~penarik beca (2)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Artikel yang dianggap menyebabkan Tun Dr Mahathir keluar dari pencen:

Pile on pressure against the corrupt

ON THE BEAT
By WONG CHUN WAI

The Star (29/5/05): Every Malaysian knows that corruption has gone from bad to worse. It’s no longer news but what Malaysians would like to know is what the government intends to do to seriously fight the problem.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has taken the first step by making the fight against corruption a top priority under his leadership.

Since he took office more than a year ago, he has vowed to clean up the civil service, promising to act against the corrupt and followed up with the arrest of several high-profile personalities.

He has lessened the opportunities for corrupt activities by improving the public service delivery system and increasing transparency and accountability in the public sector.

That is not all. Abdullah has set up institutions promoting national integrity to instil a culture that hates corruption. He has also pushed for the return of an open tender system, when previously selected companies only needed to submit their bids to the Economic Planning Unit which then makes its recommendations to the government.

Just two weeks ago, the public had their first detailed look at the level of corruption in the police force following the release of the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Abdullah has taken the lead by heading a task force that would carry out the recommendations of the commission. His personal attention will certainly help to push the proposals through more effectively.

But Malaysians want to see more. They would like to see the Anti-Corruption Agency as truly independent and modelled after Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), to give our investigators more clout.

Giving the ACA a free hand to carry out its tasks is insufficient if the public have the perception that there is interference from powerful politicians, even if that is not true.

Enforcement of the laws must be carried out without fear and favour. The public should not be given the impression, rightly or wrongly, that selective prosecution is being practised.

Abdullah must be supported in his fight against graft because it must be accorded the highest priority. This sickness must not be allowed to become deep-rooted, like in Indonesia and Thailand. Worse, Malaysians now complain about enforcement officers who openly demand for money because these officers no longer try to hide the fact that they are corrupt.

Our leaders only need to go down to the ground. Talk to the petty traders at markets, talk to people who have to seek approvals from government departments, talk to motorists who are stopped by traffic cops. The list is endless.

It is not a surprise that the commission found that next to the police, the municipal councils and Road Transport Department (JPJ) are perceived to be the most corrupt.

In fact, a commission should be set up to investigate these two bodies. Why should only the police be subject to a 15-month probe when their numbers, in proportion to the population, are much smaller than the councils and JPJ?

Last week, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said political parties must not allow corruption to exist, saying that they must be willing to take action against even the most prominent and highest official of the party.

There were indications, he said, that corruption might be getting to a point of no return and leaders were willing to pay money to get themselves elected. Although he did not specify Umno, he said that “everybody talks about money politics (in Umno)”.

It is good that Dr Mahathir has come out strongly against corruption but personally, I wish he could have done more during his over 20 years in office, such as carrying out anti-corruption campaigns to create awareness of the debilitating impact of corruption.

With his strong leadership, authority and grip on Umno, he let slip the opportunity to introduce reforms including effective enforcement of laws against corruption.

Malaysians may remain grateful to Dr Mahathir for the economic boom they enjoyed during his tenure, but one source of unhappiness was the introduction of the negotiated tender, which lacked accountability and openness. In fact, for many, it was no tender at all.

Money politics in Umno did not rear its ugly head one year or two years ago but at least a decade ago, when we saw the big fights in Umno. Leaders like then Umno deputy president Tun Ghafar Baba and present deputy minister Datuk Aziz Shamsuddin, who lost his divisional chief’s post, were victims who openly tell their stories.

No fight against corruption can be meaningful unless there is a demonstration of political will and commitment from the public to reject all forms of corruption, not just in the public sector but also in the private sector.

The pressure from the Abdullah Administration and the public must continue if we are serious about the war against corruption. We are all waiting to see what the government intends to do next now that the commission’s report is out.

More action, less rhetoric, please.

Jawapan Dr Mahathir dalam Malaysiakini 31/5/05, "Mahathir defends record on fighting corruption"
Jawapan Dr Mahathir dalam Utusan Malaysia 31/5/05, "Dr. Mahathir kecewa dituduh gagal atasi rasuah"

Wah! Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) pun marah (?!)

Kritik Dr Mahathir : Pemuda Sokong Kenyataan Hishammuddin

Laman Web Pemuda Umno (1/6/05): Pemuda Umno hari ini menyatakan sokongan terhadap kenyataan Ketua Pemuda, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein yang mengecam budaya mengkritik pemimpin terdahulu yang dianggap sesuatu yang tidak seharusnya diamalkan.

Naib Ketuanya, Khairy Jamaluddin berkata adalah sesuatu yang mendukacitakan jika terdapat pihak yang cuba mengambil peluang untuk membuat kritikan terhadap pemimpin yang tidak lagi memegang jawatan.

"Kita tidak mahu melihat budaya di mana apabila pemimpin itu tidak memegang lagi jawatan sudah menjadi peluang untuk kita mengkritik dan sebagainya. Sedangkan ketika orang itu menjadi pemimpin, kita membisu dan tidak buat apa-apa pendirian yang mengatakan itu salah dan ini salah.

"Ini perkara yang mendukacitakan kerana kita tahu semasa Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menjadi Perdana Menteri, kita semua sokong dasar beliau untuk membangunkan Malaysia sebagai negara moden", katanya kepada laman webPemuda selepas mempengerusikan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pelancaran Putera Umno di sini, Rabu.

Beliau berkata demikian sebagai mengulas kenyataan, Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Malaysia, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein yang mengecam kritikan yang dilemparkan kepada Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad bahawa kononnya beliau tidak berbuat apa-apa untuk memerangi rasuah ketika menjadi Perdana Menteri.

Sambil menyatakan kritikan itu tidak tepat, Khairy berkata sepanjang 22 tahun Dr Mahathir menjadi Perdana Menteri beliau telah banyak membuat teguran dan mengambil tindakan untuk memerangi rasuah.

"Sepatutnya tidak ada pertikaian mengenai rekod beliau memerangi rasuah", tegasnya.

Sementara itu dalam isu yang sama Ketua Penerangan, Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Malaysia, Datuk Azimi Daim pula berpendapat kritikan yang dilemparkan terhadap Tun Dr Mahathir sebagai tidak berasas.

Menurutnya pengalaman selama empat tahun bersama Dr Mahathir dalam Majlis Tertinggi Umno, beliau bukan sahaja serius memerangi rasuah dalam pentadbiran malah terhadap parti.

"Ini boleh dibuktikan menerusi tindakannya mewujudkan Lembaga Displin parti. Mereka yang buat kritikan terhadap Dr Mahathir jelas tidak membuat rujukan terlebih dahulu sebaliknya melemparkan kritikan mengikut citarasa sendiri", ujarnya.

Beberapa hari sebelum itu, Dr Mahathir angin satu badan dengan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, "Anwar slandered me on BBC, says Mahathir" (Malaysiakini, 12/5/05)

Ulasan Steven Gan mengenai peristiwa itu, "APs: Semuanya OK?" (Malaysiakini, 15/7/05)

Menarik, mula-mula Anwar balun, selepas itu diikuti kawan baik KJ. Mengapa saya kata Chun Wai kawan baik KJ? Baca yang berikut:

25 Disember 2003, Timbalan (II) Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan The Star, Datuk Wong Chun Wai menyampaikan "Christmas wish"nya kepada menantu Perdana Menteri, Khairy Jamaludin. 29 Disember 2003, Perdana Menteri mengumumkan, kerajaan akan menubuhkan sebuah suruhanjaya diraja bagi mengenal pasti langkah-langkah yang boleh diambil bagi menjadikan PDRM sebagai satu pasukan penguat kuasa undang-undang yang berwibawa dan dihormati.

The Star (16/8/08): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad does not think Barisan Nasional will win the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26 but its candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah may be able to reduce the majority.

The former prime minister said Arif Shah was Barisan's best candidate and his Chinese education background was a positive factor that could help him attract Chinese votes.

“I think Arif Shah will not lose as badly as other candidates before him or other candidates in his place,” he said after launching the Dunia Seni Lukis art gallery in Jalan Pudu Ulu here yesterday.

Dr Mahathir said another plus point for Arif Shah was that he was the assemblyman for Seberang Jaya in Permatang Pauh.

In Butterworth, Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said voters in Permatang Pauh must decide whether they want someone who understands the local situation or a leader who aspires to go national.

He said it would be an uphill battle for Barisan Nasional to wrest the seat from the Opposition.

Debate itself the winner in Anwar-Shabery duel

Malaysia Insider (15/7/08): It doesn't matter who the winner was in the first-ever American-style live TV debate in the country tonight — with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek taking centrestage to argue about fuel price hikes. The real winner was the debate itself.

Concluded quickly within an hour with a format quite similar to the American presidential candidate debates, with a rostrum each for the debater on stage, the most glaring thing for all to see was the quality of debate.

