MB Azizan refuses to comment on Kedah Government’s rising debt

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has refused to comment on the state government's debt which has allegedly ballooned to RM3bil over the past five years under the PAS-led state government.

Azizan, who is Kedah PAS commissioner, merely said the state government was trying hard to raise revenue all this while.

He was asked yesterday to comment on the debt issue which was once again highlighted by Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang.

Tan claimed that the state's debt was about RM2bil before 2008 but had since increased to RM3bil, which included the RM330mil loan for the construction of the Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) campus in Kuala Ketil.

“The loan was taken by a state government-linked company to finance the Kuin project,” he told a press conference at state Gerakan office yesterday.

Tan had first raised the debt issue last Wednesday and had then handed over a memorandum on the matter to Azizan, which was received on the latter's behalf by his special officer Mohd Rosli Azmi.

He quoted the Auditor-General's 2011 Report which stated that the state government had only RM193.22mil in cash.

He again questioned why no work had been done on the two low-cost housing projects in Bandar Darulaman in Jitra and Pokok Sena, to which Azizan answered that the delay was due to technical issues.

Maicci: Opposition manifesto merely a fantasy

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat’s manifesto is yet another attempt by the opposition coalition to fulfil their election fantasy, says the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Maicci).

Its president Datuk K.K. Eswaran said the manifesto was created to confuse the rakyat with “heaven and earth” promises without explaining how it could be implemented.

“While the Opposition accuse Barisan Nasional of bankrupting the country, I believe that the Opposition manifesto will bring about a worse crisis if they are elected,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Eswaran pointed out that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahimwas at the helm of the country and almost handed over the nation’s sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund during the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

He lauded the Government’s move to allocate RM28mil to small-scale farmers, adding that it reflected on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s concern for their well-being.

Eswaran added that the Prime Minister’s push for innovative ideas that would boost the agricultural sector would help raise the fishermen and farmers’ standard of living.

DAP branch calls on party leaders to hold another election

KUALA LUMPUR: With the general election not far off, DAP grassroots leaders are still fuming over the party’s dubious polls in December.

Following the action of other branches earlier, the Pantai Sepang Putra DAP branch has come forward to demand that the elections for the central executive committee be held again, calling the Dec 15 event last year illegal.

Branch secretary Ravi Ramdas said they were not happy with the polls that saw its results retabled three weeks later.

“This is our right as DAP members,” he said at a press conference in Chow Kit here yesterday.

Present were branch chairman Tamil Selvam Raman and deputy secretary Rashid Mohd Ghani.

Calling the CEC elections “null and void”, Ravi asked the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to get the DAP to hold its elections again.

Ravi suggested that the DAP sack secretary-general Lim Guan Eng Limfrom his post if the ROS were to deregister the party as a result of this “technical glitch”.

He claimed the party had neglected the Pantai Sepang Putra branch and DAP leaders had not visited the branch since the 2008 general election.

Their only visit, Ravi alleged, was around June last year when the party dismissed the former branch chairman R. Vellasamy.

Bakri: 'Jangan kata polis anjing kepada kerajaan'

KUALA LUMPUR - Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) mengamalkan dasar berkecuali dalam semua tindakan dan operasinya serta sama sekali tidak menyebelahi mana-mana parti politik ketika melaksanakan tanggungjawab.

Pengarah Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Bukit Aman Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin juga menegaskan dasar itu dipegang PDRM dalam menghadapi pilihan raya umum.

"Jadi janganlah bercakap kita ni 'anjing' kepada kerajaan atau bagai 'lembu dicucuk hidung' yang ikut sahaja telunjuk orang-orang tertentu dalam mencapai sesuatu hasrat.

"Ini kerana institusi kepolisan ini telah wujud sejak 206 tahun dan telah menunjukkan profesionalisme dari segi mengambil tindakan," katanya kepada Bernama dalam temu bual mengenai persiapan PDRM menghadapi pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13), di sini.

Katanya mereka yang menuduh sedemikian perlu bertanggungjawab dan membuktikan PDRM sebagai 'alat kerajaan'.

Mohd Bakri berkata sikap berkecuali juga diamal PDRM ketika melakukan siasatan berhubung sebarang kes dan penyiasatan dilaksana tanpa rasa takut atau dipengaruhi mana-mana pihak.

