DPM: Polls likely before April 30

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today said that the general election may be called in a "few weeks" time, ahead of the April 30 deadline for Parliament to be automatically dissolved.

"I do not think the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak) will wait the full five years before dissolving Parliament.

"Elections will be held within the next few weeks," said Muhyiddin in his speech during the launch of the Federal Territory-level 'Himpunan Barisan 1 Malaysia' gathering at Titiwangsa Stadium here.

The gathering, held as part of a larger nationwide engagement series, was attended by representatives from about 700 non-governmental organisations and uniformed bodies from the Federal Territories.

Muhyiddin also reminded the gathered crowd to vote for a capable and dependable government, regaling them with the country's achievements since Independence.

"If I were to tell you about all of Malaysia's achievements, we will not go home until tomorrow," he declared.

In his speech, Muhyiddin also made repeated jabs at Pakatan Rakyat parties, repeating allegations that its leaders were promoting a "deviant culture" which goes against the norms of Muslims and Malaysians in general.

"I am not here to campaign but since you have given me a microphone, what could I do?" he said.

Also present at the event were widows of the 10 national heroes who had died in combat in Lahad Datu, and donations amounting to RM115,000 were also channelled to the National Heroes Fund.

A video presentation titled "Ops Daulat" screened earlier also evoked strong emotions from those gathered, with many seen shedding tears upon recital of a prayer in honour of the heroes' sacrifice for the country's sovereignty.

Among Federal Territory-level NGOs involved in the gathering include Perkasa and Umno Overseas Club.

Himpunan Barisan 1 Malaysia secretariat chairman Datuk Ahmad Maslan said that the day's event was held to mobilise support from NGOs, making a point to declare that there was no BN or Umno symbol on display.

Ustaz Rujhan Revelations Anger PAS

Ustaz Rujhan Abdul Rahman is a "dead man walking".

"I have been told by PAS insiders that it is halal to draw my blood, along with three other ustaz who are dispelling the notion that Pas is Islam and Islam is PAS."

In over six months, the mild-mannered, bespectacled ustaz, who is also Nadi Rakyat Malaysia religious bureau chairman, has built up a following against the Pas leadership, attracting thousands to his ceramah that is held two to three times a week.

This, he alleged, had made him a dangerous man to PAS.

Having taken precautionary measures, Rujhan said he and other high-profile penceramah, including uztaz Saidi Hussain, now never leave their houses without a bulletproof vest.

Rujhan was recently asked to vacate the house he and his family had been renting from a PAS supporter for the past 13 years.

This reporter attended a ceramah in Wakaf Baru recently and the reaction from the 6,000-strong crowd, made up of a broad crosssection of the public, clamouring for a better picture and yearning for the truth, was inspiring.

Armed with slides, videos and evidence, the fiery orator's arsenal was impressive. Making up roughly 20 per cent of the crowd were fence-sitters.

With each revelation, shouts of "PAS murtad!" and "Igat Nik Aziz!" (Arrest Pas spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat) pierced the cool night.

One video clip showed Nik Aziz saying that PAS was willing to accept Satan’s help in its fight against Umno. This drew gasps from the incredulous crowd.

Another clip showed Nik Aziz's son, Nik Abduh, saying: "It is Allah who told us to seize Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional."

The sound of disapproval grew louder as the crowd was shown slides and clips of PAS' complicity with DAP, which is reviled by the majority of Muslims in the state.

For the majority of the crowd, who live below the poverty line, images of Nik Aziz's white Toyota Alphard minivan run counter to the carefully cultivated image of a man who lives a simple life, which the local folk are fed on daily.

Another slide showed a mansion attached to the back of a half-wooden home, well known among the folk in Kelantan as Nik Aziz's house.

When the slide showing the net worth of the top PAS leadership was flashed on the big screen, gasps of disbelief echoed through the crowd.

Murmurs of discontent soon followed and reached a deafening crescendo. Tok Guru had not too long ago made disparaging remarks about the low-income recipients of the 1Malaysia People's Aid. Nik Aziz had said the aid was "like scattering padi and coconut husks in front of chickens and cows to entice them to come closer".

When met in the lobby of a local hotel, Rujhan was candid about how PAS viewed him.

"I have a police officer on my security detail. I also have two private contractors who handle my security.

"The feedback I've been getting tells me that more and more people are beginning to see the real PAS.

