Siapa memperkosa hak Melayu selama ini?

Apabila mereka buka mulut, mereka cuba melabel diri sebagai "hero" dan pembela bangsa. Mereka menjaja nama bangsa mahupun agama demi mengemis sokongan masyarakat. Mereka menggunakan alasan "Hak Melayu yang dijamin perlembagaan" untuk mewujudkan ketidakharmonian antara kaum. Walhal hakikat sebenarnya, mereka cuma mahu mempertahankan "periuk nasi" dan keberlangsungan saki-baki kuasa yang ada. Persoalan "hak Melayu" sememangnya telah terjamin oleh perlembagaan sampai bila-bila. Persoalannya, siapa yang memperkosa hak Melayu ini selama lebih separuh abad merdeka?

Bayangkan, walaupun bersandarkan dengan fakta-mereka akan terus cuma menegakkan benang yang basah. Saya melihat ia suatu yang sangat bodoh dan tidak matang apabila golongan ini cuba mempolitikkan segala isu yang timbul dan dilihat cuba menggugah keamanan dengan menjerumuskan hampir apa jua isu ini kepada isu perkauman.

myBALIKpulau oh myBALIKpulau

Kali ini isunya bukan kepala lembu, bukan kandang babi, bukan "Cina" masuk surau. Kali ini, isunya adalah mengenai risalah myBALIKpulau yang diterbitkan oleh Persatuan Pendidikan Seni Pulau Pinang (Arts-ED) yang dikatakan "menghina Melayu dan sangat berbahaya".

Ada dua kekeliruan yang telah ditimbulkan mereka yang tidak berpuas hati. Pertamanya adalah berkaitan sumber-sumber sejarah yang dituduh "menghina Melayu dan berbahaya". Kedua adalah mengenai "siapa" yang bertanggungjawab menerbitkan risalah tersebut.

Pada 11 Februari baru-baru ini, Persatuan Pendidikan Seni Pulau Pinang telah mengeluarkan tiga mukasurat Kenyataan Akhbar yang menjawab semua pertuduhan mengenai sumber-sumber sejarah yang menjadi rujukan. Jelas, terang lagi bersuluh sebenarnya tiada isu panas yang boleh dimainkan.

Mari kita turuti sepintas lalu kronologi myBALIKpulau. Isu ini dibawa oleh ADUN Pulau Betong Muhammad Farid Saad (gambar kanan). Risalah ini seperti yang kita sedia maklum dituduh sebagai menghina orang Melayu, cuba melupuskan sejarah Melayu di Balik Pulau dan cuba mengelirukan generasi muda. Muhammad Farid Saad juga menuduh Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang di bawah Pentadbiran Pakatan Rakyat telah menerbitkan risalah myBALIKpulau tersebut.

Maka seperti biasa, Utusan Malaysia akan mula "memukul gendang" perkauman. Pada 2 Februari 2011 terpampang besar tajuk utama berita akbar tersebut "Lupa Sejarah, Hina Melayu" yang dilihat cuba memainkan sentimen perkauman. Ya. Mungkin inilah hakikat sebenar 1Malaysia yang dibanggakan Najib Razak. Jelas, wajah 1Malaysia ini kelihatan sangat capik.

Isu ini tidak terhenti setakat ini. Sejurus selepas itu, pada 9 Februari 2011 sebuah badan yang menamakan diri mereka Gabungan Bela Hak Islam (Gabungan) yang terdiri dari empat NGO mendesak kuat agar Kerajaan Pulau Pinang mengharamkan risalah tersebut dengan sebab yang sama.

Kerajaan Negeri meminta agar Utusan dan Muhammad Farid memohon maaf tetapi tidak diendahkan. Malang sekali buat ADUN Pulau Betong ini. Pada 15 Februari, kerajaan Pulau Pinang bertindak memutuskan untuk menyaman beliau dan Utusan Malaysia. Hal ini disebabkan kerana risalah itu sebenarnya ditaja oleh Kerajaan Negeri dan juga Jabatan Pelancongan Pulau Pinang bawah kepimpinan GERAKAN-BN. Ini beerti, segala tuduhan yang dilemparkan terhadap kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang adalah sesuatu yang berniat jahat.

