teja

teja

Posted on Tuesday, April 29 @ 21:14:18 MYT

The recent decision of a senior Gerakan leader to take a job under the DAP government of Penang should not be taken lightly by the Barisan Nasional if it wishes to survive and regain support of its members and supporters.

The Gerakan leader may be motivated by a genuine desire to work for the good of Penang and Malaysia. But it may also be because loyalty to BN is now based on personal gains or fear of punishment of some kind.

This is especially so among the leaders. There is no genuine love for the objectives said to be the raison d'etre for the party's existence. They are all fighting to get a piece of the cake that the party would be able to distribute when it wins elections. They could become ministers or menteri besars or deputy ministers or speakers. They could get contracts or licenses, APs (approved permits), etc.

When the party loses these will not be forthcoming. The reason for supporting the party would disappear.

The rank-and-file on the other hand stands to gain nothing, win or lose. The party is not any longer for the general good of the country but only for lining the pockets of the leaders. So why should the ordinary members help the leaders to line their pockets.

The party can keep on making promises but the members know that these promises are empty.

Supposing the opposition are smart enough to provide good government, to look after the interests of the ordinary people, to lead a spartan life like not flying in chartered planes when going to Kuala Lumpur or taking excos and divisional heads on jaunts to foreign countries, then those people who voted for the opposition out of anger against the BN in 2008, would transfer their loyalty permanently to the opposition.

When that happens BN, Umno and other component parties can forget about recapturing the states lost to the opposition. Their turncoat members (saboteurs as they are classified by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) will remain turncoats and will actively work against the BN at the next election. To lose once is bad but to lose a second time in Malaysian election is an unmitigated disaster.

The window of opportunity will close pretty soon. Unless drastic actions are taken now, there would be no time to rehabilitate BN and Umno, and indeed all the other BN component parties, for the next election. When this happens and BN is totally defeated, the leaders who mismanaged the BN will go down in history as betrayers of the parties which had so successfully defeated the Malayan Union, gained independence for the country and developed it to what it is today.

The leaders still have a choice. Continue supporting a person under whom the BN and its component parties were defeated or stop being self-serving and return to the true national struggle. You may gain something for yourself personally today but your children and grand children will pay a terrible price.

The choice is yours.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad

teja

Untuk pertama kali di dalam 2 tahun, saya duduk depan TV, tengok
berita TV3 pukul 8 dan tengok pembukaan sidang Parlimen kali pertama utk sessi tahun ini. Saya rasa inilah persidangan yg amat2 ditunggu bersama debaran kerana paling ramai pembangkang masuk parlimen.

Yg saya dapat dari berita hari ni..
Datu Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi telah ada doctorate! hehe bila la pulak beliau dapat doctorate tapi tahap pemikiran beliau tidak menunjukkan peningkatan kepandaian malah kebodohan juga tentang isu "masuk Islam".

Yg masih bodoh masih menyalak YB Nazri Chihuahua dgn kenyataan bodoh piang beliau..mengatakan beberapa bahagian yg membuat EGM bukan mewakili akar umbi dan meminta sesiapa yg mengatakan PM Abdullah patut letak jawatan supaya memberi kajian SAINTIFIK yg menunjukkan kekalahan BN di PRU 12 adalah disebabkan oleh Pak Lah.

Yang cuba taichi-taichi pendirian Datuk Syed Hamid, Ali Rustam. Yang direct berterus terang Ku Li..dan bermacam-macam lagi.

Tok Sami menghentam DS Khir Toyo atas isu runtuh kuil, walaupun arahan runtuh kuil datang dari Tok Sami sendiri.

Nik Aziz akan buat litar lumba untuk mat rempit di Kelantan.

Pak Lah nak bagi AirAsia hub tambang murah sendiri di KLIA. Pandai Pak Lah, Kamaluddin, Khairy, Patrick dan kekawannya masukkan agenda mereka ke dlm agenda negara dan suruh YDP Agong baca pula.

Ke lima2 kotidor juga akan dilaksanakan nampaknya. Duit pelaburan kita kurang arif akan datang dari mana ya?

teja

Ahli veteran UMNO bantah Tajuddin
Nash Rahman | Apr 28, 08 3:45pm

Pengerusi Kelab Veteran UMNO Malaysia, Tan Sri Tajuddin Ali akan diminta memberi penjelasan mengenai kenyataannya bahawa ahli-ahli kelab tersebut sebulat suara menyokong perdana menteri dan presiden UMNO untuk terus memimpin parti dan kerajaan.

Tajuddin membuat kenyataan tersebut kepada pihak media selepas menghadiri pertemuan dengan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi baru-baru ini.

Malaysiakini difahamkan, kenyataan beliau tidak disenangi oleh majoriti ahli jawatankuasa kelab veteran UMNO kerana ia tidak dibincang dengan mereka terlebih dahulu.

"Malah, dua pertiga daripada ahli-ahlinya tidak menyokong Abdullah terus memimpin UMNO dan kerajaan, dan mahukan peralihan kuasa dilakukan segera," kata seorang ahli jawatankuasanya M Shariff Yousof kepada Malaysiakini.

Ekoran kekalahan teruk BN dan UMNO dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac lalu, sebilangan ahli-ahli parti termasuk ahli majlis tertingginya, mendesak peletakan jawatan Abdullah sebagai presiden UMNO dan seterusnya perdana menteri.

Dalam pilihanraya umum tersebut, BN memperolehi 140 kerusi parlimen tetapi gagal mempertahankan penguasaan majoriti dua pertiga di Dewan Rakyat.

BN juga kalah empat negeri - Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak dan Selangor - kepada Pakatan Rakyat, manakala PAS berjaya mengekalkan Kelantan.

Sehubungan itu, M Shariff berkata, Tajuddin akan diminta memberikan penjelasan mengenai kenyataannya dalam mesyuarat jawatankuasa kelab tersebut Rabu ini.

Tidak diberitahu

Shariff berkata, kenyataan pengerusi kelab veteran UMNO itu kurang tepat, tidak berasas dan boleh mengelirukan.

Beliau mendakwa, ramai ahli jawatankuasa kelab tersebut tidak dimaklumkan ataupun dijemput menghadiri pertemuan dengan Abdullah.

Difahamkan, hanya tujuh atau lapan orang ahli jawatankuasa kelab itu dari Perak yang hadir.

Manakala ahli jawatankuasa yang mewakili negeri-negeri lain, termasuk Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Selangor, Terengganu, Melaka, Pahang dan Wilayah Persekutuan tidak menghadiri pertemuan tersebut.

"Saya sendiri tidak mengetahui mengenai pertemuan itu," katanya sambil menambah, beliau antara ahli jawatankuasa yang menyokong peralihan kuasa dalam UMNO.

Menurutnya, beliau sendiri akan meminta penjelasan Tajuddin mengapa beliau membuat kenyataan tersebut, yang tidak mewakili pandangan majoriti ahli jawatankuasa kelab veteran UMNO.

teja

PM to answer first question live on TV

NST Online
April 25, 2008
By : V. Vasudevan

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will answer the first question when the Dewan Rakyat's historic live telecast of "Question Hour" begins on Wednesday.

And the honour of asking the question goes to Razali Ibrahim, the Barisan Nasional's MP for Muar.

Razali's question will be on the government's new approach towards improving the quality of life of the people, especially in strengthening their purchasing power, public security and ethnic integration.

Abdullah will take the floor again for question three and question five.

Question three will be from the new opposition leader, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and it is directed at Abdullah as the finance minister.

Her question will be on the finance minister's commitment on the implementation of open tenders which he had made after 100 days in office.

Question five will come from the former opposition leader, Lim Kit Siang, of DAP, the MP for Ipoh Timur.

Lim will ask the prime minister to outline the 10 steps the government will take in its quest for renewal and reform over the next 12 months.

Details of the first day's questions, and the questions which will be asked daily, have been sent to the 222 MPs since Monday.

The House reserves the right to change the order of the questions. This is usually done at the request of the government.

Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun said yesterday he had received his copy of questions for the 14-day sitting on Monday.

"There are 72 questions for the first day's sitting.

"My question is the second question on May 22 and if the order is not changed, I will be asking it live on television," he said.

Fong said the current session is for 14 days and not all the MPs would be able to field questions during the 30- minute live telecast segment.

On the average, the House deals with 10 questions a day during "Question Hour". Those left unanswered will be given written replies.

teja

I totally support the statement by DS Khir Toyo on this issue.

Firstly, the money does NOT belong to the State coffer. Furthermore, it was accumulated via efforts of the BALKIS committee for the charity of their choosings and for their organization charity use. This has nothing to do with the new PKR led government of Selangor today. I believe if the situation reverse, the PKR-DAP-PAS government or BA will move not just cash but as well as pigs as their accumulated assets!

Secondly, it was done under the right jurisdiction of the charity organization's constitution and the right for them to transfer the money to a similar organization.

Thirdly, would anybody care especially TS Khalid Ibrahim and his DAP cheerleaders care if the money accumulated by BALKIS is NOT in the millions?

Go make your own fund! Stop harassing and chasing after others if you yourself have not shown any efforts toward running a government!

Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik• Khir: Balkis was not exclusive

Monday, 28 April 2008 08:41am
New Straits Times

SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has challenged the state government to take legal action over the dissolution of Balkis (Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation) and the transfer of RM9.9 million funds.

In response to criticisms of the transfer the former menteri besar said: "Please don't talk rubbish and refer to our lawyer."

Dr Khir was defending his wife, Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik, the past president of Balkis, who has come under fire for calling an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on March 11 to dissolve the charity.

He said the dissolution of Balkis and transfer of funds to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) was done in accordance with the charity's constitution.

An EGM was convened after one-fifth of Balkis members requested for it, while the dissolution and transfer of funds to Bakti received approval from two-thirds of members, he said.