"People here used to fear speaking ill of PAS, believing that mishap would befall them. But with knowledge, they are starting to openly call PAS' bluff."

Rujhan believed that this rankled the PAS leadership, who viewed him as a clear and present danger to the party.

"I've gotten a razor blade mailed to me, along with a picture of a tongue being cut off. That's part of an attempt to silence me and my comrades."

Gambling lords, too, make big money in Kelantan Read more: Gambling lords, too, make big money in Kelantan - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/gambling-lords-too-make-big-money-in-kelantan-1.245782#ixzz2PBZFBSli

NEFARIOUS WEB: Crime bosses amassing millions from illicit activities that puts state's revenue to shame

KOTA BARU: GAMBLING lords operating in Kelantan are making more in a year from their illicit activities than the entire annual revenue of the state government.

And they do this right under the noses of the state government.

Estimates show that these crime bosses rake in between RM140 million and RM150 million a month. By comparison, the Kelantan government's revenue this year is RM581.77 million, after factoring in the oil royalty payment of RM200 million, which it claimed should be paid by the Federal Government.

The way the gambling racket operates is by using a cadre of loyal agents made up of locals in all of the state's 12 districts. It is a multi-level system that takes advantage of the absence of any form of regulation. As a result, punters as young as 15 and Malays can buy numbers without fear of being caught or prosecuted.

On average, there are 10 main agents in the 12 districts in the state. Each has an average of 10 sub-agents. With three draws a week and a collection of no less than RM10,000 each time, the agents collect a minimum of RM120,000 a month (at least 12 collections).

The New Straits Times' Special Probes Team tracked down one of the top agents in Kota Baru to get an insight into the operation. Known as Abe We to his clients, the 54-year-old makes no less than RM24,000 a month.

Abe We is good at what he does. He rakes in big money without even trying and he started in the business only last year.

Before that, he used to buy numbers regularly but when he saw that the agents were making a killing, he decided that he wanted a piece of the action. His highest taking was RM28,000 a month.

From the RM140,000 he collects each month from all the bets placed, he makes 20 per cent. When any of his clients hit the jackpot, he gets an additional 10 per cent share.

"I used to buy numbers, but I saw how much the agents were making and I wanted to start making that kind of money, so I started making enquiries. We all know the demand and market is huge. Here, in Pasir Putih, Pasir Mas, Tumpat ... it's huge," says Abe We.

"In Tumpat, where I operate from, I cannot even begin to tell you how big the market is. Each area has a representative to collect and I meet my boss at least twice a month.

"It wasn't easy getting in. For me to be appointed an agent, I had to earn his trust. I had to serve a probationary period where my weekly collection had to surpass a certain threshold. Since I performed better than most people, I am now his main agent.

"I collect a 20 per cent commission from my boss for every transaction. If my customer buys RM300 worth of numbers, I will be paid RM30. If, say, he wins RM3,000, I will get another RM300 from my boss. The winner will keep his entire winnings."

Abe We says his customers are from all walks of life -- wage earners, odd-job workers and government servants. The majority are Malays. Coffeeshops and cafes serve as a place to seal the deal. The term is cash only and everything is paid up front.

He's certain the village head and elders are aware of what's going on but they turn a blind eye.

"I've never been hauled up (by the authorities). Nobody says anything as almost everyone does it."

Kelantan Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the state government must act swiftly to the New Sunday Times report that exposed a thriving vice industry involving prostitution, drugs and illegal gambling to clean up the image of Kelantan, also known as Serambi Mekah (The verandah of Mecca).

"The state's image was somewhat tarnished by the report on a thriving vice industry involving prostitution, drugs and illegal gambling.

"Based on the report, we regret that Pas has failed to turn Kelantan into a Serambi Mekah, which is free from immorality. All the vices revealed in the report are unknown to many people in the state.

"We hope that this expose will open the minds of the people that Kelantan is not a perfect state, as it has its shortcomings.

"Prostitution and other vices which are being carried out openly are not only against religious rulings but also state regulations.

"If the state government does not act, then it is just paying lip service and has failed to keep its promises of curbing vices," Mustapa said after chairing the state Umno political bureau meeting here yesterday.

Mustapa said according to the report, young girls were forced into prostitution because of family hardship and it was clear that it was an economic issue that had led them astray.

"The state government has a responsibility to ensure that youth in the state are protected and given jobs and an opportunity for the sake of their future."