Segala hasil siasatan termasuk yang membabitkan ahli politik, akan diserah kepada Peguam Negara dan merekalah yang menentukan sama ada perlu didakwa atau sebaliknya, katanya.

"Kita (PDRM) tak berhak dan (tidak) mempunyai kuasa (buat keputusan). Di sini sudah nampak kita telus," katanya.

Mengenai persediaan menghadapi PRU13, Mohd Bakri berkata PDRM diberi latihan dan kursus khas termasuk 'ex ballot III' bagi memastikan mereka dapat melaksanakan tanggungjawab dengan baik ketika proses itu berlangsung.

"Dari sudut penyiasatan pula, kita telah menjalankan kursus-kursus 'in service' berdasarkan kepada keperluan dalam pilihan raya," katanya.

Mohd Bakri berkata pegawai dan anggotanya telah dilatih dan bersedia sejak empat bulan lepas bagi menghadapi pilihan raya umum kali ini.

"Kita juga telah berbincang dengan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya dan Jabatan Peguam Negara berkaitan dengan langkah-langkah dan tindakan kita bersama mereka," katanya.

Sebanyak 112,000 anggota polis akan terlibat bertugas pada PRU13. - Bernama

Manifesto PR: Negara boleh muflis, kata Dr M

KUALA LANGAT - Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat (PR) boleh menyebabkan kerajaan menjadi muflis kerana pelaksanaannya melibatkan perbelanjaan yang sangat banyak, kata bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Beliau berkata, sebuah kerajaan perlu mempunyai wang untuk mentadbir negara, dan manifesto pembangkang itu dilihat akan mengurangkan pendapatan kerajaan.

"Manifesto ini dibuat oleh pihak yang tidak pernah menjadi kerajaan. Dia tidak tahu kerajaan perlu ada wang, tidak boleh belanja sahaja, dan jika kita lihat manifesto mereka ialah nak kurangkan pendapatan kerajaan dengan kurangkan cukai, tol dan sebagainya," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas pelancaran kapal latihan kedua Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia 'Teguh Samudera' oleh isteri beliau,Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, di limbungan NGV Tech Sdn Bhd di Sijangkang hari ini.

Kelmarin, PR melancarkan manifesto 10 perkara menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13), antaranya, pendidikan percuma bermula dari prasekolah hingga menara gading, kad keanggotaan DAP, PKR dan Pas boleh diguna di semua plaza tol untuk mendapat tol percuma, selain penurunan cukai eksais kereta secara berperingkat dengan tujuan menghapuskannya dalam tempoh lima tahun.

Mengambil contoh di Eropah, Dr Mahathir berkata, ada negara di benua itu gagal mengurus kewangan dengan baik menyebabkan ia muflis dan hampir muflis.
Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata rakyat harus bijak memilih kerajaan yang lebih berpengalaman mengurus kewangan dalam membangunkan negara, dan bukan kerajaan yang bakal menjejas kewangan negara.

"Kalau kita nak jadi bankrap, bolehlah kita beri semua... kita jangan kutip cukai, lepas itu bagi pendidikan percuma, lebuh raya percuma, semuanya... kerajaan akan muflis, mana nak cari duit.

"Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (Menteri Besar Selangor) juga mengatakan manifesto bukan perjanjian, jadi yang dia buat (manifesto PRU13), buat apa? Kalau dia kata ini bukan janji, tolak sahaja dia, buat serabut sahaja," katanya.

Mengulas isu pencerobohan warga Filipina di Lahad Datu, Sabah, Dr Mahathir berkata, ia perlu diselesaikan melalui pendekatan berhemah, dan bukan kekerasan.

Ditanya sama ada isu itu akan dapat diselesaikan lebih cepat dengan campur tangan pihak beliau, Dr Mahathir berkata: "Saya tak fikir akan ada perbezaan jika saya bertanggungjawab atau orang lain yang bertanggungjawab." - Bernama

Mustapa: PAS’ defence of Nik Aziz can’t ease the hurt

KOTA BARU: PAS' defence of its spiritual adviser on the issue of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) holds no water as the remarks by Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat hurt the feelings of thousands of people who received the aid, said Kelantan Umno chief.

