sent a private message to dap leaders, Secretary General Lim Guan Eng and his father, Lim Kit Siang. Mr. Najib told a dap legislator he appreciated the Lims for not “being personal,” meaning that in their criticism of the Mongolian case they have stopped short of vilifying him.

Implicitly confirming that he sees Mr. Anwar as his prime threat and target, Mr. Najib also told the opposition legislator that he would like to find ways to cooperate with the dap-led Penang state government. pas has not given priority to the murder, believing most Malays have made up their minds and there are few votes to be won on the issue. While the dap has pursued the matter, it has focused more on the legality of the case rather directing accusations at Mr. Najib. In addition to making life uncomfortable for Mr. Najib over the killing, Mr. Anwar, with his organizational skills, is seen as the lynchpin of the People’s Front, which groups the three opposition parties. Mr. Najib recognizes that the Anwar bandwagon must be derailed if UMNO and the National Front are to survive.

Mr. Anwar and Mr. Najib have been headed for a showdown since mid-2008, when Mr. Anwar was charged, for the second time in a decade, with sodomy. After photos surfaced showing Mr. Anwar’s accuser, Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, with a Najib aide, Mr. Najib said Mr. Saiful had visited his office three months earlier in relation to a government scholarship. Later, though, Mr. Najib admitted Mr. Saiful had visited his home and discussed the alleged sexual attack before lodging a police complaint against Mr. Anwar. Opposition claims of a conspiracy against Mr. Anwar included pointing the finger of suspicion at Mr. Najib.

Considering that opinion polls have shown that most Malaysians do not believe the allegations against Mr. Anwar and that they are damaging the country’s reputation, Prime Minister Najib could consider dropping the charges. It might relieve some of the pressure on the government and deny Mr. Anwar a platform to claim persecution and attract more sympathy and support at home and abroad. But judging by Mr. Najib’s intervention in Perak in February, in which he encouraged defections to topple the People’s Front state government, he seems eager to indulge what have been called his “street-fighting instincts” against Mr. Anwar. The prospect of securing a conviction and eliminating Mr. Anwar from politics, however slim, may prove irresistible.

Some critics have suggested that Mr. Najib, with Dr. Mahathir’s backing, might be tempted to return to Dr. Mahathir’s authoritarian ways and use political turmoil as a pretext for detaining opponents or declaring emergency rule. But, initially at least, Mr. Najib hopes to win support by conversation rather than coercion. In September, he launched a Web site (www.1Malaysia.com.my), which he was at pains to describe as personal, not official, so the public could engage in “open and honest dialogue directly” with him. “I do not believe in the politics of ‘deceive, divide and rule.’ Returning to our long-held belief in unity and mutual respect is more important now than ever,” he said in his initial message.

Although Mr. Najib pronounced himself happy with the response, three months before he was due to replace Mr. Abdullah, only 41% of Malaysians thought Mr. Najib would be a good prime minister. Even the inept Mr. Abdullah had a 46% approval rating in the poll, conducted by the independent Merdeka Centre. After waiting more than three decades for his moment to lead the nation, Najib Razak is taking over “without the burden of overly high expectations,” as one report put it, but burdened on almost every other score.

Barry Wain, a former editor of The Wall Street Journal Asia, is author of the forthcoming book Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times.

Kepimpinan Umno : Kemenangan ' Pakej Ransangan Rasuah'? - Mahfuz

2009-03-27T15:00:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Mac 09 (Hrkh) - Barisan kepimpinan Umno yang diterajui Presiden yang baru, Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak didakwa sebagai kemenangan 'Pakej Ransangan Rasuah'

Demikian ujar Ketua Penerangan PAS, Dato' Mahfuz Omar kepada Harakah ketika mengulas pemilihan majlis tertinggi Umno semalam yang menyaksikan ramai muka baru terpilih.

"Ini bukan 'Pakej Ransangan Ekonomi', tetapi ini Pakej Ransangan Rasuah, kerana dikepalai oleh orang yang tidak dibersihkan dakwaan rasuah," dakwa Mahfuz yang juga ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena.

Beliau bagaimanapun mengucapkan tahniah kepada seluruh barisan kepimpinan yang menang memandangkan katanya semuanya hampur mewakili kumpulan yang sama.

Walaupun katanya ada dikalangan mereka yang dipilih hingga kini dilihat bersih imejnya, namun tidak dinafikan mereka juga akan menerima persepsi 'rasuah' kerana berada dalam satu kapal yang sama.

Mengulas pemilihan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin selaku Timbalan Presiden, Mahfuz menyatakan bekas Menteri Besar Johor itu juga tidak lepas dari persepsi dakwaan rasuah.

Ini kerana sehingga kini Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) masih tidak menyiasat dakwaan Muhyiddin ada mengupah ejen dalam pemilihan Umno yang dinyatakan ahli Parlimen Machang, Siafuddin Nasution di Parlimen sebelum ini.

"SPRM masih tidak membersihkan dakwaan itu, jauh sekali untuk menyiasat.Ini membuatkan persepsi rakyat semakin buruk kepada kepimpinan yang terpilih hari ini, dan mereka akan menggangotai kepimpinan kerajaan selepas ini," katanya.

Selain itu beberapa ketua yang dipilih di peringkat sayap pula tidak terlepas dari kaitan dengan rasuah seperti Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin.

Ini katanya melengkapkan apa yang disebut sebagai 'Barisan Pekej Ransangan Rasuah', dakwa Mahfuz.

Jalan pintas ke neraka

2009-03-25T21:19:00.002+08:00

Sinar Harian (25/3/09): Esok hari penentuan. Lebih 30 jawatan dipertandingkan, 269 calon ghairah untuk menang, dan 25 juta rakyat menunggu penuh debaran, ingin mengetahui ke arah mana negara ini akan dihalakan.

Keputusan sebenar akan ditentukan oleh 2,500 perwakilan yang diamanahkan memilih siapa yang paling layak mengisi kepimpinan UMNO untuk tahun-tahun mendatang.

Untuk beberapa bulan lalu yang menjadi ‘raja’ bukan calon-calon Timbalan Presiden, tidak juga calon-calon Naib Presiden, atau calon lain-lain jawatan – Majlis Tertinggi, Ketua Pemuda, Ketua Wanita dan Ketua Puteri.

‘Raja’ sebenarnya ialah para perwakilan yang nama dan alamat mereka tertulis di buku khas, malah ada yang disimpan dalam telefon bimbit dan PDA calon atau agen-agen calon.

Tidak kira siang, malam, tengah malam dan bila-bila masa sahaja agen calon – atau mungkin calon sendiri – akan menghubungi ‘raja’ untuk meminta ‘pertolongan’, boleh jadi dengan SMS: “Tolong undi calon sekian-sekian...”

Dan pertolongan itu tentu sekali tidak dibuat dengan ikhlas, juga tidak dengan semangat tulen perjuangan parti, tetapi dengan habuan wang. Sebagai ‘raja’ perwakilan yang meletakkan harga. Seribu? Dua ribu? Ribu-ribu-ribu?

Itulah andaian umum sekarang, bahawa politik wang semakin berleluasa dan sudah membarah parah dalam parti terbesar orang Melayu. Memalukan! Menjijikkan.

Para perwakilan, dari Perlis hingga ke Sabah, dalam tempoh sebulan dua ini sesuka hati dan tanpa malu-malu, memasang lukah untuk mencari laba mudah dari calon-calon yang ghairah untuk menang.

Andaian itu bukan tanpa kebenaran. Beberapa pemimpin UMNO telah menjadi bukti amalan songsang dalam parti perintis kemerdekaan itu. Beberapa tahun dulu Isa Samad pernah dihukum kerana amalan politik wang (kali ini bertanding lagi!).

Terbaru Ali Rustam didapati bersalah oleh Lembaga Disiplin parti kerana mengamalkan rasuah politik, dan dihukum tidak boleh bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden pada pemilihan ini.

Turut didapati besalah di bawah tataetika yang sama ialah calon Ketua Pemuda, Khairy Jamaludin. Nasibnya baik, walaupun melakukan kesalahan yang sama, menantu Perdana Menteri itu masih dibenarkan bertanding.

Mohamad Norza Zakaria juga disiasat oleh Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) dan didakwa di mahkamah atas tuduhan mengamalkan politik wang.

Pendek kata rasuah politik bukan sekadar andaian, tetapi satu kenyataan. Maka tidak menghairankan apabila ada calon-calon secara bergurau mengakui: “Bagi (duit) salah, tak bagi kalah!” Percayalah, itu bukan sembarangan gurau!

Tidak diketahui dengan tepat berapa banyak wang telah bertukar tangan – dari calon kepada wakil calon, dan kepada si ‘raja’ – dalam masa sebulan dua ini. Mungkin beribu ringgit, boleh jadi sudah mencecah jutaan ringgit.

Mungkin banyak lagi yang dijanjikan setelah calon berkenaan menang.

Alangkah jijiknya politik Islam, politik Melayu, politik UMNO! Sekiranya keputusan PRU-12 setahun lalu dijadikan iktibar, kejijikan itu sepatutnya telah dibersihkan dari UMNO. Tetapi ‘raja-raja’ UMNO tetap sama, dari dulu, kini dan selamanya. Wang juga keutamaan mereka.

UMNO ditolak – termasuk oleh orang Melayu sendiri – sebab parti yang diuar-uarkan sebagai pejuang dan penegak Islam itu mengamalkan perkara-perkara yang jelas bercanggah dengan agama. Parti dengan keahlian lebih tiga juta orang itu dikaitkan dengan rasuah, keangkuhan dan skandal.

Kalahlah macam mana pun, hilanglah kekuasaan beberapa negeri pun ‘raja-raja’ ini tidak akan mendapat pengajaran. Selepas kalah pada 8 Mac, sepatutnya ‘raja-raja’ yang laparkan wang rasuah ini tersentak sedar. Tetapi amalan jijik ini tetap juga menjadi pegangan.

Kalah di Permatang Pauh dan kalah lagi di Kuala Terengganu, persetankan kekalahan itu kerana perut tetap menjadi keutamaan. Anak bini mesti disuap dengan wang haram itu. Biar parti tergadai, biar negara tergadai asalkan perut kekal burai.

Apakah parti Datuk Onn Jaafar itu hendak dikuburkan dengan keranda rasuah? Malu besarlah anak cucu kita apabila membaca sejarah bahawa UMNO yang ditubuhkan untuk membela Melayu dan negara akhirnya lingkup gara-gara rasuah politik.

Tolong, jangan kuburkan UMNO dengan keaiban! Parti ini perlu dihidupkan, sebab ini wadah perjuangan bangsa. Meski ada parti-parti lain, UMNO masih tetap menjadi harapan.

Tetapi apa yang dapat diharapkan dari sebuah parti besar sekiranya para pemimpin terdiri dari mereka yang kotor lagi menjijikkan? Bolehkah pemimpin kaki rasuah, kaki songlap, kaki putar alam, kaki seleweng, kaki maksiat diharapkan untuk membela rakyat? Tidak boleh!

Sebab itu UMNO mesti dikendalikan dan diterajui oleh para pemimpin yang bersih, berwibawa. Tidak kira apa jawatan yang dipegang dari yang tertinggi hingga yang terendah, semuanya hendaklah bebas dari sebarang kemungkaran.

Esok, pilihlah calon-calon yang boleh membawa harapan baru kepada agama, negara dan bangsa. Inilah tugas 2,500 perwakilan di Dewan Merdeka Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putera.

Andalah yang sebenarnya mengetahui calon mana yang perasuah. Katakan ‘tidak!’ kepada calon-calon ini. Nyahkan mereka dari fikiran anda, nyahkan juga mereka dari UMNO.

Anda tahu mereka. Anda terima wang dari mereka tetapi demi parti, tolaklah mereka. Jika anda sudah terlanjur menerima wang itu, bertaubatlah dan bantulah pemberi rasuah itu dengan tidak mengundi mereka. Jangan bersubahat lagi. Ingat, bersubahat itu lebih besar dosanya dari orang yang melakukan.

Anda berdosa sekiranya dalam masa sebulan dua ini telah menerima habuan dari calon-calon berkenaan. Tetapi anda lebih berdosa sekiranya calon-calon yang telah merasuah anda ini dipilih untuk memimpin parti.

Sebagai orang Islam anda tahu duit rasuah yang diterima dari calon adalah haram. Sekiranya anda percaya kepada Allah, benda haram walau sebesar zarah pun akan mendatangkan mudarat.

Tergamakkah anda mengambil duit haram itu untuk diberikan kepada anak-anak dan isteri di rumah? Duit rasuah digunakan untuk membeli susu bayi, membeli makanan untuk seisi keluarga.

Apabila benda haram masuk ke dalam darah dan tubuh kita, terimalah akibatnya. Mungkin jasad yang mengandungi duit haram itu akan menerima bencana – kebakaran, kemalangan, dan lain-lain kecelakaan.

Boleh jadi juga hasil haram dalam tubuh akan menjadikan anak anda penagih dadah tegar. Sanggupkah sebagai ibu bapa bertanggungjawab anda memberi benda haram wang politik UMNO untuk keluarga?

Kesalahan memilih calon yang kotor tidak sahaja menyebabkan anda dimurkai Allah (takutlah pada neraka jahanam!). Malah lebih malang lagi dengan kesilapan memilih calon anda meletakkan parti dalam keadaan songsang.

Parti yang songsang akan membawa kehancuran kepada agama, bangsa dan negara. Anda akan disumpah oleh anak cucu sebagai orang yang tidak bertanggungjawab kerana memilih calon korup.

Jadilah perwakilan yang bertanggungjawab dan ada harga diri. Tolaklah calon yang memang diketahui tidak bersih. Inilah harapan kami, dan harapan berjuta-juta rakyat, khasnya orang Melayu.

Tentu sekali sebagai perwakilan pilihan akar umbi nilai maruah anda bukan seribu ringgit, tidak sepuluh ribu ringgit, hatta tidak juga sejuta ringgit. Tetapi sekiranya wang rasuah juga yang menentukan keputusan anda, andalah yang akan menjawab ketika bertemu Allah nanti!

Hadi belakangi parti

2009-03-19T12:47:00.005+08:00

Sinar Harian (19/3/09): Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat menyifatkan tindakan Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang mencadangkan pembentukan kerajaan campuran Pas-Barisan Nasional (BN) sebagai tidak menghormati keputusan parti.

Musryidul Am Pas itu berkata, parti telah membuat keputusan pada Muktamar Pas yang dibuat Ogos tahun lalu di Ipoh, Perak.

“Saya rasa cadangan itu lebih berbentuk peribadi. Keputusan telah dibuat pada Muktamar Pas di Ipoh. Kalau nak sebut benda lain yang berlainan dengan keputusan muktamar kena buat mesyuarat luar biasa (EGM).

“Saya tidak suka satu keputusan yang dibuat dalam muktamar tetapi kita sebut benda lain. Itu saya tidak suka.

“Kalau tentu nak buat benda lain selain daripada keputusan muktamar biar tentu. Biar ada perbahasan, biar ada dialog dan masukkan dalam mesyuarat,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita selepas menerima kunjungan pelabur dari Taiwan di pejabatnya di Kota Darul-naim, di sini, semalam.

Nik Aziz berkata, keputusan pada muktamar lepas telah dibuat yang mana Pas akan bersama dengan Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“Kalau nak bertemu dengan UMNO, bertemu dalam perkara lain bukan dengan perkara bentuk kerajaan. Itu keputusan kita.

“Kalau nak buat benda baru tak boleh nak sebut, tak boleh buat dengan cara sambil lalu sambil dan kena ikut keputusan mesyuarat. Kepu-tusan muktamar mesti dijalankan,” katanya.

Menteri Besar Kelantan itu berkata, keputusan yang telah diputuskan pada muktamar lepas perlu dijaga.

Nik Aziz berkata, sekiranya ingin membahaskan masalah kerajaan dengan UMNO perlu adakan mesyuarat khusus.

“Jangan buat keputusan lain. Cakap lain, saya tak setuju, saya tetap dengan keputusan muktamar. Barulah dikatakan kedudukan kita stabil dan kita dipanggil berdisiplin.

“Sekiranya ingin membuat keputusan lain satu mesyuarat jawatankuasa pusat perlu diadakan bagi memperhalusi cadangan tersebut,” katanya.

Nik Abdul Aziz berkata, sekiranya kesemua Ahli Jawatankuasa Pas Pusat bersetuju dengan cadangan Abdul Hadi yang tetap berkeras untuk mewujudkan kerajaan perpaduan beliau terpaksa akur.

Katanya, cadangan itu bukan sahaja tidak membawa kebaikan malah bertentangan dengan dasar parti.

Najib janji bersih Umno

2009-03-19T02:43:00.001+08:00

Berita Harian Online (17/3/09): Datuk Seri Najib Razak berjanji akan melakukan ‘pembersihan’ dalam Umno dan membuat perubahan bagi mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat terhadap parti itu, apabila mengambil alih teraju kepemimpinannya.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata, beliau akur bahawa ramai di kalangan rakyat negara ini mempunyai persepsi yang melihat Umno sebagai parti yang sombong dan terlalu banyak melakukan amalan tidak sihat.

“Saya akan membuat ‘pembersihan’ dalam Umno dan saya akan mendedahkan (perubahan yang akan dilakukan) itu tidak lama lagi. Terus terang saya katakan, sekiranya kita tidak berubah, kita akan diubah.

“Saya ada cadangan mahu membuat perubahan kerana Umno perlu berubah... kita mesti melakukannya dengan betul kerana dan saya percaya rakyat akan memberi sokongan,” katanya pada dialog sempena Perasmian Persidangan Agenda Integriti Nasional, di sini, semalam.

Turut hadir, Ketua Setiausaha Negara, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan dan Presiden Institut Integriti Malaysia (IIM), Datuk Dr Mohd Tap Salleh.

Najib yang juga Timbalan Presiden Umno berkata demikian ketika ditanya seorang peserta sama ada beliau sanggup ‘mengorbankan’ beberapa pemimpin tertinggi Umno yang didapati bersalah mengamalkan rasuah politik demi menyelamatkan parti itu.

Diminta mengulas keputusan Lembaga Disiplin Umno yang tidak membenarkan calon Timbalan Presiden, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam bertanding dalam pemilihan parti minggu depan, Najib berkata, keputusan itu perlu dihormati semua pihak.

“Saya percaya, Mohd Ali sebagai seorang yang setia kepada Umno akan menerimanya dengan hati terbuka dan akan terus memberi sumbangan kepada pentadbiran dan perjuangan parti,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, Mohd Ali akan terus kekal sebagai Ketua Menteri Melaka kerana beliau hanya tidak dibenarkan bertanding dalam pemilihan parti.

Najib berkata, Lembaga Disiplin Umno adalah badan yang bebas dan semua keputusan yang dibuat adalah untuk menjaga nama baik parti.

“Kita mahu Umno dilihat sebagai parti yang bersih dan kita sedar keputusan ini memberi kesan kepada Umno tetapi risikonya jauh lebih besar kalau Umno ditolak oleh rakyat.

“Kita kena tengok kepada ‘keadaan’. Kadang-kadang yang membawa masalah kepada kita bukan kita sendiri tetapi penyokong dan pembantu kita.

“Kadang-kadang pembantu kita terlalu ghairah... itu yang menyebabkan kita disabitkan dengan bermacam tuduhan,” katanya mengulas isu moral dan sama ada keputusan itu akan menjejaskan Umno yang mungkin akan menerima protes daripada penyokong Mohd Ali.

Mengenai mengapa hukuman yang diberikan kepada Mohd Ali berbeza daripada yang dikenakan terhadap bekas Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad, Najib berkata, Lembaga Disiplin mempunyai fakta yang tepat dalam membuat keputusan.

“Itu adalah keputusan Lembaga Disiplin kerana mereka pasti mempunyai fakta... mungkin (keadaannya) sedikit berbeza,” katanya.

Malacca chief knocked out

2009-03-19T02:28:00.005+08:00

Front runner for Umno No. 2 post is banned from contest, blamed for 'money politics'

Singapore Straits Times (18/3/09): Malaysia's dominant Umno party was rocked yesterday when Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam was banned from contesting next week's party elections (Photo: Datuk Seri Ali (left), widely considered the front runner for the deputy presidency, was held liable for vote-buying carried out by his political secretary and two other campaign agents).

This is the first time that Umno has banned such a high-ranking candidate for violating party election rules.

Datuk Seri Ali, widely considered the front runner for the deputy presidency, was held liable for vote-buying carried out by his political secretary and two other campaign agents.

He declined to comment yesterday, saying he had yet to receive formal notice of the decision but would issue a statement today.

The action comes amid efforts by Umno to rid itself of the taint of corruption, which cost it dearly in the last general election.

But it is an uphill struggle. Thousands of ringgit are believed to have been spent to buy the votes of delegates ahead of the party election.

Just last week, Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said's office was raided by anti-corruption officials after her political secretary was reportedly found with RM70,000 (S$29,200) believed to be linked to vote-buying.

The action against Mr Ali risks more splits in a party already riven by internal squabbling.

Deputy Premier Najib Razak made clear yesterday where he stood. 'As they say, you can't have your cake and eat it. You have to decide, do you want Umno to be seen as a clean party? Umno must be seen as a clean party and it cannot afford to be rejected by the people,' he said.

The party deputy president by convention also becomes Malaysia's deputy prime minister. With Mr Ali out of the picture, that leaves Minister of International Trade and Industry Muhyiddin Yassin and Rural and Regional Development Minister Muhammad Muhammad Taib in the running.

All riled up and nowhere to go

2009-03-14T02:02:00.001+08:00

Those who are protesting against the continued teaching of Science and Maths in English should look at the root causes of why rural pupils are lagging behind.

The Star (12/3/09): Remember Vision 2020, the blueprint that is supposed to transform this country into a developed nation? It looks like a distant mirage, now that the global economic slump is upon us.

As for the other lofty aim of creating Bangsa Malaysia, the road to get there is getting longer and all the more winding with each passing day.

Despite the dramatic shifts that have taken place in the political landscape, it’s clear that some things in our social structure remain resistant to change or progressive thought, like when it comes to discussing ethnicity, culture, religion, language and education.

Like a cursed haze that can’t be blown away, politics permeates everything. It blurs or bars frank and divergent views needed for rational debate.

A 20-year-old song by Bob Dylan is apt for our situation. Just substitute “world” for “country”.

We live in a political world,

Turning and a-thrashing about,

As soon as you’re awake,

you’re trained to take,

What looks like the easy way out.

And the easy way out is what the protesters who marched to Istana Negara last week to demand that Bahasa Malaysia be again used as the medium of instruction for Maths and Science took.

It was a surprise to see several celebrated literary icons in the motley crowd that included Opposition leaders and supporters.

And it was ironic that their strongest allies in the cause were Chinese educationists who, not too long ago, were reviled as obstacles towards true national integration and unity.

Datuk Dr Hassan Ahmad, the most vocal champion of Bahasa Malaysia (or is it Bahasa Melayu, as some insist on calling the national language?), who heads the movement against English for teaching and learning of Maths and Science, vehemently denied that the march to hand over a memorandum to the King was masterminded by certain groups, including the Opposition parties.

“This is not a shadow play directed by someone. I am not a puppet. This is an insult to me. I can think, I’ve got knowledge, I’m not a monkey,” said Dr Hassan in response to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein’s questioning of the presence of Opposition leaders, the manner of the demonstration, and the timing of it.

That’s the beauty of Malaysian politics. Usually composed academics, poets, and writers can get all riled up and become bedfellows in a flash with rival politicians who are ever busy planning how-low-can-you-go strategies against each other when it comes to defending issues deemed to be ultra-sacred.

For the politicians, of course it’s always about the votes in the next contest, all the better if the cause is against a common enemy.

Dr Hassan says the movement is not politically inclined but solely aimed at reverting to the teaching and learning of the subjects in BM in national schools, and in the respective mother tongues in Chinese and Tamil schools, claiming there had been no problems in the national education system in the past.

Surely the dear old Datuk hasn’t forgotten why the decision was made at the urging of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad seven years ago?

That was when the Government realised that the standard of English in the country had dropped to such embarrassing levels, no thanks to an education system heavily hinged on misplaced pride on BM and on unfounded fears and suspicions that Article 152 of the Constitution, which stipulates the special position of the national language, would be compromised.

The bold decision was made to check the trend, and ensure that our younger generation would be able to grasp the scientific and technological changes taking place at breakneck speed in the globalised 21st century.

Forget the silly argument of comparing Japan, South Korea, Germany or France to Malaysia and saying that English is not necessary for this.

Yes, we have our share of homegrown PhD holders but, unlike these countries, we don’t have long records of scientific and technological breakthroughs using the native language.

As for Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, has it honestly offered any long-term plans to turn BM into a language suitable for acquiring knowledge, science, technology or ICT, besides translations?

While we are at it, does progress in the language mean conveniently turning every other old Malay word into a new anglicised term?

Words like “kualiti” for quality when it should be mutu, “cif inspektor” for chief inspector when it is ketua inspektor. Or how about one of the latest in the list – “ori” for original when it can always remain asal or asli?

In any case, why the clamour to reinstate BM for the teaching of the two subjects now, when the Cabinet had not made its final decision?

These champions must be aware that the Government, guided by the Zahid Higher Education Report 2005, has been increasingly pushing for the usage and teaching of English at tertiary levels?

The rising numbers of unemployed graduates amid the looming recession is reason enough for the Government to continue tweaking the policy towards more studies using English.

Moves to bring back BM for the teaching of Maths and Science were kindled in January last year in the wake of a Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) report on a study of pupils who had undergone five years of studying the subjects in English.

That report, despite its flaws in sampling and questions, was quickly brandished as a weapon to switch things back.

The study indicated that rural children – who make up 70% of the numbers – were lagging behind because they could not follow the lessons in English, leaving them disadvantaged against the 30% in the urban and suburban areas.

But has UPSI or any other body undertaken a study on the implementation of the policy, focusing on those who are teaching these rural children?

It cannot be denied that the proficiency level of English among these teachers is generally poor, even after they had undergone specially tailored language classes. This is one of many fundamental flaws in our education system, and it must not be swept under the carpet.

Many of the these teachers are being re-taught by senior English teachers in training colleges. Exams are set periodically to gauge their proficiency, using a model styled on the Malaysian University English Test (Muet), with Band 6 as the highest level and 1 as the lowest.

Sadly, it seems that some 80% of those who pass can only attain a Band 3 level with the rest being assessed at Band 2.

So let’s not be quick to condemn something without looking at the root causes of why it is not working as well as it should. We owe it to the future generations of Malaysians to get our focus right.

Associate Editor M. Veera Pandiyan likes this Czech proverb: You live a new life for every new language you speak.

Gobind evicted for raising Altantuya case

2009-03-13T03:33:00.002+08:00

Gobind suspended over Altantuya (Malaysiakini 12/3/09)

Gobind evicted for raising Altantuya case

The Edge (12/3/09): Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong-DAP) became the second MP to be ejected from parliament sitting today after he demanded that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak answer allegations linking him to the Altantuya Shariibuu murder case.

During the committee stage debate on the mini-budget, Gobind questioned the rationale for spending RM95 million on the Kuantan Court Complex when the structure that was supposed to keep the criminal justice system in check was not up to mark.

Gobind, who was twice suspended from parliament last year, went on to ask Najib to answer allegations about his connection to the Altantuya murder case.

He cited investigating officer for the case Supt Gan Tack Guan who had agreed with him in Raja Petra Kamarudin's ongoing trial that Najib was an important witness to the case (Altantuya murder) but had yet to provide any statement.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee (Beluran-BN) told Gobind to stop bringing up that issue as the matter was now in the court but he kept demanding Najib, who was present in the House, to answer the question. At this point Datuk Seri Jamaludin Jarjis (Rompin-BN) shouted at Gobind from across the floor while Najib remained seated.

More MPs on both sides stood up to join in the fray which ended when Kiandee directed sergeants-at-arm to escort Gobind out.

Later, Gobind, accompanied by 11 DAP and PKR MPs, told the press that his suspension did not matter much.

"What is important is the question that has to be asked must be asked in the Dewan. And I think we must be brave enough to face the consequences," he said, challenging Najib to make a public announcement in response to what Gan had said in the Raja Petra's case.

Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timur-DAP), who walked out in support of Gobind, said Najib should have stood up and clarified the matter.

"Critical and fundamental to the whole issue of the RM60 billion stimulus package is the question of confidence in the prime minister (to be). Haunting and dogging him will be the Altantuya case."Dewan Rakyat: Speaker orders Puchong MP to leave

NST (12/3/09): Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo became the second man today to be thrown out of the House for rude behaviour.

Gobind had been debating the need for new court buildings at the committee stage of the mini budget when he irked the chair.

He said the government did not need to build new court buildings but needed instead to provide for a judiciary with integrity.

The government has allocated some RM95 million under the mini budget for new court buildings.

Gobind then raised the problem of A. Kugan who had died in the police lock-up at the Subang Jaya police station.
"But up to now, nobody has been charged over the death of Kugan," he said.

Gobind then went on to declare that the same had happened with regard to the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaaribuu.

"A police officer agreed with me that Najib (deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak) is a crucial witness to her murder. But nothing was done to interview him," he said.

At this point, Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee interjected and told Gobind he could not speak about the Altantuya murder as it was subjudice.

Gobind protested and insisted on doing so.

Tired, Ronald then ordered Gobind out for the rest of the afternoon session.

Two MPs thrown out of Dewan

The Star (12/3/09): Two MPs - one from Barisan Nasional and the other from the Pakatan Rakyat - were ejected from the House within hours of each other during the debate on the second stimulus package.

Datuk Siringan Gubat (BN-Ranau) was ordered to leave at 11.35am when he spoke up without being invited by the Chair.

Ironically, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulis had just finished his speech advising MPs to behave themselves when debating contentious issues when Siringan spoke up.

Siringan, who remained seated instead of standing up and waiting for his turn to speak, said: Ngam, Tuan Speaker, ngam. (Fair, Mr Speaker, fair.)

Pandikar Amin immediately asked him to leave the Dewan.

Siringan asked if he could be forgiven, but the Speaker stood firm.

The incident occurred after Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (PAS-Parit Buntar), in a supplementary question, had asked what the Government was doing to curb parties that used a narrow perspective of the term social contract to attack other races in their speeches.

His question created an uproar.

As Dr Mujahid asked his question, he claimed that he heard someone uttering the word bodoh (stupid) at him.

“Kalau jantan, berdiri sekarang. (If you are man enough, show yourself now.), Dr Mujahid shouted.

At the Parliament lobby, Siringan said was not angry over Pandikar’s ruling.

“I did not ask for permission when I said that. If it is not right, I am sorry about that.

“It is okay. I am alright,” he told reporters.

Siringan, a Ranau state assemblyman since 1989 but a first-term MP, returned to the House at 2.30pm.

But less than five hours later, Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) was ejected from the House for the day at 4.10pm after he kept speaking up about the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Sharibuu.

Gobind Singh had referred to the Altantuya Sharibuu murder case when he was stopped by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, who told him that pending court cases could not be debated in the House.

At the time, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had just sat down after his winding-up speech on the second stimulus package.

Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was reportedly sitting at the observers gallery when the incident occurred.

Gobind Singh was undeterred and continued to say that Najib was involved in the murder and urged him to explain.

Kiandee then ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort Gobind Singh out, who refused to budge from his seat.

Gobind Singh shouted "You should be ashamed of yourself!" as he walked out of the House amidst thumps on tables by Barisan Nasional MPs.

After Gobind Singh left, Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) asked Kiandee if anyone in the House was not allowed to utter the word Altantuya.

Kiandee retorted that the Speaker had earlier already made it clear that pending court matters cannot be raised in the House and told the next MP to present his speech.

Gobind Singh told reporters in the lobby that it did not matter that he was suspended because it was more important that questions be asked in the House.

He called on Najib to make a public announcement in response to one "Superintendent Gan" who said that Najib was an important witness in the murder case.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said Najib should have just stood up and clarified the issue Gobind Singh had raised.

Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who is in charge of parliamentary affairs, expressed hope that the MPs from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat would take heed of the seriousness of the Speaker's actions and not waste time bringing up unnecessary points.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said recalcitrant MPs deserved punishment from Pandikar Amin, whom he noted had a high tolerance threshold for the behaviour of MPs in the House.

"The Speaker's decision came after he has been in the post for more than a year of tolerating the situation in the House, and I admire his patience.

"The said MPs deserved to leave. Let that be a lesson to all," he said at the Parliament lobby.

Janggut Saari ditarik Khir Toyo gara-gara pendedahan KDEB

2009-03-13T00:03:00.002+08:00

SHAH ALAM, 12 Mac 2009 (Hrkh) - Ketua Pembangkang Dun Selangor, Dato' Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo menarik janggut Adun Hulu Klang, Saari Sungib sambil memberi amaran keras supaya jangan membabitkan isterinya dalam isu pembelian dua kereta Mercedes dan sebuah Range Rover.

Amaran keras Khir itu dilakukan di luar dewan Dun selepas Saari mendedahkan penyelewengan dalam Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) yang membeli sebuah Range Rover bernilai RM500,000.

Katanya, Range Rover itu dibeli untuk kegunaan syarikat tetapi setelah kenderaan itu sampai ia telah diberikan kepada isteri Pengerusi KDEB.

Khir yang menunggu Saari di luar dewan berkata; "'You' serang isteri saya. 'You' jangan serang isteri saya, you hendak serang saya tak apa, jangan serang isteri saya. Isteri saya tidak boleh memandu."