Some may say Anwar, the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, won the debate as he focused on the issue at hand — the fuel price hike — while Ahmad Shabery, the Information Minister, seemed to take cheap shots at Anwar especially his younger days as a rabble rouser.

Anwar proposed to reduce the current petrol pump price by 50 sen the moment his opposition coalition of PKR, PAS and DAP take over the Federal Government.

"Petronas has announced a special dividend RM6 billion to the government for this year. Why can't I take RM1 billion of that to reduce the petrol price by 50 sen?" he said to applause from a section of the 300-strong audience in the Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka Hall in Kuala Lumpur.

Elaborating further, he promised to slash pump prices further once his Pakatan Rakyat coalition took over, saying it is an initial 50 sen because the Barisan Nasional government had just hiked prices by 70 sen from RM1.92 per litre previously.

The former deputy prime minister made it clear from the start of the debate that he was not questioning national oil company Petronas but his criticisms were directed at the BN government which he alleged was rife with mismanagement and economic abuse, citing Malaysia's high electricity reserves as a waste as it only benefited the independent power producers (IPPs).

He argued the government could save RM2 billion from reducing electricity reserves, adding an additional RM3 billion to finance the 50-sen reduction can be sourced elsewhere. "Five billion is enough to help lighten the burden on the rakyat. The Perwaja bailout was RM13 billion of government money."

In his reply, Ahmad Shabery argued that "if we continue at RM1.92, it means the government is forced to bear the subsidy of RM50 billion and this means many development programmes, building of schools, roads and improving people's livelihood cannot be implemented.”

"We should know that the price increase is not our doing but due to the world oil price crisis. This is not the first time we have had a world oil crisis. The first time was in 1973-74 when after the Arab-Israeli Ramadan war. Oil price increased by 400 per cent, from US$10 a barrel to US$40 in six months.

"But it was also an important year because the late Tun Razak (the then Prime Minister) set up Petronas in a pressured situation because the world outside pressured us not to take away the rights given to Shell at that time. Shell was set up by the British before they left," he said, also to applause from his supporters.

The information minister also explained that subsidies could not be sustained for a long time because it would hamper real economic growth.

In a question-and-answer session, Ahmad Shabery was asked about the RM4.3 billion savings from an earlier fuel price increase in 2006 that was meant to be used to improve public transport but only RM834 million was used for that purpose, leading people to be cynical about the purported RM13 billion in savings in the latest subsidy cut.

The minister dismissed the question, saying that in 2006 the international fuel price was just US$70 a barrel whereas it has now reached US$140 a barrel, and went on to argue that countries such as Venezuela and Iran which heavily subsidised fuel had very high inflation rates.

Anwar however argued that Malaysia's real inflation rate of some eight per cent was caused by economic mismanagement, not by the global oil price increase. "If the Barisan Nasional says that the fuel price can be increased in a sudden and it will not be followed by increasing price of goods and services, I want to know who teaches them this kind of economic management.

"We're an oil-producing country and for every US$1 increase per barrel, we make RM360 million. Why can't we do something good with this?" Anwar thundered.

To this, Ahmad Shabery argued that Malaysia was not even in the top 20 oil-producing countries list, let alone a major player.

"We're just a small nett exporter of oil. Our profits are only 26 per cent of our oil revenue. The rest we received from the (Petronas) investments. By 2015, when we become a nett importer of oil, will we then adhere to the global price?"

In reply, Anwar said: "Who told us that our oil will deplete in 2015? Thirty years ago Petronas projected that our oil will run out by 2005. It's just a projection. I believe we have a lot more capacity."

When Ahmad Shabery pointed out that Anwar too was responsible for problems pertaining to the IPPs which are still reaping profits despite the current economic situation as he was a Cabinet minister then, the former finance minister demanded a check of record to prove that he had opposed the IPP plans approved by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Towards the end of the debate, Ahmad Shabery repeated his argument that Anwar was still a rabble rouser and that during Anwar's time in the government he would never allowed others, especially the opposition, to participate in an open debate such as the one held tonight.

Ahmad Shabery had earlier accused Anwar of inciting the people to rise up against the government over claims of poverty in Baling, Kedah in 1974.

Pointing out these were cheap shots, Anwar explained that he was here to debate an economic issue only but would be willing to debate on other matters, including personal allegations against him, at another forum.

Besides a minor fracas before the start of the debate outside the hall as well as a very heavy police presence around the building and the surrounding area, the event, organised by AgendaDaily.com was a largely peaceful event. It was telecast live on TV9 and Astro channels 119, 501 and 502 apart from being webcast by IP Global TV.

Anwar, Shabery in lively debate on oil prices

The Star (15/7/08): Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek took on PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a rarely seen debate on live television.

The one-hour debate, entitle Hari ini membentuk kerajaan, esok turun harga minyak (“Today we form the Government, tomorrow the fuel prices will go down) proceeded smoothly with both speakers backing their points with facts.

Anwar started off the debate by promising to reduce the fuel prices by 50sen to alleviate the economic burden faced by the people.

Shabery stressed that the inflation faced now could not be attributed solely to fuel prices, as major oil producers such as Venezuela and Iran were hit with higher inflation levels although the price of fuel in those countries were much lower.

"In Venezuela, inflation is 30%, while Iran is one of the eight nations worst hit by inflation.

"It is not just oil prices that had gone up, but the food crisis as well. Our rice is cheaper than Thailand, and that is because of our policies. We don't have to demonstrate on the streets or organise improper concerts," he said.

Anwar countered by saying that the drastic increases in fuel prices within a short period had pushed inflation levels up.

"It has been said that while prices go drastically up, inflation levels would not rise. Who was the one who taught that economic theory?" he asked.

Anwar also said that as an oil producer, the country would profit when the price of crude oil went up.

Shabery responded by saying Malaysia was only a minor oil producer and was not even in the top 20.

"In 2015, Malaysia will become a net importer of oil. By then, would we not be forced to raise the price of fuel (more) drastically (compared to today)?" he asked.

Anwar said the Petronas report stated that Malaysia would only become a net importer of oil if no new oilfields were discovered in the next 10 years.

Video dari Hanief
Anwar Ibrahim vs Ahmad Shabery (Media Rakyat)
LIVE: Anwar vs Shabery in the Great Oil Price Debate (Anil Netto)
Debat bersejarah Anwar-Shabery (Malaysiakini 15/7/08)
Anwar Ibrahim vs Shabery Cheek (Ahiruddin Attan)
The Debate: A Review (Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir)
Shabery Cheek gagal dan mengecewakan dalam debat (Syed Imran A;-Sagoff)
THE DEBATE … The winner is…. (Selangor Today)
Cheapskate! (Cakap Aje)
The "debate" (Aizuddin Danian)
Vacancy- Menteri Penerangan Malaysia (Zach)
Anwar-Shabery Cheek set new benchmark (Datuk Ahmad Talib)
Anwar-Shabery debate: My two cents (CJCM)
Kesimpulan debat (Paneh)
Shabery, when are you going to resign? (Cik Gu Nazir Khan)
Debat minyak: Ulasan spontan (Mudin 001)
Ahmad Shabery patut umum letak jawatan, tewas KO (Ulit Mayang)
Shabery Cheek, sila letak jawatan! (Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil)
KEPUTUSAN DEBAT : SHABERY MENANG SORAK, ANWAR MENANG FAKTA! (Nur Aflah)
Gambar perdebatan Shabery-Anwar (mStar)
Minyak: Pakatan janji turun 50 sen, Shabery anggap Anwar populis (mStar)
Anwar just edges past Shabery (Malaysian Insider)
"...for the past 50 years, they (the BN government) have been sleeping" (Malaysian Insider)
Keputusan undian dalam mStar sehingga 12.27 AM 16/7/08

Siapakah pemidato terbaik dalam debat bertajuk "Hari Ini Membentuk Kerajaan, Esok Turun Harga Minyak"?
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim 87.2%
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek 9.5%
Sama-sama hebat 3.3%

The Star (13/7/08): PKR's de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has attempted to introduce Hudud Law by bringing the sodomy allegation made by his former assistant to Syariah Court, said MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.

He said Anwar should bring the case to civil courts instead as sodomy was a crime.

"DAP should make it stand on this as Anwar is trying to bring Hudud Law to the country," he said after presenting scrolls to Tunku Abdul Rahman College graduates at the college here Sunday.

On July 9, Anwar had lodged a report with with the Federal Territory Religious Department against former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan for accusing him of zina (fornication).

The report was lodged under Section 41 Qazaf (false accusation) of the Federal Territory Syariah Criminal Offence Act 1997.

He said Anwar should let the police investigate the report made by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan and not hide from it.

Liow said the wing suggested to the Barisan Nasional Youth to organise a road show to reveal the true colours of Anwar.

