Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Anwar believes Pakatan is ready even without him
- Anwar claims Dr M threatened him before sacking
- SAPP angered by DAP ultimatum
- Umno comes up with module to treat dropped candidates
- Only Malays and Bumis entitled to scholarships, says Umno-linked group
- A Rolls Royce for anyone who finds a man resembling Anwar
- I Didn't Expect Kit Siang To Ridicule SAPP In Public - Yong
- Shine a light on problem procedures
- PKR off the blocks in battle to keep Selangor
- Where voters outnumber local population
| Anwar believes Pakatan is ready even without him Posted: 28 May 2011 11:32 PM PDT
He said Pakatan was already a solid united pact with potential young successors including Azmin who he said may be brash in his "stunts" but more than capable to lead. (free Malaysia Today) - Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is confident in Pakatan Rakyat's second tier of leadership and discounted the notion that the pact will collapse in his absence. Speaking at a closed door dialogue session with young professionals here, the PKR de facto leader said the pact was armed with young and more than capable leaders that can take Pakatan forward should he be convicted and jailed for sodomy. "Once you're prosecuted you're already damned," he said laughingly to some 150 people who attended the forum. Anwar is currently facing trial for allegedly sodomising his former aide, a charge he claimed was engineered by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor. Anwar's persona, attributed to his charisma and moderate liberal politics, is seen as the binding force in the Pakatan coalition rife with infighting. The top leadership appears to be gelling well but much of their ideological differences remain conveniently buried for now and Anwar's possible incarceration would possibly break Pakatan. Whether or not the bloc is ready for future without Anwar remains unknown. While it is likely that Anwar has identified his successor, Azmin Ali who is now PKR deputy president who happens to be his blue-eyed boy, observers say the latter lacks the calibre to lead and hold Pakatan together. But the opposition leader claimed Pakatan was already a solid united pact with potential young successors including Azmin who he said may be brash in his "stunts" but more than capable to lead. "Sometimes when the (current) leadership is too strong, we tend to not see the potential of second tier leaders," he said, referring to rising political starlets like PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli and communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad who is also Seri Setia assemblyman. He said this in reply to a youth during the forum who urged Pakatan to move away from its dependency on political icons and based their struggle more on ideologies. Anwar added that differences and open spat in Pakatan was part and parcel of a democracy which he said the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition was bankrupt of. "Do you see any quality MPs in Umno or BN? Sometimes when I'm in Parliament and I look at them (sighs)," he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
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| Anwar claims Dr M threatened him before sacking Posted: 28 May 2011 11:28 PM PDT
The supposed threat was highlighted in book by writer Ziauddin Sardar. (Free Malaysia Today) - Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed he was threatened by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who told him to voluntarily step down a day before his sacking as the deputy prime minister in 1998. The PKR de facto leader further alleged that Mahathir had offered him financial compensation. Should he reject, he would be charged, the Permatang Pauh MP added. "Mahathir told me… you have wife, a family, its better if you resign voluntarily, if not charges will be brought against you," he told some 150 people who attended a closed-door dialogue with young professionals here. The supposed threat was highlighted in book by writer Ziauddin Sardar. The audience during the question and answer session asked Anwar if this was true to which the opposition leader replied: "It's true because I told him (Ziauddin). I also went against Dr Mahathir, and was wrongfully imprisoned and subsequently beaten half to death." Despite the ordeal, Anwar told the audience that he held no grudges against his former mentor, and forgave him for what happened. "He is old and senile. Leave him alone lah," he said jokingly in reply to a question by an audience who wanted to know what would he do to the former premier if he becomes prime minister. Anwar was sacked in 1998 and charged with sodomy and power abuse, charges he claimed were high level conspiracy to topple him. He was later convicted and jailed for both offences but was eventually freed in September 2004.
