Source TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: Khazanah Nasional Bhd acquired 11.44 million shares of UEM World Bhd from Sept 18 to 19, a filing with Bursa Malaysia showed.
Khazanah bought 367,900 shares on Sept 18. The next day, it acquired 415,000 shares and another 10.66 million in two separate transactions.
The shares were acquired from the open market and shares held under the employee equity scheme from eligible employees.
After the acquisitions, its total shareholding increased to 923.5 million shares or 66.53%.
Abdullah to decide by Oct 9 on Umno presidency
Source TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will make a decision on whether he will defend the Umno presidency before the party's divisional level elections begin on Oct 9.
The Umno president and Prime Minister said this after charing a special party supreme council meeting at PWTC here Friday morning.
Abdullah also announced that the party's general assembly has been postponed to March next year.
However, he said that the Umno divisional elections would go on as scheduled from Oct 9 to Nov 9.
The Umno general assembly was earlier slated for Dec 16 to 20.
He said the postponement was to facilitate an "early power transition" from him to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The original transition plan, which was announced in July, would have seen Najib take over from Abdullah by June 2010.
To a question on whether this meant that he would not be seeking re-election to the Umno presidency, Abdullah said: "I have not decided yet. I will make a decision before the (Umno) divisional elections (from Oct 9 to Nov 9)."
Abdullah also said the special meeting went on well and he was not pressured by any of the supreme council members to quit.
Friday’s meeting by the 25-member Umno supreme council was the latest in a fast-moving chain of events in Umno politics since the fasting month began.
After last week’s supreme council meeting, several state Umno chiefs were said to have convened at Abdullah’s official residence for a meeting during which they urged Abdullah to get a firmer commitment from Najib regarding the coming party elections.
Some of them were concerned that Najib had, on the one hand, expressed support for the transition plan but on the other, had said he would leave the final decision to delegates attending the Umno division meetings next month.
The meeting took place between 1am and 3am on Tuesday. That same evening, Abdullah and Najib had a four-eyed meeting.
On Wednesday afternoon, Najib chaired a hastily convened Umno management committee meeting, presumably to brief them and get a consensus on what had transpired between him and the Prime Minister.
The management committee, chaired by Najib, comprises key Umno leaders including vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer, information chief and leaders of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings.
Members of the committee have been extremely tight-lipped about the meeting following Najib’s stern warning on confidentiality.
On Thursday morning, another four-eyed meeting took place between Abdullah and Najib. It is understood that the meeting was to convey what transpired among the management committee members.
It was Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who lit the spark when he urged Abdullah to consider an earlier exit plan. That spark became a flame when Najib announced he would let the division meetings decide on the transition of power.
His statement was widely read as an indication that he would be open to being nominated for the top party post.
However, he has also repeatedly stressed that he is opposed to a “takeover of power” and was looking instead at a “handover of power”.
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will make a decision on whether he will defend the Umno presidency before the party's divisional level elections begin on Oct 9.
The Umno president and Prime Minister said this after charing a special party supreme council meeting at PWTC here Friday morning.
Abdullah also announced that the party's general assembly has been postponed to March next year.
However, he said that the Umno divisional elections would go on as scheduled from Oct 9 to Nov 9.
The Umno general assembly was earlier slated for Dec 16 to 20.
He said the postponement was to facilitate an "early power transition" from him to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The original transition plan, which was announced in July, would have seen Najib take over from Abdullah by June 2010.
To a question on whether this meant that he would not be seeking re-election to the Umno presidency, Abdullah said: "I have not decided yet. I will make a decision before the (Umno) divisional elections (from Oct 9 to Nov 9)."
Abdullah also said the special meeting went on well and he was not pressured by any of the supreme council members to quit.
Friday’s meeting by the 25-member Umno supreme council was the latest in a fast-moving chain of events in Umno politics since the fasting month began.
After last week’s supreme council meeting, several state Umno chiefs were said to have convened at Abdullah’s official residence for a meeting during which they urged Abdullah to get a firmer commitment from Najib regarding the coming party elections.
Some of them were concerned that Najib had, on the one hand, expressed support for the transition plan but on the other, had said he would leave the final decision to delegates attending the Umno division meetings next month.
The meeting took place between 1am and 3am on Tuesday. That same evening, Abdullah and Najib had a four-eyed meeting.
On Wednesday afternoon, Najib chaired a hastily convened Umno management committee meeting, presumably to brief them and get a consensus on what had transpired between him and the Prime Minister.
The management committee, chaired by Najib, comprises key Umno leaders including vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer, information chief and leaders of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings.
Members of the committee have been extremely tight-lipped about the meeting following Najib’s stern warning on confidentiality.
On Thursday morning, another four-eyed meeting took place between Abdullah and Najib. It is understood that the meeting was to convey what transpired among the management committee members.
It was Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who lit the spark when he urged Abdullah to consider an earlier exit plan. That spark became a flame when Najib announced he would let the division meetings decide on the transition of power.
His statement was widely read as an indication that he would be open to being nominated for the top party post.
However, he has also repeatedly stressed that he is opposed to a “takeover of power” and was looking instead at a “handover of power”.
Bank Negara asks Maybank to renegotiate BII deal
Source TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara has asked Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) to renegotiate on the purchase price for PT Bank Internastional Indonesia TBK (BII).
Maybank said early Friday the central bank made the request to ensure the deal would not result in substantial impairment under the international financial reporting standards that would impact the fundamental financial soundness of Maybank.
“Maybank to obtain an extension to the Sept 26 deadline, being the last date to fulfill the conditions precedent as stipulated in the share sale agreement dated March 26, 2008,” it said.
These were the two conditions set by the central bank in its letter on Thursday following its earlier approval for the purchase of BII.
Maybank said the central bank informed that the current financial turmoil in the global financial market and its impact on the regional financial markets “have necessitated Bank Negara to reassess the proposal”.
“These developments have had an adverse impact on the initial assumptions underlying the post acquisition financial projections on Maybank which formed the basis on which the approval was given by Bank Negara,” it said.
Maybank said despite the flexibility granted by Bapepam on the 20% sell-down requirement, it was still concerned over the “increasingly higher risk premium in financial markets and the excessively higher cost of capital globally, including in Malaysia and Indonesia, will still result in substantial impairment of Maybank’s investment in BII”.
It said Bank Negara was concerned about the impact which would affect Maybank’s financial soundness and overall stability of the Malaysian financial system.
Maybank said it would now engage with Fullerton Financial Holdings Pte. Ltd. and Kookmin Bank on this latest decision from Bank Negara.
KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara has asked Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) to renegotiate on the purchase price for PT Bank Internastional Indonesia TBK (BII).
Maybank said early Friday the central bank made the request to ensure the deal would not result in substantial impairment under the international financial reporting standards that would impact the fundamental financial soundness of Maybank.
“Maybank to obtain an extension to the Sept 26 deadline, being the last date to fulfill the conditions precedent as stipulated in the share sale agreement dated March 26, 2008,” it said.
These were the two conditions set by the central bank in its letter on Thursday following its earlier approval for the purchase of BII.
Maybank said the central bank informed that the current financial turmoil in the global financial market and its impact on the regional financial markets “have necessitated Bank Negara to reassess the proposal”.
“These developments have had an adverse impact on the initial assumptions underlying the post acquisition financial projections on Maybank which formed the basis on which the approval was given by Bank Negara,” it said.
Maybank said despite the flexibility granted by Bapepam on the 20% sell-down requirement, it was still concerned over the “increasingly higher risk premium in financial markets and the excessively higher cost of capital globally, including in Malaysia and Indonesia, will still result in substantial impairment of Maybank’s investment in BII”.
It said Bank Negara was concerned about the impact which would affect Maybank’s financial soundness and overall stability of the Malaysian financial system.
Maybank said it would now engage with Fullerton Financial Holdings Pte. Ltd. and Kookmin Bank on this latest decision from Bank Negara.
Emergency Umno Supreme Council meeting - for the sake of Abdullah or Malaysia?
Source MP KitSiang
Today’s emergency UMNO Supreme Council meeting, second in a week, exposes Umno in a white-heat crisis to Malaysians.
There were all sorts of rumours last week, including the quite “unbelievable” one (which I mentioned in my blog) that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been given up to Sept. 26 to step down as Prime Minister - although nobody was able to explain why Sept. 26 as the deadline for at least a clear-cut announcement of his retirement intention rather than the more believable Oct. 9.
But as they say, there is no smoke without fire! This explains the emergency Umno Supreme Council meeting today.
The full effects of the political tsunami of the March 8 general election, which dealt a fatal blow to Umno political hegemony, destroyed the hitherto unchallenged Barisan Nasional mould of race and money politics, and gave heart to Malaysians that there is hope after all for Malaysia to fulfill her great potential and promise of human, intellectual and natural resources, end and reverse the costly brain-drain, taking her rightful place in the global community - have still to be played out.
These are the pains, trials and tribulations of Malaysia becoming a more normal country after 51 years of nationhood so that Malaysia can truly join the ranks of the fully-developed nations.
But is the Umno Supreme Council emergency meeting today just for the sake of Abdullah and the UMNO warlords or is it going to grapple with the weighty national issues for the sake of returning Malaysia to her promise and potential as a great nation?
Today’s emergency UMNO Supreme Council meeting, second in a week, exposes Umno in a white-heat crisis to Malaysians.
There were all sorts of rumours last week, including the quite “unbelievable” one (which I mentioned in my blog) that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been given up to Sept. 26 to step down as Prime Minister - although nobody was able to explain why Sept. 26 as the deadline for at least a clear-cut announcement of his retirement intention rather than the more believable Oct. 9.
But as they say, there is no smoke without fire! This explains the emergency Umno Supreme Council meeting today.
The full effects of the political tsunami of the March 8 general election, which dealt a fatal blow to Umno political hegemony, destroyed the hitherto unchallenged Barisan Nasional mould of race and money politics, and gave heart to Malaysians that there is hope after all for Malaysia to fulfill her great potential and promise of human, intellectual and natural resources, end and reverse the costly brain-drain, taking her rightful place in the global community - have still to be played out.
These are the pains, trials and tribulations of Malaysia becoming a more normal country after 51 years of nationhood so that Malaysia can truly join the ranks of the fully-developed nations.
But is the Umno Supreme Council emergency meeting today just for the sake of Abdullah and the UMNO warlords or is it going to grapple with the weighty national issues for the sake of returning Malaysia to her promise and potential as a great nation?
Turun RM0.10 sen tetap tidak dapat pulihkan ekonomi
Source Harakah
Pengumuman kerajaan semalam untuk menurunkan harga runcit petrol sebanyak 10 sen merupakan satu keputusan yang didasari motif politik semata.
Tindakan kerajaan Barisan Nasional ini gagal untuk mengambil kira aspek mekanisme pasaran dan kepentingan rakyat.
Barisan Nasional meskipun menurunkan harga minyak sebanyak dua kali dalam tempoh satu bulan, ia tidak langsung memulihkan keyakinan pelabur tempatan dan asing terhadap ekonomi negara, serta mengurangkan impak peningkatan kadar inflasi, sebaliknya merugikan peruncit minyak dan pengeluar produk bahan bakar tersebut.
Keputusan kerajaan untuk menarik balik subsidi minyak hingga menyebabkan kenaikan harga secara mendadak sebanyak 41% pada 4 Jun lalu jelas meninggalkan impak yang besar ke atas pasaran tempatan.
Keadaan menjadi bertambah buruk apabila kesan kenaikan mendadak harga minyak menyebabkan kadar inlasi mencecah 8.5%, merupakan yang tertinggi dalam tempoh 28 tahun.
Seluruh lapisan masyarakat dan industri terkejut serta terjejas oleh keputusan kerajaan yang dibuat secara terburu-buru ini.
Walaupun kerajaan cuba memulihkan keadaan ekonomi dengan menurunkan harga minyak sebanyak dua kali, namun keadaan ekonomi yang tenat kini tidak lagi dapat dipulihkan dengan sekadar menurunkan harga minyak sebanyak 10 sen sahaja.
Selain itu, keputusan kerajaan juga gagal memaparkan mekanisme kerajaan yang telus dan konsisten dalam proses menentukan kadar harga minyak.
Kenaikan dan penurunan harga minyak yang tergesa-gesa dan tidak didasari demi kepentingan rakyat mengesahkan pendapat umum bahawa pentadbiran sekarang tidak berupaya berhadapan dengan isu minyak serta ekonomi global.
Pada awal tahun ini, kita menyaksikan ketika harga minyak dunia berada pada USD100 setong, harga minyak dalam negara adalah RM1.92; manakala harga minyak dalam negara berada pada harga RM2.70 seliter semasa harga minyak dunia mencecah USD104 setong.
Namun hari ini ketika harga minyak dunia jatuh kepada USD104 setong, mengapakah kerajaan cuma menurunkan 10 sen dan harga minyak tetap melebihi harga asal sebelum kenaikan pada Jun lalu?
Sesungguhnya, keputusan kerajaan menurunkan harga minyak kali ini adalah satu lagi keputusan politik berupa gula-gula yang ingin menambat hati rakyat, tetapi tidak didasari di atas kepentingan ekonomi negara dan rakyat.
Malah Majlis Ekonomi yang ditubuhkan pada awal bulan Ogos juga sekadar komestik yang tidak mempunyai kuasa sebenar untuk mempengaruhi ataupun menyertai proses pembuatkeputusan kerajaan berkenaan dasar-dasar ekonomi yang penting.
TIAN CHUA
Ketua Penerangan Parti KeADILan Rakyat
Ahli Parlimen Batu, WP
Kenyataan Media, 25 September 2008.
Pengumuman kerajaan semalam untuk menurunkan harga runcit petrol sebanyak 10 sen merupakan satu keputusan yang didasari motif politik semata.
Tindakan kerajaan Barisan Nasional ini gagal untuk mengambil kira aspek mekanisme pasaran dan kepentingan rakyat.
Barisan Nasional meskipun menurunkan harga minyak sebanyak dua kali dalam tempoh satu bulan, ia tidak langsung memulihkan keyakinan pelabur tempatan dan asing terhadap ekonomi negara, serta mengurangkan impak peningkatan kadar inflasi, sebaliknya merugikan peruncit minyak dan pengeluar produk bahan bakar tersebut.
Keputusan kerajaan untuk menarik balik subsidi minyak hingga menyebabkan kenaikan harga secara mendadak sebanyak 41% pada 4 Jun lalu jelas meninggalkan impak yang besar ke atas pasaran tempatan.
Keadaan menjadi bertambah buruk apabila kesan kenaikan mendadak harga minyak menyebabkan kadar inlasi mencecah 8.5%, merupakan yang tertinggi dalam tempoh 28 tahun.
Seluruh lapisan masyarakat dan industri terkejut serta terjejas oleh keputusan kerajaan yang dibuat secara terburu-buru ini.
Walaupun kerajaan cuba memulihkan keadaan ekonomi dengan menurunkan harga minyak sebanyak dua kali, namun keadaan ekonomi yang tenat kini tidak lagi dapat dipulihkan dengan sekadar menurunkan harga minyak sebanyak 10 sen sahaja.
Selain itu, keputusan kerajaan juga gagal memaparkan mekanisme kerajaan yang telus dan konsisten dalam proses menentukan kadar harga minyak.
Kenaikan dan penurunan harga minyak yang tergesa-gesa dan tidak didasari demi kepentingan rakyat mengesahkan pendapat umum bahawa pentadbiran sekarang tidak berupaya berhadapan dengan isu minyak serta ekonomi global.
Pada awal tahun ini, kita menyaksikan ketika harga minyak dunia berada pada USD100 setong, harga minyak dalam negara adalah RM1.92; manakala harga minyak dalam negara berada pada harga RM2.70 seliter semasa harga minyak dunia mencecah USD104 setong.
Namun hari ini ketika harga minyak dunia jatuh kepada USD104 setong, mengapakah kerajaan cuma menurunkan 10 sen dan harga minyak tetap melebihi harga asal sebelum kenaikan pada Jun lalu?
Sesungguhnya, keputusan kerajaan menurunkan harga minyak kali ini adalah satu lagi keputusan politik berupa gula-gula yang ingin menambat hati rakyat, tetapi tidak didasari di atas kepentingan ekonomi negara dan rakyat.
Malah Majlis Ekonomi yang ditubuhkan pada awal bulan Ogos juga sekadar komestik yang tidak mempunyai kuasa sebenar untuk mempengaruhi ataupun menyertai proses pembuatkeputusan kerajaan berkenaan dasar-dasar ekonomi yang penting.
TIAN CHUA
Ketua Penerangan Parti KeADILan Rakyat
Ahli Parlimen Batu, WP
Kenyataan Media, 25 September 2008.
BEACH GOSSIP: Loch Ness Monster and the Atheist
An atheist was spending a quiet day fishing when suddenly his boat was attacked by the Loch Ness Monster. In one easy flip, the beast tossed him and his boat at least a hundred feet into the air. It then opened it's mouth waiting below to swallow them both.
As the man sailed head over heels and started to fall towards the open jaws of the ferocious beast he cried out, "Oh, my God! Help me!"
Suddenly, the scene froze in place and as the atheist hung in midair a booming voice came out of the clouds and said, "I thought you didn't believe in Me!"
"God, come on, give me a break!" the man pleaded, "Just seconds ago I didn't believe in the Loch Ness Monster either!"
"Well," said God, "now that you are a believer, you must understand that I won't work miracles to snatch you from certain death in the jaws of the monster, but I can change hearts. What would you have me do?"
The atheist thinks for a minute then says, "God, please have the Loch Ness Monster believe in You also.
"God replies, "So be it."
The scene starts in motion again with the atheist falling towards the ravenous jaws of the monster. The Loch Ness Monster folds his claws together and says, "Lord, bless this food You have so graciously provided . . ."
TUNKU ABDUL AZIZ: Politicians must put Malaysia first'
Source NST
NST speaks to Tunku Abdul Aziz on his views on politics and politicians and the crossover plan.