He said there was no need for auditors of Balkis to be informed or consulted before the charity was dissolved and the funds transferred.

"The role of auditors is to ensure the accounts are according to financial standards."

Dr Khir yesterday also disputed a statement by Selangor executive councillor for tourism, consumer affairs and environment Elizabeth Wong that Balkis accounts for last year had yet to be finalised.

"Everything was finalised before the funds were transferred."

Dr Khir also rejected Wong's view that Balkis needed the approval of the Internal Revenue Board (IRB) before transferring the funds.

Dr Khir said the Balkis constitution stated that funds could be transferred to any organisation with similar objectives and which had tax-exemption status by the IRB.

He said Balkis was a charity and the money raised was for the benefit of orphans and underprivileged students adopted by the charity.

He also lambasted the Bar Council for saying that the dissolution and transfer of funds could be tantamount to criminal breach of trust.

"They (the Bar Council) are lawyers and should not give opinions without studying the constitution of Balkis."

His wife, Zaharah also threatened to take legal action against those who continued to make "false accusations and unfounded allegations" against Balkis.

When contacted, Bar Council vice-president Ragunath Kesavan said Balkis was not a private company but a charitable body which received public funds.

"The dissolution and transfer of the huge amount of public funds are a matter of public interest."

Ragunath questioned the need to dissolve the charity.

"There was a general election and the people have spoken for change.

"New members should take over the charity and continue its purpose."

He said the dissolution of Balkis and the transfer of funds should be investigated.

"Those being investigated have nothing to fear if everything was done in accordance with the law."

teja

Inilah DAP yang teramat kurang ajar! Ini baru dapat Pulau Pinang sudah teramat kurang ajar dengan raja-raja Melayu. Diharapkan diambil tindakan tegas untuk DILUCUTKAN KERAKYATAN MALAYSIA utk si bedebah YTKA ini dan mana2 lagi anjing-anjing yg tidak tahu diuntung serta tidak sedar diri datang menumpang di bumi Melayu ini.

DAULAT TUANKU! DAULAT TUANKU! DAULAT TUANKU!

Dollah Badawi harus bertanggungjawab kerana memberi kemenangan kepada pembangkang di negeri beliau sendiri dan amat menyusahkan orang2 dan Raja-raja Melayu dengan perkembangan dan kurang ajar DAP ini! Kita melihat Karpal Singh serta Lim Kit Siang beria-ia mempertahankan Dollah utk mendapat advantage bagi pihak pembangkang dengan setiap tindak tanduk Dollah yg amat membebankan UMNO dan BN serta Raja-Raja dan Kesultanan Melayu.

Dollah sila letak jawatan!

PENANG: Police here have received two reports from DAP chairman Karpal Singh against a Johor PAS website commentator whom he claimed incited murder and the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan for allegedly making seditious remarks.

Penang acting police chief Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said both reports were lodged on Saturday and had been referred to the police in Kuala Lumpur and Johor where the alleged incidents took place.

Speaking to newsmen at the closing ceremony of the Integrity Management and Strengthening Seminar in Pulau Jerejak here yesterday, he said it was the procedure for cases to be referred to the places where the incidents occurred.

In the first report, Karpal Singh claimed that a comment by a Johor PAS website shoutbox commentator amounted to incitement to murder.

He said the comment alleged that he had insulted Islam and that “darahnya halal dibunuh (it’s justifiable to kill him).”

In his report against Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra for allegedly making seditious remarks, Karpal Singh said the Kelantan crown prince was under a complete misconception in saying the special rights and privileges of the Malays were quid pro quo in return for providing citizenship for 2.7million non-Malays upon Merdeka.

“The theory behind the protection of Malay special rights and privileges under the Constitution was that if they were not specially favoured in government employment, scholarships and other matters, the Malays would be overwhelmed by non-Malays,” he said.

Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra had recently spoken at a religious function at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur where he reportedly said nobody should question Malay rights

teja

The Hindrafs, Karpal Singh, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Khairy Jamaluddin and Anwar Ibrahim should be considered to be revoked of their citizenships as well. They must understand and respect the Malay adage, "di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung"!

King ORDERS Hindraf 5 to complete their 2-year term

KUALA LUMPUR: The five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders, detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), will complete serving their two-year term as ordered by the king.

In a statement yesterday, lawyer Karpal Singh said this was contained in a letter dated April 16 addressed to one of the five, lawyer Ganabatirau Veeraman, by the Home Ministry's Security and Public Order Division officer Mohamad Irza Dahari.

"The other detainees, have received similar letters," he said.

They are lawyers Uthayakumar Ponnusamy, 46, Manoharan Malayalam, 46, and Kengadharan Ramasamy, 40, and ex-bank executive Vasantha Kumar Krishnan, 34.

The letter said the Prime Minister's Advisory Board had forwarded its recommendation to the king who issued the order on March 26, following an appeal by the five.

They are detained for allegedly organising an illegal rally.

NST, 26th April 2008

teja

The Government needs to be careful with such request. It is definitely a bigger hidden agenda to request the use of the word "Allah" for "God". It seems there are constant badgering for "more" while Dollah is in power, knowing how weak and his lost of control over things.

It is HIGH time for muslims and Malays to stop this BY DISMISSING Dollah ASAP.

The Malaysian Insider
April 25,2008

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR– The Catholic Church will only know on Tuesday whether its application for a judicial review against an order of the Internal Security Ministry will be allowed – a decision which could have far-reaching consequences for freedom of worship in Malaysia.

At the centre of the case is an order by the government banning the use of the word "Allah" in The Herald, the weekly newspaper of the Catholic community. The Internal Security Ministry, after a delay, renewed the annual printing permit for the weekly in February but it came with a few conditions, including the non-use of the world "Allah". The church filed an application for a judicial review of the permit on March 19 and the case was scheduled to be heard this morning.

Leading the church delegation was Archbishop Datuk Murphy Pakiam and Father Lawrence Andrew, the editor The Herald. Pakiam, in his capacity as the publisher of the weekly, sought:

• Leave to apply that the declaration by the ministry prohibiting the use of Allah was null and void. It also wanted declaration that the world Allah is not exclusive to Islam.

• Leave to quash the ministry’s decision prohibiting The Herald from using the word Allah in its publication.

• Leave to stay the decision of the minister and allow The Herald to continue using the world Allah until the court decides on the matter.

Representing the church was Annou Xavier, Derek Fernandez, Leonard Teoh, Porres Royan and S. Selvarajah.

Suzanna Attan from the Attorney-General's Chambers acted for the ministry. She asked for an adjournment to submit on two of the issues raised by the church. High Court judge Lau Bee Lan then adjourned the case to Tuesday.

The church has opted for a judicial review because it is a more speedy approach to getting a decision on this matter. Last year, it filed a civil suit over the non-use of the word "Allah" but that case is likely to be heard only in a couple of years, given the backlog of cases in the High Court.

In the meantime, Father Andrew, said the word Allah was still being used in the Bahasa Malaysia section of The Herald.

"We still use it, but sparingly. We have church members from Sabah and Sarawak and as everybody knows, they are more comfortable with Bahasa Malaysia," he said, adding that he was concerned that the ministry was putting a different slant to the word "Allah".

"In the old dictionaries of the country, the word Allah is for God," he noted.

The case is being watched closely by non-Muslims, who view the prohibition by the ministry as evidence of encroachment by the government towards Constitutional guarantees of freedom of worship. Anecdotal evidence suggest that many non-Muslims voted for Pakatan Rakyat in Election 2008 because they were disappointed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did not live up to his promise of being the leader of all Malaysians.

They felt that under his watch, their religious space had narrowed considerably.

teja

Bernama
25 April 2008

KOTA BHARU -- Ketua UMNO Bahagian Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah akan tetap menawarkan diri untuk bertanding jawatan Presiden Umno pada pemilihan parti pada Disember walaupun berlaku peralihan kuasa.

Beliau berkata peralihan kuasa di antara Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tidak ada kena mengena dengan parti dan beliau mempunyai hak untuk bertanding sekiranya mendapat pencalonan yang mencukupi.

"Soal UMNO bukan kerajaan, saya cuma menawar diri kalau cukup pencalonan daripada bahagian untuk UMNO, tidak ada kena mengena dengan kerajaan... Saya hendak menawarkan diri untuk berkhidmat, jadi kalau cukup pencalonan, saya akan tawarkan diri," katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra di sini.

Anggota Parlimen Gua Musang itu berkata demikian ketika mengulas mengenai pelan peralihan kuasa Abdullah kepada Najib yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri pada 14 April lalu.

Abdullah bagaimanapun berkata pelan peralihan kuasa itu akan hanya dibincangkan selepas pemilihan parti.

-- BERNAMA

teja

Menteri Dollah semua tak reti buat kerja!

Tiada diesel subsidi di stesen minyak, sesetengah pengusaha masih keliru kenyataan Menteri

Bernama
25 April 2008

KUALA LUMPUR-- Sesetengah pengusaha pengangkutan awam masih keliru dengan kenyataan Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad yang membayangkan bahawa minyak diesel subsidi tidak lagi akan dijual di stesen minyak.

Presiden Persatuan Bas Hentian dan Ekspres Datuk Mohamad Ashar Ali berkata mereka keliru kerana masih belum mendapat maklum balas mengenai cara pengagihan subsidi diesel berkenaan.

Shahril dalam kenyataannya semalam membayangkan bahawa tiada lagi diesel subsidi akan dijual di stesen minyak tetapi sebaliknya bahan itu akan dibekalkan terus kepada pengusaha pengangkutan melalui satu mekanisme yang akan dikenal pasti.

Mohamad Ashar yang dihubungi Bernama berkata beliau juga terkejut dengan kenyataan menteri itu.

