When law enforcers become law breakers - malaysiakini

The death of A. Kugan has grabbed headlines and shocked the nation. The continuing controversy around his death under suspicious circumstances in police custody is just another sad symptom of the dysfunctions that plague our country: those who enforce the law have become the law breakers. The British bequeathed us an effective civil service, a proud judiciary, and a capable police force. Thanks to decades of disrespect and apathy, none of these institutions can now hold their heads high.

For years we have all known that our once efficient civil service was slowly breaking down. Money or connections slowly but surely became a necessity to get past any government red tape. Long lunch breaks and poorly staffed offices became the norm. When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over in 2003, there was actually a sigh of relief just because he was willing to acknowledge the immense problems that plague our once erstwhile civil service.

The judges, who supposedly arbitrate the law without fear or favour, have only seen their reputation tarnished more and more over the years. Even before the constitutional crisis of 1988, our best judges were reluctant to uphold the basic rights our Federal Constitution guarantees us; as our Foreign Minister Datuk Rais Yatim documents in his PhD thesis “Freedom Under Executive Power in Malaysia” in 1988 just affirmed what had been the true state of things all along: what the executive wants, the executive will get, the rights of Malaysians and the rule of law be damned.

As for the police, it has likewise been a similar tale of sliding into ignominy. It is hard for someone from my generation to believe, but there was a time when you could trust the men and women who swore to enforce the law of our land. Throughout the communist emergency, and for years afterwards, our brave Royal Malaysian Police force served and protected us from calamity after calamity. But as the civil service grew lax about its work, and as the courts began to be corrupted, there was nothing to be done. The police have now fallen to the level where the only thing we expect when stopped by an officer is to be asked for a bribe, and where we are wont to suspect wrongdoing whenever the police are involved.

Kugan’s case is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Just as the Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigations revealed massive corruption throughout the public sector, and just as the Royal Commission of Inquiry confirmed that the top arbitrators of our laws were blatantly swindling the people and perpetuating injustice, we are now seeing a backlash against the police force’s betrayal of our trust. The Malaysian people have had it with the tarnishing and tainting of the institutions we were once so proud of.

Home Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar’s characterisation of this as the public’s irrational belief that the police are always demons and criminals are always heroes only demonstrates how out of touch our government is with the laws and institutions it supposedly administers. It is precisely because we want our police to be our heroes that we are making such a ruckus. Are we to now say that Malaysians hate elections, because two years ago they took to the streets to protest the clearly biased way in which we conduct our democracy?

If the people of Malaysia can no longer trust the men and women who have sworn to uphold and enforce the laws of our land, the problem is not with the people. The problem lies with the people’s government — the government that has chosen again and again to ignore the corruption of our most basic and cherished institutions. Just as it opted so many times in the past to hush up rumours of corruption in the civil service and judiciary, the government is once again trying to silence a simple fact: Malaysians no longer trust the institution of the police.

A country cannot long function without institutions it can place its trust in. As soon as we become dependent on the personal goodwill of those in power, instead of being able to trust in the impartiality and objectiveness of our institutions, we find ourselves living under tyranny instead of democracy. The Malaysian people have spoken loudly and clearly, again and again: we want our democracy. We want our cherished institutions back. We want to be proud of our civil service, of our courts, of our policemen and women once more.

As long as the government continues to ignore the dissolution of our institutions, it can continue to count on the Malaysian people giving it a sound whipping at the ballot box and on the streets. This is our country; these are our institutions. If you refuse to uphold the laws and the Constitution you have sworn to uphold, if you insist on betraying the trust which we have placed in you, you will get what is coming to you. -- TMI

Tajol Letak Jawatan, Najib Pengerusi UMNO Perak - malaysiakini

[DIKEMAS KINI] KUALA LUMPUR: Majlis Tertinggi (MT) Umno yang bermesyuarat lebih tiga jam, menerima keputusan bekas Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Mohd. Tajol Rosli Ghazali yang meletakkan jawatan sebagai Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno negeri itu berkuasa kuasa serta-merta.

Kekosongan itu diisi oleh Timbalan Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak.
Jawatan Timbalan Pengerusi Umno Perak pula akan disandang oleh Menteri di Jabatan Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Najib dan Zahid hanya akan memegang jawatan itu sehingga akhir Mac ini.

Umno dijadual mengadakan perhimpunan agung dan pemilihan pucuk pimpinan pusat Mac ini.
Ia merupakan antara keputusan yang diputuskan oleh mesyuarat MT yang dipengerusikan oleh Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bermula pukul 9 malam tadi.

"Pelantikan ini berkuat kuasa serta-merta, jadi mulai sekarang Datuk Seri Najib adalah Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Perak," kata beliau pada sidang akhbar di sini awal pagi ini.

Abdullah yang juga Perdana Menteri berkata, alasan yang diberikan oleh Tajol ialah "adalah lebih baik orang lain memimpin Perak selepas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bota menyertai pembangkang."

"Kita menghormati kehendak dan keputusan. Dia nak undur diri. Lebih baik rasanya bagi orang lain pimpin Umno Perak," katanya

Selain itu, Abdullah yang juga Pengerusi BN memberitahu, MT juga memberi penjelasan Tajol mengenai kedudukan Umno dan BN Perak khususnya mengenai keputusan ADUN Bota keluar parti.

Di Kampar pagi tadi, Tajol mengumumkan bahawa beliau akan meletakkan jawatan sebagai Ketua Umno Bahagian Gerik pada 29 Mac ini.

Kata Tajol, beliau juga tidak akan bertanding mempertahankan jawatan anggota Majlis Tertinggi pada perhimpunan agung Umno dari 24 hingga 28 Mac ini, yang sekali gus akan menyebabkan semua jawatan yang disandangnya melalui lantikan termasuk sebagai Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Perak, tergugur.

Malah beliau menyelar sebuah akhbar hari ini yang melaporkan beliau telah meletakkan jawatan sebagai Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Perak.

"Saya terperanjat dengan laporan itu. Akhbar itu memang tidak beretika. Selama ini hubungan saya dengan wartawan memang baik tapi hari ini saya memang marah dengan akhbar itu.

"Laporan itu tidak sepatutnya dibuat kerana ia merupakan satu mesyuarat tertutup dan tidak sepatutnya apa yang berlaku dalam mesyuarat itu dilaporkan," katanya.

Akhbar berkenaan dalam laporan muka depannya mendakwa Tajol pada majlis perjumpaan bersama Pemimpin Umno Bahagian Parit di Bangunan Umno Parit lewat petang Selasa lalu mengumumkan meletakkan jawatan sebagai Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Perak kerana rasa bertanggungjawab terhadap tindakan ADUN Bota, Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, keluar daripada Umno dan menyertai Parti Keadilan Rakyat. -- mStar

Adun BN Perak sertai Keadilan - malaysiakini

PETALING JAYA 25 JANUARI (SK)- ADUN Barisan Nasional Nasarudin Hashim hari ini mengumumkan untuk menyertai KeADILan.

Pengumuman berkenaan dibuat ketika sidang media bersama Ketua Umum, Anwar Ibrahim di Ibu Pejabat KeADILan disini.

Menurutnya keputusan ini diambil setelah meneliti dan mempertimbangkan kepentingan rakyat.

” Saya amat yakin dengan kepimpinan KeADILan yang mempunyai iltizam dan idealisme yang kuat untuk memperjuangkan hak-hak dan kepentingan rakyat yang terdiri dari pelbagai kaum di negara ini,” katanya dalam sidang media.

Nasarudin adalah Adun Bota yang juga Pengerusi Felcra Berhad hadir bersama isterinya menyakini KeADILan tetap menjunjung hak-hak yang termaktub dalam perlembagaan.

”Saya percaya KeADILan akan tetap menjujung dan menghormati hak-hak yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan khususnya dalam kedudukan Bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa rasmi kebangsaan, kedaulatan Raja-raja Melayu dan kedudukan Islam sebagai agama Persekutuan,” tambahnya lagi.