Q: What is your view of the crossover plan?
A: If you justify crossing over on the grounds that you will still continue to perform your duties, that justification really has no ethical foundation. As Abraham Lincoln once said: "Whatever is morally wrong cannot be politically right."
So the basis on which you are crossing over is in itself unethical. I am totally against such a practice because that is tantamount to abandoning democratic principles which we have all fought for.
In the fight for independence, for example, we were driven by dreams of political freedom and dreams of democratic practices and principles. And I despair when I think that politics has come to this because at the end of the day, whatever we do, particularly in the political arena, is in the area of public service. What MPs and state assemblymen are supposed to do is to perform public duties in the public interest.
Q: If the purported mass crossover happens, what are the reasons behind it?
A: I think the reasons are simply to gain an instant change of government and whether the process is legitimate or otherwise isn't really the point.
We have to consider: is this really how we want to portray the practice of politics in our own country. Of course, I regard this as assuming the mantle of government through the back door.
Q: What are the possible backlash effects of crossovers to Pakatan Rakyat and DAP in the long run, if any?
A: Well, if all cross over then the BN government will be out in the cold, which is an obvious scenario. But if this happens, I will not be a party to this, because my position is very clear: I will not support it; I will not go along.
Q: In this respect, are you going to be the voice of reason in Pakatan Rakyat?
A: I will certainly be the dissenting voice on this particular issue in Pakatan Rakyat.
Q: With existing uncertainties in the country's politics, more and more people are getting tired by the yet-to-be fulfilled promises that Pakatan Rakyat will form the government. What is your view?
A: I agree that there's a climate of uncertainty in the country, not only on the political front but now on the economic front as well. On the economic issue, we are very much affected by what is going on in the American financial system. But whatever it is, this uncertainty must be resolved quickly because it is not doing the country any good at all.
The perception internationally is that this country is becoming ungovernable. That is the impression created overseas, and this is unhealthy. Politicians on both sides of the political divide must put Malaysia first.
I'd like to see every political party adopt this model: that we must direct all our energies towards improving the political climate in this country.
Q: What are the main sentiments of DAP leaders and its members regarding the crossovers?
A: The DAP is not a monolithic organisation as it is made up of a lot of members. And, in the nature of things, there will be different views on this. From what I have seen and heard, there are a lot of people, across the whole spectrum, who feel crossing over is not a long-term solution. Sustainability is important and we should not go for short-term gains because they will not make the impact that we hope for in order to bring about change to the lives of the people.
Q: Since you have joined DAP and been appointed as the party's vice-chairman, are you still able to voice frank views about matters related to Pakatan Rakyat, including the crossovers?
A: My colleagues in DAP have always known me as an independent person. I am my own man and the fact that I have now joined a political party will not change my views on public ethics and morality. These are non-negotiable as far as I am concerned.
Q: In your past columns in the New Straits Times, you have been quite critical and vocal about political leaders, including Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's theatrical acts. With current developments, what is your stand on this?
A: I stand by every word that I have written in my column. So those views remain intact. I joined DAP because it is a very democratic party. One of the principles of democracy is freedom of speech. Dissenting views are part and parcel of that process.
Q: Have you been asked by your colleagues to tone down?
A: No, no, no. They have been very open. I have been watching them for a very long time. Over the years, they have changed. They are not as strident and doctrinaire as they used to be. They are trying very hard to become a truly multiracial party. If there were more Malays in DAP, there would be a much better understanding of what DAP is all about.
The Malays view DAP as being shrouded in some mystery. It is seen as a chauvinistic Chinese party quarrelling over ridiculous issues like the wearing of songkok. This is one side of the DAP psychology, but they are mainly concerned with substantive national issues. We should not write them off as another lot of rabble-rousing political misfits.
NST speaks to Tunku Abdul Aziz on his views on politics and politicians and the crossover plan.
Q: What is your view of the crossover plan?
A: If you justify crossing over on the grounds that you will still continue to perform your duties, that justification really has no ethical foundation. As Abraham Lincoln once said: "Whatever is morally wrong cannot be politically right."
So the basis on which you are crossing over is in itself unethical. I am totally against such a practice because that is tantamount to abandoning democratic principles which we have all fought for.
In the fight for independence, for example, we were driven by dreams of political freedom and dreams of democratic practices and principles. And I despair when I think that politics has come to this because at the end of the day, whatever we do, particularly in the political arena, is in the area of public service. What MPs and state assemblymen are supposed to do is to perform public duties in the public interest.
Q: If the purported mass crossover happens, what are the reasons behind it?
A: I think the reasons are simply to gain an instant change of government and whether the process is legitimate or otherwise isn't really the point.
We have to consider: is this really how we want to portray the practice of politics in our own country. Of course, I regard this as assuming the mantle of government through the back door.
Q: What are the possible backlash effects of crossovers to Pakatan Rakyat and DAP in the long run, if any?
A: Well, if all cross over then the BN government will be out in the cold, which is an obvious scenario. But if this happens, I will not be a party to this, because my position is very clear: I will not support it; I will not go along.
Q: In this respect, are you going to be the voice of reason in Pakatan Rakyat?
A: I will certainly be the dissenting voice on this particular issue in Pakatan Rakyat.
Q: With existing uncertainties in the country's politics, more and more people are getting tired by the yet-to-be fulfilled promises that Pakatan Rakyat will form the government. What is your view?
A: I agree that there's a climate of uncertainty in the country, not only on the political front but now on the economic front as well. On the economic issue, we are very much affected by what is going on in the American financial system. But whatever it is, this uncertainty must be resolved quickly because it is not doing the country any good at all.
The perception internationally is that this country is becoming ungovernable. That is the impression created overseas, and this is unhealthy. Politicians on both sides of the political divide must put Malaysia first.
I'd like to see every political party adopt this model: that we must direct all our energies towards improving the political climate in this country.
Q: What are the main sentiments of DAP leaders and its members regarding the crossovers?
A: The DAP is not a monolithic organisation as it is made up of a lot of members. And, in the nature of things, there will be different views on this. From what I have seen and heard, there are a lot of people, across the whole spectrum, who feel crossing over is not a long-term solution. Sustainability is important and we should not go for short-term gains because they will not make the impact that we hope for in order to bring about change to the lives of the people.
Q: Since you have joined DAP and been appointed as the party's vice-chairman, are you still able to voice frank views about matters related to Pakatan Rakyat, including the crossovers?
A: My colleagues in DAP have always known me as an independent person. I am my own man and the fact that I have now joined a political party will not change my views on public ethics and morality. These are non-negotiable as far as I am concerned.
Q: In your past columns in the New Straits Times, you have been quite critical and vocal about political leaders, including Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's theatrical acts. With current developments, what is your stand on this?
A: I stand by every word that I have written in my column. So those views remain intact. I joined DAP because it is a very democratic party. One of the principles of democracy is freedom of speech. Dissenting views are part and parcel of that process.
Q: Have you been asked by your colleagues to tone down?
A: No, no, no. They have been very open. I have been watching them for a very long time. Over the years, they have changed. They are not as strident and doctrinaire as they used to be. They are trying very hard to become a truly multiracial party. If there were more Malays in DAP, there would be a much better understanding of what DAP is all about.
The Malays view DAP as being shrouded in some mystery. It is seen as a chauvinistic Chinese party quarrelling over ridiculous issues like the wearing of songkok. This is one side of the DAP psychology, but they are mainly concerned with substantive national issues. We should not write them off as another lot of rabble-rousing political misfits.
Muhyiddin: It’s up to delegates
Source TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leaders can plan all they want but the plans must be endorsed by the delegates at the end of the day, said vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“The delegates have the final say. At the division level in terms of nominations and at the AGM in terms of elections,” he said yesterday.
Muhyiddin also said there was no power struggle when it came to the transition plan put forward by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
“The (Umno) tradition is for a smooth transition, so the impression that there is a power struggle is not correct,” he said after launching the 2008 Malaysia-India Economic Conference here yesterday.
Muhyiddin, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, declined to comment on whether next month’s party elections would be postponed because some Umno leaders were reportedly objecting to the transition plan. On his plan to contest in the coming party elections, Muhyiddin said it was too early for him to say anything.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has voiced his support for Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim’s call that the top two positions in Umno be open for contest in the December party elections.
“We leave it to the grassroots to decide. The top leaders can make suggestions on whether a seat will be defended or not, but it’s up to the grassroots,” he told reporters after launching the Kempen Budi Bahasa di Jalan Raya (Good Manners on the Road Campaign) here yesterday.
Asked if he could confirm that he was one of the Umno leaders who had called for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to speed up his transition plan in last Thurs-day’s Umno supreme council meeting, Shafie declined to comment.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leaders can plan all they want but the plans must be endorsed by the delegates at the end of the day, said vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“The delegates have the final say. At the division level in terms of nominations and at the AGM in terms of elections,” he said yesterday.
Muhyiddin also said there was no power struggle when it came to the transition plan put forward by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
“The (Umno) tradition is for a smooth transition, so the impression that there is a power struggle is not correct,” he said after launching the 2008 Malaysia-India Economic Conference here yesterday.
Muhyiddin, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, declined to comment on whether next month’s party elections would be postponed because some Umno leaders were reportedly objecting to the transition plan. On his plan to contest in the coming party elections, Muhyiddin said it was too early for him to say anything.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has voiced his support for Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim’s call that the top two positions in Umno be open for contest in the December party elections.
“We leave it to the grassroots to decide. The top leaders can make suggestions on whether a seat will be defended or not, but it’s up to the grassroots,” he told reporters after launching the Kempen Budi Bahasa di Jalan Raya (Good Manners on the Road Campaign) here yesterday.
Asked if he could confirm that he was one of the Umno leaders who had called for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to speed up his transition plan in last Thurs-day’s Umno supreme council meeting, Shafie declined to comment.
Malaysia detains 'dissent' writer
Source BBC
RPK's Interview with BBC before arrest can be accessed here
A prominent anti-government blogger in Malaysia has been detained for two years on charges of insulting Islam.
Raja Petra Kamarudin has been held without trial under controversial internal security laws which could see him detained indefinitely.
He was arrested on 12 September as part of a crackdown on dissent by the Malaysian government, which is facing a mounting challenge from the opposition.
Raja Petra's lawyer said the order was "a big blow" to civil liberty.
The BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur said the well-known blogger had been a thorn in the side of the Malaysian government, using his blog to become one of its most vociferous critics.
Raja Petra, himself a Muslim, was accused of insulting Islam and inciting racial tensions through an article he published on the Malaysia Today website.
The charge is highly sensitive in multi-ethnic Malaysia.
The arrest came shortly after he used his blog to accuse Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, of involvement in the 2007 murder of a Mongolian woman - a charge Mr Razak strongly denies.
Shortly before he was arrested Raja Petra told the BBC that he was not afraid of detention but wanted "to be available to help in the dissemination of information that is going to be greatly required".
'Worst news'
The blogger has been sent to a detention centre in the state of Perak by order of Malaysia's home minister.
Marina Lee Abdullah, his wife, told AFP news agency: "This is the worst news I can receive, but we will keep fighting for his release."
His lawyer, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, said the order was "definitely a big blow to the idea of civil liberties, especially in a climate when everybody is asking for greater rights".
Raja Petra was one of three critics of the government arrested in what the opposition said was a sign of panic by the embattled administration of Abdullah Badawi.
Mr Abdullah's government suffered an unprecedented drop in support in the general election earlier this year and he has faced calls to resign from both opposition and some members of his own party.
Last week he rejected claims by the opposition, led by Anwar Ibrahim, that they had enough support to overthrow him, saying he was "here to stay".
Mr Anwar recently won a landslide victory in a by-election - returning him to parliament after a decade's absence.
He was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998, and jailed for six years for sodomy and corruption - allegations he has always denied.
Controversial
Under the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA), Raja Petra can be held for two years, a sentence which can be renewed indefinitely.
The order can only be overturned by the home minister, not a judge.
Political groups both within the ruling government coalition and outside it have criticised the ISA and the inherent potential for abuse.
A member of the cabinet, Zaid Ibrahim, resigned last week over the government's use of the act, saying it "should only be used on armed terrorists or those out to topple the government by force".
Opposition MP Teresa Kok was detained for one week under the act after she was accused of campaigning for a mosque to lower the volume of its call to prayer.
Another blogger, Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, and Chinese-language journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, have also been held under the ISA.
Raja Petra's detention is likely to lead to further criticism of the Malaysian government, both domestically and internationally, says our correspondent.
RPK's Interview with BBC before arrest can be accessed here
A prominent anti-government blogger in Malaysia has been detained for two years on charges of insulting Islam.
Raja Petra Kamarudin has been held without trial under controversial internal security laws which could see him detained indefinitely.
He was arrested on 12 September as part of a crackdown on dissent by the Malaysian government, which is facing a mounting challenge from the opposition.
Raja Petra's lawyer said the order was "a big blow" to civil liberty.
The BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur said the well-known blogger had been a thorn in the side of the Malaysian government, using his blog to become one of its most vociferous critics.
Raja Petra, himself a Muslim, was accused of insulting Islam and inciting racial tensions through an article he published on the Malaysia Today website.
The charge is highly sensitive in multi-ethnic Malaysia.
The arrest came shortly after he used his blog to accuse Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, of involvement in the 2007 murder of a Mongolian woman - a charge Mr Razak strongly denies.
Shortly before he was arrested Raja Petra told the BBC that he was not afraid of detention but wanted "to be available to help in the dissemination of information that is going to be greatly required".
'Worst news'
The blogger has been sent to a detention centre in the state of Perak by order of Malaysia's home minister.
Marina Lee Abdullah, his wife, told AFP news agency: "This is the worst news I can receive, but we will keep fighting for his release."
His lawyer, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, said the order was "definitely a big blow to the idea of civil liberties, especially in a climate when everybody is asking for greater rights".
Raja Petra was one of three critics of the government arrested in what the opposition said was a sign of panic by the embattled administration of Abdullah Badawi.
Mr Abdullah's government suffered an unprecedented drop in support in the general election earlier this year and he has faced calls to resign from both opposition and some members of his own party.
Last week he rejected claims by the opposition, led by Anwar Ibrahim, that they had enough support to overthrow him, saying he was "here to stay".
Mr Anwar recently won a landslide victory in a by-election - returning him to parliament after a decade's absence.
He was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998, and jailed for six years for sodomy and corruption - allegations he has always denied.
Controversial
Under the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA), Raja Petra can be held for two years, a sentence which can be renewed indefinitely.
The order can only be overturned by the home minister, not a judge.
Political groups both within the ruling government coalition and outside it have criticised the ISA and the inherent potential for abuse.
A member of the cabinet, Zaid Ibrahim, resigned last week over the government's use of the act, saying it "should only be used on armed terrorists or those out to topple the government by force".
Opposition MP Teresa Kok was detained for one week under the act after she was accused of campaigning for a mosque to lower the volume of its call to prayer.
Another blogger, Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, and Chinese-language journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, have also been held under the ISA.
Raja Petra's detention is likely to lead to further criticism of the Malaysian government, both domestically and internationally, says our correspondent.
Plugging the legal brain drain
Source TheStar
Higher pay and opportunities for international exposure within a local setting may help stem the pace of lawyers leaving Malaysia for other jurisdictions.
THIRTEEN thousand. That is roughly the number of lawyers currently practising in Malaysia. It gives the impression that there are more than enough lawyers here. So why should we worry if a few hundred, or even a thousand, lawyers leave the profession to work in other jurisdictions?
Around 1,000 new lawyers join the profession annually so shouldn’t there be plenty of legal talent here in this country?
There is, however, cause for worry. Increasingly, law firms are complaining of a general decline in the quality of lawyers entering the profession. Our brightest and best law graduates are choosing instead to practise in other countries.
Further, the pace of lawyers leaving Malaysia for other jurisdictions like Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East appears to have also accelerated, and this exacerbates the legal brain drain that we are facing.
In her Putik Lada article ‘Not as Glamorous as Boston Legal’ (The Star, Aug 15), Melissa Tai touched on some of the problems the profession faces in attracting and retaining legal talent. What I will be setting out is a wish list of sorts and some solutions to this problem.
Wish List
At the top of any lawyer’s wish list would be the obvious factor of higher pay. Undoubtedly, other jurisdictions offer a significantly more attractive remuneration package, even after factoring in the higher cost of living.
It is accepted that present market forces result in relatively low legal fees being charged, which in turn contributes to a relatively low amount of pay compared with other jurisdictions.
The difficulty in attracting lawyers to stay in Malaysia goes beyond the issue of pay. One of the strong appeals of working overseas is the opportunity to be exposed to more international and high-calibre work. There is no easy answer to this, as other countries like Singapore, for example, also grapple with the same issue of lawyers leaving for this reason.
One possible solution could be a controlled liberalisation of the Malaysian legal market to allow foreign law firms to practise in Malaysia. This may help to provide international exposure within a local setting. This idea has been in the pipeline for many years and it remains to be seen when it will be implemented.
Steps which law firms themselves can take would include a change in the work culture and the general improvement of the work-life balance of their lawyers. Firms may need to restructure the work and careers of their lawyers to meet both the firm’s needs and the lawyers’ personal priorities.
Law firms must also recognise that up to 70% of the younger lawyers are women and that part-time and flexible work arrangements have to be offered. The existence of family-friendly parental leave schemes would be more beneficial than having such talent leave practice altogether.
Bringing back respect to the profession
Taking a step back from what law firms can do, there is the more over-arching issue that must be addressed. Respect must be brought back into the profession in order to continue to attract and retain our brightest talent.
Firstly, the starting point has to be the improvement of the quality of law graduates entering the profession. Hence, the announcement of a Common Bar Examination is welcomed and it must be compulsory for all graduates, whether from local or foreign universities, to pass the Common Bar Course before they are admitted to the Bar. Everyone has to go through the same gatekeeper, and higher standards can be more easily maintained.
