Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Guessing Game On Tsu Koon's 'Sacrifice' To End Soon?
- Najib: Malaysia does not stifle dissent
- PM warns of recession if belts tightened too soon
- Another three-way fight in Jelapang likely
- Engage people openly, meaningfully and consistently
- Umno missing religious edge in Kelantan, says Mustapa
| Guessing Game On Tsu Koon's 'Sacrifice' To End Soon? Posted: 12 Nov 2011 10:30 PM PST (Bernama) - The guessing game on what sort of sacrifice Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon will make to move his party forward may end later this week. Party insiders say that the leaders are in the final phase of sorting out the details for an announcement. During Gerakan's national delegates conference (NDC) last month, Koh said he was willing to sacrifice himself, a statement that remained ambiguous and required between-the-lines reading. Some took it to mean that he would no longer contest in the next general election, but others read it as the party chief would still contest but in the toughest seat available. Whatever the choice, intense internal lobbying and wrangling may defer Koh's announcement because it hinges on getting some party leaders to make way for others to take charge of Gerakan's onslaught in the next general election, especially in Penang. Those close to Koh said the Minister in the Prime Minister Department had made up his mind as he had already briefed the top Barisan Nasional leadership on his impending decision. "Just wait for few more days. All will be clearer," said a grassroots leader, who did not want to be identified, adding that the announcement would be made before Gerakan's central committee (CC) meeting in Penang on Saturday (Nov 19). Party leaders are also scheduled to attend an event at the Gerakan-backed Wawasan Open University (WOU), where former party president Dr Lim Keng Yaik will be appointed as the chancellor of WOU. On Thursday, Koh dropped another hint about sacrificing, saying that he had always been ready to give up the chairmanship of the BN in Penang to a person acceptable by other BN components. Talk is rife that Koh's acquiescence in giving up the chairman's post is part of Gerakan's transformation efforts that will see him opting out of the election all together with Penang state party chief Dr Teng Hock Nan and Gerakan vice-president Chia Kwang Chye. Koh, together with Hock Nan and Chia, once formed a formidable team in the party to the extent that they were dubbed as the "Iron Triangle", with some party members even likening their strong bonds to the party's emblem, which is triangular in shape. Whether those bonds are still as strong is difficult to answer, especially after Gerakan's thrashing in the 2008 general election. The new game plan calls for a new set of leaders consisting of party secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow and Penang Gerakan vice-president and party CC member Ong Thean Lye leading the party's challenge in the next general election, particularly in Penang. However, difficulties still persist. Party insiders say Chia still wants to take a shot in the next polls but add that Hock Nan does not think that he (Chia) should, and that he (Hock Nan) would only agree to step down if Chia stays out. In a recent interview with Sin Chew Daily, Chia said he did not believe that party leaders would be so "childish" and "blur" to insist on such pre-conditions for the party to move forward. For Penang-based political analyst Cheah See Kian, Koh may able to get Hock Nan to compromise and allow Chang Yeow to take over the state BN's leadership but the problem is that Hock Nan was elected to his post as Penang Gerakan chairman. "Chang Yeow can only be state BN chairman if there is a plan for him to take over Penang Gerakan chairman's position. Unless there is some sort of transition plan being worked out, how can you have Chang Yeow as the state BN chairman when he is not even a state party chairman?" he remarked. Cheah felt that it may not be a problem for Koh to let go of the Penang BN chairman's position as he would still continue as Gerakan president but not for Hock Nan, as he was only a party vice-president. "There must be a special arrangment for these issues to be resolved, this involves a compromise and timetable for transition," he added. The wrangling is taking a toll on Chang Yeow, who openly expressed his unhappiness over the situation in a recent Facebook posting stating that he did wish to be drawn into an unnecessary "battle field" where indecisiveness dominated. His comment come just after he told a news portal that he was ready to take over as Penang BN chairman and that Koh had spoken to him twice on the matter. Deputy President Chang Ko Youn, when asked to comment, said party leaders were still working out the details and an announcement may be made after the party's central working committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. So will Koh make an announcement on Thursday, exactly a month after the party's national delegates conference? Nobody knows for sure. But many do know that indecisiveness cost Gerakan dearly in March 2008, especially when it came to who should take charge in Penang.
