Mohd Sabu Nak Saman Zahid Hamidi

Timbalan Presiden Pas, Mohamad Sabu menyatakan kelewatannya bertindak apabila dikaitkan dengan isu Syiah kerana mahu kekal "cool".

Bercakap kepada Sinar Harian dalam wawancara khas semalam, Mohamad atau lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Mat Sabu berkata, apabila dirinya dikaitkan dengan fahaman itu, perkara pertama dilakukan adalah tidak boleh melatah dan perlu berbincang dengan individu yang lebih arif mengenainya.

"Saya orangnya jenis "cool",  saya kena berbincang dengan peguam dan benda ini bukan benda perlu melatah apa-apa.

"Saya pun sudah sebut dah tajuk ini (dalam sidang media), biarlah ia di mahkamah, baik kita cakap benda lain," katanya dalam temu bual yang diadakan di pejabatnya, semalam.

Awal bulan ini, Naib Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dalam ucapan penggulungannya pada Perhimpunan Agung Umno menyatakan pembabitan pemimpin nombor dua Pas itu dengan fahaman Syiah.

Beliau kemudian menggesa pihak bertanggungjawab mengendalikan kes itu

Susulan itu,  Ahmad Zahid menerusi kementeriannya mengemukakan 10 bukti bagi mengaitkan Mat Sabu dengan Syiah dan menggesa pemimpin Pas itu membuktikan dirinya tidak terlibat dengan fahaman itu.

Selain 10 bukti yang didedah kepada awam, KDN berkata, beberapa bukti yang dikategorikan gred A akan diserahkan kepada Jakim bagi tindakan selanjutnya.

Namun Mat Sabu dilihat mengambil pendekatan relaks dan baru semalam secara rasminya menyatakan pendirian berhubung tuduhan penganut Syiah yang dilemparkan ke atasnya.
 
Beliau mengumumkan bakal memfailkan saman ke atas Ahmad Zahid kerana mendakwa menteri itu sebagai pencetus yang mengaitkan beliau dengan isu Syiah.

Dalam pada itu, Mat Sabu yang baru semalam diumumkan sebagai Pesuruhjaya Pas Pulau Pinang yang baru berkata, selepas ini beliau tidak akan lagi bercakap kepada umum isu berkaitan Syiah.

"Saya memang tak akan cakap isu ini lagi, saya akan cakap isu biasa saja," katanya.

Jangan Sampai Rakyat Membenci Kerajaan

Sejak kebelakangan ini rakyat selalu diberikan "kejutan" ataupun "suprise" oleh kerajaan...

Tak cukup dengan kenaikan harga petrol, disusuli dengan kenaikan tarif elektrik,kemudian cukai pintu dan yang terbaru kenaikan tambang LRT dan monorel...

Sampai bila rakyat hendak bersabar dengan kerenah kerajaan???????Kerajaan Barisan Nasional perlu melakukan sesuatu kalau tak nak rakyat terus menerus membenci dan meluat dengan segala kenaikan ini..

Jangan sampai amarah rakyat ini akhirnya memberi kesusahan kepada kerajaan..Mana janj-janji BN dulu yang mahu  mengutamakan rakyat?????????

Sarang tebuan jangan dijolok,kalau dijolok buruk padahnya..

Renung-renungkanlah..........

Harga tambang LRT

Pengerusi SPAD, Tan Sri Syeh Hamid Albar membayangkan kenaikan Harga tambang LRT melalui Statement Beliau?!

Nampak seakan-akan akan perlumbaan di kalangan GLC untuk berlumba-lumba menaikkan Harga perkhidamatan tanpa memikirkan kesan yang bakal diterima Rakyat khususnya di kawasan bandar ini. Tolonglah Jangan buat kerja tanpa berfikir berkali-kali dengan otak! 

KERAJAAN sebelum ini telah mengalakkan Rakyat khususnya Warga kota untuk menggunakan perkhidamatan awam, namun cadangan untuk menaikkan tambang perkhidamatan awam ini seakan-akan jerat untuk pengguna khususnya Warga kota yang sedia maklum telah terbeban dengan kos Sara Hidup yang tinggi di Kuala Lumpur ini.