Saari menjawab; "Saya bertanya untuk disiasat selepas itu beri jawapan, saya cakap ia diguna pakai oleh syarikat."

Khir membalas; "Awak orang tua awak mesti semak dengan tepat, jika isteri saya terdakwa, saya tidak akan maafkan awak, tuntut di akhirat."

Pada mulanya Saari beranggapan Khir hanya bergurau dengan menarik janggutnya tetapi ternyata Khir serius dan penuh emosi.

Bagaimanapun, amaran itu tidak menakutkan beliau untuk terus mendedahkan segala penyelewengan yang telah dilakukan ketika Khir menjadi Menteri Besar demi kepentingan rakyat negeri Selangor.

Sebenarnya, kata beliau, isu KDEB itu sudah lama iaitu setelah seminggu menjadi wakil rakyat maklumat itu telah sampai terutama SUK tidak boleh masuk kerana ada orang yang membuat kerja ambil dokumen takut bukti hilang.

Katanya dalam sidang penggal pertama perkara itu tidak sesuai untuk didedahkan sehingga perbahasan menjunjung titah ucapan Tuanku Sultan Selangor, tengah hari tadi.

Beliau menganggap Khir bukan mengancam tetapi hanya menunjukkan rasa tidak puas hati dan beremosi.

Sivakumar’s lawyer claims harassment by MACC

2009-03-05T02:45:00.001+08:00

The Edge (4/3/09): Perak State Assembly Speaker V Sivakumar’s lawyer Augustine Anthony claimed he was harassed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Anthony said he was visited by two MACC officers from Putrajaya at his office at 4pm on March 4 and their meeting lasted about 35 minutes.

He said since no prior notice was given, the visit and questioning amounted to harassment. “It impeded my work and put my daily schedule in disarray,” he told reporters.

Anthony wondered what kind of corruption offences he could have engaged in as a result of being a lawyer to Sivakumar.

He said the service he had rendered to Sivakumar was merely to explain the 2009 MACC Act so that Sivakumar could answer questions by the commission.

“We don’t need to go through this just because we are doing our job,” said an annoyed Augustine.

Hishammuddin, Khairy mesti buktikan mereka tidak tahu rancangan serang Karpal

2009-02-27T17:03:00.004+08:00

Harakah (27/2/09): Ketua dan Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno bertanggungjawab membuktikan kepada rakyat bahawa mereka tidak tahu-menahu tentang rancangan ahli mereka bertindak ala-mafia dan menyerang Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, Karpal Singh.

Ketua Penerangan PAS, Datuk Mahfuz Omar menuntut perkara itu dibuktikan kepada rakyat kerana semua pihak tahu bahawa ahli-ahli Umno biasanya tidak akan berani melakukan apa-apa tindakan yang dilihat mewakili parti itu tanpa kebenaran ketua mereka.

"Isunya sekarang bukan sahaja Pemuda Umno bertindak ala-gangster mafia menyerang seorang Ahli Parlimen di dalam bangunan Parlimen, malah ia sekaligus merupakan serangan beramai-ramai ke atas seorang warga emas berumur 69 tahun yang kurang upaya.

"Sukar untuk dipercayai oleh rakyat bahawa tindakan menyerang seorang Ahli Parlimen di dalam bangunan Parlimen boleh dilakukan oleh Pemuda Umno jika tidak diizinkan oleh ketua mereka.

"Sebab itulah Ketua Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein dan Naibnya Khairy Jamaluddin bertanggungjawab membuktikan kepada rakyat bahawa mereka benar-benar tidak tahu mengenai rancangan ahli-ahli mereka untuk bertindak ala-gangster mafia di dalam bangunan Parlimen," tegas beliau.

Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena itu juga mengecam tindakan Pemuda Umno meneruskan budaya gangster dan mafia dalam politik negara ini.

"Kita tidak pernah melupakan dan tidak pernah memaafkan tindakan Pemuda Umno yang ketika itu di bawah kepimpinan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yang membakar emosi para penyokong parti itu sehingga bertindak ganas dan kejam dalam pilihan raya kecil Padang Terap yang mengakibatkan terbunuhnya Asy-Syahid Osman Talib.

"Rakyat negara ini tidak bacul untuk melihat begitu sahaja Pemuda Umno mengulangi apa yang dilakukan di Lubok Merbau itu diulang di tempat yang tertinggi dalam sistem demokrasi berparlimen negara ini iaitu di dalam bangunan Parlimen," tegas beliau.

Dalam tragedi ngeri ketika berlangsungnya pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Padang Terap pada tahun 1985 itu, lebih 200 ahli Umno bersenjata parang, botol pecah, batu-bata telah menyerang, menetak, memukul dan menghentak petugas PAS di Felda Lubuk Merbau.

Keganasan itu mengakibatkan Osman gugur syahid, tujuh petugas PAS cedera parah dan berpuluh yang lain cedera ringan. Kejadian berlaku sehari sebelum hari pembuangan undi pada 19 Januari tahun tersebut.

Sebaik sahaja selepas kejadian itu, tempat tersebut dikawal ketat oleh pihak polis.

Mengulas lanjut mengenai tindakan Pemuda Umno beramai-ramai menyerang orang kurang upaya berumur 69 tahun di bangunan Parlimen itu, Mahfuz menyifatkan tindakan tersebut berpunca dari kekecewaan akibat kehilangan kuasa dan peluang mencipta kekayaan setelah pemerintahan beberapa negeri terlepas dari tangan parti itu.

"Mustahil Pemuda Umno tidak tahu mereka boleh mengambil tindakan undang-undang kepada Karpal yang mengaitkan dua peluru yang diterimanya dengan mereka malah menyifatkan mereka sebagai celaka walaupun ditarik balik setelah diarahkan oleh (Timbalan Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Dr Haji) Wan Junaidi (Tuanku Jaafar).

"Tetapi mereka sengaja bertindak ala ganster mafia mungkin kerana sudah tidak tahan lagi begitu tertekan dan kecewa akibat kehilangan kuasa dan peluang mencipta kekayaan setelah pemerintahan beberapa negeri terlepas dari tangan parti mereka.

"Tanyalah para pemimpin Umno lebih-lebih lagi di peringkat Pemuda di semua peringkat, berapa projek yang mereka ada sekarang? Mereka miskin projek sekarang dan merasa amat marah ketika kerajaan pusat kelihatan sudah tidak mampu lagi mewujudkan lebih banyak projek seperti projek kelas F yang khabarnya digunakan untuk menternak kroni-kroni," katanya.

Luahan kemarahan itu, kata Mahfuz, sudah jenuh digambarkan oleh ahli-ahli Umno termasuk tunjuk perasaan menentang tindakan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) membanteras rasuah politik di dalam parti mereka.

Dalam tunjuk perasaan di pekarangan Menara Dato Onn di mana terletaknya ibu pejabat Umno itu, ahli-ahli Umno yang marah kepada tindakan SPRM itu membawa sepanduk tertera mesej "Jangan ambil hak ahli Umno", "Kami menolak SPRM, boleh blah" dan "Lembaga disiplin sudah nyanyuk".

Mahfuz berharap para pemimpin Umno bertindak segera membendung kemarahan ahli-ahli mereka.

"Jika tidak, kita bimbang lebih banyak pihak akan diserang ala-gangster mafia oleh Pemuda Umno," katanya.

Kawalan dipertingkat

Anggota polis membuat pemeriksaan terhadap orang ramai memasuki Parlimen
berikutan kekecohan kelmarin.

Langkah keselamatan di Parlimen elak kekecohan

Berita Harian (27/2/09): Parlimen terpaksa mengambil tindakan mengetatkan kawalan keselamatan dengan mengehadkan kemasukan individu atau kumpulan tertentu demi keselamatan di kawasan berkenaan.

Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara, Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh, yang kesal dengan beberapa insiden, termasuk pergaduhan di Parlimen, berkata langkah keselamatan perlu kerana terdapat pihak tertentu yang tidak memahami makna sebenar demokrasi.

"Perkara ini (kekecohan) tragik, saya kesal kerana kita mahu jadikan tempat ini paling terbuka, tetapi disebabkan 'kebodohan' sekumpulan kecil orang seperti mengugut dan melakukan ancaman, kita terpaksa mengehadkan kemasukan (ke bangunan Parlimen).

"Akibatnya, langkah keselamatan menjadi keperluan.... sesuatu yang tidak menyenangkan tetapi jadi perlu disebabkan tindakan sekumpulan orang yang tidak memahami demokrasi," katanya sambil menganggap insiden kelmarin sebagai memalukan Parlimen.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas menerima kunjungan hormat lapan Ahli Parlimen Kesatuan Eropah diketuai Pengerusinya, Hartmut Nassauer di pejabatnya di bangunan Parlimen, semalam.

Abdul Hamid berkata, apa yang penting ialah usaha menghalang kumpulan yang difikirkan bakal mengganggu ketenteraman dan keselamatan daripada memasuki Parlimen, manakala penambahan pengawal keselamatan bukan langkah berkesan.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, ketika dihubungi, meminta Kelab Penyokong Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BNBBC) dan wakil pembangkang berbincang sama ada perlu mengetatkan kawalan keselamatan di Parlimen.

Katanya, pihaknya pernah membuat keputusan menghalang orang awam dan wartawan memasuki ruang lobi Parlimen pada sesi persidangan Jun lalu, tapi ia kemudian dibantah BNBBC dan pembangkang.

Timbalan Pengerusi BNBBC, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, berkata kelab itu akan bermesyuarat minggu depan untuk membincangkan pelbagai isu, termasuk aspek keselamatan di Parlimen dan akan turut mendapatkan pandangan pihak pembangkang.

"Ia kemudian akan dikemukakan kepada pejabat Speaker Dewan Rakyat untuk pertimbangan. Sebenarnya, Parlimen kita memang selamat dan kekecohan yang berlaku semalam (kelmarin) kes terasing," katanya.

Dalam kejadian kira-kira jam 2.45 petang kelmarin, pekarangan Bangunan Parlimen kecoh apabila sekumpulan individu berhimpun dan menuntut Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh memohon maaf atas kenyataannya yang memaki Pemuda Umno sebagai celaka dalam sidang Dewan Rakyat.

MCA: Such intimidation destroys our country’s image

The Star (28/2/09): The MCA has hit out at the Umno Youth members who confronted Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP chairman Karpal Singh in Parliament, calling such behaviour unacceptable.

The party’s information and communication bureau chairman Lee Wei Kiat said such physical intimidation “destroys our country’s image in the international stage”, and called for respect to be shown to Parliament.

“Any kind of behaviour or mob rule which forcibly prevents the MPs from entering Parliament not only offends the rakyat but is also an affront against the country’s democratic system, rule of law and also to voters,” he said in a statement.

He called for conflicts and differences in opinions to be debated through a peaceful, democractic and rational platform.

“It is unfortunate that Umno Youth members chose to be irrational and rowdy in voicing out their views in Parliament. Hence their action is tantamount to insulting Parliament,” he said.

On Thursday, the wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh was prevented by a group of Umno Youth members from entering Parliament who demanded an apology from him for calling them celaka.

Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also condemned the Umno Youth members who confronted Karpal Singh, saying the incident was “embarrassing and disgusting.”

He said Umno had tarnished Malaysia’s image and called for stern action to be taken against the group.

Lim, who is also Bagan MP, said he appreciated that Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had apologised over the incident, but felt it was only right that Umno should do so too.

On Karpal Singh’s use of the word celaka in reference to Umno Youth during his debate speech on Wednesday and his allegation that Umno was responsible for the two bullets he had received in the mail, Lim said the statement was made in the House and it was up to the Speaker to take any action

Gaduh di Parlimen tragis, kawalan diperketat

2009-02-27T16:53:00.001+08:00

mStar Online (27/2/09): Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara, Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh hari ini berkata, tahap keselamatan di Parlimen akan diperketatkan berikutan insiden pergaduhan semalam.

"Apa yang berlaku semalam adalah sesuatu yang tragis dan tidak patut berlaku di Parlimen tetapi disebabkan kebodohan kumpulan tertentu, sekatan terpaksa dikenakan terhadap sesiapa yang ingin memasuki kawasan Parlimen," katanya selepas menerima kunjungan hormat delegasi anggota Parlimen Eropah di Parlimen di sini, hari ini.

Petang semalam, suasana di pintu masuk ke bangunan Parlimen kecoh apabila Ketua Umno Bahagian Petaling Jaya Utara, Latt Sharizan Abdul dan Ketua Pemuda Umno Bahagian Gombak, Megat Zulkarnain Amiruddin mengepung ahli Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, Karpal Singh sambil meminta Karpal mengakui ada menyebut perkataan "Pemuda Umno celaka" dan meminta maaf kepada mereka.

Bagaimanapun, keadaan menjadi bertambah kecoh apabila Ahli Parlimen Segambut, Lip Li Eng dan Bukit Bintang, Fong Kui Lun cuba mempertahankan Karpal.

Campur tangan mereka bagaimanapun menimbulkan pergaduhan antara kedua-dua pihak sehingga mendapat campur tangan pihak keselamatan Parlimen.

Mengulas lanjut, Dr Abdul Hamid berkata, beliau berasa sedih mengenai insiden itu dan menyifatkan kumpulan tersebut sebagai manusia yang tidak memahami penguatkuasaan undang-undang dalam sistem demokrasi yang diamalkan di negara ini.

Bagaimanapun katanya, mereka yang ingin melawat Parlimen tidak akan dihalang berbuat demikian.

"Pelajar-pelajar sekolah masih boleh mengadakan lawatan ke sini.

"Kita cuma mengadakan sekatan terhadap mereka yang dikesan boleh mengganggu atau mengancam ketenteraman dan keselamatan Parlimen," katanya.

Ditanya sama ada mereka yang menimbulkan kekecohan semalam akan disenaraihitam daripada memasuki kawasan Parlimen, beliau berkata, langkah itu tidak perlu namun katanya, pihaknya perlu bergantung kepada maklumat dan risikan pihak keselamatan.

Katanya, insiden semalam bukan hanya memalukan Parlimen malah seluruh rakyat Malaysia.

Beliau turut menyifatkan kumpulan tersebut sebagai manusia yang tidak memahami penguatkuasaan undang-undang dalam sistem demokrasi yang diamalkan di negara ini.

Walaubagaimanapun, Abdul Hamid berkata bilangan anggota keselamatan tidak akan ditambah sebaliknya jumlah kemasukan mereka yang tidak berkenaan akan dihadkan dan insiden yang berlaku semalam tidak akan menjadi teruk sehingga melibatkan kecederaan fizikal seperti mana yang pernah terjadi negara lain.

"Saya suka apa yang saya baca dalam akhbar hari ini. Apa yang salah tetap salah. Kita tidak boleh mengamalkan politik yang bersifat kepartian," katanya.

Beliau menyifatkan apa yang dilakukakan oleh kumpulan tertentu sebagai orang yang tidak bertamadun kerana menghalang anggota Parlimen daripada menjalankan tugas mereka.

Katanya lagi, Parlimen sepatutnya menjadi tempat yang bebas untuk membahaskan sebarang isu tanpa dihalang oleh mana-mana pihak.

Nazri: Choice of PM is sole discretion of the King

2009-02-26T12:33:00.002+08:00

The Sun (25/2/09): The choice of the Prime Minister of Malaysia is at the sole discretion of the King and not to be disputed, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat today.

This is in accordance to Article 40(2) of the Federal Constitutiuon, Nazri said in response to a question from Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) who asked if the government would abolish the present system of choosing the PM and employ a system where the people of all races can choose the PM like in the United States.

Nazri said Malaysia goes by the constitutional monarchy and democratic parliamentary system modeled after the Westminster in the United Kingdom.

"Our Prime Minister is a member of the Dewan Rakyat who commands authority over the majority members of the House, and in Malaysia’s case, the leader of Parti Perikatan now known as Barisan Nasional has been administering the country since independence," he said.

"We have a different system from the Americans, which allows citizens to vote for their president directly every four years. Usually presidents of nations are elected directly but this is not the same case for a Prime Minister.

In the present system in Malaysia, voters know that their ballot indirectly determines the Prime Minister coming into power.

This system is one encompassed in the Federal Constitution and not based on decision of the Executive arm or the government.

“Therefore any attempts to change this system have to go through Parliament.”

Following that an argument ensued when Gobind asked if there were mechanisms to ensure that the candidates for PM are free of any doubts or scandals.

Raising allegations against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s alleged link to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder, Gobind said he had not been investigated despite being a key witness in the case.

“This was acknowledged by investigating officer Supt Gan Tack Guan during the sedition trial of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, and Gan is incidentally also the investigating officer for the Altantuya murder,” Gobind said as BN backbenchers protested noisily.

Nazri replied: “In Malaysia, a person is innocent until proven guilty in court. So in this case what is raised is merely speculation.”

“Speculation, rumours and allegations cannot influence our decision which has to be based on strong evidence against an individual,” he said.

"According to Article 40(2) of the Federal Constitution the King can accept or reject the candidate for Prime Minister. Matters of appointment of the Prime Minister depends on the King's decision and if the King decides to accept Pekan MP (Najib) as Prime Minister then it is not our responsibility to dispute it," he added.

Mohd Nor Othman (BN-Hulu Terengganu) then said Gobind’s question on whether the PM can be elected directly by the people was an infringement of the Constitution and denies the King’s right to appoint the PM.

Nazri replied: “This is their problem, they are fighting for ketuanan rakyat (people’s power) where the rakyat is to replace the monarchy."

"When we talk about Malay supremacy we are not saying that the Malays are more powerful than the Chinese or Indians- we are acknowledging that the Kings and Sultans are heads of their respective states," he said.

Raising a point of Order, Gobind then accused Nazri of insinuating that the Pakatan Rakyat wants to overthrow the Kings and Sultans and accused him of evoking uneasiness amongst the races, raising the fury of back benchers again.

Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee then interrupted saying that he did not think it was the minister’s intention to incite anyone and allowed Nazri to continue answering the questions raised.

BN accuses Pakatan of wanting a republic

Malaysian Insider (25/2/09): Barisan Nasional (BN) members of parliament today accused Pakatan Rakyat (PR) of wanting to establish a republic by suggesting direct elections for the prime minister’s post.

The matter arose after Gobind Singh Deo (DAP- Puchong) suggested in parliament today direct elections for prime minister “just as in the United States”.

Mohd Nor Othman (BN - Hulu Terengganu), said that such a suggestion would result in presidential elections which he argued would in effect replace the King as head of state.

“We know the Malaysian system is different from the US. Here we have the King and the US has its president. The suggestions to follow the US system means denying the King as head of state. Is this an effort (by PR) to compromise the constitution?”

De facto law minister Nazri agreed with Mohd Nor and said that that was the difference between BN and PR as the latter is championing ketuanan rakyat, or supremacy of the people, while BN was championing ketuanan Melayu, or Malay supremacy.

“Ketuanan Melayu does not mean that Malays are stronger than Chinese or Indians,” said Nazri.

“It means that the Malay rulers are the heads of the states. I hope we do not question the power of the King because if we want to elect the prime minister directly, it means we do not want the system we have today.”

PR lawmakers immediately objected to his remarks with Khalid Samad (PAS - Shah Alam) clarifying that PR was not suggesting that the King be replaced with a president and saying that direct elections for prime minister can be aligned with the present framework.

Gobind also accused the BN parliamentarians of sedition for saying that PR wanted to replace the King.

BN has been trying to paint PR as anti-monarchy ever since ousted Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin refused a request by the Sultan of Perak to resign.

Umno, in particular, has been vocal about the issue, and have accused PR leaders of treason.

Earlier, Nazri’s reply to Gobind’s original question was that the present system had served the country well and people indirectly elected the prime minister who is the head of the winning party.

Gobind disagreed, arguing that the prime minister needs the confidence of the majority of the public and that a mechanism was needed to prevent tainted candidates from assuming office.

“Pekan’s member of parliament will become prime minister even though he has terrible scandals and is involved in a murder case,” said Gobind, referring to persistent talk linking Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

“This is clear when the investigating officer Gan said that he (Najib) was an important witness in the case. What measures are there in the government to ensure such candidates do not become eligible (for prime minister) in Malaysia?”

Why PM is not directly elected

The Star (26/2/09): Pakatan Rakyat has been accused of trying to replace the King’s role when it suggested that the Prime Minister should be directly elected.

Gobind Singh Deo (DAP - Puchong) had asked why Malaysia did not allow its people to directly elect their prime minister “like what is done in the United States”.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz replied that Malaysia practised the constitutional monarchy, adding that the country’s democracy system was based on the Westminster model.

“Selecting a leader directly is the process to elect presidents and not prime ministers. The current system practised in Malaysia is enshrined in the Constitution and not a decision made by the Executives,” he said, adding that under the Federal Constitution, the King had his discretion in appointing the Prime Minister.

At one point, Nazri, replying to Mohd Nor Othman ( BN - Hulu Terengganu), said the problem with Pakatan MPs’ move in championing Ketuanan Rakyat (people’s supremacy) was that the people would end up replacing the King.

“When we talk about the Malay supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu), it is not about having Malays being stronger than the Chinese or Indians. This is in relation to having Sultans as head of states. So, I hope we do not question the role of the King here.

“When the Prime Minister is elected directly, does it not mean we do not want our current system - which is having the King appointing the Prime Minister?” he asked.

This prompted Khalid Abd Samad (PAS - Shah Alam) to stand up, citing Point of Order 36 (12) that the minister was misleading the House.

Urging Nazri to withdraw his remark, Khalid objected, saying that Nazri was making inference that opposition MPs wanted to abolish the constitutional monarchy.

“I urged the minister to retract. No one wants to take over the King’s role,” he said, in the midst of shouting by backbenchers.

Khalid also noted that Pakatan had put out a joint declaration in support of Federal Constitution and the constitutional monarchy.

At one point, Gobind Singh stood on a point of order, accusing Nazri of uttering words promoting ill-feelings in his reply.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, who was presiding, ruled in favour of Nazri, pointing out that the remarks in question did not promote ill-feelings.

Raja Petra sedition trial: Why Najib was not questioned

NST (11/2/09): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not questioned in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder investigations as he was not involved in the case, a police officer told the Sessions court yesterday.

Superintendent Gan Tack Guan, formerly from the Kuala Lumpur Serious Crimes Division, said there was no need to record Najib's statement as investigations had revealed that the deputy prime minister was not involved in the Mongolian woman's murder.

Gan said this was based on the initial murder investigations conducted by the investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Tony Lunggan.

"If he (Najib) was not involved, why should he be called in for questioning?" Gan responded during cross-examination by counsel Gobind Singh Deo yesterday.

The police officer was testifying in the trial of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who was charged with posting a seditious article titled, Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell, on his website.
The alleged offence was committed at his house in Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, on April 25. The article also implicated Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in Altantuya's murder.

Gan, who is now head of Interpol at the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, is the fifth prosecution witness to take the stand. He is also the complainant in this case.

Yesterday, he disagreed with counsel that police did not record Najib's statement as "they had no guts to question the DPM".

Gobind: I put it to you that the reason you did not question Najib in this case is because the police knew for a fact that he was involved in the murder and had no guts to reveal this in their probe.

Gan: I disagree.

He further disagreed that the decision to lodge a police report against Raja Petra was politically motivated.

Gan testified that some of the contents in the alleged article were unfounded, but disagreed when told that the writer was telling the truth when he wrote the article.

Judge Rozina Ayob adjourned the case to tomorrow after being informed that Raja Petra was due at the Federal Court today for another matter.

KL to relax Pro-Malay policies

2009-02-25T10:59:00.001+08:00

Changes likely to be unveiled in second stimulus package, says Muhyiddin

The Straits Times Singapore (24/2/09): Malaysia will relax some of its pro-Malay economic policies as part of a major stimulus package to keep the economy from faltering further, Minister of International Trade and Industry Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.

This is likely to be announced in the second package on March10, that will be bigger than the RM7 billion (S$2.9 billion) one unveiled last November.

Analysts have suggested that it could be between RM10 billion and RM15 billion.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin declined to give details but said the Cabinet has agreed to liberalise the rules for foreign investment, including the bumiputera equity requirements. 'It has been agreed upon by the Cabinet, and would be announced soon. Even in the FIC (Foreign Investment Committee) where one of the important components is the bumiputera equity. That is also being looked at, and there will be a slight change,' he told reporters. The services sector would also be liberalised.

The local media had reported that the government was likely to scrap the guidelines for the retail sector, with the exception of hypermarkets.

Under the guidelines, retailers and restaurants were required to have 30 per cent bumiputera equity participation if they had more than 15 per cent foreign shareholding. They were also required to have boards, management and staff reflecting the demographics of Malaysia. It had never been fully implemented.

Certain aspects of the controversial pro-Malay policy had already been relaxed, notably in the manufacturing sector where foreigners can have full ownership. The main remaining quota is the 30 per cent Malay equity ownership for public-listed companies. This was relaxed a little last year, with the quota now implemented only for new listings.

Mr Muhyiddin defended the 40-year-old policy as having been 'one of the best' for Malaysia's needs, but acknowledged its flaws in implementation.

He said it was being liberalised gradually but will not be lifted fully until Malaysia was ready for it. However, he said once it was rolled back, it would not be reimposed.

In general, the policy assists the majority Malay community in the economic sector through share quotas, soft loans and preference for government tenders. It also gives them a helping hand in educational opportunities.

Ku Li: Form unity government

2009-02-19T20:43:00.001+08:00

The Star (7/10/09): Veteran Umno politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has discussed with PAS, DAP and PKR leaders the possibility of forming a national unity Federal Government as a way out of the current political and economic stalemate.

As a precedent, he cited former premier Tun Abdul Razak Hussein’s Barisan Nasional model that came from the original Alliance coalition of Umno, MCA and MIC.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had sought appointments with the former Finance Minister.

According to Tengku Razaleigh, the three requested for the meeting to discuss a perceived national crisis reflected by low confidence in the existing political and economic situation.

Tengku Razaleigh said he had explored with them the possibility of formulating a minimum basis for a national front, a Government formed out of a sincere need for national unity.

He said a national unity government could be formed together with the Barisan as a coming together of all key players to cope with the new political developments in the country, brought on by higher expectations of the electorate and to cope with challenges in a globalised economy.

Tengku Razaleigh, who has drawn up plans to overcome the present economical and political stalemate, said he would discuss these with Umno members and the people over the coming weeks.

He said he was steadfast to his commitment in offering himself as a candidate for the Umno president’s post following the worst ever performance by Barisan in the March 8 general election.

The results saw Barisan lose its two-thirds majority in Parliament and four states, as well as fail to wrest back Kelantan.

Among the states lost, Penang and Selangor, are major contributors to the nation’s gross domestic product.

In a related development, Independent Pasir Mas MP Datuk Paduka Ibrahim Ali supports the idea of the proposal but had serious doubts as to whether it could be implemented today in comparison to 1974.

He said there would have to be huge compromises and he wondered whether the likes of Anwar, Lim, Abdul Hadi, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Najib, Sabah and Sarawak leaders would be able to accept that.

He added that the basis of a unity government must be integrity.

Penganalisis: Anwar 'tersepit', syor BN-Pakatan bentuk kerajaan perpaduan mustahil

mStar Online (7/10/09): Selepas lebih enam bulan pilihan raya umum 2008 berlangsung, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Ahli Parlimen kanan dari Gua Musang, mengesyorkan Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat menerokai idea kemungkinan membentuk kerajaan perpaduan untuk keluar daripada ketidaktentuan politik.

Ketua Umno Gua Musang itu telah mengetengahkan idea berkenaan dalam pertemuan dengan pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat baru-baru ini.

Bagaimanapun penganalisis melihat perkembangan tersebut sebagai tidak kena dalam senario politik semasa di mana rakyat ingin melihat kewujudan sistam dua parti di negara.

"Pakatan sudah tersepit. Datuk Seri (Anwar) Ibrahim sudah tersepit, sudah habis strategi politik," kata Pengarah Institut Kajian Etnik Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Prof. Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin ketika dihubungi mStar Onlinehari ini.

Kata beliau, Anwar kini sudah tiada jalan melainkan mengadakan perbincangan dengan Tengku Razaleigh selepas kesemua taktiknya untuk membentuk kerajaan persekutuan baru menerusi lompat parti gagal.

"Pembangkang tidak boleh jalan (bergerak)... Pakatan hendak ambil alih kerajaan, tetapi sudah tersepit, sebab itu mereka jumlah Ku Li.

"Tetapi pandangan Ku Li tidak kena dengan senario sekarang walaupun pernah digunakan dulu (tahun 1970-an)," katanya.

Menurut Tengku Razaleigh, usaha ke arah itu boleh mengguna pakai formula yang pernah diamalkan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdul Razak pada 1974 apabila membentuk BN, menggantikan Perikatan.

Dalam pertemuan tersebut, kata bekas Naib Presiden Umno itu yang dipetik The Star berkata, beliau telah menyentuh kemungkinan merangka satu asas minimum bagi membentuk barisan kebangsaan yang baru - sebuah kerajaan hasil kejujuran dan keikhlasan demi perpaduan negara.

Kata beliau, langkah membawa parti-parti utama bersama BN akan membolehkan negara berhadapan dengan ujian dan cabaran ekoran perkembangan baru landskap politik selain situasi ekonomi global.

Sebagaimana disaksikan pada pilihan raya umum 1969, BN mengalami kekalahan di lima buah negeri dan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur selain hilang majoriti dua pertiga di Parlimen.

Kelmarin, Tengku Razaleigh yang menawarkan diri merebut kerusi Presiden Umno, mengakui pernah mengadakan pertemuan dengan beberapa pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat termasuk Ketua Umumnya, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Selain Anwar, bekas Menteri Kewangan itu juga ada menemui Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang dan Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang.

Difahamkan Tengku Razaleigh dan Anwar telah bertemu sebanyak tiga kali sebelum ini.

Bagaimanpun Tengku Razaleigh berkata, pertemuan-pertemuan itu hanya berlangsung dalam "konteks kawan-kawan lama yang bertemu."

Ketika mengulas khabar angin bahawa sudah menyertai Pakatan Rakyat, Tengku Razaleigh berkata, beliau telah menemui pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat atas permintaan mereka mahu menemuinya untuk membincangkan masa depan negara.

"Sebagai seorang pemimpin, saya terbuka untuk menemui kesemua ahli politik, tidak kira sama ada mereka dari Barisan ataupun Pakatan," katanya. Malah desas-desus sedemikian pernah muncul tiga bulan lalu, yang beliau telah menemui pemimpin PAS di Parlimen dan ditawarkan memimpin pembangkang sebagai Perdana Menteri.

Tengku Razaleigh juga meminta kesemua ahli politik mengutamakan kepentingan negara khususnya ia penting dalam suasana seperti sekarang.

"Khususnya dalam suasana sekarang kita perlu mengatasi ketidaktentuan politik dan ekonomi," katanya.

Tengku Razaleigh menambah, beliau mempunyai rancangan sendiri untuk membantu negara bebas daripada persekitaran politik dan ekonomi semasa.

Sirul wants acquittal

2009-02-18T11:54:00.000+08:00

The Star (17/2/09): Unit Tindakan Khas operative Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar has asked the High Court here to acquit him of the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Alternatively, Kpl Sirul, 36, wants the court to declare a mistrial and order a retrial, including for political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who had been acquitted without his defence being called of abetment in her murder.

Kpl Sirul’s counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin submitted before High Court Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin yesterday that his client was only a patsy (puppet) for a crime committed by others.

He said the prosecution did not provide complete evidence on Altantuya’s murder, but just wanted the court to believe that Kpl Sirul was involved in her murder and had disposed of all physical evidence later.

Kamarul, submitting that Kpl Sirul had no motive to murder Altantuya, said there should be a retrial as a material witness, DSP Musa Mohd Safri, a minister’s aide-de-camp, was not called to give evidence in the trial.

“The prosecution had thought DSP Musa a probative witness, and he could have provided evidence over the guilt of the three accused persons,” he said.

He said DSP Musa was important to unfolding the murder narration.

“It is a failure of statutory duty, and Your Lordship has the power under common law to strike out the case on grounds of abuse of process,” he argued.

He said it was also the court’s duty to decide if the witness was a material witness or not.

“If DSP Musa were to collaborate the story of Razak in full as in his (Razak’s) affidavit, he will be a collaborative witness.

“If DSP Musa were to take right of defence of superior orders, we could have challenged him,” he argued.

He said the defence had been deprived of the right to cross-examine DSP Musa for the purpose of showing inconsistency of evidence.

Kamarul also highlighted the constant communications between Razak and DSP Musa in the form of text messages, which only the senior police officer could shed light on.

“There were 11 SMSes on Oct 17 alone. Who can give an explanation to the SMSes? There must have been communication between Razak and DSP Musa prior to the SMSes being sent,” he argued.

Lawyer Datuk Hazman Ahmad, for C/Insp Azilah, submitted that his client had no intention to kill Altantuya, and that there was no eyewitness or DNA evidence to link him to the murder.

“There is no evidence to say that Azilah was ordered by Razak to commit the murder,” he said.

Submissions continue today.

Penyokong parti tak wajar laung takbir sewenang-wenang

2009-02-18T09:49:00.001+08:00

Berita Harian (17/2/09): Parti politik sepatutnya mengelak daripada menggunakan ayat al-Quran untuk kepentingan mereka termasuk ketika berceramah mengenai perubahan pentadbiran kerajaan negeri atau menjelang pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Bukit Gantang.

