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Winds of change blowing towards BN Posted: 25 Dec 2012 03:08 PM PST Associate Professor Dr Rohana Yusof from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) said a recent survey showed that 70 per cent of 10,800 respondents in Kedah had no confidence in Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership. S. Kisho Kumari, Bernama Choosing the tagline of 'Fulfilling Promises' as the foremost important agenda, the Barisan Nasional (BN) has touched the hearts of many Malaysians regardless of age, gender, religion and living standards with continuous efforts for the betterment of all. Placing importance on welfare, none of the people had been left behind including students, women, senior citizens, entrepreneurs, civil servants and youths under the BN government. Looking back in the early part of 2012, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also the BN chairman, had felt the hardship faced by fishermen, and had distributed aid ranging from RM5,000 to RM10,000 to them throughout the country to repair their homes, on Jan 21. The aid was part of the RM300 million Special Fund for Fishermen's Housing, which was announced in the 2012 Budget last year. To further reduce the burden of the people, the government had continuously assisted the rakyat through programmes such as the Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA), Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M), Kedai Kain Rakyat 1Malaysia, Kedai Buku 1Malaysia, Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M), Skim Amanah Rakyat 1Malaysia (SARA 1Malaysia), Transformasi Kedai Runcit (TUKAR) and Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia (MR1M). As a result of the BN's sincere move to improve the well-being of the people, the wind of change began to appear within the BN, including in the states ruled by the opposition pact. A very recent report showed that about 400 hardcore PAS members in the Semerak state constituency in Kelantan had joined Umno, saying they had been duped by the so-called "Amanat Haji Hadi" (Haji Hadi Message), which branded Umno members and supporters as infidels. Even the majority of over 30,000 teachers in the state were now BN supporters, a good sign that BN is capable of wresting Kelantan from the opposition. Kelantan Umno liaison deputy chief, Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said they were also willing to work hard to ensure that BN would be back in power after the general election since the current federal government had taken their (teachers) interest into consideration and fulfilled all promises made. In Penang, hundreds of hardcore supporters of the opposition party showed interest in joining the BN after losing their hope in the DAP leadership. This had become a reality when almost 350 former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members from Bayan Baru, Bukit Gelugor and Jelutong submitted their application letters to rejoin Umno to Najib on Dec 8. Describing Penang as a Gerakan stronghold for 40 years before losing to DAP in the 2008 general election, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the party was determined to do more and better for the people in Penang and asked voters to give the party a chance in the 13th general election to serve them. Close to their hearts and minds, Gerakan members and Malaysians were saddened by the demise of its former president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, 73, one of the political giants and longest serving Chinese minister in Malaysia, last Saturday. Back on track, a positive sign was also seen in Kedah and Selangor through surveys done by several academicians in the middle of the year. Associate Professor Dr Rohana Yusof from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) said a recent survey showed that 70 per cent of 10,800 respondents in Kedah had no confidence in Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership. According to the survey, the respondents felt that it was pointless for the current PAS government in Kedah to continue ruling the state and therefore, the BN government would be the best choice for the development of Kedah and the country in general. In Selangor, a simulation study done based on the previous 11th and 12th general election and with the latest registered voters' profile, showed that BN could win 40 state seats during the coming general election. Taking all these scenarios into consideration, the coming 13th general election could be shaky for the opposition pact of PKR-DAP-PAS to retain the states currently under their rule especially in Selangor where the outcome is said to be a 50-50 chance. Evaluating support given by all the ethnic groups, the Indians were the biggest swingers in the last general election but they appeared to be withdrawing their support for the Pakatan due to the frustration of being cheated with empty promises. A noticeable trend swept through the 2008 polls when almost 85 per cent of the Indian votes went to the opposition pact, as a result of issues played up by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf). Thereafter, the Indian community's support for the BN had risen to over 70 per cent following government aid amounting to RM415 million being given to improve their living standard. The aid was distributed via Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia or AIM (RM100 million), Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan Malaysia or Tekun (RM65 million) and a RM250 million allocation to entrepreneurs. During the 66th MIC Annual General Assembly held on Dec 9, party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said the support was stronger for the ruling coalition after receiving considerable benefits, particularly in education, public service development programme, economy and social programmes initiated by Najib. Meanwhile, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai also expressed his confidence that MCA, which took a severe beating in 2008, would rise again in the next general election. With plenty of aid given through 1MCA Medical Foundation, allocations for education and entrepreneurs, the Chinese community saw the winds of change blowing in the level of support towards the government compared to 2008. In Sabah, its chief minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman believed that the state had grown as a progressive, prosperous, peaceful and stable state under the initiatives taken by BN. The establishment of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the issuance of citizenship to illegal immigrants, appointing locals to helm Federal departments in the state and the recognition of Sept 16 as Malaysia Day proved that BN always listened, cared and worked to fulfil every request made by the people.

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• DAP, PAS send mixed messages on ‘Allah’ issue
• Nallakaruppan and Utusan retain most of their defence in Anwar’s defamation suit
• Reveal the figures, MIC told
• PKR cries foul over mock voting for BN
• Stop PR stunts, get real with Christians
• Church leaders happy with Najib’s pledge, but wary it won’t trickle down
• ‘Can we trust Sabah BN leaders, anymore?’
• Sarawak Rela ordered to give ‘undivided support’ to BN

DAP, PAS send mixed messages on ‘Allah’ issue Posted: 26 Dec 2012 12:57 AM PST Ida Lim, The Malaysian Insider In a fresh debate over the word "Allah", PAS says that Christians should not use it to describe their god in the Bible, while its political ally DAP insists that Christians in East Malaysia should be allowed to use the Arabic word. PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said today the use of the word "Allah" in the Alkitab, the Malay-language translation of the Bible, would not reflect the original text's meaning. "PAS' stand is that the Bahasa Melayu Bible should replace the 'God' term with 'Tuhan' and not 'Allah' to mirror the actual meaning of the original text," he said in a press statement. Tuan Ibrahim said both Christians and Muslims could be confused when the word "Allah" is used in the Alkitab. "Since the Bahasa Melayu Bible is a translation from the original English text, the term 'God' does not mean 'Allah', because the accurate translation is 'Tuhan'. It should be translated according to original meaning. Translating 'God' to 'Allah' will confuse Christians and create unease among the Muslims and can confuse Muslims," he said. He said "Allah" was a sacred name for the Muslims and should be used appropriately. "In relation to that, (the) request to use Allah's name in the Bahasa Melayu translation of the Bible is not wajar (suitable), even the society in the West, they don't use Allah's name to refer to God whether in speech, writing of films. The word that is often used is 'Lord'," said Tuan Ibrahim, who is also Pahang PAS commissioner. On Monday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had raised the controversial "Allah" issue in his Christmas message. "For this reason, DAP urges the BN Federal government to allow the use of the word 'Allah' on the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible as has been allowed in Sabah and Sarawak for the last 50 years and practised in the Middle East for more than a thousand years," Lim wrote in a statement on December 24 in English and Mandarin. Zairil Khir Johari, DAP's assistant publicity secretary, said today that Lim's words have been "twisted", saying that the Penang chief minister had only asked Putrajaya not to deny the rights of Christians in East Malaysia to use the word "Allah". According to Zairil, several news reports had falsely accused Lim of urging the federal government to allow Christians in Peninsula Malaysia to use the word "Allah" in the Alkitab. "He (Lim) only asked that it be allowed in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible that is used by Christians in Sabah and Sarawak." "Furthermore, the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible can only be found in Sabah and Sarawak and not in Peninsula Malaysia. "Therefore, the issue of usage of the word "Allah" in Peninsula Malaysia does not arise at all," Zairil said. Zairil pointed out that the word "Allah" was commonly used by Christians in neighbouring Indonesia and has been used for decades by the Bumiputera Christians in East Malaysia that converse in the Malay language. Christians form 9.2 per cent of Malaysia's 28.3 million-strong population, with many of them in east Malaysia using the Malay language and the word "Allah" to refer to their God. In recent years, the Christian and Muslim religious communities have been engaged in a tug-of-war over the word "Allah", with the latter group arguing that its use should be exclusive to them on the grounds that Islam is monotheistic and the word "Allah" denotes the Muslim god. A legal tussle over the use of the word "Allah" remains unresolved, with the Catholic Church still barred from publishing the word in its weekly newspaper, despite winning a High Court decision on December 31, 2009. This is due to the Home Ministry filing an appeal in 2010 against the High Court's decision, which have since stagnated in the courts as no date has been set for its hearing. Last year, shipments of the Alkitab, the Malay-language Bible catering to the Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Bumiputera Christians, were blocked or confiscated at ports, before the government finally bowed to pressure and released them.