Adalah tindakan dan cadangan ini mahu menguji kesetiaan Rakyat yang telah memberikan kemenangan Kepada BN Dalam pilihanraya umum ke13 yang lalu?

SPAD seharusnya melihat atau menbuat kajian latar belakang pengguna pengangkutan awam yg rata-ratanya merupakan golongan pekerja kelas sederhana dan rendah manakala kelas menengah dan atasan menggunakan pengangkutan sendiri.

Sehubungan dengan itu, Kerajaan perlu menjelaskan rasional terhadap peningkatan pelbagai kos yg dilihat seperti sudah dirancang.

Kena kawal harga barang naik

PADA suatu masa dahulu, saya anggap saya sinonim dengan keadaan di Pulau Pinang. Masa itu dengan megah saya beritahu rakan-rakan dari luar kononnya saya tahu setiap lorong di pulau  itu.

Masa kecil, saya pukul kaki dan kemudian naik basikal masuk kampung, keluar kampung; Kampung Makam, Kampung Dodol, Kampung Selut, Kampung Jawa, Sungai Pinang, Klawai dan banyak lagi.

Apabila mula bekerja, saya, dengan kawan-kawan sebaya, naik motosikal pusing seluruh bandar dan keliling pulau sejauh kira-kira 70 km.

Hari ini wajah dan suasana sudah banyak berubah. Kampung-kampung itu sudah dihimpit hutan konkrit; kos yang perlu dibayar untuk menikmati pembangunan.

Masa belasan tahun, hampir setiap dua minggu sekali, saya ikut ayah dan rakan-rakan pasukan badmintonnya panjat Bukit Bendera melalui Moon Gate, dekat Taman Bunga yang menarik ratusan pengunjung setiap hujung minggu dengan kejernihan air terjun dan monyetnya yang banyak.

Hari ini saya tidak nampak lagi orang mandi-mandi di air terjunnya dan monyet pun macam sudah kurang. Harap-harap bukan akibat dicuri orang.

Masa kempen pilihan raya umum pertama, saya selalu mendengar di corong radio lagu Mari Mengundi yang disampaikan penghibur serba boleh masa itu, Zainal Alam.

Lagu itu menyebut: Marilah tuan dan puan; 27 hari bulan; undilah calon yang utama; marilah, undilah bersama-sama.

Macam-macam stail yang menarik dalam kalangan penceramah dan pemimpin parti politik semasa kempen, yang saya ikuti di Padang Brown (orang Pulau Pinang sebut Padang Berom).

Antara penceramah hebat ialah Presiden Pas, Allahyarham Datuk Asri Muda. Beliau terkenal bukan sahaja kerana ucapannya yang berapi-api, tetapi juga stailnya yang unik.

Ada pada suatu malam, ketika beliau berucap, hujan lebat. Apabila ada petugas naik ke pentas membawa payung untuknya, beliau menolak tawaran itu. Beliau mendapat tepukan kerana tindakan itu.

Tepukan hadirin menjadi bertambah gemuruh apabila Asri meminum air hujan yang memenuhi gelas diletak atas rostrum. Sekarang Padang Brown yang menjadi tempat remaja bermain bola kelihatan kecil setelah dikelilingi gerai-gerai makanan.

Semalam saya ke tempat yang dikenali Rope Walk, di depan Stadium Pulau Pinang di Jalan Perak. Sebenarnya, kawasan itu ialah Lorong Kulit, bekas kawasan parkir. Rope Walk yang sebenar di mana terdapat penjualan barang-barang lama dan antik ialah di pusat bandar raya (dekat Chulia Street).

Di kawasan baru di depan stadium itu, macam-macam barang ada; daripada kasut, baju dan seluar bundle kepada barang elektronik, antik dan buah-buahan.

Gambar-gambar hitam putih anak-anak Pulau Pinang; Tunku Abdul Rahman dan Tan Sri P Ramlee, wajah bangunan, jalan raya dan kenderaan awam di bandar Pulau Pinang pada tahun-tahun 40-an hingga 70-an. Dari mana datangnya gambar-gambar lama itu saya  tidak pasti.