Agenda Jahat UMNO-BN

Masih tidak berpuas hati dengan "sambutan hangat rakyat". Api perkauman terus-menerus ditiup sebaik mungkin. Pada 16 Februari 2011, beberapa lagi pertubuhan NGO dan individu membuat laporan polis berhubung risalah ini. Pertubuhan NGO tersebut terdiri daripada Pertubuhan Seni Silat Gayung Pulau Pinang, PERKASA, Belia 4B Permatang Pauh dan Johari Ahmad. Pertubuhan Suara Anak-Anak Malaysia misalnya dilihat cuba mengheret Kerajaan Negeri Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang dengan menyerahkan tiga sampul surat yang mendakwa mengandungi "bukti pembabitan kerajaan negeri" dalam penerbitan dan pengedaran risalah myBALIKpulau ini.

Belumpun isu myBALIKpulau reda, media UMNO memainkan isu perobohan yang melibatkan 1,000 gerai penjaja haram oleh Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai di sekitar Taman Pelangi. Isu ini telah mendapat liputan yang meluas media cetak maupun elektronik. Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang digambarkan "tidak perihatin" kepada nasib yang menimpa masyarakat Melayu. Walhal notis sebanyak empat kali telah dikeluarkan oleh pihak majlis.

Ini semua adalah permainan jahat. Para pemerhati menyimpulkan isu yang dilihat "membakar sentimen" perkauman ini adalah percubaan menjerumuskan kestabilan negeri ke kancah "ketegangan kaum". Dalam banyak-banyak isu yang timbul di Pulau Pinang. UMNO dilihat menjadi dalang utama memanipulasi isu. Bagi pendapat saya, isu ini sepatutnya tidak timbul. Rakyat Pulau Pinang lebih mengetahui perkara yang sebenar.

Soalan saya, apakah ini sesuatu yang bagus untuk rakyat, negeri mahupun negara? Tentu sekali tidak. Soalan saya lagi, sekiranya UMNO-BN berjaya menaikkan kemarahan rakyat khususnya orang Melayu, siapa yang akan untung? Tentulah UMNO. Adakah orang Melayu terbela di bawah BN satu ketika dahulu? Anda sendiri tahu jawapannya!

Skandal RM30 juta Pulau Jerejak??

Jangan jadi bodoh. Jangan bantut akal. Mari kita lihat dan fikirkan. Semasa isu Interlok timbul- isu ini telah dibawa ke peringkat tertinggi Kementerian Pelajaran. Walaupun pada mulanya mengundang tindakan emosi sesetengah pihak, Interlok dibawa ke meja mesyuarat dan rundingan. Wacana-wacana bersifat ilmiah terus dibahaskan.

Berbeza dengan apa yang berlaku di Pulau Pinang; risalah myBALIKpulau tidak diberikan tempat yang adil seperti Interlok. Tindakan yang diambil dilihat emosi semata-mata. Mengapa ia jadi begini? Jawapannya amat mudah - Interlok disuarakan MIC manakala myBALIKpulau cuba diletakkan di bahu DAP! Bagi saya, apa yang berlaku sangat-sangat memalukan.

Ada beberapa sebab mengapa UMNO menimbulkan isu perkauman sebegini. Salah satu sebab adalah untuk menutup mata rakyat atas pembongkaran skandal RM30 juta Pulau Jerejak yang berlaku di bawah pimpinan Koh Tsu Koon (gambar kanan) di mana beliau telah menyerahkan Pulau Jerejak kepada UDA. Ini merupakan skandal yang sangat hot. Cuba teka, siapa yang untung?

Rakyat Malaysia semakin matang. Ini bukan lagi zaman fotostat. Ini bukan lagi zaman mesin taip. Segala maklumat cuma dihujung jari rakyat. UMNO-BN harus sedar dan insaf. Sekiranya wujud kedaifan di kalangan rakyat Pulau Pinang, apatah lagi dari kalangan masyarakat Melayu; UMNO harus cermin diri mereka sendiri. Hodohkan?

*Hafiz Zainuddin ialah penulis bebas

Judi bola : Ascot Sports diharam masok ke P Pinang ... Tahniah YAB

Penang CM says Ascot Sports not welcome

STONE : Selepas Selangor, hari ini Pulau Pinang pula mengikut jejak langkah yang sama, TIDAK MEMBENARKAN PERTARUHAN BOLA SEPAK PIALA DUNIA diadakan di negeri itu. Negeri kedua PR yang mengambil tindakan mengHARAMkan judi bolasepak.