Katanya walaupun pada dasarnya cadangan itu boleh dianggap baik tetapi cara pelaksanaan pembahagian subsidi itu dikhuatiri boleh menyebabkan berlakunya penyelewengan.

"Setakat ni pihak kementerian tak ada maklumkan apa-apa pada kami, tapi sebelum mereka buat keputusan sepatutnya kementerian datang berbincang dengan kami dulu," katanya.

Sementara itu, Pertubuhan Pemandu dan Pengusaha Teksi/Limosin dan Kereta Sewa Malaysia (PETEKMA) berkata isu subsidi diesel tidak banyak memberi kesan kepada anggota persatuan itu memandangkan kebanyakan teksi, kereta sewa dan limosin di bawah persatuan itu tidak menggunakan diesel.

Timbalan Presiden PETEKMA Mohd Shahril Abd Aziz bagaimanapun melahirkan kebimbangan tentang kenaikan harga petrol.

Katanya sekiranya kerajaan berhasrat untuk tidak memberikan subsidi kepada para pengusaha teksi, sekurang-kurangnya kementerian perlu memberikan bantuan dalam bentuk kos penyelenggaraan untuk mengubah enjin petrol kepada gas asli (NGV).

"Tapi sekarang ni pun susah nak cari stesen NGV, tambang pun dia tak bagi naik. Jadi susahlah kami," katanya.

Bagi Presiden Persatuan Pemilik Lori Pan-Malaysia (PMLOA) Er Sui See, pihaknya tidak mengharapkan apa-apa subsidi daripada kementerian sebaliknya mencadangkan kerajaan supaya mengkaji untuk memansuhkan cukai alat ganti lori seperti yang dibuat di negara jiran, Thailand.

Katanya subsidi sebenarnya tidak banyak menjejaskan operasi pengusaha lori tetapi sebaliknya kos penyelenggaraan terutamanya alat ganti dan tayar banyak membebankan pengusaha lori.

Sementara itu, Naib Presiden Persatuan Pengusaha-Pengusaha Stesen Minyak Malaysia (PDAM) Abu Samah Bachik berkata pihaknya masih tidak jelas dengan kenyataan Shahrir itu.

Beliau berkata penjualan diesel subsidi masih dijalankan seperti biasa sehingga pihaknya dimaklumkan oleh pihak Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna.

-- BERNAMA

teja

Of all Dollah's MORONIC KENNEL CLUB, we thot it was Nazri Chihuahua that won the contest.. but wait, we have a NEW WINNER, it is Shahrir Samad Tiung Jambul Putih! He will get the wrath of the consumers who had tried to fight the Dollah's Government induced inflation by switching to a green diesel engine instead of continuing using petrol. This will surely have Shahrir Samad's and Dollah's head in the guillotine of the rakyat aka consumers trying their darnest to fight the government-induced inflation.

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

Tiada diesel subsidi - Tidak lagi dijual di stesen minyak selepas penstrukturan semula

Utusan Malaysia
24 April 2008

Oleh HERMAN HAMID

KUALA LUMPUR – Diesel subsidi kemungkinan besar tidak lagi dijual di stesen-stesen minyak apabila penstrukturan semula subsidi bahan bakar negara dilaksanakan tidak lama lagi.

Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad berkata, langkah tersebut merupakan salah satu kaedah untuk memastikan golongan yang berhak sahaja menikmati subsidi diesel.

Dasar baru mengenai penjualan diesel subsidi itu dijangka memberi kesan kepada beratus-ratus ribu kenderaan enjin diesel yang kini semakin popular kerana harga bahan bakar itu lebih murah daripada petrol.

Jumlah pendaftaran kenderaan diesel baru kini dianggarkan kira-kira 50,000 buah setahun, dan sebahagiannya mengambil kesempatan daripada subsidi diesel yang kerajaan berikan kepada pengusaha-pengusaha pengangkutan awam.

Menurut Shahrir, kerajaan kini dalam peringkat akhir kajian untuk menilai mekanisme terbaik pengedaran diesel subsidi kepada kumpulan sasar tersebut.

“Antara yang berhak menerimanya sudah tentu sektor pengangkutan awam seperti bas sekolah kerana kita tidak mahu kos pengangkutan untuk anak-anak ke sekolah berlaku kenaikan sekiranya pengusaha tidak menerima diesel subsidi.

“Di bawah cadangan dasar baru itu, individu yang memiliki kenderaan enjin diesel perlu mendapatkan bekalan diesel pada harga pasaran semasa,” katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Hari Harta Intelek Negara 2008 di sini hari ini.

Shahrir percaya pengguna kenderaan enjin diesel tidak akan menghadapi masalah menerima pendekatan baru itu.

Diesel kini dijual di stesen minyak pada harga RM1.58 seliter, tetapi pemandu 21 jenis kenderaan perdagangan yang dapat menunjukkan kad subsidi yang dikeluarkan kerajaan diberikan diskaun 15 sen seliter.

“Pengguna kenderaan diesel sendiri telah berjimat kerana enjin itu cukup ekonomik dari segi penggunaan bahan bakar,’’ katanya.

Beliau memberitahu, aspek yang penting dalam cadangan itu ialah kerajaan mahu sistem yang efisien untuk memastikan tidak berlaku ‘ketirisan’ subsidi kepada pihak-pihak yang tidak layak.

“Kerajaan mengeluarkan lebih RM33 bilion setahun untuk subsidi minyak dan jumlah itu sangat besar. Maka perlu ada kaedah bagi menjadikannya lebih cekap termasuk membantu mengatasi penyeludupan diesel (ke negara jiran).

“Kita berharap dasar baru ini dapat dilaksanakan dalam masa terdekat. Kita telah lama membincangkan soal ini, ia bukan baru dibincang semalam,” ujarnya.

Shahrir menjelaskan, jika stesen minyak terus dibenarkan menjual diesel dan petrol subsidi pasti akan berlaku penyalahgunaan dan penyeludupan.

“Di bawah penstrukturan itu nanti, diesel hanya dijual pada harga pasaran di stesen-stesen minyak dan diesel itu nanti pula mungkin kualitinya lebih baik,’’ jelasnya.

Sementara itu, ditanya mengenai kesedaran harta intelek di negara ini, Shahrir berkata, perkembangannya amat baik berdasarkan begitu banyak permohonan untuk mendaftarkan cap dagangan dan paten.

Pendaftaran paten sahaja yang dikendalikan oleh kementeriannya mencatatkan jumlah 6,983 pada tahun lalu, sedangkan pada tahun 2003 hanya 1,500 permohonan diproses.

“Jumlah keseluruhan permohonan yang tertunggak mencecah 7,434 dan permohonan ini masih menunggu untuk diproses.

“Kita yakin permohonan yang tertangguh ini dapat diproses dalam masa terdekat,’’ ujar beliau.

teja

Buat pertama kalinya Majlis Raja-Raja selepas Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 menyaksikan kehadiran lima Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri daripada Barisan Alternatif, termasuk seorang berbangsa Cina dari Pulau Pinang, negeri Perdana Menteri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sendiri yg masih enggan melepaskan jawatan walaupun telah menyebabkan kehilangan negeri sendiri kepada pembangkang di dalam PRU baru-baru ini.

Mereka ialah Menteri Besar Kedah, Azizan Abdul Razak; Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim; Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin dan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng selain Menteri Besar Kelantan, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. Sebelum ini, sejak tahun 2004, hanya Nik Aziz merupakan Menteri Besar daripada kalangan parti pembangkang.

Tidakkah malu PM Abdullah berdepan dengan Raja-raja Melayu kerana beliau penyebab utama mencemarkan majlis dengan memberi peluang kepada DAP yang kurang ajar kepada institusi Kerajaan dan Ketuanan Melayu itu sendiri, termasuk "penderhakaan" beliau kepada YDP Agong mengenai perlantikan Menteri Besar Terengganu baru-baru ini?

Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin telah hadir pada hari kedua mesyuarat itu. Seri Paduka diiringi Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja yang ke-213 adalah mesyuarat pertama pada tahun ini. Majlis Raja-Raja bersidang sebanyak tiga kali setahun.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail hadir semasa mempengerusikan mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja Ke-213 sambil diiringi Sultan Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah dan Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman di Istana Negara semalam.
- Bernama

Pelihara institusi raja
Utusan Malaysia
24 April 2008

Oleh NORAINI ABD. RAZAK
(WARTAWAN UTUSAN)

TANGGAL 13 Julai depan genap 111 tahun selepas Majlis Raja-Raja mengadakan mesyuarat pertamanya di Istana Negara, Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

Pertemuan ulung itu dinamakan Mesyuarat majlis Raja-Raja Bersekutu atau lebih dikenali sebagai Mesyuarat Durbar.

Segala-galanya bermula dengan penubuhan majlis tersebut pada 1 Julai 1896 selepas Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu terdiri dari Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan dan Pahang ditubuhkan.

Rentetan daripada itu, sebuah majlis yang dianggotai oleh Raja-Raja Melayu Negeri Bersekutu turut diwujudkan bagi membincangkan hal ehwal dan kepentingan bersama dengan pemerintah Inggeris.

Keanggotaannya kemudian bertambah apabila Persekutuan Tanah Melayu ditubuhkan pada tahun 1948, dengan kemasukan Negeri-Negeri Melayu Tidak Bersekutu iaitu Johor, Kedah, Perlis, Ke- lantan dan Terengganu. Namanya juga telah dipendekkan menjadi Majlis Raja- Raja.

Selepas Persekutuan Tanah Melayu mencapai kemerdekaannya, Melaka dan Pulau Pinang turut menjadi ahli dan ini diikuti pula oleh Sabah dan Sarawak apabila Malaysia ditubuhkan pada tahun 1963.

Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja yang pertama selepas merdeka ialah pada 30 dan 31 Oktober 1957 dan dipengerusikan oleh Raja Perlis, Sultan Syed Putra Syed Hassan Jamalullail.