The implementation of the Common Bar Course would have to go hand-in-hand with an improvement to the present pupillage system. Pupillage is the compulsory nine-month period in which a law graduate undergoes training with a senior lawyer to gain practical experience before being admitted to the Bar.
A proper pupillage structure for the determination of certain core skills, the teaching of such core skills by the senior lawyer or the law firm, and an assessment of such skills must be put in place.
Secondly, an essential aspect of bringing back respect into the profession is the need for an efficient and strong judicial system. The frustration of having cases unduly postponed or court hearing dates being fixed more than five years down the road will drive lawyers away from practice in Malaysia.
The surfacing of images of a lawyer apparently brokering the appointment of judges leads us to question the integrity of the judicial system. The sluggish investigation into the findings resulting from this apparent brokering of judges and the stalling of the implementation of the Judicial Appointments Commission also raises doubts on the sincerity for judicial reform.
Conclusion
The fall-out from the subprime crisis has resulted in large lay-offs from major law firms in America and in England. China, post-Beijing Olympics, may well also experience some slowdown. The effect of these events is that it may result in a brief respite from the exodus of legal talent from Malaysia as job opportunities in other jurisdictions may become harder to come by.
But immediate steps must be taken to allow us to continue to attract and retain our legal talent. The solutions I have touched on are not exhaustive but may well go a long way to plugging the legal brain drain we are experiencing.
The writer is a member of the Bar Council’s National Young Lawyers Committee (NYLC). Putik Lada, or pepper buds in Malay, captures the spirit and intention of this column - a platform for young lawyers to articulate their views and aspirations about the law, justice and a civil society. For more information about the young lawyers, please visit www.malaysianbar.org.my/nylc.
Higher pay and opportunities for international exposure within a local setting may help stem the pace of lawyers leaving Malaysia for other jurisdictions.
THIRTEEN thousand. That is roughly the number of lawyers currently practising in Malaysia. It gives the impression that there are more than enough lawyers here. So why should we worry if a few hundred, or even a thousand, lawyers leave the profession to work in other jurisdictions?
Around 1,000 new lawyers join the profession annually so shouldn’t there be plenty of legal talent here in this country?
There is, however, cause for worry. Increasingly, law firms are complaining of a general decline in the quality of lawyers entering the profession. Our brightest and best law graduates are choosing instead to practise in other countries.
Further, the pace of lawyers leaving Malaysia for other jurisdictions like Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East appears to have also accelerated, and this exacerbates the legal brain drain that we are facing.
In her Putik Lada article ‘Not as Glamorous as Boston Legal’ (The Star, Aug 15), Melissa Tai touched on some of the problems the profession faces in attracting and retaining legal talent. What I will be setting out is a wish list of sorts and some solutions to this problem.
Wish List
At the top of any lawyer’s wish list would be the obvious factor of higher pay. Undoubtedly, other jurisdictions offer a significantly more attractive remuneration package, even after factoring in the higher cost of living.
It is accepted that present market forces result in relatively low legal fees being charged, which in turn contributes to a relatively low amount of pay compared with other jurisdictions.
The difficulty in attracting lawyers to stay in Malaysia goes beyond the issue of pay. One of the strong appeals of working overseas is the opportunity to be exposed to more international and high-calibre work. There is no easy answer to this, as other countries like Singapore, for example, also grapple with the same issue of lawyers leaving for this reason.
One possible solution could be a controlled liberalisation of the Malaysian legal market to allow foreign law firms to practise in Malaysia. This may help to provide international exposure within a local setting. This idea has been in the pipeline for many years and it remains to be seen when it will be implemented.
Steps which law firms themselves can take would include a change in the work culture and the general improvement of the work-life balance of their lawyers. Firms may need to restructure the work and careers of their lawyers to meet both the firm’s needs and the lawyers’ personal priorities.
Law firms must also recognise that up to 70% of the younger lawyers are women and that part-time and flexible work arrangements have to be offered. The existence of family-friendly parental leave schemes would be more beneficial than having such talent leave practice altogether.
Bringing back respect to the profession
Taking a step back from what law firms can do, there is the more over-arching issue that must be addressed. Respect must be brought back into the profession in order to continue to attract and retain our brightest talent.
Firstly, the starting point has to be the improvement of the quality of law graduates entering the profession. Hence, the announcement of a Common Bar Examination is welcomed and it must be compulsory for all graduates, whether from local or foreign universities, to pass the Common Bar Course before they are admitted to the Bar. Everyone has to go through the same gatekeeper, and higher standards can be more easily maintained.
The implementation of the Common Bar Course would have to go hand-in-hand with an improvement to the present pupillage system. Pupillage is the compulsory nine-month period in which a law graduate undergoes training with a senior lawyer to gain practical experience before being admitted to the Bar.
A proper pupillage structure for the determination of certain core skills, the teaching of such core skills by the senior lawyer or the law firm, and an assessment of such skills must be put in place.
Secondly, an essential aspect of bringing back respect into the profession is the need for an efficient and strong judicial system. The frustration of having cases unduly postponed or court hearing dates being fixed more than five years down the road will drive lawyers away from practice in Malaysia.
The surfacing of images of a lawyer apparently brokering the appointment of judges leads us to question the integrity of the judicial system. The sluggish investigation into the findings resulting from this apparent brokering of judges and the stalling of the implementation of the Judicial Appointments Commission also raises doubts on the sincerity for judicial reform.
Conclusion
The fall-out from the subprime crisis has resulted in large lay-offs from major law firms in America and in England. China, post-Beijing Olympics, may well also experience some slowdown. The effect of these events is that it may result in a brief respite from the exodus of legal talent from Malaysia as job opportunities in other jurisdictions may become harder to come by.
But immediate steps must be taken to allow us to continue to attract and retain our legal talent. The solutions I have touched on are not exhaustive but may well go a long way to plugging the legal brain drain we are experiencing.
The writer is a member of the Bar Council’s National Young Lawyers Committee (NYLC). Putik Lada, or pepper buds in Malay, captures the spirit and intention of this column - a platform for young lawyers to articulate their views and aspirations about the law, justice and a civil society. For more information about the young lawyers, please visit www.malaysianbar.org.my/nylc.
Malaysians the top Britain visa abusers
Source TheStar
LONDON: Malaysia is in the top five countries whose citizens are consistently being denied entry into Britain.
If that is not bad enough, Malaysians are also among the top 10 nationalities who overstay and in the top 20 for overall immigration abuses.
Revealing these statistics, Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Datuk Abdul Aziz Mohamad said most Malaysians who overstayed were from Johor, Perak, Penang and Selangor.
He said Malaysians had been in Britain’s bad books over visa abuses, with about 1,500 of them refused entry last year.
Aziz said Malaysian passports were often abused by nationals from China, Sri Lanka and India to gain illegal entry into Britain.
“And Malaysians are frequently reported as acting as facilitators to arrange for other nationals to enter Britain,” he said when briefing the Malaysian community here on the proposed visa ruling for Malaysians travelling to Britain.
More than 80 representatives from Malaysian organisations, including the Overseas Malaysian Executives Club, Malaysian Chinese Society, Umno UK Club, MCA Club UK, MIC London Club and the Britain & Eire Council for Malaysian Students, attended the briefing on Wednesday.
Aziz said the Home Office’s third and last stage of its visa-waiver test for Malaysia and 10 other countries was expected to run until January or February next year.
He said British authorities would probably decide around March whether Malaysia would fall under the visa regime.
On whether Malaysia would retaliate if Britain imposed the visa, the High Comm-
issioner said it would have to weigh the situation in Malaysia’s best interests.
He urged Malaysians who were unsure of their visa or stay in Britain to contact the High Commission, which would offer assistance.
International Organisation for Migration’s (www.iomlondon.org) communications director (UK) Marek Effendowicz offered pointers about the agency’s services for those whose visas had expired, were staying illegally in Britain or were asylum seekers.
LONDON: Malaysia is in the top five countries whose citizens are consistently being denied entry into Britain.
If that is not bad enough, Malaysians are also among the top 10 nationalities who overstay and in the top 20 for overall immigration abuses.
Revealing these statistics, Malaysian High Commissioner to Britain Datuk Abdul Aziz Mohamad said most Malaysians who overstayed were from Johor, Perak, Penang and Selangor.
He said Malaysians had been in Britain’s bad books over visa abuses, with about 1,500 of them refused entry last year.
Aziz said Malaysian passports were often abused by nationals from China, Sri Lanka and India to gain illegal entry into Britain.
“And Malaysians are frequently reported as acting as facilitators to arrange for other nationals to enter Britain,” he said when briefing the Malaysian community here on the proposed visa ruling for Malaysians travelling to Britain.
More than 80 representatives from Malaysian organisations, including the Overseas Malaysian Executives Club, Malaysian Chinese Society, Umno UK Club, MCA Club UK, MIC London Club and the Britain & Eire Council for Malaysian Students, attended the briefing on Wednesday.
Aziz said the Home Office’s third and last stage of its visa-waiver test for Malaysia and 10 other countries was expected to run until January or February next year.
He said British authorities would probably decide around March whether Malaysia would fall under the visa regime.
On whether Malaysia would retaliate if Britain imposed the visa, the High Comm-
issioner said it would have to weigh the situation in Malaysia’s best interests.
He urged Malaysians who were unsure of their visa or stay in Britain to contact the High Commission, which would offer assistance.
International Organisation for Migration’s (www.iomlondon.org) communications director (UK) Marek Effendowicz offered pointers about the agency’s services for those whose visas had expired, were staying illegally in Britain or were asylum seekers.
Umno top guns likely to discuss transition plan
Source TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will convene a special supreme council meeting today.
While most council members remained tightlipped or claimed ignorance of the reason for the meeting, it is expected that discussions would centre on the issue of the transition of power between party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The meeting comes after reports of four-eyed meetings between the two top leaders over the past few days.
The meeting will start at 10am at the Putra World Trade Centre.
Najib confirmed yesterday that the meeting would be held but refused to elaborate.
During a press conference for the People’s Friendly Housing Scheme, Najib told the eager pressmen that “all political questions” would be answered after today’s meeting.
Asked if he had met Abdullah to discuss the power transition plan, Najib replied:
“l always meet and brief the Prime Minister. Sometimes, it is on a daily basis and sometimes more than once a day.”
Supreme council member Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said:
“The meeting was called all of a sudden, it must be about something important. One can’t help but speculate that it has something to do with the succession plan.”
Nazri believed the meeting was called to prevent any “untoward outcome” which might disturb the succession plan.
“I suspect there will be discussions on it and a compromise will be reached,” he added.
Nazri said there were two views with regards to the succession plan.
He said people on the ground were already talking about the possibility of party elections, due to be held in mid-December, being postponed to the middle of next year.
“So I expect a compromise,” he said.
Vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there could be a possibility that the annual assembly would be postponed to June next year.
Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib also confirmed the meeting.
He however said he was not certain what would be on the agenda.
At the Umno supreme council meeting previous Thursday, the issue of Abdullah stepping down sooner was brought up, although during the press conference later, he said both he and Najib remained committed to the transition plan.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will convene a special supreme council meeting today.
While most council members remained tightlipped or claimed ignorance of the reason for the meeting, it is expected that discussions would centre on the issue of the transition of power between party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The meeting comes after reports of four-eyed meetings between the two top leaders over the past few days.
The meeting will start at 10am at the Putra World Trade Centre.
Najib confirmed yesterday that the meeting would be held but refused to elaborate.
During a press conference for the People’s Friendly Housing Scheme, Najib told the eager pressmen that “all political questions” would be answered after today’s meeting.
Asked if he had met Abdullah to discuss the power transition plan, Najib replied:
“l always meet and brief the Prime Minister. Sometimes, it is on a daily basis and sometimes more than once a day.”
Supreme council member Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said:
“The meeting was called all of a sudden, it must be about something important. One can’t help but speculate that it has something to do with the succession plan.”
Nazri believed the meeting was called to prevent any “untoward outcome” which might disturb the succession plan.
“I suspect there will be discussions on it and a compromise will be reached,” he added.
Nazri said there were two views with regards to the succession plan.
He said people on the ground were already talking about the possibility of party elections, due to be held in mid-December, being postponed to the middle of next year.
“So I expect a compromise,” he said.
Vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there could be a possibility that the annual assembly would be postponed to June next year.
Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib also confirmed the meeting.
He however said he was not certain what would be on the agenda.
At the Umno supreme council meeting previous Thursday, the issue of Abdullah stepping down sooner was brought up, although during the press conference later, he said both he and Najib remained committed to the transition plan.
China's astronauts prepare for spacewalk
Source Reuters
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's third manned space mission reached its final orbit early Friday morning, where astronauts preparing for the country's first spacewalk enjoyed spicy food and the relative luxury of an onboard toilet.
The Shenzhou VII blasted off from a remote desert site on Thursday on a trip designed to showcase China's technological mastery and crown the success of the Beijing Olympics.
The live launch was watched by millions of Chinese and the mission has dominated state television and domestic newspapers.
The craft is now circulating about 350 kms (about 220 miles) above the earth, a senior engineer at the launch base told state television, but the most challenging part of the mission lay still ahead.
"For the space walk the demands are higher, and the challenge is more difficult," he said in front of bank of computers.
One of the men is expected to make China's first "footprint in space" Saturday, though this could be changed depending on how long it takes them to adjust.
The chosen astronaut will venture outside the craft in a Chinese-designed space suit, named after a flying Buddhist goddess and with a price tag of 30 million yuan ($4.40 million), the official Xinhua agency said.
As they ready for the space walk the trio are testing the country's first ever space toilet. Astronauts aboard China's previous two manned missions had to wear diapers, Xinhua said.
They are also enjoying a better menu after chefs worked to improve dishes put vinegar and sauces on the packing list.
However some products are still off the menu.
"As the astronauts will stay in an environment with low pressure, they should not eat foods that produce gas after being digested, such as milk and soy bean," Xinhua quoted a Chen Bin, the mission food manager, saying.
Anwar calls for patience in his M'sian power bid
Source BruneiTimes
MALAYSIA'S opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday appeared to backtrack on claims that he was poised to win power, saying he would "proceed cautiously" in his bid to unseat the government.
Anwar has said repeatedly he had won over enough defectors from the government to form a new administration. But a self-imposed deadline of September 16 passed and his calls to recall parliament for a confidence vote were denied.
"I appeal to my Malaysian citizens, and particularly those who want to see a change, to understand, to be a bit more patient," he said after appearing in court on what he says are trumped up sodomy charges aimed at derailing his bid for power.
Anwar did not set a new date and also denied that officials from his party had held talks with the government, contradicting a statement made by his spokesman on Tuesday.
Anwar's claims to have enough MPs to take over have been mocked by the government that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years as a "mirage" and the press has started to question whether he can indeed deliver.
The 61-year old opposition leader again challenged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to meet him and to hold a confidence vote when parliament returns from recess on October 13. He said he had written to the country's king, who has the power to ask for a confidence vote.
"The point is if they really believe I am a liar, put it to a test in the proper constitutional and legal framework. Put it to the test in a vote taken in parliament," he told reporters after his hearing.
Anwar was bailed and his sodomy trial was adjourned until October 7 amid a legal wrangle between the defence and prosecution over whether the case should be transferred to the High Court.
That would be normal procedure in a case as serious as the one Anwar is facing, but his lawyers fear the government will influence the choice of judge if the case is moved.
Their objection was on the basis that Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail should not have played any role as he was being investigated following a complaint that he had tampered with evidence in Anwar's cases 10 years ago. Abdul Gani signed the transfer of court petition.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was convicted and imprisoned on charges of sodomy and corruption, derailing a career which had looked set to take him to the top.
MALAYSIA'S opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday appeared to backtrack on claims that he was poised to win power, saying he would "proceed cautiously" in his bid to unseat the government.
Anwar has said repeatedly he had won over enough defectors from the government to form a new administration. But a self-imposed deadline of September 16 passed and his calls to recall parliament for a confidence vote were denied.
"I appeal to my Malaysian citizens, and particularly those who want to see a change, to understand, to be a bit more patient," he said after appearing in court on what he says are trumped up sodomy charges aimed at derailing his bid for power.
Anwar did not set a new date and also denied that officials from his party had held talks with the government, contradicting a statement made by his spokesman on Tuesday.
Anwar's claims to have enough MPs to take over have been mocked by the government that has ruled Malaysia for 51 years as a "mirage" and the press has started to question whether he can indeed deliver.
The 61-year old opposition leader again challenged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to meet him and to hold a confidence vote when parliament returns from recess on October 13. He said he had written to the country's king, who has the power to ask for a confidence vote.
"The point is if they really believe I am a liar, put it to a test in the proper constitutional and legal framework. Put it to the test in a vote taken in parliament," he told reporters after his hearing.
Anwar was bailed and his sodomy trial was adjourned until October 7 amid a legal wrangle between the defence and prosecution over whether the case should be transferred to the High Court.
That would be normal procedure in a case as serious as the one Anwar is facing, but his lawyers fear the government will influence the choice of judge if the case is moved.
Their objection was on the basis that Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail should not have played any role as he was being investigated following a complaint that he had tampered with evidence in Anwar's cases 10 years ago. Abdul Gani signed the transfer of court petition.
Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was convicted and imprisoned on charges of sodomy and corruption, derailing a career which had looked set to take him to the top.
Nasib Ku Li belum tentu, Abdullah pasti diundurkan
Source Harakah
Orang-orang media cukup marah jika mereka diboikot atau ditempelak akibat sikap berat sebelah, penggelapan serta memutarbelitkan isu dalam melaporkan sesuatu peristiwa.
Sikap sebegini diambil bukan sahaja terhadap orang-orang politik atau Pertubukan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) yang tidak menyebelahi Barisan Nasional, malah kalangan orang-orang Umno yang berbeza pendapat dengan kepimpinan yang ada, turut akan dimangsakan.
Namun itulah hakikat yang berlaku terhadap Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah yang mengadakan pertemuan dengan bloggers dan media di kediamannya di Jalan Langgak Golf, dekat sini 21 September lepas.