Hanya tinggal Kedah yang belum mengambil apa-apa tindakan. Tapi aku rasa mereka juga akan mengikut jejak langkah negeri-negeri PR yang lain untuk megHARAMKAN judi bolasepak ini.

Kelantan memang telah lama tidak memberikan lesen kepada semua pertaruhan judi nombor ekor.

Apa-apa pun tahniah kepada YAB LGE, yang pernah dicop sebagai komunis oleh orang Umno.

By Yow Hong Chieh May 28, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has barred sports betting licensees from operating in Penang, saying they are not right for responsible living.

“The Penang state government has decided to reject the application of the new sports betting licensee, Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd, or other related parties to conduct the sports betting business in Penang,” he said in his second Wesak Day message.

He said this was in line with the state government’s goal to promote a healthier social fabric and to reduce the number of special draws.

Lim (picture) cited the 12 draws and special draws conducted weekly by three gaming companies approved by the Barisan Nasional government.

“We are concerned as the excessive number of draws and special draws being conducted by these licensed operators have placed a very heavy burden on many families.

“Many of the breadwinners feel obliged to ‘chase’ after each draw with all three operators, resulting in substantial loss of income to the family and their children.”

Lim said the two local councils of (MPPP) and (MPSP) were empowered to enforce the ban under section 101(v) of the Local Government Act, which allows local government “to deal with issues concerning the municipality’s safety, health and convenience”.

He added that while the state government will not ban gaming outlets, it feels that their number of draws and special draws should be reduced to limit their destructive impact on people’s lifestyles. - TMI

Guan Eng bagi RM100 setahun untuk warga emas P. Pinang

Mak Chik dan Pak Chik di Pulau Pinang yang berumur 60 tahun dan keatas akan menerima RM100 setiap tahun dari Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang bermula April 2010 ini.

Program Penghargaan Warga Emas ini yang dilancarkan hari ini oleh KM Lim Guan Eng mensasarkan kepada lebih 132,000 warga emas Pulau Pinang. Tetapi sehingga kini katanya hanya 62,000 yang mendaftar. Guan Eng berkata demikian di Pulau Pinang hari ini.

Bermula esok sehingga 8 March, warga emas boleh menyemak dan mendaftar nama mereka di http://isejahtera.penang.gov.my yang telah dilancarkan hari ini.

sumber : TMI/BERNAMA

STONE: BN tak akan pernah terfikir akan program-program sebegini melainkan program-program atau projek-projek yang boleh memperkayakan kroni masing-masing atau para-para ADUN dan AP nya sahaja.

Apa-apa pun tahniah buat Guan Eng, yang kononnya berfikiran Komunis ni.

Guan Eng kata dia tak pecat Zahrain

Oleh G. Manimaran
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang berkata Ahli Parlimen Bayan Baru Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim yang bulan lalu mengeluarkan kenyataan pedas terhadapnya masih merupakan Pengerusi Island Golf Properties Bhd (IGP).

Pada masa yang sama, Lim Guan Eng berkata, Perbadanan Pembangunan Pulau Pinang (PDC) dalam mesyuaratnya kelmarin telah memutuskan untuk menganugerakan tender terbuka mengurus Bukit Jambul Golf & Country Resort (BJCC), bernilai RM40 juta, kepada sebuah syarikat lain untuk tempoh selama 10 tahun.

Tahun lalu ia membatalkan keputusan dibuat IGP untuk memberi kontrak berkenaan kepada sebuah syarikat RM2.

Butiran mengenainya akan dikeluarkan selepas sambutan Tahun Baru Cina, kata Lim dalam satu kenyataan.

BJCC diuruskan oleh IGP, sebuah subsidiari dimiliki PDC.

Dalam kenyataan itu, Lim berkata buat masa sekarang Zahrain masih merupakan Pengerusi IGP.

Zahrain memegang jawatan pengerusi dan pengarah IGP sejak 9 Julai 2008.

“PDC ada memaklumkan saya bahawa tiada surat dikeluarkan oleh sama ada PDC atau IGP kepada mana-mana pengarah mengenai sebarang perubahan (dalam kedudukan IGP,” kata Lim.

Laporan akhbar hari ini menyebut, Zahrain, bekas pengerusi PKR Pulau Pinang mendakwa beliau telah dipecat dari mengetuai IGP, 12 hari selepas mengeluarkan kenyataan mengkritik Lim.