“No amount of explanation can ease the hurt felt by those belittled by Nik Aziz,” Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad said at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport here before flying back to Kuala Lumpur.

The Kelantan Mentri Besar had reportedly said the BR1M handout was like feeding padi and coconut husk to poultry and livestock and only meant to bring the farm animals closer to those who give them the fodder.

Nik Aziz reportedly said this before a crowd after returning from an umrahpilgrimage last week.

Mustapa said that although there had been attempts by PAS publicists via various media to clarify and explain the remarks made by Nik Aziz, the fact still stood that an analogy equating people to animals should not have been used.

“There are other analogies that could be used to extend one's opinions or discontent.

“I cannot understand why he had to equate humans with animals,” added Mustapa, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister. “This is very condescending and goes to prove the Kelantan Government is frustrated with the benevolence of the Federal Government in easing the people's cost of living,” he said.

Mustapa said the Government would continue with such assistance for all eligible citizens, regardless of their ethnic and religious background and despite the scathing remarks by Nik Aziz.

Earlier, at a gathering of Kelantan teachers and counsellors at the state Culture and Arts Auditorium, the audience was shown a video footage of an effigy of Mustapa being “flogged” by members of an NGO demanding royalty and oil rights during a recent demonstration in Pasir Pekan near here.

In a voice choked with emotion, Mustapa told the gathering he would not react to the hatred levelled against him.

“I stopped my followers who wanted to reciprocate by burning an effigy of Nik Aziz, as it goes against Islam and the Malay culture,” he said, adding that he had a duty to bring economic and social change to Kelantan.

Realising the video also emotionally affected the audience, Mustapa apologised to them.

Mustapa said he had only wanted to show the rape of forest land in Kelantan and how certain people reacted to the Federal Government.

‘DAP only gives false hopes'

BATU PAHAT: The DAP slogan for change, Ubah, does not determine the destiny of the Chinese community at either the central or state level and is merely a misrepresentation, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“Ubah means changing the fate of the people. But the DAP cannot do it and is just giving false hopes,” he said, while accusing the DAP of deceiving the people.

“The DAP would not be able to provide a prime minister or a deputy prime minister if the Opposition comes into power.

“It would be unfortunate for Johor if the Opposition takes over the administration, or even if they have some additional representatives in the state assembly,” Dr Chua said at a Chinese New Year event organised by the Sri Gading MCA division here on Monday.

He said it would be clear, between the DAP and PAS, which party will be the “boss”.

“Johor has 56 state seats. The DAP will contest a maximum of 15 seats while PAS will go for at least 32 seats. Think twice before you vote,” he urged the Chinese electorate.

He said that Johor had always been a moderate state for all races, adding that this was proven in the approval of land for Chinese schools and temples.

Advising voters not to be duped by the Opposition into sacrificing the economic and social achievements in Johor, Dr Chua said that the implications are big should the DAP and PAS reduce the Barisan Nasional representation in the assembly.

“We are going to face problems in the tourism and service sectors and in attracting foreign direct investments because people would worry that the state would not be as stable as it was as a Barisan fortress,” Dr Chua said, adding that PAS would intervene in the administration with restrictions like it had done in the states ruled by the Pakatan Rakyat.

The MCA president said that among all the states, Johor had benefited most from the nation’s transformation programmes.

Dr Chua cited the investments in the Iskandar Malaysia region, which had surpassed RM100bil, and in Pengerang, which had received more than RM60bil.

He added that Johor was set to see another major development with the implementation of the high-speed super rail project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

MCA: Pas tak faham erti kebajikan

KUALA LUMPUR - MCA hari ini mempertikai hasrat PAS untuk menubuhkan negara berkebajikan sedangkan katanya pemimpin PAS sendiri tidak memahami erti dan falsafah asas mengenai kebajikan.

"Bagaimana PAS boleh bercakap tentang negara berkebajikan sedangkan hakikatnya mereka sendiri tidak faham tentang erti kebajikan dan tidak menerima falsafah asas tentang kebajikan," kata pengerusi Biro Publisiti MCA Datuk Heng Seai Kie dalam kenyataannya.

Beliau berkata sebagai Menteri Besar Kelantan, Mursyidul Am PAS Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat sepatutnya lebih bersikap penyayang dan mempunyai belas kasihan.