Asalnya pertemuan tersebut dianjurkan bertujuan untuk Ku Li mendengar pendapat para bloggers dalam isu-isu tertentu untuk diketengahkan. Bagaimanapun ia bertukar menjadi sidang akhbar akibat soalan bertalu-talu dari pihak media.
Dalam pertemuan yang berlangsung hampir dua jam isu, Ku Li yang berhasrat menentang Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, mengupas segala persoalan politik dan ekonomi serta isu-isu dalaman Umno.
Ku Li hanya bercakap beberapa minit sahaja apabila mempersoalkan usaha Ketua Pembangkang, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan cabaran yang dihadapinya untuk menubuhkan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.
Bagaimanapun media pro BN yang jelas menjadi alat pengampu Abdullah hanya menyiarkan pandangan Ku Li tentang Anwar, perbincangan topik-topik lain digelapkan.
Hasrat Ku Li begitu jelas, jika beliau dipilih sebagai Presiden Umno dan menjadi Perdana Menteri, beliau akan merombak keanggotaan Kabinet yang ada dan menubuhkan sebuah 'unity government' yang menggabung semua pihak.
Ku Li sedar beliau terpaksa menempuhi ranjau yang amat sukar. Namun beliau tidak pernah mengenal erti putus asa. Beliau tetap mahu mencuba walaupun pernah tewas sekali (1987) dan 'tidak layak' bertanding pada tahun 2005.
Membetulkan Umno yang sudah tersasar
Apabila ditanya media, bagaimana beliau boleh mendapat pencalonan dalam mesyuarat Bahagian Umno yang akan diadakan mulai Oktober depan, Ku Li secara sinis berkata, setakat ini Abdullah Badawi juga belum tentu mendapat pencalonan.
"Jika Dollah (Abdullah) berundur akibat desakan orang-orang Umno, soal pencalonan untuk beliau tidak timbul sama sekali," katanya.
Katanya, ada kalangan anggota Majlis Tertinggi Umno memberitahu, 'mood' ahli Umno di akar umbi terhadap Abdullah sudah tiada.
Maksudnya, sikap enggan menerima Abdullah sebagai Presiden Umno begitu ketara ditunjukkan ahli Umno sehingga desakan supaya beliau berundur kedengaran di seluruh negara.
Ku Li menegaskan beliau menawarkan hasratnya untuk bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno bukan untuk melawan sesiapa, beliau hanya mahu memperbetulkan Umno, BN dan negara yang sudah dibawa tersasar jauh dari landasan yang asal.
Katanya, beliau mahu 'overhaul' Umno, membawa kembali anak muda yang sudah lari daripada Umno.
Ditanya sama ada beliau mempunyai hubungan atau 'team mate' dengan Naib Presiden Umno, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Ku Li berkata, beliau tidak mempunyai pasukan khusus seperti pertandingan Umno 1987.
Menurutnya, kebetulan beliau menemui Muhyiddin ketika diundang bekas Presiden Umno, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad untuk menghadiri majlis berbuka puasa di Putrajaya.
Setibanya di situ, beliau mendapati selain Mahathir dan Muhyiddin, turut hadir ada sama di situ ialah bekas Menteri Pertanian, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid dan Presiden Mubarak, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang.
"Saya tidak diundang untuk hadir ke mesyuarat, saya tidak tahu pun ada mesyuarat, jadi saya cuma hadir dalam perbincangan mereka," katanya.
Antara lain beliau diberitahu, veteran-veteran yang berkumpul tidak lain tidak bukan membincangan masa depan Umno dan negara yang semakin rosak akibat kepimpinan Abdullah Badawi.
Justeru pada ketika itu timbulnya cadangan untuk meminta Dr Mahathir membantu untuk membetulkan keadaan. Keadaan tidak boleh dibetulkan jika Mahathir bukan ahli Umno, maka dirumuskan suatu pandangan, supaya usaha dibuat untuk membawa kembali Mahathir harus disegerakan.
Halangan dalam pemilihan Umno
Masalah yang paling besar menurut Ku Li ialah halangan 'politik wang' yang sudah merajai pemilihan Umno saban tahun.
"Saya dengar calon-calon yang bertanding harus menyediakan peruntukan yang besar untuk mendapatkan pencalonan, terus terang saya katakan, saya tiada wang," katanya.
Daripada makna kata beliau, jika ada kalangan anggota Umno di peringkat bahagian yang mahu menagih wang sebagai upah mencalonkan beliau, awal-awal lagi beliau enggan dibabitkan dengan politik wang.
"Jangan rosakkan Umno dengan politik wang," katanya, sebagai satu teguran kepada semua pemimpin dan anggota Umno, jika ada antara mereka yang ketagih dengan habuan wang.
Menurut sumber lain, ada kalangan kaki kempen mendakwa, sekarang ini 'demand' anggota Umno di akar umbi begitu besar sekali.
"Kami diminta untuk menyediakan antara RM2 juta hingga RM4 juta satu bahagian," dakwa beliau.
Jika dakwaan beliau itu benar, memang Umno betul-betul hebat! Hebat yang bakal membawa parti itu melingkup tidak lama lagi.
Antara halangan yang dibangkitkan ialah peraturan 'Tataetika Ahli Umno' yang dipersetujukan oleh MT Umno pada 27 Mac lepas.
Tataetika ini jelas melarang calon yang bertanding untuk berkempen. Antara yang dicatatkan Perkara 2.1.3 Tataetika Ahli Umno menyebutkan, "Balasan' termasuklah apa-apa pemberian termasuk wang ringgit, saham-saham, konsesi, hadiah, pakej percutian, makanan/jamuan, tambang gelaran/anugerah dan perkara-perkara lain yang dinyatakan di dalam tataetika ini."
Antara lain kandungan buku tataetika setebal 23 muka surat tersebut mencakupi soal salahlaku, sogokan, rasuah, penggunaan kekerasan dan ugutan, fitnah, ejen, pelobi serta majlis pertemuan yang bertujuan untuk meraih undi.
Pada dasarnya menurut sumber, peraturan sebegini ketat untuk pemimpin yang berhasrat bertanding dalam pemilihan parti, bertujuan bagi mengelakkan Umno lebih parah.
Namun banyak pendapat kalangan Umno, kebanyakan peraturan yang dimuatkan dalam tataetika banyak menguntungkan pihak atasan yang mempunyai kuasa dalam kerajaan.
Misalnya dakwaan Ketua Umno Bahagian Petaling Jaya Selatan, Kapten (B) Dato' Zahar Hashim, bahawa Abdullah melanggar tataetika parti dengan menggunakan wang JASA, Kementerian Penerangan (peruntukan kerajaan) untuk diagihkan kepada ketua-ketua Umno cawangan yang terbabit dalam pertemuan dengan beliau.
Walaupun Zahar membuat laporan kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR), tetapi sehingga kini Abdullah tidak pernah tidak disiasat.
"Tetapi, terdapat banyak pemimpin Umno di peringkat MT dan bahagian dirujuk ke Lembaga Disiplin Umno kerana didakwa terbabit politik wang, ini tidak adil," kata Ku Li.
DEB bukan untuk orang Melayu
Tengku Razaleigh juga diajukan persoalan mengenai sikap Anwar Ibrahim mengenai Dasar Ekonomi Baru, yang penulis sifatkan ianya sebagai 'hate question' iaitu bertujuan untuk 'membelasah' ketua pembangkang itu.
Dalam soalan itu Anwar cuba dirujuk sebagai orang yang bakal menggadaikan maruah bangsa Melayu kerana hubungan akrabnya dengan DAP dalam Pakatan Rakyat.
Apa yang mengejutkan penulis ialah jawapan Ku Li.
Menurutnya, beliau adalah antara pemimpin yang terlibat dengan usaha merangka DEB, bersama dengan Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang yang ketika itu berada dalam suatu suruhanjaya.
"DEB tidak dirangka untuk orang Melayu sahaja, ianya adalah untuk semua kaum," tegas Ku Li.
Katanya, selepas berlaku Peristiwa 13 Mei 1969, pemimpin-pemimpin parti yang memerintah dan pembangkang, bekerjasama dalam permuafakatan, bagi memberikan keadilan ekonomi untuk semua kaum.
Cumanya kata Ku Li, terdapat pemimpin tertentu yang menyalahgunakan DEB untuk kepentingan politik mereka dan kroni-kroni.
"Orang Umno sendiri pun ramai yang menentang DEB, bukan dari sudut dasarnya, tetapi perlaksanaannya, kerana mereka juga tidak memperoleh sesuatu darinya," kata beliau.
Bagi penulis, apa yang disebutkan Ku Li mengenai DEB ini amat mengejutkan! Selama ini seluruh rakyat Malaysia terutamanya orang-orang Melayu ditipu bulat-bulat oleh pemimpin Umno.
Mereka mengatakan DEB dirangka untuk membantu orang Melayu dan sesiapa yang menentangnya adalah pengkhianat Melayu.
Nah! Ramainya orang Melayu, termasuk barangkali yang berada dalam parti pembangkang, tertipu dengan retorika pemimpin Umno.
Apakah selama ini Umno benar-benar memperjuangkan Melayu tulen? Apakah Umno menjadi pelindung sebenar agama Islam?
Persoalan ini sebenarnya sudah ada jawapan. Hanya mereka yang tidak mempunyai kesedaran dan menyangka Umno masih kuat sahaja yang sering tertipu.
Semua ini membuktikan Abdullah, Umno dan BN sudah tidak lagi relevan pada rakyat dan menunggu dijatuhkan bila-bila masa sahaja.
Lee Kuan Yew hails China's reforms
Source StraitsTimes
SINGAPORE'S Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has praised China for its remarkable achievements over the past three decades, saying that its regional and international profile will increase with the higher status and respect that it has gained.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently, Mr Lee credited China's success to the reform and opening up.
Mr Lee, who just turned 85, described the China's transformation since 1978 as 'extraordinary', saying its economy is providing residents ever rising standards of living and better lifestyle.
'In the 70s, big cities like Beijing and Shanghai had decaying buildings, full of bicycles day and night, poorly lighted streets, everyone in grey or blue Mao jackets,' he said.
'Now China's cities, those along the coast, have spanking new high-rises, wide motorways, bridges and tunnels across the Yangtze River to Pudong, Maglev train from the new airport in Shanghai to Pudong, colourful dresses for women and men in lounge suits or in blouses and jeans.
'The people dress like any modern city in Japan, South Korea, or Singapore.'
The new high rises built by Chinese architects, engineers, and workmen are of high standards, so are the wide roads, bridges, airports and container ports, Mr Lee said, adding that more impressive are the rising standards of education and the younger generation's understanding of free market, economics, finance, banking, law, science and technology.
MM Lee said he believed that China's focus on education, in expanded and new schools, universities, research institutes and think-tanks will raise the levels of competence of the next generation of Chinese.
In another 40 to 50 years, the gap in science and technology, economics, governance and the rule of law between the advanced countries and China will narrow, he added.
Mr Lee spoke highly of the late Deng Xiaoping's role in the process of China's reform and opening up. He said the architect of China's reform and opening up had the strength and the conviction to change the old system that did not work, said the Xinhua report.
'Deng Xiaoping during a southern tour in 1992 urged China to go forth, continue to learn from the outside world, and catch up; also to learn from Singapore where there was good order and do better than Singapore,' he said.
Since 1992, the pace of change in the country gathered speed and China has been growing at 11 per cent to 12 per cent per annum leading to a peak during the Beijing Olympics this year, he noted.
Mr Lee advised China to rev up its economy by spending more on infrastructure.
On building a harmonious society in China, Mr Lee stressed that to achieve the harmonious society, China has to spread the benefits of economic development more evenly across the provinces, and reduce income disparities, so that the less successful ones do not feel left behind. Their children must also be given equal opportunities to advance through education.
MM Lee, who visited Beijing and watched the grand opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in August, made positive comments on the event.
'The spectacular opening ceremony of the Olympics, the greening of Beijing, with many kilometres of flowers, shrubs and trees, the well managed traffic, in spite of over 200 VIP delegations and many 40,000 athletes, they reflected the organising capabilities of the Chinese government,' he said.
He also praised the Beijing residents, especially the one million volunteers who left a good impression to all.
Mr Lee, who has travelled to China often since 1976, said that China has learnt whatever it could from Singapore, from its greening efforts to inculcating good public behaviour.
'China has surpassed Singapore in greening the city. You have kilometres of actual flowers and 40 million flower pots all in bloom along the roads. We could not have done that. I doubt if any other Asian country could have done that,' he said.
SINGAPORE'S Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has praised China for its remarkable achievements over the past three decades, saying that its regional and international profile will increase with the higher status and respect that it has gained.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently, Mr Lee credited China's success to the reform and opening up.
Mr Lee, who just turned 85, described the China's transformation since 1978 as 'extraordinary', saying its economy is providing residents ever rising standards of living and better lifestyle.
'In the 70s, big cities like Beijing and Shanghai had decaying buildings, full of bicycles day and night, poorly lighted streets, everyone in grey or blue Mao jackets,' he said.
'Now China's cities, those along the coast, have spanking new high-rises, wide motorways, bridges and tunnels across the Yangtze River to Pudong, Maglev train from the new airport in Shanghai to Pudong, colourful dresses for women and men in lounge suits or in blouses and jeans.
'The people dress like any modern city in Japan, South Korea, or Singapore.'
The new high rises built by Chinese architects, engineers, and workmen are of high standards, so are the wide roads, bridges, airports and container ports, Mr Lee said, adding that more impressive are the rising standards of education and the younger generation's understanding of free market, economics, finance, banking, law, science and technology.
MM Lee said he believed that China's focus on education, in expanded and new schools, universities, research institutes and think-tanks will raise the levels of competence of the next generation of Chinese.
In another 40 to 50 years, the gap in science and technology, economics, governance and the rule of law between the advanced countries and China will narrow, he added.
Mr Lee spoke highly of the late Deng Xiaoping's role in the process of China's reform and opening up. He said the architect of China's reform and opening up had the strength and the conviction to change the old system that did not work, said the Xinhua report.
'Deng Xiaoping during a southern tour in 1992 urged China to go forth, continue to learn from the outside world, and catch up; also to learn from Singapore where there was good order and do better than Singapore,' he said.
Since 1992, the pace of change in the country gathered speed and China has been growing at 11 per cent to 12 per cent per annum leading to a peak during the Beijing Olympics this year, he noted.
Mr Lee advised China to rev up its economy by spending more on infrastructure.
On building a harmonious society in China, Mr Lee stressed that to achieve the harmonious society, China has to spread the benefits of economic development more evenly across the provinces, and reduce income disparities, so that the less successful ones do not feel left behind. Their children must also be given equal opportunities to advance through education.
MM Lee, who visited Beijing and watched the grand opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in August, made positive comments on the event.
'The spectacular opening ceremony of the Olympics, the greening of Beijing, with many kilometres of flowers, shrubs and trees, the well managed traffic, in spite of over 200 VIP delegations and many 40,000 athletes, they reflected the organising capabilities of the Chinese government,' he said.
He also praised the Beijing residents, especially the one million volunteers who left a good impression to all.
Mr Lee, who has travelled to China often since 1976, said that China has learnt whatever it could from Singapore, from its greening efforts to inculcating good public behaviour.
'China has surpassed Singapore in greening the city. You have kilometres of actual flowers and 40 million flower pots all in bloom along the roads. We could not have done that. I doubt if any other Asian country could have done that,' he said.
Source says Malaysia PM may step down early
Source Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A special meeting of the top council of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) will discuss a plan for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down in June 2009, a party source said on Thursday.
Abdullah had previously said he would step down in 2010 in favour of his deputy Najib Razak.
UMNO is the leading party in Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and its supreme council is holding a special meeting on Friday, Najib told a news conference earlier in the day.
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A special meeting of the top council of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) will discuss a plan for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down in June 2009, a party source said on Thursday.
Abdullah had previously said he would step down in 2010 in favour of his deputy Najib Razak.
UMNO is the leading party in Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and its supreme council is holding a special meeting on Friday, Najib told a news conference earlier in the day.
Perlantikan penasihat bukti kelemahan kerajaan
Source Harakah
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Sept (Hrkh) - Perlantikan tokoh-tokoh yang dipersoalkan kredibiliti mereka mengukuhkan bukti bahawa kerajaan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi adalah kerajaan yang lemah dan suka membazir, kata Ketua Penerangan PAS, Haji Mahfuz Omar.
Beliau berkata demikian mengulas perlantikan bekas Menteri Besar Perlis, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim sebagai penasihat Perdana Menteri mengenai Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara (NCER) dan perlantikan bekas Timbalan Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah, Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman sebagai penasihat kementerian tersebut.
"Rakyat yang tidak berpuas hati telah pun membangkitkan pelbagai kisah ketika Shahidan menerajui pentadbiran Perlis.
"Antaranya, Majlis Perbandaran Kangar pernah disita manakala bekalan elektrik di jalan-jalan di Kangar pula pernah dipotong kerana kegagalan membayar bil," katanya.
Persoalan juga timbul, kata Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena itu, apa yang dilakukan oleh kumpulan pelaksana projek NCER sehingga memerlukan Shahidan dilantik sebagai penasihat Perdana Menteri mengenai projek itu.
"Adakah pegawai-pegawai pelaksana itu tidak tahu bagaimana hendak menasihat, atau tidak ada benda yang hendak dinasihatkan kerana tidak ada apa-apa pun yang dibuat atau memang mereka tak tahu apa-apa?" soal beliau.
Begitu juga dengan perlantikan Zainal Abidin yang gagal mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Nibong Tebal dalam pilihan raya 8 Mac lalu.
Tidak tahu buat kerja
"Adakah Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah sedang tidak tentu arah dan hari-hari menguap di dalam pejabat kerana tidak tahu buat kerja?