Penasihat Hal Ehwal Agama Islam kepada Menteri Besar, Datuk Najmuddin Elias Al-Hafiz, berkata penyokong parti politik juga tidak wajar melaungkan takbir sewenang-wenangnya kerana takbir dikhususkan sebagai tanda kebesaran Allah.

Beliau berkata, ayat al-Quran atau takbir adalah kalimah tinggi dan patut digunakan secara berhati-hati.

"Ayat al-Quran atau takbir tidak wajar digunakan sebagai benteng politik untuk menyampaikan maksud bagi kepentingan parti.

"Ini adalah kalimah tinggi yang patut digunakan secara berhati-hati," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan lawatan dan mendengar taklimat Jabatan Agama Islam Perak (Jaip) di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama Pengarah Jaip, Datuk Sheikh Mohd Nor Mansor Al-Hafiz.

Najmuddin berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas sesetengah pemimpin parti pembangkang bukan Islam terutama DAP yang gemar membaca ayat al-Quran dalam bahasa Arab dan diterjemah ke dalam bahasa Melayu dalam ceramah politik.

Isu Perak: Haron Din jawab Mufti Perak

2009-02-17T21:35:00.000+08:00

Harakah (8/2/09): Golongan alim ulama di Negara ini harus bersikap adil di samping memihak hanya kepada Islam dalam menyelesaikan sesuatu isu apa lagi mengeluarkan kenyataan berbaur politik

Timbalan Mursyidul Am, Dato' Dr Haron Din, menyifatkan kenyataan Mufti Perak, Dato' Seri Harussani Zakaria, yang mengeluarkan kenyataan sesiapa tidak taat kepada pemerintah dianggap derhaka dilihat sebagai tidak menepati tugasnya sebagai Mufti yang hanya wajib memihak pada Islam dan bukannya pada mana-mana individu apa lagi untuk kepentingan politik.

Menurutnya, tindakan sedemikian hanya akan mengundang kekeliruan di kalangan masyarakat, kerana golongan ulama merupakan rujukan utama masyarakat dalam masaalah agama.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas berhubung kenyataan mufti berkenaan yang didakwa sedemikian sebagai merujuk tindakan Menteri Besar Perak, Dato' Seri Muhammad Nizar, yang enggan melepaskan jawatannya sebagai menteri besar.

Harussani baru-baru ini mendakwa, sesiapa yang tidak taat kepada pemerintah ataupun Raja yang memerintah sesebuah negeri, orang itu dianggap derhaka.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas merasmikan majlis penutup Kursus Kepimpinan Dakwah Halaqat, anjuran kerajaan negeri dengan kerjasama Unit Dakwah Halaqat, Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Negeri Kelantan, di Putik, di sini semalam.

"Mufti Perak telah menyatakan pendapatnya, tetapi tidak pernah berlaku seumpamanya sebelum ini di mana Mufti telah memihak pada mana-mana parti politik.

"Sepatutnya sebagai orang yang diberi tanggungjawab menjaga kepentingan agama, Mufti tidak seharusnya terjebak dalam kancah politik, selain hanya memihak kepada kebenaran Islam yang satu,"ujarnya lagi.

Haron Din, seterusnya memberitahu kenyataan Mufti sedemikian jelas menampakkan ianya kurang bijak dalam memberikan pandangannya berhubung kemelut politik di Perak.

"Kalau nak membuat sebarang ulasan pun biarlah ianya memberi gambaran yang jelas iaitu Islam,"ujarnya lagi.

Terdahulu ketika berucap pada majlis itu beliau merujuk pada sejarah Islam bagaimana seorang alim ulama yang masyhur Izzudin Abdul Salam yang berani menyatakan kebenarannya walaupun di hadapan sultan sehingga beliau akhirnya dibuang daerah.

Menurutnya, keberanian ulama di zaman ini amat diperlukan khususnya untuk menangani kegawatan suasana politik dunia dan tempatan yang semakin meruncing.

"Hanya golongan ulama sejati yang berani mengeluarkan kenyataan yang benar walaupun sedar diri terpaksa berhadapan dengan sebarang kemungkinan,"ujarnya lagi.

Sultan to PAS: Call off protest or I call off matches

2009-02-14T22:59:00.003+08:00

The Star (18/6/08): An upset Sultan of Selangor has threatened to call off future Sultan of Selangor Cup matches between his state and Singapore if the protest by the state PAS Youth against two artistes performing for the event went ahead.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah described the protest over rock queen Ella and dangdut singer Mas Idayu as “hypocritical” and “trivial”.

He said there were more important issues that the party could focus on.

“If this is going to be so difficult, we might as well hold this annual event in Singapore. I am sure they will be more than happy to play host,” he told The Star yesterday.

On Monday, Selangor PAS Youth submitted a memoradum to the Selangor Mentri Besar’s office to protest against plans to have Ella and Mas Idayu perform at the match on July 6.

State PAS Youth chief Sallehen Mokhyi said the movement felt that performances by the singers were inappropriate as it would be attended by many youngsters.

The youth wing threatened to stage a demonstration at the Shah Alam Stadium if Ella and Mas Idayu were allowed to performed.

Sallehen’s call came on the heels of a statement by national PAS Youth vice-chief Azman Shapawi that the party wanted all the Pakatan Rakyat states to implement Syariah laws.

The Sultan said yesterday Ella and Mas Idayu were chosen because they were good entertainers and that the organisers felt that they would be able to entertain the people before the match began.

The other singer is David Arumugam of Alleycats.

“The organising committee even planned for the performance by the singers to end before the maghrib prayers. They are performers suitable for the family and I don’t know what the fuss is all about,” he said.

The Tuanku said Selangor did not comprise of “just PAS and Muslims,” adding that the state had many political parties and people of other races and faith.

He said Pakatan Rakyat was a multi-racial coalition and the sensitivities of other races must be taken into account.

“The idea of holding the performance is to create goodwill and bring the people together before the match. Sports and music bring people together,” he said.

He added this was the seventh edition of the Cup and was organised to enhance friendly ties with Singapore through football, adding that the history of Selangor and Singapore’s friendly rivalry went back to before the Second World War.

The Sultan also clarified that the state government and its subsidiary Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd were not the sponsors of the match.

He said no government funds were used for the organisation of the match and so the issue of public funds for the performance and football match did not arise as it was all done through sponsorship.

He said organising chairman Datuk Karim Munisar, who is Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd president, was appointed by him to run the event annually because of Karim’s love for football and volunteerism.

Malaysian sultan clashes with Islamic party over entertainers

AFP (17/6/09): The sultan of Malaysia's Selangor state has threatened to cancel a football tournament after the Islamic opposition objected to the entertainers performing at the event, a report said Wednesday.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah told The Star daily that the protest over the two women -- rock singer Ella and Mas Idayu, who performs the hip-swivelling "dangdut" dance -- was "hypocritical" and "trivial".

He said future Selangor Cup matches between his state and Singapore could be cancelled if the Islamic party PAS was successful in its campaign to have them struck off the schedule.

"If this is going to be so difficult, we might as well hold this annual event in Singapore. I am sure they will be more than happy to play host," he told the daily.

The PAS youth wing in Selangor sent a memorandum to the state's chief minister objecting to the performers at the July 6 match, saying they were inappropriate as the event would be attended by many youngsters.

It threatened to demonstrate at the stadium if the women were allowed to perform, The Star said.

Malaysia's population is predominantly Muslim, and the nation's sultans are the traditional guardians of Islam in the states they rule.

But Sharafuddin said Selangor was not made up of "just PAS and Muslims" and that in any case the two performers were suitable for families.

"I don't know what the fuss is all about," he said.

PAS, which rules the northern state of Kelantan, has had ambitions of turning Malaysia into a theocratic state under Islamic rule.

However, in recent years it has begun introducing reforms designed to tone down its hardline reputation and woo young voters.

Ella disappointed with PAS Youth

The Star (18/6/09): Rock queen Ella is disappointed and angry at Selangor PAS Youth for seeking to prevent her and dangdut legend Mas Idayu from performing at the Sultan of Selangor Cup on July 6.

“They are judging me and making baseless accusations. No one can ever judge anybody. Only God can judge us,” she said yesterday.

“I have never broken any regulation when it comes to concerts and public events. I always follow the protocols. In fact, my show costumes are always in accordance to the theme of the event,” she told The Star.

“I am a public figure and a Muslim. I know exactly what to wear and what not to wear,” she said when commenting on movement's memorandum calling on the two singers to be dropped.

Ella said that she had no intention of becoming a bad example to youth.

“The kids are not stupid. They know how to think for themselves. We are living in a modern world today and the kids are exposed enough to know what is right and wrong,” she said.

Mas Idayu could not be reached for comments.

Selangor PAS Youth protests performances by Ella, Mas Idayu

The Star (16/6/08): The Selangor PAS Youth movement has submitted a memorandum to the Selangor Mentri Besar’s office to protest against plans to have Malaysia rock queen Ella and dangdut singer Mas Idayu perform at the Sultan of Selangor Cup on July 6.

State PAS youth chief Sallehen Mokhyi said the movement felt that performances by the two singers were inappropriate at the event that would be attended by many youngsters.

He said PAS fully supported sports-related activities as they were important in building good moral values but felt that the two performers would have an opposite effect on the minds of the youngsters who attended the event.

He said the movement had no objections to musical performances if the performers were replaced with other singers who were more “acceptable”.

“Ella and Mas Idayu’s dressing and performances do not follow the values of the Islamic and Malay cultures and we (the youth movement) cannot turn a blind eye to the effect it will have on the spectators,” he told reporters Monday at the state secretariat building here.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad received the memorandum on his behalf as the Mentri Besar was attending a state government meeting.

State government subsidiary Kelab Darul Ehsan Bhd is organising the football match being held for the second consecutive year at the Shah Alam Stadium.

Ella and Mas Idayu are to perform during a one-hour musical performance to kick-start the event together with David Arumugam of Alleycats.

Sallehin said the youth movement would be forced to hold a peaceful gathering to protest the performance by the two singers if the state government did not stop their performance.

He said he hoped that Khalid would act accordingly and not cause dissatisfaction among the Pakatan Rakyat coalition members in the newly-formed state government.

Malaysia's budget transparency: ‘Surprised and embarrassed'

2009-02-14T00:29:00.000+08:00

The Star (13/2/09): Malaysia scored a dismal 35 out of 100 points in the Open Budget Index (OBI) 2008 and is ranked 53rd out of 85 countries, prompting Centre for Public Policy Studies chairman Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam to declare he was “surprised and embarrassed.”

Malaysia is now listed under the “minimal information” category on Budget information provided by the Government, behind countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

“I am surprised and embarassed to know that our Budget is not as transparent as it should be,” Navaratnam said.

“I urge the Government to make the Budget more transparent,” he said, adding that information should trickle down to the grassroots, especially those in rural areas.

On that note, he said there is a general feeling that people do not know much about the first stimulus package, and that the Government should provide more information such as which states and areas are getting the funds and who are getting them.

Foreign investors are also interested because it would reveal the risk factors in doing business.

Navaratnam pointed out that there were two main documents that lack public accessibility in Malaysia -- the Citizen’s Budget (a simplified version of the enacted Budget) and the mid-year review on revenues and expenditure.

He said he will bring up the matter with Treasury officials, and consult the Washington-based International Budget Partnership, the non-governmental organisation that compiled the OBI Index.

He will also consult countries that are doing well on ways to improve the Malaysian index.

According to the report, the minimal information provided by the Malaysian Government makes it quite difficult for citizens to hold government accountable for its management of the public’s money.

The Budget information used was based on information in 2007 and in providing information, with the categories being extensive, significant, some, minimal or no information.

Britain, South Africa, France, New Zealand and the United States ranked the highest in the OBI, where their governments provided “extensive information.”

It was found that 80% of the world’s governments failed to provide adequate information for the public.

The key documents that should be made accessible to the public are the pre-Budget statement, Executive’s budget proposal, Citizen’s Budget, In-year Reports, Mid-year Review, Year-end Report and Audit Report.

The survey covered 124 questions on budget development -- formulation, legislative approval, implementation and audit.

This was the second time the OBI was compiled, and the first time Malaysia participated.

Raja Petra sedition trial: Why Najib was not questioned

2009-02-13T03:30:00.001+08:00

NST (11/2/09): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not questioned in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder investigations as he was not involved in the case, a police officer told the Sessions court yesterday.

Superintendent Gan Tack Guan, formerly from the Kuala Lumpur Serious Crimes Division, said there was no need to record Najib's statement as investigations had revealed that the deputy prime minister was not involved in the Mongolian woman's murder.

Gan said this was based on the initial murder investigations conducted by the investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Tony Lunggan.

"If he (Najib) was not involved, why should he be called in for questioning?" Gan responded during cross-examination by counsel Gobind Singh Deo yesterday.

The police officer was testifying in the trial of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who was charged with posting a seditious article titled, Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell, on his website.
The alleged offence was committed at his house in Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, on April 25. The article also implicated Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in Altantuya's murder.

Gan, who is now head of Interpol at the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, is the fifth prosecution witness to take the stand. He is also the complainant in this case.

Yesterday, he disagreed with counsel that police did not record Najib's statement as "they had no guts to question the DPM".

Gobind: I put it to you that the reason you did not question Najib in this case is because the police knew for a fact that he was involved in the murder and had no guts to reveal this in their probe.

Gan: I disagree.

He further disagreed that the decision to lodge a police report against Raja Petra was politically motivated.

Gan testified that some of the contents in the alleged article were unfounded, but disagreed when told that the writer was telling the truth when he wrote the article.

Judge Rozina Ayob adjourned the case to tomorrow after being informed that Raja Petra was due at the Federal Court today for another matter.

Lapan ditahan, masjid dibedil gas pemedih mata!

2009-02-06T16:18:00.001+08:00

KUALA KANGSAR, 6 Feb (Hrkh) - 3.45 petang: Pihak polis menangkap lapan orang di kawasan Masjid Ubudiyyah sebentar tadi selepas melepaskan beberapa gas pemedih mata.

KUALA KANGSAR, 6 Feb (Hrkh) - 3.20 petang: FRU sedang melepaskan gas pemedih mata kepada orang ramai yang sedang berhimpun di luar Masjid Ubudiyyah.

Dalam pada itu, didapati beberapa das gas pemedih mata turut dilepaskan ke dalam masjid dan ini telah menyebabkan gangguan kepada jemaah yang masih berada dalam masjid yang sedang membaca Yassin.

Sementara itu, seorang bekas anggota FRU yang turut berada di lokasi kejadian menyifatkan tindakan FRU adalah melampau dan melanggar prosedur kerana melepaskan gas pemedih mata ke dalam masjid.

Selain itu, dalam tinjauan wartawan Harakah mendapati orang ramai sedang cuba untuk menutup pintu masjid bagi mengelak serangan FRU yang makin membabi buta.

Surat Mohammad Nizar kepada Sultan Perak

2009-02-05T22:33:00.002+08:00

Mengadap Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Shah Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah Paduka Sultan Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan Yang bersemayam di atas takhta Kerajaan Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan dengan beberapa amat kebesaran dan kemuliaannya.

Assalamualaikum

Ampuan Tuanku,

Dengan hormat dan takzimnya patik merafa'kan sembah dan berdoa kehadrat Allah Suhanahu Wata'ala, mudah-mudahan Duli Yang Maha mulia Tuanku sentiasa berada dalam keadaan selamat dan kesejahteraan.

Ampuan Tuanku,

MERAFA' SEMBAH MEMAKLUMKAN PERKEMBANGAN TERKINI DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN

Warkah yang tidak sepertinya ini sebagai pengganti diri patik untuk menyembahkan kepada Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku mengenai isu kedudukan terkini Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan.

Patik merafa' sembah menjunjung kasih di atas perkenan Duli Yang Mah Mulia Tuanku pada pagi ini. Patik memohon izin untuk menyembahkan beberapa perkara:

1. Artikel XVl (6) Undang-undang Perlembagaan Negeri Perak menyatakan bahawa "If the Menteri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the Legislative Assembly, then, unless at his request His Royal Highness dissolves the Legislative Assembly, he shall tender the resignation of the Executive Council". Ini bermakna sokongan Menteri Besar itu perlu diputuskan oleh Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri.

2. Jumlah Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Pakatan Rakyat dan Barisan Nasional adalah sama iaitu 28 orang. Adalah kurang tepat andaian Barisan Nasional mempunyai majoriti. YB Yang Dipertua Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak telah memutuskan bahaw Adun bagi kawasan Behrang, Changkat Jering dan Jelapang bukan lagi Adun. YB Yang Dipertua Dewan Undangan

Negeri Perak dan Kerajaan Negeri Perak juga telah memfailkan satu permohonan untuk satu perisytiharan bahawa ketiga-tiga Adun berkenaan bukannya Adun untuk kawasan-kawasan tersebut, di Mahkamah Tinggi pada pagi ini. Sewajarnya kita menunggu keputusan mahkamah dalam kes tersebut.

Ampuan Tuanku,

Atas alasan di atas dan berdasarkan prinsip demnokrasi dan Raja Berperlembagaaan, Patik dengan ini merafa' sembah memohon agar Dewan Undangan Negeri dibubarkan bagi membolehkan rakyat memilih semula kerajaan yang dikehendaki mereka.

Ampuan Tuanku,

Patik dengan ini merafa' sembah bahawa pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat sebulat suara meminta patik untuk tidak meletak jawatan sehingga krisis perlembagaan ini diputuskan oleh Mahkamah atau Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak.

Ampuan Tuanku,

Patik akhiri warkah yang tidak sepertinya ini dengan sekalung penghargaan ke atas keprihatinan dan pertimbangan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku, mudah-mudahan Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala melanjutkan usia Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku dan seluruh kerabab Tuanku dan semoga sentiasa berada di dalam kesejahteraan dan kebahagian yang berkekalan.

Amin Ya Rabbal 'Alamin

Ampun Tuanku,

Patik dengan segala hormat takzimnya; bagi pihak Ahli-ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Pakatan Rakyat

YAB Dato' Seri Ir Haji Mohammad Nizar bin Jamaluddin
Menteri Besar Perak Darul Ridzuan

MACC: Demonstrators should be "saved"

2009-02-03T13:47:00.000+08:00

MySinchew (31/1/09): Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC), said he was disappointed with the action of hundreds of UMNO members demonstrating at the party headquarters against the commission for conducting investigations on money politics within the party.

Ahmad Said Hamdan told Sin Chew Daily that people should go and "save" those demonstrating against the MACC.

He said UMNO did not reject the MACC, only that a small group of people had attempted to misguide the public.

He also stressed that for the sake of all Malaysians, the commission would face all the challenges, adding that the responsibility of the commission is to combat corruption, and it would therefore continue to probe the complaints on money politics, whether UMNO likes it or not.

He said the MACC had appointed deputy commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohammad to take full charge of the money politics issues.

However, money politics in other states will be handled by local MACC officers.

Ahmad Said Hamdan said, while the UMNO disciplinary committee investigates the complaints, the MACC will also do the same.

"Even if the disciplinary committee is investigating the complaints, we will still conduct our own investigations. It doesn't matter if there is any overlapping, but we still need to conduct our own investigations."

Najib's ratings fall

2009-02-03T13:43:00.002+08:00

Singapore Straits Times (3/2/09): The approval rating of Malaysia's incoming prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, continues to fall, amid increasing unhappiness among Malaysians over the government's handling of important issues in recent months.

Just 41 per cent believe current Deputy Prime Minister Najib will be a good PM, a survey of 1,018 Malaysian voters by independent pollster Merdeka Centre late last month showed.

Current Premier Abdullah Badawi fared marginally better - 46 per cent of respondents said they were happy with his performance as PM.

Their main beef was the way the government has been handling issues such as racial inequality, racial relations, corruption, the economy and inflation. Such issues, the survey found, topped the list of concerns voters had when it came to assessing the government's performance.

Some 43 per cent of voters said the economy was the most pressing issue facing the country, while 17 per cent were most worried about ethnic-related concerns, and 10 per cent about governance and corruption.

The dismal approval ratings, which were released by the centre yesterday, are a far cry from the popularity that both leaders enjoyed when Datuk Seri Abdullah took over as PM in 2003.

Then, around 80 per cent of respondents gave the two men the thumbs-up.

While the approval ratings follow naturally from the shock results experienced by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in last year's March election, they also come at a bad time for Mr Najib, who is scheduled to take over as premier when Mr Abdullah steps down next month.

Negative perceptions about Mr Najib appeared to be especially strong among non-Malay voters. Only 18 per cent of Chinese and 28 per cent of Indians said he would make a good PM.

On the other hand, Malay voters, who form the majority in Malaysia, gave him a higher rating: 57 per cent of them said he would make a good PM.

'They expect him to turn things around for Umno,' said Mr Ibrahim Suffian, who runs Merdeka Centre.

Bapa mungkin jadi wakil rakyat Bebas

2009-02-01T23:57:00.001+08:00

Berita Harian (1/2/09): Anak kepada Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Behrang, Jamaluddin Mat Radzi yang disebut-sebut akan meninggalkan Pakatan Rakyat Perak mendakwa bapanya mungkin menjadi wakil rakyat Bebas.

Ali, 25, mendakwa bapanya tidak akan menyertai Barisan Nasional (BN) seperti dilaporkan media hari ini dan semalam.

Ketika ditemui pemberita di pejabatnya, di sini, hari ini, Ali juga mengesahkan keluarganya tidak dapat menghubungi Jamaluddin sejak Isnin lalu.

Namun, katanya seorang rakan bapanya menghubungi beliau semalam memaklumkan bapanya akan keluar PKR untuk menjadi Adun Bebas.

"Saya tak percaya dia hilang...dia tahu jaga dirinya tetapi emak saya memang tertekan," katanya.

Pagi tadi, Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin mengesahkan dua Adun yang juga ahli Exco negeri dari Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) negeri itu, Jamaluddin dan Mohd Osman Jailu (Adun Changkat Jering) tidak dapat dihubungi sejak Isnin lalu.

Jamaluddin, 52, adalah Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Usahawan, Koperasi, Pertanian dan Perladangan manakala Osman, 57, adalah Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pelancongan, Pembangunan Insan dan Pertubuhan Bukan Kerajaan.

Kedua-dua mereka menghadapi tuduhan rasuah membabitkan kelulusan sebuah projek pembangunan bernilai RM180 juta di Seri Iskandar dan perbicaraan kes berkenaan akan didengar di Mahkamah Sesyen di sini pada 10 Februari ini.

Dua ADUN PKR nafi letak jawatan (Utusan Malaysia)

PPSMI: GMP gesa kerajaan fokus betulkan subjek bahasa Inggeris

2009-02-01T08:01:00.001+08:00

mStar Online (31/1/09): Gabungan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP) menggesa kerajaan memperbetulkan sistem pengajaran dan pembelajaran bagi subjek bahasa Inggeris supaya ia dapat dikuasai dengan baik oleh pelajar.

Pengerusi jawatankuasa induk GMP, Datuk Dr. Hassan Ahmad berkata, adalah lebih wajar bagi kerajaan memperkemaskan kaedah pengajaran bagi subjek bahasa Inggeris daripada menggunakan subjek lain seperti Sains dan Matematik jika mahu meningkatkan prestasi penguasaan pelajar terhadap bahasa itu.

"Apa yang penting kita mahu kerajaan memperbaiki sistem pengajaran dan pembelajaran bahasa Inggeris itu sendiri... itu yang penting," katanya.

Beliau menyatakan demikian ketika ditemui selepas majlis pelancaran perhimpunan 100,000 rakyat bagi membantah pelaksanaan dasar Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam bahasa Ingeris (PPSMI) di hadapan pintu masuk utama kompleks membeli-belah Sogo di sini hari ini.

Perhimpunan besar-besaran tersebut akan diadakan 7 Mac ini di hadapan Istana Negara.

Pada 17 Februari, GMP akan menyerahkan memorandum bantahan pelaksanaan dasar PPSMI di Parlimen apabila Dewan Rakyat kembali bersidang.

Selain itu, Hassan yang juga bekas Ketua Pengarah Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) berkata, pelaksanaan dasar itu sememangnya memberi kesan buruk terhadap pelajar khsusnya di kawasan luar bandar.

"Sekurang-kurangnya 85 peratus sekolah di kawasan luar bandar menghadapi masalah terhadap PPSMI.

"Masalahnya sejak 11 tahun lalu, kerajaan kita masih tidak faham bahasa Inggeris, mereka tak dapat cari kaedah mengajar bahasa Inggeris dengan baik," katanya.

Tambah beliau, GMP tidak menafikan kepentingan bahasa Inggeris sebagai bahasa antarabangsa, namun dasar PPSMI ternyata gagal mencapai objektif pelaksanaannya.

"Kita bukan tak suka bahasa Inggeris, bahasa Inggeris penting tapi nak guna bahasa Inggeris untuk ajar sains dan matematik tidak sesuai," katanya.

Majlis pelancaran ringkas anjuran GMP itu dihadiri kira-kira 100 penyokong berlangsung dalam keadaan aman dengan kawalan anggota polis.

GMP kini dianggotai oleh 50 pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang turut disokong oleh parti komponen Pakatan Rakyat iaitu Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS dan DAP.

Bagaimanapun sasaran kehadiran seramai 500 orang gagal mungkin disebabkan faktor hujan.

Malah kehadiran pemimpin-pemimpin politi seperti Ketua Penerangan PKR, Tian Chua, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Seri Setia, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad; Ketua Angkatan Muda Keadilan Pusat, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin dan Ketua AMK Selangor, Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin juga lewat daripada yang dijadualkan.

Keadaan hujan membataskan ruang untuk berhimpun menyebabkan orang ramai yang hadir berkumpul memenuhi ruang berbumbung di kawasan kaki lima Sogo menyebabkan kesesakan serta menghalang laluan pintu masuk utama bagi orang awam yang datang untuk membeli belah.

Alasan penganjur memilih Sogo sebagai tapak pelancaran ialah kerana tempat itu menjadi tumpuan orang ramai supaya mesej yang dibawa mudah disebarkan.

Dalam pada itu, Shamsul Iskandar berkata, isu bantahan terhadap PPSMI ini tidak harus di politikkan walaupun Pakatan Rakyat menyokong penuh terhadap usaha tersebut.

"Isu ini bukan isu politik, tapi ini isu masa depan bangsa dan juga keperluan memartabatkan bahasa Melayu yang cukup penting.

"Malah kalau barisan Pemuda Umno ingin menyertai bantahan ini, kita patut alu-alukan.

"Mungkin Datuk Seri Hisahamuddin tak boleh sebab beliau menteri, tapi mungkin saudara Khairy Jamaluddin nak sertai, apa salahnya," katanya.

Antara tokoh bahasa yanh hadir ialah Sasterawan Negara, Datuk A. Samad Said, Tokoh budaya dan bahasa, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Abdullah Hassan dan penulis, Ainon Mohd.

Tambang bas naik April

2009-02-01T07:50:00.004+08:00

8,000 pengusaha bas sekolah batal cadangan mogok dua minggu

Berita Harian (31/1/09): Pengguna pengangkutan awam di seluruh negara mungkin terpaksa membayar tambang lebih tinggi mulai April ini, berikutan keputusan Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi yang pada dasarnya bersetuju meluluskan kenaikan 30 peratus surcaj tambang oleh pengusaha sektor berkenaan.

Keputusan itu dicapai hasil pertemuan antara pihak kementerian dengan lebih 200 wakil pengusaha pengangkutan awam, minggu lalu.

Berikutan itu, lebih 8,000 pengusaha bas sekolah yang sebelum ini mengancam untuk membekukan perkhidmatan mereka selama dua minggu bermula Isnin ini jika tuntutan untuk menaikkan tambang tidak dipenuhi, bersetuju untuk membatalkan hasrat mereka.

Bagaimanapun, kenaikan kadar tambang yang dipersetujui itu dijangka tidak setinggi tuntutan asal yang dikemukakan oleh pengusaha bas ekspres, bas henti-henti, bas sekolah dan teksi iaitu antara 60 hingga 100 peratus.

Kali terakhir tambang pengangkutan awam disemak ialah pada 2005, ketika harga subsidi diesel pada masa itu ialah 65 sen berbanding RM1.43 sen seliter sekarang.

Bernama melaporkan, Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Datuk Noh Omar dijangka mengumumkan kadar tambang baru bulan depan.

Noh akan mendapatkan maklum balas Kementerian Pengangkutan, Kementerian Kewangan dan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna sebelum membentang kepada Kabinet untuk kelulusan, dijangka bulan ini.

"Jika ada kenaikan, kita akan pastikan ia tidak bebankan penumpang. Kita juga harap kualiti pengangkutan awam, keselamatan dan sebagainya akan bertambah baik," kata Pengerusi Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan (LPKP) Datuk Markiman Kobiran.

Markiman berkata, kertas cadangan semakan tambang yang disediakan LPKP sudah diserahkan kepada Noh, awal bulan lalu.

Sementara itu, Presiden Persekutuan Pengusaha Bas Sekolah Semenanjung Malaysia (PPBSSM), Chee Ah Tey memberitahu Berita Minggu, ahli persatuan membatalkan hasrat membekukan perkhidmatan mereka selepas kementerian berkenaan pada dasarnya bersetuju meluluskan tuntutan 30 peratus surcaj itu.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, ahli persatuan belum menaikkan tambang mereka kerana surcaj 30 peratus itu masih belum mendapat kelulusan Kabinet dan mereka akan menanti keputusan kerajaan berhubung permohonannya.

"Kami difahamkan Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi sudah mengemukakan permohonan PPBSSM berhubung surcaj 30 peratus untuk perhatian Kabinet dan kini dalam peringkat perbincangan.

"Sehingga kini, kami masih belum mendapat sebarang jawapan atau "lampu hijau" daripada kerajaan berhubung surcaj 30 peratus itu... bagaimanapun kami sabar menanti keputusan itu dan mematuhi undang-undang dengan tidak menaikkan tambang bas sekolah ketika ini," katanya.

Awal bulan lalu, PPBSSM mengugut membekukan perkhidmatan selama dua minggu menjelang Februari ini jika tuntutan 30 peratus surcaj tambang tidak dipenuhi kerajaan.

Chee berkata, ketika ini pengusaha bas sekolah perlu membayar RM1.43 bagi seliter diesel selain dibebankan peningkatan harga bateri, minyak pelincir, tayar, alat ganti dan gaji pemandu sementara menunggu pelaksanaan kadar surcaj berkenaan.

Pengusaha kenderaan awam mempunyai asas menuntut kenaikan tambang, walaupun harga bahan api kini rendah dan stabil sekitar AS$50 setong.

Di Lembah Klang, lebih 500,000 orang menggunakan pengangkutan awam sehari.

Credibility chasm widens

2009-01-31T01:20:00.002+08:00

Apart from addressing policies that marginalise the poor sections of the Indian community, the Government should also set up an independent body to investigate abuse by the rank and file in the police force.

The Star (25/1/09): The death in police custody of suspected car thief A. Kugan is only the latest in a series of cases that serves to highlight the deep distrust that exists between the rank and file of the force and the Indian working class.

It comes in the wake of another case last week where six police personnel were charged with causing grievous hurt on a suspect, using boiling water.
Devastated: Kugan’s family grieving after seeing his body at the mortuary.

Although a minority, the Malaysian-Indian poor are blamed, rightly or wrongly, for most of the violent crimes in the country. Study after study has shown a direct correlation between crime and poverty, marginalisation and alienation and it is no surprise if Indian involvement in crime is higher compared to other communities.

Consequently, the percentage of Indians in prison, police lock-ups and in police statistics are higher than others when compared to their population size of below 8%.

In some depressed regions of the country like Padang Serai in Kedah, Klang and Kapar in Selangor and Muar in Johor, where Indians predominate, the situation resembles a war zone with higher violence and disrespect for the law. Rape, murder, gang fights and contract killings are commonplace and people just have to live with it.

The death in custody of 22-year-old Kugan is symptomatic of the spiral of violence that has gripped some sections of our society.

The fact that Kugan’s family and others stormed into the Serdang Hospital mortuary to inspect his body also shows that the credibility disconnect is not just between them and the police force but other government agencies as well.

Poor Indians feel that they are unfairly blamed for every theft or robbery in their neighbourhood, not just by society but also by law enforcement agencies.

That’s why people like Hindraf lawyer Uthayakumar Ponnusamy and MP for Kapar S. Manikavasagam, who cast themselves as “defenders of the poor”, enjoy wide respect and command a following among the Indian poor. They are even regarded as heroes.

It is unfortunate that in storming the mortuary and moving the body and photographing it they may have contaminated the evidence and compromised their demands for justice .

Credibility has been a key issue in police-people relations ever since the Francis Udayappan case in 2004 and a later inquest that ruled he had died by drowning in the river behind the Brickfields police station.

Credibility is the reason why the crowd stormed the mortuary to see Kugan’s body for themselves and do what they did – cry, hug and take photographs.

The graphic photographs they took are now circulating on the Internet and being delivered to the inbox of hundreds of thousands of people.

Together it all makes for another explosive political disaster for the Government, the latest in a long list that had alienated the poorer sections of the Indian community.

This time, even the MIC leaders joined with opposition MPs and family members to demonstrate outside the mortuary on Wednesday. They know why they lost in the March 8 general election – by keeping quiet and defending the indefensible.

“We must set up a committee to monitor the welfare of all Indians currently in custody and also those in the future to avoid this sort of abuse and murder,” said Vel Paari, MIC Youth wing adviser in an e-mail message to numerous Indian groups connected on Yahoo!.