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| Najib: Malaysia does not stifle dissent Posted: 12 Nov 2011 09:48 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia is now a fully mature democracy as the ruling government allows dissent, the national news agency reported today. According to Bernama Online, the prime minister said this after his speech on the "Global Movement of the Moderates" in Hawaii where he is attending the Asia Pacific Economic Caucus (Apec) Summit. He dismissed the idea the voices of dissent back home signaled widespread public unhappiness with his government similar to that which caused the "Arab Spring" earlier this year. The Najib administration came under heavy global criticism for clamping down on dissent last July 9 following the Bersih 2.0 street march in its capital city where police shot chemical-laced water and tear gas among thousands of civilians demanding cleaner elections. Despite banning the civil society movement, Najib gave in to public pressure and established a bipartisan parliamentary team to review its electoral system. The inquiry kicked off last Friday and is ongoing.
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| PM warns of recession if belts tightened too soon Posted: 12 Nov 2011 09:42 PM PST By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Najib Razak has pledged to trim Putrajaya's spending next year but said the country could face a recession if the government cuts down on debts too fast. "My Budget also involves some fiscal tightening, using economic growth to lower the overall level of borrowing," the sixth prime minister posted on his official 1 Malaysia blog yesterday. "But I am also certain we must not cut borrowing too far and too fast because if we do we risk plunging our economy into stagnation or recession and that would mean the poor paying the highest cost of all," he added. Najib is currently attending the Asia Pacific Economic Caucus (APEC) Leaders Summit in Hawaii. In his blog post, the trained economist move to calm fears that Malaysia would be dragged down by the ongoing euro zone debt crisis. He assured Malaysians the country's economy was still strong and would remain so through the strengthening of the private sector to draw more foreign investment and by giving entrepreneurs more opportunities to venture into business, especially in the rural areas. "While I cannot promise to solve the crisis the euro zone any more than I can stop flooding in Thailand, I can promise that whatever I do, it will be conscientiously done to avoid risking our economic stability," he vowed. Najib, who will be seeking his first mandate in the polls widely expected to be called in the next six months, has been pushing to carry out administrative and economic reforms. He said liberalising service sectors such as engineering, legal services and telecoms to foreign investment will make Malaysian entrepreneurs more globally competitive. "Foreign investment pays for modernisation and growth and helps integrate Malaysia's economy ever more closely with the developed world. "It increases competition and so helps keep prices low. It drives innovation and so increases skill levels in Malaysia and makes Malaysian jobs in export-facing sectors more secure," he said. Najib also cited a World Bank study on the ease of doing business for 2012, which showed Malaysia strengthening its position and entering the top 20, as "food for thought for those who are constantly knocking our performance". Domestically, the PM said there is a need to develop and implement best practices that will ensure long-term growth, through "innovation, creative thinking and increased productivity". "We must embrace out-of-the-box thinking and explore non-conventional solutions to problems. "We must seek sustainable ways to increase output, maximise resources, and reduce wastage, and we must do so creatively. Innovation and creativity fuel the growth of industry leaders and strong economies; we must follow suit," he said.
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| Another three-way fight in Jelapang likely Posted: 12 Nov 2011 04:07 PM PST (The Star) - The Jelapang state seat may see a three-cornered fight in the coming general election. In the 2008 election, the seat was contested by Barisan Nasional, and Pakatan Rakyat's DAP and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM). The winner was DAP's Datuk Hee Yit Foong, who has since become a Barisan-friendly independent. PSM deputy chairman M. Saraswathy said the party would maintain its quota of one parliamentary and three state seats for the coming general election. "Negotia-tions with Pakatan on seat allocations are going well," she said. On the party's claim on Jelapang, Saraswathy said the party had been servicing the people there tirelessly since the last election. "Even after Hee became an Independent in 2009, I continued with my service to the people," she said. "There was also a short interim period where there was no service centre by DAP as Hee had closed hers," she added. During the 2008 election, last minute negotiations between the DAP and PSM to avoid a three-cornered fight broke down, resulting in a free-for-all.