"Malangnya, komen kesat beliau telah melukakan perasaan dan maruah golongan miskin serta kurang bernasib baik, terutama semua penerima Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M).

"Sekiranya Nik Aziz seorang pemimpin yang bertanggungjawab dan mempunyai perasaan, saya menggesa beliau supaya memohon maaf kepada semua penerima bantuan kebajikan, terutama penerima BR1M, kerana penghinaan yang beliau lakukan," kata Heng.

Beliau berkata untuk julung kalinya dalam sejarah, pendapatan Malaysia pada 2012 mencapai RM200 bilion, berbanding tempoh sebelumnya iaitu antara RM150 bilion dan RM180 bilion.

"Dengan lebihan pendapatan sebanyak hampir RM20 bilion hingga RM50 bilion inilah, kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN), sebagai kerajaan yang bertanggungjawab, mengambil keputusan untuk berkongsinya dengan rakyat, terutama untuk membantu golongan miskin dan kurang bernasib baik. Sebab itulah, kita ada BR1M RM500," katanya.

Dalam ceramahnya di Kota Baharu, Nik Abdul Aziz dilaporkan membuat kritikan pedas tentang BR1M dan bantuan lain yang diberi kerajaan persekutuan dengan mengumpamakannya seperti menabur padi dan hampas kelapa kepada ayam dan lembu. - Bernama

Muhyiddin: Pembangkang kemaruk ke Putrajaya

KUALA LUMPUR - Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) kini kemaruk untuk ke Putrajaya dan sanggup melakukan apa sahaja bagi memenangi Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13).

Oleh itu tegas beliau, manisfeto Pakatan Rakyat, yang dilancarkan semalam, membuktikan mereka akan melakukan apa sahaja tanpa mengkaji kesan tindakan PR.

"Mereka tak kaji, tahu bentang sahaja dan tidak fikir bagaimana mereka boleh buat," kata beliau semasa berucap pada sesi lawatan rasmi ke bahagian Parlimen Wangsa Maju dan mendengar taklimat gerak kerja BN Parlimen Wangsa Maju, hari ini.

Sebelum itu, Muhyiddin turut menyempurnakan Majlis Penyerahan Baju Uniform kepada kepada pemandu-pemandu teksi kawasan Parlimen Wangsa Maju di Pejabat Penyelaras BN Parlimen Wangsa Maju.

Muhyiddin yang juga Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan BN Wilayah Persekutan berkata, kalau dilihat secara keseluruhan yang dijanjikan, persoalan timbul dari mana sumber pembangkang boleh memperolehi sekiranya semua diberikan secara percuma.

Sehubungan itu kata beliau, pembangkang akan sedaya upaya dan berbuat apa sahaja sama ada halal atau haram untuk menumbangkan BN.

"Malah pembangkang akan lebih agresif untuk cuba memenangi pilihan raya ini nanti dan menggunakan pelbagai cara termasuk blog untuk melakukan pembohongan," katanya.

Dalam pada itu, beliau berkata, kerusi Parlimen Wangsa Maju mesti kembali ke pangkuan BN walaupun berhadapan senario yang sukar pada pilihan raya kali ini.

Katanya, tidak kira siapa calon yang bertanding, apa yang lebih penting adalah kemenangan BN di Wangsa Maju, selain Pusat Daerah Mengundi (PDM) perlu bekerja keras memastikan kejayaan BN.

"Melihat muka-muka yang cerah di sini, saya yakin BN akan menang di Wangsa Maju dan mesti menang ," katanya.

Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat basi, kata Abang Johari

KUCHING - Manifesto Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 yang dibentangkan oleh pembangkang semalam adalah perkara basi dan jelas menggambarkan kecelaruan dalam pakatan mereka, kata Timbalan Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg di sini, hari ini.

Menurutnya, kandungan manifesto berkenaan seolah-olah dikitar semula daripada agenda Buku Jingga yang dibentangkan oleh pakatan pembangkang sebelum ini.

Bercakap kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri dialog bersama pengusaha-pengusaha industri pelancongan di sini, beliau berkata selain gagal memperkenalkan sesuatu yang baharu, pakatan pembangkang ini juga gagal menjelaskan tentang kepimpinan mereka sekiranya mereka dapat membentuk kerajaan.