Since credibility is a key issue there is an urgent need for an independent investigation into Kugan’s death but that’s something most people, including the 2006 Royal Commission on the Police Force, believe the police themselves cannot undertake.

That’s why the commission strongly recommended an overseeing body to investigate abuse, curb violations and return credibility and respectability to the police force.

Even if such an independent commission is set up, it would still take years of intelligent and careful management to narrow the wide disconnect between the police rank and file and the Indian poor.

But it would be a start.

Kisah polis pukul anak polis

2009-01-28T03:48:00.000+08:00

Posting di bawah ada dalam blog siapa pun saya tak ingat. Tetapi dibuang atas sebab yang tak dapat dielakkan:

Kisah polis pukul anak polis

Sebagai pekerja sosial, berbelas tahun yang lalu, pernah mahkamah merujuk satu kes kanak-kanak ( ketika itu dipanggil kes juvana ) kepada kami.

Dalam temubual dengan kanak-kanak yang berusia dalam lingkungan 16 tahun itu ( katakan A ) ia memberitahu kami, ketika sesi pertanyaan di dalam tahanan di lokap di AS ia dipukul dengan begitu teruk sekali. Salah seorang polis yang terlibat ialah 'mata-mata' B.

Suatu hari apabila saya berkesempatan terjumpa dengan B, saya bangkitkan perkara itu kepadanya secara tidak langsung. B menafikan sekeras-kerasnya. Katanya, polis tidak melakukan kerja-kerja seperti itu. Hanya sedikit kekerasan yang munasabah sahaja digunakan untuk mencungkil maklumat.

Selang beberapa bulan, kami dirujukkan beberapa kes lagi. Salah seorang dari mereka adalah anak kepada mata-mata B. Dalam kenyataannya kepada kami, B kelihatan sangat marah dan mempersoalkan tindakan biadap polis yang memukul anaknya di lokap L.

Katanya, anaknya ditampar dikepala, ditelinga, dipukul ditapak kaki dengan menggunakan paip getah, ditendang dan sebagainya sehingga menyukarkan pendengarannya.

Kenapa ini boleh berlaku. Mungkinkah polis di L tidak tahu bahawa yang sedang dikerjakan mereka adalah juga anak polis. Begitu ?

B memberitahu tidak tahu kenapa tetapi banyak lagi cerita dalaman polis dikhabarkan kepada kami.

Saya cuma mahu kepastian daripadanya - betulkah mereka itu polis atau anaknya sengaja 'mereka' cerita. Saya ingatkan kisah A yang menuduh polis memukulnya di mana B juga terlibat dalam insiden itu.

B menundukkan muka. Mungkin malu. Memek mukanya menterjemahkan kerunsingannya. Pergerakkan badannya tidak henti-henti. Dan B pasti tahu apa yang kami faham.

Manusia sanggup bertindak seperti binatang kepada orang lain, tetapi jika perkara itu berlaku kepada ahli keluarganya, ia langsung tidak dapat menerima hakikat itu. Kenapa ?

Untuk direnungkan.

"Mereka memukul anak saya tanpa perikemanusiaan!"

2009-01-27T11:26:00.002+08:00

Sila lihat video di sini.

DAP mahu ambil tindakan tegas ahli majlis MBSA

2009-01-25T18:08:00.002+08:00

Berita Harian Online (21/1/09): DAP akan mengambil tindakan terhadap ahlinya yang juga Ahli Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA), Ang Leng Kiat, yang meminta Kerajaan Selangor menghentikan operasi perjudian berlesen di negeri itu.

Setiausaha Agungnya, Lim Guan Eng, yang mengesahkan parti itu akan mengambil tindakan tegas ke atas Ang, menjelaskan kenyataan yang dibuat ahlinya itu bukan dasar DAP.

"Apa yang diperkatakan oleh Ang itu bukan polisi DAP, tapi pendapat peribadi. Jadi, ia tiada sebrang kaitan dengan kami," katanya yang enggan mengulas lanjut tindakan yang bakal dikenakan terhadap Ang.

Guan Eng yang juga Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang bercakap kepada pemberita selepas majlis pemasangan papan tanda dwi bahasa di Lebuh Campbell di sini, hari ini.

Awal minggu ini, Ang dilaporkan mengeluarkan kenyataan dengan mencadangkan MBSA menarik balik lesen judi yang dikeluarkan dan menghentikan pemberian lesen baru.

Ang menegaskan cadangan itu tidak mempunyai sebarang kaitan dengan politik atau keagamaan, tetapi untuk mengatasi masalah sosial yang mempunyai kaitan dengan perjudian.

Pengerusi DAP Selangor, Ean Yong Hian, yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Seri Kembangan, pula meminta Ang menarik balik cadangan itu.

Councillor in hot water over call to ban lotteries

The Edge Daily (21/1/09): A local council member from Selangor who had called for a ban on all forms of lottery in the state is in trouble with the DAP, which had nominated him for the seat.

The party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said yesterday stern action will be taken against Ang Leng Kiat, who sits on the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA). Ang had proposed that the MBSA stop issuing new permits for lottery outlets and withdraw licences which have already been issued.

He said his suggestion was to help minimise the social problems arising from gambling and that it was not politically or religiously motivated.

Lim did not disclose what action Ang would face, but said the councillor’s proposal did not reflect the party’s stance. The Selangor DAP also said that Ang’s statement did not represent the stance of the state liaison committee.

“This has nothing to do with the DAP. He is acting on his own,” said Lim, who is also Penang chief minister.

Nevertheless, Lim himself had last year called on the federal government to reduce the number of draws each week from the present 10 to six, saying that there were too many draws.

Lim was speaking to reporters after witnessing the installation of multilingual road signs in the heritage enclave here. Yesterday, 19 signboards were put up, out of a total of 300 that will be installed on 82 streets this year.

Meanwhile, despite the opposition from several non-governmental organisations (NGO) against the state’s Wireless@PENANG initiative, Lim said the state government will push ahead with the project.

“If WiFi is harmful, my chief of staff Jeff Ooi and I would be the two persons in Penang who will be the first to get fried by radiation, since we work 10 hours to 12 hours per day at Komtar, with four WiFi hotspots around us,” Lim said.

Undi popular golongan muda bantu kemenangan Pas

2009-01-20T10:36:00.003+08:00

Sinar Harian: Pas berjaya mendapat undi popular daripada golongan muda sebanyak 2,614 undi dengan majoriti 3,584 undi, tanpa mengambil kira undi pos dalam pilihan raya kecil kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, Sabtu lalu.

Timbalan Ketua Dewan Pemuda Pas Terengganu, Ariffin Deraman berkata, jumlah itu adalah majoriti paling besar berbanding undi golongan dewasa iaitu sebanyak 970 undi berbanding Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Bebas.

Ariffin yang juga merangkap Setiausaha Operasi Pas dalam pilihan raya kecil berkenaan menjelaskan, daripada 61 saluran muda, 42 daripadanya berpihak kepada Pas manakala 19 saluran kepada BN.

“Pengiraan dibuat dengan mengambil kira saluran dua sebagai saluran muda sekiranya hanya terdapat saluran 1 dan 2 sahaja di pusat mengundi, saluran tiga dan empat akan dikira saluran muda sekiranya terdapat 1 hingga 4 saluran di pusat mengundi, begitu juga saluran empat dan lima dikira saluran muda sekiranya terdapat saluran satu hingga lima di kawasan terbabit.

“Undi tersebut sekiranya tidak mengambil kira undi pos, kita menang majoriti dengan 3,584, sebaliknya mendapat 2,631 majoriti sekiranya dicampur undi pos,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian, semalam.

Mengulas lanjut, beliau berkata, Pas mendapat undi paling banyak daripada golongan muda di Losong Masjid dengan 274 undi manakala undi paling merosot di Kampung Cina iaitu di saluran empat dengan kekurangan 95 undi.

Bagaimanapun katanya, Pas berjaya menawan golongan muda di pusat mengundi di Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pusat Bukit Besar iaitu tempat calon BN, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh mengundi iaitu sebanyak 65 undi melebihi parti lain.

“Walaupun undi pos kita kalah besar, tetapi masih ada sokongan dengan 86 undi dan kita yakin mereka yang mengundi adalah petugas pilihan raya daripada 267 kertas undi yang diedarkan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya,” katanya.

Kenyataan Tun M tidak wajar

Sinar Harian: Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Kuala Terengganu berasa bertanggungjawab terhadap kekalahan Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, Sabtu lalu.

Ketua pergerakan itu, Badrul Hisham Zaki berkata, beliau akur dengan perkara itu dan antara punca kekalahan BN adalah sokongan golongan muda semakin berkurangan dalam pilihan raya kecil kali ini berbanding pilihan raya umum, Mac tahun lalu.

Menurutnya, hanya 11 peti undi sahaja dimenangi BN antaranya, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Wakaf Memepelam, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Chung Hwa Wei Sin, SK Paya Bunga, SK Tengku Ampuan Mariam, SK Sultan Sulaiman I dan II, SK Gong Kapas, SMK Sultan Sulaiman, SMK Chendering SK Kubang Ikan dan Dewan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

“Kita akan mencari jalan dan penyelesaian selepas mengenal pasti kelemahan serta faktor kekalahan melalui ‘post-mortem’ yang akan diadakan dalam masa terdekat,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian ketika dihubungi, semalam.

Sementara itu, beliau turut menganggap kenyataan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad bahawa kekalahan BN disebabkan calon BN tidak disukai ramai, sebagai tidak wajar.

Dalam laporan Sinar Harian semalam, Mahathir berkata, calon yang mewakili BN pada pilihan raya kecil itu tidak sesuai meneruskan perjuangan BN dan UMNO.

Bagaimanapun, Badrul Hisham berkata, semua pemimpin UMNO perlu bertanggungjawab terhadap kekalahan tersebut tanpa menuding jari kepada sesiapa.

“Kita tidak harus tuding jari pada sesiapa kerana kita seia sekata mengambil keputusan memilih Ketua UMNO Bahagian Kuala Terengganu, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid sebagai calon dan tidak timbul soal siapa yang salah, siapa tidak betul.

“Kekalahan adalah tanggungjawab anggota dan semua pemimpin UMNO patut bertanggungjawab,” katanya.

Menurut Badrul Hisham, ia bukanlah penghujung bagi perjuangan BN di negeri dan negara ini memandangkan mereka masih mempunyai masa untuk membaiki kelemahan dan melaksanakan perubahan.

Dalam pilihan raya kecil Sabtu lalu, calon Pas Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut menang dengan majoriti 2,631 undi mengalahkan calon BN, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh dan calon Bebas, Azharudin Mamat@Adam.

Nik Aziz nasihat usah angkuh keluar kenyataan

2009-01-20T10:22:00.001+08:00

Berita Harian (18/1/09): Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, mengingatkan semua pemimpin dan penyokong Pakatan Rakyat (PR) khususnya ahli Pas tidak angkuh hingga mengeluarkan kenyataan yang menyinggung lawan berikutan kemenangan dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, kelmarin.

Nik Abdul Aziz berkata, kemenangan itu perlu dirai dengan usaha lebih gigih untuk menarik sokongan rakyat selepas berjaya merapatkan kaum Cina khususnya penyokong DAP yang sebelum ini dikenali sebagai golongan ekstrem kepada perjuangan Islam yang dibawa Pas.

"Perjuangan kita adalah untuk dakwah, jadi saya minta tidak ada yang mengeluarkan kenyataan yang boleh melukakan pihak lawan kerana tindakan seperti itu akan menyukarkan kita menarik sokongan kerana mereka akan terus melarikan diri kerana terluka dengan kata-kata itu," katanya kepada media semalam.

Menteri Besar Kelantan itu berkata pendirian pengundi bukan Islam khususnya generasi muda Cina dan penyokong DAP kini semakin lembut kepada perjuangan Islam yang dibawa Pas.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pemuda Pas, Salahuddin Ayub percaya kejayaan itu banyak dibantu faktor kelebihan calonnya, Mohd Abdul Wahid yang lebih berpengalaman memenangi hati rakyat.

Beliau berkata, Pas belajar daripada kesilapan lepas dan memilih Mohd Abdul Wahid yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Wakaf Mempelam yang dianggap bebas daripada segala isu.

"Ini mesej jelas rakyat yang mahukan perubahan dan Pas mempelajari daripada kesilapan lampau," katanya.

Timbalan Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Dr Syed Husin Ali berkata isu yang dibawa dalam setiap ceramah PR adalah satu daripada faktor kejayaan calon Pas selain kehadiran Penasihat PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Sebenarnya, isu yang dibawa BN banyak membantu calon kita seperti isu ekonomi, royalti dan bahasa yang dilihat lebih kepada unsur memfitnah.

"Golongan muda juga semakin sedar arah tuju mereka kerana kita membawa isu yang lebih relevan seperti bahasa, pendidikan, jenayah serta nasib orang Melayu," katanya.

Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang pula berkata keputusan pilihan raya kecil itu adalah peringatan kepada pemimpin Umno akibatnya jika mereka enggan menyahut gesaan rakyat supaya melakukan perubahan.

"Ia mencerminkan aspirasi politik rakyat Malaysia," katanya dalam kenyataan.

Lim yang juga anggota Parlimen Ipoh Timur berkata, keputusan itu perlu kajian mendalam terutama mengenai impak isu hudud dalam pilihan raya kecil.

PAS claims victory

2009-01-18T08:35:00.000+08:00

Singapore Straits Times (17/1/08): Malaysia's opposition on Saturday snatched a parliamentary seat from the beleaguered coalition government, in a by-election seen as a test of the nation's political mood.

The opposition alliance said the victory in northeastern Terengganu state was a huge boost to its campaign to seize power after it won a third of parliamentary seats and five states in landmark general elections last year.

'Yes we have won,' said Mr Husam Musa, vice-president of the conservative Islamic PAS party, which fielded the winning candidate on behalf of the three-party opposition alliance headed by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

Mr Husam said Umno, which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition and has run Malaysia for half a century, had lost the support of Muslim Malay voters as well as the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

'This shows a loss of confidence of majority (Malay) voters towards UMNO, and it also represents the national mood which is to reject Umno,' he told AFP.

The official tally showed that PAS had won with a majority of 2,631, claiming 32,883 votes against 30,252 for the government which last won the seat in the state capital Kuala Terengganu with a slim majority.

'I thank the voters for giving me their trust. I will do my best,' said the victorious PAS candidate, Mohammad Abdul Wahid Endut.

Ms Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asian expert at the US-based Johns Hopkins University, who observed the by-election, said the 'decisive' victory spelt trouble for the government as it prepares for a leadership transition.

Deputy premier Najib Razak is due this March to replace Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was a casualty of the March 2008 general elections that produced the worst results in Umno's history.

'This is going to call into question Mr Najib's rise to the prime minister's position. There will be those who will question whether he can deliver effectively,' she said.

Mr Najib personally headed the government's campaign in Kuala Terengganu, as well as another failed by-election last year which saw Anwar returned to parliament after a decade-long absence.

'Of course, this is a setback for us... We will not be disheartened by the result,' Mr Najib told a press conference, rejecting the suggestion that the outcome reflected badly on him.

'It's nothing to do with that,' he said.

Meanwhile, the opposition said its performance showed it is a working alliance despite being an unlikely partnership of PAS, Mr Anwar's multiracial Keadilan, and the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party.

'The two factors that contributed to our success are the combined efforts of all alliance partners and the credibility of the PAS candidate,' said Mustapha Ali, head of PAS in Terengganu.

'The support by Malays for Umno is diminishing now.' An opinion poll by the Merdeka Centre research firm last week indicated that support among majority Muslim Malays was split and that the votes of the ethnic Chinese who make up 11.6 per cent of the electorate could be decisive.

But Ms Welsh said that figures showed the victory had come from a shift in the Malay vote away from the government - highly significant for Umno which has counted on the majority community as its bedrock. - AFP

Hudud: UMNO perlu nyatakan pendirian

2009-01-16T09:39:00.001+08:00

Sinar Harian (16/1/09): Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang menegaskan bahawa hukum hudud dan qisas hanya untuk orang Islam sahaja dan perkara ini tiada kena-mengena langsung dengan DAP.

Menurutnya, isu hudud sepatutnya dijawab oleh UMNO yang menjadi sebuah parti Melayu Islam dan bukan dijawab oleh Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh.

“Saya ingin jelaskan di sini bahawa hukum hudud dan qisas hanya mempunyai kaitan dengan orang Islam dan ia tidak ada kena mengena dengan orang bukan Islam, khususnya DAP.

“Kenapa masih memperbesarkan isu ini, kita sudah menjelaskan pendirian kita dengan jelas dan terang,” katanya pada sidang media selepas melancarkan Majlis Memorandum bantahan PPSMI (Pengajaran/Pembelajaran Sains/Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris) di sini semalam.

Kelmarin, Karpal mengeluarkan kenyataan mengulangi pendirian DAP bahawa hukum hudud dan qisas bukan menjadi dasar parti serta tidak termasuk dalam manifesto Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pada pilihan raya umum Mac tahun lalu, malah mengancam untuk menarik diri daripada PR sekiranya Pas tetap mahu melaksanakan undang-undang tersebut.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pembangkang di Parlimen, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim turut mengulangi pendirian Abdul Hadi bahawa hukum ini hanya akan dilaksanakan ke atas orang Islam sahaja dan orang bukan Islam tidak harus berasa takut kepada undang-undang ini.

Selain itu, Anwar mempersoalkan kenapa UMNO terus senyap mengenai isu hudud dan sekiranya UMNO memperjuangkan Melayu Islam, mereka harus mengeluarkan pendirian mengenai cadangan Pas yang akan melaksanakan hudud dan qisas sekiranya menjadi Kerajaan Pusat.

“Apa erti hanya solat sahaja, tetapi mempersoal dan mempertikaikan hukum Allah. Dalam PR, semua suara boleh mengeluarkan pendapat masing-masing dan tugas kita adalah berbincang bersama-sama.

“Apa yang penting, kita perlu hormat pendirian Pas yang akan menjalankan hukum hudud sekiranya menjadi Kerajaan Pusat,” katanya.

Najib: Isu Altantuya tidak relevan dibangkit lagi pembangkang

2009-01-07T02:36:00.001+08:00

mStar Online (6/1/09): Tindakan pembangkang memainkan isu wanita Mongolia, Altantuya Shariibu yang dibunuh dua tahun lalu ketika kempen pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu adalah tidak relevan sama sekali.

"Nampaknya perkara itu cuba dibangkitkan pembangkang... kalau mereka bawa isu seperti ini maknanya mereka sudah bankrap isu.

"Ia tiada kaitan sama sekali dengan pilihan raya kecil ini," kata beliau.

Awal pagi semalam enam anggota Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) termasuk Timbalan Pengerusinya ditahan polis ketika menampal poster wajah wanita Mongolia itu di laluan-laluan dilalui Najib ketika berada di sini menjelang hari penamaan calon hari ini.

Bagaimanapun mereka dibebaskan awal ini dan dipanggil semula untuk disoal siasat oleh polis petang ini.

Sehubungan itu, Najib yang juga Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata, Barisan Nasional (BN) bersedia menjawab segala isu yang akan dibangkitkan oleh pembangkang ketika berkempen di sini.

Timbalan Pengerusi BN itu berkata, BN tidak menjangkakan banyak isu akan ditimbulkan pada pilihan raya kecil itu, yang menyaksikan pertandingan tiga penjuru melibatkan calon BN, PAS dan Bebas.

Beliau berkata pada masa ini, pembangkang semakin terdesak menggunakan isu-isu nasional dan keadaan itu menunjukkan bahawa mereka sudah ketandusan isu.

"Pada pilihan raya kecil ini, isu yang mungkin menjadi tumpuan ialah isu tempatan. Bagaimanapun, jika ada isu nasional, BN sedia jawab," jelas beliau.

Terdahulu beliau mengetuai rombongan BN yang mengiringi calon mereka Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh untuk mengemukakan borang penamaan calon di Stadium Negeri di sini hari ini.

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Najib berkata, BN akan menggunakan pendekatan "BN mesra rakyat" sebagai tema kempen pada pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu, dengan menjadikan rakyat sebagai fokus utama parti itu.

"Saya tekankan konsep mesra rakyat kerana ia menggambarkan apa yang dilaksanakan BN. Kumpulan sasar kita tidak lain tidak bukan adalah rakyat. Rakyatlah yang kita utamakan dalam semua bentuk program dan projek yang kita laksanakan," katanya.

Daripada segi jentera BN pula, Najib berkata, parti itu telah membahagikan tugas secara khusus termasuk kepada sayap-sayap dalam BN.

"Kita akan kerja kuat untuk memberitahu, semua polisi berkhidmat kepada rakyat BN adalah polisi terbaik. Sokongan ramai pada hari ini adalah permulaan positif untuk kita.

"(Bagaimanapun) kita tidak mahu terlalu yakin kerana kita tidak ada 'bola kristal'. Tetapi kita percaya, kita akan menang dengan lebih baik. Itu sasaran dan kita akan lakukan yang terbaik untuk mencapainya," kata beliau.

MCA dares DAP on hudud

2009-01-04T11:55:00.000+08:00

The Star (4/1/08): Terengganu MCA has asked DAP to clearly state whether it opposes plans by its Pakatan Rakyat partner PAS to implement hudud laws should it ever come to power.

State MCA chairman Toh Chin Yaw said the presence of DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw during the announcement of the PAS candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election at Stadium Negeri on Thurs- day reflected the former’s compromise over the implementation of the Islamic law.

“They (DAP) are not standing by their principles. The party leaders claim to strongly oppose the implementation of these laws but the next minute, their stalwarts are appearing to be affirming their coalition partners’ plan on hudud.

“This is a sheer hypocrisy as PAS will not waver from its long-term plan to implement these laws,” he said yesterday.

Toh said PAS had continued to insist on imposing such laws in all their previous election campaigns and would continue to do so.

“DAP, which claims to be a reputable and accountable party, should rebut PAS’ agenda on hudud by boycotting the by-election instead of pretending to disagree with PAS,” he said, adding that DAP should look after the interests of the voters, particularly the Chinese.

“I am sure the Chinese electorate here would be fazed to realise that DAP has not made an ultimate stand on the issue.

“What they should have done was to absolutely shun the event on Thursday in protest,” he said.

The other leader from the Pakatan Rakyat who attended the event was PKR’s vice-president Mustafa Kamal Ayob.

Meanwhile, Kuala Terengganu MIC division chief Dr Dayal Krishnan said Indian voters in the constituency should not forget the time when the community was denied their right to hold a Deepavali night in 2003 when the state was under PAS rule.

He said the PAS-led state government disallowed the event although the planned event was clean entertainment and part of Indian culture.

“This was how narrow-minded PAS was when it ruled the state,” he said.

Abdul Wahid calon pilihan semua

2009-01-03T09:29:00.000+08:00

Abdul Wahid calon pilihan semua

Malaysian Insider (3/1/09): Mengejutkan... Memang pengumuman calon Pas untuk pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu memang mengejutkan. Ini kerana, Muhamad Abdul Wahid Endut bukan termasuk dalam senarai calon Pas sebelum ini.

Saya sendiri secara peribadi, apabila menerima maklumat ini kira-kira jam 4.30 petang 1 Januari lalu, amat terkejut. Saya percaya perasaan yang sama juga dirasai oleh kebanyakan pemimpin Pas sendiri.

Menurut maklumat awalnya, saya difahamkan ada tiga nama yang disebut-sebut. Dr Syed Azman, Datuk Wan Mutalib Embong dan Datuk Mustafa Ali. Apabila diberitahu bahawa calon pilihan adalah Abdul Wahid, saya sendiri tidak terkata apa-apa.

Untuk itu saya mula menyiasat apakah sebenarnya yang berlaku.

Ia bermula dengan mesyuarat Lajnah Politik Pas Terengganu. Mesyuarat ini memilih sekurang-kurangnya dua nama penting iaitu Datuk Wan Mutalib dan Datuk Mustafa.

Apabila nama-nama calon ini dibentangkan ke mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pas Pusat pada 21 Disember lalu, dua nama penting lagi ditambah iaitu Haji Mohamad Sabu (bekas calon) dan Dr Syed Azman.

Setelah bermesyuarat, sekurang-kurangnya lima nama inilah yang disenaraipendekkan dan diberikan mandat kepada Presiden Pas untuk membuat keputusan terakhir.

Menurut ceritanya, pilihan Presiden Pas adalah Datuk Mustafa Ali manakala Datuk Wan Mutalib lebih cenderung agar Dr Syed Azman diberikan peluang sebagai calon. Ini kerana, berdasarkan kajiselidik yang dibuat kepada pengundi, nama Adun Batu Burok (Dr Syed Azman) inilah yang paling popular.

Nama Mohamad Sabu pula dianggap tidak sesuai kerana dimomokkan sebagai orang luar dan dikatakan punca Pas kalah dalam pilihan raya umum lalu di kerusi itu. Sentimen ini sudah sepakat di kalangan aktivis Pas di Kuala Terengganu.

Lalu yang tinggal hanya Mustafa dan Syed Azman. Namun beberapa hari sebelum 1 Januari, Mustafa dikatakan telah membuat keputusan menolak dari dicalonkan. Ini kerana beliau bimbang dilanda fitnah kerana hubungan rapat beliau dengan Presiden Pas.

Lalu yang tinggal adalah Syed Azman seorang sahaja. Ekoran itu beberapa media telah membuat berita kononnya beliau sudah terpilih sebagai calon di Kuala Terengganu.

Namun, pertemuan antara Presiden Pas dengan empat lagi pemimpin kanan Pas di Terengganu pada petang 1 Januari telah mengungkaikan segala-galanya. Dari situlah kemudiannya tersebar berita bahawa pilihan Pas adalah Abdul Wahid Endut, Yang Dipertua Pas Kawasan Kuala Terengganu.

Ketika itu, saya masih berandaian bahawa lima pemimpin utama Pas Terengganu inilah yang membuat keputusan bersama iaitu memilih Abdul Wahid dan menolak Syed Azman. Namun selepas itu, baru saya tahu bahawa, keputusan yang mereka buat adalah atas keputusan dan istikharah yang dibuat oleh Presiden Pas sendiri.

Saya diberitahu, sejak diberikan amanah oleh JK Pas Pusat pada 21 Disember, Abdul Hadi terus mengadakan sembahyang istikharah agar beliau diberikan petunjuk untuk mendapatkan pilihan yang terbaik untuk Pas sesuai dengan namanya adalah parti Islam.

Seorang rakan saya memberitahu perkara ini. Betul atau tidak saya tidak bercadang untuk mengesahkannya dengan Abdul Hadi sendiri. Tetapi secara peribadi, saya percaya cerita ini.

Suatu malam, Abdul Hadi dikatakan bermimpi, beliau susah benar untuk mengambil air sembahyang. Setelah sekian lama baru dapat. Kemudian, apabila mahu sembahyang, beliau dikatakan sembahyang mengadap arah matahari naik. Sedangkan kiblat sembahyang adalah ke arah matahari jatuh.

Keesokan harinya, Abdul Hadi telah merujuk mimpi pelik ini kepada seorang rakannya dalam Majlis Syura Ulamak. Lalu mereka berdua mencapai keputusan bahawa mimpi itu ada kaitannya dengan pemilihan calon yang beliau isytikharahkan itu.

Lalu mereka berpendapat ini adalah petanda bahawa, calon yang ada di dalam senarai mereka itu tidak berapa sesuai dan perlukan calon lain. Lalu dari sinilah datangnya nama Abdul Wahid Endut yang tidak pernah ada dalam senarai calon-calon Pas sebelum ini.

Terbukti selepas diumumkan pada kira-kira jam 11 malam 1 Januari lepas, Abdul Wahid mendapat sokongan ramai. Sebaik sahaja nama beliau diumumkan, takbir bergema di Stadium Negeri Batu Burok itu.

Walaupun saya sendiri amat bimbang dengan pemilihan ini, namun selepas mendapat penerimaan baik masyarakat terutama di kalangan penyokong sendiri, terbukti pilihan ini tepat.

Siapa Abdul Wahid ini?

Abdul Wahid memang berbeza sekali dengan calon BN, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid. Jika benar apa yang dituliskan oleh rakan saya Zubaidah Abu Bakar dalam NST 21 Disember lalu, Abdul Wahid bakal mendapat sokongan ramai dalam pilihan raya kecil ini.

Abdul Wahid seorang yang rendah diri ataupun tidak ada riak, bongkak atau hidung tinggi. Saya mempunyai pengalaman peribadi dengan beliau dalam hal ini.

Pada 6 Disember lalu, kakak ipar saya mengadakan kenduri kahwin anaknya di kampung Sungai Rengas, dalam kawasan Dun Wakaf Mempelam. Oleh kerana kesibukan, nama Abdul Wahid tertinggal dari senarai jemputan. Mereka hanya sedar perkara ini pada 5 Disember iaitu sehari sebelum kenduri.

Dengan tergopoh gapah, mereka berdua suami isteri ke rumah Abdul Wahid menghantar kad jemputan. Padahal orang lain sudah menerima kad jemputan ini sebulan lalu. Abdul Wahid, selaku wakil rakyat hanya menerima sehari sebelum kenduri.

Namun, atas sifatnya yang hebat, pada hari kenduri itu Abdul Wahid sampai ke majlis itu. Bayangkan kalau orang lain yang mendapat layanan sebegitu. Inilah kelebihan Abdul Wahid.

Mungkin ini yang dikatakan X-factor yang ada pada beliau. Mungkin kerana itulah juga beliau tidak pernah kalah di Dun Wakaf Mempelam yang ditandinginya sejak tahun 1990 lagi.

Ramai pihak yang cuba mengaitkan pertembungan dalaman Pas sebagai faktor pemilihan Abdul Wahid dan penolakan terhadap Syed Azman dan ramai juga yang berkata, Abdul Wahid adalah calon kompromi Pas.

Bagi saya, Abdul Wahid bukan calon kompromi atau penolakan Dr Syed Azman kerana faktor kumpulan dalam Pas tetapi Abdul Wahid adalah calon pilihan semua pihak dalam Pas. Cuma yang menyusahkan petugas Pas adalah pemilihan ini lambat dibuat iaitu selepas 10 hari calon BN berkempen di Kuala Terengganu.

Calon Pas terkejut, akui belum sedia

Abdul Wahid rancang guna jentera pilihan raya DUN

Berita Harian (3/1/09): Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Wakaf Mempelam, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut yang dipilih sebagai calon Pas untuk bertanding dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, mengaku masih terkejut dan belum membuat persediaan termasuk melantik jentera pilihan raya di setiap Dewan Undangan Negeri.

Bagaimanapun, Adun sejak lima penggal itu berkata, langkah pertama yang dilakukan selepas lebih 12 jam diumumkan ialah menyertai beberapa program termasuk mengancau bubur asyura dianjurkan penduduk dan mengadakan ramah mesra dengan pengundi.

"Kita sebenarnya tidak menyangka dipilih sebagai calon dan tiada persiapan rapi dilakukan termasuk melantik jentera pilihan raya untuk Parlimen Kuala Terengganu.

"Walaupun jawatankuasa jentera pilihan raya Pas sudah dilantik di peringkat Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN), tetapi kita belum berkesempatan bertemu mereka untuk mendapatkan maklumat mengenai pengundi terutama di DUN Batu Burok, Ladang dan Bandar," katanya kepada Berita Harian, ketika dihubungi, semalam.

Katanya, dia mungkin mengekalkan jentera pilihan raya yang dilantik di peringkat DUN dan berharap tiada sebarang masalah untuk mendapatkan kerjasama mereka.

Ditanya siapa sebenarnya calon pilihan awal Pas, Abdul Wahid enggan mengulas lanjut, tetapi berkata, dia masih terkejut dan tidak menyangka namanya diumumkan Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Sebelum ini, calon Pas yang disebut-sebut untuk bertanding bagi merampas kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu ialah Adun Batu Burok, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi dan Pesuruhjaya Pas negeri, Datuk Mustafa Ali.

Ditanya sokongan daripada Syed Azman dan Mustafa, Abdul Wahid yang juga Ketua Pas bahagian Kuala Terengganu berkata, semua pemimpin Pas termasuk di peringkat pusat dan negeri akan memberi kerjasama bagi memastikan kemenangan.

"Itulah kelebihan Pas, kehendak dan perjuangan parti lebih diutamakan jika dibandingkan dengan kepentingan peribadi...prinsip yang menjadi tunjang dan kekuatan Pas sejak lama dulu masih diamalkan bukan saja oleh pemimpin, malah penyokong," katanya.

BN tak pandang ringan calon Pas

Wan Farid harap kempen secara berhemah

Berita Harian (3/1/09): Barisan Nasional (BN) tidak memandang ringan atau memperkecilkan kemampuan calon pembangkang pada pilihan raya kecil kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu pada 17 Januari ini.

Calon BN Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, berkata amat penting pertandingan secara berhemah dan tidak sekali-kali melakukan serangan peribadi antara satu sama lain dilakukan ketika berkempen.

"Kita tidak memperkecilkan kemampuan Abdul Wahid Endut yang juga Ketua Pas Bahagian Kuala Terengganu kerana ketokohannya mempertahankan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Wakaf Mempelam sejak lima penggal lalu, sedangkan kita baru saja dicalonkan untuk bertanding.

"Abdul Wahid yang juga Adun Wakaf Mempelam dan Bendahari Pas negeri memiliki rekod cemerlang sejak dipilih sebagai wakil rakyat, berbanding kita yang tidak mempunyai sebarang rekod sebagai calon," katanya selepas menyertai program gotong-royong bersama penduduk dan melawat pesakit di rumah pangsa Batas Baru di sini, semalam.

