Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Dr M: Early polls could break Umno
- Dr Mahathir: Umno members must return to original struggle
- Karpal: DAP never agreed to hudud in T'gganu, Kelantan
- Increase in Kinabatangan voters raising eyebrows
- BN is too big for us but we can cooperate, says Kita chief Zaid Ibrahim
- ADAMANT ON HUDUD
- Soi Lek: Some BN leaders arrogant ‘bullies’
- Opposition’s job is to say bad and unpopular things, says Dr M
- It’s time to lift this veil of beguiling deceitfulness
- All Have Chance To Succeed Under Malaysian Education System
- Pakatan to announce alternative Budget tomorrow
- 889,779 foreigners push Sabah to the top spot
| Dr M: Early polls could break Umno Posted: 02 Oct 2011 01:31 AM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today factionalism and internal sabotage continues to plague the ruling coalition's lynchpin, Umno, and warned that having national polls too soon may cost the party dearly. This is the second time in recent months the former prime minister of 22 years has advised Barisan Nasional (BN) to hold off holding an early general election — previously predicted to take place during the November school holidays — by saying the time was not ripe. The country's fourth PM told reporters in Kota Kinabalu on May 7 the government has plenty of time to carry out its plans and choose suitable candidates to field for the 13th general election, adding it could stretch this until 2012. The current mandate expires only in 2013 but political parties have been in election mode since the Sarawak state poll last April. "If the general election is held now, Umno may lose big because the support and spirit has faded," Dr Mahathir was reported as saying today by Bernama Online. "Umno still has factions and the split is still critical. If there is awareness, a sense of gratitude and unity, BN can win," the state news agency quoted him further. Still-influential at 86, the politician urged his Umno colleagues to return to the party's original fight to protect religion, race and country by casting aside self-interest to win the general election. He advised Umno members to overcome their disappointment at not being picked for the general election, saying they still stood to gain in other ways. BN lost its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority and four states, including wealthy Selangor and Penang, in Election 2008.
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| Dr Mahathir: Umno members must return to original struggle Posted: 01 Oct 2011 07:08 PM PDT
(Bernama) - Umno members must return to the party's original struggle for the sake of religion, race and country by casting aside self-interest, to win the general election. Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this was the only way to cure the "backstabbing" disease within the party. "Previously, Umno members sacrificed anything, including pawning their jewellery, to help the party but now their posts are for landing contracts and to become candidates. "If the general election is held now, Umno may lose big because the support and spirit have faded," Dr Mahathir told reporters after presenting a talk, 'Bicara Negarawan,' at the premier gathering of Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JKKKP) members here Sunday. Some 2,000 JKKKP chairman and secretary from the state attended the one-hour talk. Also present were Kedah Umno liaison chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and his deputy Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. Dr Mahathir, however, said Barisan Nasional could win big at the general election if Umno's disease could be cured. Asked whether the time was right for general election, he said: "It is unsuitable as lot of things need to be done and Umno is not strong enough." "Umno still has factions and the split is still critical. If there is awareness, a sense of gratitude and unity, Barisan can win. On PAS' plan to implement hudud law, Dr Mahathir said they had to resort to this as "they feel that they will lose." "The country consists of a multi-religious population. If 100% are Muslims, there is no problem. "Nik Aziz wants to implement hudud only for Muslims and this is not fair. Islam demands justice in all matters."
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| Karpal: DAP never agreed to hudud in T'gganu, Kelantan Posted: 01 Oct 2011 07:05 PM PDT
(The Star) - DAP chairman Karpal Singh said he is surprised over the statement by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat that the party had agreed in principle to the hudud legislation which was passed in Kelantan and Terengganu in 1999 and 2003 respectively. "We never agreed in principle to the legislation," he said at a press conference at his office here Sunday. "We have nothing against PAS. On larger issues, we are on one mind. "But we find that PAS' stand on hudud is inconsistent with the Federal Constitution," he said. Karpal said DAP leaders had made it clear during a meeting with Pakatan Rakyat leaders on Wednesday that the hudud law was not in line with the Federal Constitution. Asked about his absence at the 60th PAS anniversary celebration in Kepala Batas, Karpal Singh said he did not attend as he was unwell. "I informed DAP headquarters that I could not attend the function. "It is not a deliberate attempt on my part to skip the event," he said.