Selain itu menurutnya lagi penyertaan ini membolehkan saya menjadi Adun yang lebih berkesan dan memberi khidmat terbaik kepada penduduk setempat memandangkan Pakatan Rakyat sudahpun menubuhkan sudahpun menubuhkan kerajaan di negeri Perak. -- Suara Keadilan

Blue-eyed boy makes government see red - malaysiakini

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 – He is without doubt the blue-eyed boy of corporate Malaysia, sitting atop the country’s top investment agency and lording over the vast government-linked company empire.

But Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar’s recent statements in the press have caused some unease with members of the outgoing Abdullah administration and raised some red flags with some supporters of incoming prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Senior government politicians are wondering why he has been bent on embarrassing the government with comments about Valuecap and KLIA East, statements which have put the administration on the back foot.

In comments published in the New Straits Times on Saturday, he said that Valuecap has yet to get the RM5 billion capital injection from the government.

“It’s on the way,” he said.

Last October, the government said that it would help boost Valuecap’s fund by RM5 billion to buy undervalued stock and provide a boost to the market.

The government’s move to support Valuecap and obtain a loan from the Employees Provident Fund has been criticised sharply inside and outside Parliament.

As a result, the government has been particularly prickly to any statements made on Valuecap, especially in the economic slowdown climate where it wants to assure Malaysians that all funds promised by the administration to create economic activity is being disbursed in a timely fashion.

The Malaysian Insider understands that following the worsening global economic situation late last year, the Ministry of Finance decided that the RM5 billion loan from EPF to Valuecap will be drawn down in tranches and not as a lump sum.

The reason: the government believes that it may need to seek further help from EPF during this drawn out economic crisis to stimulate domestic demand and create a multiplier effect across the Malaysian economy.

While boosting Valuecap funds is important to creating movement on Bursa Malaysia, it is not likely to have as strong an impact on the economy as pump-priming.

So a decision was taken by the government to allow Valuecap to drawn down the RM5 billion in tranches. A sum of RM1 billion was released by EPF in December and more money will be given to Valuecap as and when necessary.

“The last thing the government needs now is for confusing statements to be made in public. The public and stakeholders expect the government to follow up each plan or policy statement with concrete plans. Only then will there be confidence,” said a government official, adding that
Najib may have to clarify the funding situation with Valuecap.

Valuecap is jointly owned by Khazanah, Permodalan Nasional Berhad and the
Retirement Fund Inc.

Earlier this month, Azman went public with his views on the RM1.6 billion new low-cost carrier terminal in Labu. He said that there was no need to build a new LCCT away from KLIA.

Khazanah is a shareholder in Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad and would naturally be opposed to any move by Air Asia to move away from KLIA and operate its own LCCT.

But government officials felt that Azman should have made known his objections about the LCCT project to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Second Finance Minister privately, given that all three members of the Cabinet are also members of the Khazanah Nasional board of directors.

They charge that Azman has access to the top decision makers in government and he could have made persuasive arguments to the PM, DPM or anybody else in Cabinet.

Was there a need to exert pressure on government by going public, they wondered.

Supporters of Azman, Khazanah Nasional and MAHB say that he had little choice but to go public given the firestorm of protests the new LCCT project provoked. Staying silent as the biggest shareholder of MAHB was not an option.

Also, they point out that Air Asia had many powerful supporters in government in its corner and Azman’s statement helped to shift the balance of power a bit, at least in the public arena.

Or, at least, it set the stage for more public debate on this project, which has an impact beyond Air Asia, Khazanah and MAHB.

The Edge which has been critical of the plan to build a new LCCT away from KLIA, noted in its editorial this week that Khazanah Nasional has a vested interest in making sure that KLIA East does not happen, not only because it is the substantial shareholder of MAHB but also a controlling shareholder of Malaysia Airlines.

“The idea of an aggressive Air Asia, now Air Asia X with full control of its own airport must worry Khazanah, MAHB and MAS… Here is a case of a tenant (Air Asia) that wants to get out of its tenancy because its landlord (MAHB) has a close relative (MAS) who competes in the same business and thus would not make things easy for it. But will it be allowed to?

“And what’s wrong with the idea of a privately-owned managed LCCT competing with MAHB? Isn’t it true that competition leads to improved services and lower cost for customers?, ‘’ said the Edge.

The impasse over KLIA East is likely to be settled this Friday with odds on the government reversing an earlier decision to allow Air Asia to finance and build its own LCCT.

It will be a victory of sorts for Azman and may vindicate his tactic of going public with his opposition to the airport project. -- TMI

Youth vote: BN losing battle to opposition - malaysiakini

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 — It was bad enough for Barisan Nasional to lose the Kuala Terengganu seat, but even worse news for the ruling coalition is that voting patterns show more young people are leaning towards the opposition.

Detailed voting data from last Saturday's Kuala Terengganu by-election shows BN has lost the most support from among those aged below 35.

This group includes youth from BN's traditional voter base. While the Chinese in the Terengganu constituency continued to show steadfast support for BN, the area's youth preferred the conservative Pas.

“We are on a rising tide,” said opposition DAP MP Tony Pua.

Some 25 to 30 per cent of Malaysian voters are expected to be below 35 by the next general election, due in 2013, said political analyst Ong Kian Ming.

Another concern for BN is that the younger generation did not mind voting for Pas, whose Islamic ideology traditionally appeals more to the older generation.

BN won the seat in Kuala Terengganu, or KT, in the general election in March last year partly because many young voters there had shunned Pas.

But the tide seems to be turning now.

Pas won the KT by-election with a credible majority of 2,163 votes.

And according to Ong, the level of support for BN fell the most among those below 35. It dropped by 4.4 percentage points, against a fall of less than two points for other age groups.

“This is significant when one considers the larger number of unregistered but eligible voters in Malaysia,” he said.

Most unregistered voters are believed to be young, having just reached the minimum age of 21 to become eligible.

Data from the Election Commission shows that unregistered voters number about four million to five million, and many do not bother to register. Malaysia has 11 million registered voters.

The sole bright spark for BN in the Terengganu by-election is the increase in support from the Chinese community. It rose to 68.4 per cent from 67 per cent in the March general election, showing the rural Chinese are still a strong voter base for the 13-party BN coalition.

But even among this group, support had fallen among the youngest voters.

The analysis of the KT by-election confirms that the pro-opposition trend of the March general election is growing, despite BN's attempts to stem the tide.

With Malaysia's youthful population and rapid urbanisation, this could be a greater challenge to BN in the future. For the opposition, the KT result represents a big stride ahead.

“It shows that BN, in its current form, is no longer viable. But it also shows that the alternative is still in its infancy. We have won just half the battle,” said DAP MP Liew Chin Tong.

He was referring to the persistent wariness among older Chinese voters of the puritanical Pas agenda.

The young voters have consistently shown that they are more concerned with issues such as justice, governance and equality. — The Straits Times

Opposition strength highlights threats facing region’s incumbents - malaysiakini

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 – Malaysia’s ruling coalition lost a key parliament by-election on Saturday, underscoring the dangers faced by incumbent governments in Southeast Asia as their export-dependent economies begin to absorb the full impact of the global slowdown.

The vote in Kuala Terengganu dealt a setback to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is expected to take over as the country’s leader in March.

Najib had orchestrated a high-profile campaign on behalf the government’s candidate, hoping to demonstrate his political clout with a victory.

Instead, the opposition coalition showed it still commands considerable voter support after racking up unexpectedly strong gains in a national parliamentary election last March.

Pas – part of the country’s strengthening opposition alliance – took 51 per cent of the votes cast, as ethnic Malay and ethnic Chinese voters switched support from the National Front to the Muslim party to signal their frustration with the government.

