We’ll see if guidelines needed for caretaker government’s role

 A study will be conducted to see if guidelines are needed to govern the conduct of a caretaker government following the dissolution of Parliament for future polls, said Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

“We are moving towards that and the Attorney-General's Chambers would be looking at guidelines to govern the conduct of a caretaker government,” the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department told reporters after signing an agreement between Malaysia and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation yesterday.

At present, he said the conduct of a caretaker government is based on convention and past practices as opposed to fixed guidelines.

However, Nazri, who is in charge of law and parliamentary affairs, said that a caretaker government did not have the capacity to introduce policies and enter into or conclude agreements on behalf of the country.

“The caretaker government can continue (implementing) existing commitments but it cannot enter into new ones,” he said.

As for the automatic dissolution of the Negri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly at midnight today, Nazri said this would not affect the administration of the state as there would be a caretaker government in place.

He said the automatic dissolution of the NS assembly would not affect federal polls even if the GE is not called before April 28 - the last date for the automatic dissolution of Parliament.

He said that the Election Commission will synchronise the dates for both the Federal and state elections following Parliament's dissolution.

“Once Parliament is dissolved, the Federal Government has 60 days, just as Negri Sembilan has got 60 days.

“The EC will rationalise the election dates so that state elections can be held concurrently ,” said Nazri.

He rubbished Pakatan Rakyat's leaders' claims that Barisan Nasional was holding off the polls because of jitters, adding that it was the Opposition that was fearful of losing support.

CAP chief upset with Guan Eng over accusation

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has described Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's accusation of it being selective in its criticism as highly irresponsible and unethical.

“They think we are irresponsible. We live our lives for the people. I am not seeking political power. I am not seeking any reward,” a visibly emotional CAP president S.M. Mohamad Idris shouted as he banged his fist on the table during a press conference.

He said that Lim still believed in the Bush doctrine that “if you are not with me, you are against me”.

Mohamad Idris, who was labelled an “old man” by Lim last year, said he could understand that Lim was under mounting pressure with the upcoming general election.

“But you must be careful with your comments and not make wild allegations.

“That is what separates a statesman from a quarrelsome politician,” said Mohamad Idris.

Lim had reportedly slammed CAP for criticising the cross-channel tunnel project, questioning how Mohamad Idris could oppose the proposed project “objectively and factually” when he had not attended any meetings organised by the state government on the project.

“Our doors are always open,” Lim had said in an open letter to Mohamad Idris.

Yesterday, Mohamad Idris declined the open invitation at the CAP office, pointing out that he could not accept the publicised personal invitation “as in our culture, we do not invite people to meetings by open letters”.

He also described Lim as being undemocratic and unwilling to discuss any concerns that were adverse to his initiatives.

Meanwhile, Penang Barisan Nasional Youth wants Lim to explain the drastic increase in cost for the proposed undersea tunnel and three road projects.

State Barisan information chief H'ng Khoon Leng said the announcement by the Chief Minister in September 2011 during an investment seminar was that the projects would cost an estimated RM4.08bil.

“However, Penangites are now told that these projects will cost RM6.3bil, a huge difference of RM2.22bil,” he said at the state Barisan Nasional operations centre in Datuk Keramat Road here yesterday.

The undersea tunnel is one of four mega projects proposed by Lim.

The others are a 4.6km bypass linking Air Itam to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, 12km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road and a 4.2km road between Gurney Drive and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

Playing the victim is Anwar’s way of gaining sympathy, says Nalla

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim always claims to be a victim of conspiracy whenever unfavourable allegations against him surface, said Senator Datuk S. Nallakaruppan.

The Malaysian Indian United Party president alleged that playing the victim was Anwar's way of gaining public sympathy.

He said another of Anwar's tactics was to use legal action as an intimidation tool.

He cited Anwar's RM10mil suit against Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin over a “wife-harassment” issue.

Nallakaruppan pointed out that despite taking Hamzah to court, Anwar failed to turn up for the first day of trial on Monday morning, resulting in an adjournment of the case until May.

“For Anwar, suing is a form of strategic denial. This is a good tactic to gain trust and convince the people that he didn't do all those things,” he told reporters here yesterday.

The senator, who said he was once very close to Anwar and his family, described the PKR adviser as “trying to destroy the country”.

“His personal ambition is so overriding that he doesn't care if it will be at the expense of the country's peace and stability,” he claimed.

Nallakaruppan expressed belief that Malaysians were now aware of Anwar's true character.

“He says everything is a conspiracy. But until today, has he admitted even one thing he has done? He can cheat all Malaysians but he cannot cheat me. I know him and his character very well,” he said.

He urged Anwar to apologise to the public and admit that there had been no conspiracy against him.

“Ask for forgiveness from them and stop cheating the rakyat,” he said.