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| Increase in Kinabatangan voters raising eyebrows Posted: 01 Oct 2011 02:09 PM PDT By Queville To, FMT KOTA KINABALU: The unexpected high voter-to-population ratio in the Kinabatangan region on the east of Sabah has raised concerns that non-citizens have made it into the new electoral rolls. Sabah DAP which sounded the alarm said the ratio had risen to as high as 68% and was abnormal. MP for Kota Kinabalu Hiew King Cheu noted that a check on the electoral roll revealed that registered voters in Kinabatangan is around 22,000 from a total local population of 32,638, which which makes the population-to-voter ratio at 68%. "This is very high when compared with many other areas in Sabah. The normal voters-to-population ratio is between 20% to 35% only. "For example in Beaufort, it is 28,000 voters to 70,000 people (36%), for Penampang, it is 36,000 voters to 130,000 people (28%), and for Beluran it is 20,000 voters to 110,000 people (18%) only. "It is not possible for a constituency to have 68% of the population registered as voters. Normally, many kampung folks and their young ones are not registered as voters and also many of them are working away from the area. This is even more obvious in Kinabatangan area. "We cannot understand the situation in Kinabatangan. Maybe someone can explain the high voters- to-population ratio to us."
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| BN is too big for us but we can cooperate, says Kita chief Zaid Ibrahim Posted: 01 Oct 2011 02:05 PM PDT
(Bernama) - KOTA BARU: Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) can cooperate with Barisan Nasional in certain matters although it will not be joining the coalition, said its president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim. He said although Kita had not been offered to be part of Barisan, it was not impossible to establish such cooperaton with Barisan or any other party, except in the general election and in policy matters. "Whatever it is, Kita will not join BN which is already big, even if offered," he said after delivering a talk at his residence here. Zaid said Kita was prepared to contest in the general election although it had not yet prepared a full list of candidates. He hoped the selected candidates would be accepted by the people, especially in Kelantan, to provide the party an opportunity to correct the mistakes of PAS, which he said had failed to develop the state under its rule since 1990. "Kita wants to boost Kelantan's economy so that it will be strong like previously and where people's problems like lack of water supply and employment were given priority," he said. On the hudud issue which is still being harped by Kelantan Pas, Zaid said PAS should be focusing on more important matters than on something which he felt would not be implemented. Zaid said Pas had raised again the hudud issue to actually win back public support in facing the coming general election and not to implement this Islamic criminal law.
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| Posted: 01 Oct 2011 11:48 AM PDT
By Sharanjit Singh and Audrey Dermawan, NST KEPALA BATAS: Looks like there's no stopping Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat from talking on hudud, gag order or no gag order. In fact, he is pushing the issue further — to make hudud a federal requirement.