Kenyataan Zahrain itu, yang turut disokong seorang lagi Ahli Parlimen PKR Pulau Pinang menyebabkan hubungan “dingin” PKR-DAP dalam Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang.

Zahrain dan rakan sejawatannya dari Nibong Tebal kini disiasat lembaga disiplin PKR.

MENYUSUL LAGI

Isu tanah di Pulau Pinang - LGE diminta beri penjelasan

BUTTERWORTH, Nov 11 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng must provide honest answers and explanation to the people on the plots of leasehold land in the state that have been changed to freehold status.

Opposition leader in the State Legislative Assembly, Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, said Lim should speak the truth and be honest and transparent to avoid public confusion over the present state government's policies and administration.

"The people want him to give truthful and honest answers at the state assembly and not hide anything," he told reporters after a meeting with state Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders here yesterday.

Azhar said the reply given by Lim on the matter at the state assembly sitting in August conflicted with the information received and recent press reports.

In his written reply to a question from Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhamad Farid Saad on the approval of applications for change of land status from leasehold to freehold between April 2008 and June 2009, Lim said the state government had not approved any.

Lim was also reported to have said that the state government was still waiting to bring up the matter to the National Land Council, which is chaired by the prime minister, at the year end.

He also said that the state government agreed to allow industrial and commercial land with leasehold status to increase their leasehold period to 99 years and residential leasehold land be changed to freehold status.

However, confusion arose when the press recently reported that PDC Heritage Hotel Sdn Bhd in collaboration with YTL Corporation Bhd would build a luxurious condominium and seafood restaurant on Lot 408, Section 19, next to the E&O Hotel in Lebuh Farquhar, Georgetown.

It is understood that approval for change of the land status from leasehold to freehold was granted for the project in early June.

Due to the conflicting information, Azhar said the BN assemblymen would raise the issue during the debate at the coming state assembly sitting scheduled to begin on Nov 30.

On the possibility of the Chief Minister be referred to the assembly's Rights and Privileges Committee, Azhar said Lim would be given the chance to explain before any action would be taken.

On Monday, Telok Bahang assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya was reported to have said that the Chief Minister could be referred to the committee if he was found to have lied during the previous assembly session.

Meanwhile, Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said the Chief Minister must be responsible for any statement he made, especially at a state assembly sitting. — Bernama

Kerajaan P Pinang beri duit raya pada kakitangan sokongan

GEORGETOWN: Kerajaan negeri bersetuju meluluskan bayaran khas RM500 kepada semua 3,299 pegawai kumpulan sokongan kerajaan negeri.

Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng, berkata selaras dengan dengan tindakan kerajaan pusat, bayaran khas itu akan dibuat dengan dua ansuran. "Arahan pembayaran RM500 ini akan dikeluarkan kepada Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP), Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP) dan semua agensi kerajaan negeri," katanya dalam ucapan sempena sambutan Hari Malaysia, di sini hari ini.

Katanya pembayaran pertama RM250 akan dilakukan hari ini bagi membolehkan wang tersebut digunakan untuk menyambut Aidil Fitri manakala bakinya akan dibayar akhir Disember. "Bayaran ini akan melibatkan peruntukan kerajaan negeri berjumlah RM1,649,500 dan gaji juga akan dibayar lebih awal untuk dua bulan ini untuk menyambut dua perayaan iaitu Hari Raya Puasa dan Deepavali," katanya.

Beliau juga berkata kerajaan negeri bercadang untuk menderma RM30,000 dalam usaha membela nasib wanita Penan di Sarawak yang dilaporkan mengalami penderaan seksual oleh pekerja pembalakan. "Saya akan mencadangkan dalam mesyuarat exco nanti bahawa kerajaan negeri menderma wang berkenaan untuk membela nasib wanita Penan," katanya. - Bernama

DAP bukan PAP - Guang Eng

By Shannon Teoh

GEORGETOWN, June 13 — After hosting Lee Kuan Yew for two hours, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says his party differs from Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) despite their shared history.

The minister mentor of Singapore made his first official visit to a DAP-led government today when he called on Lim in Penang this afternoon.

But with the conspiracy theories that DAP is PAP’s agent in Malaysia resurfacing in the run-up to and during Lee’s week-long visit to Malaysia, the chief minister of Penang distanced the party from its historical links with Singapore’s ruling party.