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| Posted: 28 May 2011 11:25 PM PDT DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang is accused of being insensitive and arrogant for saying that only Pakatan will be able to bring change to Sabah. (Free Malaysia Today) - A public tiff has broken out between the local opposition in Sabah and the Pakatan Rakyat national coalition ahead of possible snap general election that may be called this year. The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has rapped PR leaders for being arrogant for taking a "you are either with us or against us" approach with the local party ahead of the next general election. SAPP vice president Dullie Marie, said the party was upset with a speech by DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang at a Harvest Festival celebration organized by Sabah DAP on Friday where he called on the local party to join PR. Lim had said that SAPP was being unrealistic in being independent in its bid to topple the BN government at state and national level. His comments angered SAPP president Yong Teck Lee and several senior leaders who were present at the occasion. In an immediate response earlier, Yong expressed surprise and regret over Lim's remarks which he (Yong) described as harsh. In a scathing statement issued here today, Dullie who is also SAPP Putatan chief too was of the opinion that Lim was being insensitive and arrogant for saying that only PR would be able to bring change to Sabah. "He (Lim) completely ignored the existence of local parties. Lim should remember without Sabah and Sarawak there won't be a Malaysia today. "I would like to remind Lim Kit Siang and other leaders from Semenanjung, they should be more sensitive of what they say. We are all Malaysians and we have grown mature with time. We believe change must be made by Sabahans themselves. PR leaders should refrain from imposing colonist mentality on Sabahans," he reminded. While attributing Lim's display of arrogance to DAP's victory in the recent Sarawak state election, Dullie contended that being a veteran politician, Lim should know the rationale behind the voting trend among the Chinese there. He also reminded Lim on the fact that the natives of Sarawak still rallied behind and gave their votes to Barisan Nasional (BN) despite various exposures made by the opposition before and during the election campaign period because the Sarawakians aspired to protect their autonomy.
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| Umno comes up with module to treat dropped candidates Posted: 28 May 2011 05:37 PM PDT (Bernama) -- A module will be formulated to "treat" disappointed Umno members who are not chosen as election candidates, said Umno Vice-President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said if left untackled, the situation could be disadvantageous to the party. Ahmad Zahid, who has been tasked the responsibility to create the module, said in the past they (candidates not selected) spent the initial days of the election campaign period to pacify sulking supporters instead of focusing on meeting voters. The module would be put into practice in an election dry run that Umno would be conducting soon, he said, adding that he had been appointed by Umno's Supreme Council to chair and coordinate dry runs in each of the parliamentary and state constituencies. "I will determine the module to ensure the party machinery is set up early in each constituency and no sulking is involved," he told reporters opening Titiwangsa Umno's annual delegates meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here today. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Defence Minister, said the culture had to stop immediately as it could be regarded as sabotage when it was more important for Umno members to focus on elections.
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| Only Malays and Bumis entitled to scholarships, says Umno-linked group Posted: 28 May 2011 04:46 PM PDT (Malaysiakini) - Only Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive government scholarships, said Umno-linked pressure group Gagasan Anti-Penyelewengan Selangor (Gaps) today. "Is it a fact that all Malaysians have a right to a scholarship? The federal constitution only states that the Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive a scholarship," said Gaps president Hamidzun Khairuddin (left) in a statement. "This constitution is made by the Reid Commission, not by the Malay leaders," he added, shifting the blame from the majority community to the five-member Commonwealth panel that drafted the nation's constitution in 1956. Hamidzun was responding to MCA president Chua Soi Lek's comments on the PSD scholarship fracas carried by a news portal yesterday, where the latter's report said, "MCA told the prime minister today top SPM students should be given scholarships to study abroad despite Putrajaya's claim that it did not make any such promise." Referring to "some members of the ruling party and opposition who are very racist and chauvanistic", Hamidzun lashed out at Chua in particular ,saying the chief of the second largest BN component party should amend the constitution if he disagreed with the issue. "If Soi Lek disagrees, he should amend the constitution drawn up by Lord Reid. Soi Lek should be more objective in his leadership," said the Gaps leader. All races equal but... "Soi Lek also needs to learn to be a leader for all Malaysians, and not just the champion of his race," added Hamidzun. BN parties for going in circles over the issue every May to June, year in, year out, he noted that each party fought only for the rights of their own respective communities. "Gaps believes the issue should be resolved definitively, so that it would not become an annual polemic that does not benefit the rakyat," he said, ticking off BN parties for the widening income gap and the increasingly racial politics in the country. "Enough of Do Xiang Zhong, Perkasa and Hindraf respectively being the spokespersons of their respective races. They excel in the field," said the Gaps leader. Oblivious to the obvious contradictions, Hamidzun concluded that "political leaders should be broad minded... and defend the rights of all races based on the constitution." Yesterday Chua had, according to the news report, announced after meeting with the PM over the prickly JPA scholarship issue that he had told the premier a number of failed scholarship applications by top scoring non-Malays should be reviewed and given overseas scholarships. Najib had promised he would "look into the controversy".