Yang saya tahu, disebabkan sambutan sangat menggalakkan, lot-lot niaga di situ sudah bertambah banyak sejak dua tiga tahun kebelakangan ini.

Di situ ada tiga atau empat pentas yang macam-macam bentuk hiburan; tari-tarian, nyanyian, main baling bola dan gelang rotan untuk memenangi hadiah dan tentunya persembahan boria.

Malam paling sesak ialah ketika persembahan oleh anak kemegahan Pulau Pinang, seniman legenda Tan Sri P Ramlee dengan kumpulan penyanyinya Puan Sri Saloma, Tan Sri S M Salim serta pelawak A R Tompel dan Ibrahim Din.

Lorong kulit itu sebenarnya tidak sampai 150 meter dari rumah ibu P Ramlee di Counter Hall. Dua tiga kali saya ke rumah itu bersama Nasir (anak P Ramlee yang sekelas dengan saya dari darjah satu hingga tiga di hujung tahun 50-an). Hari ini kawasan itu selalu dilanda banjir.

Kawan-kawan yang masih tinggal di Pulau Pinang mengeluh makanan di sesetengah tempat di sini mahal. Mentang-mentang dikunjungi ramai pelancong antarabangsa, bihun sup yang patutnya berharga RM3.50 atau RM4 paling tinggi, dijual dengan harga RM6 di gerai kawasan tepi pantai.

Itulah harga pembangunan yang perlu dibayar, tetapi apakah peniaga mahu terus ambil kesempatan? Pihak penguat kuasa mahu tengok sahaja!

Gerakan lancar kempen mansuh hukuman mati

 Sempena Hari Hak Asasi Manusia Sedunia 2013 esok, Gerakan melancarkan "Kempen 100,000 Tandatangan' untuk menggesa bagi pemansuhan hukuman mati.

Presiden parti Datuk Mah Siew Keong berkata kempen itu akan diadakan selama tiga bulan bermula hari ini untuk mengumpul tandatangan orang ramai sebelum menyerahkannya bersama-sama dengan satu memorandum, kepada Peguam Negara dan Jabatan Perdana Menteri untuk tindakan lanjut.

Beliau berkata kempen itu merupakan langkah konstruktif Gerakan berikutan sesetengah pihak berpendapat hukuman mati adalah tidak berperikemanusiaan dan bercanggah dengan hak asasi manusia.

"Banyak penyelidikan menunjukkan hukuman mati tidak mencegah jenayah secara efektif, (dan) sebab itu kenapa kebanyakan negara telah memansuhkannya.

"Jadi, kita perlukan iltizam politik (dalam isu ini), dan Gerakan merancang memainkan peranan konstruktif dengan menganjurkan (kempen ini) untuk mendapatkan cukup tandatangan untuk mendesak perkara ini (pemansuhan). Sebab itu kenapa kami memutuskan untuk melakukan ini," katanya kepada pemberita selepas melancarkan kempen itu di sini.

Bagi pihak Gerakan, Mah bagaimanapun mencadangkan hukuman mati sedia ada yang dikenakan bagi jenayah berat, termasuk penyeludupan dadah, patut digantikan dengan hukuman penjara seumur hidup, sebagai alternatif untuk mencegah jenayah itu.

Beliau juga menggesa parti-parti politik, termasuk pembangkang supaya menyokong kempen itu demi negara.    

"Kita berharap ia akan berjaya untuk memastikan yang kita mampu capai sesuatu untuk negara," katanya.

Mereka yang berminat menyertai kempen itu boleh pergi ke pejabat jawatankuasa badan perhubungan Gerakan negeri di setiap negeri atau menerusi laman web rasmi parti di www.gerakan.org.my.