"We want to disclose the tricks used by Anwar. Enough is enough. Anwar should put a stop to his tricks," he said.

Artikel asal di sini.

Ezam and the $64,000 Umno question

NST (26/56/08): Ezam Mohd Nor coming back into Umno's fold? It is still hearsay, at this stage.

News that he is to rejoin the party he had been critical of until the March 8 polls is strange, but as they say, anything is possible in politics. Stranger things have happened.

Furthermore, it has been a longstanding rumour that the once rising star in Umno and former close aide of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will return to the party, which he once served as the Petaling Jaya Selatan deputy division chief.

Ezam has not made up his mind although he did meet Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi two weeks ago and Datuk Seri Najib Razak soon after.

He is expected to answer this nagging question soon now that he got home from Bangkok yesterday, but not without first having a "small talk" with former colleagues from Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
There are many questions, if it is true that Ezam, once dubbed the "Siamese twin" of PKR's vice-president Azmin Mohd Ali, has the intention to rejoin Umno. More so since it is a known fact that he left PKR after a fallout with Azmin.

Is he returning to Umno's fold because he sincerely believes it to be the only party championing the cause of the Malays?

Is he conceding that fighting corruption, through the Civil Movement against Corruption (Gerak) he helped set up, is a lost cause? Or does he find the invitation from Umno leaders to revitalise Umno an irresistible offer?

"I think it's strange (for him) to join the very institution he has been critical of. (But) this is his choice.

"After all he has done for the party (PKR), after going to prison, it would be odd for him to go back to them," said PKR chief Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Ezam had gone on record many times, saying he would not rejoin Umno. He said he wanted to focus on the campaign against corruption beyond partisan lines.

But Umno seems keen to embrace Ezam despite his venomous attacks on the party leadership, particularly on alleged corrupt practices in the government.

There is also concern. The question of Ezam being a "Trojan horse" was dismissed by Najib, who reportedly said that Ezam is a friendly party.

Speculation that Ezam will be appointed a senator and be given the task to lead the battle to recapture Selangor also has not gone down too well with other suspicious leaders.

There is uneasiness within Umno Youth, too, over talk of pushing Ezam to lead the movement.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has prepared three questions for the party leadership to ponder on the Ezam "crossover". First, what is the benefit for Umno if Ezam rejoins? Second, is he willing to struggle alongside Umno? Finally, what will be his role?

It is no secret that Ezam almost accepted an offer from PKR to contest the last general election after being told that Anwar was willing to forgive and forget.

When this did not materialise, Ezam convinced PKR leaders that he would assist "close friends" contesting the elections, which saw him campaigning for friends like Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Pas' Husam Musa and Mahfuz Omar.

When he was in Kelantan to launch a book published by Gerak, Islam dan Perjuangan Merawat Rasuah (Islam and the struggle against corruption), during the election campaign, he was full of praise for Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat for being the "cleanest" of all politicians.

But when the opposition pact won and statements and policies announced by Anwar on behalf of Pakatan Rakyat seemed to leave out the Malay agenda, Ezam was said to be upset.

Is rejoining Umno, therefore, an afterthought for this man? (Zubaidah Abu Bakar).

Artikel asal di sini.

Azmin cabar Rahman buktikan dakwaan disogok (Utusan Malaysia 16/5/08)
Politik 'membeli-belah' (Utusan Malaysia 16/5/08)
Polis digesa siasat dakwaan Abdul Rahman (Utusan Malaysia 16/5/08)
BISIK-BISIK AWANG SELAMAT (Utusan Malaysia 15/5/08)
‘Cukup untuk hidup senang-lenang 3 generasi’ (Utusan Malaysia 15/5/08)
Habuan tinggi paling tadah

Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan

Pakatan Rakyat janji ganjaran lumayan, jawatan jika YB BN lompat parti

Berita Harian (15/5/08): Pembangkang yang terdesak untuk menjatuhkan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN), sanggup menawarkan ganjaran besar sehingga boleh memberi kesenangan hidup kepada dua tiga generasi keluarga Ahli Parlimen yang berpaling tadah.

Malah, jumlah wang yang ditawarkan dijangka berlipat ganda dalam masa terdekat bagi merealisasikan impian Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, untuk membentuk kerajaan sebelum 16 September.

Perkara itu didedahkan Ahli Parlimen Kota Belud, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, manakala Ahli Parlimen Kimanis, Datuk Anifah Aman dan Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan) turut mengaku dipujuk supaya melompat ke parti pembangkang.

Abdul Rahman berkata, beliau menerima beberapa panggilan dan dikunjungi 'duta kecil' pembangkang minggu lalu serta minggu sebelumnya, yang cuba memujuknya menyertai Pakatan Rakyat dan dijanjikan sejumlah wang serta kedudukan dalam kerajaan.

Ditanya sama ada tawaran itu berjumlah jutaan ringgit, beliau berkata: "Tekaan anda adalah seperti tekaan saya. Kalau saya ambil saya akan senang dua tiga generasi."

Datuk Anifah Aman

Bagaimanapun, beliau menolak tawaran itu kerana parti pembangkang tidak boleh dipercayai.

"Mereka selalu mendabik dada menjadi kerajaan kelas pertama yang tidak mempunyai unsur rasuah, tapi pada masa sama memberi rasuah wang dan jawatan," katanya kepada pemberita di lobi Parlimen, semalam.

Sebelum ini, pembangkang yang menang 82 daripada 222 kerusi Parlimen pada pilihan raya umum lalu, mendakwa 30 Ahli Parlimen BN, kebanyakannya dari Sabah akan menyertai mereka bagi membolehkan Pakatan Rakyat membentuk kerajaan dengan majoriti mudah.

Desas-desus itu semakin kuat apabila Ahli Parlimen Batang Sadong, Sarawak, Nancy Shukri pada 23 Mac lalu mengakui dihubungi orang dikenali dari Sabah yang mengajaknya menyertai pakatan pembangkang atas alasan kedua-dua negeri itu tidak diberi tempat sewajarnya dalam Kabinet baru.

Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin

Lima hari sebelum itu, Anifah dan Ahli Parlimen Jerantut, Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar, menolak jawatan timbalan menteri selepas disenaraikan dalam Kabinet baru Persekutuan.

Ahli Parlimen Kalabakan, Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh pula meletak jawatan sebagai Timbalan Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar atas alasan peribadi. Bagaimanapun, semua mereka menafikan akan menyertai pembangkang.

Isu berkenaan reda selepas Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah

Badawi melawat Sarawak dan Sabah pada Mac dan bulan lalu, tetapi spekulasi itu kembali hangat sejak beberapa hari lalu selepas Anifah dan Abdul Ghapur pada sidang Dewan Rakyat menegur Kerajaan Pusat yang didakwa tidak memberi perhatian sewajarnya kepada Sabah.

Mengulas lanjut tindakan pembangkang itu, Abdul Rahman berkata ia adalah hipokrasi terbesar di dunia dan Anwar tidak boleh dipercayai.

"Mereka tanya mahukah saya mengorak sejarah dalam negara untuk tumbangkan rasuah, tapi saya kata cara ini (menawarkan wang dan jawatan) pun korup," katanya.

Mengenai kenyataan Presiden Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP), Datuk Yong Teck Lee kelmarin yang mahu BN segera menangani isu berkaitan Sabah bagi mengelak wakil rakyat melompat parti, Abdul Rahman berkata:

"Saya setuju dengan Yong yang mempunyai niat baik meminta Kerajaan Persekutuan melihat keluhan rakyat Sabah. Saya pasti tuntutan yang diminta itu akan difikirkan oleh Perdana Menteri."

Bagaimanapun, katanya, Abdullah perlu diberi masa kerana pilihan raya baru dua bulan setengah berlalu.

"Untuk beri keadilan, berilah masa. Tiada yang boleh dibuat dalam sekelip mata," katanya yang percaya Perdana Menteri akan menjelaskan mengenai perkara itu ketika sekali lagi melawat Sabah akhir bulan ini.

Anifah yang ditemui di lobi Parlimen turut mengakui menerima banyak tawaran, tetapi tidak mengendahkannya.

"Yang penting masalah rakyat Sabah mesti diambil berat, yang saya kisah pada masa ini adalah untuk mengutarakan hal bagi kepentingan rakyat," katanya.

Anifah berkata, tindakannya membangkitkan masalah rakyat Sabah di Parlimen disalah anggap kononnya beliau mahu melompat ke parti pembangkang.

"Ini disalah anggap. Adalah lebih baik untuk saya suarakan masalah rakyat Sabah kerana jika tidak, rakyat akan tanya apa yang kita lakukan untuk mereka.

"Apa yang kita mahu ialah kerajaan memberi perhatian, tetapi malangnya ia diketepikan. Isu kita tidak diberi tumpuan tapi timbul isu lompat melompat pula.