While acknowledging the fact that DAP was formed in 1965 out of Malaysian members of the PAP, Lim insisted that “we have different views and since the separation we have taken divergent paths and that has made us different.”

He said that while DAP valued the views of the minister mentor — who led PAP for three decades and is still an icon of Singapore’s success — their opinions differed.

He added that the meeting was government-to-government and the commonalities sought was in terms of “good governance, which is taken as a given in Singapore.”

Lim said that in Lee’s 50-minute meeting with him, followed by a 25-minute discussion with the rest of the Penang executive council, the minister mentor had tried to get a feel of the island’s new administration due to the change in Malaysia’s political scenario.

“He mentioned that Tun Daim Zainuddin had predicted that it would be difficult for Barisan Nasional to regain Penang for the next 10 years,” Lim said, referring to the Malaysian economist and political observer who was once finance minister.

“I believe he was trying to assess firsthand the leaders in our administration,” he added.

Lim also found an opportunity to lambast his BN predecessors by stating that Lee had commented that Penang’s infrastructure had not progressed in the same way as Ipoh and Seremban.

“It is a reflection of the graceful decline in Penang over the past 18 years. Between his last visit in 1989 to now, Lee has not seen much improvement,” he said, referring to the Gerakan government of the past.

“We need to take corrective measures so we appeal to the federal government to take steps towards remedial measures,” he added.

Lim also touched on trade relations and the fact that Singapore would like to see better communications and transport facilities in Penang.

The chief minister believes that plans to get a total of 84 flights per week between the two islands next year will go some way towards addressing this issue.

According to Lim, Lee also expressed views that Penang would be its first choice in relocating production that it had outgrown as it continues to move up the value chain. - TMI

Fairus finally quits as Penang Deputy CM - malaysiakini

PENANG, March 21 — Fairus Khairuddin, the Penang deputy chief minister, has quit, confirming swirling speculation about his position amid a cloud of suspicion over his conduct.

The PKR man submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of the DAP, and it has been accepted.

Lim made the announcement at a press conference in Penang today.

However, the CM declined to disclose the reasons for Fairus’s resignation.

But it is understood that the resignation was made on the instructions of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is keen to contain any damage Fairus’s conduct would have on the Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

Fairus’s position as deputy chief minister had become untenable because he faces a mountain of allegations over suspected abuse of power.

Speculation about Fairus’s resignation had surfaced this week after an anonymous text message was circulated saying that he was instructed to quit by Anwar over allegations of abuse of power.

Fairus’s appointment as deputy chief minister has been a source of controversy and he has been told off by Anwar for not even visiting his constituency. He was also forced to quit as Penang Football Association president due to his lack of enthusiasm.

Speculation is also rife that he is one of two PKR leaders in Penang accused of corrupt dealings involving a quarry.

Lim said today Fairus’s effective resignation date will be April 8. The DCM will be on leave until then.

Fairus will continue as Penanti assemblyman. -- The Malaysian Insider

Penang to go ahead with multilingual road signs

PENANG, Nov 21 — The Penang government will proceed with its decision to use multilingual road signs and street names to promote Georgetown as a World Heritage site.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said it was merely adding English, Tamil, Chinese, Arabic and Jawi in the signboards while retaining Bahasa Malaysia in deference to the national language.

“We want to boost Penang tourism and this is part of our effort to attract more tourists to visit Penang after the recognition by Unesco as a World Heritage site,” he told reporters after the installation of five signboards in different languages along Lebuh Acheh today.

He said the multilingual road signs could assist foreign tourists in exploring Penang.

He pointed out that multilingual signboards had been put up in many cities, including Kuala Lumpur, which had added Arabic and Jawi on its road signs.

“We cannot be a closed society if we want to survive and compete globally,” he said, adding that each of the signboards cost about RM300.

Asked to comment on Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam remark that he should be aware earlier of the Unesco guidelines on World Heritage sites, Lim said Mohd Ali’s words could not be trusted.

“Mohd Ali said that (Bollywood heart-throb) Shah Rukh Khan will come to Malacca on Nov 29 to receive his Datukship but it was called off. This shows that the Mohd Ali does not mean what he says and does not say what he means,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Lim was reported as having said that the guidelines were not widely known and the state government only became aware of them when Georgetown’s Unesco status was approved. — Bernama

Batal "Kings of Tennis": PAC Pulau Pinang siasat MPPP

PULAU PINANG Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Awam (PAC) Pulau Pinang akan mengadakan inkuri untuk menyiasat implikasi kewangan yang ditanggung oleh Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) berikutan pembatalan perlawanan antara jaguhjaguh tenis "Kings of Tennis" yang sepatutnya berlangsung semalam.

