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