"Jangan bimbang mengenai kita akan lompat parti, tapi bimbang rakyat yang akan melompat (sokong parti pembangkang). Kalau masalah rakyat diambil berat, soal lompat tidak akan timbul," katanya.

Bung Mokhtar juga mengakui didatangi pembangkang yang bertanya sama ada berminat untuk melompat parti, tidak lama selepas pilihan raya umum lalu di Sabah.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, tiada tawaran wang atau jawatan dibuat dan tiada perjumpaan susulan kerana beliau menyatakan tidak berminat bertukar parti.

Abdul Ghapur pula berkata, sesiapa saja boleh melompat parti jika mahu berbuat demikian jika tidak berpuas hati, tetapi beliau tidak akan berbuat demikian.

Sementara itu, Naib Presiden PKR, Mohamed Azmin Ali menafikan parti itu menawarkan wang, sebaliknya hanya menjanjikan pakej kemudahan pendidikan dan projek pembangunan untuk Sabah dan Sarawak.

Beliau mendakwa ini adalah masa terbaik untuk bersama pembangkang bagi memajukan Sabah dan Sarawak.

Sabah MPs divided over ultimatum to BN (Malaysiakini 14/5/08)
'Pakatan manipulating crossover threat' (Malaysiakini 14/5/08)
Ahli Parlimen jangan sombong (Utusan Malaysia 14/5/08)
Anwar attacked in Parliament over US links (Malaysiakini 13/5/08)

Petikan ucapan Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan di Dewan Rakyat pada 13/5/08:

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya ingin masuk ke bab politik. Pada saya soal yang dikatakan oleh Ahli-ahli Dewan sebelum ini tentang soal lompat ataupun hijrah parti. Ini adalah sebenarnya simptom dan bukannya perkara pokok. Melompat ini bukanlah perkara pokok. Ia terjadi kerana faktor yang lain. Faktor yang lain ialah bila mana rakyat negeri Sabah dan Sarawak yang permasalahan mereka diluahkan oleh wakil-wakil rakyat di Dewan yang mulia ini, apabila mereka merasakan mereka tidak didengari atau masalah mereka tidak dipantau dan diusahakan untuk diselesaikan, itu masalah pokok.

Maka simptomnya ialah lompat-melompat ini. Jadi sebelum pihak pembangkang terlalu ghairah dan gembira dengan ucapan-ucapan Yang Berhormat-Yang Berhormat daripada Sabah, jika keluhan ini dapat diatasi oleh pihak kepimpinan kerajaan, saya percaya soal lompat ini tidak akan berlaku. Sememangnya semua permasalahan ini telah pun diberitahu kepada Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri dan beliau akan mengusahakannya. Takkanlah semua yang diminta itu terjadi dalam sekelip mata. We have to be rational dengan izin. [Tepuk] Kita bagi masa untu Perdana Menteri membuat keputusan dan saya berharap sangat pada kunjungan Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri ke Sabah pada hujung bulan ini akan membawa berita gembira untuk rakyat Sabah. Insya-Allah.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, pihak pembangkang selalu menuntut supaya Kerajaan Malaysia mesti mempunyai minda dan etika kerja kelas pertama.

Ada pula yang mengatakan keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 ini menjanjikan suasana politik yang lebih terbuka dan lebih berwibawa. Ada yang mengatakan sistem dua parti dengan sistem check and balance dan shadow cabinetnya akhirnya berjaya ditubuhkan di Malaysia. Maka dengan fenomena baru ini, delivery system ataupun sistem penyampaian kerajaan dan rasuah akan dapat dihapuskan. Saya secara peribadi Tuan Yang di-Pertua setuju tentang apa yang diajukan oleh parti pembangkang. Peluang yang muncul daripada keputusan Pilihan Raya Yang Ke-12 ini perlu digunakan sebaik mungkin.

Tidak kira kita di parti kerajaan ataupun parti pembangkang, kita mesti bersama-sama membina tamadun dan kemajuan Malaysia yang lebih bermakna dan modal politik yang berlandaskan minda kelas pertama. Parti-parti politik sepatutnya tidak statik, parti-parti ini sepatutnya dinamik dan ini pun telah terbukti, kalau dahulu contohnya PAS. Parti PAS berkonsepkan Islam, sekarang ini dalam Pakatan Rakyat. Mereka merubah konsep itu menjadi satu konsep yang tidak relevan. Begitu juga dengan parti DAP, dahulu songkok dan menerima anugerah daripada Tuanku Sultan-Sultan tidak diterima. Sekarang ini fenomena baru, songkok boleh dipakai, pangkat dan anugerah daripada Tuanku Sultan boleh diterima.

Ini bermakna politik Malaysia ini berubah. Begitu juga dengan parti Barisan Nasional. Kalau parti Barisan Nasional mahu berubah untuk kebaikan rakyat, saya minta rakan-rakan di sebelah sana menyokong perubahan yang dibuat oleh Barisan Nasional ini. kerana yang penting ialah rakyat. Pada PRU13 nanti, parti pembangkang dan parti kerajaan akan menawarkan diri mereka kepada rakyat. Pada ketika itu rakyat akan menentukan modal politik yang mana boleh diterima oleh rakyat sama ada parti pembangkang atau parti Barisan Nasional. Kalau Barisan Nasional itu hendak berubah anggaplah itu dengan, ambillah cara itu dengan cara yang terbuka dan minda yang terbuka supaya kita boleh memberi perkhidmatan yang terbaik untuk rakyat di negara ini.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, malangnya apa yang berlaku adalah sebaliknya. Kita mengambil contoh Kerajaan Pulau Pinang, mereka menjanjikan kerajaan kelas pertama, tetapi nyata hanya retorik apabila Exco-Exco Kerajaan Pulau Pinang yang dilantik tidak melambangkan kelas pertama. Ada yang terpaksa dihantar untuk berkursus tentang cara-cara bagaimana untuk mentadbir kerana mereka bukan sahaja tidak mempunyai pengalaman mentadbir kerajaan, malah tidak mempunyai pengalaman mentadbir apa-apa jenis perniagaan.

Sungguh tertipu rakyat Negeri Pulau Pinang kerana mereka dijanjikan kerajaan kelas pertama, tetapi yang mereka dapat adalah kerajaan kelas ketiga. Ini bukan saya katakan Tuan Yang di-Pertua, ini dikatakan oleh Yang Berhormat bagi Jelutong dalam satu temu ramah...

Tuan Ooi Chuan Aun [Jelutong]: Minta laluan, Tuan Yang di-Pertua minta laluan.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat, tidak ada laluan Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: ... yang telah diberi dalam Malaysia Kini. Saya tidak ada masa. Yang Berhormat bagi Jelutong dalam artikel Malaysia Kini mengatakan “The state ministers - the Excos - some of them have not even had the experience of running a company, let alone running a state portfolio. So that is what we are worried about, the lack of experience”.

Jadi untuk over come the problem mereka mengadakan in house training maknanya mereka ini belum lagi masih lagi belum tahu bagaimana untuk mentadbir kerajaan tetapi telah menipu rakyat untuk menjadi kerajaan.

Tuan Ooi Chuan Aun [Jelutong]: Penjelasan Tuan Yang di-Pertua.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat, telah diputuskan
tidak ada penjelasan.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Parti pembangkang juga Tuan Yang di- Pertua, selalu menuduh kononnya UMNO dan Barisan Nasional adalah rasuah dan tidak layak untuk menjadi kerajaan kelas pertama. Pakatan Rakyat sekali lagi cuba merabuni mata rakyat. Sementara mereka mahu Barisan Nasional bermindakan kelas pertama mereka menunjukkan kelas ketiga. Mereka mengajar orang, tetapi dia sendiri umpama ketam mengajar anaknya berjalan lurus. Mereka minta Barisan Nasional jangan rasuah, tetapi mereka juga mengamalkan rasuah.

Saya ingin bertanya Tuan Yang di-Pertua, apakah usaha yang dibuat oleh sesetengah pemimpin pembangkang untuk memberi habuan kepada Ahli-ahli Parlimen...

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat, sila berhenti. Kita ada tetamu. Sila duduk Yang Berhormat. Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat Dewan ini mengalualukan kehadiran Honourable Mr. Evan Adamec Chairman of Senate’s Committee On National Economy Agriculture and Transport of the Czech Republic dan delegasi beliau. Moga-moga kehadiran beliau dan delegasi dalam Dewan ini akan mengeratkan lagi perhubungan di antara Malaysia dan Republic Czech. [Tepuk ]

Sila sambung Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Saya ingin bertanya apakah usaha yang dibuat oleh sesetengah pemimpin pembangkang untuk memberi habuan kepada Ahli-ahli Parlimen untuk melompat ini bukan rasuah namanya. Saya sendiri menerima panggilan untuk menawarkan sejumlah wang yang cukup besar untuk melompat. Apakah itu bukan rasuah namanya. Selepas itu mereka menawarkan jawatan...