Nallakaruppan and Utusan retain most of their defence in Anwar’s defamation suit Posted: 26 Dec 2012 12:53 AM PST (The Star) - Malaysian United Indian Party president Senator Datuk S. Nallakaruppan and two others were allowed to retain most of their statements of defence in a RM100mil suit filed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim against them. Nallakaruppan, Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd and its Editor-in-Chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak had pleaded the defence of justification, qualified privilege and fair comment which were part of the opinion in the majority judgment of Anwar's 1998 sodomy case in the Federal Court. High Court Judicial Commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera Wednesday granted only a part of Anwar's application to strike out a portion of the defence statements by Nallakarupan, Utusan Melayu and Abdul Aziz. The only part, which was allowed to be struck out by the Judicial Commissioner, was the plea of justification. However, Vazeer allowed the defences of qualified privilege, fair comment and mitigation of damages to be retained. On March 26, the Opposition leader had filed the suit alleging Nallakaruppan had uttered defamatory words against him which were then published on the front page of the Utusan Malaysia daily on March 20. In his statement of claim, Anwar said the defamatory words included in the article were false, baseless, was published with ill intention and had tarnished his good name. Anwar is seeking RM100mil in general, aggravated and exemplary damages, cost and other relief deemed fit by the court. The High Court has set January 18, 2013 for case management.

Reveal the figures, MIC told Posted: 26 Dec 2012 12:44 AM PST Miba wants MIC to disclose the figures and documents pertaining to the funds allocated for Indian entrepreneurs.  G Lavendran, FMT An Indian business group leader has urged MIC to reveal the proper figures with regard to the funds allocated by the government for Indian entrepreneurs. Speaking to FMT, Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar said this was the only way for confidence in MIC to grow. "Out of the RM180 million that was allocated, only RM30 million is justifiable through Tekun. Perhaps another RM20 million can be justified through the Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation Malaysia (SME). But what about the other RM130 million?" he asked. Furthermore, he said the RM130 million was dispersed to financial institutions to be given out as business related loans via the Islamic concept. "It is not easy for Indians to apply for loans via this concept, the document requirements are not flexible. So how is the Indian community going to benefit from this? "This shows how little the system has opened up for equality and fairplay," he added. Sivakumar commended the MIC secretary-general S Murugesan on his comments pertaining to the same issue but stressed that it should be supported with proper documentation. "Every Malaysian deserves to know the truth. We need more people from MIC to clear the haze by giving statements, this time around with figures and proper supporting documents to get the message across clearly to the people," he said. Sivakumar said he welcomed the idea of new policies and programmes being implemented by MIC but felt that the government must participate in this together. "Stand up and be accounted for, MIC," he said. READ MORE HERE

PKR cries foul over mock voting for BN Posted: 26 Dec 2012 12:41 AM PST But EC says the exercise among Orang Asli in Tapah, even if true, would be legitimate. Anisah Shukry, FMT Barisan Nasional rewarded indigenous people in Tapah with 5kg of rice each in return for casting mock ballots in favour of its candidates, PKR claimed today. "Several weeks ago, the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) and Chenderiang assemblyman Mah Hang Soon ran a series of programmes in Orang Asli villages in Tapah," Perak PKR treasurer Yap Yit Thong told FMT today. "In the programme, the Orang Asli were given two homemade ballot papers similar to the ballot paper used in elections, and were forced to tick Barisan Nasional in full view of the Jakoa officers and Dr Mah. "Those who ticked BN in both ballot papers were then given 5kg of rice as a reward." Yap said the Orang Asli had to return the marked ballot papers immediately to the officials, apparently so that no evidence of the exercise remained. But some of the marked ballot papers wound up in Yap's hands when several Orang Asli approached him to complain about the issue. "We don't know what BN's purpose is," Yap told FMT. "Maybe when it's time for general election, BN will tell the Orang Asli, 'You already voted for us' or 'We gave you the rice and you promised you would vote for us; so you must do so.'" Yap said the mock election, if it did take place, was in violation of the Election Offenses Act and could be investigated as a crime. The act states that any person who "without due authority prints any ballot paper or what purports to be or is capable of being used as a ballot paper at an election" could be imprisoned for up to two years or fined up to RM5,000 or suffer both penalties. A person who "prints any advertisement, handbill, placard or poster which refers to an election and contains a reproduction of a ballot paper, or of what purports to be a ballot paper, to be used or likely to be used at such election" may face similar punishment. Yap said he had yet to approach Jakoa or Mah over the issue, but was demanding that they give an explanation. He also called on the Election Commission to question Jakoa and Mah. "Dr Mah must resign as Chenderiang state assemblyman and executive council member of Perak for abusing his power," he said. 'Completely fine' However, EC deputy director Wan Ahmad Wan Omar told FMT the alleged incident appeared to be a voter education programme rather than an attempt at vote buying or blackmail. "This is the first time this issue has been raised with me, but from what you explained, it sounds perfectly acceptable and normal," he said. "A lot of political parties are doing mock elections. This is a form of voter education, by which they are educating people on how to vote. "That is completely fine. The EC is in fact encouraging political parties, NGOs and concerned citizens to educate one another on how to vote." He said that the EC had been promoting voter education programmes for a while now, especially in light of the high percentage of spoilt votes in the 2008 general election. As for allegations that the Orang Asli participants had to vote for BN's candidates in the mock ballot, Wan Ahmad said that that was perfectly natural and to be expected. "That is campaigning," he said. "Any political party, whether from the government or the opposition, would do the same if they were teaching the public to vote. It doesn't matter at all. "To me, it just sounds like BN is conducting a voter education programme while campaigning at the same time." READ MORE HERE

Stop PR stunts, get real with Christians Posted: 25 Dec 2012 02:58 PM PST An NGO says this Christmas is the time for Najib to ponder and really hear the Christians on the issue of fairness and justice.  Luke Rintod, FMT Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been asked to stop his "public relations stunts" and instead deal with the biased treatment his federal administration has meted out to Christians in Sabah and Sarawak. Demanding that Najib "walk his talk", a local NGO, Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo), said the PM's "nice words" in his Christmas message yesterday, rang "hollow as far as sincerity and truth is concerned" when compared to the "real situation" in Malaysia affecting Christians. The foundation's president Daniel John Jambun said that in Sabah especially, the "Christian community continued to be increasingly marginalised and victimised by loads of actions from Najib's ruling party Umno." "This Christmas time is for Najib to ponder and really hear the Christians on the issue of fairness and justice. "In Sabah especially, we are constantly being marginalised. Christians face difficulty in building their own churches, mission schools are in a sorry state, there's marginalisation in scholarships and government jobs and promotions. "What justice does he speak of if mosques, suraus and even madrasahs and all their officials like imam, bilal, missionaries are being salaried from taxes the government collected from us the rakyat while our churches and officials are being left out only for the faithfuls to support? "And on top of that, there seem to be various open concerted efforts from the government agencies to frustrate the development of Christianity in worship, education, literature, arts, even cultures. We cannot even put up crosses," said Jambun. Christians marginalised Jambun, who is also a deputy chairman of the Sabah chapter of opposition State Reform Party (STAR), also raised the issue of the Alkitab and Bibles which are subjected to unnecessary scrutiny. READ MORE HERE