Pengundi Cina Menipu

Ketua Menteri Melaka Datuk Seri Idris Haron  mengulangi kenyataan pemimpin-pemimpin Umno menyalahkan kaum Cina dengan mengatakan tidak salah mereka mengundi Pakatan Rakyat (PR) dalam Pilihan Raya 2013 (PRU13) akan tetapi beliau kecewa dengan pembohongan dilakukan kaum itu di Melaka kerana tidak mengundi Barisan Nasional (BN) seperti dijanjikan.

Beliau berkata perbuatan itu bukan sahaja memperlihatkan sikap khianat masyarakat Cina akan tetapi pada masa sama menjejaskan kepercayaan pihak tertentu.

“Kita kecewa sebab sebelum pilihan raya mereka berjanji menyokong calon BN tetapi terbukti mereka tipu kita selepas diberikan segalanya,” kata Idris merujuk kepada kaum Cina dalam akhbar Utusan Malaysia edisi Ahad, Mingguan Malaysia hari ini.

"Bila mereka tanya saya mengapa orang Cina kena minta maaf, itu sangat pelik. Seolah-olah mereka tidak bersalah menipu dan mengkhianati kepercayaan kita," katanya.

Idris yang juga Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno Melaka berkata, beliau  tidak pernah sesekali menyalahkan pengundi Cina yang mengundi pakatan pembangkang dalam PRU13 lalu.

"Saya tidak pernah marah kepada mereka kerana mengundi siapa pun termasuk pembangkang,” katanya.

Ketua Menteri Melaka itu berkata pada Jumaat, beliau bersedia memaafkan masyarakat Cina dan mengajak mereka kembali kepada BN setelah dilihat seolah-olah terhukum akibat “insiden” keputusan PRU13.

Katanya, sokongan pengundi Cina Melaka kepada BN tidak sampai 15% pada PRU13 termasuk mengakibatkan bekas ketua menterinya Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam kalah merebut kerusi Parlimen Bukit Katil kepada Ketua Pemuda PKR, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin

Mohd Ali setelah tewas dalam PRU13 lalu menyifatkan sentimen perkauman masyarakat Cina begitu tebal di kawasan itu yang menjadi antara punca utama kekalahannya kepada Shamsul Iskandar.

Beliau kesal dengan sikap masyarakat Cina di kawasan berkenaan yang langsung tidak mengenang budi yang telah dicurahkannya sepanjang berkhidmat sebagai Ketua Menteri selama 13 tahun.

"Saya tidak percaya orang Cina di Parlimen Bukit Katil boleh menolak saya dan kerana undi merekalah saya tewas dalam pilihan raya kali ini.

"Apa jasa Shamsul Iskandar terhadap orang Cina, kalau hendak dibandingkan dengan apa yang telah saya berikan selama ini.

"Mereka (orang Cina) apabila saya dah tolong dalam bidang perniagaan hingga mereka berjaya dan menjadi kaya, mereka ini lupa jasa yang telah saya buat,'' katanya.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak dalam reaksi awalnya selepas keputusan PRU13 diumumkan mengatakan BN bersyukur kerana berjaya memenangi pilihan raya itu akan tetapi terkejut dengan “Tsunami Cina” yang berlaku. – 8 Disember, 2013.

Harap BN mengambil iktibar dengan apa yang terjadi..Berhati-hati dengan musuh dalam selimut.

Apa Kena Mengena Judi Dan BN??

Walaupun lesen judi bolasepak diluluskan Menteri Kewangan kepada Ascot Sport, anak syarikat kumpulan Berjaya yang dimiliki Vincent Tan, ia tidak boleh beroperasi sekurang-kurangnya di empat negeri iaitu Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor dan Pulau Pinang.

Ia hanya boleh beroperasi di negeri-negeri yang diperintah oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) iaitu Perlis, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Johor, Terengganu, Pahang, Sabah dan Sarawak di samping Putrajaya dan Labuan.

Ini berikutan pengumuman yang terkini iaitu Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim yang telah mengumumkan, kerajaan negeri Selangor tidak akan mengeluarkan lesen premis untuk judi tersebut

Kalau betulalah,Maknanya pastilah negeri-negeri Pakatan tidak ada masalah dari segi sosial dan salah laku.Tapi yang pelik ada juga..Cakap tak serupa bikin 

Kedah to give funeral, housing and football aid

THE Kedah  legislative assembly yesterday passed the 2014 budget, which saw the Barisan Nasional-led state government, tabling it for the first time after taking over the state  in the general election in May, announcing more assistance for the people.