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Yang Berhormat, sila rujuk kepada BPR dan kena ada fakta.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat bagi Batu, tidak ada laluan.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Siapa makan cili dia terasa pedas. [Tepuk] Yang mahu sangat di luar sana. Saya tahu Tuan Yang di-Pertua...

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee: Yang Berhormat bagi Batu, sila duduk.

Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Point Of Order. Sangkaan jahat. Point of Order 36, tarik balik. Tidak ada apa-apa bukti. Jika ada laporan patut dibuat, kalau buat laporan...

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Dato’ Seri Anwar...

Tuan Haji Roslan Shaharum [Bukit Gantang]: Tidak ada bukti, tidak ada bukti.

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Ini adalah tanggungjawab sebagai seorang ahli...

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya mahu memberitahu kenapa saya membuat kesimpulan begitu kerana trend merasuah ini pernah dipraktikkan semasa membeli undi untuk bertanding timbalan presiden menentang Allahyarham Tun Ghaffar dahulu. Duit berbakul-bakul projek dan pink form menjadi pelincir kejayaan memenangi jawatan timbalan presiden. [Tepuk] Sejarah tidak boleh diubah, kami di Sabah masih ingat bagaimana perwakilan dibeli dan diugut. Terima kasih kepada pemimpin Agung PKR ini yang telah memperkenalkan dan membudayakan politik wang dalam UMNO Sabah.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya ingin mengalihkan ucapan saya kepada peralihan kuasa parti yang hangat diperkatakan sejak kebelakangan ini. Ramai yang memikirkannya tetapi tidak ramai yang membincangkan secara terbuka. Ya, Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat tepat sekali tanggapan Ahliahli Yang Berhormat, saya bercakap tentang isu peralihan kuasa Parti Keadilan rakyat. Ini penting kerana mereka mahu sangat Ahli-ahli Dewan Rakyat Parti Barisan Nasional untuk menganggotai parti pembangkang dan mereka beria-ia mahu menjadi Perdana Menteri.

Jadi rakyat Malaysia mahu tahu susunan ini agar tidak menjadikan negara ini tidak stabil. Di merata pelosok negara kita Tuan Yang di-Pertua, ramai pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat mencanangkan bahawa Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim akan menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang ke-6 sebelum tanggal hari Malaysia pada 16 September 2008.

Saya berdoa semoga Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim panjang umur dan sihat tubuh badan untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri sehingga hari kiamat. Namun, sebagai salah seorang ahli Parlimen dari Sabah yang diuar-uarkan untuk melompat ke parti pembangkang, saya dihujani banyak soalan. Soalan dari orang ramai di kawasan saya yang bertanya siapakah yang akan menjaga rakyat dan negara ini jika Dato’ Seri Anwar tidak menjadi Perdana Menteri?

Adakah Yang Berhormat bagi Permatang Pauh yang selama ini takut untuk keluar dari bayang-bayang ketua partinya, yang hanya memanaskan kerusi Dato’ Seri Anwar, adakah Timbalan Presiden PKR yang akan diangkat menjadi Senator untuk dipilih menjadi Perdana Menteri, tetapi DAP akan marah juga kalau dilantik menjadi Senator, mengatakan masuk ikut dari pintu belakang. Apakah Yang Berhormat bagi Gombak Naib Presiden PKR yang dari dahulu sehingga kini masih lagi terlalu kepada seseorang pemimpin idolanya sehingga apa-apa yang di cakap oleh Ketua Partinya semuanya ‘okey bos, okey bos’.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Ya, gulung Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Sehingga meniru style dan cara berpakaian dan ucapan berintonasi Dato’ Seri Anwar. Apakah Yang Berhormat bagi Gopeng, atau Yang Berhormat bagi Subang atau apakah saya patut mengucapkan tahniah kepada Yang Berbahagia Datuk Dr. Jeffry Kitingan Naib Presiden PKR yang ke-5 kerana bakal menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia selepas Dato’ Seri Anwar. Mungkin itu pun tidak kesampaian kerana Datuk Dr. Jeffry Kitingan pernah dikaitkan dengan skandal melesapkan duit Yayasan Sabah berjumlah berbilionbilion ringgit. [Tepuk] Mana mungkin Dato’ Seri Anwar yang suci bersih itu mahu menjadikan seseorang seperti Datuk Dr. Jeffry Kitingan yang terpalit dengan dakwaan, tuduhan salah laku sebagai Pengarah Yayasan Sabah.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Ya, gulung Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Abd. Rahman Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Jadi siapa bakal menjadi Perdana Menteri selepas Ketua Parti PKR Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim? Rakyat hendak tahu, rakyat hendak tahu Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Mungkinkah Pakatan Rakyat akan membuat ‘kezutan’ meminjam kata-kata Akademi Fantasia pengacaranya atau mengubah sejarah dengan melantik Perdana Menteri yang pertama dari kaum Cina dan India.

Yang Berhormat Ipoh Timur dan Yang Berhormat Bukit Gelugor dari DAP, kita tunggu.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Haji Abd. Rahman bin Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Atau mungkinkah Pakatan Rakyat akan memberi peluang kepada Presiden PAS Yang Berhormat Marang untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri, tetapi dengan cara berpakaian serban dan jubah Yang Berhormat Marang mungkin akan kempunan.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat cukup time Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Haji Abd. Rahman bin Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Kerana beliau mempunyai masalah dengan imejnya.

Dr. Mohd Hatta bin Md. Ramli [Kuala Krai]: Ini sudah melampau. Tuan Yang di- Pertua, ini sudah melampau.

Dato' Haji Abd. Rahman bin Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Dengan berpakaian serban, jubah ala Taliban beliau dikatakan tidak sesuai. [Dewan riuh]

Tuan Chua Tian Chang [Batu]: Ini telah melampaui batas.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat cukup masa Yang Berhormat.

Dr. Mujahid Yusof Rawa [Parit Buntar]: Ini menghasut.

Dato' Haji Abd. Rahman bin Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Saya ada satu artikel. Ini artikel daripada Malaysia Kini yang menjadi lidah rasmi pembangkang, yang mengatakan bahawa Dato’ Seri Haji Abdul Hadi bin Awang, Presiden PAS tidak layak untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri kerana memakai serban dan juga jubah. Bukan saya yang kata Tuan Yang di-Pertua, tetapi Malaysia Kini yang mengatakan. Tetapi dengan cara, [Disampuk] tidak mengapa you boleh jawab nanti.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Duduk Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Haji Abd. Rahman bin Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Jadi saya rasa dia akan kempunan.

[Dewan riuh] Saya menggulung.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Yang Berhormat Kota Belud masa habis Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Haji Abd. Rahman bin Dahlan [Kota Belud]: One minute. Saya sudah hendak habis. [Dewan riuh] Jadi, siapakah yang menjadi Perdana Menteri selepas Dato’ Seri Anwar, saya tercari-cari
jawapannya sehinggalah seorang kawan memberi sedikit clue atau andaian kepada saya bahawa Dato’ Seri Anwar sebenarnya sedang membina empayar nepotismenya yang bakal melantik Yang Berhormat Lembah Pantai sebagai Perdana Menteri ketujuh Malaysia.

Timbalan Yang di-Pertua [Datuk Ronald Kiandee]: Cukuplah Yang Berhormat.

Dato' Haji Abd. Rahman bin Dahlan [Kota Belud]: Tahniah kerajaan anak-beranak. Sekian, saya mohon menyokong. Terima kasih. [Dewan riuh]

Anwar defends morality of crossovers (Malaysiakini 12/5/08)

Posting asal di sini.

Najib lashes out at accusations of 'the Mongolian woman' (Malaysiakini 14/5/08)
Najib tuduh pembangkang reka isu komisyen (Malaysiakini 14/5/08)
Najib jawab tohmahan (Utusan Malaysia 15/5/08)
I never met or knew Altantuya, Najib tells Parliament (The Star, 14/5/08)
Govt denies paying 114 million Euros commission in purchase of submarines (Bernama, 14/5/08)
Malaysia's No. 2 leader rejects opposition claims of corruption (PR-Inside, 14/5/08)
Dewan Rakyat: PLKN tetap diteruskan: Najib

Berita Harian (15/5/08): Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) akan diteruskan kerana ia mampu mencapai hasrat Negara Bangsa Malaysia yang menyatukan semua bangsa dan kaum di negara ini, kata Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata, cadangan supaya PLKN menggunakan kaedah penyertaan sukarela dari kalangan remaja atau lepasan pelajar tidak sesuai kerana langkah itu hanya akan menyaksikan penyertaan satu-satu kaum berikutan kaum lain tidak berminat.