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| A Rolls Royce for anyone who finds a man resembling Anwar Posted: 28 May 2011 04:42 PM PDT (The Star) - Find a man resembling Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and you can drive home a vintage Rolls Royce and with RM10,000 cash in hand. That is the offer made by Kedah Kita chief Zamil Ibrahim to anyone who can find a person who looks like Opposition leader Anwar. "The Rolls Royce (Silver 111, 6700cc) is mine, and the cash offer is made by someone who wants to remain anonymous. "We are doing this to put an end to the prolonged saga following Anwar's claim that even if people say that the man in a sex video may look like him, it is not his tummy,'' he said. Datuk T, comprising businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, and former Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim had, on March 21, revealed the existence of a video showing a man resembling Anwar having sex with a woman. Anwar had lodged a police report claiming that he was not the man in the video and that it was part of a political conspiracy to topple him. Zamil believes his offer can help throw light on the matter. "The public are confused. I believe Anwar can finally clear his good name if we can help him find a man who looks like him, walk like him, and even smile like him,'' Zamil said. Zamil also added that he would invite Eskay, Kita president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and senator Ezam Moh Noor to sit in a panel to identify Anwar look-a-alike. "The three of them were very close to Anwar. They can tell who looks exactly like Anwar,'' he said. Several bloggers had also vouched to run naked around KLCC if a man resembling Anwar could be found.
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| I Didn't Expect Kit Siang To Ridicule SAPP In Public - Yong Posted: 28 May 2011 10:03 AM PDT (Bernama) - KOTA KINABALU -- Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee said he was surprised by the harsh way DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang attacked SAPP. "As a matter of fact, Sabah DAP chief, Jimmy Wong Sze Phin, had called and SMSed to invite me to the DAP Kaamatan (harvest festival) celebration (Friday). In reciprocating, I invited Wong as a guest to my house and we had a nice chat on politics. "We agreed that it was important that we build mutual confidence between SAPP and DAP, to meet Lim Kit Siang at the DAP harvest festival and exhibit goodwill so that the future relationship between SAPP and DAP can be improved," he said in a statement, here yesterday. Yong, a former Sabah chief minister, said as a guest at the DAP function, he did not expect to be issued a public ultimatum by Kit Siang in a harsh manner that put him and his colleagues in an embarrassing situation and their party ridiculed in public. "Lim caught all of us by surprise by his harsh tone, the abrasive way in pinpointing me by name and ridiculing SAPP. Yong said he wondered if it was because Lim now felt that DAP did not neeed anybody else, as Pakatan alone could beat the BN, then why the need to demand SAPP to join Pakatan. The SAPP president recalled that at the DAP rally on September 16, 2008 at Kian Kok School in Kota Kinabalu, Lim had called for a Pakatan-plus coalition with SAPP. "This means that SAPP need not be a member of the fledgling Pakatan," he said. Yong had also spoken at that "916" DAP rally which took place a day before SAPP left the Barisan Nasional. However, Yong said he still remained hopeful that SAPP's relationship with PKR, DAP and PAS could improve further before the general elections. "I only hope that the super confidence of DAP leaders will subside in the coming months and realise that their promise of 416 (April 16) change of Sarawak government failed miserably because the "416 change" turned into a "416" Taib victory," he added.