Pas politician Mohammed Abdul Wahid Endut won by 2,631 votes in a battle which saw a turnout of almost 80 per cent.

Incumbent governments elsewhere in the region are also under pressure. In Thailand, where a prolonged political crisis last year paralysed policy-making, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s shaky new coalition government, which was formed in December, must now struggle with an economy on the brink of recession as opposition parties loyal to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra try to destabilise it.

In the Philippines, where elections are due in 2010, prospective presidential candidates are already distancing themselves from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Political analysts there say her deputy, Vice-President Noli De Castro, is likely to run as an independent rather than representing Arroyo’s party.

The Malaysian economy is also in trouble. The government says gross domestic product could grow 3 per cent this year, but many private sector economists are less optimistic. Citigroup Global Markets says GDP is likely to expand just 0.5 per cent in 2009. Demand for Malaysia’s biggest manufactured export, electronics components, is slumping and prices have fallen sharply for oil, natural gas and palm oil, the country’s biggest commodity exports.

At the same time, race-based politics continue to play a pivotal role in this country of 27 million people. Since independence from Britain in 1957, many of Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese and Indians – who collectively make up more than 30 per cent of the population – have mostly lent their support to the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition led by the United Malays National Organisation, the dominant party of the country’s Muslim ethnic Malays.

But as the economy slows, many non-Malay voters are tiring of a decades-old affirmative action policy designed to help the majority ethnic Malay population catch up economically with the generally wealthier ethnic Chinese community.

“Chinese voters are now giving up on the government. They’ve had enough,” says James Chin, a political science professor at the Malaysia campus of Australia’s Monash University.

In last March’s national elections, many minority voters as well as a significant number of ethnic Malays switched their support to an opposition alliance led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The coalition’s main components are Anwar’s PKR (People’s Justice Party), the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party and Pas, the Islamic party.

As a result, the National Front lost its long-held two-thirds majority in Malaysia’s parliament, effectively forcing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to accelerate a handover of power to his deputy, Najib.

Najib, 55, is expected to take over as premier in March after he formally wins election as Umno party president, a post for which he is running unopposed.

The British-educated son of Malaysia’s second prime minister, Najib campaigned hard in the Kuala Terengganu by-election to fill a parliamentary seat held by a Barisan member of parliament who died last year.

After Saturday’s defeat, Najib tried to play down the importance of the election loss for the government.

“Of course, this is a setback for us,” he told reporters, but added that “We will not be disheartened by the result.”

Independent analysts predicted that the Barisan’s recent decline could continue. Although Najib

doesn’t have to call another national election until 2013, his rival, Anwar, is working on convincing at least 30 government lawmakers to defect to the opposition in order to take control of Malaysia’s 222-seat parliament.

“The slide continues,” said Khoo Kay Peng, an independent political analyst and consultant. “The Barisan should count its blessings for not losing by a bigger majority.” – Asian Wall Street Journal -- TMI

After big win, a summit for Pakatan leaders - malaysiakini

By Neville Spykerman

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 – Buoyed by a convincing win in the Kuala Terengganu by-election, all five Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state chief ministers are scheduled to meet together, for the first time, in Alor Star, today, together with other leaders, to map out a future for the still-fledgling political alliance.

The PR meeting is expected to work out strategies on how the five states can cooperate economically and politically, while also laying down the groundwork for a more cohesive and formal coalition.

These include common policy and strategies to take on contentious issues like hudud, which saw DAP and Pas at loggerheads with each other in the run-up to the Kuala Terengganu by-election.
But yesterday’s victory for Pas will give the PR alliance a boost and momentum which is likely to see its leaders work towards stronger cooperation.

The five heads of administration - Kelantan Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Kedah MB Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, Perak MB Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng – will be joined by other PR big wigs.

Among them will be Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

PR insiders described the top-level summit as “long overdue”.

They down played the timing of the meeting, being held just over 10 months after the March 8 political Tsunami, adding that this was the first time all five-chief ministers were free to come together.
PKR’s Elizabeth Wong, who will be among exco members from the five states attending the meeting, said determining common policies on issues – such as tourism, investments and management – will be on the agenda.

However she said the issue of hudud is not on the agenda and will be left to other forums.
“Sunday’s meeting will focus on issues affecting all five states, such as waste management, which the Federal Government proposes to take over, and finding a common stand.”

PR executive secretary Shabrimi Sidek said the meeting will be hosted by the Kedah Menteri Besar, in Dewan Seri Mentaloon, which is at his official residence.

The meeting will start at 3pm and will last till 11 in the evening. -- TMI

Hadi Mahu Pak Lah Kekal PM Selepas Mac - malaysiakini

Oleh G. MANIMARAN

KUALA TERENGGANU: Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang mahu Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi terus kekal sebagai Perdana Menteri selepas Mac ini.

Kata beliau, Abdullah yang juga Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) perlu kekal untuk meneruskan pembaharuan-pembaharuan dalam aspek-aspek lain selain kehakiman dan rasuah.

"Saya meminta Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi terus kekal sebagai Perdana Menteri dan meneruskan reformasi yang diperlukan seperti dalam bidang pilihan raya dan beberapa bidang lain," kata beliau.

Abdul Hadi berkata, Pakatan Rakyat akan memberikan kerjasama penuh kepada Perdana Menteri untuk melakukan reformasi baru tersebut.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas kemenangan calon PAS dan Pakatan Rakyat, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu, malam tadi.

Abdullah dijadual menyerahkan jawatannya sebagai Perdana Menteri dan Presiden Umno pada akhir Mac ini.

Beliau akan digantikan dengan timbalannya, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.

Antara perubahan yang dilakukan Abdullah adalah penubuhan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) dan Suruhanjaya Pelantikan Kehakiman baru-baru ini.

Sementara itu, Abdul Hadi berkata, pihaknya juga gembira kerana terdapat sedikit perubahan dalam sistem perjalanan pilihan raya pada kali ini.

Sambil mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), beliau berkata, pihaknya mahu Perdana Menteri terus kekal bagi meneruskan lagi perubahan dalam sistem tersebut.

Ketika ditanya sama ada beliau yakin dengan sistem pilihan raya di negara ini berikutan kemenangan PAS hari ini, Abdul Hadi berkata, masih ada banyak ruang yang perlu diperbaiki dalam sistem tersebut termasuk sistem pengundian secara pos. - mStar

An awful day for Najib and BN - malaysiakini

Commentary
by Wan Hamidi Hamid

JAN 17 — It was a horrible blow for Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The prime minister-in-waiting has now lost two by-elections in less than five months.

Both the by-election results saw higher majority votes for the federal opposition.

Najib did his best for his beloved Barisan Nasional in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election. Yet the voters in the BN stronghold decided to vote for Umno's arch enemy Pas.

He made many promises, granted many projects and offered a lot of goodies, and yet the voters rejected BN.

Is this a bad omen or merely another "minor" setback for the deputy prime minister who has a tough task ahead of him to take over from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi this March?

Throughout the 11-day campaign period, Najib had worked diligently to ensure victory for BN candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh. According to journalists covering the by-election, he was one of the hardest working campaigners for the federal ruling coalition.

If it was not his fault, would BN leaders blame the voters? It may not be a smart idea to do so. After all, Terengganu voters were among those who helped BN increased its votes in the state when the political tsunami hit the country on March 8 last year.

What does the result mean for Umno and BN?

Besides the expected morose look on the faces of BN leaders tomorrow, the coalition's backbone Umno will also face yet another question on its actual strength to bring the Malays back to its fold.

This dreaded question — is Umno still relevant — will continue to haunt its leaders. Since Abdullah is set to leave the political arena, Najib has to inherit all the misgivings and wrong perception brought about by his soon-to-be predecessor.

If Umno persists in blaming others in its post-mortem of the by-election, it would simply mean it does not want to address the root cause of the problem; and would further damage the image of the party.

Worse still, Umno will continue to lose its battle against perception of elitism, ignoring the people and too concerned with its own personal interests.