"Kalau benar demikian, mengapa dilantik orang yang junior dan tidak berpengalaman seperti Zainal Abidin yang berada di kementerian berkenaan tidak sampai satu penggal setelah dinaikkan pangkat dari kedudukannya sebelum itu sebagai Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Luar?" Mahfuz mempersoalkan.
Sambil menyifatkan perlantikan-perlantikan itu membuktikan betapa tidak cerdiknya kepimpinan negara hari ini, beliau mengingatkan rakyat tentang bahaya kerajaan yang lemah dan suka membazir.
"Kerajaan yang lemah dan suka membazir melemahkan kepercayaan rakyat dan masyarakat antarabngsa kepada negara ini yang akhirnya akan mengakibatkan bencana ekonomi," katanya.
Beliau menyatakan kebimbangannya terhadap masa hadapan negara ini kerana kelemahan pentadbiran yang ada sekarang ternyata bermula dari atas.
"Kalau kepimpinan atasan tidak lemah, ia boleh memperbaiki kelemahan di bawah.
"Masalahnya, krisis yang dialami sekarang berpunca dari kelemahan di atas - dari Perdana Menteri, timbalannya, menteri-menteri, timbalan-timbalan menteri sehinggalah penasihat-penasihat yang dilantik tidak tentu fasal.
"Malah, penasihat-penasihat itulah yang paling lemah," kata Mahfuz.
Ganjaran kerja politik
Menurut beliau, rakyat kini mula mendakwa bahawa penasihat-penasihat itu termasuk yang bertaraf menteri itu dilantik memegang pelbagai jawatan bukan untuk melaksanakan tugas berkenaan, tetapi sebenarnya untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja politik bagi kepentingan Perdana Menteri.
"Pengurniaan jawatan-jawatan tersebut hanyalah untuk membolehkan mereka menikmati ganjaran lumayan setiap bulan sebagai membalas jasa mereka menjalankan kerja-kerja politik untuk kepentingan Perdana Menteri.
"Jika mereka yang dilantik itu tidak boleh digunakan bagi menjalankan kerja-kerja politik Perdana Menteri, sekurang-kurangnya perlantikan itu akan mengikat mereka untuk menyokong pelan peralihan kuasa yang ditetapkan Abdullah di samping memastikan Abdullah mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi untuk mempertahankan jawatannya sebagai Presiden Umno dalam pemilihan Umno Disember ini," katanya.
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Sept (Hrkh) - Perlantikan tokoh-tokoh yang dipersoalkan kredibiliti mereka mengukuhkan bukti bahawa kerajaan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi adalah kerajaan yang lemah dan suka membazir, kata Ketua Penerangan PAS, Haji Mahfuz Omar.
Beliau berkata demikian mengulas perlantikan bekas Menteri Besar Perlis, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim sebagai penasihat Perdana Menteri mengenai Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara (NCER) dan perlantikan bekas Timbalan Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah, Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman sebagai penasihat kementerian tersebut.
"Rakyat yang tidak berpuas hati telah pun membangkitkan pelbagai kisah ketika Shahidan menerajui pentadbiran Perlis.
"Antaranya, Majlis Perbandaran Kangar pernah disita manakala bekalan elektrik di jalan-jalan di Kangar pula pernah dipotong kerana kegagalan membayar bil," katanya.
Persoalan juga timbul, kata Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena itu, apa yang dilakukan oleh kumpulan pelaksana projek NCER sehingga memerlukan Shahidan dilantik sebagai penasihat Perdana Menteri mengenai projek itu.
"Adakah pegawai-pegawai pelaksana itu tidak tahu bagaimana hendak menasihat, atau tidak ada benda yang hendak dinasihatkan kerana tidak ada apa-apa pun yang dibuat atau memang mereka tak tahu apa-apa?" soal beliau.
Begitu juga dengan perlantikan Zainal Abidin yang gagal mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Nibong Tebal dalam pilihan raya 8 Mac lalu.
Tidak tahu buat kerja
"Adakah Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah sedang tidak tentu arah dan hari-hari menguap di dalam pejabat kerana tidak tahu buat kerja?
"Kalau benar demikian, mengapa dilantik orang yang junior dan tidak berpengalaman seperti Zainal Abidin yang berada di kementerian berkenaan tidak sampai satu penggal setelah dinaikkan pangkat dari kedudukannya sebelum itu sebagai Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Luar?" Mahfuz mempersoalkan.
Sambil menyifatkan perlantikan-perlantikan itu membuktikan betapa tidak cerdiknya kepimpinan negara hari ini, beliau mengingatkan rakyat tentang bahaya kerajaan yang lemah dan suka membazir.
"Kerajaan yang lemah dan suka membazir melemahkan kepercayaan rakyat dan masyarakat antarabngsa kepada negara ini yang akhirnya akan mengakibatkan bencana ekonomi," katanya.
Beliau menyatakan kebimbangannya terhadap masa hadapan negara ini kerana kelemahan pentadbiran yang ada sekarang ternyata bermula dari atas.
"Kalau kepimpinan atasan tidak lemah, ia boleh memperbaiki kelemahan di bawah.
"Masalahnya, krisis yang dialami sekarang berpunca dari kelemahan di atas - dari Perdana Menteri, timbalannya, menteri-menteri, timbalan-timbalan menteri sehinggalah penasihat-penasihat yang dilantik tidak tentu fasal.
"Malah, penasihat-penasihat itulah yang paling lemah," kata Mahfuz.
Ganjaran kerja politik
Menurut beliau, rakyat kini mula mendakwa bahawa penasihat-penasihat itu termasuk yang bertaraf menteri itu dilantik memegang pelbagai jawatan bukan untuk melaksanakan tugas berkenaan, tetapi sebenarnya untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja politik bagi kepentingan Perdana Menteri.
"Pengurniaan jawatan-jawatan tersebut hanyalah untuk membolehkan mereka menikmati ganjaran lumayan setiap bulan sebagai membalas jasa mereka menjalankan kerja-kerja politik untuk kepentingan Perdana Menteri.
"Jika mereka yang dilantik itu tidak boleh digunakan bagi menjalankan kerja-kerja politik Perdana Menteri, sekurang-kurangnya perlantikan itu akan mengikat mereka untuk menyokong pelan peralihan kuasa yang ditetapkan Abdullah di samping memastikan Abdullah mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi untuk mempertahankan jawatannya sebagai Presiden Umno dalam pemilihan Umno Disember ini," katanya.
Sarawak police force to rise to 13,000
Source TheStar
MIRI: Sarawak will need up to 13,000 police personnel to maintain law and order in the near future, said state police commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh.
Right now, the state has a police force of 7,000, but the number is expected to surge because of increasing social and economic development in the state, he said.
“We are recruiting personnel for all ranks and files, especially constables. The present number is not enough.
“The state will need between 12,000 to 13,000 personnel to fill the vacancies.
“We will construct training bases in major cities and towns and upgrade existing ones to cope with the intake,” he said after presenting donations to widows and orphans at Miri police headquarters in the run-up to the Hari Raya Adilfitri celebrations.
Sarawak, with a population of 2.3 million, is experiencing a population and infrastructure boom.
The cities and towns are affected by the fast pace of rural-urban migration.
Due to these social and economic changes, there has been a surge in crime in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
Mohmad said that police had revamped their training intake procedures to churn out better personnel.
“We adopted a three-plus-three-plus-one formula for more effective training to produce personnel better equipped to handle their jobs as protectors of law and order,” he said.
The formula entailed three months of basic training, three months of on-the-job training and a month of intensive examinations, he said.
He hoped the method would produce police personnel who were all-rounders able to adapt quickly and efficiently to different working situations.
MIRI: Sarawak will need up to 13,000 police personnel to maintain law and order in the near future, said state police commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh.
Right now, the state has a police force of 7,000, but the number is expected to surge because of increasing social and economic development in the state, he said.
“We are recruiting personnel for all ranks and files, especially constables. The present number is not enough.
“The state will need between 12,000 to 13,000 personnel to fill the vacancies.
“We will construct training bases in major cities and towns and upgrade existing ones to cope with the intake,” he said after presenting donations to widows and orphans at Miri police headquarters in the run-up to the Hari Raya Adilfitri celebrations.
Sarawak, with a population of 2.3 million, is experiencing a population and infrastructure boom.
The cities and towns are affected by the fast pace of rural-urban migration.
Due to these social and economic changes, there has been a surge in crime in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
Mohmad said that police had revamped their training intake procedures to churn out better personnel.
“We adopted a three-plus-three-plus-one formula for more effective training to produce personnel better equipped to handle their jobs as protectors of law and order,” he said.
The formula entailed three months of basic training, three months of on-the-job training and a month of intensive examinations, he said.
He hoped the method would produce police personnel who were all-rounders able to adapt quickly and efficiently to different working situations.
Police urged to clean up system, then streets
Source TheStar
GEORGE TOWN: Police should make the process of lodging reports and taking down statements shorter and more people-friendly to encourage people to report crimes and supply information to help investigations.
“Criminals take advantages of weaknesses in the system,” said State MCA Wanita chief Tan Cheng Liang.
“But this can change if more people participate in the Rakan Cop programme and be more cooperative in aiding police investigations.
“At the same time, the police need to improve and become more professional and strict,” she said, adding that the state MCA Wanita wing was currently planning an anti-crime awareness campaign for women.
Women must learn to be highly aware and vigilant of their environment to protect themselves from criminals.
Women, who are especially easy prey to robbers and snatch thieves, must know how to react in dangerous situations.
“They should know that when they come face to face with robbers, they should not try to retaliate, especially if the robbers are armed.
“For their own safety, they should just let go of their bags or possessions,” she said.
On Monday night, former Bukit Tambun assemblyman Lai Chew Hock’s wife Thor Joo Lee was stabbed and killed when a robber snatched her bag at the front porch of her home; while on Wednesday night, state Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan’s wife Datin Chang Lee Lee was robbed.
Women’s Centre for Change Penang executive director Loh Cheng Kooi said citizens were feeling increasingly concerned and insecure as robberies were happening in broad daylight.
She said having inadequate manpower was no longer an excuse for the police.
“The Royal Malaysian Police should focus its workforce on bigger issues, namely public safety, and make better use of its existing workforce, including its special branch policemen, to patrol, investigate, arrests criminals and curb crime.
“Selective arrests and putting people under arbitrary detention are not helping to solve our problem of rising crime rates,” she said.
GEORGE TOWN: Police should make the process of lodging reports and taking down statements shorter and more people-friendly to encourage people to report crimes and supply information to help investigations.
“Criminals take advantages of weaknesses in the system,” said State MCA Wanita chief Tan Cheng Liang.
“But this can change if more people participate in the Rakan Cop programme and be more cooperative in aiding police investigations.
“At the same time, the police need to improve and become more professional and strict,” she said, adding that the state MCA Wanita wing was currently planning an anti-crime awareness campaign for women.
Women must learn to be highly aware and vigilant of their environment to protect themselves from criminals.
Women, who are especially easy prey to robbers and snatch thieves, must know how to react in dangerous situations.
“They should know that when they come face to face with robbers, they should not try to retaliate, especially if the robbers are armed.
“For their own safety, they should just let go of their bags or possessions,” she said.
On Monday night, former Bukit Tambun assemblyman Lai Chew Hock’s wife Thor Joo Lee was stabbed and killed when a robber snatched her bag at the front porch of her home; while on Wednesday night, state Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan’s wife Datin Chang Lee Lee was robbed.
Women’s Centre for Change Penang executive director Loh Cheng Kooi said citizens were feeling increasingly concerned and insecure as robberies were happening in broad daylight.
She said having inadequate manpower was no longer an excuse for the police.
“The Royal Malaysian Police should focus its workforce on bigger issues, namely public safety, and make better use of its existing workforce, including its special branch policemen, to patrol, investigate, arrests criminals and curb crime.
“Selective arrests and putting people under arbitrary detention are not helping to solve our problem of rising crime rates,” she said.
Crisis impact could worsen: Wen
Source StraitsTimes
UNITED NATIONS - CASH-rich China weighed in on the US financial crisis on Wednesday, with Premier Wen Jiabao warning that its international impact could become 'more serious' and stressing the need for concerted efforts to contain the turmoil.
He indicated that China, the world's biggest holder of foreign reserves and second biggest holder of US treasury bills, was ready to help in an international bid to defuse the turmoil that has rocked financial markets across the globe.
'The ongoing financial volatility, in particular, has affected many countries and its impact is likely to become more serious,' Mr Wen told the UN General Assembly.
'To tackle the challenge, we must all make concerted efforts,' Mr Wen told the UN meeting at the tail end of his address, which touched on various issues, including a pledge to push ahead with reforms to fuel growth in the world's most populous nations.
US President George W. Bush, who is also attending the UN General Assembly, had telephoned Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday to brief him about the financial turmoil and his administration's bid to stage a US$700 billion (S$996 billion) Wall Street bailout to stem the crisis.
Mr Hu told Mr Bush that China welcomed Washington's efforts to stabilise the US financial markets and hoped they succeed, according to Beijing's state media.
But as Mr Wen spoke on Wednesday at the United Nations, the Bush administration remained locked in a dispute with the US Congress over the massive bailout package aimed at buying distressed mortgages and mortgage-related securities from financial institutions.
Financial markets, including in China, have been volatile since the US crisis peaked this month, triggered by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and a Federal Reserve rescue of insurance and financial giant AIG last week.
Mr Wen hinted that China would help in any international bid to defuse financial contagion arising from the US crisis, saying this was not the time for 'hostility' or 'prejudice'.
'So long as people of all countries, especially their leaders, can do away with hostility, estrangement and prejudice, treat each other with sincerity and an open mind, and forge ahead hand in hand, mankind will overcome all difficulties and embrace a brighter and better future,' he said.
'China, as a responsible major developing country, is ready to work with other members of the international community to strengthen cooperation, share opportunities, meet challenges and contribute to the harmonious and sustainable development of the world,' he said.
China has emerged as the world's largest and fastest growing holder of foreign exchange reserves, which totalled US$1.8 trillion as of June 2008, according to its central bank.
It has invested a large share of its reserves in US securities, which include Treasury debt, US agency debt, US corporate debt and US equities.
A Congressional Research Service report in January said China may be holding nearly US$700 billion in US securities as of June 2006, making it the second largest foreign holder of American securities after Japan.
Mr Wen said given the global nature of issues threatening the world, including environmental problems, terrorism, diseases, natural disasters and financial troubles, 'no county can expect to stay away from the difficulties or handle the problems all by itself'.
The premier also touched on global concerns about China's direction after hosting the Olympics last month, saying Beijing would remain committed to 'peaceful development' and 'unswervingly pursue reform and opening-up.'
He said 'only continued economic and political restructuring, and reform in other fields can lead to sustained economic growth and social progress, and only continued opening up in an all-round way can lead the country to greater national strength and prosperity.'
UNITED NATIONS - CASH-rich China weighed in on the US financial crisis on Wednesday, with Premier Wen Jiabao warning that its international impact could become 'more serious' and stressing the need for concerted efforts to contain the turmoil.
He indicated that China, the world's biggest holder of foreign reserves and second biggest holder of US treasury bills, was ready to help in an international bid to defuse the turmoil that has rocked financial markets across the globe.
'The ongoing financial volatility, in particular, has affected many countries and its impact is likely to become more serious,' Mr Wen told the UN General Assembly.
'To tackle the challenge, we must all make concerted efforts,' Mr Wen told the UN meeting at the tail end of his address, which touched on various issues, including a pledge to push ahead with reforms to fuel growth in the world's most populous nations.
US President George W. Bush, who is also attending the UN General Assembly, had telephoned Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday to brief him about the financial turmoil and his administration's bid to stage a US$700 billion (S$996 billion) Wall Street bailout to stem the crisis.
Mr Hu told Mr Bush that China welcomed Washington's efforts to stabilise the US financial markets and hoped they succeed, according to Beijing's state media.
But as Mr Wen spoke on Wednesday at the United Nations, the Bush administration remained locked in a dispute with the US Congress over the massive bailout package aimed at buying distressed mortgages and mortgage-related securities from financial institutions.
Financial markets, including in China, have been volatile since the US crisis peaked this month, triggered by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and a Federal Reserve rescue of insurance and financial giant AIG last week.
Mr Wen hinted that China would help in any international bid to defuse financial contagion arising from the US crisis, saying this was not the time for 'hostility' or 'prejudice'.
'So long as people of all countries, especially their leaders, can do away with hostility, estrangement and prejudice, treat each other with sincerity and an open mind, and forge ahead hand in hand, mankind will overcome all difficulties and embrace a brighter and better future,' he said.
'China, as a responsible major developing country, is ready to work with other members of the international community to strengthen cooperation, share opportunities, meet challenges and contribute to the harmonious and sustainable development of the world,' he said.
China has emerged as the world's largest and fastest growing holder of foreign exchange reserves, which totalled US$1.8 trillion as of June 2008, according to its central bank.
It has invested a large share of its reserves in US securities, which include Treasury debt, US agency debt, US corporate debt and US equities.
A Congressional Research Service report in January said China may be holding nearly US$700 billion in US securities as of June 2006, making it the second largest foreign holder of American securities after Japan.
Mr Wen said given the global nature of issues threatening the world, including environmental problems, terrorism, diseases, natural disasters and financial troubles, 'no county can expect to stay away from the difficulties or handle the problems all by itself'.
The premier also touched on global concerns about China's direction after hosting the Olympics last month, saying Beijing would remain committed to 'peaceful development' and 'unswervingly pursue reform and opening-up.'
He said 'only continued economic and political restructuring, and reform in other fields can lead to sustained economic growth and social progress, and only continued opening up in an all-round way can lead the country to greater national strength and prosperity.'
Nasib Ku Li belum tentu, Abdullah pasti diundurkan
Source Harakah
Orang-orang media cukup marah jika mereka diboikot atau ditempelak akibat sikap berat sebelah, penggelapan serta memutarbelitkan isu dalam melaporkan sesuatu peristiwa.