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| Soi Lek: Some BN leaders arrogant ‘bullies’ Posted: 01 Oct 2011 11:44 AM PDT
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider Some Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders' actions have affected the coalition's image, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek claimed today. The MCA president said that while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been doing his best to engage with Malaysians, "one or two" BN leaders have tarnished BN's popularity among voters. "Sadly, it has been perceived that one or two BN leaders are aloof, arrogant, and abusive...they project themselves as a big brother but they are bullies. "Some are also known to be loose cannons, they get into the headlines for the wrong reasons," Dr Chua (picture) said today during his presidential address at the MCA annual general assembly. The MCA president did not state explicitly which BN leaders he was referring to. "For the sake of stability in BN, the MCA has not responded in a way it perhaps should," Dr Chua added. MORE TO COME HERE
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| Opposition’s job is to say bad and unpopular things, says Dr M Posted: 01 Oct 2011 10:44 AM PDT By Farik Zolkepli, The Star KUALA TERENGGANU: Politicians should not get upset over Penang Chief Minister Lim Guang Eng's alleged statement that Johor is unsafe because the Opposition must make "bad and unpopular" remarks, saidTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He said he could understand Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar's anger over the matter, but insisted that politicians should not blow their top over the issue. "The Sultan is angry and I understand it as he is the state Ruler. However, politicians should not lose their cool as the Opposition's job is to say bad and unpopular things," he told reporters after attending the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) convocation ceremony yesterday. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in science. The former prime minister was asked to comment on Lim's apology over his alleged statement that Singaporeans were likely to be kidnapped if they went to Johor. Dr Mahathir said he himself was attacked by the Opposition, including being labelled a dictator and his online blog flooded with negative comments. "In my blog, depa maki saya (they curse me). If I were to take action (on every single attack), then I won't have time to do anything else. "Apology or no apology, Lim only did so after being criticised by various parties," he added. On the Kelantan PAS government's insistence on implementing hudud law in the state, Dr Mahathir said the move was just a political ploy to fish for votes. "Hudud is a game for PAS and Islam is a game for them as well, as they know they will not form the federal government," he said. Dr Mahathir said there were many Kelantanese who worked elsewhere. "Thus, if PAS goes ahead with its plans, then I believe there will not be anyone left in Kelantan," he added. On certain PAS leaders' pledge to implement hudud in the country if they win the next general election, Dr Mahathir said it could not be done as Malaysia was not a country where its population is 100% Muslim. "PAS must be realistic as non-Muslims are very important to this country and our economy could collapse if there were no non-Muslims," he said, adding that Islam had never been the focal point of PAS' struggle. |
| It’s time to lift this veil of beguiling deceitfulness Posted: 01 Oct 2011 10:23 AM PDT (The Star) - PAS, hudud law and an Islamic state are the inseparable trio that, of the party's own choosing, would simply refuse to go away. Last year, PAS rejected any compromise on hudud law despite the DAP's objections. So much for consultation within Pakatan Rakyat. The issue raged heatedly, then subsided. Earlier this year, PAS Youth said hudud was no longer a priority, after the party president's keynote speech at the 57th Muktamar downplayed it. Then speculation of an impending general election grew. PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat again said hudud law would be implemented nationwide should Pakatan win the general election. This policy volcano, until then dormant but never extinct, rumbled again. PAS would now make Kelantan an Islamic state through the syariah court system. Conservative Islamism has returned with all its controversies fully intact, and Pakatan's glaring discrepancies flared again. Once more, PAS is insisting on an Islamic state despite all the objections. This is no way to run a party alliance, let alone a multi-ethnic Malaysia with sizeable minorities. Changing the Constitution to allow for what the world today regards as inhumane punishments, along with vastly disparate forms of legal testimony, is also disturbing. To pretend that hudud law will not affect non-Muslims is dangerous and nonsensical fiction. Pakatan has tried to ban entertainment during Ramadan, stop Muslim staff from working in establishments serving alcohol, planned to disrupt music concerts and seen family disputes arise after a family member had undergone religious conversion. If these issues are trivial or merely "ghostly apparitions", more will emerge when hudud law is implemented. All Malaysians and even foreign visitors and businesses will be affected, to varying degrees. Although hudud is contained in the Quran, not all Muslims are clamouring for it. Meanwhile, PAS has demanded silence from doubters while Pakatan has imposed a gag order on the subject. Sadly, issues of major national significance are being swept under the carpet by those demanding free speech for themselves and transparency in others. If hudud law were so much better, it would not be so controversial or should at least be open to free enquiry and debate. This nation's future is too important to be left in the hands of power seekers who are fundamentally incompatible. |