The highlights were RM100 worth of gifts to newborns, RM250 funeral cash aid for people in Kedah beginning January and the construction of 20,000 affordable houses in the next five years.

As recognition of the contribution of 562 siak (mosque committee members), the state government recommended their monthly allowance be raised by RM200 from RN275 to RM475.

To bring back the golden years of Kedah football, Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir (BN-Ayer Hitam) announced a RM10 million allocation for the Kedah Football Association (KFA).

During the sitting, state Women Development, Welfare Services, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Datuk Suraya Yaacob (BN- Sungai Tiang) announced a RM4 million allocation for funeral cash aid to Kedahans, regardless of their household income bracket.

Suraya had good news for padi farmers in the state, saying the state government was discussing with the Agricultural and Agro-based Ministry, Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) and the authorities to review the floor price of padi, which stood at RM750 per tonne.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Badrol Hisham Hashim (BN-Kuala Nerang) said the Federal Government, through the 1Malaysia Housing Programme (PR1MA), would build 20,000 units of affordable houses to help the low- and-middle income earners own a house in the next five years.

In his concluding speech during the 2014 Budget debate session, Mukhriz announced that Kedah would become the first state to sign the Integrity Pledge.

He said the move was in line with the state government's effort to improve the level of good governance and combating corruption.

Mukhriz said he had discussed the matter with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Paul Low Seng Kwan.

He said the move was part of his administration's initiative to improve the state government's revenue and reduce leakages.

Citing an example, Mukhriz said the previous Pas-led administration had collected a RM1,000 logging concession premium from the market value of RM11,000.

"The state government got only RM1,000, while the state government-linked company (GLC) made about RM5,000 before selling the concession to a third party, who would then sell it to another buyer at RM11,000," he told the House.

Read more: Kedah to give funeral, housing and football aid - General - New Straits 

Anwar cakap macam Bangla

Anwar duk pusing cakap pulak, kata PR tak pernah dakwa ada 40K pengundi BANGLADESH..

Aikk...Anwar pusing cakap pulak,dulu bukan maina lagi cakap yang BN menang sebab ada 40K pengundi hantu.Tapi sekarang tak pula..

Dtiduhnya pula isu pengundi Bangladesh adalah mainan penulis-penulis blog BN (BarisanNasional).Biar betul Anwar ni,cakap tak serupa bikin.Dulu cakap lain,sekarang cakap lain.

Jangan ingat rakyat Malaysia ni  bodoh sangat.Cukup lah dulu Anwar membodohkan rakyat Malaysia selama ini.

Mukhriz: No reason to increase MCA exco posts to two

ALOR STAR: The status quo for a sole MCA representative in the Kedah state executive council would be maintained for the time being, said Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

He said he did not see any reason to change his stand.

Mukhriz stressed that the other post, reserved for Gerakan, would be left vacant for future needs.

"For the record, the quota for MCA assemblyman should have been filled up when the rest of the state executive council was sworn in after the 13th General Election in May.

"However, we reserved the quota while waiting for MCA to decide on the matter. When they finally decided on the matter recently, suddenly, they want two seats and I think this is a bit unfair.

"But it is okay, we can always discuss the matter later, but for now, the quota stays," he said after opening the state-level Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) seminar on investment inheritance schemes at TH Hotel and Convention Centre in Kepala Batas here yesterday.

Present were PNB president and group executive chief Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah and state Information, Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah.

Mukhriz was commenting on the request by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Sooi Lek who wanted the state government to increase MCA's quota in the state executive council line-up to two, from the current one slot.

He said Dr Chua did not make an official verbal or written request on the matter to him when they met during campaigning at the Sungai Limau by-election.

"Dr Chua passed me an official letter which recommended Gurun assemblyman Dr Leong Yong Kong to be appointed as an exco member, but nothing was mentioned about increasing the number of seats."