“Program ini penting bagi mewujudkan perpaduan bangsa Malaysia yang kuat dan membentuk jati diri sebagai rakyat yang bersatu padu dan mengamalkan nilai murni,” katanya ketika menggulung perbahasan titah ucapan Yang di-Pertuan Agong bagi Kementerian Pertahanan di Dewan Rakyat, semalam.

Ketika membuat penjelasan berhubung program yang diperkenalkan pada 2004 itu, Ahli DAP terdiri daripada Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) dan Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) kerap mencelah supaya program wajib itu ditamatkan kerana tidak mendatangkan faedah serta tidak mendapat sokongan ibu bapa berikutan banyak kematian pelatih yang mengikuti latihan selama 90 hari di kem di seluruh negara.

Fong juga mendesak supaya PLKN dibuka hanya kepada sukarelawan dan tidak diwajibkan kepada mereka yang terpilih seperti dibuat sekarang.

Najib berkata, sejak 2004 apabila kumpulan pelatih pertama diambil hingga sekarang, 16 kematian dilaporkan membabitkan pelatih PLKN iaitu 11 kematian ketika mengikuti latihan, manakala lima lagi kematian ketika pelatih diberikan pelepasan cuti.

“Daripada 11 itu, tujuh kematian kerana penyakit, manakala empat lagi akibat kemalangan,” kata Najib yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kabinet mengenai PLKN.

Beliau berkata, kematian itu hanya membabitkan peratusan kecil daripada pelatih PLKN yang sehingga ini sebanyak 339,186 orang.

Beliau menempelak sesetengah rakyat yang begitu beriya-iya supaya program itu gagal dan ditamatkan, sedangkan rakyat Singapura memberikan sokongan penuh terhadap program yang hampir sama iaitu ‘National Service’.

“Di Singapura, lebih banyak yang mati tetapi rakyat Singapura lebih utama kepentingan nasional,” katanya menyebabkan Dewan Rakyat riuh.

Sementara itu, Najib berkata, dakwaan wujud rasuah dalam perolehan dua kapal selam Scorpene dan 18 pesawat pejuang Sukhoi tidak berasas sama sekali kerana pembelian kelengkapan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) itu dibuat mengikut Tatacara Pelaksanaan Kontrak Perolehan Peralatan Pertahanan Negara, membabitkan pelbagai peringkat kelulusan termasuk Jawatankuasa Teknikal dan Jawatankuasa Rundingan Harga.

"Dakwaan yang dibuat Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh bahawa Syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd menerima komisyen Euro114.96 juta berkaitan pembelian kapal selam Scorpene, kementerian ini menegaskan kerajaan tidak ada dan tidak pernah membayar komisen sama ada secara langsung atau tidak langsung kepada syarikat berkenaan," katanya.

Di akhir penggulungannya, Najib turut menyentuh perbicaraan di Mahkamah Tinggi mengenai pembunuhan wanita Mongolia, Altantuya Shaariibuu yang dikaitkan dengannya, apabila menegaskan beliau tidak pernah mengenali apatah lagi berjumpa dengan wanita itu.

“Namun, Alhamdullillah saya masih dapat bertahan daripada segala tohmahan dan fitnah yang cuba dilemparkan dengan niat mencemarkan nama saya,” katanya enggan membuat komen panjang kerana kes itu masih dalam perbicaraan.

“Biarlah mahkamah terus menjalankan peranan dan tanggungjawab menegakkan keadilan di negara ini tanpa gangguan mana-mana pihak. Dalam masa sama saya berdoa semoga kebenaran akan terserlah demi kedaulatan undang-undang yang kita junjung,” katanya.

No fees in submarine, jet deal

The Star (15/5/08): The Government has never paid anyone commission for the procurement of two Scorpene submarines and 18 Sukhoi fighter jets, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said Malaysia had direct negotiations with the countries involved.

The submarines were purchased from France and Spain and the jets from Russia.

“On the allegation made by Yang Berhormat Permatang Pauh (Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) that Perimekar Sdn Bhd had received a commission of ?114.96mil (RM580.46mil) in the Scorpene submarines deal, the ministry wants to stress that the Government has never paid any commission directly or indirectly to the company.

“On the purchase of Sukhoi, I want to stress that the Government has never paid any commission to IMT (M) Defence Sdn Bhd as alleged,” Najib said in his winding-up speech on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.

He was responding to renewed allegations by Wan Azizah that the purchase of the two submarines worth RM4.5bil involved the payment of a commission exceeding RM540mil to Perimekar.

Wan Azizah had also alleged that Perimekar was owned by Abdul Razak Baginda, who was an adviser to Najib.

He said the contract was signed on June 5, 2002, by the Malaysian Government with manufacturers DCNS (France) and Navantia (Spain) and Perimekar Sdn Bhd, as the project services provider.

Najib also explained that Syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd, which was owned by Armed Forces Welfare Fund, Boustead Holdings Berhad and K.S Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, had to provide accommodation for 27 families of the officers in France and Spain for six years.

On allegations against him being involved in the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, Najib reiterated that he had never met or knew the woman.

He also said he did not want to make any comments as the hearing of the case was still going on.

“I know that some of the Dewan members are concerned about the court case of the murder of a Mongolian woman, and I also know that there are some members who deliberately tried to link my name to the case.

“Let the court play its role and carry out its responsibility to uphold justice in this country without any party interfering,” he said.

On the issue of national service, Najib said the Government would continue with the programme as it promotes unity although there were accidents and fatal cases.

Najib said the ministry was also considering making medical check-ups compulsory for every trainee.

Malaysia's No. 2 leader rejects opposition claims

The Hindu News Update Service (15/5/08): Malaysia's deputy prime minister defended himself against accusations of corruption and involvement in a murder case that the opposition says make him unfit to become the country's leader.

Najib Razak, who is also defence minister, has been increasingly targeted by the opposition, which has sought to link him to scandals, including allegedly dubious defence contracts and the slaying of a Mongolian woman.

In an speech to Parliament late Wednesday, Najib said the opposition has made ``completely baseless'' claims that major military procurements conducted by his ministry were tainted by graft.

Many politicians expect Najib to succeed Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. After their ruling coalition suffered stinging losses in March general elections, Abdullah pledged to hand over power to Najib in a leadership transition they would start planning after December. (AP)

Artikl asal di sini.

PKR talking to PAS on dropping stance: Karpal

The Sun (11/5/08): DAP chairman Karpal Singh has disclosed that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is trying to talk PAS into giving up its Islamic state ideology.

He said the Islamic state ideology as espoused by PAS is a big obstacle to cooperation among the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) component parties. He did not discount the possibility that the Islamic state issue may prompt DAP to again leave the opposition alliance.

Karpal, who is the Bukit Gelugor MP, told Nanyang Siang Pau in an interview the Federal Constitution clearly says Malaysia is a secular state.

Former prime ministers Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn had also stated that Malaysia is a secular state, he said.

He said PAS has stated that "should the party come to power (at the federal level), it would declare Malaysia an Islamic state".

"Based on this point, PAS accepts the fact that Malaysia, at present, is not an Islamic state," he said.

"PAS needs to obtain two-thirds majority in the parliament as well as amend the constitution in order to fulfill its Islamic state ideology."

Karpal Singh said PR is a good front with potential to obtain even better results in the next general election.

As such, PAS should stop making remarks on Islamic state.

He also said PAS cannot regard itself as the backbone of PR as it has only 23 parliamentary seats, whereas PKR and DAP have 31 and 28, respectively.

"PR is at its infancy stage and there is lot more work to do, such as fighting for the abolition of the Internal Security Act and other draconian laws," he said.

"As such, PAS should put more efforts in these areas and be mindful of their remarks to avoid giving the public the impression that PR is in a mess."

Karpal Singh also said DAP does not accept the party-hopping culture, adding that PR should not use party-hopping to strengthen itself but wait for another four years to show its strength.

He said party-hopping is a betrayal of the voters' trust and if PR accepts party-hoppers, one day it will also be betrayed.

Anwar has said PR will get enough MPs to cross over from BN to form the next federal government by Sept 16 (Malaysia Day) or earlier.

Karpal Singh said he personally does not agree with any move by PR to form the federal government with the help of party-hoppers.

"A political party must have integrity, otherwise it will lose the people's trust," he said.

Impractical to turn Malaysia into Islamic state: opposition leader

Mangalorean (25/4/08): Malaysia's newly formed three-party opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that includes the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Parry (PAS), which is committed to an Islamic state, has said it would strive to retain a multi-racial character.

The other two parties in the alliance, which goes to the 12th parliament with an unprecedented 82 members and control of four states, are the Parti Keadalan Rakyat (PKR) and the Democratic Action Party (SAP).