Church leaders happy with Najib’s pledge, but wary it won’t trickle down Posted: 25 Dec 2012 02:55 PM PST Najib had reassured the Christian community in Malaysia on Christmas Day yesterday that the government recognised them the as an essential part of the nation. – Picture by Saw Siow Feng Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider Church leaders are happy with Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pledge to the Christian community, but expressed concern that the prime minister's message will not filter down to conservatives and extremist elements in his party and government. Najib had reassured the Christian community in Malaysia on Christmas Day yesterday that the government recognised them the as an essential part of the nation. Christians form about nine per cent of the country's 28 million population. "I hope that was not only from him alone, but it (also) has to be from the other part of the government," Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) chairman Datuk Ng Moon Hing told The Malaysian Insider yesterday. CFM, the umbrella body of all Christian denominations in the country, organised its annual Christmas Day party attended by all political leaders. Ng's view was mirrored by the Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, who said the prime minister needs courage, determination and consistent effort to accomplish his promises. "Hopefully he can get his whole team to (work at it)," Pakiam said. The church leaders agreed that Najib's attendance in the Christmas event was a nice gesture towards the Christian community, but would be for naught if he failed to confront extremists elements in his party and the government. "What's troubling to Christians is that the government has not spoken up to the extremists what its views are," said Hermen Shastri, the general secretary from the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM). The CCM is an ecumenical fellowship of churches and Christian organisations that are part of the larger Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) representing 90 per cent of the country's 2.8 million Christians. Last year, Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia published a report entitled Kristian Agama Rasmi? ("Christianity the official religion?"), where it was alleged that DAP leaders and Christian clergymen were conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister. In the aftermath of the report, Malay supremacist group Perkasa and its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali threatened Christians nationwide with a holy war against any move to usurp Islam with a Christian state. Najib then meet church leaders to clear the air but the Home Ministry had only slapped the daily with a warning letter for publishing the unsubstantiated report. Shastri warned that by not taking any action on extremists, it will undo and make difficult the plans that the PM wants to accomplish. "(This will happen) as long as some groups keep on saying that Christians are a threat," Shastri said. The church leaders have listed several issues affecting the Christian community that has yet to be addressed by the government, with the issue of insufficient land for religious sites chief among them. "What we felt previously is that there are certain issues that the government could be more upfront (with) when dealing with them," confessed Philip Kok, a bishop with the Lutheran Church of Malaysia. "I think a lot of time, (we are facing) a struggle against bureaucracy. Some difficulties looked like it was (a problem with policy), but then the policy is interpreted in a different light," Ng explained. READ MORE HERE

‘Can we trust Sabah BN leaders, anymore?’ Posted: 25 Dec 2012 02:30 PM PST The only reason Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is desperately wooing Sabah is because Umno can no longer rule Peninsular Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak.  Luke Rintod, FMT PENAMPANG: A veteran political activist who was once with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) said many among the Barisan Nasional leaders in Sabah had at many times told crowds that BN stands for "Barisan Nah Sial". Fredoline Edwin Lojingki, 71, who is now with opposition State Reform Party (STAR) said he could name these hypocrite leaders who are now heaping praises after praises on BN and its corrupt leaders. "These leaders once referred to BN as Barisan Nah Sial but they are singing a different tune now because they are now ministers, they got projects and all the trappings of power," he said in a statement here today in response to PBS Johnny Mositun's statement yesterday. Lojingki said the PBS information chief has forgotten what had Umno done with its two-thirds majority. "He forgot that it is because of BN losing its two thirds majority in parliament that it is now wooing Sabah and Sarawak votes," he opined. "Has Mositun forgotten that at one time Dr Mahathir Mohamad proudly announced on television that without Sabah and Sarawak, Umno could still rule the federal government? "Is Mositun aware of the importance of a check and balance in parliament?" he asked. Lojinki further reminded Sabahans and leaders to think before they speak. He said the questions they must first ask of themselves is: "Is a two-third majority, or worse, a complete control of parliament by BN good or bad for Sabah." "We leaders have a duty to explain what we believe is good for the country. Let us not mislead the people just because we curry powder with the power that be. "Lets not forget how difficult it is for lagging Sabah and Sarawak to be heard by a powerful central power," he said, adding that it is only the people who could decide if they want BN, or any other party, to have a two-thirds majority in the 222-seat parliament. READ MORE HERE

Sarawak Rela ordered to give ‘undivided support’ to BN Posted: 25 Dec 2012 01:41 PM PST   (Free Malaysia Today) - Sarawak PKR has described calls to Rela members to help Barisan Nasional win in the state as 'immoral'. The neutrality of paramilitary volunteer corp, Rela, in Sarawak has come under question following a recent "immoral" order by a top ranking officer urging its members to support Barisan Nasional. Sarawak has 300,000 Rela members stationed in 32 districts.Nationwide, there are 3.2 million members. At a function in Julau district, Rela officer Lieutenant Colonel (Rela) Moses Sipan reportedly told Rela members that the government had allocated some RM400 million in the 2013 budget for the corp. "This huge sum shows the government's confidence in Rela. "Therefore as a show of our appreciation we must give our undivided support to BN in the coming general election," he said. Julau has about 8,000 Rela members. The constituency is currently held by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president Joseph Salang, who is also a deputy minister in the federal cabinet. Sipan's call to Rela members in Julau is also seen as an 'order' to all Rela members in Sarawak. The directive has irked the opposition in Julau constituency and the state. Slamming Sipan, state PKR chief Baru Bian said: "This is wrong. It is immoral and politically wrong for them to do that. "Rela is not a political party. It is a voluntary organisation and funded by the rakyat's money. "You don't use this kind of voluntary organisation to strengthen your political influence." Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/12/26/sarawak-rela-ordered-to-give-undivided-support-to-bn/

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• The problem with Opposition supporters – Ooi Kok Hin
• Stay the course or abandon ship?
• Sabah’s economy on ‘Death Row’
• DAP leadership must share power

The problem with Opposition supporters – Ooi Kok Hin Posted: 25 Dec 2012 01:49 PM PST   Look at the "Comments" section in Malaysiakini, Malaysia Today and Malaysian Insider. They have total disdain for the establishment and everything associated with the establishment is wrong. They have this utopian idea that by changing the government and leave it to the politicians, things will be better.  The highest form of patriotism is dissent. This quote is often used to describe the situation in which we protest against something we love, even at the risks of harming ourselves, when it goes in the wrong direction. Opposition supporters attribute their dissent to their love for the country, which is a good thing. However, many of them see things differently when this quote is applied to them. Opposition enthusiasts don't appreciate it when you protest their wrongdoings. They'd call you "pengkhianat, katak, turncoat, UMNO dogs etc." They see their leaders as saints and the other side as devils. For them, political contest is as simplistic as the choice between good and evil. Like it or not, your favorite politicians are not saints. They make mistakes and take risks; most evidently give their words on too many populist promises. Two Wrongs Don't Make One Right Take the Malay members' defeat during DAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) election. When criticism poured in, DAP's hardcore supporters brushed aside those criticism and pointed at UMNO's mono-ethnic composition. They merely attack their critic's characters and not the argument; this is known as ad hominem. That is not a justification for DAP delegates' racial preferences. We already know that none of UMNO, MCA and MIC is an inclusive Malaysian party. Their racial foundation is a contradiction to their mission; this is an omen to their failures to unite Malaysians. Perhaps, race-based parties were needed in the early 20th century, but for far too long since then, they are impediments to unity. DAP's membership is open to all but its delegates are still more comfortable in trusting people of their own race. Unless DAP wants to continue that pathway, DAP leaders and members need to look at themselves in the mirror instead of keeping a blind eye to their own racial preferences. I am not saying that the Malay candidates should win due to their race, but as a nationwide party, the DAP should have enough Malays who are as capable as the others. If this is not true, then the DAP's goal of an inclusive Malaysian society is far-fetch, since the party itself is unable to be multiracial 47 years after its formation. And if this goes on, Pakatan Rakyat's politics is just like Barisan Nasional; DAP will take care of non-Malays and PAS will go to the Malay areas. Take politicians who jump ships. Opposition supporters welcome those who jump to their side. They are treated like heroes. "He realizes the truth at last! He's enlightened and joined our struggle!" Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his men are trying hard to recruit more of such heroes in Sabah and Sarawak. But when their own men jumped to the other side, all hell breaks loose. "She's a piece of crap! He betrayed the people's trust! He has been bought!" It's amusing to see people's hypocrisy in action. As I see it, people elect their YB to represent their interests which are in line with the YB's party. If the YB decides to jump ship, (it's your freedom to associate), he or she can do but must resign and stand as a new candidate. It doesn't matter which direction he or she jumps to. I recall that Karpal Singh was the only one who spoke out when the infamous Trojan horse jumped to Pakatan. It took the fall of a state government to make the others pick up the principles they abandoned when the tide favors them. Check your facts before you shoot A recent video and an article caught my attention. Both have been widely misinterpreted by opposition supporters who trumpeted that Malaysia is the worst-ranked country in corruption. Read more and watch the video at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/the-problem-with-opposition-supporters-ooi-kok-hin/