Itu sebahagian kecil sejarah awal Majlis Raja-Raja yang semalam bermesyuarat buat kali ke-213 di Istana Negara bagi melangsungkan fungsinya yang dipersetujui di bawah Perkara 38 Perlembagaan. Uniknya mesyuarat pertama untuk tahun ke-111 ini juga dipengerusikan oleh Sultan Perlis, Sultan Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail.

Terdiri daripada sembilan raja dan empat Yang Dipertua Negeri, Majlis Raja-Raja adalah lambang hubungan erat antara Kerajaan Persekutuan dan kerajaan negeri di peringkat kepimpinan yang paling atas.

Mesyuarat kali ini sememangnya menarik dari segi warna-warninya. Empat raja atau wakilnya serta seorang Yang Dipertua Negeri diiringi oleh pemimpin negeri (Menteri Besar/Ketua Menteri) yang mewakili parti pembangkang.

Sememangnya peranan raja-raja yang tersembunyi di sebalik Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan Perlembagaan negeri sukar dimengertikan oleh rakyat.

Maka jadilah raja-raja institusi yang tersendiri sehingga setiap fungsi serta kuasa yang padanya dipandang sepi oleh rakyat, malah kadang-kadang diperlekehkan.

Namun kemelut pelantikan Menteri Besar di Perak, Perlis dan Terengganu selepas pilihan raya baru-baru ini ternyata mengembalikan ingatan rakyat terhadap fungsi sultan atau raja di negeri-negeri.

Betapa satu-satunya institusi yang tinggal untuk mempertahankan kedaulatan bangsa serta ketinggian agama Islam itu sering disalahertikan sebagai tidak mempunyai sebarang kelebihan.

Pensyarah Undang-Undang Perlembagaan Universiti Islam Antarabangsa, Dr. Shamrahayu Abd. Aziz menarik perhatian mengenai institusi raja-raja yang semakin dilupakan sehinggalah berlakunya gelombang di ketiga-tiga negeri itu.

Katanya, ia sekali gus mengubah pemikiran rakyat bahawa Raja-Raja Melayu atau Majlis Raja-Raja mempunyai fungsi yang terlalu hambar, penuh dengan batasan serta tidak perlu dirujuk (berbincang) setiap kali ada keputusan yang memerlukan peranan mereka.

Contoh paling mudah ialah kelantangan kerajaan Pulau Pinang ingin menghapuskan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) sedangkan ia melibatkan peranan Majlis Raja-Raja dan tidak boleh dilontarkan sewenang-wenangnya tanpa merujuk kepada majlis tersebut.

Shamrahayu berkata, keadaan itu jelas menunjukkan betapa rakyat termasuk di peringkat pemimpin masih ada yang tidak faham tentang peranan Majlis Raja-Raja.

"Sebab itu perkara-perkara seperti ini boleh dilontarkan sewenang-wenang tanpa mengambil kira apakah kedudukan sebenarnya,'' katanya.

Beliau berkata, perkembangan terbaru itu juga menunjukkan bahawa sumbangan serta peranan raja-raja bukan hanya ditonjolkan ketika mereka bersidang.

"Sebaliknya ketika tidak bersidang pun pandangan raja-raja mesti dirujuk dalam hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan fungsi mereka seperti yang ditetapkan dalam Perlembagaan,'' katanya.

Paling dikesalkan apabila masyarakat dibelenggu oleh persepsi bahawa Majlis Raja-Raja mempunyai peranan yang amat minimum.

"Peranan Majlis Raja-Raja menjadi minimum kerana ia tidak dirujuk jauh sekali diajak berbincang sedangkan fungsi majlis amat besar,'' katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia.

Selain itu, jelas beliau, masyarakat juga sering mempunyai tanggapan yang tidak tepat terhadap keupayaan raja-raja sedangkan latar belakang pendidikan mereka tidak boleh diperkecilkan begitu sahaja.

Contohnya, terkandung di dalam Perlembagaan bahawa sebarang pelantikan yang dibuat oleh raja-raja hendaklah nasihat Perdana Menteri.

Biarpun peruntukan tersebut menjelaskan sebaliknya, namun ada kalangan masyarakat berpendapat raja-raja menjadi 'yes man' iaitu bersetuju atas apa sahaja yang dikemukakan kepada mereka.

Sedangkan, hakikatnya, raja-raja mempunyai kuasa untuk menerima atau menolak nama-nama yang dicadangkan untuk apa juga pelantikan yang memerlukan restu mereka.

Oleh kerana terlalu dibelenggu oleh persepsi kurang elok tentang raja-raja maka banyak pihak yang tidak dapat menerima apa yang berlaku di Perak, Perlis dan Terengganu.

"Semestinya raja-raja yang berkenaan tahu serta pandai menilai keutamaan negeri-negeri yang baginda menjadi penaungnya. Sudah tentu juga raja-raja akan memilih orang yang layak dan di-terima oleh rakyat,'' katanya.

Raja-raja juga menggunakan pendekatan yang terbaik untuk memastikan pemimpin yang menjadi pilihan mampu meredakan ketegangan seperti yang diputuskan di Perak.

Hakikatnya Mesyuarat Majlis Raja- Raja kali ke-213 biarpun tidak akan mengetengahkan kepada umum inti perbincangannya, namun kepentingannya mesti diakui oleh semua pihak.

Ia bukan pertemuan biasa jauh sekali sekadar memenuhi kalendar tahunan sebaliknya mesyuarat tersebut adalah platform serta peluang untuk raja-raja membincangkan perkara-perkara berkepentingan bersama.

Dengan kehadiran Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan Perdana Menteri, mesyuarat tertutup itu tidak terkecuali membincangkan pelbagai agenda termasuk dasar-dasar negara.

Perlu diketengahkan bahawa institusi raja-raja bukan sedikit peranannya malah suara mereka kini semakin diterima dan dihormati oleh rakyat.

Misalnya, buah fikiran Raja Muda Perak, Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah amat disanjung baik dari sudut perundangan, politik mahupun mengangkat negara bangsa.

Begitu juga dengan kepimpinan Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah serta keakraban Tengku Mahkota Johor yang sentiasa berusaha mendekatkan diri dengan rakyat.

Mereka adalah waris yang bakal menduduki takhta apabila tiba masanya kelak dan semestinya menyerlahkan peranan raja-raja serta majlis yang diwujudkan khas untuk memulihara kedudukan raja-raja di negara ini.

Jika dirujuk fungsi Majlis Raja-Raja amat besar sejajar dengan kedudukan mereka sebagai ketua agama di setiap negeri. Majlis juga mempunyai tanggungjawab istimewa iaitu untuk melindungi hak-hak istimewa bumiputera.

Persetujuan majlis juga penting untuk sebarang pindaan melibatkan Artikel 10 Perlembagaan (berkaitan isu sensitif). Secara amnya, majlis boleh membincangkan sebarang isu berkaitan dengan keselamatan dan kepentingan negara bangsa.

Peranan raja-raja mesti dihormati dan difahami supaya pentadbiran negara dapat berjalan lancar serta kedudukan negara bangsa terpelihara.

teja

Anwar menangguk di air keruh. Dollah harus letak jawatan segera utk UMNO/BN menangani Anwar dari terus-terusan menangguk di air keruh. Selagi Dollah masih degil utk terus memerintah, beliau akan disabitkan kesalahan bersengkongkol utk menjahanamkan UMNO dgn bersepakat dgn Anwar Ibrahim bersama-sama menantunya Khairy Jamaluddin yg dilihat mempunyai talian yg baik dgn Anwar.

Ahli2 akar umbi akan menuduh Dollah sebagai punca dan talibarut PKR/BA utk menjahanamkan UMNO/BN.

UndurLAH!

Malaysia's Anwar predicts he will be PM by 2011

Thursday, 24 April 2008
(AFP) - - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim confidently predicted Wednesday that he would be prime minister within three years, sketching out the first rough timetable for his dramatic political comeback.

"I don't think we have established a definite, clear timeframe when I will take over (as prime minister) but it certainly wouldn't reach three years... much earlier than that," the former deputy premier told AFP.

"(But) I am not in a rush," he added.

Anwar, heir-apparent to long-time former premier Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad before being sacked and jailed a decade ago, has emerged as a serious threat to the ruling coalition after the opposition's strong showing in parliamentary polls.

He became free to run for office again last week, when a five-year ban stemming from his corruption conviction expired, and says he has the support of enough defectors to topple the government.

The Barisan Nasional coalition has ruled Malaysia for more than half a century since the former colony gained independence from Britain but has been rocked by its unprecedented electoral setback in March.

The Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance claimed more than a third of parliamentary seats and five states in the polls, putting Tun Dr. Mahathir's successor, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, under heavy pressure.

Anwar, 60, pledged more effective governance and to wipe out corruption and promote racial equality, addressing some of the public's major concerns.

"Our reform programme will certainly be more secure. We will push for a market economy, judicial independence and equality for all Malaysians," he said.

Anwar also repeated his claim that lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak states had indicated interest in defecting from the ruling coalition to the opposition. He spoke to AFP at Kuala Lumpur airport on his way to Sabah.

"Lawmakers in the two states in Borneo island have approached me about switching sides, but so far none has declared their intentions publicly," he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar told reporters in eastern Sabah state that coalition lawmakers could jump ship by August after being sworn in at the end of April.

"It's all a matter of timing. Let parliament resume and they are sworn in as MPs (on April 2Cool.... It could be the month after or by August," he said.

Anwar also said that if the opposition took power, Sabah and Sarawak would be able to keep 20 percent of revenue from the oil they produce, up from the current 5 percent.

"These are the oil-producing states, yet in the case of Sabah it is among the poorest states in the country," he said.

Anwar will travel to Sarawak Thursday to rally support for the opposition and to press his own claims for power.