Sikap sebegini diambil bukan sahaja terhadap orang-orang politik atau Pertubukan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) yang tidak menyebelahi Barisan Nasional, malah kalangan orang-orang Umno yang berbeza pendapat dengan kepimpinan yang ada, turut akan dimangsakan.
Namun itulah hakikat yang berlaku terhadap Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah yang mengadakan pertemuan dengan bloggers dan media di kediamannya di Jalan Langgak Golf, dekat sini 21 September lepas.
Asalnya pertemuan tersebut dianjurkan bertujuan untuk Ku Li mendengar pendapat para bloggers dalam isu-isu tertentu untuk diketengahkan. Bagaimanapun ia bertukar menjadi sidang akhbar akibat soalan bertalu-talu dari pihak media.
Dalam pertemuan yang berlangsung hampir dua jam isu, Ku Li yang berhasrat menentang Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, mengupas segala persoalan politik dan ekonomi serta isu-isu dalaman Umno.
Ku Li hanya bercakap beberapa minit sahaja apabila mempersoalkan usaha Ketua Pembangkang, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan cabaran yang dihadapinya untuk menubuhkan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.
Bagaimanapun media pro BN yang jelas menjadi alat pengampu Abdullah hanya menyiarkan pandangan Ku Li tentang Anwar, perbincangan topik-topik lain digelapkan.
Hasrat Ku Li begitu jelas, jika beliau dipilih sebagai Presiden Umno dan menjadi Perdana Menteri, beliau akan merombak keanggotaan Kabinet yang ada dan menubuhkan sebuah 'unity government' yang menggabung semua pihak.
Ku Li sedar beliau terpaksa menempuhi ranjau yang amat sukar. Namun beliau tidak pernah mengenal erti putus asa. Beliau tetap mahu mencuba walaupun pernah tewas sekali (1987) dan 'tidak layak' bertanding pada tahun 2005.
Membetulkan Umno yang sudah tersasar
Apabila ditanya media, bagaimana beliau boleh mendapat pencalonan dalam mesyuarat Bahagian Umno yang akan diadakan mulai Oktober depan, Ku Li secara sinis berkata, setakat ini Abdullah Badawi juga belum tentu mendapat pencalonan.
"Jika Dollah (Abdullah) berundur akibat desakan orang-orang Umno, soal pencalonan untuk beliau tidak timbul sama sekali," katanya.
Katanya, ada kalangan anggota Majlis Tertinggi Umno memberitahu, 'mood' ahli Umno di akar umbi terhadap Abdullah sudah tiada.
Maksudnya, sikap enggan menerima Abdullah sebagai Presiden Umno begitu ketara ditunjukkan ahli Umno sehingga desakan supaya beliau berundur kedengaran di seluruh negara.
Ku Li menegaskan beliau menawarkan hasratnya untuk bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno bukan untuk melawan sesiapa, beliau hanya mahu memperbetulkan Umno, BN dan negara yang sudah dibawa tersasar jauh dari landasan yang asal.
Katanya, beliau mahu 'overhaul' Umno, membawa kembali anak muda yang sudah lari daripada Umno.
Ditanya sama ada beliau mempunyai hubungan atau 'team mate' dengan Naib Presiden Umno, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Ku Li berkata, beliau tidak mempunyai pasukan khusus seperti pertandingan Umno 1987.
Menurutnya, kebetulan beliau menemui Muhyiddin ketika diundang bekas Presiden Umno, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad untuk menghadiri majlis berbuka puasa di Putrajaya.
Setibanya di situ, beliau mendapati selain Mahathir dan Muhyiddin, turut hadir ada sama di situ ialah bekas Menteri Pertanian, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid dan Presiden Mubarak, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang.
"Saya tidak diundang untuk hadir ke mesyuarat, saya tidak tahu pun ada mesyuarat, jadi saya cuma hadir dalam perbincangan mereka," katanya.
Antara lain beliau diberitahu, veteran-veteran yang berkumpul tidak lain tidak bukan membincangan masa depan Umno dan negara yang semakin rosak akibat kepimpinan Abdullah Badawi.
Justeru pada ketika itu timbulnya cadangan untuk meminta Dr Mahathir membantu untuk membetulkan keadaan. Keadaan tidak boleh dibetulkan jika Mahathir bukan ahli Umno, maka dirumuskan suatu pandangan, supaya usaha dibuat untuk membawa kembali Mahathir harus disegerakan.
Halangan dalam pemilihan Umno
Masalah yang paling besar menurut Ku Li ialah halangan 'politik wang' yang sudah merajai pemilihan Umno saban tahun.
"Saya dengar calon-calon yang bertanding harus menyediakan peruntukan yang besar untuk mendapatkan pencalonan, terus terang saya katakan, saya tiada wang," katanya.
Daripada makna kata beliau, jika ada kalangan anggota Umno di peringkat bahagian yang mahu menagih wang sebagai upah mencalonkan beliau, awal-awal lagi beliau enggan dibabitkan dengan politik wang.
"Jangan rosakkan Umno dengan politik wang," katanya, sebagai satu teguran kepada semua pemimpin dan anggota Umno, jika ada antara mereka yang ketagih dengan habuan wang.
Menurut sumber lain, ada kalangan kaki kempen mendakwa, sekarang ini 'demand' anggota Umno di akar umbi begitu besar sekali.
"Kami diminta untuk menyediakan antara RM2 juta hingga RM4 juta satu bahagian," dakwa beliau.
Jika dakwaan beliau itu benar, memang Umno betul-betul hebat! Hebat yang bakal membawa parti itu melingkup tidak lama lagi.
Antara halangan yang dibangkitkan ialah peraturan 'Tataetika Ahli Umno' yang dipersetujukan oleh MT Umno pada 27 Mac lepas.
Tataetika ini jelas melarang calon yang bertanding untuk berkempen. Antara yang dicatatkan Perkara 2.1.3 Tataetika Ahli Umno menyebutkan, "Balasan' termasuklah apa-apa pemberian termasuk wang ringgit, saham-saham, konsesi, hadiah, pakej percutian, makanan/jamuan, tambang gelaran/anugerah dan perkara-perkara lain yang dinyatakan di dalam tataetika ini."
Antara lain kandungan buku tataetika setebal 23 muka surat tersebut mencakupi soal salahlaku, sogokan, rasuah, penggunaan kekerasan dan ugutan, fitnah, ejen, pelobi serta majlis pertemuan yang bertujuan untuk meraih undi.
Pada dasarnya menurut sumber, peraturan sebegini ketat untuk pemimpin yang berhasrat bertanding dalam pemilihan parti, bertujuan bagi mengelakkan Umno lebih parah.
Namun banyak pendapat kalangan Umno, kebanyakan peraturan yang dimuatkan dalam tataetika banyak menguntungkan pihak atasan yang mempunyai kuasa dalam kerajaan.
Misalnya dakwaan Ketua Umno Bahagian Petaling Jaya Selatan, Kapten (B) Dato' Zahar Hashim, bahawa Abdullah melanggar tataetika parti dengan menggunakan wang JASA, Kementerian Penerangan (peruntukan kerajaan) untuk diagihkan kepada ketua-ketua Umno cawangan yang terbabit dalam pertemuan dengan beliau.
Walaupun Zahar membuat laporan kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR), tetapi sehingga kini Abdullah tidak pernah tidak disiasat.
"Tetapi, terdapat banyak pemimpin Umno di peringkat MT dan bahagian dirujuk ke Lembaga Disiplin Umno kerana didakwa terbabit politik wang, ini tidak adil," kata Ku Li.
DEB bukan untuk orang Melayu
Tengku Razaleigh juga diajukan persoalan mengenai sikap Anwar Ibrahim mengenai Dasar Ekonomi Baru, yang penulis sifatkan ianya sebagai 'hate question' iaitu bertujuan untuk 'membelasah' ketua pembangkang itu.
Dalam soalan itu Anwar cuba dirujuk sebagai orang yang bakal menggadaikan maruah bangsa Melayu kerana hubungan akrabnya dengan DAP dalam Pakatan Rakyat.
Apa yang mengejutkan penulis ialah jawapan Ku Li.
Menurutnya, beliau adalah antara pemimpin yang terlibat dengan usaha merangka DEB, bersama dengan Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang yang ketika itu berada dalam suatu suruhanjaya.
"DEB tidak dirangka untuk orang Melayu sahaja, ianya adalah untuk semua kaum," tegas Ku Li.
Katanya, selepas berlaku Peristiwa 13 Mei 1969, pemimpin-pemimpin parti yang memerintah dan pembangkang, bekerjasama dalam permuafakatan, bagi memberikan keadilan ekonomi untuk semua kaum.
Cumanya kata Ku Li, terdapat pemimpin tertentu yang menyalahgunakan DEB untuk kepentingan politik mereka dan kroni-kroni.
"Orang Umno sendiri pun ramai yang menentang DEB, bukan dari sudut dasarnya, tetapi perlaksanaannya, kerana mereka juga tidak memperoleh sesuatu darinya," kata beliau.
Bagi penulis, apa yang disebutkan Ku Li mengenai DEB ini amat mengejutkan! Selama ini seluruh rakyat Malaysia terutamanya orang-orang Melayu ditipu bulat-bulat oleh pemimpin Umno.
Mereka mengatakan DEB dirangka untuk membantu orang Melayu dan sesiapa yang menentangnya adalah pengkhianat Melayu.
Nah! Ramainya orang Melayu, termasuk barangkali yang berada dalam parti pembangkang, tertipu dengan retorika pemimpin Umno.
Apakah selama ini Umno benar-benar memperjuangkan Melayu tulen? Apakah Umno menjadi pelindung sebenar agama Islam?
Persoalan ini sebenarnya sudah ada jawapan. Hanya mereka yang tidak mempunyai kesedaran dan menyangka Umno masih kuat sahaja yang sering tertipu.
Semua ini membuktikan Abdullah, Umno dan BN sudah tidak lagi relevan pada rakyat dan menunggu dijatuhkan bila-bila masa sahaja.
Orang-orang media cukup marah jika mereka diboikot atau ditempelak akibat sikap berat sebelah, penggelapan serta memutarbelitkan isu dalam melaporkan sesuatu peristiwa.
Sikap sebegini diambil bukan sahaja terhadap orang-orang politik atau Pertubukan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) yang tidak menyebelahi Barisan Nasional, malah kalangan orang-orang Umno yang berbeza pendapat dengan kepimpinan yang ada, turut akan dimangsakan.
Namun itulah hakikat yang berlaku terhadap Ahli Parlimen Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah yang mengadakan pertemuan dengan bloggers dan media di kediamannya di Jalan Langgak Golf, dekat sini 21 September lepas.
Asalnya pertemuan tersebut dianjurkan bertujuan untuk Ku Li mendengar pendapat para bloggers dalam isu-isu tertentu untuk diketengahkan. Bagaimanapun ia bertukar menjadi sidang akhbar akibat soalan bertalu-talu dari pihak media.
Dalam pertemuan yang berlangsung hampir dua jam isu, Ku Li yang berhasrat menentang Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, mengupas segala persoalan politik dan ekonomi serta isu-isu dalaman Umno.
Ku Li hanya bercakap beberapa minit sahaja apabila mempersoalkan usaha Ketua Pembangkang, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan cabaran yang dihadapinya untuk menubuhkan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.
Bagaimanapun media pro BN yang jelas menjadi alat pengampu Abdullah hanya menyiarkan pandangan Ku Li tentang Anwar, perbincangan topik-topik lain digelapkan.
Hasrat Ku Li begitu jelas, jika beliau dipilih sebagai Presiden Umno dan menjadi Perdana Menteri, beliau akan merombak keanggotaan Kabinet yang ada dan menubuhkan sebuah 'unity government' yang menggabung semua pihak.
Ku Li sedar beliau terpaksa menempuhi ranjau yang amat sukar. Namun beliau tidak pernah mengenal erti putus asa. Beliau tetap mahu mencuba walaupun pernah tewas sekali (1987) dan 'tidak layak' bertanding pada tahun 2005.
Membetulkan Umno yang sudah tersasar
Apabila ditanya media, bagaimana beliau boleh mendapat pencalonan dalam mesyuarat Bahagian Umno yang akan diadakan mulai Oktober depan, Ku Li secara sinis berkata, setakat ini Abdullah Badawi juga belum tentu mendapat pencalonan.
"Jika Dollah (Abdullah) berundur akibat desakan orang-orang Umno, soal pencalonan untuk beliau tidak timbul sama sekali," katanya.
Katanya, ada kalangan anggota Majlis Tertinggi Umno memberitahu, 'mood' ahli Umno di akar umbi terhadap Abdullah sudah tiada.
Maksudnya, sikap enggan menerima Abdullah sebagai Presiden Umno begitu ketara ditunjukkan ahli Umno sehingga desakan supaya beliau berundur kedengaran di seluruh negara.
Ku Li menegaskan beliau menawarkan hasratnya untuk bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno bukan untuk melawan sesiapa, beliau hanya mahu memperbetulkan Umno, BN dan negara yang sudah dibawa tersasar jauh dari landasan yang asal.
Katanya, beliau mahu 'overhaul' Umno, membawa kembali anak muda yang sudah lari daripada Umno.
Ditanya sama ada beliau mempunyai hubungan atau 'team mate' dengan Naib Presiden Umno, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Ku Li berkata, beliau tidak mempunyai pasukan khusus seperti pertandingan Umno 1987.
Menurutnya, kebetulan beliau menemui Muhyiddin ketika diundang bekas Presiden Umno, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad untuk menghadiri majlis berbuka puasa di Putrajaya.
Setibanya di situ, beliau mendapati selain Mahathir dan Muhyiddin, turut hadir ada sama di situ ialah bekas Menteri Pertanian, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid dan Presiden Mubarak, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang.
"Saya tidak diundang untuk hadir ke mesyuarat, saya tidak tahu pun ada mesyuarat, jadi saya cuma hadir dalam perbincangan mereka," katanya.
Antara lain beliau diberitahu, veteran-veteran yang berkumpul tidak lain tidak bukan membincangan masa depan Umno dan negara yang semakin rosak akibat kepimpinan Abdullah Badawi.
Justeru pada ketika itu timbulnya cadangan untuk meminta Dr Mahathir membantu untuk membetulkan keadaan. Keadaan tidak boleh dibetulkan jika Mahathir bukan ahli Umno, maka dirumuskan suatu pandangan, supaya usaha dibuat untuk membawa kembali Mahathir harus disegerakan.
Halangan dalam pemilihan Umno
Masalah yang paling besar menurut Ku Li ialah halangan 'politik wang' yang sudah merajai pemilihan Umno saban tahun.
"Saya dengar calon-calon yang bertanding harus menyediakan peruntukan yang besar untuk mendapatkan pencalonan, terus terang saya katakan, saya tiada wang," katanya.
Daripada makna kata beliau, jika ada kalangan anggota Umno di peringkat bahagian yang mahu menagih wang sebagai upah mencalonkan beliau, awal-awal lagi beliau enggan dibabitkan dengan politik wang.
"Jangan rosakkan Umno dengan politik wang," katanya, sebagai satu teguran kepada semua pemimpin dan anggota Umno, jika ada antara mereka yang ketagih dengan habuan wang.
Menurut sumber lain, ada kalangan kaki kempen mendakwa, sekarang ini 'demand' anggota Umno di akar umbi begitu besar sekali.
"Kami diminta untuk menyediakan antara RM2 juta hingga RM4 juta satu bahagian," dakwa beliau.
Jika dakwaan beliau itu benar, memang Umno betul-betul hebat! Hebat yang bakal membawa parti itu melingkup tidak lama lagi.
Antara halangan yang dibangkitkan ialah peraturan 'Tataetika Ahli Umno' yang dipersetujukan oleh MT Umno pada 27 Mac lepas.
Tataetika ini jelas melarang calon yang bertanding untuk berkempen. Antara yang dicatatkan Perkara 2.1.3 Tataetika Ahli Umno menyebutkan, "Balasan' termasuklah apa-apa pemberian termasuk wang ringgit, saham-saham, konsesi, hadiah, pakej percutian, makanan/jamuan, tambang gelaran/anugerah dan perkara-perkara lain yang dinyatakan di dalam tataetika ini."
Antara lain kandungan buku tataetika setebal 23 muka surat tersebut mencakupi soal salahlaku, sogokan, rasuah, penggunaan kekerasan dan ugutan, fitnah, ejen, pelobi serta majlis pertemuan yang bertujuan untuk meraih undi.
Pada dasarnya menurut sumber, peraturan sebegini ketat untuk pemimpin yang berhasrat bertanding dalam pemilihan parti, bertujuan bagi mengelakkan Umno lebih parah.
Namun banyak pendapat kalangan Umno, kebanyakan peraturan yang dimuatkan dalam tataetika banyak menguntungkan pihak atasan yang mempunyai kuasa dalam kerajaan.
Misalnya dakwaan Ketua Umno Bahagian Petaling Jaya Selatan, Kapten (B) Dato' Zahar Hashim, bahawa Abdullah melanggar tataetika parti dengan menggunakan wang JASA, Kementerian Penerangan (peruntukan kerajaan) untuk diagihkan kepada ketua-ketua Umno cawangan yang terbabit dalam pertemuan dengan beliau.
Walaupun Zahar membuat laporan kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR), tetapi sehingga kini Abdullah tidak pernah tidak disiasat.
"Tetapi, terdapat banyak pemimpin Umno di peringkat MT dan bahagian dirujuk ke Lembaga Disiplin Umno kerana didakwa terbabit politik wang, ini tidak adil," kata Ku Li.
DEB bukan untuk orang Melayu
Tengku Razaleigh juga diajukan persoalan mengenai sikap Anwar Ibrahim mengenai Dasar Ekonomi Baru, yang penulis sifatkan ianya sebagai 'hate question' iaitu bertujuan untuk 'membelasah' ketua pembangkang itu.