Stay the course or abandon ship? Posted: 25 Dec 2012 01:44 PM PST   To Hu, PAS' struggle is based "on true Islamic principle" and the party is fair to all – Muslims and non-Muslims which is "guaranteed" by the party constitution. Hence his support as long as the constitution remains as it is. Mohsin Abdullah, fz.com  Following the recent public "spat" between Hu Pang Chau, the National PAS Supporters Congress chairman, and Kelantan state exco member Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan over "actions" against non-Muslims, a logical question to ask now is: Should the supporters (who are all non-Muslims) continue supporting PAS? After all Takiyuddin has accused Hu of having "bad intentions" for bringing to the media cases of  non-Muslims being "penalised" by the Kota Baru Municipal Council for alleged indecent behaviour. Then there was the unisex salon issue, also in Kota Baru, involving the enforcement of  gender segregation rules.   Hu's response then was he acted "in the interest of non-Muslims" and was "defending" their rights. So back to the earlier question: should the congress and Hu in particular stay the course?   "My relationship with Takiyuddin is not affected by the issues. We are like crew members of a same ship, holding on to the belief of the PAS constitution and the same struggle. The only difference perhaps is on the approach taken," said Hu in an email response to fz.com.   Meaning he and the congress will continue to stick with PAS. To his critics that is expected. Hu has always been accused of being a "PAS apologist".   Hu nevertheless is unfazed by such accusation. "As long as the PAS constitution remains unchanged, I will continue to support the party," said Hu, adding: "I dare say I understand the objective and PAS struggle better than many party members or leaders".   To Hu, PAS' struggle is based "on true Islamic principle" and the party is fair to all – Muslims and non-Muslims which is "guaranteed" by the party constitution. Hence his support as long as the constitution remains as it is.   And he is confident the congress is playing the role of taking care of non-Muslims interests. "We have representatives in the elections and political bureaus or lajnah. Two most important lajnahin PAS," he said.   Still, are the representatives truly "functional"?  "If our views and proposals are not accepted why should PAS include us in the bureaus?" was Hu's reply.   PAS has always worked towards reaching out to non-Muslims, especially the Chinese community. In the 1980s, the party established what was known as the Chinese Consultative Council. In 2004, the PAS Supporters Club was set up. And in 2010, the club was upgraded to become the current congress as PAS sought to get more non-Muslims to play a bigger role in the party.   The congress is placed on par with the other wings in PAS, namely Dewan Ulama, Dewan Pemuda, Dewan Muslimah – hence its official name Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS. And it boasts some 30,000 members nationwide, comprising Indians, Chinese, Iban and Malaysians of Thai descent.   But is the congress effective in "helping"  PAS?   "Years ago even the sight of a PAS member wearing the kopiah will frighten away non-Muslims, especially the Chinese. Now we have non-Muslims campaigning for PAS carrying the party flags, wearing PAS T-shirts. It's like a miracle. Yes, the congress has been effective. But to what extent I can't say as I do not have a barometer," said a PAS activist.   Hu, understandably, has good words for his outfit. "In the early days, when I went to Chinese areas not even a single Chinese turned up for PAS ceramah. Not even for tea party. Now we get big crowds of non-Muslims at PAS ceramah, not only in the peninsula but also Sabah and Sarawak," he said.   That PAS sees the congress as priceless is given. Said PAS director of election Dr Hatta Ramli:  "The formation and inception of the congress is a significant milestone for PAS. For non-Muslims to support PAS so dearly is something unthinkable just a decade ago.   "The congress is an asset for our struggle. It can further soften our image, increase our tolerance and implement a diversity of approaches."   For the 13th GE, PAS will field members of the Supporters Congress. "The congress will likely be entrusted to attract support of non-Muslims not just as election strategists and workers but also as candidates both for the DUN (state legislative assembly) and parliament levels.   "It will take PAS a long way into a new era of inclusive politics. I foresee this as a breakthrough for PAS in national and mainstream politics," said Hatta.   Hu confirmed that PAS will field the congress members in Sarawak and Johor with "Kedah, Perak, Melaka as possibility".   Read more at: http://fz.com/content/stay-course-or-abandon-ship

Sabah’s economy on ‘Death Row’ Posted: 25 Dec 2012 08:00 AM PST Sabah is slipping down on living standards as families continue to feel the pinch of high inflation and low economic revival. Vidal Yudin Well, FMT By the time this article is published, the Mayan calendar phenomenon is probably way behind us and like any other hoaxes of the last century, there was no apocalypse or Armageddon. Let us go for something more real and imminent: Upon this coming Chinese Lunar New Year in 2013, the zodiac snake will once again dawn the world. With so many political and fiscal uncertainties staring Sabah in the face, will she ever survive the python squeeze or will asphyxia be her final fate? Or will the worst be reserved instead for the ruling coalition which has hogged the nation's seat of power for more than half a century of dividing the people and rule, when the celestial serpent finally devour the entire Barisan Nasional in an election tipped to be held in or around February? Will Malaysians in the country and the diaspora around the world watch and scream their lungs out with roaring ecstasy of colossal joy when past corrupt and vicious leaders and all their greedy cohorts are hunted down like fallen tyrants in the likes of Saddam Hussein, Muammar Gaddafi, Chen Shui Bian, Joseph Estrada, or Gloria Arroyo and put behind bars for crimes committed against citizens and looting the nation when Anwar Ibrahim does become the new Prime Minister of Malaysia? The Jewish people believe that the world will end when every Jew scattered around the globe return to their homeland in Israel. I personally believe that our motherland will eventually become a paradise when all her people can finally live together without hate, segregation, and persecution. Many people in Sabah including Malaysians from Peninsular and Sarawak who have settled down here know very well why the BN federal government is issuing MyKads to immigrants and allowing them to flood Sabah. These newly baked Malaysians are not only competing with genuine citizens in every aspect of life but also jeopardising the security and fabric of society with their thieving and violent cultures thereby destroying the sub-stratum of our formation of this country. It was an open secret that in the 1994 Sabah elections, in an assault led by former DPM Anwar Ibrahim on Parti Bersatu Sabah, huge numbers of alleged immigrants were supposedly given citizenships and voting rights. Yet, the Barisan Nasional still lost by a simple majority of seats. Will the Royal Commission of Inquiry set up to look into this long standing conundrum eventually pinpoint the architects and engineers of this fraud? But what will be fait accompli this election is that Sabah must be won at all costs. But a united Sabah population, particularly the lower and middle grounds, has now swung over to the local opposition parties, a repeat of 1994. This explains the high frequency of Najib Tun Razak's visits to Sabah. Can the state BN government be more foolish? Rhetoric and slogans alone can no longer win elections because the present generation of voters is well-informed. While the people in Sabah are tightening their waist-belts during every meal at home, they often wonder why are their state ministers clueless as to what is actually happening or what should be done to arrest the decline and spur a rebound? Are 99% of the misfortunes suffered by the people in Sabah these days directly inflicted by an experienced but incompetent state government? This sounded very oxymoronic, indeed. If a government is competent, even with no experience, it can still produce the desired result albeit at a lower level of satisfaction, which is nevertheless better than nothing. How is the state government to explain the dwindling quality of life and spiraling costs of essentials that is burdening the people? How can there be growth when every successive administrations of the Barisan Nasional are incapable of coming up with prudent and wise policies that can work in tandem with and for the people to sustain themselves? It is absolutely preposterous to be the other way around! Sabah's economy is purportedly supported, among others, by three main sectors: (a) oil and gas, (b) palm oil, and (c) tourism. To be frank, (save for a handful of local Sabah lads who worked at the rigs, Petronas, oil exploration companies, and federal and state governments) how much of Sabah's oil and gas wealth actually benefitted the people? Just check out the price citizens are paying for fuel and cooking gas now compared to 10 or 15 years ago and the answers are all out there. And the worst thing is this: we are still producing and exporting petroleum products today! To give a closest analogy of the kind of sick joke we are living in: if you are a poultry farmer, do you sell your 1st class fowls, buy back 4th class birds, and sell it to your employees at 2nd class prices? If I were to own the farm, I will sell my 1st class produce to my employees at 3rd class prices for their own consumption. Sabah's worrying decline in the economy came under more pressure a week ago after a tumble of crude palm oil prices put it on serious negative watch. It will prove very embarrassing for the state government if the condition worsens in the next couple of weeks. As for the decomposing tourism sector, our hotspots are stale and expensive; a 4 Days 3 Nights package (which include airfare, resort hotel accommodation with food and beverages, transfers, and day trip tours) to Phuket Island in Thailand from Hong Kong costs an average of RM400 per person; a one night stay at a 5-star hotel in Kota Kinabalu alone will cost more than RM400! Quality tourists are flocking to our neighbours in the region instead of us. Many tour operators including the established players have already closed down with many more on the way. Non-existent reforms Sabah is slipping down on living standards as families continue to feel the pinch of high inflation and low economic revival. With rising food bills eating into spending power, every citizen is as shock as they are furious to know that everyone of their elected representatives in government is living a luxurious lifestyle funded by hard pressed taxes. Many of these state ministers even find it fit to travel overseas together with their families purportedly for government business where no bilateral reimbursements beneficial to the people were ever brought back. Not only is their performance appallingly bad, none of them lives by the sacred mantra that "we are all in this hardship together". READ MORE HERE