Yet in a more negative way, it can also push certain party leaders — particularly those entering the race for party posts in March — to be more insular and parochial in their racial approach to win the hearts and minds of their own supporters.

This could mean a more divided Malaysia. Unless the Pakatan Rakyat is willing to step in to provide a real alternative.

Pas candidate Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut's victory was a second coming for Pakatan; the much-need shot in the arm for the loose coalition, after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official political comeback five months ago when he regained his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat.

Pas's victory will also wipe away any possibility of the party trying to be friendly with Umno, despite the efforts by some of its top leaders almost a year ago. This will bring the party a new sense of confidence.

Other Pakatan partners — Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP — are already jumping for joy. Not only are they celebrating their partner's victory, this is also the time for them to regroup for the next general election.

While the post-mortem on both sides will reveal the actual turn of events and provide more details, it can be safely deduced that most Chinese voters opted for Pas while there was a swing among Malay voters for Pas.

It was the Malay votes that had got Umno so worried and the damage had been done in Kuala Terengganu. Just like a football game, losing on your home turf will certainly have a deep psychological impact. -- TMI

PAS MENANG - malaysiakini

Pas 32,883
BN 30,252
Bebas 193
Majoriti 2631

KEPUTUSAN TIDAK RASMI PRK KT - malaysiakini

8.45pm Update

Total votes reportedly cast : 80,229

Counted up to now : 55,860

PAS : 28,446
UMNO : 26,726
Independent : 160
Spoilt votes : 528



8.40pm Update

Total votes reportedly cast : 80,229

Counted up to now : 53,647

PAS : 27,488
UMNO : 25,503
Independent : 152
Spoilt votes : 504

DSAI - 2 pendedahan Ezam sudah tidak relevan - malaysiakini

Oleh ARIFFUDDIN ISHAK

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim enggan memberi respon atau menjawab sebarang pertuduhan seperti yang dicabar oleh bekas Setiausaha Politiknya, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor mengenai dua perkara penting yang didedahkannya sewaktu berkempen di Kuala Terengganu kelmarin.

Beliau sebaliknya mendakwa Ezam diperalatkan oleh Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam kempen pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu untuk meraih undi.

"Saya tidak pernah respons kepada Ezam, sejak bila saya respons kepada dia?

"Di Permatang Pauh mereka gunakan dia, setiap pilihan raya kecil dia akan digunakan," katanya dalam sidang media di bangunan Parlimen semalam.

Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas mengenai cabaran Ezam supaya menjawab pendedahan terbaru .

Semalam, Ezam yang juga bekas Ketua Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) mendedahkan bahawa bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu pernah memintanya supaya menguruskan langkah berdamai dengan Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad tidak sampai seminggu selepas dipecat.

Malah Ezam turut mendedahkan tarikh tepat beliau melihat kandungan enam kotak rahsia yang dikaitkan dengan kononnya bukti gejala rasuah pemimpin-pemimpin Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) semasa berada dalam kerajaan.

Ditanya sama beliau ingin menafikan atau mengakui mengenai pendedahan Ezam itu, Anwar berkata, isu merupakan isu lama yang sudah tidak relevan.

"Dia cakap mengenai isu bila, 1998? Sekarang sudah 2009, dia tunggu 11 tahun untuk fikir," katanya.

Bagaimanapun Anwar yang juga Ketua Pembangkang di Parlimen berkata isu yang dibangkitkan Ezam tiada kaitan dengan pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu.

"Apa isunya? Saya tak nampak sebarang isu yang cuba beliau bangkitkan," katanya. - mStar

Busuknya UMNO Kerana Pemimpin - malaysiakini

Oleh monazmuslim

Tak tahulah saya apa nak jadi dengan UMNO ni. Sebuah parti yang kononnya mahu membela bangsa, negara dan agama Islam. Tapi bila direnungkan semula setelah lebih 50 tahun UMNO memerintah negara bersama dua rakan sekutu utamanya MCA dan MIC, apa yang dilihat keadaan negara kita semakin gawat dalam pelbagai aspek.

Di sudut ekonominya, jenayahnya, rasuahnya dan pelbagai jenis penyakit masyarakat yang melanda. Logikkah bagi sebuah negara yang telah merdeka lebih setengah abad tetapi masih lagi "meraba-raba dalam gelap" untuk mendapatkan formula terbaik agar kedudukan ekonomi negara mantap seperti Singapura, Korea dan Taiwan.

Yang asyik kita dengar ialah bail-out sana, bail-out sini. Berapa banyak wang rakyat yang digunakan untuk menyelamatkan beberapa syarikat besar. Dah berapa ratus juta ringgit wang rakyat yang dikorek dari tabung seperti KWSP, Tabung Haji dan Tabung Tentera untuk menyelamatkan syarikat besar yang berterusan rugi seperti Perwaja Steel dan MAS.

Sejarah yang paling menjelekkan apabila Mirzan Mahathir mengadu pada ayahnya (PM ketika itu) agar menolongnya untuk menyelesaikan hutang ratusan juta syarikat perkapalannya yang hampir bankrap. Lalu si ayah menyuruhnya pergi berjumpa Anwar Ibrahim yang pada ketika itu Menteri Kewangan. Maka, si anak manja Mahathir ni pergi mengadap Anwar untuk meminta wang perbendaharaan (wang rakyat) bagi menyelesaikan hutangnya. Malang bagi Mirzan kerana Anwar tidak mahu menolongnya. Lalu murkalah memanda Perdana Menteri pada Anwar. Akhirnya, Anwar dipecat dan difitnah. Inilah dia pemimpin UMNO.

Wang negara dan rakyat dijadikan macam bapak dia punya. Begitulah juga dengan Mat Taib 'Mike Tyson'. Ditahan di Lapangan Terbang Brisbane, Australia kerana membawa wang tunai berjumlah RM 2.4 juta dalam bentuk Ringgit Malaysia, Dollar Singapore dan New Zealand. Terpaksa meletakkan jawatan sebagai MB Selangor setelah Mahkamah Brisbane mendapati dia bersalah kerana tidak mengisytiharkan wang tersebut. Sehingga sekarang masih jadi Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO.

Anuar Musa pula pernah menggelapkan wang peruntukan PPRT (Program Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin) dan menggunakan sebahagian daripadanya untuk membeli sebuah Mercedes S-Class yang berharga hampir RM 1 juta. Yang ditahan oleh BPR hanyalah kereta Mercedes saja. Bayangkanlah, wang peruntukan untuk membantu rakyat termiskin pun boleh disapunya. Tak tahulah jenis apa punya manusia yang jadi pimpinan dalam UMNO ni. Yang pelik tu masih laku lagi dalam UMNO dan ramai penyokong.

Nor Mohamed Yakcop, seorang lagi penyamun dalam UMNO. Si mamak inilah yang menggunakan wang Bank Negara untuk dilaburkan dalam pasaran matawang antarabangsa sehingga Bank Negara mengalami kerugian puluhan bilion ringgit. Hari ini dilantik lagi sebagai Menteri Kewangan 2. Eh, tak tahulah macamana cara pemikiran pimpinan UMNO. Dah macam kartun. Rasanya budak tadika PASTI lebih cerdik.

Najib lagi rakus dan hebat. Pernah ditangkap khalwat dengan Ziana Zain di sebuah hotel di Negeri Sembilan. Semua orang tahu hal ini. Pasal duit, hampir RM 1 bilion disapunya daripada komisen pembelian pesawat pejuang Sukhoi dan kapal selam Scorpene. Sekarang Timbalan Presiden UMNO dan TPM. Si anak Tun Razak ni memang handal. Sapu duit dah satu hal. Dilaporkan memang dia dan bininya terlibat dengan pembunuhan Altantuya Sharibu. Bukan alang-alang, pakai C4 lagi.