Mukhriz has already appointed eight of the 10 state executive council members.

Setuju dengan pandangan Mukhriz itu...............

NAKHAIE GESA NIK AZIZ LEPAS JAWATAN MURSYIDUL AM

Keputusan pengundi Kuala Besut memilih Barisan Nasional (BN) pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) 24 Julai lalu, bukan bermakna mereka menolak Islam,sebaliknya lebih menyakini perjuangan BN dalam membela kesucian agama berbanding PAS.

Bekas Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Nakhaie  Ahmad, berkata Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat perlu melihat kelemahan partinya terlebih dulu sebelum menuduh pengundi Kuala Besut menolak Islam apabila memilih BN.

LARANGAN KEMPEN PERLU KEKAL

Ketika calon-calon lain menarik  nafas lega dengan keputusan Lembaga Displin yang membenarkan kempen secara terbuka diadakan , lain pula pendirian calon Ahli Majlis Tertinggi,Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim.

Menurut Shahidan, syarat tidak membenarkan calon berkempen pada pemilihan Umno sepatutnya dikekalkan pada masa kini bagi mengelakkan perbuatan mungkar dalam parti itu.

PILIH CALON BERINTEGRITI BUKAN POPULARITI

Perwakilan Umno dinasihatkan supaya memilih calon benar-benar berwibawa dan berintegriti,bukan bersandarkan kepada populariti menjelang pemilihan parti pada 12 dan 19 Oktober ini.

Ketua Umno Bahagian Cheras,Datuk Seri Syed Ali Alhabshee berkata, perwakilan perlu bijak membuat penilaian kerana keputusan mereka bakal menentukan masa depan parti.

PRASARANA MASIH TERPINGGIR

Sebilangan besar penduduk masih mengharapkan beberapa keperluan kemudahan prasarana dapat diberi perhatian termasuk kemudahan balai raya,mahu tapak pejabat pos dibuka semula dan jalan raya dinaik taraf.

'Tidak kiralah Dun Jeram dibawah BN, kerajaan negeri tidak boleh lepas tangan apabila masalah itu melibatkan bidang kuasa mereka kerana rakyat perlu didahulukan dan ketepikan karenah birokrasi,' kata  Adun Jeram Datuk Amiruddin yang akan membangkitkan isu sama pada sidang Dun nanti.

Price of local beef in Kedah shoots up by 27pc

ALOR STAR: The price of local beef in most parts of the state has skyrocketed by up to 27 per cent, averaging RM28 per kg and errant butchers at the wet markets are to be blamed for the situation.

A major beef supplier in the state, Md Rashid Hanafi, said he had not increased the price of the commodity despite a slight increase in demand among consumers due to the fasting month.

"My price to my regular traders and butchers remains at RM20 per kg. I am shocked to find some unscrupulous traders and butchers selling local beef at RM28 per kg," he said, when contacted on the sudden increase in the price of local beef.

Barely a week ago, Kedahans had to dig deeper into their pockets after the price of chicken rose steeply to as much as RM9 per kg from RM6.30 per kg.

The price increase, which is still prevalent in many parts of the state, was blamed on the recent haze and the sudden high demand for chicken meat due to the fasting month.

The price of imported beef, not as popular as local beef, is however stable at between RM18 and RM30 per kg, depending on its parts.

Checks at major towns in the state showed the price of local beef have shot up by between RM3 and RM5 per kg, depending on the areas.

In Kulim, the price of local beef at a number wet markets retailed at between RM26 and RM28 per kg compared to the regular price of RM22 per kg. At most wet markets in Alor Star and in Sungai Petani, local beef is sold at between RM25 and RM26 per kg.

Rashid's concern was shared by Kedah Consumers Association chairman Datuk Yusoff Ismail.

He blamed the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Department here for the indiscriminate price increases of essential food items by errant traders.

"The price of chicken went up ridiculously and the department did not do anything. "Now, the price of local beef has followed suit. What's next?"

Yusoff said it was unfair for the department to stick with its practice of only taking action against errant traders during the two weeks before and after a festive season.