DAP leadership must share power Posted: 25 Dec 2012 07:57 AM PST What the DAP leadership should do is to set up a Malay Matters Bureau and an Indian Issues Bureau Selena Tay, FMT The results at the recent DAP party polls held in Penang on Dec 15 wherein 20 Central Executive Committee (CEC) members were elected was a great shock and disappointment for this columnist who had thought that at least one or two Malay candidates would be voted in. It is obvious that the delegates did not know how to apply what is to be termed as 'cunning voting'. This is how it works. This columnist was a delegate who had voted at the DAP Women's Congress held in KL on Dec 9. There were 27 candidates contesting for 15 posts in the DAP National Women's Committee. Out of the 27, five were Indians and the rest were Chinese. This columnist voted for all the five Indians. This is only logical math. Glad to say that out of the five Indians, two of them were voted in to the 15-member committee. They are Mary Josephine Prittam Singh who is now the deputy chairperson and Kamache A/P Doray Rajoo who has been chosen as the assistant secretary. This columnist did not attend the DAP party polls in Penang. And sad to say the delegates in Penang were not politically savvy. In fact, this columnist would like to label the situation in Penang as 'delegates malfunction'. The mindset of the delegates who had voted in Penang can be attributed to the fact that the Malay candidates were not well-known on the ceramah circuit. Be that as it may, they should have just been voted in to the 20-member CEC even if no one knows them from Adam. Anyway that is all in the past. No use crying over spilt milk. DAP must now look ahead and find ways and means to improve the situation. Do more for non-Chinese What the DAP leadership should do is to set up a Malay Matters Bureau and an Indian Issues Bureau. These said bureaus are to be affiliated to the CEC. The Malay and Indian leaders of these bureaus are to look into ways of helping their respective communities by going on the ground and meeting the people. Although the setting-up of these bureaus look like race-based politics, this is the current reality. With the existence of these bureaus, the Malay and Indian public can bring up the relevant issues to their respective leaders. The existence of these bureaus should then be widely publicised. With the setting up of the Malay and Indian Bureaus, DAP will be more inclusive. DAP leaders must share power evenly with all the other races. Only then can it truly shed its 'Chinese chauvinist' label given by the evil media and the enemy camp. There is no way DAP can seem inclusive if the Malays remain at the fringe. Meanwhile, the Malays in DAP must also strive to project themselves by being active on the ceramah circuit. It is useless to just sit down and keep quiet. They must make the rounds and not just sit in the office. In addition to the above, it is good if one Malay and one Indian is given a prestigious parliament seat to contest. DAP cannot continue to talk about a 'Malaysian Malaysia' if the Malays and Indians feel left out. Everyone including the Orang Asal must have a sense of belonging in the party. The Orang Asal too must be given a popular parliament or state seat to contest. DAP leaders must break the race barrier and the best time to do this is none other than at the coming 13th general election. READ MORE HERE

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Psychedelic psychic power? Posted: 25 Dec 2012 02:41 PM PST Maybe she's psychic? ;-) I had then commented her Pakatan shadow cabinet was a Kafkaesque joke – and if you don't know the meaning of this word, ask Mr Manmanlai, wakakaka - with the potential for Pakatan to outdo BN in the numbers department. 15 ministries including shared deputy prime minister-ships were listed, with each having at least 3 if not more names, making a total of no less than 45 and probably exceeding 60. WTF! Sweetie Selena admitted that her list has been compiled from a combination of: (a) discussions with a Pakatan MP who wished to remain anonymous ... ... but who wakakaka, I suspect, was probably from PKR. As usual, by suggesting some key nominees in the secret list, he was pre-empting PKR's supposed allies from choice ministries wakakaka, (b) observations from the performances and statements of Pakatan MPs ....., ... and undoubtedly, the most mysterious of all, wakakaka ........  (c) personal conversations with the shadow ministers, their friends or their acquaintances, where in the first place, shadow ministers, other than the PM-designate, don't exist ........ I was very cruel to her when I wrote: No, I won't hold much store by the list that Sweetie has written, perhaps more to mitigate against the BN sting that Pakatan is still incapable of coming up with a shadow cabinet than it be a genuine secret Pakatan plan. Of course I have my opinion as to why, but the far more important point was my amazement at Sweetie's claim of talking with non-existent shadow ministers ..... unless of course she had the conversation with the self-appointed wet-dreaming shadow Home Minister wakakaka. I hope she as a DAP member (so she claimed in her recent article) didn't/doesn't take my criticisms too badly as I had also excoriated another DAP sweetie, Hannah Yeoh, for being mathematically challenged in her support for Anwar Ibrahim's 916 (Hannah took law, not maths so it's okay, wakakaka), as follows: I love but don't blindly idolize her, wakakaka The saddest consequence of Anwar's 916 debacle was a DAP sweetie like Hannah Yeoh being swept into that mesmerizing manmanlai miasmatic mist of malarkey – see my February 2009 post DAP should stop defending Anwar Ibrahim where Hannah stupidly wrote (yes, I support DAP but that doesn't mean I am like some people, blind as a bat wakakaka): "Those who argue that the political crisis in Perak now is a taste of Pakatan Rakyat's own medicine – a reference to Sept 16 – fail to see the key differences between the two." "When Anwar claimed to have the numbers to form the federal government, he wrote to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, requesting him to convene an emergency sitting of Parliament. This was rejected by the prime minister." "The next constitutional option was to press for the dissolution of Parliament to make way for fresh elections. This too was not entertained." "Anwar exhausted every constitutional means available to him. If Pakatan were to act unconstitutionally and lure defections, then we will be having a new government today. So, you can't say that Najib's coup in Perak and the Pakatan plan – Sept 16 – were one and the same." Leaving aside the different issue of Najib's coup d'état in Perak which involved someone high up who should have stayed out of direct politics, Hannah Yeoh was stupid (and I hope the sweetie isn't now) to claim that Anwar had the right to demand AAB convene an emergency sitting of Parliament or to press for the dissolution of Parliament to make way for fresh elections. WTF for, just after an election where AAB's BN trounced Pakatan by 140 seats to 82? Was she mathematically challenged? Now, would you believe it, the mystery of the phantom (wakakaka) shadow ministers has just become even more mysterious because on re-checking her shadow cabinet article I found the words 'shadow ministers' mysteriously missing like Jim Thompson, wakakaka. Oh, the mystery of it! Jim Thompson disappeared in Cameron Highlands on 26 March 1967 Joining the Malaysian PFF in the biggest man hunt in Malaysian history were a Sarawak border scout, bomohs, aborigine pawang and European psychics To this day, the mystery of his disappearance remains Surely this calls for the use of that wonderful Indonesian word anéh as in anéh bin ajaib (extremely strange, wonder of wonders) wakakaka.   Hey, maybe sweetie didn't write it and I was, no not psychic, but psychedelically hallucinating, wakakaka. Hmmm, I wonder whether she read my post, wakakaka. Never mind, but incidentally, just where is Hartalmsm when you need them? Busy attacking politicians like Lim GE, I suppose? Wakakaka. Oh incidentally, on 30 June this year, sweetie wrote another article titled The doctor decides …? which states: Three days ago, a reporter friend (sweetie Selena has always been very discreet, never mentioning her sources, wakakaka) forwarded a text message to this columnist which says that the doctor has taken over Umno and right now the grassroots reports are being forwarded to him. But the big news is that the doctor is planning to have the polls held in September. This is because it seems that the doctor has got tired of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's feet-dragging and lack of confidence … […] Wakakkaa, I had then posted my take on her headline-grabbing coup d'état by Dr M as: We may yet again take it that Sweetie's latest article of Dr Mahathir mounting a silent coup d'état to launch a September poll was sourced from PKR, especially in the light of UMNO information that Dr Mahathir has affirmed Najib should be complimented for not calling for early election (or if you like, ordering Najib to hang on for as late/long as possible). Wakakaka again. Anyway, back to her latest article DAP leadership must share power in FMT. Just a few extracts I wish to comment on as follows: READ MORE HERE