Semuanya ada dalam UMNO. Bunuh, rasuah, fitnah, skandal seks dan pelbagai lagi kebusukan dan kekejian perilaku pimpinan UMNO yang pernah didedahkan dan yang terdedah. Tak ada apa yang boleh diharapkan dengan UMNO ni. Jika Bahasa Melayu dan Hak-Hak Orang Melayu pun boleh digadainya, jangan diharaplah UMNO nak bela agama Islam dan pertahankan negara. Kalau boleh, negara ni pun nak dijualnya.

Memang benar kata para ulama'. Dalam golongan syaitan tiada manusia tetapi dalam kumpulan manusia ramai iblis dan syaitan. Jangan kita biarkan golongan manusia yang bertuhankan syaitan ini terus memerintah negara. Yakinlah, jika rakyat negara ini khususnya orang Melayu masih terus memilih mereka sebagai pemerintah, tunggulah jawapan daripada Allah SWT.

Sebenarnya Allah telah menurunkan pelbagai bala' sebagai teguran kepada kita semua. Malangnya ramai yang tak sedar dan insaf.Sanggupkah kita menerima bala' seperti yang dialami oleh rakyat Aceh dan Bosnia ? Renungkanlah. Bersegeralah kita ke arah menjadi hambaNya yang sentiasa bertaubat dan kembali kepada Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah.

Saya sebenarnya cukup bimbang dengan apa yang sedang berlaku dalam negara ini. Takut dan bimbang Allah akan menurunkan bala' yang dahsyat. Saya menyeru kepada seluruh umat Islam, tolonglah tinggalkan UMNO. Jangan dipersiakan amal 'ibadah kita selama ini hanya semata-mata mempertahankan perkara yang salah. Seikhlasnya bahawa UMNO sebuah Parti Toghut. Menyokong toghut akan membawa kita ke Neraka Jahannam.Kepada para pengundi Kuala Terengganu,

Undilah PAS.
Wassalam

di petik dari http://monazmuslim.blogspot.com

A show of unity from Pakatan in key KT vote - malaysiakini

By Debra Chong

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 7 — Pas candidate Abdul Wahid Endut may be a big man in the local political scene, but the Pakatan Rakyat front is not taking chances.

Amid a series of inter-party spats that are starting to grow into a national nightmare, the leaders sent out a signal that their union, formed less than a year ago, is far from breaking up.

Last night, the heavyweights from all three parties turned up at a mammoth beach rally in Pantai Tanjung, near the town centre here.

The PR show of force was meant to rival the Barisan Nasional contingent led by no less than the deputy prime minister himself, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Pas's top two leaders, spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and party president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, both turned up, and filled a football field's worth of fans.

Lim Kit Siang, advisor to the secular DAP, also showed up despite the party's anti-hudud stand which has sparked off countless public debates on the feudal Islamic criminal code.

And there was opposition leader and PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who rushed back from Turkey the same day to lend his support to the Islamist party's campaign.

They wasted no time in attacking the BN and its senior component party Umno.

Lim and state Pas chief Datuk Mustafa Ali led the first charge, accusing the Umno-led BN of wasting taxpayers' money on state projects that carry no benefit to the public.

Both listed the Monsoon Cup and the Crystal Mosque among several controversial exorbitant projects which failed to reduce the state's high number of poor and the rising unemployment rate, especially among the young.

Hadi continued the assault. He pointed out the disparity of the state's economic status. Despite being the second richest state in Malaysia after Selangor due to revenue from oil royalties, it is also the state with the second highest number of poor people, after Perlis.

And Anwar hammered the BN coalition when he likened Umno to Israel, amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, to a mainly Muslim audience.

The Kuala Terengganu by-election may not directly change power at the federal level. But it is a significant gauge of how much change has been effected on the ground since the 12th general election less than a year ago.

For the PR coalition knows, as well as the BN, that Terengganu voters will play a pivotal role when it comes to the next general election, which may come sooner rather than later. -- TMI

Mahathir says that Wan Farid is a bad choice for KT - malaysiakini

By Lee Wei Lian

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 5 – Dr. Mahathir may have jeopardised Barisan Nasional's (BN) chances in the crucial Kuala Terengganu by-election when he said that the ruling coalition's candidate, Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, is a bad choice and merely a proxy.

“The choice of the candidate is really very bad because people see him as a proxy to be used if Najib becomes prime minister,” the former prime minister said.

This condemnation of the BN candidate is seen as another swipe at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“The candidate was the prime minister's choice because he was working with the prime minister,” he added.

Wan Ahmad, the former deputy home minister and member of the senate, who resigned both posts last Friday, will contest against Wakaf Mempelam state assemblyman Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut of PAS.

Even without Dr Mahathir's remarks, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was expected to use his close links with Abdullah to attack him in the campaign.

This latest bombshell by Dr Mahathir could lead to a repeat of the March 8 general elections where his attacks on the government and calls for a stronger opposition were credited with helping the opposition to their biggest electoral gains ever.

Dr Mahathir's attacks were widely perceived to be personal in nature, and a calculated strategy to force his successor from power.

The prime minister became a focus of Dr Mahathir's attacks when he was blamed for the reversal of several of Dr Mahathir's pet projects including the crooked bridge to Singapore and the decision by Proton to offload Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta for one euro.

Dr Mahathir, who is Proton's advisor, had supported Proton's purchase of MV Agusta and was bitterly opposed to its sale.

In the Permatang Pauh by-election last August, Dr Mahathir had predicted that the BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah would lose but with a reduced margin. -- TMI

Pakatan needs common platform to cover cracks - malaysiakini

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 – In recent weeks, Malaysia's mainstream media has been swamped with reports of rifts among politicians within its opposition coalition, the Pakatan Rakyat.

Opposition leaders do not deny that the coalition, consisting as it does of an ideologically diverse set of partners, is being distracted by issues ranging from bus terminal concessions in the central Selangor state to sensitive topics such as the implementation of Islamic laws.

But they insist that the tensions are being overplayed ahead of a crucial by-election in the north-eastern state of Terengganu in two weeks. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) will take on a candidate from Parti Islam SeMalaysia, or Pas, the country's main Muslim opposition party and a key component of Pakatan Rakyat.

“There is no denying that we have some problems to deal with. We see them as issues over governance and all of this represents a learning curve (for the coalition),” said Sivarasa Rasiah, the vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), another Pakatan component. “But any suggestion that the alliance is breaking down is very misplaced.”

There is widespread agreement in the coalition with Sivarasa's view. In fact, the problems faced by the coalition, which controls five state governments, is no different from the dilemmas confronting the BN federal government.

In recent months, BN suffered a setback when the Sabah Progressive Party and its two elected parliamentarians defected from the ruling coalition.

The BN's most senior partner, Umno, is grappling with serious infighting ahead of the party's own elections in March and is facing increasing pressure from its non-Malay coalition partners over a range of issues, from religion to education.

But Pakatan Rakyat does not have the luxury of time. It must present itself as a capable alternative if it intends to topple BN in the next election which must be held before March 2013.

Many of the coalition's own leaders acknowledge that unless a common platform for cooperation is hammered out quickly among the Pakatan parties, differences over race and religion and the competitive politics of patronage could badly hurt the coalition and cause divides that could be hard to bridge.

The raft of controversies sweeping Malaysia's opposition alliance offers a glimpse into how this hodge-podge of political parties, which made unprecedented gains in the general election last March, is conducting itself in power. Its command of five state governments is turning into a test of how much change it will in fact bring to governance in Malaysia as a whole, were it to take over from BN at the federal level.

Consider the controversy over a new bus terminal in the port city of Klang in the opposition-led Selangor state.

The previous BN state government had awarded the developer of the terminal a 15-year concession to operate and manage the project.

But details of the concession agreement remain shrouded in secrecy, resulting in a war of words between the leaders of PKR, who are demanding greater transparency, and a few politicians from the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party (DAP), who say that there is no need to make the matter public since the contract cannot be rescinded.