"We must recognise that Islam is the country's official religion but it is impractical to turn multiracial and multi-religious Malaysia into an Islamic state, everything must be based on the federal constitution," the alliance's parliamentary leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in an interview to Chinese language daily Sin Chew.

Visualising a government headed by her husband and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah said it would champion the cause of 'Ketuanan Rakyat' (people's supremacy) instead of shouting for 'Ketuanan Melayu' (Malay supremacy).

She said: "Although it is PAS' ideology to create an Islamic state, it can only be practiced in the overwhelming Malay-majority state of Kelantan, and not the whole of Malaysia due to the country's multiracial makeup."

In a multiracial society, she said, PKR's coalition partner PAS will definitely not be able to set up an Islamic state, The Sun daily said quoting the interview Friday.

"The fact is, we all accept that Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, and the three parties should cooperate within the framework of the constitution," she said.

"The reality is that the Malaysian society is made up of Malays, Chinese, Indians and other minority races, making it impossible to establish an Islamic state."

Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that many lawmakers of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) want to cross over following the electoral upset last month.

He said his alliance would remove the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi by September.

Majority Muslim Malays, the indigenous people called 'boomiputera' or sons of the soil, form over 60 percent of the Malaysian population of 28 million that has significant ethnic minorities of 33 percent Chinese and eight percent Indians.

While many Chinese practice Buddhism, there are significant groups of Christians. Tamil Hindus account for over two million and there is a Sikh community of 100,000.

The elephant in the Pakatan Rakyat room

Parti Islam SeMalaysia’s aim of setting up an Islamic theocracy will remain a thorny issue within Pakatan Rakyat and the crucial factor that may shorten the opposition coalition’s lifespan, writes Zubaidah Abu Bakar.

NST (18/4/08): PAKATAN Rakyat, assembled as an afterthought following the opposition's triumph in the March general election, is ambitious. The yet-to-be-formalised coalition is already thinking it is the main player in Malaysian politics.

Pakatan Rakyat's birth was encouraged after its three component parties collectively won 82 of the 222 parliamentary seats and jointly took control of the state assemblies of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.

For the first time in 40 years, the opposition had denied Barisan Nasional a two-thirds parliamentary majority. DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang aptly described the coalition's birth as "the next logical step after the March 8 political tsunami in order to bring about the changes that the people want".

"This is a response to the clear and unmistakable message from the people," he said, "that they want change, justice, freedom and fairness."

Some political analysts view the forging of a loose electoral pact among the three parties as a personal triumph for opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whose negotiation skills helped bring the rival groups together on the basis of principles held in common by the three parties, such as freedom, justice and democracy.

Pakatan Rakyat's components are hardly strangers to each other. They are the same players who teamed up to form "Barisan Alternatif" to contest the 1999 general election as an electoral pact.

The loose pact did not hold. It was paralysed by internal bickering, particularly between Islamist Pas and the secular and socialist Democratic Action Party over the former's insistence to set up an Islamic state. DAP left the coalition in 2001.

Today, Pas, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP, with their dissimilar aims and ambitions and diverging policies, are offering Pakatan Rakyat as a credible alternative to BN's coalition of 14 political parties.

Their leaders have once again agreed to put aside their differences. Their struggle now is for common principles like human rights, justice, corruption-free government and democracy.

But doubts remain over Pakatan Rakyat's prospects for long-term survival, especially when there are voices expressing personal opinions contradictory to those mutually agreed at the top level.

Fearing the acrimony among its members will sink Pakatan Rakyat before it's even able to disclose its policies to the people, coalition leaders directed members to desist from expressing such views publicly.

"Pakatan Rakyat is not the forum nor the place for any group or individual to champion personal ideologies or those of its component parties," the grouping said in a statement signed by PKR leaders Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and Anwar, Lim and Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

The statement went on to emphasise Pakatan Rakyat's commitment to creating a prosperous society irrespective of ethnicity, religion and culture in upholding human rights.

By disallowing unwarranted and unsolicited comments, the group's leaders hope their members will remain steadfast in achieving a shared vision and targets.

It seems that the Islamic state and Pakatan Rakyat have become mutually exclusive; an "irreconcilable difference". To DAP and some sections of PKR, it is simply a mismatch.

It would also seem an exercise in futility to believe that DAP will eventually accept an Islamic state, as Pas' spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat hopes.

"I have no qualms admitting and predicting that if Pas and DAP insist on fighting over this issue, the Pakatan Rakyat is definitely going to be short-lived," said Pas think-tank head Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad.

While he insists that setting up an Islamic state shall remain Pas' abiding vision and political aspiration, it is not about to realise it now.

"Pas' manifesto calls for 'a fair, clean and trustworthy government towards a nation of care and opportunity'," Dzulkifli says. "We should make it categorically clear that an Islamic state is not on the agenda of Pakatan Rakyat."

Rita Sim of the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research, think-tank of MCA, said she could see continuous tension brewing not only within Pakatan Rakyat but also within Pas.

"The progressive leaders in Pas may be more flexible, but the question is whether the conservatives in the party will step in."

Sim said Pas must also accept that many people voted for the party because they wanted an Islamic state, and there were also those, including non-Muslims, who voted for them because of the promises in the party's welfare-state manifesto.

Prof Mohammed Mustaffa Ishak of Universiti Utara Malaysia does not think the Islamist and secular stands of the three component parties will blend well. Indeed, they may be untenable.

"The Islamic state issue is a fundamental issue that Pas, DAP and PKR will have a hard time resolving," he said.

"It looks like there is no way for compromise. The moment DAP succumbs to Pas, the Chinese will not forgive DAP for allowing Pas to dominate. It is not going to be easy for Pas members to embrace the leadership's decision to be silent about its ultimate goal of an Islamic state."

Opinions are forming among senior Pas leaders that DAP, if it is truly committed to Pakatan Rakyat, should not insist on Pas renouncing the Islamic state as a prerequisite to the formation of the coalition.

They said such an insistence would be as vain as asking DAP to renounce the "Malaysian Malaysia" idea -- which would be as implausible.

What Pakatan Rakyat urgently needs is the basic ground rules and guiding principles to forge the coalition, and a working mechanism to check and operationalise the relationship.

Pas insiders also say the statement by party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa -- that Pas would not pursue its Islamic state agenda through Pakatan Rakyat -- would be strongly criticised at the party's muktamar or convention in August.

Mohammed Mustaffa also observed that the Pakatan Rakyat's problems stem not just from the differences between Pas and DAP but with PKR as well, and Anwar may find difficulty facilitating a cordial relationship among coalition members.

If Pakatan Rakyat continues in disarray, its candidates may find themselves practically unelectable in the 13th general election.

Artikel di sini.

Pakatan Rakyat selective in accepting crossover MPs: Wan Azizah (The Edge)
Stop listening to opposition's ridiculous claims, says Sabah CM (Bernama)
BN MPs switching to PKR, names known before Aug 31 (Borneo Bulletin, Brunei Darussalam)
BN not worried: Shabery (Daily Express)
Anwar: PR prefers to govern with big majority (Daily Express)
All part of Anwar's political games: Najib (Daily Express)
Anwar's claim a gimmick: MP (Daily Express)
Masidi: Previous leaders handed powers to KL (Daily Express)
We are taking the rumour seriously, says Najib (Bernama)
Hishammuddin Sees Anwar's Prediction As Political Game (Bernama)
Malaysia's Anwar predicts he will be PM by 2011 (France 24)
Malaysian opposition claims it will form government by September (Thaindian News)
Anwar’s power game goes on

Malay Mail (25/4/2008): Defacto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has put his credibility on the line by once again claiming he has the “numbers” to topple the government, meaning at least 30 Barisan Nasional backbenchers are ready to defect for him to form and head the next government.

Previously, Anwar had said the defection could happen “today, tomorrow or next week” without giving a definite deadline.

But in a carefully managed media event on Wednesday and, significantly, while on a visit to Sabah and Sarawak, Anwar firmed his position by saying the Pakatan Rakyat, which controls 82 seats in the 222-seat Parliament, would be ready to form the next government by Sept 16, Malaysia Day, this year.

“God willing, we will be there. If not next month, the following month, then if not June or July, (it will be) on Merdeka (Aug 31) or Malaysia Day. I think we should not go beyond that (Sept 16),” he told reporters on arrival in Sabah.

Before getting on the plane, Anwar gave an interview to French news agency AFP and on the plane he was interviewed by an AP wire reporter.

To all, the message was the same — he was ready to be the next prime minister and the way was through defections which would happen sooner, not later.

A master at using the inter national media, Anwar has sent a message to the world that in the new Malaysia, he would be the man to deal with.

While Anwar burnished his credentials, Barisan National leaders from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi down wards were left denying that no government backbencher was defecting, let alone in numbers that could topple the government.

More importantly, Sabah BN political leaders from Chief Min ister Datuk Musa Aman to Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Datuk Maximus Ongkili have repeatedly said Anwar was bluffing.