He said if Barisan Nasional came to power in the state after the general election, among its priorities would be to ensure that rules and regulations that had been drawn up by the government were enforced.

Just an 'app' awayto illicit riches

ONCE you've been accepted as an agent, you're given a "starter kit" that comprises a cheap, generic handphone.

That's it. There are no fax machines, copiers or printers. A paper trail is avoided like the plague.

Installed in the handphone is an innocuous-looking "app" called "WF Puzzle".

An agent is given a pre-set code that he keys in when selecting the app.

With the code keyed in, the system will let him in and he is ready for business. If you don't key in the code, a harmless game will pop up and you would be none the wiser.

For security reasons, the phone is changed once a month.

To take bookings, the agent will key in the client's pick of numbers and the amount he wants to bet. The list is then forwarded to the agent.

On the surface, the system may look very impersonal but agents meet their clients regularly. There is no conning the clients as word of mouth could kill the business.

One agent says the last big win was just before the Chinese New Year. The winner went home RM40,000 richer.

Apa nak jadilah denganKelantan makin teruk..Tukar lah..

Penang's RM64 million question

WHERE DID MONEY GO? BN assemblyman wants Penang govt to explain how it spent RM64m on Islamic affairs

PINANG Tunggal assemblyman Datuk Roslan Saidin yesterday challenged the DAP-led Penang government to divulge details of  expenses from its RM64 million allocation for Islamic  affairs in the state for last year.

Roslan said the state administration should reveal the breakdown of the figures after proclaiming that it had doled out a higher allocation for Islamic affairs in the state since coming into power in 2008.

He claimed that the RM64 million figure was misleading and that Muslims in the state should be informed about where the funds went.

"We are aware that it was the Federal Government that built mosques, surau and religious schools here, and even pays the RM800 monthly allowance to kafa (religious school teachers), while the state government only chips in RM50 every month to these teachers.

"So what was the allocation spent on?" he asked.

Roslan was speaking after leading a group of Pinang Tunggal residents in a peaceful protest against a billboard erected by the state government here.

The billboard, which proclaimed that the state had spent RM64 million on Islamic affairs, was erected on a private land belonging to a Pakatan Rakyat supporter.

Roslan said Umno members would be holding talks and would go house to house to counter the billboard's misleading information.

He said despite the DAP-led administration's claims, he believed that Muslims in the state had not seen much results from the allocation.

Pinang Tunggal assemblyman Datuk Roslan Saidin (fourth from left) leading a group of residents yesterday in a peaceful protest against the billboard, erected by the DAP-led state government in Kepala Batas. Pic by Danial Saad

Nilailah sendiri sama ada Dap mampu lagi memrintah Pulau Pinang atau patut di pulangkan balik kepada yang lebih berhak iaitu BN

Anwar's stint 'not spectacular'

ACHIEVEMENTS AS FINANCE MINISTER: He was never put to the test by tough economic challenges, says Ahmad Husni

 IPOH: PARTI  Keadilan Rakyat  de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's achievement as a finance minister when he was in   Barisan Nasional was nothing spectacular as often claimed by opposition leaders and supporters.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said Anwar was never tested by tough economic challenges during his tenure as finance minister from 1991 until his sacking from the government in 1998.

"During Anwar's time, there was no global economic crisis which hit the country. On the contrary, now is the most challenging period in the history of the world economy.

"So, for the country to be able to record a robust 5.6 per cent economic growth during severe world economic conditions is something great which has gained worldwide recognition," he said after presenting an approval letter for the construction of a new surau at Taman Meru 2C here yesterday.

He said the government would continue to practise prudent financing in implementing initiatives to drive the country's growth despite various negative comparisons and accusations thrown by the opposition.

"If the government does not spend, the economy will not grow.

He said the opposition needed to borrow RM115 billion if it was serious about fulfilling all promises made in the manifesto whereas the government had projected to borrow only RM39 billion this year for development purposes.

"As comparison, now the government has an operating surplus of RM6.7 billion.

"The opposition's manifesto, if implemented, will cause the government to record an operating deficit of RM66.14 billion.

"This is something that the opposition actually cannot do. They just make promises to get into power," he said, adding that the opposition already had a track record of failing to fulfil their 2008 election manifesto promises in Selangor.

Buka mata ,buka minda sebelum memilih sesebuah parti,jangan pilih parti yang boleh menghancurkan Malaysia.