Turut hadir Ahli Parlimen dan Adun angkat peti undi Batas Baru, Mohd Nor Othman serta Datuk Rosol Wahid.

Kelmarin, Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang mengumumkan Abdul Wahid, 52, sebagai calon parti itu untuk bertanding menentang Wan Farid pada pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu yang diadakan berikutan kematian Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Razali Ismail, 28 November lalu.

Wan Ahmad Farid yang juga Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri berkata, siapa pun calon Pas yang dinamakan untuk menentang BN tidak akan mengubah pendekatan serta falsafah Umno untuk mendekati dan membawa mesej pembangunan kepada penduduk di Parlimen Kuala Terengganu.

Katanya, BN tidak gentar dengan isu dibawa Pas ketika berkempen kerana isu yang akan dibangkitkan parti itu sama pada pilihan raya umum, 8 Mac lalu.

"Walaupun Abdul Wahid dianggap Pas sebagai calon pilihan untuk memenangi kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, rekod majoriti kemenangan beliau di DUN Wakaf Mempelam juga tidak konsisten.

"Kita akan memastikan BN menang dengan memperoleh majoriti lebih besar di DUN Wakaf Mempelam yang mempunyai 20,629 pemilih berdaftar," katanya.

Berdasarkan keputusan pilihan raya umum pada 1990, Abdul Wahid menang dengan majoriti 1,163 undi pada tahun itu, 1995 (1,119 undi); 1999 (5,760 undi); 2004 (1,888 undi) dan menang dengan majoriti 2,193 pada pilihan raya umum Mac lalu.

Wan Ahmad Farid berkata, semua pengundi termasuk generasi muda dan usia emas amat mustahak bagi memastikan kemenangan BN, justeru kaedah berkempen perlu dilakukan secara menyeluruh dan bukannya hanya ditumpukan kepada golongan tertentu.

Mengulas kenyataan Abdul Wahid yang memberi tumpuan kepada pengundi muda, Wan Ahmad Farid meminta pengundi di Parlimen Kuala Terengganu memberi peluang untuk beliau meneruskan agenda pembangunan.

Wahid's selection exposes rifts

NST (3/1/09): If this was a football match, the ulama faction in Pas would be leading "the Erdogans" by a goal.

But this is a game of democracy where the Islamist party is battling to wrest control of a parliamentary seat in the oil-rich Terengganu from the ruling Barisan Nasional. And this alone makes it a different ball game.

Two weeks after intense speculation within and outside the party, Pas named controversy-free Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman Abdul Wahid Endut, 52, as the man who is to take on BN's Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh, 46, in the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election.

Wahid, since 1990 when he was elected the wakil rakyat for Wakaf Mempelam, has never been booted out by voters even when almost all Pas leaders -- MPs and state assemblymen -- stumbled in 2004. He had established himself in Kuala Terengganu, where Wakaf Mempelam is one of the four state seats under the constituency. Two other seats -- Batu Buruk and Ladang -- are also under Pas while Bandar is being held by BN through the MCA.

Wahid, known to be Terengganu Pas commissioner Mustaffa Ali's protege, is a surprise candidate indeed, including to those in the Pas circle. Thay had anticipated that party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who had been given the mandate by the party's central committee to select the candidate, would select from only among those who had been shortlisted during the party's central committee meeting on Dec 21.

It is a surprise since the state Pas treasurer's name was not in the list -- not even proposed by the Terengganu faction which had so much wanted a local to stand. The faction's choice was between Mustaffa Ali and his deputy Datuk Wan Abdul Mutalib Embong.

Umno, too, was caught by surprise as they had anticipated either Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, the Batu Buruk assemblyman and former Kuala Terengganu MP, who represents the Erdogan group or Wan Mutalib from the other faction.

Several Pakatan Rakyat leaders who have been on the scene since the Kuala Terengganu seat fell vacant have not had the slightest inclination that Wahid was being considered. They had had their eyes set on Syed Azman, being the most popular candidate of three opinion polls, including one conducted on 130 voters over two days from Dec 29.

The last poll showed that 72 per cent of respondents had wanted Syed Azman, who is also linked to the Erdogan group.

Many were puzzled when news that Wahid was to be named as candidate leaked out soon after Hadi held a meeting with Terengganu Pas warlords -- Mustaffa, Wan Mutalib, Datuk Harun Taib and Datuk Abu Bakar Chik, at his house in Rusila less than 10 hours before the official announcement was made at a large gathering at Stadium Negeri. By doing what he did and not sticking to the shortlist, was Hadi showing he was still very much in control of the party amid rifts between the conservatives and progressives?

There are such whispers. Outside the party, observers think the front runners were ditched in the shadow fight of the pro-Anwar Erdogan group and the ulama-backed Terengganu faction.

Yet, there is an interesting story related by a reliable source as to how Hadi had decided on Wahid even before his meeting with the state leaders.

Hadi reportedly had a long discussion over a strange dream he had after performing the Istigharah (special prayers) several times to seek God's guidance that Muslims would resort to when faced with a conflict to make a decision (on an important matter) with a senior member of the party's Majlis Syura Ulama.

It was told that in his dream, Hadi faced difficulty in performing ablution and later performed his prayer against the Qiblat.

"Then Wahid is God's choice," a colleague chuckles.

Jokes aside, Hadi did fulfil the criteria he had set for the selection of candidate, which he related to the New Straits Times recently.

Wahid fits the bill.

The candidate according to Hadi has to be:

- one who people are comfortable with, someone who is not only capable but also not a stranger to them; and

- has the least number of issues that can be capitalised on by the enemy and adversely affect voters.

Hadi had also had a four-eyed meeting with party spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who backs the Erdogan faction led by his protege, party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa, at the latter's office in Kota Baru on Wednesday over the candidacy.

Amid all these chaos, BN should not think the conflict over Pas' candidacy will keep supporters of the "warring factions" away from campaigning in the by-election to ensure a win for the party's candidate. (Zubaidah Abu Bakar)

'Do not let rifts wreck Pakatan's chances'

NST (3/1/08): The DAP has asked Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Pas to keep internal rivalry at state-level to the minimum or risk the Pakatan Rakyat's chances in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said there were "one or two leaders whom we should be concerned about.

"I am certain PKR's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will ensure that there is greater discipline among leaders and members," he told a press conference here yesterday.

He was responding to questions from reporters pertaining to a misunderstanding between some PKR and Pas leaders in Perak which could affect the opposition front's chances in the by-election.

Lim, who is also Penang Chief Minister, said the DAP would lend its full support to Pas' Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut who is also the party's Wakaf Mempelam state assemblyman.

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was reported as saying that the party's choice was the best as Wahid was a highly-respected leader and well-known among constituents.

The by-election on Jan 17 is being held following the death of its MP Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28 last year.

Both pledge a clean fight

NST (3/1/09): The Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional candidates for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election have pledged to be gentlemen during the campaign, with no mud-slinging or character assassinations.

Umno's Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh and Pas' Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut said they would only talk to the 80,229 voters about their party's ideology.

Wan Farid, who is also deputy home minister, said he would not draw comparisons between him and Wahid.

"This is not a contest between personalities. We are friends. His late father and my late mother were friends as they were religious teachers."

Acknowledging the gap in experience between him and Wahid, he said his opponent was a seasoned assemblyman.

"I am asking the voters of Kuala Terengganu to give me a chance to represent them in Parliament," said the Kuala Terengganu Umno division chief.

Countering the perception in some circles that he was aloof, he said he had been an Umno leader since 1988 "and you do not get to this position if you are arrogant and an elitist".

Meanwhile, Wahid rebutted the contention that his chances would be hampered by the fact that he was not a nationally-renowned figure.

"Many national leaders like Samy Vellu (MIC president and former Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu) lost in the last general election. Being on the national scene does not guarantee victory.

"I know my hometown very well and I believe I have an advantage."

Wahid said he had nothing personal against Umno leaders and that he would not hit them below the belt.

"But if anyone starts attacking me, then I will retaliate. I want a gentlemanly fight and voters do not like personal attacks," he added.

The 52-year-old, undefeated in Wakaf Mempelam since he first stood for election 18 years ago, is going into the contest as the favourite.

This is partly based on his victories in the 1995 and 2004 general elections when many Pas candidates were purged from state assemblies nationwide.

Your ultimate goal, a prick in my heart

2009-01-02T09:37:00.002+08:00

My SinChew (31/12/08): Recently, Pas vice president Husam Musa said that if opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition successfully seizes power in the next general elections, Pas will go ahead to implement hudud and qisas Islamic laws. Even though its president Abdul Hadi Awang cautioned later that it requires careful planning for the implementation. He also assured that the two states where PAS is in power, Islamic laws only apply to Muslims currently because Malaysia has yet to achieve social stability, and it is thus not the right time for the implementation.

In other words, the implementation of hudud and qisas laws are the consistent "ultimate goal" for Pas. It is just the question of timing.

Honestly, as non-Muslims, you and I are not so clear about what are hudud and qisas laws. We can only say that Islamic laws have always been a psychological threat to non-Muslims in Malaysia, like a prick that sometimes stabs our hearts, worrying us.

In fact, there are many common values among different religions, such as universal love, justice and peace. But based on complex historical and cultural factors, there are also many differences and conflicts.

The concern is that such differences and conflicts would be manipulated and exaggerated by politicians that may even lead to bloody violences.

We understand that, like other parts of the world, Muslim leaders in Malaysia have divided into liberal and conservative factions, with endless conflicts between them. As non-Muslims, we have no way to voice our opinions about their conflicts. We can only hope that they can move forward to democracy, be more liberal and open-minded. Hopefully, mutual understanding can be enhanced through communications and exchange of views, and thereby reduce the "clash of civilisations" as predicted by influential political scientist late Samuel P. Huntington. (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

DAP agrees to PAS candidate but with conditions

The Star (29/12/08): The DAP will support a PAS candidate for the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election only if the Islamist party does not pursue its agenda for an Islamic state with hudud and qisas laws.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh said DAP has never been inconsistent in its stance against the introduction of such laws because this went against the provisions of the Federal Constitution.

On Dec 23, Karpal had also released a statement reminding that a five-man Supreme Court panel, led by former Lord President Tun Salleh Abbas, had made a judicial pronouncement in 1988 that Malaysia was a secular state, not an Islamic one, according to the Constitution.

“Following my statement, (PAS vice-chairman) Datuk Husam Musa retracted his statement unconditionally. I stated that with the retraction, DAP would support the PAS candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Karpal said this in response to MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s statement on Sunday calling him a “toothless tiger" and criticising the DAP for supporting PAS.

“Obviously, Samy, as usual, has not checked his facts,” Karpal said, adding that since the March 8 general elections, Samy Vellu had lost substantial support among the Indians.

Karpal now a toothless tiger, says Samy

The Star (28/12/08): A fired-up MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has criticised DAP chairman Karpal Singh for turning into a “toothless tiger” by pledging DAP’s support for PAS in the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election.

He said Karpal Singh, who has been vocal on the Islamic state issue and hudud laws, appeared to have “surrendered to PAS.”

“Karpal Singh should be consistent in his stand (on hudud laws) and not become a puppet of PAS. His stand indicates that he and his party will give in and abandon their principles for the sake of ensuring a victory for the opposition candidate,” he said in a statement here Sunday.

Samy Vellu had challenged Opposition and PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to publicly state his stand on PAS’ intention to pursue the implementation of hudud laws.

He said the DAP owed an explanation to the people, especially the Chinese community, on its conflicting views on hudud.

“Karpal should also not allow his credibility to be lost among Indian voters who voted for him in the last general election,” he said, calling on Karpal Singh to live up to his “lion” nickname given by his supporters.

Nik Aziz says people will accept hudud laws someday (Bernama)
DAP sets terms to support PAS’ choice (The Star)

Kuala Terengganu by-election:Pas names Abdul Wahid Endut as candidate

2009-01-02T03:35:00.005+08:00

NST (1/1/09): Pas has named its Wakaf Mempelam state assemblyman Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut as the candidate for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party's choice was the best as Abdul Wahid is a highly respected leader and well known among the constituents.

Abdul Wahid, 52, who has been the Wakaf Mempelam state assemblyman for the past five terms had the experience which would enable him to get the votes needed to win the by-election.

"We have gone through a rigorous selection process and we are confident that our candidate met all the qualities that the people wanted," Abdul Hadi told a large crowd at the State Stadium tonight.

Abdul Wahid's nomination came as a surprise to many as it was widely speculated that the Pas candidate would be a toss between the party's state commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali, Wan Abdul Mutalib and Batu Buruk state assemblyman Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi .
The announcement also signaled the desire of the president to choose a candidate from among its second echelon leaders and a preference for experience and people friendly.

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said it does not matter who he was up against in the by-election.

"The BN is serious about winning. The party has an excellent track record and this will help win the people's confidence. Moreover, the BN has a head start in the campaign and we have managed to overcome problems.

"This week we will be getting more support from the BN machinery from other states. We will further strengthen our position," he added.

The number of voters in the con stituency is 80,229. Out of the num ber 79,194 are ordinary voters while 1,035 are postal voters.

The Election Commission is setting up 36 polling centres with 143 polling streams. The process will in volve 877 workers. (Photo courtesy of Utusan Malaysia - bakaq a.k.a. ~penarik beca)

Pas names surprise candidate after last minute change

Malaysian Insider (2/1/09): Four-term Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman Abdul Wahid Endut, who was once challenged to a fist fight by current Terengganu mentri besar Ahmad Said, has been named Pas's candidate for the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election in an eleventh hour decision that took many by surprise.

His selection is seen as a compromise decision as rival factions in the party could not agree on either Batu Buruk assemblyman Dr Syed Azman Nawawi or state party chief Datuk Mustafa Ali.

The announcement of Abdul Wahid as the Pas candidate is seen as an attempt to appease both the party’s “Erdogan” faction who are strong supporters of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the “Ulama” group who are close to the party president.

Pas will be hoping that Abdul Wahid’s candidacy will put to rest the uncertainty which has gripped the Islamist party amid factional disputes and the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) surprise early naming of heavyweight Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as their candidate, in a move which clearly put Pas on the defensive.

Announcing his party’s candidacy last night, Pas president Hadi acknowledged it was a last minute change.

He also admitted it had been a difficult decision for him to make because all of the candidates the party had in mind were capable.

Mohd Abdul Wahid, 52, is a four-term assemblyman, Kuala Terengganu PAS chief and state PAS treasurer.

A Fisheries and Marine Science graduate from Universiti Putra Malaysia, he has never been defeated in the four elections he has contested.

It is learnt that Abdul Wahid was not on the initial list of candidates.

But he was chosen by Hadi after state party chief Mustafa declined to be nominated, and Batu Burok assemblyman Dr Syed Azman, who had been tipped to be the candidate as late as yesterday was not chosen due to his differences with state party leaders.

Nationally unknown, the 52 year old, who used to serve as a Terengganu state executive councillor, from 1999 to 2004 when Pas held the state government, is a popular party leader in the east coast state.

After BN wrested the state in 2004, he remained a vocal assemblyman and once accused the BN government of allegedly being “worst than the Jews” for tearing down some a settlement.

This had resulted in Ahmad, the current mentri besar who was then a state executive councillor, challenging him to a fist fight outside the state assembly.

Abdul Wahid Endut calon PAS untuk PRK Kuala Terengganu

Harakah (1/1/09): Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Wakaf Mempelam Abdul Wahid Endut diumumkan sebagai calon PAS dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu pada 17 Januari nanti.

Pengumuman itu dibuat oleh Presiden PAS Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang sebentar tadi di Stadium Negeri yang dihadiri lebih 10,000 penyokong.

Turut hadir sama dalam majlis penting itu Timbalan Presiden PAS Ustaz Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Naib Presiden PAS Mohammad Sabu, Setiausaha Agung PAS Dato' Kamaruddin Jaffar, Ketua Pemuda PAS Salahuddin Ayub dan beberapa pimpinan PAS Pusat yang lain.

Manakala di peringkat negeri dihadiri oleh Pesuruhjaya PAS Negeri Dato' Mustafa Ali, Timbalan Pengarah Pilihan Raya Dato' Wan Mutalib Embong, Adun Batu Buruk Dr Syed Azman Syed Nawawi dan saf kepimpinan negeri.

Abdul Wahid, 52 tahun adalah ADUN sejak lima penggal, lulusan Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) dalam bidang perikanan dan sains marin. Beliau memiliki rekod yang cemerlang sebagai Adun atau Exco selama sepenggal dan sebagai Adun pembangkang.

Wahid dianggap sebagai anak didik Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu, Dato' Mustafa Ali kerana kerusi Wakaf Mempelam yang beliau wakili kini adalah kerusi yang dimenangi oleh Mustafa ketika PAS melakukan 'comeback' di Terengganu pada tahun 1982.

Parlimen Kuala Terengganu mempunyai 4 Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) yang mana 3 daripadanya dimenangi oleh PAS manakala 1 DUN dimenangni BN (MCA)

DUN-DUN yang dimenangi oleh PAS ialah Wakaf Mempelam (Abdul Wahid Endut), Ladang (Tengku Hassan Tnegku Omar), dan Batu Buruk (Dr. Syed Azman Ahmad Nawawi)

Pilihan Raya Kecil Kuala Terengganu diadakan bagi mengisi kekosongan kerusi Parlimen P036 berikutan kematian mengejut penyandangnya, Dato Razali Ismail yang juga Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran Malaysia pada 27 Oktober lalu.

Pada PRU ke-12, 8 Mac 2008 lalu Dato' Razali calon BN menang tipis dengan majoriti 628 undi menewaskan calon PAS, Mohamad Sabu dan calon Bebas, Maimun Yusuf hanya mendapat 685 undi. Jumlah pengundi berdaftar di Parlimen Kuala Terengganu ialah 80,229 orang termasuk 1,035 pengundi pos.

PAS fields surprise candidate

Malaysiakini (1/1/09): Abdul Wahid is a surprise candidate as there were strong speculations that the party would be fielding one of their big guns - popular Batu Burok state assemblyperson Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi or either one of the two PAS veterans, Mustafa Ali and Wan Abdul Mutalib Embong.

The chosen PAS candidate however is not quite a greenhorn as he has been a politician for 16 years and is currently the Terengganu PAS treasurer. (More)

Mohd Abdul Wahid Endot is PAS candidate for the KT by-election

The Star (1/1/09): Four term Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman and state PAS treasurer Mohd Abdul Wahid Endot has been chosen by the party take on Barisan Nasional heavyweight Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh in the Kuala Terengganu by-election on Jan 17.

The much-awaited announcement, made last night by Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, took many by surprise as even the PAS president said there was a “last-minute change”.

Abdul Hadi, who made the announcement at the packed Stadium Negeri in Batu Burok here, said it had been difficult to choose the PAS candidate, saying: “All of the ones we had in mind were highly capable people.”

In the end, he said, he made up his mind after adhering to the “Islamic methods”.

Thousands of PAS supporters, gathered at the stadium, broke into thunderous cheers when the announcement was made.

Party stalwarts, and leaders from DAP and PKR also attended the event.

Mohd Abdul Wahid, 52, is a four-term assemblyman, Kuala Terengganu PAS chief and state PAS treasurer. He is a Fisheries and Marine Science graduate from the Universiti Putra Malaysia.

His name had not even been on political observers’ list speculating about who would be the PAS candidate to face Wan Ahmad in the by-election.

Several names had come up including Batu Burok state assemblyman Dr Syed Azman Ahmad Nawawi, who is also the former Kuala Terengganu MP. Others were state PAS commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali and his deputy Datuk Wan Muttalib Wan Embong.

It is learnt that some 72 PAS members had been tasked with obtaining feedback from the grassroots on whom they felt was the most appropriate candidate.

Views had also been sought from non-Malay voters.

The death of incumbent Datuk Razali Ismail of Barisan triggered the by-election.

ADUN Wakaf Mempelam pilihan PAS tanding di Kuala Terengganu

mStar Online (1/1/09): Dilihat sebagai pengumuman mengejutkan, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) kerusi Wakaf Mempelam lima penggal, Mohd. Abdul Wahid Endot akan mewakili Pakatan Rakyat bertanding pilihan raya kecil kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu bulan ini.

Mohd. Abdul Wahid, 52, merupakan Ketua PAS Bahagian Kuala Terengganu dan juga Bendahari PAS Terengganu.

Pemilihan calon PAS itu, yang dilihat sebagai keputusan mengejut oleh banyak pihak, diumumkan di Kuala Terengganu pada pukul 10.55 malam tadi oleh Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Abdul Hadi yang membuat pengumuman itu di Stadium Negeri di Batu Burok berkata, memilih calon PAS memang sukar tetapi "satu-satunya yang berada dalam fikiran kami merupakan calon yang berkebolehan."

Abdul Hadi berkata, beliau sendiri yang memilih Mohd. Wahid yang menjadi ADUN Wakaf Mempelam sejak 1990, dan ia mendapat restu Mursyidul Am PAS, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

Menurutnya dalam pemilihan calon itu, beliau mendapat pandangan daripada pelbagai pihak termasuk mengadakan isytisyarah (pandangan daripada orang ramai) dan istiqarah (sembahyang dan minta petunjuk).

"Sangat susah pilih calon Pas kerana caloncalon yang diketengahkan semuanya baikbaik... tiada rasuah, tiada politk wang dan tiada penyelewengan politik," katanya.

Antara nama yang disebut mempunyai peluang cerah unutk menjadi calon PAS sebelum ini ialah Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu, Datuk Mustafa Ali dan ADUN Batu Buruk, Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ahmad yang juga bekas Ahli Parlimen Kuala Terengganu.

Mohd. Abdul Wahid, 52, merupakan bekas graduan jurusan sains perikanan dan marin dari Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Dengan itu, Ketua PAS Bahagian Kuala Terengganu itu dijangka menghadapi saingan calon Barisan Nasional (BN), Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh.

BN mengumumkan calonnya dua minggu lalu dan persaingan kali ini dijangka empat penjuru termasuk dua calon Bebas.

Wakaf Mempelam merupakan salah satu bahagian DUN dalam kawasan Parlimen Kuala Terengganu.

Tiga DUN yang lain ialah Bandar, Ladang dan Batu Burok.

Hari penamaan calon bagi pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu adalah pada 6 Januari ini dengan 11 hari berkempen.

Pilihan raya kecil itu diadakan berikutan kematian Datuk Razali Ismail, Aahli Parlimen bahagian itu yang juga Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran ketika bermain badminton di Institut Aminuddin Baki, Genting Highlands pada 28 November lalu.

Jumlah keseluruhan pemilih berdaftar sehingga 4 Disember lalu dan layak mengundi ialah seramai 80,229 termasuk 1,035 pengundi pos.

Sebanyak 36 pusat mengundi disediakan di Parlimen Kuala Terengganu.

Pas calonkan Adun Wakaf Mempelam

Berita Harian (2/1/09): Pas malam tadi mengumumkan, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Wakaf Mempelam, Abdul Wahid Endut, 52, sebagai calon bagi merampas kembali kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu yang disifatkan sebagai antara kubu kuat parti itu, pada pilihan raya kecil 17 Januari ini.

Pengumuman calon Pas yang akan bertanding untuk merampas kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu yang sudah ditawan BN sejak dua penggal itu dibuat Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang di Stadium Negeri.

Abdul Hadi berkata, beliau memilih Abdul Wahid berdasarkan kriteria pemilihan yang disarankan Rasulullah dengan cara istikharah dan berisytisyarah, iaitu memohon pertolongan dan tawakal kepada Allah selain mendengar pandangan kawan dan rakan yang hampir.

Pengumuman calon Pas itu disambut dengan laungan takbir di hadapan 3,000 penyokong yang sudah berkumpul sejak jam lapan malam bagi menunaikan solat Isyak dan hajat.

Hadir sama pada majlis itu, Timbalan Presiden Pas, Nasharuddin Mat Isa; Timbalan Pengerusi DAP, Dr Tan Seng Giaw; Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Mustafa Kamil Ayub; Setiausaha Agung Pas, Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar; Pesuruhjaya Pas Terengganu, Datuk Mustafa Ali dan Timbalan Pesuruhjaya Pas Terengganu merangkap Pengarah Operasi Pilihan raya Kecil Kuala Terengganu bagi Pas, Wan Mutalib Embong.

Abdul Wahid adalah Adun Wakaf Mempelam sejak 1990. Beliau juga adalah Yang Dipertua Pas (YDP) Bahagian Kuala Terengganu dan Bendahari Pas Terengganu.

Bapa kepada tujuh orang anak itu berkelulusan Ijazah Pertanian dari Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Hadi dalam ucapannya berkata, beliau memilih Abdul Wahid kerana beliau adalah YDP Pas Bahagian Kuala Terengganu bersesuaian dengan calon Barisan Nasional iaitu Ketua Umno Bahagian Kuala Terengganu.

“Beliau tidak pernah meminta dicalonkan sebaliknya dipilih bagi menggalas cabaran Pas,” katanya.

Pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu diadakan berikutan kematian bekas Ahli Parlimen Kuala Terengganu, Datuk Razali Ismail pada 28 November lalu dan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) menetapkan pengundian pada 17 Januari ini, manakala penamaan calon pada 6 Januari ini.

Abdul Wahid Endut is the Pakatan candidate for KT (Suara Keadilan)
Pas names Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman for KT by-election (Bernama)
Adun Wakaf Mempelam jadi calon PAS (Bernama)
Wahid Endut calon Pas Kuala Terengganu (Utusan Malaysia)
Kuala Terengganu : Dua ketua bahagian berentap (Agendadaily)

PAS: Hudud hit by the economy

2008-12-28T21:07:00.002+08:00

The Star (28/12/08): PAS has back-pedalled further on its stand on hudud laws with its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang saying that the current economic situation could delay its implementation.

Abdul Hadi said that for hudud to be implemented, people must have proper education, jobs as well as economic mobility.

“The current economic situation and the fact that there is unemployment among Malaysians prevent the hudud from being implemented,” Abdul Hadi said.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the party’s membership drive campaign yesterday.

Abdul Hadi said the fear shown by certain quarters regarding the hudud was akin to the kampung mentality of the 1950s regarding hospital visits.

He said people used to be afraid of going to the hospital because they believed that once a person went, he would definitely be cut open.

Abdul Hadi said hudud laws would only apply to Muslims.

Asked about the coming Kuala Terengganu by-election, Abdul Hadi said PAS was confident of winning.

He, however, said there could be obstacles and challenges because PAS was not “merely fighting another party but the Federal Government.”

The event, which was attended by PAS supports club members, saw people sign up as members of PAS.

Hadi: Situasi tidak stabil, sukar laksana hudud

Masalah ekonomi, pengangguran halang pelaksanaan hudud, kata Presiden PAS

mStar Online (28/12/08): Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang mengakui sukar untuk melaksanakan undang-undang hudud dan qisas di negara ini kerana ia hanya boleh dilakukan jika rakyat negara ini berada dalam keadaan yang stabil.

Malah, beliau juga mengakui bahawa bukan mudah untuk melaksanakan hukum hudud memandangkan negara dan rakyat berhadapan dengan pelbagai masalah.

Kata Abdul Hadi, situasi ekonomi semasa dan pengangguran di kalangan rakyat negara ini menghalang hudud daripada dilaksanakan.

Ditanya sama ada PAS akan membawa usul mengenai pelaksanaan hukum Hudud di Parlimen untuk dibahaskan, beliau yang juga anggota Dewan Rakyat berkata, belum tiba masanya untuk berbuat demikian.

"Masalah pengangguran masih ada lagi dan untuk laksanakan hukum ini kedudukan rakyat Malaysia mesti stabil contohnya daripada segi pendidikan, kehidupan, dan hubungan keluarga juga kena dijaga," katanya.

Katanya, kebimbangan yang dilahirkan oleh segelintir rakyat negara ini sama seperti mentaliti kampung ketika era 1950-an.

Mentaliti kampung tahun 1950-an menyaksikan orang ramai khuatir untuk ke hospital kerana mereka bimbang sebaik sahaja melangkah ke hospital, mereka akan dibedah.

Terdahulu beliau merasmikan kempen 'Jom Sertai Pas' di Dataran Shah Alam di sini hari ini.

Kata beliau, masyarakat bukan Islam tidak seharusnya berasa bimbang jika hukum hudud dilaksanakan di negara ini kerana pelaksanaannya hanya melibatkan kalangan yang beragama Islam.

Beliau berkata, golongan bukan Islam sebaliknya boleh memilih undang-undang yang mereka mahu seperti yang telah tertulis dalam Undang-undang Kanun Jenayah Syariah Kelantan dan Terengganu.

"PAS tak perlu terangkan (tentang hukum Hudud) kerana undang-undang ini tiada kena mengena dengan orang bukan Islam.

"Pada kita, tidak timbul lagi soal hudud kerana ia telah diluluskan di DUN (Dewan Undangan Negeri) Kelantan sejak tahun 90-an lagi dan di Terengganu pula telah diwartakan," katanya.

Berkaitan:
Pelaksanaan hukum hudud hanya untuk orang Islam (Bernama)
PAS akui pelaksanaan hudud mungkin lambat (Bernama)
PAS akan tetap laksana hudud jika memerintah negara - Husam (Bernama)
Hadi likens Hudud to surgery (Malaysian Insider)

'Pas bowing to DAP over hudud'

2008-12-24T11:01:00.001+08:00

NST (23/12/08): Pas is being forced to bow to the DAP on the hudud issue, deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said.

He said Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa's "about-turn" over his statement that the party would implement strict Islamic laws if Pakatan Rakyat took over the Federal Government was because of pressure from its secular coalition partner.

"Husam made a U-turn in fewer than two days. Where is the principle held by Pas? The principle cannot be simply cast aside," said Khairy in an entry on his blog yesterday.

He claimed Husam's switch was the result of objections by DAP leaders, such as Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng.

Husam had on Saturday reiterated the party's pledge to apply hudud during a discussion on political transformation in Malaysia after fellow panellist Khairy challenged him to state Pas' stand, which he claimed had waned after the March 8 general election.

On Monday, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat leaders came out and opposed the hudud plan.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh even warned that Pas' "myopic" political ambitions could sink Pakatan.

PKR information chief Tian Chua said the party and Pa-katan's stand was to uphold the Federal Constitution.

Husam on Monday was reported as saying that hudud would not be implemented as it required the consent of other Pakatan partners.

Husam refused to comment on the subject.

"I have nothing else to say. Everything has been reported. There is no need for further comment.

"If anyone wants to further discuss this issue, I am open to having a debate."

PAS remarks a 'ploy for unity'

2008-12-24T10:47:00.000+08:00

Leader's push for Islamic laws meant to unite warring factions, say insiders

Singapore Straits Times (24/12/08): When a top Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) official said he would push for the implementation of Islamic criminal laws if the opposition came to power, Umno politicians saw it as a tactical mistake that would bring them easy votes in a crucial by-election days away.

But PAS leaders have countered this, saying: Not so fast.

Some party leaders are now quietly saying that the remarks by vice-president Husam Musa were not a mistake, but a ploy that could unite a party split into pro- Anwar and anti-Anwar factions.

A more united PAS will then have a better chance of winning in the Malay-majority Kuala Terengganu constituency from Umno, they add.

The arguments follow Datuk Husam's comments, which reflected a bitter struggle between the two factions that arose after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim led the opposition parties to their best-ever victory in March.

The by-election was called after the death of Umno MP Razali Ismail last month. Campaigning will start on Jan 6 and voting is on Jan 17.

'PAS has always wanted to implement Islamic laws. By saying this now, we affirm that we remain true to the struggle and bring our supporters together,' a Kelantan leader told The Straits Times yesterday.

Mr Husam spoke about the PAS plans for hudud, or Islamic criminal laws, in a debate last Saturday in Kelantan. He gave a 'guarantee' that PAS would push for the laws to be implemented if the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition won in Malaysia.

While he did not say what he meant by hudud, it is understood to mean that the laws will include controversial provisions to chop off the hands of thieves and stone adulterers.

Mr Husam said yesterday he did not understand what the fuss was all about, adding that there was nothing new in what he said.

What had changed was that 'in terms of implementation, there won't be unilateral action. It must be a multilateral decision by all (opposition) members', he told the Associated Press.

Mr Husam is seen as one of the leaders of the pro-Anwar faction in the 800,000-strong Islamic party. This faction wants PAS to become more multiracial in outlook by working closely with Pakatan, which consists of PAS, Anwar's multiracial Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party.

The pro-Anwar faction is called the Erdogans, a reference to Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr Anwar, a friend of Mr Erdogan, had taken refuge in the Turkish Embassy when he was accused of sodomising an aide.

The faction's opponents, however, accuse the Erdogans of wanting to implement a 'diluted version' of Islam. Called the Terengganu faction, the anti-Anwar faction is led by top PAS leaders from the state, including party president Abdul Hadi Awang and strategist Mustafa Ali.

The split has resulted in the Islamic party being unable to pick a candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election, as each faction wanted to field its own candidate. The party will make a decision only on Jan 1 - while ruling coalition Barisan Nasional last week already named the division chief of Umno Kuala Terengganu as its candidate.

Some sections of PAS see Mr Husam's comments, however, as an olive branch from the Erdogans for the by-election.

'The Terengganu leaders have said they do not want a candidate from outside the state. Can we work with their man? I hope so,' said a pro-Anwar PAS chief based in Kuala Lumpur.