Analysts have backed Anwar's statement that he has enough support to rule, saying turmoil in the ruling coalition could hasten an exodus of lawmakers and propel him to power.

Prime Minister Abdullah is facing growing demands to quit, but has defiantly claimed a mandate to rule and refused to discuss a succession plan.

Anwar had previously been expected to re-enter parliament quickly through a by-election in one of the seats held by his Keadilan party, but says he is in no hurry to act and will instead focus on building up the opposition.

About 20,000 supporters attended an Anwar rally last week. The opposition leader was released in 2004 after spending six years in jail.

teja

Sejak bila Kerajaan beri kebebasan suratkhabar-suratkhabar mengiklankan arak secara terang-terangan? Boleh ke ini berlaku di zaman Dollah Hadhari ni???

Adakah kerana kesemua menteri-menteri kabinet terpaksa digunakan untuk menjaga kepentingan Dollah maka tiada menteri yang memantau hal-hal begini?

Adakah suratkhabar the Star sekarang telah menjadi suara DAP dengan banyak mengetengahkan suara-suara ahli-ahli parlimen DAP? hmm....

teja

PAS harus buktikan mereka tidak takut dgn DAP dan PKR. Kalau baru kena herdik dgn DAP terus tanggal gigi, tidak payahlah bermimpi di siang hari utk menjadi parti Islam atau untuk menegakkan syariah Islam, malah utk membina negara Islam yg cukup dilaung-laungkan itu. Wasalaamlah nampaknya.

Apa sangat hendak ditakutkan pada DAP? Hentamlah balik!

Apr 22, 08 8:57pm

Pengerusi kebangsaan DAP, Karpal Singh hari ini mendesak PAS supaya menggugurkan agenda parti itu untuk menubuhkan negara Islam.

Karpal Singh Ahli parlimen Bukit Gelugor itu berkata, janggal bagi PAS untuk meneruskan agenda negara Islamnya dan pada masa yang bekerjasama dengan dua parti lain dalam Pakatan Rakyat - PKR dan DAP.

"Walaupun PAS memberi tumpuan kepada agenda Pakatan Rakyat untuk mewujudkan sebuah negara kebajikan dan memulihkan demokrasi dan urus tadbir yang baik, tetapi ia tetap dengan agendanya untuk menubuhkan sebuah negara Islam.

Dzulkifli Ahmad 100605
"Kenyataan yang dibuat oleh ahli parlimen PAS bagi Kuala Selangor, Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad, pastinya tidak membantu menjayakan perjuangan Pakatan rakyat," kata Karpal dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Beliau mengulas laporan akhbar yang memetik Dr Dzulkifly sebagai berkata parti itu tetap dengan agendanya untuk menubuhkan kerajaan Islam di Malaysia.

Menurut Dr Dzulkifly lagi, partinya tidak membangkitkan isu negara Islam kerana ia bukan sebahagian daripada agenda Pakatan Rakyat.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya akan memberi lebih banyak masa kepada pengundi untuk memahami parti tersebut.

Minta nasihat Tun Salleh

Menurut Karpal lagi, kenyataan yang dibuat oleh para pemimpin PAS tidak membantu menjayakan kepentingan Pakatan Rakyat.

Beliau berkata, PAS tidak boleh melakukan dua perkara dalam satu masa.

salleh abbas salleh abas tun salleh abbas"Saya ingin menasihatkan PAS bahawa parti itu mungkin perlu mendapatkan pandangan Tun Salleh Abas yang penah menjadi Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) PAS dan exco kerajaan nengeri Terengganu, mengenai isu negara Islam," tambahnya.

Menurut Karpal lagi, pada 1988, Tun Salleh bersama panel lima orang hakim Mahkamah Agung, dalam satu penghakiman, telah mengisytiharkan bahawa Malaysia bukan sebuah negara Islam, tetapi negara sekular yang mengamalkan undang-undang sekular.

"Juga tidak boleh dilupakan kenyataan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra dan Tun Hussein Onn bahawa Malaysia adalah sebuah negara sekular," kata Karpal, sambil menambah bahawa Perlembagaan Persekutuan sendiri mengandungi negara sekular sebagai salah satu struktur asasnya.

'Henti buat kenyataan'

pas islamic state agenda hadi and nik aziz 200105
Sehubungan itu, katanya, PAS perlu memberi jaminan bahawa pemimpinnya, termasuk menteri besar Kelantan Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (foto) dan presidennya Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang tidak akan menguar-uarkan lagi hasratnya untuk menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara Islam.

Menurut peguam terkenal itu lagi, tidak memberi sebarang makna bagi PAS secara terbuka mengisytiharkan bahawa ia menjadi tulang belakang Pakatan Rakyat dengan matlamat menubuhkan negara Islam.

"PAS sendiri tidak mampu memperolehi majoriti dua pertiga untuk meminta Perlembagaan Persekutuan untuk menubuhkan sebuah negara Islam.

"PAS mesti bersikap praktikal dan berkerjasama ke arah memastikan Pakatan Rakyat menang lebih besar dalam pilihanraya umum akan datang," kata Karpal, sambil menambah parti Islam itu tidak seharusnya melakukan sesuatu yang prejudis kepada gabungan pembangkang serta boleh menjejaskan usaha memperkukuhkan Pakatan.

Untuk itu, katanya, cara terbaik ialah pemimpin PAS berhenti membuat kenyataan terbuka tentang perkara tersebut.

Dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac lalu, barisan pembangkang - PAS, PKR dan DAP - berjaya menawan empat negeri - Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak dan Selangor.

Kerajaan campuran di Kedah terdiri daripada PAS dan PKR. Di Pulau Pinang pula antara PKR dan DAP.

Manakala ketiga-tiga parti tersebut menubuhkan kerajaan campuran di Perak dan Selangor.

Berikutan itu, pada 1 April, pucuk pimpinan ketiga-tiga parti berkenaan sepakat untuk merujuk keempat-empat negeri tersebut sebagai kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat.

teja

Dollah KOWTOWing to the US and Jews yet again!

Dollah, Khairy and Anwar US-Jewish friendly foreign policies will try to distant themselves as much from the like of stand-for-its-principle-absolutely-NO-KOWTOWING- to US and Israel nonsense that is Iran and Ahmednijad. Again Dollah makes sure Najib gets to deliver such news. What a coward!

Iran ejected from Malaysian defence show
(AFP)

24 April 2008

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia on Thursday said Iranian defence firms were ejected from a military trade show for exhibiting "lethal and offensive equipment" in violation of UN Security Council sanctions.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said the Iranian firms had been informed that they could take part provided that did not contravene UN resolutions which includes a ban on arms exports.

"Unfortunately... they displayed equipment that clearly contravenes the UN resolution such as missiles and missile systems," Najib told reporters.

"We were left in a situation that we did not have any option -- since Malaysia is committed to respecting and adhering to the UN resolution -- but to terminate their participation," he said.

Last year, the Security Council had imposed a series of sanctions against Iran to punish Tehran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, which world powers fear Iran could use to make nuclear weapons.

According to the New Straits Times, the Iranian pavilion at the Defence Services Asia exhibition was closed on the second day of the four-day trade show which ends Thursday.

The newspaper said US embassy officials had approached the organisers and the Malaysian defence and foreign ministries to voice their concern and threatened to pull out of the show if action was not taken.

The US is one of the largest exhibitors with 26 American companies taking part.

A US embassy spokeswoman said it does not comment on diplomatic actions.

Najib, who is also defence minister, said: "We received some complaints but we took this action not on the basis of the complaints but because of our position."

more on this:

Iran display halted for showing missiles
The Sun
April 25, 2008

Husna Yusop

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia terminated Iran’s participation in the 11th Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2008 exhibition and conference because it showcased missiles, missile systems and other related equipment.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said this contravened the United Nations Security Council resolutions 1747 and 1803, which stated that lethal or offensive equipment and those related to them must not be transferred or sold to other countries.

Najib, who is also the defence minister, said the Iranians have been told they must not showcase forbidden materials as provided under the UN Security Council resolutions.

This was conveyed by the ministry’s secretary-general to the Iranian ambassador on Tuesday (April 22).

"Unfortunately, when we came around to inspect their stand, they displayed equipment such as missiles, missile systems and others which would be in direct contravention of the UN Security Council resolutions," he said.

"We were left with no option but to terminate the participation of Modlex (Export Centre) since Malaysia is committed to respecting and adhering to the UN resolution."

In a press conference on the last day of the DSA 2008 today, Najib was asked to comment on the Iranian pavilion which the organisers abruptly sealed off on the second day of the DSA 2008 on Tuesday.

On whether this was due to protests by American and British exhibitors, he said they objected but the decision was based on the violation of the resolution.

Asked whether Iran would be allowed to participate in future DSA events, he said: "It all depends on their status vis-a-vis the UN resolution. If the resolution is still in effect, then we will continue to respect and adhere to it."

Asked why the message was conveyed to them only on Tuesday, Najib said they had been told earlier on but the last time was on that day because "we tried to work out a way for them to participate."

In another development, asked whether the review on big-scale programmes under the 9th Malaysia Plan will affect the whole development of the Malaysian armed forces, Najib said the government had never overspent on defence.

"Whatever we spent on defence is within our affordability and will not jeopardise the country’s socio-economic development. So we are quite happy with the state of affairs that the Malaysian government has always adopted a balanced development approach."

He said some of the defence programmes will go on while some may need to be re-scheduled under the Mid-Term Review.

On measures to be taken by the armed forces to offset the rising fuel cost at global level, Najib said they will resort to more fuel-efficient engines when evaluating defence products or equipment.