Dalam soalan itu Anwar cuba dirujuk sebagai orang yang bakal menggadaikan maruah bangsa Melayu kerana hubungan akrabnya dengan DAP dalam Pakatan Rakyat.
Apa yang mengejutkan penulis ialah jawapan Ku Li.
Menurutnya, beliau adalah antara pemimpin yang terlibat dengan usaha merangka DEB, bersama dengan Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang yang ketika itu berada dalam suatu suruhanjaya.
"DEB tidak dirangka untuk orang Melayu sahaja, ianya adalah untuk semua kaum," tegas Ku Li.
Katanya, selepas berlaku Peristiwa 13 Mei 1969, pemimpin-pemimpin parti yang memerintah dan pembangkang, bekerjasama dalam permuafakatan, bagi memberikan keadilan ekonomi untuk semua kaum.
Cumanya kata Ku Li, terdapat pemimpin tertentu yang menyalahgunakan DEB untuk kepentingan politik mereka dan kroni-kroni.
"Orang Umno sendiri pun ramai yang menentang DEB, bukan dari sudut dasarnya, tetapi perlaksanaannya, kerana mereka juga tidak memperoleh sesuatu darinya," kata beliau.
Bagi penulis, apa yang disebutkan Ku Li mengenai DEB ini amat mengejutkan! Selama ini seluruh rakyat Malaysia terutamanya orang-orang Melayu ditipu bulat-bulat oleh pemimpin Umno.
Mereka mengatakan DEB dirangka untuk membantu orang Melayu dan sesiapa yang menentangnya adalah pengkhianat Melayu.
Nah! Ramainya orang Melayu, termasuk barangkali yang berada dalam parti pembangkang, tertipu dengan retorika pemimpin Umno.
Apakah selama ini Umno benar-benar memperjuangkan Melayu tulen? Apakah Umno menjadi pelindung sebenar agama Islam?
Persoalan ini sebenarnya sudah ada jawapan. Hanya mereka yang tidak mempunyai kesedaran dan menyangka Umno masih kuat sahaja yang sering tertipu.
Semua ini membuktikan Abdullah, Umno dan BN sudah tidak lagi relevan pada rakyat dan menunggu dijatuhkan bila-bila masa sahaja.
Entire economy in danger
Source StraitsTimes
WASHINGTON - PRESIDENT George W. Bush said on Wednesday that lawmakers risk a cascade of wiped-out retirement savings, rising home foreclosures, lost jobs and closed businesses if they fail to act on a massive financial rescue plan. 'Our entire economy is in danger,' he said.
'Without immediate action by Congress, American could slip into a financial panic and a distressing scenario would unfold,' Mr Bush said in a 12-minute prime-time address delivered from the White House East Room that he hoped would help rescue his tough-sell bailout package.
'Ultimately, our country could experience a long and painful recession.' said Mr Bush, 'we must not let this happen.'
The unprecedented US$700 billion (S$996 billion) bailout, which the Bush administration asked Congress last weekend to approve before it adjourns, is meeting with deep skepticism, especially from conservatives in Bush's own Republican Party who are revolting at the high price tag and massive private-sector intervention by government.
Though there is general agreement that something must be done to address the spiraling economic problems, Mr Bush has been forced to accept changes almost daily, based on demands from the right and left.
Seeking to explain himself to conservatives, Mr Bush stressed he was reluctant to put taxpayer money on the line to help businesses that had made bad decisions and that the rescue is not aimed at saving individual companies.
He tried to address some of the major complaints from Democrats by promising that CEOs of failed companies won't be rewarded, while warning he would draw the line at regulations he determined would hamper economic growth.
'With the situation becoming more precarious by the day, I faced a choice: to step in with dramatic government action or to stand back and allow the irresponsible actions by some to undermine the financial security of all,' Mr Bush said.
The president turned himself into an economics professor for much of the address, tracing the origins of the problem back a decade.
But while generally acknowledging risky and poorly thought-out financial decisions at many levels of society, Mr Bush never assigned blame to any specific entity, such as his administration, the quasi-independent mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or the Wall Street firms that built rising profits on increasingly speculative mortgage-backed securities.
Instead, he spoke in terms of investment banks that 'found themselves saddled with' the toxic assets the government is now proposing to buy and banks that 'found themselves' with questionable balance sheets.
Intensive, personal lobbying of lawmakers is not usually Mr Bush's style as president, unlike some predecessors. He does not often make calls or twist arms on behalf of a legislative priority.
But with the nation facing the biggest financial meltdown in decades, Mr Bush took the unusual step of asking Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, one of whom will inherit the financial mess in four months, and key congressional leaders of both parties to a White House meeting on Thursday to work on a compromise.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the senator would attend the meeting scheduled for the afternoon, and senior McCain advisers said he would, too. The plans of the other invitees were unknown. The White House said that the idea for the joint meeting was Mr McCain's and that aides went about setting it up after Mr Bush and Mr McCain spoke on Wednesday afternoon.
In another move welcome at the White House, Mr Obama and Mr McCain issued a joint statement using their own dire language to urge lawmakers to act. The two candidates - bitterly fighting each other for the White House but coming together over this issue - said the situation offers a chance for politicians to prove Washington's worth.
'The plan that has been submitted to Congress by the Bush administration is flawed, but the effort to protect the American economy must not fail,' they said. 'This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe.'
However, the Oval Office rivals were not putting politics aside entirely. Mr McCain asked Mr Obama to agree to delay their first debate, scheduled for Friday, while Mr Obama said it should go ahead.
White House and administration officials have warned repeatedly in recent days of a coming 'financial calamity'.
But that has not closed the deal, which for many recalls previous warnings of grave threats from Mr Bush - such as before the Iraq war - that did not materialise.
So Mr Bush's goal with his speech, his first prime-time address in 377 days, was to frame the debate in layman's terms to show the depths of the crisis, explain how it affects the people's daily lives and inspire the public to demand action from Washington.
He said that more banks could fail, the stock market could plummet and erase retirement accounts, businesses could find it hard to get credit and be forced to close, wiping out jobs for millions of Americans.
He ended on a positive note, predicting lawmakers would 'rise to the occasion' and that the nation's economy will overcome 'a moment of great challenge'.
With so many crises hitting the United States at once, the presidential race has taken a back seat and so has Mr Bush's involvement in politics. Mr Bush cancelled a campaign trip to Florida on Wednesday to deal with the problem, the third time in a week that he has scrapped his attendance at out-of-town fundraisers, either because of the market turmoil or Hurricane Ike.
The economic crisis also is almost certain to overshadow the rest of Mr Bush's four months left in office and could hugely impact his legacy.
It has been assumed that the long-term view of Mr Bush's presidency was to be shaped largely by Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and the Sept 11, 2001, attacks. Now, the dire economic problems and the aftermath of the government's attempted solution will certainly be added to that list. -- AP Congress, Mr Bush said his 'natural instinct' was to oppose government intervention in the financial sector, but the financial turmoil called for a different approach.
'I believe companies that make bad decisions should be allowed to go out of business,' Mr Bush said. 'Under normal circumstances, I would have followed this course. But these are not normal circumstances.'
He cited a market that was not functioning properly, a widespread loss of confidence and major financial sectors at risk of shutting down.
More financial distress could lead more banks to fail, the stock market to drop further, businesses to close, job losses and home values to drop, Mr Bush said.
'And, ultimately, our country could experience a long and painful recession,' Bush said. 'Fellow citizens, we must not let this happen.'
Less than two hours before the speech, Mr Bush telephoned Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and invited him to the White House on Thursday for a meeting with congressional leaders and Republican nominee John McCain on the financial bailout package.
Mr Obama accepted and The Bush administration and Congress have been trying to hammer out an agreement on a plan that would allow the government to step in and take illiquid loans from shaky Wall Street firms to address financial turmoil in the markets.
The unprecedented bailout has met skepticism and anger from lawmakers who argue that the administration's proposal should not just be rubber-stamped. But they have also avoided suggesting they would block the plan for fear of spooking the markets.
Mr Bush said again that urgent action was needed to bolster the markets. His last prime-time national televised address was on Sept 13, 2007, when he spoke of the 'way forward in Iraq'.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said Mr Bush had a lot of explaining to do in his speech.
'It is time for him to explain why his administration sat on its hands for months and only now has come to realize the need for immediate and unprecedented government action,' Mr Reid said before Bush's address.
WASHINGTON - PRESIDENT George W. Bush said on Wednesday that lawmakers risk a cascade of wiped-out retirement savings, rising home foreclosures, lost jobs and closed businesses if they fail to act on a massive financial rescue plan. 'Our entire economy is in danger,' he said.
'Without immediate action by Congress, American could slip into a financial panic and a distressing scenario would unfold,' Mr Bush said in a 12-minute prime-time address delivered from the White House East Room that he hoped would help rescue his tough-sell bailout package.
'Ultimately, our country could experience a long and painful recession.' said Mr Bush, 'we must not let this happen.'
The unprecedented US$700 billion (S$996 billion) bailout, which the Bush administration asked Congress last weekend to approve before it adjourns, is meeting with deep skepticism, especially from conservatives in Bush's own Republican Party who are revolting at the high price tag and massive private-sector intervention by government.
Though there is general agreement that something must be done to address the spiraling economic problems, Mr Bush has been forced to accept changes almost daily, based on demands from the right and left.
Seeking to explain himself to conservatives, Mr Bush stressed he was reluctant to put taxpayer money on the line to help businesses that had made bad decisions and that the rescue is not aimed at saving individual companies.
He tried to address some of the major complaints from Democrats by promising that CEOs of failed companies won't be rewarded, while warning he would draw the line at regulations he determined would hamper economic growth.
'With the situation becoming more precarious by the day, I faced a choice: to step in with dramatic government action or to stand back and allow the irresponsible actions by some to undermine the financial security of all,' Mr Bush said.
The president turned himself into an economics professor for much of the address, tracing the origins of the problem back a decade.
But while generally acknowledging risky and poorly thought-out financial decisions at many levels of society, Mr Bush never assigned blame to any specific entity, such as his administration, the quasi-independent mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or the Wall Street firms that built rising profits on increasingly speculative mortgage-backed securities.
Instead, he spoke in terms of investment banks that 'found themselves saddled with' the toxic assets the government is now proposing to buy and banks that 'found themselves' with questionable balance sheets.
Intensive, personal lobbying of lawmakers is not usually Mr Bush's style as president, unlike some predecessors. He does not often make calls or twist arms on behalf of a legislative priority.
But with the nation facing the biggest financial meltdown in decades, Mr Bush took the unusual step of asking Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, one of whom will inherit the financial mess in four months, and key congressional leaders of both parties to a White House meeting on Thursday to work on a compromise.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the senator would attend the meeting scheduled for the afternoon, and senior McCain advisers said he would, too. The plans of the other invitees were unknown. The White House said that the idea for the joint meeting was Mr McCain's and that aides went about setting it up after Mr Bush and Mr McCain spoke on Wednesday afternoon.
In another move welcome at the White House, Mr Obama and Mr McCain issued a joint statement using their own dire language to urge lawmakers to act. The two candidates - bitterly fighting each other for the White House but coming together over this issue - said the situation offers a chance for politicians to prove Washington's worth.
'The plan that has been submitted to Congress by the Bush administration is flawed, but the effort to protect the American economy must not fail,' they said. 'This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe.'
However, the Oval Office rivals were not putting politics aside entirely. Mr McCain asked Mr Obama to agree to delay their first debate, scheduled for Friday, while Mr Obama said it should go ahead.
White House and administration officials have warned repeatedly in recent days of a coming 'financial calamity'.
But that has not closed the deal, which for many recalls previous warnings of grave threats from Mr Bush - such as before the Iraq war - that did not materialise.
So Mr Bush's goal with his speech, his first prime-time address in 377 days, was to frame the debate in layman's terms to show the depths of the crisis, explain how it affects the people's daily lives and inspire the public to demand action from Washington.
He said that more banks could fail, the stock market could plummet and erase retirement accounts, businesses could find it hard to get credit and be forced to close, wiping out jobs for millions of Americans.
He ended on a positive note, predicting lawmakers would 'rise to the occasion' and that the nation's economy will overcome 'a moment of great challenge'.
With so many crises hitting the United States at once, the presidential race has taken a back seat and so has Mr Bush's involvement in politics. Mr Bush cancelled a campaign trip to Florida on Wednesday to deal with the problem, the third time in a week that he has scrapped his attendance at out-of-town fundraisers, either because of the market turmoil or Hurricane Ike.
The economic crisis also is almost certain to overshadow the rest of Mr Bush's four months left in office and could hugely impact his legacy.
It has been assumed that the long-term view of Mr Bush's presidency was to be shaped largely by Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and the Sept 11, 2001, attacks. Now, the dire economic problems and the aftermath of the government's attempted solution will certainly be added to that list. -- AP Congress, Mr Bush said his 'natural instinct' was to oppose government intervention in the financial sector, but the financial turmoil called for a different approach.
'I believe companies that make bad decisions should be allowed to go out of business,' Mr Bush said. 'Under normal circumstances, I would have followed this course. But these are not normal circumstances.'
He cited a market that was not functioning properly, a widespread loss of confidence and major financial sectors at risk of shutting down.
More financial distress could lead more banks to fail, the stock market to drop further, businesses to close, job losses and home values to drop, Mr Bush said.
'And, ultimately, our country could experience a long and painful recession,' Bush said. 'Fellow citizens, we must not let this happen.'
Less than two hours before the speech, Mr Bush telephoned Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and invited him to the White House on Thursday for a meeting with congressional leaders and Republican nominee John McCain on the financial bailout package.
Mr Obama accepted and The Bush administration and Congress have been trying to hammer out an agreement on a plan that would allow the government to step in and take illiquid loans from shaky Wall Street firms to address financial turmoil in the markets.
The unprecedented bailout has met skepticism and anger from lawmakers who argue that the administration's proposal should not just be rubber-stamped. But they have also avoided suggesting they would block the plan for fear of spooking the markets.
Mr Bush said again that urgent action was needed to bolster the markets. His last prime-time national televised address was on Sept 13, 2007, when he spoke of the 'way forward in Iraq'.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said Mr Bush had a lot of explaining to do in his speech.
'It is time for him to explain why his administration sat on its hands for months and only now has come to realize the need for immediate and unprecedented government action,' Mr Reid said before Bush's address.
No deadline to take over Government
Source TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is now saying he will not give any firm deadline to take over the Federal Government.
“It is not an issue of deadlines any more. It was on the Sept 16, when we were ready. (But) who could have anticipated the Prime Minister would refuse to hold an emergency Parliament session when we have the numbers?” he told reporters at the Jalan Duta court complex yesterday after the hearing of his sodomy case.
He added this was the first time in the history of a democratic country a Prime Minister refused to see the Opposition Leader.
Anwar said a letter was sent to the King last week to inform him on the current situation and the measures taken by Pakatan for the power transfer.
However, he denied the letter was sent to seek an audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong.
“The issue of (seeking) audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong has not arisen because we still want all the (legal) processes to be done, to exhaust all available avenues including the possibility of the meeting with the Prime Minister,” he said.
Anwar also appealed to the public to be patient and understand the delay in the takeover as Pakatan “does not want to transgress the constitutional rules.”
On speculation claiming his Government line-up would not consist of Muslim majority, Anwar said it was a dirty tactic by Umno and Barisan Nasional to incite fear among the Malays.
He also challenged those who called him a liar for not being able to meet the previous deadline to “test it in the proper constitutional and legal manner”.
KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is now saying he will not give any firm deadline to take over the Federal Government.
“It is not an issue of deadlines any more. It was on the Sept 16, when we were ready. (But) who could have anticipated the Prime Minister would refuse to hold an emergency Parliament session when we have the numbers?” he told reporters at the Jalan Duta court complex yesterday after the hearing of his sodomy case.
He added this was the first time in the history of a democratic country a Prime Minister refused to see the Opposition Leader.
Anwar said a letter was sent to the King last week to inform him on the current situation and the measures taken by Pakatan for the power transfer.
However, he denied the letter was sent to seek an audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong.
“The issue of (seeking) audience with the Yang DiPertuan Agong has not arisen because we still want all the (legal) processes to be done, to exhaust all available avenues including the possibility of the meeting with the Prime Minister,” he said.
Anwar also appealed to the public to be patient and understand the delay in the takeover as Pakatan “does not want to transgress the constitutional rules.”
On speculation claiming his Government line-up would not consist of Muslim majority, Anwar said it was a dirty tactic by Umno and Barisan Nasional to incite fear among the Malays.
He also challenged those who called him a liar for not being able to meet the previous deadline to “test it in the proper constitutional and legal manner”.
Malaysia proposes convention on Islamophobia
Source TheStar
NEW YORK: Malaysia has proposed that an international convention sponsored by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) be held as early as next year to tackle the anti-Islamic movement which is rearing its ugly head in several developed nations.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said Thursday that the OIC had asked Malaysia to play a major role towards rectifying the misconception of Islam within Western society.
He said this was conveyed to him by OIC Secretary-General Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during their meeting on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly here.
He told Malaysian journalists that the OIC was confident that Malaysia would be able to take the initiative to counter the misconception towards the Islamic nations because of Malaysia’s commitment and effectiveness in past endeavours.
He hoped that the convention would be attended by influential people like leaders, department heads, intellectuals and non-governmental organisations which support religious tolerance.
“Malaysia hopes that another window can be opened for a more universal understanding of Islam to help in civilisation building,” he said.
He said the United States was chosen as the venue for the convention because of the polemic on Islam in that country as well as the wide media coverage it would get.
The proposal on the convention was made to the US representative to the OIC during an earlier meeting in Kuala Lumpur, he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysia deposited the Instrument of Ratification on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) at the United Nations on Thursday.
“Malaysia’s ratification of the UNCAC is testimony to the Government’s commitment in promoting and strengthening measures to combat corruption at the domestic, regional and global levels.
“It also reflects the intention of Malaysia to be a fully engaged member of the Convention and a proactive member of the global anti-corruption community,” Rais said.