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• Kalimah Allah: Guan Eng timbul ‘Kristianofobia’
• Istilah ‘God’ dalam Bible BM perlu diganti dengan Tuhan, bukan Allah
• Pekida akan terus pertahankan kedaulatan bangsa Melayu dan agama Islam
• BN mampu menang dua pertiga kerusi PRU-13
• PAS bidas Guan Eng
• Bersih 2.0 gagal mengetengahkan isu sebenar pilihan raya, kata bekas pengerusi SPR
• KITA mahu Kelantan jelaskan tanah diberi kepada DAP
• Konvoi Oren NS: 2 cedera, cermin kereta pecah
• Diam saja tentang hudud

Kalimah Allah: Guan Eng timbul ‘Kristianofobia’ Posted: 25 Dec 2012 04:27 PM PST Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerja Sekretariat Ulama Muda Umno (Ilmu), Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya mendakwa kenyataan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang itu  hanya menimbulkan perasaan takut umat Islam terhadap agama Kristian sekaligus mengugat keharmonian beragama di negara ini. Fathul turut mempersoalkan kredibiliti Guan Eng yang dilihat tampil ke depan untuk menyatakan pendiriannya mengenai hal tersebut. "Kenyataan Guan Eng hanya menimbulkan Kristianofobia. Beliau perlu tahu 61 peratus rakyat di negara ini beragama Islam. Islam agama majoriti. "Sedangkan di Vatican City juga tidak pernah menggunakan kalimah Allah. Maka saya tanya Guan Eng berapa kali beliau (Guan Eng) sebut kalimah Allah? "Jika beliau tidak jadikan ia sebagai sebutan (Allah) sebagai kebiasaan,mengapa beliau harus ke depan?," oal beliau dalam satu sidang media di Ibu Pejabat Umno Selangor hari ini. Fathul Bari  mendakwa isu kalimah Allah ini juga sekadar strategi politik pihak pembangkang untuk meraih undi 9.2 peratus warga Kristian di negara ini pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 akan datang. Muzakarah amanat Hadi Sementara itu, Fathul Bari turut mencadangkan agar pihak Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) menjemput Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang bermuzakarah untuk membentangkan kewajaran sama ada amanat beliau itu diteruskan atau ditarik balik. "Amanat Hadi ini memberi implikasi besar dan ianya negatif sehingga membawa kepada perpecahan umat Islam. "Hasil dan kesan amanat ini menonjolkan sikap kafir mengkafir. Sebagai contoh wujud situasi di mana pernikahan dengan orang Umno tidak sah. Ziarah jenazah orang Umno tidak sah. Malah pimpinan PAS  tahu hal ni," katanya. Amanat itu didakwa dibuat oleh Abdul Hadi dalam satu ceramah di Kuala Terengganu pada tahun 1981. READ MORE HERE

Istilah ‘God’ dalam Bible BM perlu diganti dengan Tuhan, bukan Allah Posted: 25 Dec 2012 02:27 PM PST Dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini, Ketua Penerangan PAS, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man berkata, memandangkan Bible Bahasa Melayu adalah terjemahan dari teks asal bahasa Inggeris, maka sewajarnya istilah God tidak bermaksud Allah, kerana terjemahan tepat ialah Tuhan. Bahkan di kalangan masyarakat Barat pun mereka tidak menggunakan nama Allah bagi merujuk kepada God sama ada dalam pertuturan, penulisan atau filem. Perkataan yang sering digunakan ialah 'Lord'. PAS juga melihat isu penggunaan nama Allah di dalam terjemahan Bible dalam Bahasa Malaysia tidak mencerminkan maksud sebenar dari teks asal serta mengelirukan pelbagai pihak. Menurut Tuan Ibrahim lagi, cadangan tersebut juga telah mengundang pelbagai reaksi di kalangan orang Islam dan penganut Kristian. Katanya, menterjemahkan God dengan Allah akan mengelirukan penganut Kristian dan menimbulkan rasa kurang senang di kalangan umat Islam serta boleh mengelirukan orang Islam. "Walaupun penggunaannya tidak bertentangan dengan tradisi ilmu dan budaya di kalangan ahli  kitab (Yahudi dan Nasara),   tetapi  keluar dari khilaf atau mengelak berlakunya kekeliruan dan polemik adalah jalan terbaik," katanya lagi. Tuan Ibrahim berkata, bagi umat Islam, nama Allah merupakan nama yang khusus yang mesti dipelihara kesuciannya. Katanya, a tidak boleh dibuang merata tempat atau digunakan nama tersebut pada tempat yang tidak layak baginya seperti menyamakan dengan makhluk, bersifat dengan sifat makhluk, seperti menganggap ia ada anak, isteri, makan, tidur dan berjalan sebagaimana makhluk. Beliau berkata, ada perkataan yang sensitif bagi sesetengah agama, seperti kalimah Dua Shahadah dan Allah, tidak boleh disebut secara sewenang-wenangnya dalam konteks yang tidak tepat kerana ia boleh menimbulkan kemarahan dan ketidaksenangan yang tidak perlu dalam masyarakat majmuk di negara kita dan situasi negara masa kini.

Pekida akan terus pertahankan kedaulatan bangsa Melayu dan agama Islam Posted: 24 Dec 2012 06:07 PM PST Beliau berkata sebagai sebuah pertubuhan yang diwujudkan atas dasar Melayu dan Islam, sudah pasti kedua-dua dasar berkenaan menjadi pegangan utama dan akan diperjuangkan sampai bila-bila. "Pekida mempunyai misi dan visi tersendiri iaitu menegakkan Islam dan memastikan bangsa Melayu terus menjadi tunjang negara. Kita akan terus mempertahankan agama, bangsa dan negara walaupun terpaksa berjuang hingga ke titisan terakhir. "Justeru kita sebagai anggota (Pekida), kita mempunyai tugas yang berat untuk pastikan kestabilan politik negara dikekalkan supaya negara akan terus aman dan damai," katanya semasa berucap pada Mesyuarat Agung Pekida Malaysia ke-18 yang dirasmikan Ketua Menteri Melaka Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, di sini hari ini. Jamaludin berkata sehingga kini keanggotaan Pekida sudah menjangkau kira-kira 300,000 orang dan jumlah itu sangat penting dalam menguatkan pertubuhan itu dalam memperjuangkan matlamat penubuhannya. "Pekida mempunyai anggota yang ramai dan kita sedang mencari formula bagaimana untuk menyatukan kesemua anggota supaya perjuangan kita mencapai matlamatnya. "Kita tidak mahu satu hari nanti kita terpaksa menangis di belakang pintu disebabkan oleh kegagalan kita untuk mempertahankan bangsa, agama dan negara kita sendiri," katanya. Jamaludin turut menyeru semua anggota pertubuhan itu agar terus menyokong kerajaan sedia ada yang sudah terbukti banyak membantu membangunkan syiar Islam selain mempertahankan keistimewaan orang Melayu sejak negara merdeka hingga kini. "Hanya kerajaan yang ada sekarang ini akan terus memberikan kemakmuran, kesejahteraan dan kebajikan kepada rakyat. Jadi, saya minta semua anggota Pekida agar terus menyokong kerajaan pimpinan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sekarang ini agar semua yang diperoleh sekarang ini berterusan untuk anak cucu kita," katanya.

BN mampu menang dua pertiga kerusi PRU-13 Posted: 24 Dec 2012 03:03 PM PST Beliau berkata, kemenangan itu mampu dicapai sekiranya semua ahli parti tidak bersikap terlalu yakin, tidak sabotaj parti dan perlu menggandakan usaha bagi memastikan kejayaan itu. Saya berpendapat BN boleh melakukannya (menang dua pertiga majoriti) sekiranya mengekalkan 140 kerusi Parlimen yang dikuasai sekarang dan merampas masing-masing lima kerusi daripada PAS dan DAP, manakala 10 lagi daripada PKR. Rampas 20 kerusi Ini pendapat peribadi saya...semuanya logik kerana tujuh daripada 10 kerusi PKR kini bermasalah iaitu enam keluar parti dan menjadi wakil rakyat bebas, manakala satu lagi kalah pada pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Hulu Selangor. Jadi, saya rasa kita mampu merampas 20 kerusi Parlimen yang dimenangi pembangkang pada PRU-13, katanya. Beliau berkata demikian selepas merasmikan Program Pemukiman Pemantapan Profesionalisme Kelab Kebajikan dan Rekreasi Penerangan di Hotel Seri Costa di sini, semalam. Hadir sama, Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam. Ditanya faktor keyakinan BN mampu merampas kerusi selain disebabkan masalah yang dihadapi parti pembangkang, Ahmad yang juga Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri meminta semua pihak melihat pemerintahan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak sejak mengambilalih pada 2009. Di bawah teraju Perdana Menteri selama tiga tahun lapan bulan, kita tidak pernah dengar sebegitu banyak program dilaksanakan. 20 jenama 1Malaysia Melaluinya (pemerintahan Najib) kita ada 20 jenama produk 1Malaysia, lima jenis transformasi serta pembaharuan yang dilakukan termasuk program tinjauan mesra, turun padang, janji ditepati dan pemberian terus subsidi kepada rakyat. Semua ini tidak pernah dilakukan sebelum ini, katanya. Ahmad berkata, dengan ketegasan Perdana Menteri yang mahukan calon boleh menang, beliau yakin BN boleh mencapai kemenangan majoriti dua pertiga. Jika kita berfikiran positif, maka tindak tanduk kita positif, tak kan kita tak boleh tawan, apa yang saya sebut ini adalah logik, katanya.