The next DSA will be held from April 19 to 22, 2010.

teja

From Malaysiakini
P Suppiah | Apr 23, 08 4:09pm

The personalities involved in the entire episode are as follows:

* The then Yang Di Pertuan Agong (the King), now the Sultan of Johor

* Tun Salleh Abas, who was then the Lord President

* The prime minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was then Datuk Seri Dr),

* The then attorney-general, Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman, now Suhakam chief.

The whole episode started with Salleh writing a letter to the King dated March 26, 1988, copies of which were sent to the Malay rulers. On May 27, 1988 the prime minister in the presence of high-ranking government officials informed Salleh that the King wished him to step down (to retire as Lord President) because of the said letter.

Salleh on May 28, 1988 sent a letter of resignation: the next day he withdrew it and subsequently held a press conference. On June 9, 1988 the prime minister made a second representation to the King alleging further misconduct on the part of Salleh based on his undignified use of the press to vent his grievances – such as requesting for a public hearing of the tribunal and asking for persons of high judicial standing to sit on the tribunal.

On June 11, 1988, members of the tribunal were appointed pursuant to the Federal Constitution by the King. On June 14, 1988, Salleh was served with the list of charges against him. On June 17, 1988, Salleh was served with a set of rules to govern the tribunal procedure. On June 21, 1988, on the application of Salleh, a Queen’s Counsel was admitted for the purpose of defending him without any objection from the attorney-general.

Salleh was informed of the tribunal’s hearing on June 29, 1988 and was told he could be represented by his Queen’s Counsel. On June 29, 1988, counsel for Salleh appeared and informed the tribunal that Salleh would not participate in the proceedings. Salleh was making a series of press statements including an interview with the BBC showing unhappiness over the tribunal’s legality.

The tribunal held its proceedings in camera. Salleh was accorded the right to be defended by counsel. His counsel decided not to cross-examine any of the witnesses. The tribunal was made up of the following six persons:

* Acting Lord President, Abdul Hamid Omar (tribunal chairman), who was appointed a High Court judge in September 1968. In 1980, he was appointed a Federal Court judge. On Feb 3, 1984, he was made the Chief Justice of Malaya taking over from Salleh.

* TS Sinnathuray, a Singapore Supreme Court judge (tribunal member).

* Abdul Aziz Mohamed Zain, a former Federal Court judge (tribunal member).

* Mohamed Zahir Ismail, former High Court judge from 1975 to 1982 before assuming his post as a Dewan Rakyat speaker (tribunal member).

* Sri Lankan Chief Justice, KAP Ranasinghe (tribunal member).

* Chief Justice of Borneo, Lee Hun Hoe (tribunal member).

The allegations against Salleh were made known to him in writing (in respect of which the tribunal held its inquiry), and briefly they are:

First allegation: On the occasion of the conferment of the honarary degree of doctor of letters on him by Universiti Malaya on Aug 1, 1987 in his speech he made several statements criticising the government which displayed prejudice and bias against the government: and these statements were incompatible with his position as the Lord President of the Supreme Court.

Second allegation: At the launching of the book Malaysia Law and Law, Justice and the Judiciary: Transnational Trend on Jan 12, 1988 in his speech he made several statements discrediting the government and thereby sought to undermine public confidence in the government’s administration of this country in accordance with the law.

In the same speech he made special reference to the interpretative role of judges and advocated the acceptance of the Islamic legal system not only in the interpretation of the civil law of Malaysia but in its general application.

In particular he advocated thus: "This system consists mostly of the Quran and Hadith (tradition of Prophet Mohammad S.A.W.). The interpretation of these two sources of law is done according to the established and accepted methodology. Volumes of literature have been written as commentaries and exegesis of the Quaranic law the Prophet Mohammad’s Hadith or tradition. In this situation, not only is the judiciary bound by Islamic law as propounded by jurisconsult (muftis, who give legal rulings on particular matters), but as Parliament and the executive too are certainly bound by these rulings."

His attempt to restate the law generally along Islamic legal principles ignores the character of Malaysian society as one which is multi-religious and multi-racial with deep cultural differences. No responsible government can allow the postulation of such views by the head of the judiciary without causing fear and consternation among its non-Muslim population. Furthermore, his statement violates established principles of judicial interpretation widely accepted in the courts in Malaysia and in the Commonwealth.

Third allegation: He adjourned sine die the case of Teoh Eng Huat v Kadhi Pasir Mas, Kelantan and Another (Civil Appeal No 220 of 1986) which involved the issue of a minor’s choice of religion. It was adjourned six times in the Supreme Court – Aug 18, 1986, Aug 25, 1986, Dec 1, 1986, July 30, 1987, July 31, 1987 and Aug 3, 1987. It related to the conversion from Buddhism to the Islamic faith.

Fourth allegation: In his said letter dated March 26, 1988 to the King and the Malay rulers, he stated that it was written on behalf of the judges of this country. This is false as there was no prior consultation with nor approval of all the judges of the country on the content of the letter before he sent it.

Fifth allegation: He, after his suspension as Lord President, made various statements to the media for publication and broadcasting which contained untruths and which were calculated to politicise the issue between the government and himself and to further discredit the government.

The tribunal commenced its hearing on June 29, 1988. Salleh was absent. But his counsel, namely Raja Aziz Addruse, CV Das and Royan were present. The attorney-general presented his arguments to assist the tribunal and set out the facts. In his submission, the AG stated that there was more than ample evidence and justification to recommend Salleh’s removal from office.

In all four witnesses were called and much written material connected with the allegations was made available to the tribunal for its members to rely on. The four witnesses were Sallehudin Mohamed, Sharon Abdul Majid (director-general of Fisheries), Saedon Daud (deputy director of Budget) and Haidar Mohd Noor (chief registrar) who gave evidence with regard to the adjournments of the conversion case mentioned in the third allegation.

The tribunal completed its report on July 7, 1988. In it, it stated that the tribunal was appointed by the King under Article 125(3) and (4) of the Federal Constitution to investigate and submit a report to the King in regard to the representation made by the prime minister that Salleh be removed from office on the grounds of his misbehaviour which show that he is no longer able to discharge his duties and function as Lord President properly and justly.

The tribunal in its report set out the background facts and its findings and recommendations. The tribunal under proof and findings inter alia stated that it endeavoured to follow the well-known principle and applied and followed in such matters and also in regard to the burden of proof and the standard of proof by similar tribunals in other jurisdictions. It dealt with each of the allegations and stated briefly in respect thereof as follows:

Allegations 1 and 2: The tribunal was satisfied on a consideration of the documents containing the speech that had been made by Salleh on the occasion he was conferred the honourary degree of doctor of letters by Universiti Malaya on Aug 1, 1987 and also the speech made by him on Jan 12, 1988 on the occasion of the official launching ceremony of the book Malaysian Law and Law Justice and the Judiciary: Transnational Trends at the Shangri La Hotel Kuala Lumpur that the particulars set out in the said allegations have been established.

Allegation 2 (iv) and 3: In regard to allegation 3 the tribunal was satisfied in the absence of any explanation by Salleh that the adjournment was made upon improper and extraneous consideration when the case related to the conversion of a minor from the religion she professed (Buddhism) to the Islamic faith.

Allegation 2 (iv): The tribunal held:

i) that it was manifestly clear in the absence of an explanation from Salleh who made the speech that he was seeking to advocate in the guise of interpretation, the acceptance of the principles of Islamic law as propounded by the ‘muftis’ and to assert that such rulings bound not only the judiciary but also both the Parliament and the executive of the country

ii) that it must be borne in mind that Islam is the religion of the Federation, the Constitution of Malaysia by Articles 3 and 11 assures and guarantees to all persons complete freedom of religion by vesting in every person "the right to profess and practise his religion" in accordance with the law.

iii) that it must also be borne in mind that Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-religious country. That being so, the assertion of principles as spelt out in the said speech by Salleh is likely to cause not only uneasiness but also fear and doubt in the minds of those who profess a religion other than Islam and do not subscribe to the tenets and principles advocated by Salleh in his speech.

iv) that it must also be borne in mind that the Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day which is inconsistent with the Constitution shall be void to the extent of such inconsistency. Therefore, it was ill-advised for Salleh as head of the judiciary to make an authoritative statement that "Islamic laws bind not only the judiciary but Parliament and the executive also".

Allegation 4: The tribunal held that for Salleh to say that the letter to the King (copied to all the Malay rulers) was from "all of us" was an untruth and in the absence of any explanation the tribunal held that Salleh had done so in order to ensure that the said letter could carry greater authority and greater conviction than it would have had it been made only by a section of the judges.

Allegation 5: The tribunal was satisfied that in the absence of any explanation from Salleh that he used the media with the view to politicising the issue of his suspension and to gain public sympathy for himself.

The tribunal touched on the meaning of "misbehaviour": to mean unlawful conduct or immoral conduct such as bribery, corruption, acts done with improper motives relating to the office of a judge and which would affect the due administration of justice or which would shake the confidence of the public in a judge.

The tribunal concluded: "Having regard to the views we have already formed upon the material before us, we are of the opinion, in the absence of an explanation being made by or on behalf of Salleh that he has been guilty of not only "misbehaviour", but also of misconduct which falls within the ambit of "other cause", which renders him unfit to discharge properly the functions of his office, as Lord President, as set out in Article 125(3) of the Constitution."

Under recommendation, the tribunal said: "Salleh has been proved to have behaved himself in such a way as would destroy the public confidence in his impartiality, his honesty his integrity and in his ability to make decisions as a judge and unanimously recommended that he be removed from office, both as a judge and as the Lord President of the Supreme Court, which recommendation was accepted by the King."

It further stated: "We very much regret that the respondent chose not to appear before us, even though every reasonable opportunity was afforded to him by us. We have, as has been made clear in this report, come to the findings which we have arrived at only upon the unchallenged and uncontradicted material placed before us. Needless to say that had we had the benefit of a plausible explanation from the respondent in regard to the several issues which were presented to us for our consideration, our decision may well have been different."