Pengerusinya, Jagdeep Singh Deo yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Datuk Keramat berkata, inkuiri tertutup itu akan diadakan di Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Pinang.
Perlawanan itu dijadualkan berlangsung di Padang Kota Lama selama tiga hari.

"Inkuiri juga bertujuan menentukan sejauh mana kerosakan yang dialami pada padang berkenaan berikutan pembinaan gelanggang khas untuk perlawanan itu dan siapa yang bertanggungjawab untuk membaik pulih kerosakan itu," kata beliau pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Menurut Peraturan 109 A (4) Peratutan-peraturan Majlis Mesyuarat Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Pinang, katanya, jawatankuasa itu mempunyai kuasa untuk memanggil mana-mana pegawai kerajaan negeri dan mendapatkan kertas atau rekod berkaitan perkara yang dibincangkan serta boleh juga memanggil pihak lain untuk memberi keterangan untuk memastikan sama ada ia melibatkan akauntabiliti terhadap kewangan.

"Jawatankuasa ini memandang serius perkara itu dan siasatan adalah bertujuan menentukan punca dan mengapa perlawanan yang dianjurkan pihak swasta itu dibatalkan," katanya.

Pada peringkat ini, sekurang-kurangnya tiga saksi akan dipanggil untuk memberi keterangan di hadapan jawatankuasa sembilan anggota inkuiri itu.

Jagdeep berkata, laporan siasatan itu akan dibentangkan kepada Dewan dan juga didedahkan kepada umum sebaik sahaja ia selesai dan jawatankuasa berkenaan juga boleh membuat cadangan terhadap bentuk tindakan yang boleh diambil kepada pihak terlibat dalam kes ini.

"Saya tidak boleh mendedahkan siapa saksi yang akan dipanggil tetapi pihak atau badan yang terlibat termasuk exco boleh dipanggil untuk memberi keterangan.

"Kita bimbang terhadap keadaan padang yang telah rosak berikutan pembinaan gelanggang tenis berkenaan dan tidak mahu wang pembayar cukai digunakan untuk membaik pulih kerosakan itu. Sebab itu kita adakan inkuiri ini," katanya.

Menurut laporan akhbar, kejohanan berprestij itu telah dibatalkan secara tiba-tiba apabila produser kejohanan di Sweeden enggan membenarkan para pemain mengambil bahagian berikutan penganjur tempatan didakwa gagal mengumpul dana yang mencukupi untuk perlawanan itu.

Acara itu sepatutnya disertai lagenda sukan tenis antaranya Pete Sampras, John McEnroe dan Bjorn Borg.

Semalam, penganjur acara itu, Arianna Teoh dilaporkan berkata beliau akan bertanggungjawab terhadap pembatalan acara itu. -- mStar

Guan Eng: Azhar Playing Politics by Rejecting Allowance - malaysiakini

PENANG, Nov 15 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today Penaga state assemblyman Datuk Azhar Ibrahim was playing politics when he turned down the monthly allowance of RM1,000 as the opposition leader in the state.

He also said that Azhar's stand was contrary to that of his fellow BN state assemblymen who had supported the Administrative and State Legislative Assembly Members Enactment (Emolument) (Amendment) 2008 which provided for the allowance.

"A party should always take a consistent stand but maybe in this case Azhar may need more time to get used to his position as the opposition leader," he told reporters after launching the Penang International Halal Taskforce here.

Lim said, however, that it was Azhar's right to reject the offer of the monthly allowance "but at the same time his decision should be consistent and not contradict his (fellow BN) members' decision".

Azhar had said in the state assembly yesterday that he rejected the offer because the state government had advocated the need for prudent spending and he did not wish to set a precedent by being the first opposition leader to accept the allowance.

He had also said that he did not want to be indebted to the state government after taking the allowance and did not wish to be made a referral point for other state governments.

Azhar had said he would confirm his rejection of the allowance at the state assembly sitting on Monday.

Lim, who is advisor to the Penang International Halal Taskforce, announced that State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim would head the taskforce which comprises 30 members from various organisation and associations. — Bernama