PAS bidas Guan Eng Posted: 24 Dec 2012 02:59 PM PST Tindakan itu kata mereka bukan saja akan mengelirukan umat Islam malah menunjukkan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang itu tidak menghormati keputusan yang sudah diperkenankan Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Guan Eng dalam perutusan khas sempena Krismas di laman blognya, semalam menggesa Kerajaan Pusat diterajui Barisan Nasional (BN) membenarkan penganut Kristian di Semenanjung menggunakan kalimah Allah dalam Bible versi bahasa Melayu. Ahli Majlis Syura Ulama PAS yang juga Ketua Dewan Ulama PAS Kelantan, Datuk Mohamed Daud Iraqi, berkata tindakan Setiausaha Agung DAP itu mengelirukan umat Islam di negara ini. "PAS mengambil pendirian seperti diputuskan Majlis Syura parti sebelum ini, tidak bersetuju dengan desakan mana-mana pihak berhubung isu berkenaan. "Kita tidak boleh lawan Majlis Syura yang sudah putus perkara ini sebelum ini, kalau lawan.... jadi benda lain. Kita tidak akan ikut, pakai dia (Guan Eng), sebab dia keliru banyak, nak guna benda karut. "Tapi terpulang kepada kerajaan (Persekutuan), kalau nak buat. Bagi PAS, kita bantah, tidak boleh guna perkataan itu," katanya kepada BH. Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS, Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi mahu Guan Eng berhenti daripada membangkitkan isu itu kerana boleh mencetuskan kekeliruan umat Islam. "Tindakan Guan Eng itu boleh mencetuskan semula polemik yang sudah lama reda. Isu ini tidak perlu ditimbulkan lagi dan sepatutnya beliau merujuk kepada ulama sebelum mengeluarkan kenyataan seperti itu secara terbuka. "Isu kalimah Allah ini bukan boleh dijadikan polemik kerana ia sangat sensitif dan boleh menimbulkan ketegangan agama jika tidak ditangani dengan baik," katanya. Nasrudin berkata, jika masyarakat agama lain masih tidak memahami isu itu sewajarnya ia dibincangkan secara tertutup bersama ulama bagi mengelakkan ketegangan agama. Ditanya sama ada PAS akan bertemu dengan Guan Eng berhubung isu terbabit, Nasrudin berkata, perkara itu diserahkan kepada pucuk pimpinan parti. Sebelum ini, Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Malaysia Kali Ke-82 yang bersidang pada 5-7 Mei 2008 sudah membincangkan Isu Tuntutan Penganut Kristian Terhadap Penggunaan Kalimah Allah. Muzakarah memutuskan bahawa lafaz Allah adalah kalimah suci yang khusus bagi agama dan umat Islam serta tidak boleh digunakan atau disamakan dengan agama lain. Sementara itu, Mufti Pulau Pinang, Datuk Hassan Ahmad berkata, negeri itu mewartakan kalimah Allah sebagai antara 40 perkataan yang tidak boleh digunakan bukan Islam. Beliau berkata peraturan itu dikuatkuasakan pada zaman pakatan pembangkang memerintah dan dipersetujui Guan Eng sebagai pemimpin tertinggi. "Jabatan Mufti Pulau Pinang sudah putuskan perkataan seperti Allah, haji, masjid contohnya hanya boleh digunakan mereka yang beragama Islam. "Dia (Guan Eng) pun tahu perkara ini, kita sudah maklum dan peraturan ini sudah diwartakan, pelik juga beliau cakap macam tu," katanya. Mufti Kelantan, Datuk Mohd Shukri Muhamad berkata, keputusan tidak membenarkan penggunaan kalimah Allah dalam Bible perlu dihormati semua kaum.

Bersih 2.0 gagal mengetengahkan isu sebenar pilihan raya, kata bekas pengerusi SPR Posted: 23 Dec 2012 02:11 PM PST "Sebab mereka tidak kemukakan apa yang mereka mahu. Mereka hendak undi pos dikaji, ini semua kecil. "Bagi saya, ia tidak membantu untuk memperkuatkan amalan demokrasi. Ia hanya merubah sedikit tatacara atau pun prosedur," katanya beliau dipetik dari Sinar Harian Online. Menurut Abdul Rashid lagi, tuntutan Bersih 2.0 hanya bersifat "quick fix" dan tidak menyentuh perubahan struktur. "Tetapi Bersih (2.0) ini khusus untuk kita buat perubahan pada sistem pilihan raya dan mereka tidak berapa mengerti agaknya, tuntutan-tuntutan itu nampaknya tidak menyeluruh. "Saya kaji juga tuntutan-tuntutan ini dan mereka tidak mendesak dilakukan suatu perubahan yang menyentuh struktur. "Maknanya seluruh undang-undang itu dikaji. Bukan satu dua tempat. Ini macam kita tukar bateri, tukar 'spark plug', tukar minyak hitam, 'quick fix' ini (sebenarnya) boleh mendatangkan masalah yang lebih besar. Yang dasarnya tidak berubah." Beliau bersara sebagai pengerusi SPR selepas pilihan raya umum (PRU) 2008 yang menyaksikan berlakunya tsunami politik apabila buat pertama kalinya Barisan Nasional (BN) kehilangan majoriti tradisi dua pertiga di Parlimen. Abdul Rashid juga melahirkan rasa terkejutnya selepas meneliti tuntutan Bersih 2.0 walaupun menurutnya, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) tersebut terdiri daripada orang hebat dan peguam ternama. "Tuntutan-tuntutan itu nampaknya ... apabila anda buat tuntutan itu, kerajaan respon, itulah yang dibuat menerusi PSC, itu yang dibuat. Jadi tuntutan mereka telah dipenuhi. "Tapi kita tahu, Bersih hendak lebih daripada itu. Mereka tidak mahu PSC. Mereka mahu suruhanjaya yang betul-betul bebas dan adil," katanya.

KITA mahu Kelantan jelaskan tanah diberi kepada DAP Posted: 23 Dec 2012 01:50 PM PST Tanah seluas 10, 526 ekar di Gua Musang itu dikatakan telah diberikan kepada Syarikat Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd. Ketua KITA, Masrum Dayat bertanya adakah syarikat Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd merupakan penender yang tertinggi. Walaupun transaksi tersebut merupakan transaksi perniagaan persendirian, tetapi ia membabitkan sebuah badan berkanun negeri Kelantan. Katanya, terdapat dua laporan berbeza yang yang memerlukan penjelasan lebih khusus. "Satu laporan menyebut bahawa syarikat Upayapadu Plantation telah memeterai perjanjian dengan YIK  untuk membeli tanah bernilai lebih RM30 juta itu pada tahun 2006. "Satu lagi laporan yang memetik kenyataan exco kerajaan negeri, Dr Mohd Fadzli Hassan bahawa ia merupakan usahasama projek melalui konsep pajakan dan perjanjian selama 50 tahun dengan diberikan pajakan dan bukannya hak milik," kata Masrum dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini. Menteri Besar, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat menafikan dakwaan kononnya beliau memberikan tanah bernilai lebih RM30 juta kepada pemimpin DAP sebagai habuan memastikan Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin dilantik Menteri Besar Perak pada 2008. Pengerusi DAP Perak Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham tutut menafikan beliau memberi laluan kepada PAS untuk jawatan Menteri Besar negeri itu kepada parti Islam tersebut sebagai pertukaran dengan  kontrak pembalakan di Kelantan, walaupun menjadi pengarah dalam syarikat pembalakan di kawasan tersebut. Ngeh dan seorang lagi Adun DAP Perak , Datuk Nga Kor Ming berkata, mereka melabur dalam syarikat tersebut, tetapi menegaskan tidak ada perjanjian dalam perkara tersebut. Isu pemberian tanah ini telah dibangkitkan dalam sidang dewan undangan negeri Perak, minggu lalu. READ MORE HERE