"Mereka masih bercelaru (tentang siapa yang akan menjadi Perdana Menteri jika dapat menubuhkan kerajaan).

"Sekejap mereka katakan (pemimpin pembangkang, Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim).

Kemudian orang lain. Bagi mereka, sesiapa sahaja (di kalangan mereka) boleh menjadi Perdana Menteri," katanya.

Abang Johari yang juga Menteri Pelancongan dan Menteri Perumahan Sarawak mengulas manifesto pakatan pembangkang yang antara lain menjanjikan usaha memerangi rasuah, penurunan harga minyak dan pendidikan percuma. - Bernama

Cakap tak serupa bikin..

MILF: Wrong for Sulu group to bear arms

LAHAD DATU: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is against the Sulu armed group’s occupation of Tanduo village and is confident its actions will not derail the roadmap for peace in Mindanao.

Describing the stand-off as unnecessary, MILF first vice-chairman Ghazali Jaafar said it was wrong for the followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to pursue the Sabah claims by bearing arms in Malaysia.

“Any claim should be pursued through dialogue and not through the barrel of a gun.

“When you use guns, you are inviting harsh situations that affect people on both sides of the border,” he said.

He said MILF was closely following the stand-off between the armed group led by Raja Muda Azzimudie, Jamalul’s younger brother, and Malaysian security forces at Kampung Tanduo in the Felda Sahabat area.

Ghazali was confident the stand-off would not scuttle the Oct 15 peace framework between the Philippine government and MILF that was brokered by Malaysia.

“This framework is for everybody. Nobody is left out. It will see the establishment of a government for the Bangsamoro people. It includes a Bangsamoro basic law that is being drafted by a transition commission as well as an electoral process.

“Any Bangsamoro person who qualifies can run for political position including our brothers in MILF and heirs of the Sulu sultanate,” he added.

Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat 2013

Intipati-Intipati Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat 2013 

1. Mewujudkan 1 juta peluang pekerjaan baru untuk rakyat dengan mengurangkan kebergantungan buruh asing secara berperingkat.
2. Memperkenal gaji minima RM1,100 sebulan.
3. Melatih 1 juta lepasan sekolah yang tidak melanjutkan pelajaran.
4. Membina 5 universiti dab 25 sekolah vokasional.
5. Tabung inovasi IKS RM500 juta, menyelaras cukai rakyat- kadar cukai tertinggi 26% untuk cukai pendapatan hanya mula dibayar bagi pendapatan boleh cukai melebihi RM400,00 berbanding RM250,000 sekarang.
6. Henti operasi Lynas, kaji semula RAPID dan kaji undang-undang pembalakan.
7. Memperuntukkan RM500 juta untuk Tabung Usahawan Kecil Prajurit, kenaikan caruman LTAT dari 15% ke 20%, dividen RM2000 setahun kepada bekas prajurit tidak berpencen.
8. Memberi permit terus kepada pemandu teksi.
9. Pengangkutan awam percuma kepada golongan berbeza upaya, tambah bilangan bas, merangka untuk membina sistem keretapi laju antara bandar.
10. Memecah monopoli dengan mewujudkan Suruhanjaya Anti Monopoli, Suruhanjaya Kontrak Awam untuk menilai perjanjian awam seperti IPP dan konsesi berat sebelah, tender terbuka, membubar 1MDB, melupuskan pegangan kerajaan dalam GLC.

 

1. Mewujudkan 1 juta peluang pekerjaan baru untuk rakyat dengan mengurangkan kebergantungan buruh asing secara berperingkat.
2. Memperkenal gaji minima RM1,100 sebulan.
3. Melatih 1 juta lepasan sekolah yang tidak melanjutkan pelajaran.
4. Membina 5 universiti dab 25 sekolah vokasional.
5. Tabung inovasi IKS RM500 juta, menyelaras cukai rakyat- kadar cukai tertinggi 26% untuk cukai pendapatan hanya mula dibayar bagi pendapatan boleh cukai melebihi RM400,00 berbanding RM250,000 sekarang.
6. Henti operasi Lynas, kaji semula RAPID dan kaji undang-undang pembalakan.
7. Memperuntukkan RM500 juta untuk Tabung Usahawan Kecil Prajurit, kenaikan caruman LTAT dari 15% ke 20%, dividen RM2000 setahun kepada bekas prajurit tidak berpencen.
8. Memberi permit terus kepada pemandu teksi.
9. Pengangkutan awam percuma kepada golongan berbeza upaya, tambah bilangan bas, merangka untuk membina sistem keretapi laju antara bandar.
10. Memecah monopoli dengan mewujudkan Suruhanjaya Anti Monopoli, Suruhanjaya Kontrak Awam untuk menilai perjanjian awam seperti IPP dan konsesi berat sebelah, tender terbuka, membubar 1MDB, melupuskan pegangan kerajaan dalam GLC.