Naib Presiden Pas tunduk desakan, gertakan DAP: Khairy

2008-12-24T09:39:00.004+08:00

Berita Harian (24/12/08): Naib Presiden Pas, Datuk Husam Musa dilabel ikon transformasi politik layu apabila dilihat tunduk pada bantahan dan gertakan DAP supaya undang-undang hudud dan qisas tidak dilaksanakan.

Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin, berkata kenyataan 'u-turn' Husam dalam tempoh pendek memberikan gambaran bahawa Pas terpaksa tunduk kepada desakan DAP.

Katanya, tidak sampai dua hari selepas Husam dengan lantang memberi jaminan kepada penyokong tegar Pas di gelanggang sendiri bahawa hudud akan dilaksanakan jika Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih kuasa kerajaan Persekutuan, beliau sudah menyerah kalah dan mengatakan hukum hudud tidak akan dilaksanakan kerana memerlukan rakan kongsi senior dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

“Di manakah prinsip Pas yang dikatakan oleh Husam ketika beliau membentangkan mukadimahnya di Wacana Perdana Transformasi Politik Malaysia, yang menyebut antara `P’ pentingnya adalah prinsip? Takkan prinsip boleh dibuang begitu mudah saja,” katanya dalam laman blognya semalam.

Semalam, akhbar melaporkan Pas mengakui pelaksanaan undang-undang hudud dan qisas mungkin terpaksa ditangguhkan walaupun jika Pakatan Rakyat memerintah negara ini kerana ia memerlukan persetujuan dua rakannya dalam pakatan itu, DAP dan parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Terbaru, Husam dipetik berkata, parti komponen dalam pakatan sudah menandatangani perjanjian pada Ogos lalu bahawa sebarang perubahan dasar perlu dibuat dengan persetujuan semua parti komponen.

Kenyataan terbaru Husam itu berbeza dengan kenyataan dikeluarkannya pada majlis Wacana Perdana Transformasi Politik Malaysia, malam Sabtu lalu.

Ahli Parlimen Rembau itu berkata, ketika wacana itu, beliau meminta pendirian jelas daripada Husam mengenai pelaksanaan hukum hudud jika Pakatan Rakyat memerintah dan Husam memberikan jawapan jelas bahawa Pas akan melaksanakannya.

“Tidak sampai 24 jam kenyataan beliau disiarkan oleh media, Lim Kit Siang, selaku Supremo DAP, mempertikaikan kenyataan Husam dan menegaskan bahawa hukum hudud tidak menjadi dasar Pakatan Rakyat.

“Kenyataan Kit Siang ini kemudian disokong anak beliau, Lim Guan Eng, yang dipuji berkali-kali dalam wacana itu oleh Husam sebagai pemimpin moden ala Saidina Omar Abdul Aziz,” katanya.

Mistake’ to privatise IJN

2008-12-21T10:36:00.002+08:00

Exclusive interview with Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang

The Star (21/12/08): The National Heart Institute (IJN) should not be privatised as it provides training to develop cardiac units in all Government hospitals by 2020, says the country’s most renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon.

Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang said this was reason enough for the premier heart institution not to go private.

“Currently, there are four cardiac units in Penang, Johor Baru, Sarawak and Serdang hospitals. Even so, the units there are not as well-equipped and well-staffed as IJN.

“We still have a long way to go,” he added.

Dr Yahya, Malaysia’s first cardio-thoracic surgeon, wanted IJN to remain a corporatised body and controlled by the Government.

“It (IJN) was never meant to be a commercial institute. It was meant to be a centre of research, a premier academic institute,” he told The Star in an interview at his office in the Damansara Specialist Centre yesterday.

He added that, as a pioneer who was directly involved in the setting up of the hospital in 1990, he was “taken aback” by the idea of privatisation.

“I was told that even the doctors (at IJN) were not informed of the idea (to privatise),” he said.

On the Government’s deferment to conduct an in-depth study, Dr Yahya said professional opinions should be sought as they were the service providers.

“This is to ensure the academic aspects of it are not pushed aside. However, I am sure, even as you lay all the facts and figures on the table, the right decision will be not to privatise the hospital,” he said.

Dr Yahya said IJN had done well and even generated income.

“Therefore, I am rather suspicious of the privatisation idea. It is not as if the hospital is not doing well. Ideally, a health institution such as IJN should be physician-led,” he said.

In 1989, a team led by Dr Yahya performed a coronary bypass operation on then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. This subsequently initiated the setting-up of IJN in 1990 and the hospital was established two years later.

Decision on IJN is a political ploy, says Anwar

The Star (21/12/08): Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the decision to defer privatisation of the National Heart Institute (IJN) is a political move, especially due to the upcoming Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

“The plan will likely resume after the by-election,” he told newsmen after launching Karnival Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim terbuka 2008 futsal competition, here, yesterday.

He was commenting on the Cabinet’s decision to conduct an in-depth study on Sime Darby Bhd’s proposal to take over IJN.

Anwar said any plan to privatise IJN would be of no benefit to the people.

“By privatising (IJN), the Government is actually abandoning one of its major social responsibilities to the rakyat,” he said, adding that IJN was built in 1992 using funds from the Finance Ministry with the objective of providing good and quality healthcare for the poor and middle class.

Anwar cited the privatised health system in the United States as an example where it had the best healthcare facilities in the world but the lower income group does not benefit.

Batu Putih case: Malaysia relied on Singapore documents

2008-12-21T01:24:00.002+08:00

Malaysian Insider (20/11/08): Most of the documents used by Malaysia to make its case on Pulau Batu Putih at the International Court of Justice were produced by Singapore.

This startling allegation was made by the republic's Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong and turns on its head the assertion by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry that its officials scoured the world for evidence to back its claim that it had ownership over the outcrop of rocks off Johor.

Chan made this revelation at the launch of the book Pedra Branca: The Road To The World Court.

He was quoted by the Straits Times as saying: “I am not sure whether the International Court of Justice realised that most of the documents used by Malaysia in her arguments against Singapore were produced by us.

“So, you can imagine our deep disappointment when it was alleged that Singapore had withheld from the court a letter which Malaysia believed would damage our case.”

He added: “The truth is that we had gone round the world looking for it for some 30 years without success.” (See also "Pedra Branca: Behind the scenes")

In the foreword of the book, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that in 1992, he directed that Singapore hand over all its documents on the disputed area to Malaysia, “an unprecedented unilateral move”.

This move and other previously undisclosed facts about the Pedra Branca case are contained in the 190-page book on how both countries managed the dispute, which the ICJ resolved in May this year.

Pedra Branca, a football field-sized island at the eastern entrance of the Singapore Straits, was first occupied in 1847 by the British, who built Horsburgh Lighthouse there. Singapore later took over, and Malaysia staked its claim in 1979.

In May, the ICJ ruled that Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore, and that nearby Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia.

Who owns a third maritime feature, South Ledge, is being worked out by the two countries. The ICJ says it belongs to the country in whose waters it sits.

The long journey to the ICJ resolution was highlighted by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar, who co-wrote the book with Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh.

In the book, both men noted how their involvement with the case began in 1978, when they were representing Singapore at the United Nations in Geneva. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent them an urgent telex, asking Jayakumar to go to London to locate certain documents on the island.

Both men went on to helm the team making Singapore's case for Pedra Branca before the ICJ in The Hague in November last year, with CJ Chan, who was Attorney-General from 1992 to 2006.

The book recounts the twists and turns in the dispute and the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres taken to resolve it.

Jayakumar also noted that both sides agreed to third-party dispute settlement, now a key tenet of Singapore's foreign policy in managing disputes.

Koh said they decided to write the book to distil the lessons they had learnt from the case — Singapore's first at the ICJ — and share them with colleagues as well as the public.

Chan, in his speech, noted that Pedra Branca was “not an easy case by any standard”. The written pleadings alone of each side filled more than 2,600 pages.

“This is a case where history was part of the legal arguments, and law was part of the historical arguments,” he said.

“Ultimately, the majority of the court decided that Malaysia had history on its side, and Singapore had international law on its side, and this is expressed in the final disposition of the judgment.” — Straits Times Singapore

Pedra Branca: Behind the scenes

Malaysian Insider (20/11/08): Pedra Branca was in the spotlight last year when the International Court of Justice in The Hague heard Singapore and Malaysia make their case for the island. A new book by Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar and Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh, who played key roles in the case, sheds light on previously undisclosed facets of the case.

The first inkling that something was afoot came in 1977, when Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) learnt that a Malaysian navy lieutenant commander had made inquiries about the status of Pedra Branca.

Then in April the following year, the then Counsellor at the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Kishore Mahbubani, reported back on a conversation he had with a Malaysian Foreign Ministry official.

The Malaysians claimed to have completed a study showing that Horsburgh Lighthouse belonged to them.

The official said they would be writing to Singapore to claim sovereignty over Pedra Branca, where the lighthouse had stood since 1851, although no such communication was received.

In May 1978, Jayakumar, then dean of the National University of Singapore's Law Faculty, was in Geneva assisting the ministry for the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

He received a telex from then MFA deputy secretary Tan Boon Seng asking him to head to London right away to search for colonial documents on Pedra Branca that could not be located in Singapore.

After consulting Koh, then Singapore's permanent representative to the United Nations, Jayakumar spent a few days looking up documents at the India Office in London and the Public Record Office in Kew.

He returned with a microfilm of documents. But he could not unearth an 1844 letter that Straits Settlements Governor W.J. Butterworth wrote to the Johor Rulers, apparently about the island. He did, however, find copies of Johor's replies referring to Peak Rock, another island.

While at both offices, Jayakumar was asked if he was the person who had come two days earlier for similar documents.

He concluded that the Malaysians must be searching for the same material.

Not long after, in December 1979, Malaysia published a map that, for the first time, included Pedra Branca as Malaysian territory. The move drew a formal protest from the Singapore Government.

Attempts to settle

Prime ministers on both sides raised the matter when they met for bilateral talks or at international events.

In a foreword to the book, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who was prime minister at the time, said that while Singapore was surprised by Malaysia's claim in 1979, “I saw no need for this claim to trouble our bilateral relationship”.

“I went out of my way to persuade Malaysian PM Hussein Onn, under whose watch this claim was made, to settle the issue in an open and straightforward manner,” Lee wrote. “I found Hussein fair-minded when we discussed the Pedra Branca issue during his visit to Singapore in May 1980. He said both sides should search for documents to prove ownership of Pedra Branca.”

After Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over in 1981 and visited Singapore in December that year, he and Lee agreed that both sides should exchange documents to establish the legitimacy of their respective claims.

Then in the late 1980s, in what was an unprecedented unilateral move, Lee instructed then Attorney-General Tan Boon Teik to go to Kuala Lumpur and show Singapore's documentary evidence to his Malaysian counterpart.

“I was prepared to take that step to get the Malaysians to know that we had a powerful legal case,” he wrote.

“But I also understood that it was difficult for any leader to give up sovereignty claims unilaterally.” This was why he proposed to Dr Mahathir in 1989 that if the matter was not settled after a document exchange, the dispute should be referred to the International Court of Justice.

The need to find a political solution to the dispute became more urgent as throughout the 1980s, Malaysian Marine Police boats began to make regular incursions into waters around Pedra Branca.

The Singapore navy was under strict instructions to avoid escalating matters, and both sides acted with restraint.

Dr Mahathir was aware of the need not to let the situation get out of control, the authors note in the book. In 1989, he made an unannounced boat trip to the vicinity of Pedra Branca to personally size up the situation.

Recounting his visit at a function in Kuala Lumpur last year, Dr Mahathir said his boat was immediately intercepted by two Singapore naval vessels. As he did not want to cause an international incident, he asked his own boat to leave.

In 1994, Malaysia agreed to refer the matter to the ICJ.

Jayakumar and Koh noted that after studying Singapore's documents, Malaysian officials indicated privately that Singapore had a strong case, and that their claim was weak.

Why did they persist in their claim? The authors say the issue had become politicised, and it would probably have been untenable for a Malaysian leader to be seen making a territorial concession.

Difficulties

Before the ICJ could decide the case, both sides had to sign a Special Agreement consenting to the court hearing the case and specifying the precise question on which the court was to decide.

This took three rounds of talks over four years, and eventually both sides agreed that the court would be asked to determine whether sovereignty over each of three close maritime features — Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge — belonged to Malaysia or to Singapore.

From early on, Singapore set up an inter-ministry committee on the case, bringing together officials from the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), MFA, the Defence and Law ministries and other relevant agencies.

A significant document they found was a 1953 letter from Johor's acting state secretary expressly disclaiming title over Pedra Branca — which the then Communications Ministry located in its archives in 1977.

Key members of the Singapore team, including the international counsel who would argue the case at the ICJ, visited Pedra Branca for a first-hand feel.

The book also reveals that Jayakumar made his own boat trip to the island as early as 1988 with then Communications and Information Minister Yeo Ning Hong — and faced a storm so huge that the ropes securing their lifeboat snapped and the crockery on board was smashed.

Two men on a fishing boat they passed by earlier that day died in that storm.

Dilemmas

Once Malaysia agreed to a third party settlement before the ICJ in 1994, Jayakumar asked Sivakant Tiwari — then head of the civil division at the AGC — to list international lawyers who could help argue Singapore's case.

The team also decided to put forward Koh as Singapore's judge ad hoc on the ICJ as he had wide international diplomatic experience.

A state can appoint such a judge when it appears before the ICJ and does not have its national on the bench.

But one of Singapore's counsel, Prof Alain Pellet, had reservations about Koh being Singapore's judge ad hoc as this could attract objections because he was involved in preparing Singapore's case.

Koh could have withdrawn from the team, but after weighing all the considerations, the Government decided to rule out Koh as judge ad hoc as it was not worth running the risk of having Malaysia object to his appointment.

Singapore then decided on Judge P.S. Rao from India, who had been closely involved during negotiations on Unclos.

But another dilemma emerged when then Attorney-General Chan Sek Keong was appointed chief justice in 2006.

While he had been closely involved in steering Singapore's preparations, some in the team were concerned that his inclusion in the team could raise eyebrows. This was because it was unusual for the chief justice of any country to plead before the ICJ.

“Would it blur the distinctions between the executive and the judiciary? Would foreign critics who attack the independence of our judiciary use this as an additional argument?” the authors write.

After discussions, the team felt it was important that Singapore had the best talent to win the case. And so it was in Singapore's interest to have Chan continue his work on the case.

The matter was discussed with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Cabinet colleagues, who had no doubts that Chan would be an asset, and that there was nothing improper about him leading Singapore's team to The Hague.

It helped that Chan, Koh and Jayakumar had known one another for a long time and were law school contemporaries. Then Attorney-General Chao Hick Tin was also a close friend.

Each of Singapore's three prime ministers also took a deep interest in the management of the dispute and preparations for the case. “They showed full confidence in the team and did not attempt to micro-manage,” the authors said of Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong and Lee Hsien Loong.

Scouring the archives

As preparations for the case picked up pace, the team consulted local and foreign experts on international law and Malay history. Tiwari chaired a committee to coordinate the effort systematically with MFA, the Ministry of Defence, the Maritime and Port Authority and National Archives.

From 2003 to 2006, the Archives deployed five full-time staff and 10 part-timers to locate archival records relating to Pedra Branca, piracy, the Malay concept of sovereignty and the status of the Sultan of Johor, among others.

They spent over 20,000 research hours, identified more than 2,000 records, transcribed 650 historical manuscripts and acquired copies of records from Britain, India, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.

During the oral hearing at The Hague last year, Archives staff were on standby here to assist the Singapore team.

Without their help, the AGC and international counsel would not have the materials with which to write their pleadings, the authors note.

Among the gems they uncovered was a letter written by the Dutch colonial authority in Indonesia acknowledging Pedra Branca as “British territory”, which Singapore used as evidence to back its case.

Koh, Jayakumar, Chan and Chao were to argue Singapore's case along with four international counsel — Queen's Counsel Ian Brownlie from England, Rodman Bundy from the United States, Frenchman Alain Pellet and Italian Loretta Malintoppi. The team and counsel met several times to prepare written pleadings, counter-arguments and replies. Jayakumar even approached Senior Counsel Davinder Singh for an independent and neutral view on the pleadings of both sides.

The team was encouraged by his response — that Singapore had the better argument.

At the hearings

Countries traditionally appear before the court in alphabetical order. But Malaysia's counsel Elihu Lauterpacht disagreed — presumably because he wanted Malaysia to have the last word. He suggested tossing a coin. But Singapore rejected this as being flippant, and both sides agreed to let the court decide. In September 2006, the registrar said the court drew lots: Singapore would go first.

While disappointed, Singapore took the development in its stride, going ahead on the basis that “in starting first, we would be able to make a strong and lasting impression on the judges while their minds were still fresh”.

To prepare for the oral hearing, Jayakumar, Koh, Chan and Chao had a filmed rehearsal of their speeches at the MFA in October last year. A second rehearsal was held two weeks later, and a third at the Supreme Court, where Chan and Jayakumar made their case before Appeal Judges V.K. Rajah and Andrew Phang.

The mood of the team before it departed for The Hague was “calm, confident and upbeat”.

“Although confident, we reminded ourselves not to be smug or underestimate the strength of the Malaysian legal team, which included several international legal luminaries. We knew they were going to give us a good fight.”

Both Jayakumar and Koh wrote that the Singapore and Malaysian media reported on the hearing in a balanced manner.

They said that “when Malaysia was presenting its case, The Straits Times did such a good job reporting on Malaysia's arguments that we were told that some Singaporeans were betting 60:40 that Malaysia would win the case!”

“We did not know whether the punters had changed the odds after reading Singapore's presentations in the second round, but we were confident that we had answered all of Malaysia's points and left them with nothing substantial to say in their final speeches, except to spring a new argument on us,” they said.

Key factor for success

The authors note that while the legal arguments, well-written pleadings, persuasive oral arguments of team members and very good international counsel were all important to the successful outcome, the most important factor was that all agencies here worked closely together over three decades.

“The Pedra Branca story is an excellent illustration of the 'whole of government approach'.”

Although Singapore was awarded sovereignty over only Pedra Branca, MM Lee said in his foreword in the book that Singapore accepted the judgment without any qualification: “Whichever way the judgment went, it is better for bilateral relations that a conclusive judgment has been made. This allows us to put aside this issue and move on to other areas of cooperation.”

Summing up, he said that Singapore must remain committed to upholding the rule of law in the relations between states.

If negotiations cannot resolve disputes, it is better to go to a third party than to allow the dispute to fester and sour ties. This was his approach, which his successors have also subscribed to. — Straits Times Singapore

Pedra Branca book sheds light

Singapore Straits Times (19/12/08): Back in 1992, Singapore was so confident of its legal case on Pedra Branca that it handed over all its documents to Malaysia.

In his foreword to a new book on the 30-year dispute, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew disclosed he had instructed that the materials be shown to Malaysia, 'an unprecedented unilateral move'.

On Friday, Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong took up the point in his keynote address at the launch of the book Pedra Branca: The Road to the World Court.

He said: 'I am not sure whether the International Court of Justice (ICJ) realised that most of the documents used by Malaysia in her arguments against Singapore were produced by us.'

'So, you can imagine our deep disappointment when it was alleged that Singapore had withheld from the court a letter which Malaysia believed would damage our case.

'The truth is that we had gone round the world looking for it for some 30 years without success,' he added.

This move and other previously-undisclosed facts about the Pedra Branca case are contained in the 190-page book on how both countries managed the dispute, which the ICJ resolved in May this year.

Pedra Branca, a football field-sized island at the eastern entrance of the Singapore Strait, was first occupied in 1847 by the British, who built Horsburgh Lighthouse there.

Singapore later took over, and Malaysia staked its claim in 1979.

In May, the ICJ ruled that Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore, and that nearby Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia.

Who owns a third maritime feature, South Ledge, is being worked out by the two countries. The ICJ says it belongs to the country in whose waters it sits.

The long journey to the ICJ resolution was highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister S.Jayakumar, who co-wrote the book with Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh.

Speaking at its launch at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said: 'For both of us, working on the case for some 30 years was really a labour of love'.

Aktivis Jerit diminta edar statistik jenayah di KT

2008-12-19T12:32:00.000+08:00

Harakah (14/12/08): Naib Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu berharap aktivis Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) yang terlibat dalam kempen berbasikal ke seluruh negara untuk menuntut perubahan supaya datang beramai-ramai ke Kuala Terengganu dan mengedarkan statistik jenayah di negara ini.

Beliau berkata demikian mengulas gertakan Timbalan Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Ismail Omar yang menyatakan polis akan menyiasat dalang atau penaja kempen berbasikal yang bertemakan 'Rakyat Pengayuh Perubahan' itu.

"Bawa statistik jenayah seluruh negara. Berapa kes bunuh, rompakan dan rogol yang berlaku di negara ini ketika polis semakin ghairah menjadi aktivis penjaga kepentingan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN).

"Edarkan kepada rakyat Kuala Terengganu yang akan menghadapi pilihan raya kecil berapa banyak kes jenayah yang tidak dapat diselesaikan termasuk kes penculikan dan pembunuhan Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, kes penculikan dan kehilangan Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, kes rompakan mikrocip RM50 juta di Zon Perdagangan Bebas Batu Maung, kes kehilangan dadah dalam simpanan polis Johor dan semua kes yang tidak selesai yang mungkin memaksa kita menunggu sehingga kucing bertanduk untuk melihat kes-kes itu diselesaikan," kata beliau. Image

Selepas kesemua statistik itu diedarkan di Kuala Terengganu, Mohamad Sabu meminta Jerit mengedarkan pula statistik tersebut ke seluruh negara dan beliau yakin dapat meminta kerjasama ahli-ahli PAS untuk mengedarkannya.

"Panggil kesemua media dalam negara dan media luar negara yang ada wakilnya dalam negara ini untuk membuat liputan.

"Kita hendak lihat adakah polis akan memerangi rakyat yang tertindas menyebarkan statistik yang sememangnya telah disiarkan kepada orang ramai itu.

"Kalau menyebarkan statistik yang sememangnya telah disiarkan kepada orang ramai dianggap salah, apa sebab salah dan undang-undang mana yang menyatakan perkara itu salah?" katanya lagi.

Dalam kenyataannya, Ismail berkata, polis tidak akan berkompromi dengan mana-mana individu yang menganjurkan perarakan tanpa permit tersebut, walaupun mereka merupakan ahli politik.

"Aktiviti ini secara tidak langsung terdapat elemen yang melanggar undang-undang negara kita kerana terdapat perhimpunan, perjumpaan dan perarakan tanpa permit," katanya.

Beliau mengingatkan orang ramai supaya tidak terlibat dalam perarakan itu "atau tindakan undang-undang sedia ada akan digunakan"

M'sia's anti-graft body faces daunting task

2008-12-17T04:25:00.001+08:00

Money politics is too deeply ingrained, says anti-corruption campaigner

Business Times Singapore (17/12/08): Malaysia is setting up a new anti-corruption body to fight worsening graft, but it faces a daunting task in challenging a deeply embedded culture of 'money politics', a leading anti-graft campaigner said.

The government introduced a long-delayed anti- corruption Bill to Parliament last week, which aims to set up an independent anti-corruption body.

The long-awaited Bill may not be perfect, but is a significant step forward, and could be improved upon in the future, said Ramon Navaratnam, president of Transparency International (TI) Malaysia.

'If they go hard against money politics, which to me is the mother of all corruption, you kill the whole damn corruption,' the straight-talking retired finance ministry official told Reuters in an interview.

Malaysia's system of political patronage, in which well-connected tycoons are favoured for state contracts, has long been viewed as a breeding ground for corruption.

Malaysia ranked 47th out of 180 nations on TI's 2008 Corruption Perception Index, slipping from 43 in 2007.

Neighbouring Singapore was fourth on the list.

One problem Mr Navaratnam sees with the anti- corruption Bill is the stiff 10-year jail-term and RM100,000 (S$41,600) fine for false reporting of corruption cases. That might provide enough comfort for politicians to pass the Bill, but he says that those stiff penalties would deter whistle- blowers.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, trying to leave a legacy of reform before retiring in March, wants to turn the existing Anti-Corruption Agency from a politicised body under his department into an independent one, modelled along a much-admired commission in Hong Kong.

This has many of Mr Abdullah's colleagues in the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) worried, especially following allegations of rampant vote-buying aired in the press in the run-up to pivotal party elections next March.

Mr Abdullah's predecessor and now his fiercest critic, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, recently lamented that Umno, in power since independence in 1957, risked losing the next general elections if it failed to eradicate money politics.

Mr Abdullah's Umno- led ruling coalition suffered a huge setback in general elections in March, losing its crucial two-thirds majority in Parliament and five of 13 state governments.

Weeding out corruption is more onerous than in neighbouring countries, because rewarding supporters is so embedded in the political system, Mr Navaratnam said.

For decades, the government has handed out contracts to Malay businessmen in order to redistribute wealth, under an affirmative action policy aimed at helping the economically backward ethnic Malays who form 60 per cent of the country's 27 million people.

The policy has more often than not led to abuse, and the consensus among analysts, diplomats and businessmen is that 'crony capitalism' is so engrained that it will take a herculean effort to dismantle.

US investment bank Morgan Stanley once estimated that the country may have lost close to US$100 billion to corruption since the early 1980s.

Corruption erodes profits, creates a culture that allows employees to rationalise stealing from their companies, and can lead to manipulation of financial statements, Mr Navaratnam said. - Reuters

Ucapan Mahfuz bahas SPRM

2008-12-16T22:37:00.002+08:00

Dewan Rakyat (15/12/08): Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Saya ingin turut membahaskan Rang Undang-undang Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah 2008. Memang dari segi prinsipnya kita bersetuju atas sebarang usaha untuk melaksanakan Program Pelaksanaan Pencegahan Rasuah ini melalui pembentukan suruhanjaya ini. Akan tetapi harus kita ingat bahawa negara kita sudah banyak suruhanjaya-suruhanjaya yang ditubuhkan melalui Parlimen, yang ditubuhkan melalui bidang kuasa Perlembagaan dalam negara kita. Yang mana kadang-kadang kita lihat bahawa fungsi suruhanjaya-suruhanjaya itu tidak menepati atau dapat memenuhi kehendak yang sepatutnya.

Saya tunjuk contoh Tuan Yang di-Pertua, di bawah Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia atau SUHAKAM yang kita lihat bahawa kita wujudkan suruhanjaya itu untuk memastikan supaya hak asasi manusia di negara kita ini akan lebih baik dari semasa ke semasa. Namun beberapa pendapat dan pandangan serta cadangan yang dikemukakan oleh SUHAKAM tidak pun diimplementkan ataupun dilaksanakan, dipenuhi tuntutan tersebut oleh pihak kerajaan.

Umpamanya saya masih ingat bahawa SUHAKAM pernah mencadangkan supaya dimansuhkan seksyen 27 dalam Akta Polis umpamanya, begitu juga pandangan SUHAKAM tentang soal ISA. Saya tidak nampak tentang komitmen kerajaan dan kita melihat bahawa kita menubuhkan suruhanjaya dan akhirnya kita membawa satu perbelanjaan kewangan yang besar yang membebankan pembayar cukai dalam negara kita.

Begitu juga dengan SPR, Suruhanjaya Pilihan raya yang diwujudkan melalui Perlembagaan dan juga ada satu akta di Dewan ini. Apabila kita membahaskan dan membincangkan persoalan kebebasan SPR sendiri, SPR berkali-kali - Pengerusi SPR sebelum ini yang akan bersara pada penghujung bulan ini menyatakan bahawa mereka tidak ada masalah tetapi yang ada masalah ialah pihak eksekutif, iaitu pihak kerajaan sendiri. Yang mana tidak mempunyai political will ataupun komitmennya tinggi untuk membuat pindaan-pindaan bagi memastikan supaya satu kebebasan yang lebih jujur dan lebih telus di dalam perkara tersebut.

Ini menunjukkan bahawa penguasaan eksekutif itu terlalu tebal dalam suruhanjayasuruhanjaya seperti itu. Begitu juga dalam isu rasuah ini Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Kita melihat bahawa pandangan ataupun persepsi masyarakat negara kita dan juga antarabangsa yang menyebabkan indeks rasuah itu agak memalukan kita ialah dilihat kerana penguasaan pihak eksekutif itu seperti yang disebut oleh rakan-rakan tadi terlalu besar.

Perkara yang keduanya ialah kerana peranan AG ataupun Peguam Negara tersebut yang dipersoalkan mempunyai kepentingan ataupun kuasa yang terlalu luas dan akhirnya mereka boleh berperanan untuk melindungi perasuah-perasuah dalam negara kita. Jadi sebab itu bila saya lihat dan saya baca rang undang-undang ini saya masih tak dapat melihat dua aspek ini iaitu penguasaan eksekutif dan juga peranan AG itu tadi.

Saya masih tidak dapat melihat aspek ini di berikan penekanan. Malah sebaliknya kalau kita lihat bahawa penguasaan eksekutif itu makin tebal. Seperti mana disebut oleh Yang Berhormat Ipoh Timur dikeluarkan daripada Jabatan Perdana Menteri tetapi kuasa kepada Perdana Menteri itu terlalu besar dalam penentuan pelantikan-pelantikan dan begitu dengan soal pendakwaan yang masih diberikan kuasa kepada Peguam Negara.

Jadi sebab itu saya ingin mencadangkan kepada pihak kerajaan apalah salahnya supaya kalau betul-betul ianya hendak dapat dilihat sebagai satu kebebasan kepada Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia atau SPRM ini betul-betul dia Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah.

Kalau tidak nanti orang akan mengelar dia sebagai ‘suruhanjaya pelindung rasuah’.

Ini tidak baik kepada masa depan pertumbuhan ekonomi dalam negara kita. Sebab itu saya ingin meminta apa salahnya kerajaan sendiri kalau bolehnya mengemukakan, Yang Berhormat Perdana Menteri sendiri ada di sini iaitu untuk mewujudkan satu mekanisme yang lebih jelas tentang pembentukan dan pelantikan anggota-anggota lembaga suruhanjaya; ini sekali gus pelantikan yang berkaitan dengan Ketua Pesuruhjaya itu sendiri.

Sebab itu saya melihat bahawa ada dua komuniti di sini yang saya tidak nampak dia punya fungsi dia sangat jelas iaitu Special Committee on Corruption iaitu Jawatankuasa Khas Rasuah dan Jawatankuasa Aduan. Saya tidak nampak apa keperluan untuk wujud di sini kerana peranan dia hanya sebagai penasihat kepada Perdana Menteri dan untuk meneliti laporan suruhanjaya.

Kemudian meneliti aduan-aduan kalau ada berlaku berkaitan dengan aduan terhadap suruhanjaya ini sendiri, lembaga ini sendiri. Jadi saya lihat bahawa apa salahnya kalau dua-dua itu dicantumkan dan diwujudkan satu fasa baru yang boleh dikatakan sepertimana yang disebut oleh Yang Berhormat Ipoh Timur tadi iaitu Jawatankuasa Khas Peringkat Parlimen. Jawatankuasa inilah yang sepatutnya diberikan satu kuasa untuk menentukan siapa yang sepatutnya dilantik untuk menduduki jawatankuasa penasihat kepada suruhanjaya ini. Ini sangat-sangat penting supaya jawatankuasa ini adalah Jawatankuasa Parlimen. Saya boleh terima tidak semestinya Ketua Pembangkang ataupun daripada pihak pembangkang, saya boleh terima secara rasionalnya.

Akan tetapi lebih baiknya daripada pihak pembangkang, kerana itu akan memberikan satu persepsi yang lebih baik kepada negara kita. Akan tetapi saya boleh terima asalkan dia dapat memenuhi dari segi peruntukan kuota berapa peratus penguasaan Parlimen daripada kerajaan dan juga daripada pembangkang. Kalau 60% penguasaan Ahli Parlimen daripada pihak kerajaan maka daripada pihak Barisan Nasional yang bukan daripada anggota kerajaan. Maka peratusnya merekalah yang lebih dan berapa peratus daripada pihak pembangkang. Namun yang pentingnya jawatankuasa, komuniti ini ialah komuniti yang betul-betul diberikan power yang jelas bagi membuat pelantikan cadangan. Buat satu screen test terhadap mana-mana lembaga penasihat kepada suruhanjaya yang hendak dilantik ini. Mereka yang ini di screen terlebih dahulu. Di boleh memanggil mereka itu membuat satu penelitian dan sebagainya. Kemudian saya boleh terima, mengangkat nama ini kepada Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri untuk diangkat supaya dilantik oleh Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Bukan diangkat kepada Perdana Menteri untuk pertimbangan Perdana Menteri tapi dicadangkan kepada Perdana Menteri untuk diangkat kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Ini bagi saya bahawa akan dapat memperlihatkan satu ketelusan dari segi komitmen menunjukkan kesungguhan untuk kita benar-benar melaksanakan tugas ataupun hasrat kita untuk membuat pencegahan rasuah. Akan tetapi kalau kita melihat ini menunjukkan bahawa semuanya ialah dengan kuasa Perdana Menteri. Semuanya dengan kuasa Perdana Menteri, Lembaga Penasihat, Jawatankuasa Aduan, Jawatankuasa Khas dan sebagainya. Semuanya adalah dengan kuasa yang diberikan kepada Perdana Menteri. Sudah tentu bahawa selagi peruntukan yang sepertimana yang terkandung ini dia tidak akan menghakis persepsi ini yang selama ini bahawa BPR - Badan Pencegah Rasuah yang akan dikenali sebagai SPRM ini akan dikuasai oleh eksekutif, oleh pihak Kerajaan khususnya oleh pihak Perdana Menteri. Jadi sebab itu saya mencadangkan ini supaya dipertimbangkan oleh pihak kerajaan.