Konvoi Oren NS: 2 cedera, cermin kereta pecah Posted: 23 Dec 2012 01:47 PM PST Insiden berlaku berhampiran simpang masuk ke Felda Bukit Rokan Utara, Gemencheh, Tampin apabila kira-kira 100 orang penduduk tempatan yang membawa bendera BN menghalang peserta konvoi seramai 200 orang  meneruskan perjalanan. Menurut Pengarah Program Konvoi Oren Negeri Sembilan, Abdul Rahman Ramli; ketika peserta konvoi baru sahaja sampai di lokasi, sekumpulan lelaki yang bersenjatakan kayu dan batu meluru kepada sebuah kereta pacuan empat roda yang berada di paling hadapan. "Mereka memecahkan cermin kereta di hadapan dan kedua-dua cermin tingkap sebelah kiri kereta dengan kayu. "Sebenarnya tindakan lelaki-lelaki yang membawa bendera BN dan Umno ini adalah satu tindakan yang salah. "Menyedari bantahan daripada mereka, kami tidak masuk ke Felda Bukit Rokan Utara, sebaliknya hanya berunding untuk menggunakan jalan besar tersebut untuk ke Felda Jelai. "Sebaliknya mereka mencederakan dua orang lelaki. "Seorang cedera di kepala dan seorang lagi di kening. Saya juga kecewa dengan pihak polis yang hanya melihat insiden itu berlaku dan tidak menghalang lelaki-lelaki yang mencetuskan provokasi dari awal lagi," kata Abdul Rahman yang juga merupakan Yang DiPertua PAS Jempol.. Noraza Muda cedera di kepala sementara Razali Rashad di kening. Kedua-dua mereka dipukul dengan kayu oleh dua lelaki yang tidak dikenali di jalan utama berhampiran simpang masuk Felda Bukit Rokan Utara. Konvoi Oren NS dibatalkan Berikutan kejadian itu Noraza, Razali dan kepimpinan PAS dan PKR yang menyertai konvoi itu membuat laporan polis di Ibu Pejabat Daerah (IPD) Polis Jempol di Bandar Seri Jempol. Presiden Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (Anak), Mazlan Aliman ketika mengadakan sidang akhbar tergempar di hadapan IPD Jempol, berkata peserta konvoi berkereta itu hanya berhasrat memasuki kawasan Felda untuk seketika, memberikan sedikit ucapan ringkas dan mengedar risalah. "Saya kecewa dengan pihak polis yang hanya memerhatikan sahaja kejadian peserta konvoi kami diserang. "Saya mendapat maklumat, bahawa di lokasi seterusnya iaitu di Felda Jelai, mereka menunggu kami dengan besi, kayu dan batu. "Mengambil kira keselamatan peserta dan saya tidak mahu lebih ramai tercedera, saya mengambil keputusan untuk membatalkan konvoi ini'" ujar Mazlan. Halangan di Felda Kepis dan Felda Bukit Rokan Barat Sebelum itu, konvoi Oren dihalang masuk di Felda Kepis oleh lebih 100 penduduk tempatan dan tidak dibenarkan masuk oleh hampir 80 penduduk Felda Bukit Rokan Barat. Kepimpinan PAS dan PKR hanya memberi ucapan ringkas dari atas sebuah kenderaan pacuan empat roda di tepi jalan utama dan beredar ke Felda Bukit Rokan Utara sebelum insiden buruk itu berlaku. Jika tidak kerana insiden peserta Konvoi Oren diserang dan tercedera, sepatutnya peserta dengan 80 kenderaan meneruskan konvoi ke Felda Jelai, Felda Palong 4, 5 & 6, Felda Lui Selatan dan Felda Serting Hilir. Ini merupakan insiden ketiga membabitkan kekecohan terhadap peserta Konvoi Oren. Sebelum ini kekecohan terhadap Konvoi Oren turut berlaku di Felda Lawin Selatan, Gerik Perak pada 03 November lepas dan di Felda Jengka 11 pada Ahad lalu. Dalam kedua-dua kejadian itu penduduk Felda terbabit bertindak menghalang peserta konvoi daripada memasuki kawasan Felda tersebut. READ MORE HERE

Diam saja tentang hudud Posted: 21 Dec 2012 01:08 AM PST Jangan layan sangat sakatan UMNO mengenainya yang tujuannya adalah demi mengelirukan orang ramai dan memerangkap PAS. Hudud adalah program PAS bagi mengabdikan diri kepada Allah dan agamanya. Ia tidak mungkin dilaksanakan selagi PAS tidak berada dalam kerajaan baik ia memerintah sendiri atau kerajaan yang disekutuinya. Sudah  cukup setakat ini dengan pendiriannya yang sudah diketahui umum. Bahawa hudud itu sebahagian dari cita-cita politik. PAS sudah nyatakan cita-citanya dan sebagai tanda  kesungguhannya dengan cita-cita itu ia sudah meluluskan enakmen mengenainya di Kelantan dan Terengganu. Kedudukannya sekarang ialah seperti kenderaan yang berada  di simpang lampu trafik. Ia berhenti kerana isyarat lampu merah. Ingin kenderaan tidak dihenti. Ia menunggu lampu hijau. Bila datang lampu hijau, ia boleh berjalan. Oleh itu jika ada orang menyakat PAS tentang hudud itu, kerana kononnya PAS munafik dengannya dan  sudah melupakannya, maka tidak perlu dilayan dan dijawab. Politik menuju ke Putrajaya boleh celaru dan keliru sama sendiri apabila ia dipolemikkan. Cita-cita PAS itu sudah  diketahui oleh semua sama ada ia diulang atau didiamkan. Tidak perlu dinyatakan lagi. Semuanya  tahu jika PAS bersama memerintah negara, ia akan berusaha sedaya mungkin untuk menyempurnakannya. Tidak ada makhluk yang percaya PAS melupakannya. Kalau dasar PAS berketul dapat dilihat dengan mata, kiranya perut iblis dapat dibelah, nescaya kita dapat lihat ketul itu ada dalam hatinya. Ia tahu PAS tidak melupakannya hinggalah ia dapat menjadikan  PAS sama seperti lawannya iaitu UMNO. Selama 66 tahun usia UMNO, sudah 55 tahun ia memacu negara merdeka, jika dibelah perut, ketul hudud tidak ada dalam hatinya. Yang ada dalam hatinya hudud PAS. Akan iblis tadi, kurus kering ia kerana dalam hatinya ada ketul hudud yang tersimpan rapi dalam cita-cita politik PAS. Baik PAS bercakap tentangnya atau PAS berdiam saja, ia lihat dan ia rasa ketul itu ada. Ia seperti kanser baginya. Lalu ia berusaha untuk memadamkannya, menghasut PAS supaya melupakananya. Kesnernya itu akan sembuh apabila dapat menjadikan PAS sama dengan seteru politiknya. Walaupun UMNO sudah menyakat PAS, dikatakannya cita-cita hudud PAS itu sudah jadi cacamarba apabila ia bersekongkol dengan DAP dan PKR, dan DAP terang-terang menyatakan ia menolak hudud, tetapi tetap MCA, Yahudi, Amerika dan lain-lain, jika perut masing-masing dibelah, ada dilihat ketul cita-cita PAS dalam hati mereka. Dan katakanlah ketika menunggu 100 haru PRU13 ini tiba-tiba PAS membuat pengumuman betapa ia tidak lagi menyimpan  cita-cita politiknya, tidak lagi ia mahu meneruskan ibadatnya itu, ia tidak bercadang untuk meneruskan hudud, tiada ahli MCA yang percaya, tiada seekor Yahudi dan Amerika yang percaya. Jika selepas ia mengumumkan mahu melupakan hudud, dibelah perut MCA dan perut  Yahudi, tetap ketul hudud itu dijumpa dalam hati mereka. Mereka tidak  akan percaya PAS sudah melupakannya sekalipun PAS betul-betul melupakannya. Begitu juga iblis. Ia pun tak percaya PAS melupakannya. Sekalipun PAS betul-betul melupakannya, ia tetap curiga bahawa PAS mungkin taubat  dan kembali kepada cita-citanya. Selagi PAS tidak mati, ia tidak percaya PAS benar-benar melupakannya. Atas kedudukan itu PAS tidak perlu lagi melenting atas isu hudud itu. Buat saja kerja yang patut hingga sampai ke Putrajaya.

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