"People, especially the low-income earners have to eat."

jangan ada yang mengambil kesempatan di musim perayaan ni dah lah..

Boycott call 'hypocritical'

NOT CONFIDENT: Guan Eng's call to sit out Kuala Besut by-election is a sign of fear, say leaders

KUALA LUMPUR: THE call by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for Pas to boycott the coming Kuala Besut by-election in protest against the Election Commission has been described as a clear sign of hypocrisy.

"If they think they should protest against the EC, they shouldn't have sworn in elected representatives in the first place," said Terengganu state executive councillor Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman.

Ahmad Razif, who is also Seberang Takir Barisan Nasional assemblyman, said Lim was making the call out of "fear and lack of confidence" that the opposition would break through the Umno fortress.

"It is up to them if they want to boycott it, but this also shows that they are not confident of winning the seat."

Lim had on Sunday, suggested that Pas boycott the by-election over the indelible ink issue. He said he would raise the possibility of a boycott with the opposition coalition supreme council.

His suggestion had also raised eyebrows among political pundits, suggesting that such a call could be derived from fear that Pas may form a unity government with BN should they win and there is a hung state legislature.

BN Muar member of parliament Datuk Razali Ibrahim said Lim was being a hypocrite, as he himself had indirectly accepted the election results as sound by swearing-in as an elected representative.

"He is just making a political statement. Isn't it the same EC that made him run the office?" said Razali.

Pas leaders, however, said the party had no plans to abstain from the by-election.

The party's Kuala Terengganu MP Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad said discussions on the by-election had already been held at preliminary levels.

"On principle, we will take part in the by-election but we still have to wait for the official announcement from the party."

He denied the possibility of forming a unity government with BN, describing such talk as "political gossip".

Meanwhile, Terengganu PKR chairman Azan Ismail said Pas should not act defensively towards a friendly suggestion that his party contest in the by-election.

It was reported that Azan had expressed interest in contesting for the vacant seat and this had led to an outburst by Pas secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali.

Azan said his statement was only to signify the opposition pact's "cooperation" to contest in the by-election.

"It would be better if he had welcomed the suggestion and said it would be up to the opposition pact's top leadership to decide."

The Kuala Besut by-election will be held by Aug 27 following the death of assemblyman Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar.

'Speculation in media will deny Taib fair chance'

GRAFT PROBE: Public urged to let MACC do its job

KUALA LUMPUR: THERE should not be any trial by media in the graft investigations involving Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as this would only pave the way to unnecessary conclusions among the public, says Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission advisory committee member Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas.

He said the basic principle of law that a person was innocent until proven guilty should be applied in the probe, just as in any other case.

"Widespread perception of guilt prior to a court decision will deny Taib Mahmud a fair chance to defend himself.

"Therefore, people should allow the MACC to do its job without any interference," he said when asked to comment on Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) former secretary-general Josie Fernandez's statement that the MACC should update the public on its probe into Taib's case.

Megat Najmuddin said it would be difficult for the MACC to make public its investigations as it was a "huge investigation".

"The MACC cannot give away everything about the case by updating the public. There is a fine balance between what can and cannot be said to the people."

He said the case would take time as it required MACC to conduct investigations overseas.

However, Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute's centre of public policy studies chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam believed the public should be kept in the loop concerning the investigation.

"This has been a thorny issue for many years and the people have the impression that the commission is only interested in 'small fishes' and not 'big fishes'.

"Now is the time for both the government and MACC to show that it means business. Otherwise, it will get into trouble on issues concerning public perception, integrity, transparency and the will to combat corruption,"  said Navaratnam, who is also the former MACC Corruption Prevention Panel chairman.

MACC announced on Saturday the setting up of a multi-agency task force to investigate graft allegations against Taib.

The Attorney-General's Chambers is part of the task force.

In dismissing doubts on its efficiency, particularly in dealing with corruption allegations against the 77-year-old politician, MACC said it had recorded statements from 20 people and examined 400 files in its investigations.

It also said the probe had started before a video, which implicated Taib in corrupt dealings, was posted on the Internet.