In any case, the failure of Selangor chief minister Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to deal decisively with the issue has brought into the open other problems in the coalition, such as the dissatisfaction among the coalition's ethnic Indian partners. They feel their interests have been neglected by Pakatan Rakyat's leadership.

One Indian leader, the elected representative for Kapar in Selangor, Mr S. Manikavasagam, has threatened to resign if issues relating to his community's welfare are not addressed.

Manikavasagam, a longtime activist in the Indian community, draws most of his support from the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf), a powerful Indian grassroots movement that strongly backed the Pakatan Rakyat in the last general elections.

His forceful and public demands for greater economic benefits for the community, including appointments for Indians to state-owned enterprises and local councils, illustrate how the opposition coalition, like the ruling BN, must grapple with the competitive ethnic politics that have long defined Malaysia.

But the feuding also reflects a problem peculiar to the Pakatan Rakyat. Activists like Mr Manikavasagam are unschooled in the art of compromise, without which government in a multiracial country like Malaysia is difficult. Pakatan's leadership acknowledges that they need to establish clear policy positions so as to avoid such public spats.

That will be Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's key challenge in the coming months. Instead of courting potential defectors from BN in his bid to take over the federal government, the Pakatan Rakyat leader needs to redirect his attention to keeping the coalition intact. If he does not apply his skills of political conflict resolution, his own coalition will fracture. – The Straits Times - TMI

Teguran Guan Eng seolah tidak hormati DSAI - malaysiakini

gambar : mStar

Oleh ARIFFUDDIN ISHAK

PETALING JAYA: Tindakan Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng yang meminta Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim supaya memastikan pemimpin parti itu lebih berdisiplin menggambarkan pakatan pembangkang itu masih berada dalam proses penyesuaian dalaman.

Perkara sedemikian dilihat oleh penganalisis politik tempatan sebagai tindakan tidak matang kerana ia menunjukkan kerapuhan sistem pakatan yang mereka amalkan.

Pensyarah Sains Politik, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Dr. Ahmad Nizamuddin Sulaiman berkata situasi sedemikian menggambarkan seolah-olah Anwar tidak dihormati.

Jelasnya perkata itu juga menunjukkan Pakatan Rakyat yang dianggotai PKR, DAP dan PAS masih belum mempunyai seorang ketua yang disegani.

"Walaupun Anwar kini sebagai Ketua Umum Pakatan Rakyat, namun tindak tanduk mereka seolah-olah tidak menghormati Anwar sebagai ketua.

"Malah mereka juga dilihat seperti sedang tercari-cari seorang pemimpin yang disegani," katanya kepada mStar Online.

Semalam Guan Eng yang juga Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang mengeluarkan kenyataan supaya Anwar memastikan pemimpin-pemimpin PKR lebih berdisiplin dalam usaha mengekalkan Pakatan Rakyat terus diterima rakyat.

Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas mengenai perkembangan terkini iaitu terdapat beberapa pemimpin PKR bergaduh dengan pemimpin PAS di Perak yang boleh menjejaskan peluang Pakatan Rakyat untuk menang pada pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu pada 17 Januari ini.

Ahmad berkata sepatutnya Guan Eng tidak membuat teguran terbuka melalui media kerana tindakan tersebut sedikit sebanyak boleh mengeruhkan hubungan parti komponen dalam pakatan pembangkang itu.

"Sepatutnya tegurlah dalam mesyuarat atau secara bertulis kerana melalui cara itu nampak lebih baik dan elok," katanya.

Malah jelas beliau lagi teguran terbuka seumpama itu juga boleh menyebabkan hati penyokong PKR mahupun PAS terguris.

"Tindakan Guang Eng itu juga boleh menyebabkan ramai yang berkecil hati dan terguris kerana ia seolah-olah menggambarkan pimpinan kedua-dua parti berkenaan tidak berjaya mengawal ahli-ahlinya," katanya.

Sementara itu, Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Sains dan Kemasyarakatan Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Prof. Dr. Ahmad Atory Hussain berpendapat 'perbalahan pandangan' yang wujud dalam Pakatan Rakyat akan terus berterusan.

"Teguran Guan Eng itu ada asasnya kerana mereka sememangnya akan terus berbalah sesama sendiri untuk satu tempoh yang lama.

"Malah saya juga menjangkakan proses orientasi barisan pembangkang itu akan berterusan hingga satu penggal," katanya.

Jelasnya antara PKR, PAS dan DAP mereka masih belum betul-betul mengenali antara satu sama lain kerana masing-masing mempunyai matlamat dan ideologi yang berbeza.

"Latar belakang mereka berbeza, agenda dan ideologi juga berbeza kerana pakatan itu hanya bersatu dalam pilihan raya dengan sasaran untuk menewaskan calon Barisan Nasional (BN).

"Kemudian lepas pilihan raya mereka kembali bawa haluan masing-masing dengan cara dan pemikiran yang berbeza-beza," katanya.

Bagaimanapun beliau berkata teguran Guan Eng itu kena pada tempatnya.

"Mungkin Guang Eng sedar perbalahan antara PKR dan PAS akan menggagalkan usaha Pakatan Rakyat untuk mengambil alih kepimpinan negara.

"Beliau mungkin juga tidak mahu pergaduhan PKR dan PAS akan turut mengheret DAP dalam masalah yang timbul," katanya. -- mStar

* Teguran Guan Eng DISINI

Kumpulan 'bukan pro Manika' adakan demonstrasi sokong DSAI - malaysiakini

Oleh ARIFFUDDIN ISHAK

PETALING JAYA: Satu lagi kumpulan dalam Parti Keadilan Rakyat hari ini mengadakan demonstrasi bagi menyatakan tanda sokongan terhadap parti itu dan Penasihatnya, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Kira-kira 150 orang hadir dalam perhimpunan itu yang dianjurkan oleh penyokong kaum India PKR dan ahli-ahli Makkal Sakti.

Kumpulan 'bukan pro Manika' itu berkumpul di hadapan ibu pejabat PKR bermula pukul 3 petang sebagai tanda bahawa tiada sebarang perpecahan atau perasaan tidak puas hati di kalangan kaum India dalam PKR seperti mana yang di bangkitkan oleh Ahli Parlimen Kapar, S. Manikavasagam.

Ia dianjurkan selepas tiga hari Manikavasagam meletakkan jawatan sebagai Timbalan Pengerusi PKR.

Setiausaha Agung PKR, Datuk Salehuddin Hashim yang menyambut kehadiran kumpulan berkenaan berkata perhimpunan aman tersebut menunjukkan bahawa parti itu masih lagi bersatu tanpa wujudnya masalah hingga menyebabkan keretakan dalaman seperti yang dilaporkan oleh sesetengah media.

Dalam pada itu beliau turut menasihatkan Manikavasagam supaya sentiasa berfikir secara rasional dalam memperjuangkan hak kepentingan rakyat.

"Saya tak marah Manika, beliau nak perjuangkan rakyat tak ada masalah.

"Tapi ingat fikir dengan cara yang baik dan jangan meludah ke muka sendiri," katanya dalam ucapan ringkas di hadapan penyokong-penyokong PKR itu.

Tambahnya lagi, beliau menyokong penuh jika Manikavasagam ingin membantu membela nasib kaum India namun turut mengingatkan supaya ahli Parlimen itu tidak tersasar matlamatnya.

Sebelum itu, pemimpin PKR dari Kedah, Kalai Vanar yang mengetuai perhimpuan berkenaan berkata kehadiran mereka pada hari ini ialah bagi membuktikan bahawa penyokong kaum India dalam PKR masih kekal setia bersama parti itu.

Katanya, isu kononnya sudah mula wujud keretakan dalam PKR kerana adanya diskriminasi kaum terutamanya melibatkan kaum Inda adalah mainan politik sesetengah pihak yang cuba melemahkan semangat perjuangan mereka.