boleh percaya ke ni?tepuk dada tnyalah diri anda sendiri..

PAS: No guarantee that Anwar will get PM post

PETALING JAYA: PAS has insisted that there is no guarantee that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will become prime minister should Pakatan Rakyat form the federal government after the general election.

PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man told online portal The Mole that there were two deciding factors in the eligibility of a leader for the post of prime minister.

“First, it depends on the number of seats won by the party.

“Second, all parties in Pakatan must agree on the person to be appointed prime minister,” he was quoted as saying yesterday.

It was reported that during the 58th PAS Muktamar in November last year, representatives of the ulama council had suggested that partypresident Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang become prime minister should the Opposition win the election.

However, DAP chairman Karpal Singh has since reaffirmed that his party would give its full support to Anwar to lead the country.

When pointed out that Pakatan had previously agreed that Anwar would hold the post, Tuan Ibrahim said: “At the moment, in theory, all component parties will follow Pakatan's status quo.

“But I believe that we will have to take into consideration the election results as well.

“We need to see which party is more dominant in terms of winning seats because it can determine who should become prime minister.

“That's why I keep urging our members and election machinery to work hard in winning the election.”

Asked to clarify speculation that the PAS Syura Council was not in favour of Anwar as prime minister, Tuan Ibrahim said “there was no issue about it”.

He also denied rumours that Gua Musang MP and Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had been approached as a candidate for prime minister.

“Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh) is an influential politician but he is not a Pakatan member. How can we choose to appoint him?” he said.

Zahid: Kenyataan Nik Aziz satu penghinaan

BAGAN DATOH - Kenyataan Menteri Besar Kelantan Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat berhubung Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) adalah satu penghinaan kepada golongan yang memerlukan bantuan berkenaan, kata Naib Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid berkata walaupun kenyataan itu berbentuk perumpamaan tetapi ia seolah-olah menyamakan penerima BR1M dengan haiwan.

Nik Aziz dalam komennya menyifatkan pelbagai bantuan diberi kepada rakyat sebagai seolah-olah memberi hampas kelapa, padi dan jerami kepada ayam dan lembu.

"Cara yang terbaik ialah mengajar dan menasihati penerima supaya bersyukur kepada Allah yang telah memberi rezeki melalui manusia yang berkuasa yang terbuka hati untuk menyalurkan bantuan," kata Ahmad Zahid.

Beliau bercakap kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Program Memperkasa Transformasi Ekonomi Bumiputera dan Patriotisme Negara anjuran Gabungan Badan Ekonomi Melayu (GABEM) di Wisma Umno Bagan Datoh hari ini.

Sementara itu, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop berkata kenyataan Nik Aziz itu tidak wajar kerana bantuan yang diberikan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) itu untuk rakyat meningkatkan taraf hidup mereka.

Bercakap kepada pemberita selepas melawat Rumah Hijau Tertutup Ara Kuda di Tasik Gelugor hari ini, beliau berkata BN sentiasa berfikir di luar kotak dengan mencari pelbagai pembaharuan dan kaedah untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup rakyat.

Anggota Parlimen Tasek Gelugor itu berkata BR1M adalah inisiatif kerajaan membantu golongan kurang berkemampuan dan kerajaan mampu meneruskan bantuan itu.

Di SEREMBAN, Ketua Pemuda UMNO Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar berkata kenyataan Nik Abdul Aziz itu menunjukkan seolah-olah penerima BR1M ini tidak ada maruah langsung.

"Pemberian BR1M adalah satu program kesejahteraan rakyat, maknanya duit yang disimpan (yang dikutip) oleh kerajaan melalui pelaburan kita dapat, kita kembalikan kepada rakyat.