| All Have Chance To Succeed Under Malaysian Education System Posted: 01 Oct 2011 09:43 AM PDT (Bernama) - PEKAN -- The country's education system provides opportunities to all Malaysians to be successful, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. He said the system did not discriminate anyone and was in fact much better compared to even those in developed countries as it gave room and opportunities for everyone to succeed. "What is important is that we expose students to a system which has committed teachers and good parental support so that students will become successful. "Through our education system, we provide the path to each child to become successful. Success in education produces results within a single generation and there has been successful leaders, corporate figures and others," he said when addressing Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seri Pekan's Smart Partnership Gathering and Transformation Programme here yesterday. Najib said there were certain advanced countries where their education systems catered more for the children of the elite with less fortunate groups standing standing no chance of changing their lives of their children for the better. "In Malaysia, a person's socio-economic status is of no consequence. If have the desire, we can succeed," he said. The prime minister also praised SMK Seri Pekan for its fine performance despite not being a fully residential school. He said although SMK Seri Pekan was not a fully residential school, it had succeeded in achieving excellence as a cluster school in the state of Pahang. "I hope SMK Seri Pekan will go on to achieve High Performance School status," he added. At the function, Najib also announced a RM500,000 allocation for the school's marching band. |
| Pakatan to announce alternative Budget tomorrow Posted: 01 Oct 2011 09:41 AM PDT By Syed Mu'az Syed Putra, The Malaysian Insider KEPALA BATAS, Oct 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will unveil its alternative Budget for next year tomorrow, five days before the prime minister tables Budget 2012 in Parliament, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said. He said the move would allow the public to compare the economic policies of the opposition pact and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which is under pressure to tackle rising cost of living. "The committee comprising economic experts from PAS, DAP and PKR has put together our own Budget... in great detail," he said after attending the PAS 60th Anniversary Congress here. PR's Budget 2012 is expected to include income and expenditure projections, allocations for government ministries and will highlight policy differences between PR and BN.
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| 889,779 foreigners push Sabah to the top spot Posted: 01 Oct 2011 08:26 AM PDT
(Daily Express) - Sabah has the most migrant workers in the country, recording a 44.7 per cent increase from 614,824 in 2000 to 889,779 in 2010. Women, Family and Community Ministry Secretary General, Dato Dr Noorul Mohd Nur, said this after launching the Indonesian Workers in Tawau Seminar Findings here, Thursday. The figures were based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census, which shows 27.7 per cent out of the 3.2 million population in Sabah comprised migrant workers with a majority of them being Indonesians. "In 2000, Sandakan recorded the most migrant workers (114,230). However in 2010, Tawau recorded the most (171,409) most of whom are Indonesians," she said. She said that in the context of the nation's development, especially Sabah, the focus was on legal migrant workers and not illegal migrants. "A research conducted in 2010 by the Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) in Tawau, which is an agency under the Ministry disclosed three main reasons for the influx. First was for reasons of employment, second was to garner higher income and third was to follow their spouse or relatives who have entered the State. "Even though the intake of migrant workers has assisted in the economic growth of the nation, the government takes seriously the issues concerning the influx of migrant workers because of the negative implications such as remittances. "Among steps taken is to monitor and control the number of migrant workers entering the country. However, local employers should also offer more jobs opportunities to the local community. "There are many employers who prefer employing migrant workers due to the cheaper labour compared to the locals, which deprives our locals from obtaining employment in various sectors mainly plantation, manufacturing and service sectors," she said. She disclosed that a policy is being formulated by the Economic Planning Unit and the Government on how to ensure local workers are not excluded in these sectors. Commenting on the implementation of high technology in the sectors, she said: "Employers prefer to take in migrant workers even though they are unskilled due to the cheaper labour. "Many of the employers do not use high technology because it would mean they have to employ skilled workers which costs higher than unskilled workers. "If we don't implement technology now, then our country will not achieve our target of being a developed economic nation by 2020," she said. Towards its end, she said it is important for the State Government to review the employment categories and competency level, which is needed in human resources development. "This step is necessary because if many of the jobs offered are for unskilled or semi-skilled workers, despite the fact that many locals have achieved tertiary education, then the work generated would not benefit the community. "In line with the implementation of the Sabah Development Corridor, the State is expected to face a major transformation by 2025," she said. "The State's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can by then expect to increase to RM63.2 billion with per capita increasing to RM14,800. "Based on the analysis by the SDC, the unemployment rate in the State will be decreased to 3.5 per cent and new job opportunities are expected to increase to 900,000 by year 2025," she said, advising locals to grab the job opportunities offered through the SDC.
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