Perhimpuan berkenaan turut dihadiri oleh Timbalan Presiden PKR, Dr. Syed Husin Ali, Naib Presiden PKR, R. Sivarasa, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Seri Andalas dan Dr. Xavier Jayakumar.

Turut serta ialah pengendali blog Malaysia Today, Raja Petra Kamaruddin. -- mStar

Kapar MP says he will ‘live or die’ with PKR - malaysiakini

by Neville Spykerman

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam has snubbed the invitation by two Umno leaders for him to join Barisan Nasional.

Manikavasagam told The Malaysian Insider he would “live or die” with PKR despite his differences with Selangor's Pakatan Rakyat leadership and he had no intention of jumping ship.

"No thanks," was his response to the invitation from Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib and state opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Mond Khir Toyo.

Manikavasagam said crossing over would betray the Hindraf 5, who have been detained under the Internal Security Act, and voters in Kapar who voted overwhelmingly for PKR on March 8.
The embattled first-term MP, who has come under fire from within his own party for his persistent criticisms against the state PR leadership, admitted problems existed.

Burdened with an overwhelming obligation to the people who voted for change, especially the Indian community, Manikavasagam said he is frustrated this change has been slow in coming.

"I have been vilified in the press, by my own party members, for trying to be a hero to the Indians but are they (critics) going to help the community if I shut up."

Manikavasagam, who has been at the forefront in handling social issues affecting the Indian community for over almost a decade, said he has no intention of changing his confrontational style just because he is now a PKR MP.

In September, he took to task the Selangor Menteri Besar for not going to the ground to visit victims of a freak storm in Klang and more recently he was embroiled in a public argument with Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim over the relocation of the bus terminal in Klang.

However, Manikavasagam is aware the open battles in the press are only benefiting BN and is adopting a unilateral ceasefire — for now. -- TMI

MS: So Khir Toyo n Mat "Tyson" Taib jangan nak berangan lah yer nak bawa Manika masuk umno tu, dia dah kata tak hingin.... kesian korang kan ... Huhhhhhh

Abdul Wahid calon pilihan semua - malaysiakini

Oleh: Zulkifli Sulong

JAN 3 — 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. -- TMI

Surat terbuka Mahathir kepada Obama - malaysiakini

Syor bekas Perdana Menteri meliputi pelbagai isu antarabangsa

Oleh G. MANIMARAN

[DIKEMAS KINI] PETALING JAYA: Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad dalam surat terbukanya, sempena Tahun Baru 2009, menyenaraikan sembilan perkara yang wajar ditimbang oleh Presiden Barack Obama, yang mengetuai Amerika Syarikat (AS) mulai 20 Januari ini.

Surat terbuka itu yang memfokus pada pelbagai isu antarabangsa termasuk perkembangan terbaru di Asia Barat dengan rejim Yahudi mempertingkatkan serangan ke atas Palestin sejak awal minggu ini, Dr. Mahathir berkata:
"Saya mempunyai banyak lagi resolusi bagi perubahan yang saya fikir anda harus timbang dan melakukannya."
"Bagaimanapun saya fikir anda juga mempunyai cukup (resolusi) bagi tahun 2009 Era Kristian ini.

"Jika anda boleh melaksankan walaupun hanya beberapa resolusi yang saya syorkan, anda akan diingati oleh dunia sebagai pemimpin terulung.

"Kemudian, Amerika Syarikat sekali lagi akan kembali sebagai negara disukai. Kedutaan-kedutaan anda boleh merobohkan tembok-tembok besar dan kawat gegelung yang mengelilingnya," kata Dr. Mahathir, antara pemimpin lantang mengecam dasar dan kepimpinan AS selama ini, dalam laman blognya yang menggunakan alamat baru iaitu www.chedet.cc mulai hari ini.

Saranan Dr. Mahathir kepada Obama, Presiden ke-44 AS, yang pertama daripada kalangan masyarakat kulit, dipilih awal November lalu ialah:

- Berhenti daripada membunuh orang.

- Hentikan sokongan sembarangan kepada Israel dengan wang dan senjata. Pesawat dan bom yang membunuh orang ramai di Gaza adalah dari AS.

- Henti daripada mengenakan sekatan ke atas negara-negara yang tidak boleh berbuat demikian ke atas AS.

- Hentikan saintis dan penyelidik AS daripada mencipta senjata-senjata kejam untuk membunuh orang ramai secara lebih efisien.

- Hentikan pengeluar-pengeluar senjata daripada menghasilkan senjata sedemikian. Halang mereka daripada menjualnya kepada dunia. Ia pendapatan diperoleh AS.

- Hentikan daripada cubaan mendemokrasikan kesemua negara di dunia. Demokrasi kemungkinan bersesuaian untuk AS tetapi tidak semestinya padan untuk negara-negara lain. Jangan bunuh orang kerana mereka tidak mengamalkan demokrasi.

- Hentikan kasino-kasino yang anda anggap sebagai institusi-institusi kewangan. Kawal selia bank-bank anda.

- Iktiraf Protokol Kyoto dan perjanjian-perjanjian antarabangsa yang lain.

- Hormati Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu.

"Adalah satu kebiasaan orang ramai membuat resolusi pada Tahun Baru. Anda mungkin sudah tentu mempunyai resolusi-resolusi baru," kata Dr. Mahathir yang juga Pengerusi Yayasan Perang Jenayah Kuala Lumpur.

Pun begitu, kata Dr. Mahathir, "biar saya dengan rendah diri memberikan saranan bahawa anda" juga menyelesaikan perkara-perkara tersebut untuk meneruskan Perubahan.

Kempen pemilihan Obama berkisar pada slogan "Perubahan". -- mStar

PERUTUSAN TAHUN BARU 2009 DARI DSAI/DSWA - malaysiakini

Setiap kali tiba tahun baru, maka kita berkesempatan melakukan dua perkara; merenung kembali apa yang sudah kita usahakan sepanjang tahun yang bakal berlalu pergi serta menetapkan matlamat baru mahupun menjayakan apa yang belum kita capai.
Tahun 2008 merakamkan beberapa peristiwa bersejarah. Sekian lama kerajaan Barisan Nasional yang dipimpin Umno tidak pernah digugat kedudukannya, namun tahun ini rakyat membuktikan perubahan tidak pernah mustahil untuk dilaksanakan. Nuansa politik perkauman yang dipintal bersama ketakutan ditolak rakyat.
Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 menyaksikan kerusi milik pembangkang bertambah dan menafikan Barisan Nasional majoriti 2/3. Harapan rakyat begitu besar, perubahan mesti dilakukan,

makanya hasil dari persetujuan dan permuafakatan ketiga-tiga parti; Pas, Dap dan Parti Keadilan Rakyat melahirkan Pakatan Rakyat. Sepanjang tahun ini tidak dapat dinafikan pelbagai cabaran yang datang untuk menggugat permuafakatan ini.
Hasrat Barisan Nasional untuk melihat kehancuran Pakatan Rakyat nampaknya menemui jalan buntu. Mereka lupa, asas kepada permuafakatan ini berpasak kuat dari cita-cita memperjuangkan agenda rakyat dan melakukan perubahan mendasar. Perubahan adalah tuntutan melewati sempadan kaum dan politik kepartian.
Negara kita berdepan dengan kedudukan ekonomi sejagat yang tidak menentu. Kesannya kepada rakyat semain terasa. Kadar Inflasi yang tinggi menyebabkan harga barang melonjak naik.