Jadi, janganlah menghina rakyat macam itu. Saya harap rakyat akan menilai kenyataan tersebut," katanya selepas majlis penyampaian BR1M 2.0 peringkat Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Paroi.

Anggota Parlimen Rembau itu mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak kerana sambutan BR1M cukup baik sekali.

Katanya, penerima BR1M ini bukan hanya datang untuk menerima duit itu, tetapi turut mendengar penerangan macam mana Perdana Menteri telah mengilhamkan BR1M ini.

"Kita bagi (BR1M) kepada semua rakyat kerana kerajaan kita ini adil. Kita tak tanya pun sokong siapa. Sebagai wakil rakyat saya minta kalau setuju terus sokong kita (Barisan Nasional). - 

Muhyiddin cabar Hadi keluar fatwa BR1M haram

MUAR - Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini mencabar Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang sama ada berani mengeluarkan fatwa mengharamkan pemberian Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M).

Muhyiddin yang juga Timbalan Presiden Umno turut mencabar pemimpin tertinggi Pas itu mengeluarkan satu lagi fatwa bahawa mereka yang menerima BR1M juga haram.
  
"Jika mereka tidak haramkan ini bermakna apa yang dilakukan oleh kerajaan ini adalah kerja amal dan untuk membantu rakyat supaya lebih sejahtera, bahagia, dan boleh gunakan bantuan itu untuk menguruskan keperluan keluarga mereka," katanya.  - Bernama

Ching: Selangor not utilising road maintenance funds

KLANG: Funds allocated to the Selangor Government for the maintenance of some 16,013km of roads in the state had not been utilised properly.

Citing the Auditor-General's report, Klang MCA Youth chief Datuk Ching Eu Boon said the Federal Government has been giving RM375.9mil annually for road maintenance but the state government failed to manage the money well.

He said the state government's failure to repair and ensure that the roads were in good condition had caused accidents, including fatalities in the Klang district.

“The Federal Government gives out the money through MARRIS (Malaysian Road Records Inventory System).

“At the end of 2011, the state had an extra RM162.46mil, which means it only spent slightly over RM200mil.At the end of 2012, there was a whopping RM319.85mil extra.

“This means that the state has about RM700mil including the sum disbursed this year by the Federal Government.

“Boasting that the state is rich is pointless when problems are not solved,” Ching said after announcing a Barisan Nasional state-level Chap Goh Meh celebration at I-City on Sunday.

He named Jalan Banting and Jalan Batu Unjur in Klang as two accident-prone roads. Ching said three deaths were recorded in Jalan Banting and one in Jalan Batu Unjur last year.

Ching also took a swipe at state exco Ronnie Liu, who is in charge of local councils, for not doing anything to resolve this issue.

“If he doesn't know how to perform his duties, he should learn from the previous state executive councillors,” he said, adding that apart from the Public Works Department, local councils were also responsible for repairing and upgrading roads.

MB slammed over ‘Umno agents’ claim

ALOR SETAR: Several Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) staff have slammed Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak for accusing them of acting like Umno agents.

The staff claimed that Azizan was trying to divert Kuin's issues by blaming the staff, who were trying to stand up for their rights.

Kuin lecturer Mohd Farid Alias said Azizan's accusation was baseless and without proof.

“On what grounds is the mentri besar making the allegation? We are not politically inclined to any party. All we want is the welfare of the staff to be taken care of,” he said.

Mohd Farid spoke to reporters after he and 19 Kuin staff handed over a memorandum to Azizan at Wisma Darulaman here yesterday.

He was commenting on an article in a Malay daily last week, which quoted Azizan as saying the staff were acting like Umno agents when they lodged several reports with the Labour Department over the problems they were facing in Kuin.

Azizan's press secretary Mohamad Helmi Khalid received the memorandum on his behalf as the mentri besar was in Kuala Lumpur attending a meeting.

In the memorandum, the staff expressed their regret over Azizan's statement that they are agents of Umno.

They also hoped Azizan would settle the problem they had been facing for the past four years, which included salary increments, bonus, salary deductions and the existence of Kuin subsidiary companies, which the staff claimed were not making any profit for the university college.

Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said Umno had never appointed anyone to become an agent for the party at Kuin.