However, it added that an additional team of 10 investigators was formed after the video went viral.

'Fraud commission not necessary'

SHAH ALAM: A Barisan Nasional assemblyman yesterday questioned the need for the state to set up a Selangor Commission of Election Fraud Investigation into the 13th General Election.

Speaking during a debate in the state assembly, Sulaiman Abdul Razak, the representative for Permatang, said that unsatisfied parties could file petitions in court and present their evidence at the hearing.

"Why did you all (Pakatan representatives) swear in as assemblymen?

"When you win, then the results are fair but when you lose, for example at the parliamentary level, then it is not fair."

He said the plan to set up the commission was just a political gimmick by Pas, PKR and DAP.

Meanwhile, Azmin Ali (PKR-Bukit Antarabangsa) said such a commission was needed as there was a wide range of election issues that had to be looked into, some of which may not be within the jurisdiction of the legal system.

"In the petition process, it focused only on specific issues. However, we have a need to debate on a wider range of issues, such as the use of indelible ink."

No contest likely for top five posts in Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno election, slated to be held later this year may not see any contest for the posts of president, deputy president and vice-presidents.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor yesterday lent his support for the idea of keeping the party's top posts uncontested.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, he said most Umno grassroots did not want any member to vie for the top posts as it might undermine the party's strength.

"That is the general opinion that I have gathered after visiting several divisions recently. We in Umno believe in guided democracy. In democracy, anyone can challenge anyone for a top post, but if it will destroy us, why should we do it?"

He, however, added that there should be contests for the top posts for the Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings.

"People on the ground feel that this is the way if we want to be a stronger party. In fact, we did well in the last election when we won 88 seats compared with 79 seats in 2008," he said.

Elaborating, Tengku Adnan said such a policy of no-contest would benefit the party as it would promote the spirit of muzakarah, or discussion.

"We should all just sit down and discuss who the best persons to lead the party are."

Commenting on whether it was appropriate to hold the Kuala Besut by-election during the month of Ramadan, Tengku Adnan said no problems would arise and that the by-election would go on as planned.

"There shouldn't be any problem with that. If you recall, the same thing happened exactly 34 years ago. The Kuala Besut state assemblyman then had died at the same place and on the same date," he pointed out.

Tengku Adnan also quashed speculation that a biometric authentication system would be used to verify the identity of Umno grassroots members at the party's branch meetings nationwide.

"No, the biometric system will not be used.

"However, we will scan the identification cards of members to ensure that the people who come from branches and divisions are the correct delegates."

Tee grateful that sultan will issue statement

Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, MCA's sole state executive councillor, is grateful that the Sultan of Johor will be issuing a statement which he believes will resolve the issue pertaining to his appointment.

He said his critics, who were ironically party members, kept on attacking him probably because they still could not swallow the fact that it was the sultan who had appointed him to enable a Chinese to represent the community in the state's administration.

Even after his party membership was suspended for three years, he said the attacks never ceased, and he could not figure out why he was still being singled out for attacks when there were others who could be the subject of such attacks.

"As a Buddhist, it is not my style to lie. Since the sultan is going to issue a statement, I think this will do me justice and prevent any further attacks.

"Truth will prevail eventually. I have nothing to hide and, therefore, have nothing to fear. The sultan's decree is an order."

The New Sunday Times reported that the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, would issue a statement to put an end to the issue. Tee had accepted the appointment as the sultan had decreed him to do so.

When asked about the appointment of other former and present MCA leaders to government posts, but were not subjected to any attacks, Tee refused to comment, saying that it was better to leave that to the party's disciplinary board, just like what had been done to him lately.

It was reported that a senior Johor MCA leader had revealed that Tee was not the only party member who had accepted a government post, as there were others who had done so.

Citing examples, he named former president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, who is currently the prime minister's special envoy to China and former party vice-president Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, who is the chairman of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority of Malaysia.

Also on the list were the prime minister's political secretary, Wong Nai Chee and MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who was appointed as the chairman of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board.

When asked on the definition of a government post, Tee said this would mean anyone paid by the government.