ARTIS MASUK POLITIK KREDIBILITI ATAU PANCING UNDI

Golongan artis dilihat sebagai aset yang berupaya menarik masyarakat terhadap politik dan seterusnya menyokong parti-parti politik tertentu. Malah penglibatan golongan berkenaan yang dilihat berpengaruh dalam kelompok masyarakat secara langsung dalam arena politik berupaya mengimbangi bahang ‘politik kebencian’ yang dilihat semakin menular.

Penerbit dan Pengarah Filem, Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba berkata, artis mampu memainkan peranan dalam mengimbangi arus politik yang disifatkan penuh kebencian. “Keutamaan politik hari ini adalah kebencian dan menjadi tanggungjawab kita semua untuk menghapuskan sifat itu. “Saya melihat artis boleh memainkan peranan mereka dalam meredakan perasaan itu supaya politik itu lebih dihormati,” katanya semasa berhujah dalam wacana bertajuk Artis Masuk Politik Kredibiliti Atau Pancing Undi yang diadakan di Auditorium Kumpulan Media Karangkraf di sini, pada Selasa.

Selain Shuhaimi, wacana itu turut dibarisi panel iaitu Presiden Persatuan Seniman Malaysia (Seniman), Zed Zaidi serta dua orang artis yang telah menyertai Pas iaitu Bob Lokman dan Hairie Othman. Dekan fakulti Teknologi Kreatif dan Artistik, UiTM, Prof Madya A. Razak Mohaideen bertindak sebagai moderator. Perdebatan dalam wacana itu hangat apabila semua pihak lantang meluahkan hujahan tentang topik yang diperkatakan. Wacana yang berlangsung selama satu jam turut menyentuh pelbagai perkara di luar tajuk perbincangan.

Antara perkara yang disentuh seperti soal hukum agama Islam seseorang bergelar pelakon dan perdebatan tentang cara sesebuah parti politik berfungsi selain isu-isu semasa yang lain. Bagaimanapun, kesemua ahli panel senada apabila menganggap tidak menjadi kesalahan bagi seseorang artis untuk menyertai mana-mana parti politik namun perlu mengetahui hak dan tanggungjawab supaya dapat menjadi seorang yang berkredibiliti tinggi.

Hairie yang mewakili parti pembangkang berkata pentas politik semakin terbuka pada ketika ini apabila ramai artis diberi peluang untuk ke hadapan dan membantu dari segi kempen sesebuah parti itu. Dalam pada itu, Bob berpendapat seseorang artis itu mempunyai kredibiliti untuk memancing undi dan mengakui golongan artis adalah ‘umpan’ untuk menarik masyarakat menyokong sesebuah parti. Bagaimanapun pandangan itu disangkal oleh Zed yang memberitahu artis yang terlibat dalam dunia politik perlu lebih berani dan tidak hanya sekadar berdiri tanpa melakukan apa-apa.

Harap para artis gunakan ilmu dan fakta sebelum berhujah pasal politik.Jangan jadi seperti "ustazah mee segera".Pung pang je lebih,tapi diri sendiri pon tak betul.

Rafizi ketinggalan zaman, bidas Noh Omar

Timbalan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor, Datuk Seri Noh Omar berkata, Pengarah Strategi PKR, Rafizi Ramli ketinggalan zaman kerana mendakwa pemberian permit teksi individu sebagai tindakan meniru dasar Pakatan Rakyat.

Ketika menjawat jawatan Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Malaysia (MECD) katanya, beliau pernah mengeluarkan sebanyak 3,000 permit individu kepada pemandu teksi.

“Saya ingin menasihati Rafizi supaya mengkaji terlebih dahulu sebelum membuat kenyataan yang akan menyerlahkan sikap kurang cerdik mereka,” katanya.

Beliau mengulas kenyataan Rafizi yang mendakwa Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak meniru dasar Pakatan Rakyat dan menggunakannya untuk menarik sokongan pemandu teksi supaya mengundi BN dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Rafizi dipetik sebagai berkata, pakatan pembangkang juga menawarkan penyelesaian jangka panjang dan bukan hanya 'gimik politik' untuk menangani masalah pemandu teksi itu.

Noh yang juga Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani bagaimanapun menyangkal dakwaan itu yang disifatkannya sebagai kenyataan menipu rakyat.

“Saya ingin menasihati Rafizi kaji dahulu sebelum buat kenyataan yang akan menyerlahkan sikap kurang cerdik mereka,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, Mesyuarat Jemaah Menteri pada 27 Jun 2008 telah meluluskan cadangan untuk membuka semula permohonan lesen teksi kepada individu secara berperingkat-peringkat.

Katanya, pengeluaran 3,000 lesen kepada pemandu individu akan memberi peluang kepada pemandu-pemandu tulen memiliki lesen sendiri dan dapat mengurangkan persepsi negatif mereka terhadap kerajaan.

"Pengeluaran 3,000 lesen teksi akan meningkatkan penawarannya di pasaran bagi memenuhi keperluan semasa.

"Kualiti teksi diharap dapat ditingkatkan memandangkan tanggungjawab sebagai pemilik lesen diletakkan sepenuhnya terhadap individu tersebut," katanya.