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| Shine a light on problem procedures Posted: 28 May 2011 10:01 AM PDT (The Star) - THE kerfuffle over irregularities in scholarship awards by the Public Service Department (PSD) continues to wend its way through the public consciousness. There should be no doubt about the very pressing and public interest nature of these irregularities. At stake are not just issues of news interest but also public welfare and the national interest. Before closure can be achieved, there must be transparency about the whole selection process. Vital questions include: How many irregularities have there been, why did they arise, how deep do they go, when did they all begin and who are involved? The misallocation of scholarships has revealed official procedures as haphazard, inconsistent and incongruous or wholly incompatible with stated official policy. The seriousness of the implications cannot be underestimated because of their negative impact on both national human resource capacity and the nation's administrative credibility. As more missteps are revealed, there is more for those responsible to answer for. Consequently, more issues have surfaced. Among these is the requirement for students who have qualified and been selected to undergo an interview. If they have already been deemed suitable and deserving, why extend the bureaucratic process when the PSD's own human resources can be more meaningfully applied elsewhere? Also, at least 66 deserving students did not get the course they had chosen and another 102 who had applied for degree courses were given diploma courses instead. Full and satisfactory explanations are needed for such glaring discrepancies. Surely such procedures should constantly be streamlined and minimised instead of devising additional obstacles to impede and disable our most promising young people? Students who have worked hard and done well should be rewarded accordingly, particularly by investing in the nation's productive capacities. Nobody should work to disappoint or discourage promising young talent. A risky multiplier effect is also at work, with each succeeding generation seeing what the generation before has had to go through, and reacting pre-emptively. Young people can see that the conduct of such bureaucratic procedures so far is typical of a chronic Third World country. A spring-cleaning of sorts is thus in order. But rather than sweep anything under the carpet, it is time to check around the floorboards and hang out any problem rug to dry, then beating it soundly. |
| PKR off the blocks in battle to keep Selangor Posted: 28 May 2011 09:46 AM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 – In the small towns and villages of Malaysia's biggest state, PKR politicians are already on the hustings to defend their tenuous hold on power in Selangor even though elections do not have to be called until early 2013. At a recent rally, about 1,000 locals were gathered in and around a small hall in rural Kampung Bukit Changgang, where just 10km away, huge commercial planes take off and land at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). One of the biggest airports in the world, it spans over 100 square kilometres and has a capacity of 35 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo per year. But in Bukit Changgang near Banting, it is 9pm on a Monday night recently and the only shops open are the stalls around the ceramah, which can only be found after driving through kilometres of roads without streetlights. Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid is talking up Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) promises of subsidies, abolishing tolled roads and increasing allowances for civil servants under its Buku Jingga pledge if it takes over Putrajaya. The PKR leader tells the crowd that Barisan Nasional (BN) was busy talking about "video, video, video, mani, mani, mani (semen, semen, semen)," referring to the sex video and sodomy allegations against Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. "But they don't talk about money," he says before listing alleged abuses of power by BN. The Malaysian Insider asked a stall owner selling drinks earlier that evening what was the main issue for him heading into a general election expected this year. He simply rubbed two fingers against his thumb and said, "We're all looking for rezeki (livelihood)." PKR launched its Jelajah Selangor Tawan Putrajaya (Jelas) series of ceramahs at the beginning of the month and has since blitzed 16 different venues in its first three weeks. But at least three-quarters have been held in what state information chief Shuhaimi Shafiei terms "enemy territory." "We believe that the seats already won by PR in 2008 will see a status quo. So we are going into the five seats that BN won," he told The Malaysian Insider, naming Sabak Bernam, Tanjong Karang, Sungai Besar, Sepang and Pandan as the targeted seats. The plan to sweep all of Selangor's parliamentary seats in a general election expected to take place within the year is ambitious. Among the BN incumbents are a current and two former Cabinet ministers, including former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who is MCA's only MP in the Klang Valley. But Shuhaimi, who is in charge of the Jelas campaign, is confident as BN's majorities in these highly-populated seats range from as low as 989 votes to 5,009. PKR state chief Azmin Ali also told The Malaysian Insider that the state government, which his party leads, will not dissolve the state assembly if elections are called this year. This will relieve PR of having to micro-manage the 56 state seats and concentrate on the main prize — Putrajaya.
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| Where voters outnumber local population Posted: 28 May 2011 04:40 AM PDT (Bernama) - The Election Commission (EC) has been urged to monitor state and parliamentary constituencies where registered voters outnumber the local population, to prevent any irregularity. Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno had detected a questionable pattern of voter registration in certain areas that was likely to favour the opposition. He claimed this was happening in places like Penang where those living on the island were purposely registered as voters on the mainland. Speaking to reporters after opening the Kota Melaka Umno divisional meeting here today, he said: "It appears that the same strategy is being used in Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca." "Only voters from the constituency involved should be allowed to vote there, not those who are turned into phantom voters," he stressed. He said Umno was prepared to present evidence of the opposition's scheme to the EC for further action.
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