Much later in a reply letter dated March 20, 1989 to the International Commission of Jurist, Hamid stated that though Salleh was the Lord President his judicial experience on the Superior Court bench was comparatively short having been appointed (when he was a solicitor-general) direct to the Federal Court (the predecessor of the present Supreme Court) as recently as 1979. Salleh was never a Judge of the High Court and had no experience whatever of trial court work at that level. On the other hand, he (Hamid) was appointed High Court judge in 1968 (11 years earlier).

What prompted me to write this letter is because the topic of Salleh Abas has cropped up in the papers recently with the de facto law minister holding the view that the government should apologise to Salleh for his being sacked as Lord President.

The present prime minister has also advocated in his speech at the Bar dinner last week (nearly 20 years later) that the government would make "goodwill ex-gratia payment to Tun Salleh". I wonder whether it will be proper to use government’s money for such purpose.

It must be remembered that to this day no one knows what the defence would have been if Salleh had appeared before the tribunal and be subjected to cross-examination. Salleh did not do this as he said he ‘did not recognise’ the tribunal in his interviews. Even if one does not recognise a tribunal, one should appear before it and make the necessary submission and if the submission fails, one should still give evidence (under protest so to speak) setting out the defence.

His version, even if disbelieved by the tribunal, will always be there on the record for everyone to see. In fact the tribunal had stated categorically that if it had the benefit of a plausible explanation from Salleh in regard to the several issues which were presented to it for its consideration its decision may well have been different.

By his refusing to appear and give his version (especially in regard to his advocating the acceptance of the Islamic legal system in the interpretation of the laws as propounded by the ‘muftis’) he in fact had shot himself in the foot. It is no use crying foul when he did not exercise his right to be heard. What would he have done in a similar or other cases presided by him?

To my mind, it is still open to Salleh, for instance among other avenues, to ask for an appointment of another tribunal to review his case (whether there will be any objection to this from any quarters, I do not know) subject however to his agreeing to give evidence as to his defence. The record of the proceedings are still there. Even if this happened he will be running into difficulties because the four witnesses who gave evidence at the tribunal were never cross-examined by his counsel.

teja

The Edge
April 22, 2008

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ought to be responsible if Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes the country’s leader one day, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

In an interview on BBC’s Hard Talk programme yesterday, Dr Mahathir told presenter Stephen Sackur it would be Abdullah’s fault if the alleged defections by Barisan Nasional members of parliament to the opposition were true, and Anwar succeeded in becoming a prime minister.

“He (Anwar) is welcomed to question me if he becomes prime minister one day, but it should be the prime minister, the present leader that should be blamed, because he couldn’t even get the loyalty of his own members,” he said.

Dr Mahathir also said Abdullah’s judicial reform was a political move to rid of his unpopularity at the moment.

“He is not dismantling the system. He is making use of the system in a worse way (and) he has misled his supporters into believing that if he holds the election this year, he will win with a clean sweep,” Dr Mahathir said.

He also denied that the vote swing to the opposition at the 12th general election on March 8 was caused by the unhappiness of the nation over the country’s administrative system.

“The ideology had been there for the last 50 years and it had worked very well. The results from this election were due to dissatisfaction with the present leadership,” Dr Mahathir said.

When asked if it was his fundamental lack of judgment for choosing Abdullah as his successor, Dr Mahathir said: “Yes, I admit that, but we all make mistakes.”

However, he said he would continue to be a strong critic of Abdullah’s administration and Umno.

“Why should I be quiet? You mean, when they are doing something wrong to my country, I should not say anything? I would be irresponsible if I were to do that,” he said.

He also claimed that Anwar was being “opportunistic” when he called for affirmative action for all Malaysians now, as Anwar “never did anything” for the country when he was in government.

On the infamous Lingam tape, Dr Mahathir denied he was involved in fixing the appointment of judges and claimed Anwar had made the recordings to blackmail V K Lingam.

“Did he (Lingam) mention my name? This tape came from Anwar. Anwar has this tape recorded to blackmail the lawyer,” he said.

teja

Interesting write up to ponder of a non-accusational kind ;) by CucuWakTelu on www.beritakmu.net, with the first scoop from Cuitsikit http://cuitsikit.blogspot.com/2008/04/pak-lah-buat-keputusan-berdasarkan-anak.html

If Salleh Abas Is Shah Hakim's Father In Law, Is There A Story?

This is not an accusation on Tun Salleh!

The discussion by commentators in Rocky Bru's posting, Tun Salleh Abas' "Moral Victory" relating to the relationship between Tun Salleh Abas and Scomi's CEO, Dato (I presume) Shah Hakim Zain spark my interest.

Before any criticism is levied, lets be clear it is furthest from my thought to accuse Tun Salleh of colluding in corrupt meteoric rise of Scomi. I'd kill myself, if Tun Salleh was a willing accomplice in this political PR conspiracy to salvage Abdullah Badawi's plummeting premiership.

However, I can't resist to explore the story, especially when every other person is high on this new sensation of hope.

This is Abdullah speaking, folks!

He still has Kalimullah, Annuar Zaini and the Fourth Floor boys to do his so-called reform. Them and Abdullah's network of insidious organisations are still at work to keep him as UMNO President and PM, no matter what would eventually happen to UMNO.

The so-called Judicial reform could be a charade. Thus far, the media hype is hiding the root cause of the 1988 judiciary related constitutional crisis!

What Apology and Reform?

Frankly, there was nothing substantial about PM's olive branch to the judiciary.

Lim Kit Siang is still screaming his dissappointment at the top of the shift button of his PC keyboard. There are many claiming the judges sold themselves cheap, especially it is revealed the sacked judges are already compensated. Some believed it is half measures and confusing precedence. Are we really to see greater independence of the judiciary and proper judicial appointment? Who appointed Zaki Tun Azmi? What is the Judicial Commission, if Abdullah has the final say?

Unless one is visually, sonically, and mentally impaired, dinner is to make Abdullah "float like butterfly" and on Dr Mahathir a "sting like a bee". It is giveaway sweets, tasty but no nutritional value. Dare him to make ACA independent. The ECM Libra report will be the first one in next morning.

Typical of kanak-kanak at 4th Floor, their usually open up a flank somewhere. This latest manoeuvre for a vendetta on an old score from a certain factions of the old Team B in UMNO has no relevence to the 30 something and lower voters.

For argument sake, lets assume their view as taken - Dr Mahathir actually lost, the true winner is Tengku Razaleigh, and the old UMNO and its Constitution should be revived. Now, why don't Abdullah remove the quota vote and vacate the Presidency for Tengku Razaleigh? Off course not! He'll be a hunted pigeon. Do your hunting quietly please, we do not wanna wake the Prime Minister in the midst of his Gorbachev dream.

Root Cause

The mainstream and alternative media kept linking the judicial crisis with the 1988 illegal pronouncement of UMNO by Justice Harun Hasim. However, they totally missed the point raised by Tun Salleh in his interview with Sun in 2006 (I believe). Excerpt below:

Question: What was the catalyst of this judicial crisis?

Tun Salleh: I think it all started because of the two (Asian) Wall Street Journal reporters who made comments on certain things and their visa was withdrawn, or something like that. They took this to court. The late Harun Hashim, (who) was the judge at that time, made a very strong comment on the government on the withdrawal of the visa. From then (on), the government started to see that the judiciary was interfering with the executive.

The statement made by the former prime minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) against the judiciary all started from there. Some judges felt very unhappy about it. I don’t think I can go further than this because if I were to tell the story, it would take months and years to finish it. I even wrote a book on it, May Day for Justice.

From one reliable inside source, the interference goes way back before this Bethelsen case, even earlier than Ops Lalang in 1985. The much mentioned racially charged exchanges betwen Dato Lim Kim Sai, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal and Dato Najib and the Pemuda UMNO (which Anwar was then Ketua Pemuda) was not even the cause.

It seems that in one judgement made, a judge awarded citizenship to some 50 foreigners. The lawyer, a bayi, was planning to get Malaysian citizenship for some 500 boat people through the courts. That is the exclusive power of the executive! His judgement, to quote Tun Salleh Abas's May Day for Justice Chapter 5, had nothing to with "procedure".

Ponder this. Who is to check the abusive of the judiciary? They cannot be maksum. George Seah admitted that the judiciary themselves should take the blame for the rot!

Shah Hakim Zain and Scomi

The revelation of Tun Salleh Abas as father in law to Scomi CEO's Shah Hakim Zain was first made on the blog Cuit SIkit!

As a recap, Shah Hakam is a partner of Kamaluddin Abdullah in a holding company, Kaspadu that controls Scomi. Another partner and said to have provided the seed capital for Kaspadu was ISA detainee, BSA Tahir. He has under detention without trial throughout Abdullah's premiership for alleged export of nuclear centrifuge to Libya. (For more read here the New York Times and Washington Post reports.) That's one ISA detainee the Bar Council President left out from her speech.

In the official KLSE (now Bursa Malaysia) dated September 2003 (before Abdullah's appointment as Prime Minister), the share ownership in Kaspadu and indirectly Scomi is under BSA's wife, Nazimah Syed Majid. It has since been bought out.

The nuclear centrifuge contract was awarded to a Scomi subsidiary and the trio have been hacking for this contract for years. Why Shah Hakim and Kamaluddin are allowed free despite their alleged involvement? For Kamaluddin, blood is likely to be thicker than the law. But for Shah Hakim? Why is he staying on course no matter what?

This could expose a corpse rotting for years hidden in Abdullah's closet. It could unravel the compromise of the nation's sovereignty in his administration's economic, security and international relation policies.

Cronies Flowing Down The Sink Pipes?

Matthias Chang has another view of the judicial dinner. Read below:

April 19, 2008

PAK LAH’S CRONIES ARE BLEEDING MONEY

They are all stuck and not able to liquidate

I will let you on a secret.