Kemudiannya juga kita lihat bahawa dalam pelantikan Ketua Pesuruhjaya umpamanya, pelantikan Ketua Pesuruhjaya ialah dengan cadangan daripada nasihat Perdana Menteri kepada Yang di- Pertuan Agong. Namun, kita tidak ada satu mekanisme yang jelas bagaimana kalau Ketua Pesuruhjaya itu melakukan beberapa perkara yang boleh diambil tindakan ataupun dibuat pemecatan dan sebagainya. Jadi sebab itu bagi saya bahawa sepatutnya jawatankuasa yang saya cadangkan tadi, Jawatankuasa Parlimen itulah yang seharusnya diberikan kuasa untuk mempertimbangkan juga pelantikan Ketua Pesuruhjaya. Ini sekali gus jawatankuasa itulah juga yang boleh mempertimbangkan kalau berlaku kecacatan-kecacatan kepada Ketua Pesuruhjaya dan Lembaga Penasihat kepada suruhanjaya ini, Jawatankuasa Peringkat Parlimen inilah yang boleh mengambil tindakan, membuat penukaran ataupun pemecatan dan sebagainya.

Kemudian Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya juga ingin melihat bahawa tentang bagaimana perkara yang berkaitan dengan soal - sebab saya katakan tadi bahawa Jawatankuasa Aduan tidak ada keperluan. Oleh sebab saya difahamkan bahawa pada bulan dua ini, sidang akan datang ini akan dibentangkan satu rang undang-undang yang baru untuk membentuk satu Jawatankuasa Aduan terhadap agensi-agensi kerajaan. Sepatutnya sudah cukup untuk kita memberikan kuasa kepada jawatankuasa itu tadi untuk meneliti tentang fungsi perjalanan aduan-aduan terhadap lembaga-lembaga suruhanjaya ini tanpa perlu kepada satu jawatankuasa aduan yang lain. Ini kerana akan mewujudkan banyak kerenah birokrasi yang bukannya untuk mempercepatkan ataupun mempertingkatkan usaha pencegahan rasuah. Namun, melambatkan lagi dan mewujudkan kerenah-kerenah birokrasi yang boleh menyebabkan kelambatan ataupun menggagalkan usaha-usaha untuk pencegahan rasuah.

Kemudian Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya juga ingin menimbulkan beberapa persoalan di sini berkaitan dengan beberapa seksyen yang saya kira bahawa perlu kepada satu penjelasan yang lebih jelas kepada kami di Dewan ini. Iaitu seksyen yang berkaitan dengan 43, sebab saya cukup bimbang bila diberikan satu keluasan yang sebegitu tanpa ada check and balance yang menyebabkan bahawa orang yang hanya disyaki. Saya melihat juga dari segi bukan sekadar kita hendak mencegah rasuah hendak mengambil tindakan, tapi hak orang yang disyaki juga harus diambil kira. Itulah hak-hak mereka iaitu apabila kuasa memintas perhubungan, boleh detect telefon dan sebagainya. Bagi saya bahawa sepatutnya SPRM ini harus mengambil, mendapat order daripada mahkamah terlebih dahulu walaupun tanpa pengetahuan orang yang disyaki. Sebab mereka harus menunjukkan apa evidence yang menunjukkan kepada mahkamah bahawa mereka perlu untuk membuat pemintasan perhubungan ini. Iaitu hendak detect telefon kepada orang yang disyaki sehingga mahkamah berpuasa hati, hakim berpuas hati memang ada keperluan bahawa mahkamah boleh beri hak itu kepada pihak SRPM.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Dua minit lagi Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Ya?

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Dua minit lagi.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Dua minit lagi? Kalau tidak nanti bermakna bahawa ini sudah tentu tidak begitu baik untuk seseorang kerana mereka hanya disyaki belum lagi dituduh dan belum didapati bersalah dan sebagainya. Sebab itu bagi saya bahawa kita takut nanti privasi seseorang itu akan terganggu kerana akan berlaku detect melalui pintasan telefon dan sebagainya.

Begitu juga dengan seksyen 47 berkaitan dengan soal iaitu obligasi di sisi undang-undang untuk memberikan maklumat. Saya kira bahawa ini suatu penjelasan yang harus diberikan kepada kami di sini bahawa seolah-olahnya seksyen 47 yang harus juga dibaca bersekali dengan beberapa seksyen yang lain bahawa seolah-olahnya macam orang yang disyaki itu tidak ada hak untuk mengatakan tidak boleh memberikan keterangan sedangkan dalam kes-kes jenayah yang lain pengalaman saya bahawa kita boleh mengatakan kepada pihak penyiasat bahawa saya akan menjawab di mahkamah. Akan tetapi dalam akta ini dia memberikan satu kuasa yang begitu penuh, pasti mesti berikan keterangan kepada pihak yang menyiasat. Jadi bagi saya bahawa ini hak seseorang itu mungkin boleh berlaku penyalahgunaan kuasa bagi saya dan berlaku pemaksaan ke atas mereka untuk memberikan keterangan-keterangan yang kemungkinan orang itu tidak terlibat tetapi oleh sebab ketakutan berada dalam siasatan pihak SPRM ini, kemungkinan ini akan menjebakkan orang-orang tersebut. Saya menyebut ini bahawa saya bimbang bahawa ada kemungkinan akta ini juga boleh berlaku penyalahgunaan kuasa itu sendiri. Jadi ini yang saya kira bahawa harus dilihat oleh pihak kerajaan sendiri.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Minta penjelasan sedikit yang pasal tadi.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Saya hendak habis sebab Tuan Yang di-Pertua tidak beri penambahan masa kepada saya.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Akta itu tidak berubah, yang disebut tadi itu.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Saya katakan bahawa apa salahnya kalau untuk kita ubah. Apa salahnya untuk kita ubah? Sebab itu saya katakan bahawa soalnya bukan tidak berubah ataupun tidak tetapi pentingnya kepada kita memberikan hak kepada orang yang disyaki itu sendiri supaya dia tidak terdedah kepada penyalahgunaan kuasa yang akhirnya dia memberikan keterangan yang tidak sepatutnya dia berikan keterangan kepada pihak yang menyiasat.

Saya pun hendak jaga juga Yang Berhormat tetapi Yang Berhormat yang kena bab pemilihan UMNO ini.

Kemudian beberapa klausa yang lain yang saya fikir bahawa begitu juga dengan 53(4), 53(6), 53(7) yang tidak perlu saya sebut bahawa perlu dibuat satu kajian bahawa kadang-kadang kita mengambil kuasa mahkamah, kita mengambil satu kuasa mahkamah yang sepatutnya mahkamah yang menentukan beberapa tindakan dan keputusan-keputusan tetapi undang-undang ini telah mengambil suatu bentuk kuasa mahkamah.

Akhirnya bagi saya bahawa yang berkaitan dengan soal defence statement ini, maknanya penyataan pembelaan ini. Bagi saya bahawa adalah tidak wajar untuk peringkat ini orang yang dituduh itu mengemukakan kepada pendakwa tentang apa bentuk pembelaan diri dia, tidak sepatutnya bagi saya bahawa. Sepatutnya pembelaan ini ialah pembelaan yang seharusnya berada, berlaku di hadapan hakim. Akan tetapi apabila pembelaan itu dibuat terlebih dahulu dan diberikan secara bertulis, secara dokumen kepada pihak pendakwa dan saya kira bahawa ini sesuatu yang tidak adil yang mungkin akan menyebabkan berlaku penyalahgunaan kuasa. Jadi sebab itu bagi saya bahawa perkara-perkara ini harus dilihat dan saya melihat bahawa minta penjelasan daripada Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri dan juga Yang Berhormat Menteri ialah berapa kes aduan yang membabitkan pemilihan UMNO ini.

Sebab saya pun tidak dengar lagi siasatan itu dibuat dan apa tindakan. Di tangan saya ini ada satu kes aduan BPR berkaitan pemilihan UMNO di Wangsa Maju iaitu yang membabitkan Setiausaha kepada Menteri Pertahanan, ada aduan BPR kepada saya. Saya rasa bahawa ini baru aduan dan ada salinan wang yang dibuat satu salinan di tangan saya nombor-nombor wang yang diberikan dalam satu envelop yang bernilai RM1,000. Jadi kita hendak tahu bahawa berapa jumlah harga keseluruhannya dalam kes pemilihan ini sebab saya ada juga mendapat maklumat tentang dikatakan bahawa ada seorang daripada mereka yang terlibat dalam pemilihan ini ada kes sampai 860 aduan terhadap diri dia seorang.

Ini maklumat yang diberitahu oleh kawan-kawan daripada UMNO sendiri bukan daripada Padang Rengas. Padang Rengas dia tidak boleh bocor maklumat daripada BPR maknanya daripada UMNO. Ada di kalangan mereka yang terlibat dalam pemilihan ini, ada aduan BPR terhadap dia 860 kes aduan.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Gulung Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Jadi bagi saya bahawa takkan daripada 860 kes itu tidak boleh lepas satu kes. Sebab itu saya hendak tahu bahawa apakah bentuk siasatan yang telah pun dibuat dan apakah tindakan-tindakan yang telah dibuat? Kalau tidak nanti bahawa ini kita tidak buat bermakna bahawa SPRM yang kita bentang ini takkan pergi ke mana dan akhirnya dia hanya menjadi satu lipstik.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: [Menyampuk]

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Ini yang baru ini, yang baru termasuk dari Kota Belud.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat. Gulung Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Jadi sebab itu saya minta kepada pihak kerajaan bahawa harus menunjukkan komitmen, Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri harus tunjukkan komitmen supaya dapat mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap kes pemilihan Agung UMNO ini. Ini sangat penting bahawa kita tidak mahu nanti seperti mana yang disebut oleh Menteri Besar Pahang, dia kata saya jijik untuk bercakap soal pemilihan UMNO, dia pun jijik. Ini ada kepada saya kenyataan. Saya pun tidak tahulah saya tidak hendak tuduhlah kawan-kawan semua.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Pokok Sena.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Akan tetapi saya katakan bahawa ini sangatsangat penting kalau tidak nanti bahawa tidak ada tindakan yang serius terhadap ini sebab saya dikatakan bahawa kes 860 aduan terhadap seseorang itu dikatakan bahawa BPR bersedia untuk memulakan kes bertindak.

Dato' Dr. Haji Jamaludin bin Dato' Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Sudah habis?

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Akan tetapi ada orang tertentu daripada pihak kerajaan kata boleh tetapi dengan syarat ada saksi yang ketiga. Kalau ada saksi yang ketiga boleh on, boleh ambil tindakan tetapi saya tidak tahulah bahawa apakah boleh dalam kes rasuah ini wujud perlu sampai kita hendak dapat kepada saksi yang ketiga?

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Pokok Sena, gulung Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Jadi sebab itu saya minta sungguh-sungguh sebab ini isu penting Tuan Yang di-Pertua bahawa kalau tidak nanti orang akan gelak dan ketawa, SPRM ini akan menjadi bahan ketawa...

Dato' Dr. Haji Jamaludin bin Dato' Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Gulunglah, gulung, gulung, gulung.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: ...Masyarakat antarabangsa mengatakan bahawa dalam UMNO sendiri pun tidak terlibat. Sebab itu saya pergi Padang Rengas dia tidak bertanding. Jadi bagi pun hendak, terima pun hendak.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Dia tidak bertanding itu saya pujilah dia tetapi saya tidak tahulah kot dia jadi broker siapa-siapa Wallahualamlah. Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua.

Selagi akar umbi rasuah tidak ditangani ...

2008-12-16T09:28:00.001+08:00

Harakah (15/12/08): Sudah berabad-abad lamanya gejala rasuah cuba dibanteras oleh umat manusia dengan berbagai-bagai cara dan undang-undang serta peraturan yang dikemukakan. Islam meletakkan soal rasuah adalah suatu jenayah yang amat jijik dan kotor.

Bagaimanapun undang-undang Islam untuk membanteras rasuah tidak terperinci seperti dalam bentuk abjad a, b, c, d. Ancaman yang paling nyata dari Tuhan iaitu penerima dan pemberi rasuah tempatnya adalah di dalam neraka.

Datang dari ketua negara

Membanteras rasuah dan cara membasminya mesti datang dari ketua negara. Contoh teladan yang terpancar dari ketua negara terutama dalam konteks semangat menentang rasuah akan turun ke bawah.

Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. adalah contoh terbaik, sebagai ketua negara yang mempunyai kuasa mutlak, memerintah selama lebih kurang sepuluh tahun, tetapi apabila meninggal dunia hanya meninggalkan tujuh dirham dalam simpanan.

Akhlak baginda Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. dalam mengamalkan cara hidup sederhana, melawan nepotisma, dan juga membanteras rasuah cuba diikuti oleh sahabat muttaqeen.

Selepas Perang Dunia Kedua, kemunculan negara-negara Eropah Barat dalam kejayaan revolosi industri meletakkan negara-negara berkenaan tergolong sebagai negara maju. Jika usaha pembanterasan rasuah diukur dari sudut fizikal kebendaan semata-mata, maka negara-negara Eropah Barat ini dianggap berjaya.

Ketirisan kewangan dalam menguruskan pembangunan negara dapat diminimakan. Wang negara dapat dibelanjakan mengikut nilai projek yang diumumkan oleh kementerian kewangan. Oleh itu kemajuan negara dapat diselaraskan dengen pendapatan negara.

Tidak cukup setakat azam

Di Malaysia usaha membanteras rasuah masih jauh dari tahap kejayaan. Dr Mahathir Mohamad di awal pemerintahannya dilihat amat berazam untuk membasmi rasuah hingga ke akar umbi. Namun apa yang berlaku, di penghujung era pemerintahan Dr Mahathir indeks rasuah berada pada tahap yabg memalukan mengikut kajian badan antarabangsa.

Saya yakin indeks rasuah di bawah kerajaan pimpinan Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, atau siapa sahaja yang menerajui Malaysia, tidak akan mengalami perubahan. Walaupun undang-undang dipertingkat untuk mengawal rasuah dan suruhanjaya rasuah dibentuk untuk membanteras jenayah ini, ia tidak akan berjaya selagi perkara asas penyebab kepada rasuah tidak dibasmi.

Amalan oleh kerajaan BN atau mana-mana kerajaan yang berkuasa, selagi asas nepotisma dan pilih kasih tidak dihapuskan, selagi itulah indeks rasuah tidak dapat dikurangkan. Suruhanjaya atau agensi penguatkuasa undang-undang mencegah rasuah hanya menjadi kosmetik semata-mata.

Kenapa ribuan juta ringgit terpaksa disuntik untuk menyelamatkan Bank Bumiputra? Kenapa lebih RM40 juta wang PPRT lesap? Kenapa banyak projek kerajaan tergendala dan peruntukan tambahan terpaksa dikeluarkan untuk menyiapkan projek tergendala itu? Terlalu banyak contoh projek yang boleh dipaparkan di sini.

Selagi kerajaan mengamalkan konsep "you know who, bukan you know how", selagi itulah rasuah tidak dapat dibenteras. Misalnya, untuk mendapatkan projek kecil pun pemohonnya mesti ahli Umno; nak dapat bantuan Tekun pun mesti menjadi ahli Umno. Selepas mendapat projek besar, disyaratkan pula mesti "sedekah" ke dalam tabung Umno.

Nilai profesional seseorang tidak berguna langsung kepada kerajaan BN. Selagi amalan seperti di atas diamalkan oleh kerajaan BN selagi itulah suara riuh-rendah kerajaan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mahu membasmi amalan rasuah hanya ibarat "burung berkicau di waktu pagi, matahari terang hilanglah suaranya".

Kerajaan baru Pakatan Rakyat akan membuat ulangan kesilapan yang sama apabila berkuasa nanti di peringkat pusat, selagi akar umbi rasuah itu tidak ditangani.

Ketua negara mesti memulakan azam baru membasmi rasuah. Beliau mesti bersih dan dilihat bersih. Saya melihat tidak ada seorang pun pemimpin kerajaan BN yang mampu membuat pembaharuan membanteras rasuah, melainkan muncul seseorang yang belum muncul. (Mohamad Sabu)

Aduan rasuah palsu wajar dikena tindakan

2008-12-16T09:08:00.000+08:00

Laporan tak berasas jejaskan kerajaan jalankan siasatan, bazir wang rakyat

Berita Harian (16/12/08): Tindakan tegas perlu diambil terhadap mereka yang membuat laporan rasuah tidak berasas sehingga kerajaan menjalankan siasatan dan membazirkan wang rakyat.

Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) Muar, Datuk Razali Ibrahim, berkata hukuman perlu dikenakan supaya orang yang berkepentingan tidak mengambil kesempatan terhadap sikap keterbukaan kerajaan.

"Buat aduan tanpa rasa tanggungjawab boleh menimbulkan kos kepada kerajaan dan mereka ini perlu diberi hukuman tegas.

"Walaupun rasuah tidak boleh dibanteras 100 peratus, kita perlu sokong iltizam kerajaan ini dengan memberi maklumat tepat," katanya ketika membahaskan Rang Undang-undang Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia 2008, di Dewan Rakyat, di sini, semalam.

Sementara itu, beliau membidas laporan sebuah akhbar berbahasa Inggeris tempatan yang menurutnya menyiarkan laporan kurang tepat mengenai Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) 2008.

Katanya, laporan eksklusif dengan tokoh terkenal bidang undang-undang itu yang mendakwa fungsi suruhanjaya yang baru ditubuhkan itu tidak sama dengan Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR), boleh mengelirukan rakyat.

Razali kesal kenyataan itu dikeluarkan sebelum rang undang-undang suruhanjaya itu dibahaskan di Parlimen.

"Laporan itu keluar sebelum suruhanjaya ini dibahaskan. Perkara ini menimbulkan persepsi tidak tepat dan rasa kecewa serta kesal di kalangan Ahli Parlimen yang belum diberi peluang untuk membahaskannya.

"Benda yang tidak betul disebut dalam surat khabar oleh seorang tokoh yang sangat dihormati, bagaimana penerimaan rakyat?

"Oleh itu, saya harap kerajaan dapat berbuat sesuatu terhadap perkara ini," katanya.

Fighting graft: A call to arms

2008-12-15T07:13:00.002+08:00

NST (14/12/08): Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a man in a hurry. He denies that it is a legacy issue, but in the same breath talks about a promise he made to the people that he has to deliver before he exits political centre stage in March.

He therefore wants to expedite legislation that introduces much needed reforms to institutions and laws that strengthen the nation's capacity to fight corruption, restore independence to the judiciary, make the police and other enforcement agencies less susceptible to abuse, and protect whistleblowers.

Two bills, on the establishment of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAP), have already been tabled in Parliament. The finishing touches are reportedly being put on the other two.

In the meantime, the debate over the two bills is on not only in Parliament but in discussion groups, the mainstream media and the blogs as well. All the stakeholders, including the all-important "man in the street", non-governmental organisations, the diverse interest groups and political parties, are intensely involved. This is healthy because this is their country, the institutions are theirs and the laws are made with their ultimate acquiescence. This is their future.

In the discourse -- and I am referring in particular in this article to the anti-corruption bill -- various important questions and issues have been raised, including by Barisan Nasional members themselves.
One is that the Bill is being rushed, all because a leader is in haste to leave behind a legacy. That Pak Lah is in a hurry is obvious. He does not have too much time to deliver on a promise he and his party made to the people. That a leader would like to leave a legacy should also be welcomed, for who wants leaders who do not intend to leave behind good legacies?

But to think that the Bill was hastily cobbled together without due diligence and much consultation is to be ill-informed. The draft from the Anti-Corruption Agency originated before the March general election. Many stakeholders including respected ones like Transparency International and Pemudah were consulted. Seminars were held and a trip was made to Hong Kong to scrutinise its successful model at close quarters. The cabinet deliberated on the Bill several times before it was tabled in Parliament.

Another issue that has been raised is that the MACC is not sufficiently independent, and that ultimately it is the prime minister who advises the Yang di-Pertuan Agung on the appointment of the chief commissioner and members of bodies such as the Special Committee on Corruption consisting of parliamentarians. It has been suggested that Parliament and not the prime minister be the nominating authority.

This suggestion is not without its merits, but nomination by the Parliament, like nomination by the prime minister, is not foolproof. It is an arduous process, and in Indonesia the Parliament is reportedly considering curbing the enthusiasm of its Corruption Eradication Commission because it is targeting too many legislators.

If Hong Kong provides a proven model of an independent and effective anti-corruption agency, the chief commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) as well as the members of all committees are appointed by the chief executive and not by the Legislative Council. In other successful models like Singapore the nominating authority is also the prime minister.

Related to concerns about the issue of independence are reservations about the fact that prosecution for an offence under the Act can only be instituted by the public prosecutor or with his consent. It is suggested that the Constitution be amended to provide independent powers of prosecution to the chief commissioner of MACC.

It is understood that the government did not choose this path as it would require a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and it did not want to risk not securing sufficient votes. In any case, the public prosecutor has delegated his authority under the Anti-Corruption Act to the chief of the ACA since October last year and now retains only residual powers. Respecting the powers of the public prosecutor under the Constitution is also important, and it may not be wise to confuse issues with regard to the incumbent, should there be any, with the office itself.

Some quarters also have concerns that the Special Committee on Corruption will be filled by members of Parliament from Barisan Nasional only. This is a valid concern, and it is for the minister tabling the bill to give the solemn assurance in both Houses that opposition members of parliament will be included. The government's integrity in this regard will be quickly established once the members of the committee are announced.

The powerful external checks and balances imposed by not only the Special Committee but by four other bodies as well (Anti-Corruption Advisory Board, Complaints Committee, Operations Review Panel and Corruption Prevention and Consultation Council) that will exercise close scrutiny of the independence, integrity and performance of the MACC should not be overlooked. No other national body will be as closely monitored and examined as the MACC. No other national body will have as many independent persons of known character, personal integrity and public standing in the monitoring and advisory bodies.

Institutions and laws are critical. But in the final analysis, institutions and laws are only as good as the people that man them and implement them.

Much will therefore depend on the courage, integrity and skills of the officers of the new commission, and the resources given to it. It is hoped that the 5,000 additional staff and specialised training announced by the prime minister will be made quickly available if the Bill is passed.

The success of Malaysia's anti-corruption drive will also depend on ferocious and sustained political will, as well as support from all stakeholders. It is assuring that in this transitional period the deputy prime minister, who will assume the leadership, has pledged his full support for and commitment to the initiative. Indeed, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is an integral part of the initiative.

When the ICAC was set up in Hong Kong in 1974, there was little confidence in it. It took two to three years, according to Deputy Commissioner Daniel Lee, for the public to begin to have faith in it. Malaysia is not where Hong Kong was in 1974. It has a better record. But the public's confidence in the MACC will only be forthcoming when it sees better results and significant successes as in Hong Kong.

The Bill as it is constituted gives much hope. The MACC will have greater independence, wider powers and enhanced resources. It is compelled by the various oversight and advisory bodies to perform and to be transparent and accountable. Elected representatives and leaders of civil society play an active and vital part in ensuring compliance and delivery.

For those who want to see a better Malaysia these are exciting and encouraging times.

Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan is chairman and CEO of ISIS Malaysia. The views here are his own

Petikan perbahasan AUKU di Dewan Rakyat

2008-12-13T13:47:00.002+08:00

Dewan Rakyat (11/12/08): Puan Fong Po Kuan [Batu Gajah]: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri. Persoalannya mengapa mengecualikan parti politik kepada pelajar-pelajar ini? Kalau boleh memberi ruangan kepada pelajar menyertai persatuan dan pertubuhan. Parti politik bukannya satu parti yang tidak berdaftar. Sekarang parti politik berdaftar mengapa mengecualikan mereka?

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua, terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri. Saya ucapkan terima kasih atas jaminan yang diberikan oleh Yang Berhormat Menteri tadi bahawa masuklah apa persatuan sekali pun tetapi isunya ialah ada klausa yang mengatakan bahawa kuasa menteri untuk menentukan mana persatuan yang boleh dan tidak boleh kononnya menjaga kepentingan dan kesentosaan pelajar-pelajar universiti. Tapi jaminan Yang Berhormat Menteri kata boleh. Soalnya jaminan itu tidak ada bertulis. Bagaimana kalau selepas ini orang lain yang jadi Menteri Pendidikan Tinggi. Adakah Yang Berhormat tidak boleh berikan jaminan bagi pihak menteri yang baru. Sudah tentu kalau menteri yang baru datang “Oh, sekarang saya hendak klasifikasikan persatuan-persatuan ini tidak boleh demi kerana untuk menjaga kesentosaan pelajar”. Jadi saya minta penjelasan bagaimana keadaan selepas daripada kalau Yang Berhormat tidak lagi menjadi Menteri Pendidikan Tinggi. Mungkin bila menang naib presiden nanti mungkin jadi menteri yang lebih senior. Terima kasih.

Tuan Haji Khalid bin Abd Samad [Shah Alam]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua dan Yang Berhormat Menteri. Tadi ada disebut bahawa falsafah pendidikan yang ingin diperjuangkan ataupun yang merupakan dasar kepada pindaan-pindaan yang dilakukan di mana mengikut falsafah pendidikan itu ialah ingin mewujudkan seorang manusia yang sempurna. Saya tidak dapat memahami bagaimana dengan menyediakan sekatan-sekatan yang seperti itu di mana penglibatan seorang pelajar di dalam pertubuhan politik ataupun di dalam isu-isu politik boleh membantu ke arah pencapaian matlamat falsafah itu.

Saya rasa bagi Yang Berhormat Menteri sendiri terlibat dalam politik dan sebagai ahli politik saya rasa kita memahami bahawa bidang politik ini merupakan satu bidang yang cukup penting kerana ianya berhubung dengan soal kepimpinan negara. Ianya berhubung dengan dasar-dasar yang akan mencorakkan masyarakat negara dan generasi yang akan datang.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat ringkaskan Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Haji Khalid bin Abd Samad [Shah Alam]: Lalu sekiranya kita menjadikan penglibatan seorang pelajar di universiti yang merupakan institusi yang tertinggi pendidikan yang tertinggi di negara kita, kita sekat dan kita tidak galakan. Lalu bagaimana kita boleh menjamin bahawa manusia yang kita keluarkan daripada universiti ini akan menjadi seorang yang sempurna sedangkan kesempurnaan itu menuntut supaya dia mengambil kira, mempunyai pendapat, pandangan, sikap, pendirian terhadap isu-isu yang mencorakkan masyarakat dan negara dia.

Lalu janganlah kita mempunyai satu falsafah yang cantik dari segi melihat manusia yang sempurna tetapi dasar-dasar yang kita tentukan dan undang-undang yang kita tentukan sebenarnya mendorong pelajar-pelajar ke satu arah yang terlalu...

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Terima Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya hendak balik soal penyertaan dalam persatuan-persatuan tadi ini. Apa masalah kepada kerajaan khususnya kepada Yang Berhormat Menteri untuk kita meletakkan paling mudah bagi saya dalam pindaan ini, itu meletakkan bahawa pelajar-pelajar boleh menyertai apa-apa sahaja persatuan yang berdaftar dengan mana-mana undang-undang kerajaan, tidak perlu lagi beri kuasa kepada Menteri untuk klasifikasi apa persatuan yang boleh, tidak boleh sedangkan kalau persatuan itu sudah diterima untuk didaftarkan di bawah mana-mana undang-undang yang dibuat oleh kerajaan sendiri. Adakah Yang Berhormat tidak percaya dengan kementerian-kementerian lain yang meluluskan pendaftaran persatuan-persatuan ini? Menteri-menteri yang lulus ini mereka tidak boleh dipercayai, adakah begitu?

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin: Ada persatuan daripada luar negara Yang Berhormat. Dalam zaman Internet ini kita tidak perlu berada di mana-mana.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Maksud saya ialah persatuan yang ada dalam negeri.

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin: Itu sudah tentulah saya tidak akan namakan, kalau ia sah tentu saya tidak akan namakan sebab ia tidak boleh. Takkanlah Yang Berhormat tidak boleh fikir.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Dalam undang-undang ini diberi kuasa kepada Menteri kah? Dia beri kuasa kepada Menteri untuk kata tidak boleh.

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin: Kuasa betul, kuasa. Maknanya.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat.

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin: Maknanya dalam menjalankan kuasa itu sudah tentu saya tidak akan atau mana-mana menteri akan datang tidak akan namakan mana-mana pertubuhan.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Yang Berhormat hanya bagi jaminan mulut tidak ada jaminan bertulis.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat kena dengar dulu penjelasan daripada Menteri Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Jaminan mulut Yang Berhormat bukan undang-undang. Kita memerihalkan di sini ialah jaminan undang-undang yang bertulis. Yang Berhormat beri undang-undang mulut. Undang-undang yang tidak boleh dipegang.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat Pokok Sena, saya minta Yang Berhormat Menteri diberi peluang untuk menjelaskan perkara ini, ya.

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin: Sudah tentulah kita tidak akan lari daripada apa yang terdapat Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Pua Kiam Wee [Petaling Jaya Utara]: Saya ingin menyentuh tentang apa yang dikatakan oleh Yang Berhormat Menteri tadi mengenai soal politik sebenarnya boleh masuk dalam universiti untuk memberikan satu presentation mengenai satu perkara akademik. Sebenarnya awal tahun ini saya dijemput oleh satu persatuan Law students daripada UPM untuk memberikan satu presentation mengenai satu subjek yang saya boleh kata ada sedikit specialty iaitu mengenai income distribution di negara kita. Tetapi, jemputan itu sudah diberikan dan dia punya planning sudah dibuat tetapi tiga hari sebelum saya diperlukan untuk memberikan presentation saya, saya menerima panggilan daripada penuntut-penuntut di UPM. Dia kata minta maaf walaupun jemputan telah dibuat lebih kurang empat bulan yang lalu, tetapi pihak universiti tidak bagi Yang Berhormat masuk dalam universiti untuk berucap.

Perkara-perkara ini sering berlaku saya tahu Menteri memang berhati baik. Menteri kalau saya terus datang kepada Menteri, Menteri akan kata tidak ada masalah tetapi pada hakikatnya di kalangan universiti-universiti dan pegawai-pegawai yang menguruskan perkara-perkara ini akan terjadi perkara-perkara tersebut kerana di dalam undang-undang kita tidak clear, tidak jelas. Terima kasih.

Tuan Mohd. Nasir bin Zakaria [Padang Terap]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua, terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri. Yang Berhormat Menteri menyebut tadi hanya Al-Qaeda sahaja mungkin pelajar-pelajar terlibat tetapi dalam seksyen 15 yang baru sahaja dipinda ini, jelas menyebut di sini dengan izin, saya hendak baca sedikit.

“...Seorang pelajar universiti boleh menjadi ahli mana-mana persatuan, pertubuhan, badan atau kumpulan orang sehingga habisnya selain:
(a) Mana-mana parti politik sama ada dalam atau di luar Malaysia.”

Dan yang lebih mencengkam sebenarnya ialah subseksyen 5 yang menyebut di sini. Seolah-olah memang diharamkan untuk menyatakan atau melakukan "apa-apa jua yang boleh semunasabahnya ditafsirkan sebagai menyatakan sokongan kepada simpati atau dengan bangkangan terhadap:
(a) Mana-mana parti politik...”

Jadi seolah-olah ada kontradiksi terhadap apa yang disebut oleh Yang Berhormat Menteri. Minta penjelasan.

Tuan Mohd. Nasir bin Zakaria [Padang Terap]: Saya hendak minta maaf. Terima kasih kepada Tuan Yang di-Pertua, terima kasih kepada Yang Berhormat Menteri. Yang Berhormat Menteri menyebut tentang sekiranya mereka meminta kebenaran daripada naib canselor untuk terlibat dalam politik dan terus memegang jawatan politik. Sebelum daripada akta ini dipinda, seperti mana yang disebut oleh Yang Berhormat Kuala Krai, Naib Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Pusat, Ustaz Idris Ahmad, dia ada diambil tindakan oleh UKM. Ini belum dipinda. Manakala, calon kepada UMNO di Pangkalan Pasir, Hanafi Mohd dia tidak diambil tindakan walaupun pada ketika itu dia sedang menyiapkan PhD beliau di UTM. Ini sikap double standard sebelum daripada pihak kementerian memperincikan tarif pelajar. Bagaimana selepas daripada diperincikan? Ini kebimbangan kita. Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri.

Tuan Pua Kiam Wee [Petaling Jaya Utara]: Yang Berhormat Menteri, soalannya pendek sahaja. Akan tetapi perlembagaan kita tidak memberikan satu had bagi freedom expression dan juga freedom assembly. Freedom association benar ada had, ada qualification nya tetapi pada freedom expression dan freedom assembly langsung tidak ada had dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan kita.

Akan tetapi yang dalam AUKU ini memang akan mengehadkan freedom expression dan juga freedom assembly pelajar dan akademik Malaysia.

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua dan Yang Berhormat Menteri. Tadi yang disebut oleh isu tentang hak mutlak, kita tidak pernah menyokong hak mutlak kepada siapa-siapa pun. Akan tetapi, yang telah dibaca tadi adalah International Covenant In Human Rights yang menyatakan hak kebebasan ini harus disekat supaya tidak mengancam keselamatan sesiapa pun.