Krisis keyakinan terhadap institusi keselamatan dalam negeri juga terhadap sisten kehakiman ternyata tidak membantu menarik pelaburan bagi menjana ekonomi negara. Kita tidak boleh lagi berada dalam keadaaan penafian. Kepimpinan yang menggalas beban pastinya menghakis kepercayaan rakyat. Pengurusan ekonomi memerlukan kepimpinan yang berpandangan jauh, tegas dan jujur.
Sering saya ulangi, negara ini dan rakyatnya yang berbilang kaum sudah mengharungi pelbagai rintangan bersama. Kita yakin dengan berlakunya perubahan, dan bila negara ini mula berada di haluan yang tepat, maka sekali lagi kita akan dapat melepasi cabaran ini.
Kami ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan Selamat Tahun Baru 2009 kepada semua rakyat Malaysia.
Ubah sebelum parah, ubah demi maruah.

Selamat Tahun Baru 2009

ANWAR IBRAHIM & DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL

Pak Lah remains bitter with Muhyiddin - malaysiakini

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 — One of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s infuriating habits is his tendency to forgive and forget, charge his supporters.

Political enemies are given a free pass too readily; those who ignored him when he was in political wilderness in the early 1990s such as Penang’s Datuk Ahmad Ismail have been defended publicly and even embraced as allies; and his critics have been invited to have dinner with him at his Jalan Bellamy home.

Perhaps one day Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will fit snugly into the “forgive and forget category”. But not just yet.

They meet at the weekly Cabinet and Umno supreme council meetings and bump into each other in Parliament when the House is in session but there has been next to zero personal contact between the two men over the past few months.

The reason: Abdullah still cannot get past the cheerleading role that the Minister of International Trade and Industry played in whipping up ground sentiment in Umno against him after the March 8 elections and the alliance he forged with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the campaign to force the PM out of office early.

Abdullah has so far not entertained requests from Muhyiddin for a four-eyes meeting, concerned that it could be misconstrued by party members as endorsement of the latter’s push for the deputy president position in Umno.

Muhyiddin is being challenged by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Ali Rustam and Rural Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, two politicians who have shown some measure of loyalty to the prime minister when he was being hammered for his weak leadership and role in the electoral debacle for Barisan Nasional.

Ironically, Abdullah always considered Muhyiddin one of his closest friends in government. And though he picked Datuk Seri Najib Razak as his deputy over Muhyiddin, he appointed the Johor politician to senior portfolios in the Cabinet, first as the Agriculture Minister and then as the Minister of International Trade and Industry.

He was surprised when word filtered back to him that Muhyiddin had used a Federal Territory Umno meeting in May to openly question his fitness to lead Umno and the country.

During that meeting, Muhyiddin said: “Pak Lah is my friend, but can he manage the current situation? He's a good man, but the situation has changed. I am being sincere… We need to change, so that we don't go down and down.”

Still, he refused to believe that Muhyiddin had teamed up with others including his nemesis Dr Mahathir to force him to hand over power to Najib sooner than the 2010 transition date. But slowly he began to see a trend of Muhyiddin getting more vocal and adopting some of the arguments which had been put in the public domain by Dr Mahathir.

He was grated when Muhyiddin began distancing himself from the 2010 transition plan despite endorsing the supreme council decision. During this time, Abdullah was encouraged by some Cabinet ministers and senior government officials to drop Muhyiddin from the Cabinet.

He declined to do so, either because he did not want to make Muhyiddin a martyr in Umno or because he did not want to open up another battlefront.

Following Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s stunning victory in Permatang Pauh in August, Muhyiddin increased his pressure on Abdullah to step down. By then also, more senior Umno politicians had become restless and concerned about the future of Umno should Abdullah remain in power till mid 2010.

Abdullah himself sensed that his grip on power was weakening and moved to protect his turf by offering Najib the powerful Finance portfolio.

The end came swiftly when several members of the supreme council, including Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, urged Abdullah not to defend the party presidency, saying that he had lost the ground.

Following this rebuff, Abdullah announced that he would step down after the party assembly in March. He believed that the groundswell against him had been manufactured by Muhyiddin and gang.
A senior party official told The Malaysian Insider: “I believe that one day Pak Lah will be able to forgive Muhyiddin but there is still bitterness over the betrayal, especially how he teamed up with Dr Mahathir.’’

On the flip side, Muhyiddin’s supporters argue that he was spot on in pushing for a quicker transition of power, noting that Umno seems to be more united now that the succession issue has been settled. Government lawmakers are more assured in Parliament and talk of cross overs has died down.

Also, they point out that though Muhyiddin was hoisted as the poster boy of the “force Abdullah out’’ movement, there were many senior Umno politicians who were saying in private what the Johor politician was willing to say on record.

Muhyiddin’s advocates say that he wants to meet Abdullah to clear the air and rebuild a friendship that was once solid.

That day of rapprochement could happen but ties between the two men will never be the same. Too much has happened between March 8 and now. -- TMI

DSAI, probably Malaysia’s greatest comeback kid - malaysiakini

By Leslie Lau
Consultant Editor

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — On a hot night in March, at the height of the general election campaign, about two hundred people stood on the lane outside a block of flats in Section 17 in Petaling Jaya near here, and waited patiently for the arrival of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The crowd, though small, was enthusiastic when Anwar arrived and immediately addressed them with the kind of energy and polish which makes him probably one of the most talented and gifted politician this country has seen.

Still, it was hard to imagine then how he would once again in his career make the kind of comeback that would galvanise the disparate opposition and put the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) on the back foot for much of the year.

No, Anwar was not the single biggest factor which caused BN to lose their traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament and also cede control of five states to the combined opposition of PKR, DAP and Pas.

Credit, or blame, if you will, probably goes to high oil prices, simmering racial tensions, and the weak leadership of Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi as well as one of the worst campaigns in the history of BN.

But it was Anwar who seized the opportunity to unite the opposition after the election results, and created this new animal in Malaysian politics known as a two-party system, through the formation of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance.

By the time he addressed a public rally soon after the election in Kampung Baru here, thousands had turned up to hear him speak. The public could smell a winner and were gravitating to the aura of near invincibility he had created.

So confident was he that he launched an attack against Umno’s Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) philosophy, in a neighbourhood which has become the symbol of Malay nationalism in the country.

He said then that his fledgling PR coalition would offer Malaysians the philosophy of Ketuanan Rakyat, and the mainly Malay crowd cheered him on.

Anwar had clearly captured the imagination of the public.

Soon after that, Malaysia’s former deputy prime minister announced to the world that the PR coalition would take power by Sept 16 by engineering a series of mass defections from BN.
In every corner of the country, the public, supporters and detractors alike, were clearly captivated by Anwar.

In July, the drama that has become Anwar’s life reached new heights when news broke of a new sodomy allegation against him.

This time, an aide claimed he had been sodomised by Anwar.

Alleging a consipiracy, Anwar responded by seeking temporary refuge at the Turkish embassy here. He turned up in public eventually and was formally charged in court for sodomy.

But the sodomy allegations did not stop him from winning by a landslide his old constituency of Permatang Pauh in a by-election.

Against all odds, Anwar returned to Parliament, and stepped up his rhetoric that the PR alliance would take power by Sept 16.

He caused such unprecedented panic among BN leaders that the backbenchers group organised a “tour” of Taiwan in September to prevent their lawmakers from defecting. But Sept 16 came and went without incident. There were no defections and BN remained in power.

He stopped talking about taking over the government.

Aside from the occasional press statement and his appearances in Parliament, Anwar appears now to have lost his hold on the public’s imagination.

The public’s attention has also shifted to that of the economy. Few have any appetite left for politics as they prepare to face the economic uncertainties ahead.

Without the spell of Anwar, the PR alliance are also beginning to openly squabble over the kind of fundamental differences which were on the back burner just months earlier.

His supporters say Anwar is regrouping and planning new strategies to take on BN. His detractors are once again writing him off.

Still, as Malaysia’s year of change draws to a close, it is probably wise to say anything can happen.

A man who can become the leader of the strongest Federal Opposition this country has seen in 51 years just four years after being released from jail cannot be written off.

The comeback kid of 2008 could well make another comeback. - TMI