He is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly session on Saturday in place of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who had cancelled his trip to attend to pressing matters in Malaysia.
Earlier, Rais had a bilateral meeting with his counterpart from Jordan, Dr Salaheddin AlBashir.
NEW YORK: Malaysia has proposed that an international convention sponsored by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) be held as early as next year to tackle the anti-Islamic movement which is rearing its ugly head in several developed nations.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said Thursday that the OIC had asked Malaysia to play a major role towards rectifying the misconception of Islam within Western society.
He said this was conveyed to him by OIC Secretary-General Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during their meeting on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly here.
He told Malaysian journalists that the OIC was confident that Malaysia would be able to take the initiative to counter the misconception towards the Islamic nations because of Malaysia’s commitment and effectiveness in past endeavours.
He hoped that the convention would be attended by influential people like leaders, department heads, intellectuals and non-governmental organisations which support religious tolerance.
“Malaysia hopes that another window can be opened for a more universal understanding of Islam to help in civilisation building,” he said.
He said the United States was chosen as the venue for the convention because of the polemic on Islam in that country as well as the wide media coverage it would get.
The proposal on the convention was made to the US representative to the OIC during an earlier meeting in Kuala Lumpur, he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysia deposited the Instrument of Ratification on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) at the United Nations on Thursday.
“Malaysia’s ratification of the UNCAC is testimony to the Government’s commitment in promoting and strengthening measures to combat corruption at the domestic, regional and global levels.
“It also reflects the intention of Malaysia to be a fully engaged member of the Convention and a proactive member of the global anti-corruption community,” Rais said.
He is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly session on Saturday in place of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who had cancelled his trip to attend to pressing matters in Malaysia.
Earlier, Rais had a bilateral meeting with his counterpart from Jordan, Dr Salaheddin AlBashir.
Special Umno meeting Friday
Source TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: A special Umno supreme council meeting is scheduled to be held at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Friday morning.
Sources told The Star that invitations have been sent to all supreme council members.
Umno executive secretary Brig Jen (Rtd) Datuk Husainy Hasyim confirmed that the meeting will start at 10am.
Sources said the meeting was called to further discuss the power transition plan between Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib told The Star that he had received a call Thursday morning to attend the meeting.
He, however, added he was not told why the meeting was being held.
Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz also confirmed the meeting.
On Wednesday, Najib cancelled a working visit to the United States from Sept 25 to Oct 1, saying that among the reasons for the cancellation was the current global economical situation which would demand his full attention at home to ensure that the national economy was on a solid footing.
Najib was scheduled to deliver his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly on Saturday.
A statement from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office said the cancellation of the trip was approved by the Prime Minister.
“Najib only took over as Finance Minister on Sept 17 and will need more time to be briefed on economic developments in the country by various departments and agencies under the Finance Ministry,” it said.
On Sept 19, Najib said he was going ahead with his trip to America, although he had postponed an official trip to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from Sept 19-21.
KUALA LUMPUR: A special Umno supreme council meeting is scheduled to be held at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Friday morning.
Sources told The Star that invitations have been sent to all supreme council members.
Umno executive secretary Brig Jen (Rtd) Datuk Husainy Hasyim confirmed that the meeting will start at 10am.
Sources said the meeting was called to further discuss the power transition plan between Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib told The Star that he had received a call Thursday morning to attend the meeting.
He, however, added he was not told why the meeting was being held.
Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz also confirmed the meeting.
On Wednesday, Najib cancelled a working visit to the United States from Sept 25 to Oct 1, saying that among the reasons for the cancellation was the current global economical situation which would demand his full attention at home to ensure that the national economy was on a solid footing.
Najib was scheduled to deliver his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly on Saturday.
A statement from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office said the cancellation of the trip was approved by the Prime Minister.
“Najib only took over as Finance Minister on Sept 17 and will need more time to be briefed on economic developments in the country by various departments and agencies under the Finance Ministry,” it said.
On Sept 19, Najib said he was going ahead with his trip to America, although he had postponed an official trip to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from Sept 19-21.
Blogger Detained for 2 years
Source StraitsTimesKUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S leading blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has been ordered to spend two years in detention under internal security laws after being accused of insulting Islam, his wife said on Tuesday.
Raja Petra, founder of the controversial Malaysia Today website, has been sent to the Kamunting detention centre in northern Perak state after the home minister signed the order late on Monday, Ms Marina Lee Abdullah told AFP.
'(Police) said my husband has been sent to Kamunting this morning and that he will remain there for two years with no trial. This is the worst news I can receive but we will keep fighting for his release,' she said.
Raja Petra's lawyers will push for his release in a court hearing on Tuesday but Ms Marina said the detention order under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) had 'thrown a spanner' in the plans.
'This is dirty foul play by the government as they know that we are in the process of fighting for his release in the court but I was expecting this,' she said.
According to Ms Marina, Raja Petra was detained for allegedly 'insulting Islam and publishing articles on his website which has tarnished the country's leadership to the point of causing confusion among the people'.
He was also accused of inciting hate in his articles on Islam - a serious offence in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.
Raja Petra is best known for his articles on politics, and had already been charged with sedition and defamation for linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to the sensational murder of a Mongolian woman. -- AFP
Cops questioning Negara-ku rapper Namewee
Source TheStar
KUALA LUMPUR: Wee Meng Chee, aka Namewee, is being questioned by police over the controversial Negara-ku rap video he released on video-sharing network youtube last year.
He travelled from his hometown of Muar this morning to see police officers from the Cybercrime unit of the Commercial Crimes division.
The 25-year-old mass communication graduate from Taiwan’s Ming Chuan University became the talk of the town when his video, in which he rapped in Hokkien over the national anthem, caused an uproar.
Several quarters condemned him for mocking the national anthem, and asked that he be detained under the Sedition Act.
Wee, who denied he made the video with any ill intention, issued a public apology.
KUALA LUMPUR: Wee Meng Chee, aka Namewee, is being questioned by police over the controversial Negara-ku rap video he released on video-sharing network youtube last year.
He travelled from his hometown of Muar this morning to see police officers from the Cybercrime unit of the Commercial Crimes division.
The 25-year-old mass communication graduate from Taiwan’s Ming Chuan University became the talk of the town when his video, in which he rapped in Hokkien over the national anthem, caused an uproar.
Several quarters condemned him for mocking the national anthem, and asked that he be detained under the Sedition Act.
Wee, who denied he made the video with any ill intention, issued a public apology.
PM dijangka mampu dapat 40 pencalonan sahaja
Source Harakah
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Sept (Hrkh) - Pelbagai jangkaan dibuat tentang jumlah pencalonan yang akan diperolehi oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk mempertahankan jawatannya sebagai Presiden Umno.
Ada penyokongnya yang menjangka beliau boleh mendapat antara 70 hingga 80 pencalonan jika mereka berusaha.
Bagaimanapun, seorang pemimpin Umno pula berkata, Abdullah hanya mampu mendapat kira-kira 40 pencalonan sahaja.
Telah muktamad Abdullah akan mempertahankan jawatannya dan beliau telahpun membatalkan keputusannya untuk berundur selepas dibelasah teruk dalam mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi Umno (MT) 18 September lalu.
Laporan-laporan menyatakan anaknya, Datuk Kamaluddin serta menantunya, Khairy Jamaluddin menentang keras keputusan Abdullah untuk berundur.
Begitu juga segerombolan penyokongnya yang bergantung hidup dan harapan kepada jawatan Perdana Menteri yang masih berada dalam cengkaman Abdullah.
"OK, kami memang tidak akan mendapat pencalonan yang banyak," seorang penyokong Abdullah memberitahu Business Times Singapura (BT). "Tetapi saya rasa kami mampu mendapat 70 hingga 80 dengan sedikit usaha".
Menurut Malaysian Insider (MI), sebaik sahaja mendapat lampu hijau dari Abdullah, para penyokongnya akan turun ke bahagian-bahagian dan akan berleluasa dengan kempen tak mengenal batasan dalam masa yang tinggal beberapa minggu sahaja lagi.
Apa sahaja akan dilakukan asalkan Abdullah mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi untuk mempertahankan jawatannya.
Malah, para penyokongnya dilaporkan telah pun menghunus keris (MI menyebut unsheathed their knives) untuk bertindak demi meneruskan kekuasaan Abdullah yang menjadi harapan hidup mereka.
Anak, menantu, para penyokong dan pengampu Abdullah tahu, jika beliau berundur, mereka dan kepentingan mereka pasti terancam dan tenggelam.
Namun, apa pun keputusan Abdullah dan setajam mana pun keris yang dihunus oleh pengampu-pengampunya, tidak semua pemimpin Umno yakin Abdullah akan dapat mempertahankan jawatannya.
Sekurang-kurangnya dua Menteri Besar menyatakan bahawa mereka tidak lagi mampu mengawal Umno bahagian-bahagian dalam negeri mereka - yang dijangka tidak akan mencalonkan Abdullah.
Mereka ialah Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman dan Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob. Johor mempunyai 26 bahagian manakala Pahang mempunyai 14 bahagian.
Malah, dalam mesyuarat MT Khamis lalu yang menyaksikan Abdullah menangis atau hampir menangis, empat pemimpin kanan Umno dilaporkan telah mengingatkan Abdullah dengan keras supaya berundur atau akan dimalukan dengan pencalonan yang tidak mencukupi untuk mempertahankan jawatannya.
Nasib baiklah mesyuarat itu ditamatkan secara tiba-tiba lebih awal apabila Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak meyakinkan mesyuarat bahawa beliau akan menyelesaikan pelan peralihan kuasa yang dibantah itu dalam perbincangan empat mata dengan Abdullah.
Beberapa pemimpin Umno membayangkan, risiko Abdullah akan dihambat dengan penuh kehinaan dari jawatannya bukanlah jangkaan semata-mata.
Umno bahagian-bahagian akan memulakan mesyuarat untuk menghadapi pemilihan parti Disember ini pada 9 Oktober akan datang. Dijangkakan, sekurang-kurangnya 20 bahagian mungkin akan memutuskan calon pilihan mereka dalam masa beberapa hari.
Minggu seterusnya, mungkin 50 bahagian lagi akan bermesyuarat dan pada masa itu arah aliran pencalonan akan semakin jelas.
"Jangkaannya, Perdana Menteri akan mendapat kira-kira 40 pencalonan sahaja," BT memetik seorang pemimpin Umno. "Sebab itulah kami tidak mahu beliau bertanding untuk dipilih semula".
Pada masa yang sama, bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tun Musa Hitam yang sebelum ini dilihat penyokong kuat Abdullah dilaporkan oleh BT sebagai berkempen di belakang tabir untuk memastikan gandingan Najib dan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengambil alih kepimpinan Umno tanpa dicabar.
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Sept (Hrkh) - Pelbagai jangkaan dibuat tentang jumlah pencalonan yang akan diperolehi oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk mempertahankan jawatannya sebagai Presiden Umno.
Ada penyokongnya yang menjangka beliau boleh mendapat antara 70 hingga 80 pencalonan jika mereka berusaha.
Bagaimanapun, seorang pemimpin Umno pula berkata, Abdullah hanya mampu mendapat kira-kira 40 pencalonan sahaja.
Telah muktamad Abdullah akan mempertahankan jawatannya dan beliau telahpun membatalkan keputusannya untuk berundur selepas dibelasah teruk dalam mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi Umno (MT) 18 September lalu.
Laporan-laporan menyatakan anaknya, Datuk Kamaluddin serta menantunya, Khairy Jamaluddin menentang keras keputusan Abdullah untuk berundur.
Begitu juga segerombolan penyokongnya yang bergantung hidup dan harapan kepada jawatan Perdana Menteri yang masih berada dalam cengkaman Abdullah.
"OK, kami memang tidak akan mendapat pencalonan yang banyak," seorang penyokong Abdullah memberitahu Business Times Singapura (BT). "Tetapi saya rasa kami mampu mendapat 70 hingga 80 dengan sedikit usaha".
Menurut Malaysian Insider (MI), sebaik sahaja mendapat lampu hijau dari Abdullah, para penyokongnya akan turun ke bahagian-bahagian dan akan berleluasa dengan kempen tak mengenal batasan dalam masa yang tinggal beberapa minggu sahaja lagi.
Apa sahaja akan dilakukan asalkan Abdullah mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi untuk mempertahankan jawatannya.
Malah, para penyokongnya dilaporkan telah pun menghunus keris (MI menyebut unsheathed their knives) untuk bertindak demi meneruskan kekuasaan Abdullah yang menjadi harapan hidup mereka.
Anak, menantu, para penyokong dan pengampu Abdullah tahu, jika beliau berundur, mereka dan kepentingan mereka pasti terancam dan tenggelam.
Namun, apa pun keputusan Abdullah dan setajam mana pun keris yang dihunus oleh pengampu-pengampunya, tidak semua pemimpin Umno yakin Abdullah akan dapat mempertahankan jawatannya.
Sekurang-kurangnya dua Menteri Besar menyatakan bahawa mereka tidak lagi mampu mengawal Umno bahagian-bahagian dalam negeri mereka - yang dijangka tidak akan mencalonkan Abdullah.
Mereka ialah Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman dan Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob. Johor mempunyai 26 bahagian manakala Pahang mempunyai 14 bahagian.
Malah, dalam mesyuarat MT Khamis lalu yang menyaksikan Abdullah menangis atau hampir menangis, empat pemimpin kanan Umno dilaporkan telah mengingatkan Abdullah dengan keras supaya berundur atau akan dimalukan dengan pencalonan yang tidak mencukupi untuk mempertahankan jawatannya.
Nasib baiklah mesyuarat itu ditamatkan secara tiba-tiba lebih awal apabila Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak meyakinkan mesyuarat bahawa beliau akan menyelesaikan pelan peralihan kuasa yang dibantah itu dalam perbincangan empat mata dengan Abdullah.
Beberapa pemimpin Umno membayangkan, risiko Abdullah akan dihambat dengan penuh kehinaan dari jawatannya bukanlah jangkaan semata-mata.
Umno bahagian-bahagian akan memulakan mesyuarat untuk menghadapi pemilihan parti Disember ini pada 9 Oktober akan datang. Dijangkakan, sekurang-kurangnya 20 bahagian mungkin akan memutuskan calon pilihan mereka dalam masa beberapa hari.
Minggu seterusnya, mungkin 50 bahagian lagi akan bermesyuarat dan pada masa itu arah aliran pencalonan akan semakin jelas.
"Jangkaannya, Perdana Menteri akan mendapat kira-kira 40 pencalonan sahaja," BT memetik seorang pemimpin Umno. "Sebab itulah kami tidak mahu beliau bertanding untuk dipilih semula".
Pada masa yang sama, bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tun Musa Hitam yang sebelum ini dilihat penyokong kuat Abdullah dilaporkan oleh BT sebagai berkempen di belakang tabir untuk memastikan gandingan Najib dan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengambil alih kepimpinan Umno tanpa dicabar.
Musa tells Tan to stay on as deputy CM and minister
Source NST
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah has set a precedent by becoming the first independent to hold the post of deputy chief minister of Sabah.
The former Sabah Progressive Party deputy president, who left his party after it pulled out of the Barisan Nasional, also retains the post of infrastructure development minister.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had told him to stay on.
"The chief minister wants to raise the matter with BN component leaders first before making a decision.
"He (Musa) asked me to continue working until a decision is made," he said referring to an imminent cabinet reshuffle following SAPP's exit from the ruling coalition.
"Once a decision is made I will not question his prerogative. It is entirely up to the chief minister," he said after submitting a letter to Musa at his office in Wisma Innoprise here.
Tan said he preferred not to call it a "resignation" letter as this may appear as if SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee had directed him to vacate his positions in the state cabinet.
"I am in a peculiar position now as I am no longer with SAPP and this brings into question the positions I hold in government," said Tan, who added that there was no need for him to resign from the SAPP.
"I declare that I am no longer with the party just as how SAPP declared it was no longer with the BN.
"I don't think the party sent any letter to the BN when they made the decision to leave, so why should I? I learnt this from them," he said.
Tan confirmed that he was keeping in touch with leaders of BN component parties, a few of whom had invited him to join them.
"I am considering all the invitations that have been extended to me and I have met those leaders during functions and meetings."
He also said that he was keeping open the option of setting up a new party as that was among the suggestions he received from the grassroots.
Earlier, Musa and Tan attended a handing over of Hari Raya cakes to members of the security forces at the Tun Mustapha Tower.
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah has set a precedent by becoming the first independent to hold the post of deputy chief minister of Sabah.
The former Sabah Progressive Party deputy president, who left his party after it pulled out of the Barisan Nasional, also retains the post of infrastructure development minister.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had told him to stay on.
"The chief minister wants to raise the matter with BN component leaders first before making a decision.
"He (Musa) asked me to continue working until a decision is made," he said referring to an imminent cabinet reshuffle following SAPP's exit from the ruling coalition.
"Once a decision is made I will not question his prerogative. It is entirely up to the chief minister," he said after submitting a letter to Musa at his office in Wisma Innoprise here.
Tan said he preferred not to call it a "resignation" letter as this may appear as if SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee had directed him to vacate his positions in the state cabinet.
"I am in a peculiar position now as I am no longer with SAPP and this brings into question the positions I hold in government," said Tan, who added that there was no need for him to resign from the SAPP.
"I declare that I am no longer with the party just as how SAPP declared it was no longer with the BN.
"I don't think the party sent any letter to the BN when they made the decision to leave, so why should I? I learnt this from them," he said.
Tan confirmed that he was keeping in touch with leaders of BN component parties, a few of whom had invited him to join them.
"I am considering all the invitations that have been extended to me and I have met those leaders during functions and meetings."
He also said that he was keeping open the option of setting up a new party as that was among the suggestions he received from the grassroots.
Earlier, Musa and Tan attended a handing over of Hari Raya cakes to members of the security forces at the Tun Mustapha Tower.
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