Nevertheless, Deputy Prime Min ister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said last week that BN was vigilant. When asked whether a snap election would be a possibility if defections did happen, he said: “We can’t rule it out.”

Many civil society leaders and ordinary Malaysians have questioned Anwar’s stated methods, seeing it as an unethical way to undermine democracy, free elections and respect for the public mandate.

“We elected a responsible op position to act as a check and balance, not an opposition that undermines democracy and engineers defection,” said a senior bank officer, who is involved with the People’s Parliament movement started by human rights lawyer Haris Ibrahim.

“Anwar should play the role of a responsible opposition leader in Parliament. He should stand for election and get elected and sit in Parliament and prepare for the next election. He should face the people and let the people decide whether he should be prime minister.

“What he is doing now is anti-people and anti-democracy. What is he offering to engineer defections? People are not changing loyalties because they love him or believe in his cause.

“If he is offering positions or money it could be a crime under the law.”

At the ‘Black 14’ rally in Kampung Baru last Monday, Anwar answered some of these issues but his replies fell flat.

He posed the question ‘some people say it is immoral to engineer defection?’ and answered it by arguing that he was arrested, stripped naked, beaten and thrown into jail on trumped-up charges.

“Is that moral?” Anwar asked and the crowd shouted back “No! No!”

The ethics of engineering defections aside, can Anwar pull it off? Is he bluffing and if so, what are his motives? Looking at the numbers, defections seem near-impossible.

While Anwar needs 30 from the BN to form a one-seat majority government, the BN only needs eight from the opposition to en joy a two-third majority in Parliament again.

For Anwar to form a stable government, he needs at least 50 backbenchers to cross over and give him a 20-seat majority in Parliament. Otherwise his government will suffer from the same malaise — an unstable govern ment that is easily held to ransom by a clique.

It is not that Anwar is unaware of all of this. He has been hard at work trying to make the numbers and his emissaries have met back benchers and their point people.

Meetings have been held in Singapore, Indonesia and the Middle East — countries Malaysian leaders travel frequently to without raising suspicions.

“The meetings are aimed at finding out where East Malaysian backbenchers stand given the changed political landscape,” said a senior aide to Anwar.

A Sabah political leader, however, said the is sue was not just about changing political loyal ties for money or positions.

He explained: “Before there was only one political centre — Umno. Now there is Umno and Anwar. For the first time we have a choice and we can choose. We are the king-makers, we get VIP treatment and we have the ears of the prime minister and Anwar.

“Anwar is offering us 20% in oil royalties. It is an irresistible offer,” he said, adding that currently they only get 5% of “our own oil.”

“We are attracted to 20% but we are not falling for it just yet. Anwar was finance minister for eight years but he never offered us more then the 5%. Now he wants to give 20%. Why not 30% or even 50%?” he said.

“The political tsunami that hit the country recently has also woken us up,” said another Sabah politician.

“We are not naïve natives anymore to fall for the first sarong salesman that comes along. Don’t expect us to fall all over Anwar. He needs us more than we need him,” said the deputy minister in the State Cabinet.

It is clear that crossovers in the numbers that Anwar needs is difficult, almost impossible.

It is made more difficult, in the case of Sa bah and Sarawak, by the fact that both State governments are controlled by BN. Their MPs will not defect unless the State governments also fall to Pakatan Rakyat.

So why is Anwar persistent in saying he has the “numbers” to topple the BN government?

Political insiders say, it is to keep up the spir its of Pakatan Rakyat supporters who have fought long and hard so that Federal power is finally within reach.

Another possible reason is that Anwar is just impatient, as before, and is stepping on it at the cost of his credibility. (Baradan Kuppusamy)

Anwar: We want to rule with stability

The Star (25/4/08): Pakatan Rakyat will not form the next federal government if it does not have a comfortable majority of MPs on its side, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I do not want a three or four simple majority. We need a comfortable majority because stability (of the government) is paramount,” he told reporters here yesterday in response to his earlier statement that the Opposition coalition could form the next government by Sept 16.

He said Pakatan Rakyat needed Barisan Nasional MPs from Sarawak and Sabah to join the Opposition alliance to make it a “national movement for change”.

“Now we have the numbers. If they (Barisan Nasional leaders) say we do not have the numbers, we will prove them wrong.

“They say there is no way the Barisan Dayak or Kadazan MPs will desert us (Barisan). We will see. The surprise will be coming, maybe in August,” he added.

Anwar reiterated that his priority now was to ensure that the five states under Pakatan Rakyat’s rule were managed well and that he was coordinating and forging a formidable Opposition alliance.

He said that as Sabah and Sarawak had delivered more than 50 parliamentary seats to the Barisan Nasional, it was time for the people of the East Malaysian states to demand bigger representation in the federal administration and government-linked companies.

He said there were many professionals in Sabah and Sarawak who had impressive credentials to hold positions in such companies.

Anwar said oil-producing Sarawak, like Sabah and Terengganu, would be given 20% oil royalty if Pakatan Rakyat took over the federal government.

Asked if he would support calls from within Umno that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should resign as the Prime Minister, he said that was for Umno to decide.

Earlier, Anwar launched PKR Mambong division at a restaurant along Kuching-Serian Road, and met with several Dayak leaders.

MP: Anwar is power crazy

The Star (25/4/08): Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is power crazy, the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BBC) claims.

BBC deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said the Opposition figure head was trying his best to undermine the strength of the ruling coalition.

Bung Mokhtar said claims by Anwar that Barisan MPs were ready to crossover was a political gimmick that showed that he was suffering from a craze for power.

"He is just finding ways to get to power by making all sorts of claims"
- Datuk Bung Mokhtar

He said Anwar must accept the fact that Barisan holds the majority in Parliament and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition had lost the general election.

“The people have made it clear that they support the Barisan government,” he said when dismissing Anwar’s claims that the Pakatan Rakyat government had enough Barisan MPs to form the Federal government and it would be done by Malaysia Day (Sept 16).

The Kinabatangan MP said Anwar was using unethical methods to woo Barisan MPs so that he can take over the Government.

“He is just finding ways to get to power by making all sorts of claims,” Bung Mokhtar said after chairing the Sabah Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board meeting here yesterday.

He said Barisan MPs have pride and respect the wishes of the people and he did not see the possibility of them crossing over to the Opposition.

“The Opposition coalition is weak and is built on political convenience and this could collapse anytime when you compare it to long-term working relations between parties in Barisan,” he added.

Malaysia: stealing thunder

Oxford Analytica (24/4/08): Malaysia's self-proclaimed 'alternative government' is expected to set out its policy platform this week. Almost two months after elections transformed the political landscape, de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be vying to steal the thunder permanently from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).

A ban on Anwar playing a formal political role has expired (the former deputy prime minister was toppled from power in the late 1990s amid charges of corruption and sodomy, the latter later overturned). Anwar now believes he will be prime minister within three years; he claims that he can hammer the final nail into the BN coffin with the defection of legislators from the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Three opposition parties are working together to undermine the government further. They have diverse interests, but can together be expected to continue a focus on welfare and overcoming ethnic tensions. They have already vowed to rethink long-established and contentious rules that guarantee preferential treatment of ethnic Malays.

Malaysians are frustrated by the economy, inflation, crime and ethnic tensions. The opposition is operating from a position of unprecedented strength (it controls over one third of parliamentary seats and five states). But incumbent powers will be hard to shift, and moves to overturn the status quo may prompt a backlash.

Anwar playing a political game, says Najib

The Star (24/4/08): Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's claim that Pakatan Rakyat can form the next government by Sept 16 is part of his political gamesmanship, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"He can make all sorts of claims. He will make all sorts of claims. It is part of a political gamesmanship he is playing," the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters Thursday after visiting the 11th Defence Services Asia exhibition and conference here.

He was asked to respond on Anwar's claim on Wednesday, which was made during his two-day visit to Sabah.

Asked what measures Barisan Nasional is taking to avoid potential crossovers by Sabah and Sarawak MPs to the Opposition as claimed by Anwar, Najib said, "We don't expect that they will leave the ruling party."

He said hopefully, the MPs would remain loyal to Barisan because the ruling coalition has served the nation all this while.

"Barisan MPs won in the March general election under the Barisan ticket. They must be confident that the country's future is guaranteed under the ruling coalition."

Sabah and Sarawak hold 50 out of 140 parliamentary seats belonging to Barisan and the Opposition needs at least 30 MPs in order to form the government.

On Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim's proposal for Umno to set up a special commission to probe the reasons for the party's dismal performance in the elections, Najib dismissed it saying: "There's no need for such a commission."

Anwar agenda is fast move to PM (The Standard)
Malaysia's Anwar says he would be a much better PM than Abdullah or Mahathir (IHT 23/4/08)