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| Engage people openly, meaningfully and consistently Posted: 12 Nov 2011 01:22 PM PST (The Star) - OVER the past two days, the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms held public hearings with several public interest groups in the country. It is a welcome move by the Government to engage the people and their representative groups on matters of great public interest. This element of participatory democracy, as set within the context of a parliamentary democracy, would serve the nation well. Both the Government and the governed share the objective of ensuring that all aspects of the coming general election will be above board and beyond reproach. Greater transparency in formulating measures towards this end is therefore only to be encouraged. Nonetheless, some doubts may remain over how exactly these deliberations with the PSC would translate into policy and practice. For the Government to assuage public concern over this matter, which it must surely do, all reasonable proposals that have been put forward should be considered. Whether that will happen can be seen in how the various issues raised are handled from now. For the PSC's engagement with the people to be meaningful, it cannot be mere window dressing. All legitimate reservations and grievances should be addressed competently and satisfactorily. The more diverse the respondents' backgrounds, the more fruitful the discussions ought to be. There can no longer be any hesitation in doing what is right, no equivocation on what must be done, and no partisan second thoughts about the public duties at hand. Another means of ensuring that public interest is served, and is seen to be served, is for public sector agencies in general to be consistent in seriously engaging the people constructively. There is much that Malaysians in their private capacity can contribute by way of suggesting best practices. The ultimate purpose of public service is surely to serve the public conscientiously, regardless of individual likes and dislikes. The public sector should be ready to acknowledge that as a maturing democracy, Malaysia comprises citizens of different preferences and persuasions. The art of public administration therefore lies in managing these differences within the scope of a larger national endeavour for the greater benefit of the nation as a whole. A maturing electorate is also one that would assess an administration on both what it resolves to do, and how it chooses to do it. |
| Umno missing religious edge in Kelantan, says Mustapa Posted: 12 Nov 2011 12:43 PM PST By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed has admitted that Umno's efforts to regain Kelantan are being hampered by the lack of religious scholars in the party's state leadership. The Kelantan Umno chief told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview that while it could channel federal resources to develop the east coast state, the shortage of "ulama (Muslim scholars)" was a "challenge for us" in "deeply religious Kelantan." "For that reason, PAS has a strong foothold in Kelantan," the international trade and industry minister said of the Islamist party that has governed the mostly rural state since 1990. "On our side, we do not have as many religious scholars. That's a challenge for us. We've not been able to attract people with a solid religious grounding to be in the Kelantan Umno leadership," Mustapa said. PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has maintained his popularity as a symbol of PAS's brand of Islam — religiosity and moderation in governance — since becoming mentri besar over two decades ago. "I can bring up many issues on mismanagement by the state government, but at the end of the day, what people will see is me attacking an old man wearing a jubah (robe) in the Dewan Negeri (state assembly)," state opposition leader Datuk Che Alwi Ahmad told The Malaysian Insider recently. Politicians also told The Malaysian Insider that PAS's success or failure in implementing hudud, the Islamic penal law, in Kelantan will serve as an indicator of Malay voter support there ahead of a general election expected to be called soon. But state Umno leaders have also said that economist Mustapa, who is their MB candidate of choice, has a "squeaky-clean" and "scandal-free" image, and have made it a point to burnish the minister's credentials "every chance" they get in forums and even public events. Mustapa, who is Jeli MP, has been working with Umno officials on its "Gelombang Merah" campaign to take back the state. The economist, with a first class honours degree in Economics from University of Melbourne, Australia and a Masters in Economic Development from the Boston University, also said in the interview that PAS is "running out of ideas" to spur the state's economy. "The people who have been driving the economy are civil servants, small traders and people who work outside of Kelantan.
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