Akan tetapi dalam undang-undang pindaan ini, adakah membenarkan pelajar kita untuk menyertai pertubuhan dan parti-parti politik mengancam keselamatan individu yang lain atau negara. Ini saya anggap selain daripada kalau pelajar itu atau seorang mahasiswa atau mahasiswi menyertai satu pertubuhan haram atau pertubuhan terrorist. Kalau pertubuhan yang didaftarkan dan parti-parti politik yang didaftar di bawah undang-undang, bagaimana kita boleh tafsirkan penyertaan mereka ini mengancam keselamatan negara atau keselamatan orang lain.

Sekarang ini, kita akan mendidik pasukan intelek dan pemimpin negara masa depan. Kalau mereka tidak dibenarkan atau kebebasan menyertai dalam parti-parti politik atau pertubuhan ini disekat, bagaimana mereka dapat experience untuk teruskan tanggungjawab mereka sebagai golongan intelek bagi masyarakat. Terima kasih.

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Okey, tetapi kita belum lagi selesai masalah double standard ini. Seperti yang disebut oleh sebelah sana juga, kalau kelab UMNO dibenarkan. Kita membenarkan pelajar kita menyertai kelab UMNO, kenapa mereka tidak boleh dibenarkan untuk menyertai kelab lain? Satu lagi, kalau kita membenarkan anak-anak kita menyertai parti-parti politik apabila mereka di luar negeri tetapi di dalam negeri kita tidak membenarkan mereka menyertai parti politik.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat, isu ini telah pun dibawa oleh ramai Ahli Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Ini tidak dijawab dalam isu sekatan ini. Sekatan ini harus diambil hanya menyekat kalau seseorang itu, tindakan ini boleh mengancam keselamatan atau kebebasan orang lain. Akan tetapi sekatan ini tidak boleh digunakan hanya secara arbitrary dengan izin. Terima kasih.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Baik, terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua, terima kasih Yang Berhormat. Baguslah itu jaminan maknanya kita boleh tubuh tetapi saya hendak sebut bahawa ini masalah yang dihadapi oleh pelajar. Jangan kata hendak tubuh, saya pergi makan nasi rumah seorang pensyarah universiti buat PhD di sana, pensyarah itu dipanggil balik oleh universiti untuk beri jawapan kenapa Mahfuz Omar pergi rumah kamu.

Saya pergi makan nasi, pergi ziarah dia. Tak akan pergi makan nasi, macam mana kalau saya menikah seorang lagi. Isteri saya belajar buat PhD di UK, sebulan sekali saya pergi, nanti dia tanya pasal apa Mahfuz mai. Maknanya isteri saya jawab, dia mai bukan sahaja setakat mai, tidurdengan saya. Salah.... [Ketawa] Makna kena jawab kepada pihak universiti. Ini saya kata apa punya undang-undang. Jadi saya hendak kata bahawa Yang Berhormat beri jaminan tetapi apa dari segi praktikalnya tidak berlaku begitu. Tekanan kepada pelajar-pelajar di luar negara cukup teruk.

Tuan Mohd. Nasir bin Zakaria [Padang Terap]: Menteri, sedikit menteri. Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua, terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri. Saya hendak rujuk kepada kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Yang Berhormat Menteri tadi yang menggunakan Artikel 10(3) jika mana dibentangkan AUKU ini oleh ataupun semasa dipinda AUKU ini oleh bekas Perdana Menteri kita ketika itu merupakan Menteri Pelajaran, tidak timbul pun persoalan Artikel 10(3) ini.

Tiba-tiba pada hari ini menteri berhujah dengan menggunakan Artikel 10(3) dan sehinggakan dalam satu tulisan yang ditulis sendiri oleh Tun Mahathir kerana kita apabila AUKU ini diperkenalkan dia menyekat kreativiti mahasiswa untuk berfikir. Saya pengalaman ketika duduk di Universiti Malaya, pengalaman ketika duduk di UiTM, ada sahaja sedikit masalah, buat press conference sedikit, ayah saya telefon. Dia bukan menakutkan mahasiswa sahaja, menakutkan ibu bapa. Jangan, sat lagi kena AUKU, jangan sat lagi kena ISA, apa ini.

Kemudian di sini saya baca apa yang ditulis oleh Tun Mahathir, dia kata jika hari ini penuntut lebih dewasa dan bertanggungjawab, batalkan sahaja AUKU. Ini bukan kenyataan sahaja, ini kenyataan bekas orang yang membentangkan pindaan AUKU 1975, terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri.

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat, tidak mengapalah, itu Tun Mahathir bekas Menteri Pelajaran dia hendak kata apa pun tetapi dia tidak ada dalam Dewan ini.

Beberapa Ahli: Yang Berhormat takut.

Tuan Pua Kiam Wee [Petaling Jaya Utara]: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri. Saya mengambil isu sedikit mengenai statement tadi yang kata hanya disekat adalah untuk mengambil aktif dalam parti politik dan mencarumi puak-puak yang tertentu sebab dengan jelas sekali dalam seksyen 15(5), dia kata seorang penuntut atau pertubuhan dalam universiti tidak boleh menyatakan atau melakukan apa-apa jua yang ditafsirkan sebagai sokongan ataupun simpati ataupun bangkangan terhadap parti politik. Ini bukan sahaja jadi aktif dalam politik, ini langsung tidak boleh berkata apa-apa simpati. Teresa Kok masuk ISA, “Oh saya bersimpati dengan dia dan parti DAP” Tidak boleh buat macam itu.

Ini sudah keterlaluan ini. Sekatan sedikit saya memang faham, dalam universiti memang perlukan sekatan tetapi sekatan yang seperti ini adalah telah keterlaluan.

Dr. Lo' Lo' Mohamad Ghazali [Titiwangsa]: Sedikit Yang Berhormat Menteri. Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Apa yang dikatakan oleh Yang Berhormat Menteri tentang keadaan pelajar kita di luar negara. Sebenarnya apa sistem yang ada sekarang ataupun pelaksanaan yang ada sekarang daripada dasar-dasar kementerian telah awal-awal lagi mewujudkan satu diskriminasi dan prejudis terhadap anak-anak kita.

Saya tidak kisah kalau Yang Berhormat Menteri kata Kelab UMNO adalah satu kelab kebajikan dan sebagainya tetapi sebenarnya realitinya tidak begitu seperti kata Yang Berhormat Pokok Sena mengatakan berlaku diskriminasi kepada pelajar-pelajar yang menunjukkan simpati ataupun mungkin seperti tadi menjadi tuan rumah sahaja.

Anak saya dua orang belajar di luar negara, saya tahu sangat isu ini dan saya tahu sangat diskriminasi, malah Timbalan Perdana Menteri pernah pergi ke Indonesia di mana tempat universiti anak saya belajar, dicari anak saya malah orang yang ikut dia, pegawai-pegawai dia mencari dan secara single out daripada ramai-ramai itu dan memberi orang kata, ugutan-ugutan kepada anak saya, kerana dia anak saya, semata-mata kerana dia anak Dr. Lo’Lo’. Jadi saya kira ini adalah satu sikap yang boleh diteruskan sebab saya kata, yang mendapat political mileage adalah kami di pihak pembangkang. Terima kasih.

Puan Fong Po Kuan [Batu Gajah]: Sambung sedikit Yang Berhormat Menteri. Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri. Tadi beberapa alasan yang diberi oleh menteri menyatakan universiti tidak mahu campur tangan parti politik dalam urusan universiti, tidak mahu pelajar dipengaruhi oleh mana-mana parti politik.

Saya rasa bukan pihak universiti tetapi masalahnya ialah pihak Kerajaan Barisan Nasional yang tiada keyakinan terhadap pimpinannya. Mengapa tidak boleh membenarkan parti politik bersaing untuk menarik atau memberi pengaruh kepada pelajar-pelajar terhadap ideologi parti masing-masing. Itu persoalannya.

Saya juga hendak tahu apakah pihak kementerian membuat kajian di mana negara-negara yang top 100 universities dalam Times Higher Education Ranking ini mana universiti yang ada AUKU ala Malaysia ini. Mereka tidak ada, mereka top 100 universities. Umur mengundi di sesetengah negara seperti US dan UK ialah 18 tahun, mereka boleh mengundi, boleh terlibat dalam politik tetapi universiti mereka top 100. Jadi, alasan yang diberi tidak boleh dipakai langsung, tidak boleh diterima. Mohon penjelasan Yang Berhormat Menteri.

Puan Fong Po Kuan [Batu Gajah]: Yang Berhormat Menteri, ada kajian menunjukkan bahawa membenarkan pelajar-pelajar terlibat dalam parti politik akan menjejaskan pendidikan mereka. Kita sudah ada for the past 30 over years dengan AUKU...

Puan Fong Po Kuan [Batu Gajah]: Ini jawapan. Ada apa kajian, ada apa bukti ini akan menjejaskan pendidikan mereka. Ini alasan yang selalu diberikan oleh menteri.

Puan Teo Nie Ching [Serdang]: Saya hendak tambah sedikit.

Dato’ Haji Tajuddin Abdul Rahman [Pasir Salak]: Mohon laluan. Pasir Salak pula. Boleh?

Puan Teo Nie Ching [Serdang]: Saya hendak tanya Yang Berhormat Menteri, sekiranya tiada kajian saintifik yang menunjukkan bahawa penglibatan dalam politik akan mempertingkatkan daya berfikir mahasiswa, adakah kementerian ada kajian saintifik menunjukkan bahawa penglibatan dalam politik akan menjejaskan daya berfikir mahasiswa.

Sekiranya kementerian juga tidak ada kajian saintifik dalam area ini, pada pendapat saya marilah kita membenarkan mahasiswa untuk terlibat dalam politik kerana ini adalah hak asasi mereka. Sekiranya setiap orang selepas mereka mencapai umur 21 tahun mereka boleh terlibat dalam aktiviti-aktiviti politik, kenapa mahasiswa kita tidak ada kebebasan ini?

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya sikit pasal hak untuk orang politik ini.

Yang Berhormat kata bahawa ada pindaan ini menyebut bahawa untuk melarang pelajarpelajar terlibat dalam parti politik tetapi dalam satu klausa yang lain, memberikan kuasa kepada NC, kepada Naib Canselor untuk meluluskan, untuk mempertimbangkan bila ada permohonan daripada pelajar-pelajar. Maknanya bolehlah kalau Naib Canselor rasa kata boleh, bolehlah. Satunya saya hendak katakan bahawa ini seolah-olah macam menjatuhkan taraf Naib Canselor jadi macam Ketua Penghulu, Ketua Kampung, JKKK, dok cop sain, cop sain. Jadi sesiapa mai mohon, dia cop sain macam orang hendak dapat buku teks. Sedangkan perkara ini tidak seharusnya berlaku.

Tetapi perkara keduanya, sejauh mana jaminan yang boleh diberikan dari sudut undangundang bahawa Naib Canselor boleh berlaku adil, bahawa sesiapa pun yang memohon untuk menyertai parti politik, tidak kira parti politik apa, pembangkang ataupun kerajaan, dia boleh luluskan.

Saya bimbang takut nanti kalau ada permohonan dari parti pembangkang, dia kata ini tidak boleh. Kalau dari parti kerajaan, BN, ini boleh. Ini masalah saya. Saya hendak tunjukkan bahawa seolaholah macam ada contradict..., satu waktu kata tidak boleh berpolitik, tetapi boleh dengan pertimbangan daripada Naib Canselor. Ini satu contradict lah bagi saya.

Dr. Siti Mariah binti Mahmud [Kota Raja]: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri, terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Saya ingat apa yang ingin saya katakan ialah kadang-kadang kita prejudge, kita menilai, menghukum mahasiswa dan mahasiswi kita terlalu awal yang mereka menyokong parti itu dan parti ini. Kadang-kadang isu ataupun perkara yang mereka hendak bawa itu adalah isu-isu kemanusiaan, isu-isu keadilan dan isu-isu yang semestinya menyentuh masyarakat tetapi oleh kerana isu itu secara kebetulannya adalah isu-isu juga yang dibawa oleh pihak pembangkang. Maka mereka dicap dan dituduh menyokong pembangkang. Kita perlu memberi respect kepada mereka.

Sekiranya mereka tidak platform-platform yang telah sedia ada sekarang ini, pertubuhanpertubuhan yang diluluskan oleh kementerian atau oleh universiti, tidak menyuarakan isu-isu tersebut, misalnya isu rasuah, isu ketelusan, isu integriti dan banyak lagi isu yang menjadi kepentingan kepada masyarakat. Maka platform yang mereka hendak gunakan itu. Kalau sekiranya mereka bersuara, maka mereka dicap, mereka ini adalah penyokong pembangkang. Jadi jelaskan kepada saya bagaimana mereka hendak bersuara dalam kes ini.

Tuan Loke Siew Fook [Rasah]: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri. Saya rasa Yang Berhormat Menteri dan Kementerian miss the point. Apa yang kita katakan bahawa walaupun kalau hari ini tidak ada larangan untuk mahasiswa berpolitik, bukan setiap mahasiswa akan masuk parti politik ataupun berminat untuk menjadi ahli politik. Saya rasa itu bukan. Kerana kalau bagi semua, tidak akan semua hendak masuk jadi ahli politik tetapi yang pentingnya, saya rasa yang inti patinya ialah kerana ada AUKU, kerana ada larangan-larangan yang....

Tuan Loke Siew Fook [Rasah]: Ini menyebabkan satu sense of ketakutan, ada rasa satu ketakutan dalam universiti kita, dalam kampus kita yang tidak menggalakkan satu suasana keterbukaan untuk membahaskan secara ilmiah. Saya rasa yang penting ialah AUKU ini telah menggalakkan satu spoon-feed system. Satu sistem yang memberikan maklumat satu hala. Pelajarpelajar hanya mendapat sahaja, mendapat maklumat sahaja tetapi tidak memproses maklumat itu, tidak menganalisis sesuatu perkara itu. Saya rasa itu kesan yang paling buruk yang telah dikenakan oleh AUKU ini. Saya harap pihak kementerian melihat faktor-faktor ini bukan kerana ini bukan soal kepentingan politik. Saya yakin kalau hari ini tidak ada AUKU, tidak ada larangan, tidak semestinya semua mahasiswa akan menyokong Pakatan Rakyat, tentu tidak tetapi yang pentingnya ialah kebaikan kepada mereka ini dan kemajuan untuk para mahasiswa kita. Itu yang saya rasa kementerian patut lihat kepada perkara itu, terima kasih.

Tuan Charles Santiago [Klang]: Menteri, pagi tadi ada satu rombongan mewakili mahasiswa seluruh negara datang ke Parlimen untuk melobi dengan Yang Berhormat-Yang Berhormat dan mungkin mereka telah berjumpa dengan Yang Berhormat Menteri. Memorandum mereka sebenarnya adalah lebih kurang 5 pages tetapi intinya, pandangan pokoknya adalah they demand the right for freedom of expression, itu sahaja mereka hendak. Mereka tak hendak masuk UMNO kah, MCA kah, ataupun PAS kah, DAP ke ataupun PKR. Tidak, itu mereka tidak hendak. Apa yang mereka hendak dan mereka jelaskan ialah untuk ada satu suara untuk mengetengahkan aspirasi mereka dan juga pandangan mereka. Itu adalah pandangan mereka dan pandangan mereka juga disokong oleh GERAK iaitu Persatuan Kakitangan Akademik di Malaysia. So, oleh kerana itu saya fikir baguslah kalau menteri dapat ulang kaji Seksyen 15 dan juga ulang kaji dan withdraw that provision, so that will give the right, hak kepada mahasiswa-mahasiswa untuk mengutarakan masalah rakyat. So, I think that is the confusion dalam pandangan menteri dan juga penasihat-penasihat menteri. Kalau dilonggarkan, mereka semua akan jadi anggota parti pembangkang. Tidak! Itu tidak!.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Cukuplah Yang Berhormat.

Tuan Charles Santiago [Klang]: ...Mereka hanya hendak satu suara untuk dengarkan dan menyuarakan hak mereka sebagai rakyat negara ini mengenai isu-isu pekerjakah, peladangkah, ataupun isu-isu di mana hak rakyat dieksploitasi. Sekian, terima kasih.

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Adakah menteri boleh tunjukkan bukti bahawa semasa proses undang-undang ini dibuat, pindaan ini dibuat, rundingan sudah dilakukan dengan kakitangan universiti dan juga pihak-pihak pendidik yang 100% menunjukkan dasar ini akan membantu untukmempertingkatkan daya saing dan juga mempertingkatkan keupayaan ilmiah pelajar-pelajar kita. Saya hendak tambah sahaja secara umum tidak ada negara yang lain selain daripada negara-negara diktator yang menghalang atau menyekat aktiviti-aktiviti politik pelajar yang di sini dimaksudkan bukan sahaja parti politik tetapi segala aktiviti-aktiviti yang menunjukkan simpati atau bantahan terhadap pendirian politik. Ini langsung sekali tidak membenarkan lagi penglibatan keprihatinan masyarakat oleh pelajar.

Tuan Haji Khalid bin Abd. Samad [Shah Alam]: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Menteri. Saya rasa soalan yang telah dikemukakan tadi berhubung dengan kajian yang saintifik yang membuktikan bahawa penglibatan dalam kegiatan politik telah menyebabkan ramai daripada pelajarpelajar kita gagal tidak juga dijawab oleh Yang Berhormat Menteri. Saya rasa Yang Berhormat Pasir Salak pun merupakan sebagai bukti bahawa ianya tidak menjejas pertumbuhan seorang manusia yang walaupun dia terlibat dalam politik semasa zaman ABIM dulu di Universiti Malaya dia masih lulus. Akan tetapi ramai saya rasa yang dekat Universiti Malaya yang gagal yang tidak terlibat dengan apa-apa pun tetapi dia gagal.

Saya boleh mengatakan bahawa pengalaman saya sendiri pun semasa saya menuntut di UK, ramai pelajar-pelajar yang gagal tetapi mereka gagal bukan kerana mereka terlibat dalam politik
ataupun mengambil kira, mengambi berat tentang perkembangan dan masalah yang dihadapi oleh rakyat jelata di negara mereka sehingga mengikuti bermacam-macam program, seminar, forum kerana mereka-mereka ini adalah orang-orang yang mempunyai motivasi, motivated, dia hendak menyumbang kepada masyarakat. Itulah sebabnya mereka terlibat dalam politik. Mereka mendengar bermacam-macam pandangan dan sebagainya dan mereka-mereka ini adalah orang-orang yang mempunyai motivasi, motivated, dia hendak menyumbang kepada masyarakat. Itulah sebabnya mereka terlibat dalam politik.

Mereka mendengar bermacam-macam pandangan dan sebagainya dan mereka faham bahawa untuk menyumbang kepada masyarakat dan negara mereka terpaksa lulus dalam ujian dan dapat ijazah mereka supaya mereka boleh balik sebagai seorang yang dilihat sebagai yang berjaya yang boleh menyumbang, sambil itu mempunyai satu wawasan yang jelas berhubung dengan peranan orang yang berpelajaran di dalam masyarakat. Lalu sekiranya satu kajian saintifik berhubung dengan persoalan ini tidak boleh dikemukakan dan memang tidak dibuat, maka saya rasa Yang Berhormat Menteri kena tarik baliklah hujah itu. Itu satu hujah yang tidak boleh dipakai. Saya sebagai ayah yang mempunyai empat orang anak, lima orang cucu, saya hendak anak-anak saya dan cucucucu saya mengambil berat soal politik.

Kalau boleh semasa mereka di dalam peringkat universiti, mereka mengikuti dan mereka menyertai program-program politik dan sebagainya kerana bagi pengalaman saya sendiri, ianya telah membuka minda dan memberikan satu wawasan yang lebih mantap dan lebih terbuka dalam soal pendidikan dan matlamat untuk menjadi seorang manusia yang sempurna. Terima kasih.

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Yang Berhormat Menteri belum jawab soalan saya, pertubuhan kakitangan universiti mana yang sokong pindaan ini dan pakar-pakar pendidik mana yang menganggap pindaan ini akan membantu mempertingkatkan keupayaan ilmiah kita. Saya ingin
dapatkan penjelasan secara spesifik.

Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin: Itu tidak dapat saya beri sekarang sebab merupakan satu perkara yang hanya akan saya beri secara makluman bertulis...

Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa [Parit Buntar]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Yang Berhormat Menteri, saya kurang setuju tadi itu yang kata parti politik kepartian itu yang kata tidak ada rasional, lebih kepada emosi. Saya rasa itu tidak betul. Sebab selama ini yang kita bangkang ini pun adakah Yang Berhormat Menteri menganggap ia satu sentimen ataupun emosi. Saya kira apa yang kita bangkang ini ialah constructive opposition iaitu bangkangan yang membina bukan bangkangan yang semata-mata kerana apa sahaja yang kerajaan buat kita mesti bangkang.

Saya rasa semua kita daripada pembangkang ini tak setuju dengan kenyataan yang menyatakan bahawa kepartian itu membawa kepada satu yang destructive. Sebab itu saya kira dalam kita mengandaikan teori politik, kadang-kadang orang akademik ini dia mengajar politik tapi dia tidak on the ground. Itu masalahnya. Mereka hanya belajar teori dan sebaik-baik pengajaran ialah teori dan juga praktikal. Mungkin pelajar tidak dapat praktik secara macam kami tapi sekurangnya mereka mendengar first hand daripada aktivis politik yang dihalang oleh AUKU yang ada ini.

Saya lebih suka jika diberi kebebasan sebab jika tidak ada kebebasan mereka akan lebih kepuakan, mereka akan lebih bersifat diskriminasi kepada mereka. Jadi kebebasan itu bukan bermakna mereka akan menyokong pembangkang tetapi kebebasan itu memberikan mereka satu kebebasan memilih untuk menilai dan kita pun mahu mereka tak semestinya menyokong pembangkang. Mereka juga mesti mengkritik pembangkang. Itu tara meter kita bila kita bercakap tentang parti politik.

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Yang Berhormat Menteri, kalau betul hujah Menteri itu parti politik ini bersifat emosi dan akan mengancam kestabilan masyarakat, lebih baik kita haramkan
semua parti politik. Ini kerana kalau betul satu budaya parti politik ini tidak baik untuk pelajar, sudah tentu tidak baik untuk orang yang tak ada pelajaran. Kalau anak-anak kita yang masuk universiti pun akan terpengaruh dengan sifat emosi, sifat yang tidak rasional ini apatah lagi kita membenarkan anak-anak muda yang tak masuk universiti. Mereka boleh menyertai parti politik dan mereka akan bertindak secara waras, tak beremosi, rasional kalau dia tak masuk universiti dan itu logik yang kita hadapi sekarang.

Satu perkara lagi kalau ini berlaku, lebih baik kita susun semula menjadikan negara kita negara yang tak berparti politik dan kita juga tak boleh bezakan menteri itu yang juga dinaikkan melalui parti politik bila menteri berucap atau pemimpin-pemimpin kanan negara yang berdialog dengan mahasiswa-mahasiswi ini susah kita hendak bezakan kepartian dia. Menteri Pelajaran datang dari Barisan Nasional UMNO, tidak puji UMNO bila mereka berdialog dengan pelajar-pelajar.

Maksudnya ada double standard. Perbezaan access of information. Perbezaan penyebaran maklumat kepada pelajar juga bermaksud sesiapa yang memerintah mempunyai kuasa yang lebih dari pengaruh fahaman politik pelajar dan kita tidak memberi ruang untuk perbandingan kepada anakanak kita yang berada di universiti. Terima kasih.

Puan Fong Po Kuan [Batu Gajah]: Yang Berhormat Menteri, amat merisaukan kalau ini hanya satu langkah permulaan. Kalau kita tengok di Singapura, anti-U apabila pelajar ini membuat rakaman kehadiran pembangkang di universiti mereka dan laporan mereka di dalam surat khabar universiti telah dilarang. Mereka membuat protes di Speaker’s Corner. Mereka pelajar anti-U di Singapura dibenarkan sekarang untuk menyuarakan pandangan mereka terhadap universiti mengenakan tindakan terhadap mereka.

Jadi kalau ini baru permulaan, AUKU telah menyekat kebebasan pelajar ini untuk 37 tahun. Sekarang baru permulaan. Singapura kita tahu demokrasi sangat sempit ruangannya tetapi mereka sudah terbuka dengan membenarkan pelajar anti universiti pergi berhujah, protes di Speaker’s Corner. Malaysia kita masih mahu menyekat. Berapa lama baru kita mahu kembalikan hak-hak ini kepada pelajar kita?

Saya rasa selagi ada AUKU, selagi itu kita akan membawa pelajar ini ke belakang. Ini hakikatnya kita boleh tengok for the past 37 years old. 37 tahun dengan adanya AUKU ini. Mohon penjelasan. Bandingkan dengan Singapura, jangan lihat jauh. Singapura mereka anti-U top 100 tapi mereka berani. Benarkan pelajar anti-U pergi ke Speaker’s Corner membantah tindakan universiti tersebut.

Puan Fong Po Kuan [Batu Gajah]: Akan tetapi sekarang mereka boleh bantah di Speaker’s Corner terhadap tindakan yang diambil oleh pihak universiti kerana melarang laporan pelajar ini
berkenaan lawatan oleh pembangkang. Sini boleh? Di mana pelajar boleh suarakan bantahan mereka terhadap ISA saya hendak tanya? Datang ke Parlimen menyerah memorandum mereka
ditangkap, diambil tindakan. Mana ruangan untuk pelajar universiti sekarang kalau mereka tidak bersetuju dengan sebarang dasar oleh kerajaan? Saya minta penjelasan pihak Yang Berhormat Menteri.

Dr. Tan Seng Giaw [Kepong]: Ya. Yang pertamanya saya ada sebutkan mengenai pola fikiran kementerian dan juga Naib Canselor dan sebagainya belum dijawab, itu yang penting. Kerana kalau tidak ada Naib Canselor yang berkaliber sia-sia sahaja. Macam mana kita boleh mewujudkan satu situasi yang membenarkan Naib Canselor yang berkaliber muncul di IPTA kita. Yang pertamanya, mengenai mind set, pola fikiran. Yang kedua, security of tenure untuk Naib Canselor dan juga jawatankuasa pencarian yang dilantik hanya oleh pihak universiti sahaja yang dikendalikan, diselenggarakan oleh pihak universiti sahaja. Itulah kita hendak lihat. Sekarang University Union yang disebutkan satu jam tadi mengenai pelajar sahaja tetapi daripada sudut sebaliknya tidak disebutkan langsung. Jadi satu kegagalanlah petang ini.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Terima kasih Menteri. Cuma saya juga hendak respons apa disebut oleh Pasir Salak tadi minta penjelasan Menteri bahawa pelantikan Naib Canselor itu di bawah nasihat lembaga tetapi tidak pun disebut dalam akta ini bahawa Menteri terikat dengan nasihat dan cadangan yang diberikan oleh lembaga. Jadi bermakna bahawa Menteri masih boleh ada kebebasan sendiri untuk tidak mengambil nama yang dicadangkan oleh lembaga, itu satu. Kedua saya hendak balik kepada soal tentang kuasa Naib Canselor Yang Berhormat sebut kata boleh beri kelulusan kepada pemohon yang post graduate yang telah pun memegang jawatan dalam parti politik sebelum daripada dia melanjutkan pelajaran ke peringkat Master ataupun PhD.

Akan tetapi saya dok semak ini tidak pun ada tercatat, disebut secara khusus bahawa permohonan itu ialah permohonan daripada post graduate yang sudah pun memegang jawatan dalam parti politik. Ini yang saya katakan contradict tadi ini, antara larangan untuk pelajar berpolitik dengan kuasa untuk mempertimbangkan permohonan yang dibuat oleh pelajar. Akan tetapi kalau Yang Berhormat bermaksud dalam seperti mana yang disebut dalam huraian ini iaitu orang yang telah memegang jawatan dalam parti politik itu seolah-olahnya dia itu yang buat post graduate lah maknanya, dia sudah pegang jawatan lama. Saya hendak tanya macam mana pula orang yang pergi ambil ijazah pertama dalam keadaan dia sudah lanjut umur dia? Dia 35 tahun, 40 tahun dia baru masuk ijazah pertama tetapi dia sudah pegang jawatan dalam parti politik.

Boleh tidak boleh dia dipertimbang untuk mendapat kelulusan. Ini tak munasabah sebab kalau diambil logik mengatakan bahawa orang itu telah memegang jawatan makna dia sudah pegang lama sudah kemudian dia sambung buat Master tetapi bagaimana orang yang pergi melanjutkan pelajaran ijazah pertama, dia masuk universiti umur 40? Cikgu umpamanya dia masuk universiti, dia sudah pegang jawatan dalam parti politik. Tidak kiralah cikgu kah, apa kah, maknanya dia melanjutkan pelajaran. Adakah boleh dipertimbangkan untuk dia terus memegang jawatan dalam parti politik dan diterima untuk menjadi pelajar di universiti?

Tuan R. Sivarasa [Subang]: Minta penjelasan apa yang dikata oleh Pasir Salak dan Kepong tadi, ada kaitan tentang pelantikan Naib Canselor ini. Terima kasih. Tadi Yang Berhormat Menteri apa yang dikatakan oleh Pasir Salak adalah tidak ada masalah tentang pelantikan Naib Canselor sebab sekarang akan dibuat oleh lembaga. Bagi saya, saya tidak melihat apa-apa pelantikan oleh Lembaga. Pelantikan yang dicadangkan sekarang adalah oleh sebuah jawatankuasa yang akan menasihatkan Menteri tentang pelantikan.

Tuan Pua Kiam Wee [Petaling Jaya Utara]: Pasir Salak yang tidur.

Tuan R. Sivarasa [Subang]: Betul, so jadi .....

Dato' Haji Tajuddin Abdul Rahman [Pasir Salak]: Ini baca ini 2.15.

Tuan R. Sivarasa [Subang]: Bukan dia tidur, dia tidak baca dengan betul.

Dato' Haji Tajuddin Abdul Rahman [Pasir Salak]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua ini...

Tuan R. Sivarasa [Subang]: Biar saya habis, biar saya habis dahulu.

Dato' Haji Tajuddin Abdul Rahman [Pasir Salak]: Tidak, ini pindaan, buat apa besar-besar, kecil pun boleh pakai.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Yang lain jangan mencelah Yang Berhormat. Di sini bukan tempat gaduh peribadilah, kalau hendak gaduh peribadi, keluar Yang Berhormat.

Tuan R. Sivarasa [Subang]: Jadi penjelasan yang saya minta daripada Yang Berhormat Menteri...

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Peradaban dalam Dewan saya minta maaflah, saya hendak sebut ini. Peradaban dalam Dewan macam budakbudaklah. Kalau hendak bercakap berdiri macam Yang Berhormat Subang ini.

Tuan R. Sivarasa [Subang]: Boleh saya teruskan?

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar]: Sila, sila Yang Berhormat.

Tuan R. Sivarasa [Subang]: Terima kasih. Jadi saya minta penjelasan daripada Yang Berhormat Menteri ialah masalah yang sekarang ada, jawatankuasa yang disebut ini yang akan menasihatkan Menteri tentang pelantikan Naib Canselor ini tidak ditakrifkan dalam rang undangundang ini. Jadi Menteri boleh melantik dua orang sebagai satu yang boleh dikatakan jawatankuasa, yang akan menasihatkan beliau dan buat pelantikan. Jadi ini bukan satu langkah yang begitu bermakna. Ini pun disebut oleh Rembau pun tadi, bila dia kata jawatankuasa ini tidak ditakrifkan. Ada satu sebutan sahaja jawatankuasa, tidak ada definisi, so lembaga yang disebut dalam ini adalah benda yang lain, ini jelas. Lembaga bukan ini, jadi inilah masih tidak menyelesaikan isu kewibawaan dan kebebasan, the independence, dengan izin, Naib Canselor dalam institusi, ini yang cukup penting. Sekian terima kasih.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Omar [Pokok Sena]: Last. Saya tidak ada tanya sudah, Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Ini last sekali. Yang Berhormat Menteri, seksyen 12 ini saya hendak minta penjelasan sebab saya difahamkan seksyen 12 ini sebelum ini memberikan kuasa kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong untuk melaksanakan segala kuasa yang terkandung dalam subseksyen (1)(a) hingga (f) melalui perintah yang disiarkan dalam warta yang dikenali sebagai perintah kampus. Saya berpendapat bahawa seolah-olah pindaan ini dipindahkan kepada kuasa menteri setelah berunding dengan lembaga ini seolah-olah macam penghakisan kuasa dan kemuliaan Yang di-Pertuan Agong ini.

Apa salahnya dari sudut kita mengharmonikan undang-undang ini setelah kita lihat dalam pindaan Perlembagaan sebelum ini pun bahawa Yang di-Pertuan Agong ini dia bertindak dengan nasihat daripada Perdana Menteri. Tidak bolehkah dibuat satu pindaan yang lebih harmoni dalam seksyen ini iaitu hanya sekadar memasukkan bahawa Yang di-Pertuan Agong akan menjalankan segala fungsi dan kuasanya iaitu kekalkan di dalam seksyen 12 ini dengan berdasarkan kepada nasihat daripada Menteri Pengajian Tinggi setelah menteri berunding dengan lembaga pengarah universiti. Ini menunjukkan bagaimana kita mengharmonikan, meletakkan status dan mengekalkan kedudukan raja-raja ataupun Yang di-Pertuan Agong itu dalam akta ini. Jadi saya menganggap bahawa ini penghakisan kepada kuasa Yang di-Pertuan Agong yang sudah pun terhakis selama ini.