“It is easy for Azizan to accuse them, but where is the proof?” he said.

Selangor polls will be held along with elections, says Khalid

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Government agrees that the state elections be held together with parliamentary elections and leaves it to the Election Commission to fix the date.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said there was consensus on the matter among all state assembly members from the opposition pact.

“We agree that the date of the general election be decided by the Election Commission and we have no objection that the state elections be held simultaneously with the parliamentary elections,” he said after officiating at an event here yesterday.

Prior to this, Khalid had said that the date for the dissolution of the Selangor State Assembly would be announced after Chap Goh Meh following a meeting with opposition state assemblymen.

On the water issue, Khalid said he did not receive any complaint from investors in Selangor on treated water supply, noting that the number of foreign investors in the state last year was still high. - Bernama

Pakatan top brass weigh in on feud between Boo and Chua

PETALING JAYA: The discontent within the Johor Opposition front has come under national spotlight with Pakatan Rakyat's national leaders calling for action on the matter.

Shocked by Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau's outburst against his PKR counterpart Datuk Chua Jui Meng, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said he hoped that DAP would “do something” about it.

“We will leave it to DAP to sort it out. As a coalition, it is not appropriate for someone in a leadership position to make such allegations so publicly,” he said.

Dr Boo had earlier issued a statement condemning Chua as arrogant, blaming him as the main cause for a split in Johor Pakatan Rakyat.

He claimed that he had dampened talks about seat allocations in the general election, alleging that Chua wanted a “safe seat” for himself.

However, Tian Chua said that “if Dr Boo thinks that what he is saying has merit, he should bring it up to his own leadership and talk to hissecretary-general Lim Guan Eng.”

Lim said both Dr Boo and Chua should refrain from making further public comments, especially on seat negotiations.

“The DAP central leadership appreciates the contribution of Dr Boo and acknowledges his frustrations on being dictated to, in the relationship between DAP and PKR in Johor. However, such matters, no matter how unjust and frustrating, should not be expressed in public unless all avenues for discussion internally between PKR and DAP have been exhausted,” he said.

This was to avoid giving “ammunition” to their opponents, he said.

In JOHOR BARU, state DAP leaders are backing calls for Chua, who is Johor PKR chief, to be dropped.

A DAP youth leader, who declined to be named, said he was in support of Dr Boo, claiming that there had been problems especially after Chua took over as state PKR chief in 2010.

“It is difficult for us to openly voice our opinions because we do not want to compromise our positions in the party but we have been facing a lot of challenges since Chua came into the picture.”

He claimed that he had received complaints about Chua not being able to communicate well with component party members.

“There has been several occasions when the DAP organised a fund- raising dinner and Chua would also hold a similar function at the same time,” he said.

Another DAP division leader said: “We have high hopes to make inroads in Johor and all our efforts will be wasted if this matter is not dealt with soon.”

Johor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed said the public clash between Dr Boo and Chua was not a wise move especially with the general election drawing near.

“Honestly, I do not want to get involved. There is no point for them to make derogatory statements openly,” he said.

Chua was quoted as saying yesterday that Dr Boo should be more more mature and humble, and not get “too excited” over his remarks.

In SUNGAI SIPUT, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the public discord showed that Pakatan members did not have a common stand.

Don’t feel sidelined, Indians told

IPOH: The Indian community should not feel that they are sidelined by the Government in any way.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Government did not discriminate and the Indian community should stop thinking that way.

“However, the Government can only help but the onus is up to the Indian community to strive harder to ensure success, especially if they are running a business.

“It is difficult and not easy to run a business, I know because I was in the line before,” he said before opening the Perak Indian Chamber of Commerce new building here yesterday.

Muhyiddin said the market was very competitive, and everyone had to work hard to conduct business.

Muhyiddin said the Government had reduced the approval time for business licences and company registration considerably.

“Now you can do it within one day and of course many other initiatives are also offered by the Government to conduct business with ease,” he said.

“We offer various incentives and schemes to all to ensure that the business environment is conducive.

“That is why Malaysia is the fourth best country to carry out business in a conducive manner as picked by international bodies,” he added.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin approved RM100,000 for the chamber to purchase office equipment as earlier requested by its president Sultan Abdul Khader.