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

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