Jet fuel price is skyrocketing!

But, what has this got to do with Pak Lah’s cronies?

Well, many of them have directly and indirectly latched on to the wings of AIR ASIA - the cheap-fare airlines that was the darling of the spin doctors and investors. Having the Minister of Transport (the previous two especially) as your sympathetic Godfather was a bonus. All “good things” don’t last forever.

And the good times are coming to an end. There won’t be any more champagne parties for Air Asia. Already, in the USA cheap-fare airlines are heading for the scrap heap. To cover up their financial stress, Air Asia is already levying surcharges on other items as a short term measure to maintain airfares at current levels. But, this wayang kulit has to end and price increases will be inevitable! There won’t be any more cheap flights. Expect to see requests for government bailouts.

When the financial tsunami finally hits Malaysia, companies that will be most vulnerable will be companies like Air Asia and those companies in the car business which are highly leveraged. Pak Lah’s cronies who are in the investment banking business up to their eyeballs will also suffer massive losses when their values hit south in the stock market.

Pak Lah’s cronies are all involved in these business and they ARE BLEEDING MONEY! And there is no blood transfusion available. The banks that were financing these businesses are stuck. If they provide more funds, it is throwing good money after bad. If they don’t provide additional liquidity to meet short falls and increasing costs, bankruptcy stares right into their faces!

If you have invested in these counters, get out when you can. But, if you have plenty of cash, you can buy exotic cars for dimes in the dollar. In so far as the shares of these companies, you can frame and hang them up as a reminder of your greed and stupidity.

Pak Lah’s cronies have been bleeding money and will be bleeding more money in the months ahead. Therein, lies the pain and agony because these cronies are in a dilemma.

It is only a matter of time before UMNO do Pak Lah in for screwing big time in the 12th General Elections. But the cronies are hoping and persuading Pak Lah to stay on so that their “investments” will not end up in smoke. But each time, UMNO members at Branch and Division levels calls for his retirement, they suffer a minor heart attack.

The billion question: “Do we liquidate and run with what we have in hand, or do we hold and wait for our fortune to turn for the better?”

Some have already liquidated and have made all the preparations for their get away – houses overseas, children studying abroad and minimum cash balances in local banks, with the bulk in foreign banks!

Oouch!!! Did I say foreign banks? Yep, and that is why they are also in a fix, what with these big global banks suffering massive losses and for all intent and purposes, insolvent. When these banks holding their ill-gotten gains fold up, I can assure you that they may very well jump from the 20th floor rather than face reality and shame. This is a given.

Don’t bother prosecuting them for corruption. It will be a waste of public funds. It is better that we watch them do their own thing.

These are desperation times and desperate people will do desperate things.

So when you read the news, please be careful, as there is more to it than meets the eye. I don’t mean just the main stream media but also some of the blogs as well. They are playing a subtle double game, part of Pak Lah’s web of deceit and deception.

In due time, I will expose them and named them specifically and lets see whether they dare sue me for defamation.

For now, I urge all of you to be vigilant.

And, vigilant we should.

In Sun Tzu's Art of War, one is to be wary of a cornered wounded tiger for it will do anything to survive. Dr Khir Toyo's urgent call to rid this tiger from going amuck and killing anything in its way is real. We thought he is a hunted pigeon?

Still, I am not accusing Tun Salleh of collusion with corruption and crime ...

******

The first scoop
From Cuitsikit @ http://cuitsikit.blogspot.com/2008/04/pak-lah-buat-keputusan-berdasarkan-anak.html

Friday, April 11, 2008
Pak Lah Buat Keputusan Berdasarkan Anak Menantu Lagi

Mengapa Pak Lah dan Zaid Ibrahim begitu beria-ia mahu mengangkat kembali bekas Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Salleh Abbas yang dipecat oleh Yang Dipertuan Agong beberapa dekad lalu? Jawapannya masih terdapat pada isu anak menantu.

Menurut sumber, Kamaluddin sedang mempengaruhi Abdullah untuk memulihkan kedudukan Tun Salleh Abas sebagai satu tanda sokongan (menutup rahsia?) kepada CEO Scomi, Shah Hakim Zain.

Siapakah Shah Hakim Zain ini dengan Tun Salleh Abas? Shah Hakim adalah menantu kepada Tun Salleh Abas.

Justeru isu Tun Salleh ini dibangkitkan semula bagi membolehkan Pak Lah membantu Kamaluddin dan CEO Scomi tersebut.

teja

Syabas! First kenyataan from Pemuda for the longest time that I can respect!

Apr 22, 08 12:12pm
Seorang exco Pemuda UMNO hari ini menegaskan bahawa menurut perlembagaan parti, peralihan kuasa bukan ditentukan oleh presiden tetapi ditentukan oleh parti keseluruhannya.

Exco berkenaan, Kamarulzaman Kamdias berkata jawatan presiden bukan sesuatu yang diwarisi turun temurun.

Sebaliknya, kata beliau, ia merupakan mandat demokrasi yang perlu diberikan kepada ahli-ahli melalui pemilihan parti.

Beliau yang juga timbalan pengerusi biro keahlian dan daftar pemilih pergerakan tersebut menegaskan demikian dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkannya semalam.

Kamarulzaman berkata kini terdapat gesaan dari ahli-ahli parti supaya presiden membentangkan 'pelan peralihan kuasa'.

"Setiap hari wujud interpretasi yang berbeza mengenai apakah pelan tersebut. Saya merasakan bahawa bercakap mengenai 'pelan peralihan kuasa' telah memesong kita daripada isu utama, iaitu mengenai kepimpinan.

"Kita sedang bercakap berpusing-pusing dan mengelirukan. Sebaliknya, mereka yang mahu Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi meletakkan segera jawatan presiden parti hendaklah bercakap secara berterus terang.

"Begitu juga jika beliau (Abdullah) mahu memegang jawatan itu hingga tahun 2010 atau 2012, beliau juga mesti menyatakannya secara berterus terang. Beliau boleh bertanding jawatan presiden Disember ini seperti mana sesiapa juga yang dicalonkan," tambahnya.

Menurut, perlembagaan UMNO menyediakan pemilihan parti yang teratur dan demokratik untuk memperbaharui pucuk pimpinan setiap tiga tahun.

"Pemilihan parti telah ditangguhkan lebih setahun. Ahli-ahli parti - bukan segelintir golongan elit - yang kini perlu memutuskan siapa harus kekal dan siapa yang harus beredar," tambahnya.

******

And another one from Khir Toyo.

Peralihan kuasa elak saingan sengit

Apr 22, 08 3:16pm
Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo berkata langkah mengemukakan lebih awal pelan peralihan kuasa akan dapat mengelak pertandingan sengit sehingga memecahbelahkan parti dalam perhimpunan agung Disember depan.

"Jika ada pihak mengatakan ini merupakan satu desakan daripada saya terpulanglah kepada pemahaman masing-masing," kata bekas menteri besar Selangor itu dalam catatan terbaru dalam blognya semalam.

Dr Mohd Khir yang baru pulang daripada mengerjakan Umrah berkata, beliau cuma menyampaikan suara akar umbi yang menyatakan pandangan mereka kepada beliau.

"Saya fikir pandangan-pandangan ini amat relevan dan saya bertanggungjawab untuk menyampaikannya kepada kepimpinan parti dan negara," katanya.

Kelmarin, pengerusi badan perhubungan UMNO Selangor, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib berkata sebarang pandangan pandangan Dr Mohd Khir mengenai peralihan kuasa, adalah pandangan peribadi dan tidak mewakili pendirian UMNO Selangor.

Menurut Dr Mohd Khir lagi, selain pandangan ahli UMNO yang berjumlah lebih tiga juta orang, "pandangan orang Melayu seramai 16 juta juga perlu diambil kira bagi memastikan UMNO terus relevan".

Sebab itulah, tambahnya, dalam catatan pertamanya mengenai peralihan kuasa, beliau menegaskan bahawa UMNO, Barisan Nasional (BN) dan kerajaan harus mencari satu formula baru bagi memastikan ia terus relevan kepada orang Melayu, Cina dan India serta kaum-kaum lain di Malaysia.

Hak perdana menteri

"Semua ini, sama ada cakap-cakap mengenai perubahan kepimpinan mahupun perubahan pendekatan dalam kerajaan dan parti, adalah bertujuan mengukuhkan UMNO sebagai parti yang menjadi tunggak BN juga kepimpinan negara," tambahnya.

Dr Mohd Khir juga menjelaskan bahawa dua catatan terakhir beliau mengenai peralihan kuasa mendapat respons yang pelbagai.

"Apa yang saya cuba tulis ialah satu analisis senario politik semasa mengikut pandangan dan pemerhatian sebagai seorang Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO.

"Tujuan saya ialah supaya pimpinan tertinggi UMNO dapat memikirkan secara positif isu pergelutan politik ini dan mengambil langkah-langkah proaktif. Sekurang-kurangnya bagaimana untuk mengelak perkara tersebut dari menjadi kenyataan," tambanya.

Untuk melaksanakan peralihan kuasa, tegasnya ,sama ada sekarang, akan datang atau pun tiada peralihan langsung, adalah hak perdana menteri.

"Saya hanya merayu agar satu 'exit plan' dikemukakan segera. Ini juga selari dengan pengakuan Pak Lah sendiri kepada UMNO Johor untuk mengadakan peralihan kuasa.

"Selain itu, ahli-ahli UMNO juga mempunyai kuasa dan hak menentukan kedudukan kepimpinan parti.

"Saya hanya berharap jika ada 'exit plan' dikemukakan awal, maka tiada satu pertandingan yang terlalu sengit sehingga memecah belahkan parti akan berlaku dalam perhimpunan agung UMNO akan datang," tambahnya.