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Sunday, August 31, 2008

51st National Day Celebration


Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he hoped that every Malaysian could give importance to solidarity.

In his 51st National Day message; he said united citizens were a bulwark against any threat, either from within or outside the country.

He said solidarity was the cornerstone of the country's political stability, social harmony and economic competitiveness.

Abdullah says, Ahmad Ismail didn’t mean it



Malaysia Prime minister and UMNO President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will personally see to it that Bukit Bendera UMNO chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail does not repeat his remarks about the Chinese were mere squatters or temporary residents of the nation and therefore, it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races in the country.

“I will tell him not to do it again. You know in a campaign all sorts of things can come up. I don’t think he meant it. I’ll make sure to tell him not to use it again,” the Prime Minister said after chairing the Bertam UMNO division meeting yesterday.

Ahmad had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) and was also reported to have said that “the Chinese were mere squatters or temporary residents of the nation and therefore, it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races in the country." during a ceramah in Permatang Pauh in Aug 25.

He had allegedly uttered the remarks in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Gerakan, a component of the Barisan Nasional (BN), has called for stern action against Bukit Bendera UMNO division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail over his recent “seditious” remarks on the Chinese community.

Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye in a statement said, “Many Malaysians are disappointed with the mild statement by Prime Minister and UMNO resident Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when commenting on the seditious statement by Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

“They (Malaysians) had expected a strong rebuke, especially on Aug 31, a day all Malaysians celebrated the country’s independence. After 51 years of independence, any further doubt of loyalty of any Malaysian of any ethnic origin and the questioning of citizenship is beyond the understanding of all Malaysians.”

“Ahmad’s statement was outdated and racially provocative, adding that any sign of the Barisan Nasional tolerating any out rightly racist and provocative views would give the wrong signal to the people.”

“Ahmad Ismail should not only retract what he uttered and also apologize to all Malaysians but also be disciplined so as to prevent such divisive statement or action from being repeated. Such archaic views can further divide a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia,” he added.

Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, in another statement, urged the UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to review its stance against Ahmad. He called on the police to investigate the matter as the MCA and Gerakan Youth had lodged a police report against Ahmad.

Penang Gerakan Youth committee member Dr Thor Teong Gee lambasted Ahmad and charged that UMNO was still using racial ideology to achieve its own personal political agenda.

Bukit Mertajam MCA division chairman Lau Chiek Tuan called for disciplinary action against Ahmad.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary Ng Wei Aik also called on Ahmad to immediately retract his statement and apologize to the community.
Meanwhile, Tanjung Gerakan Youth division chief H’ng Khoon Leng lodged a police report at the district police headquarters in Patani Road over Ahmad’s alleged remarks.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said there was no reason for Ahmad to stir racial feelings with his remarks.

“This is the Merdeka month and such a racist remark should not have been made,” he added.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said UMNO leaders should stop using racial sentiment to seek support from the people.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Khairy disagrees with move to block Malaysia Today

Although Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra has caused Khairy as much bad rep and deliberately destroyed his character, interestingly, he disagrees with the decision of blocking access to Malaysia Today.

In his latest posting “In Defence of Those Who Despise Me” on his blog, www.rembau.net.my, Khairy said: “No other website has caused me as much bad rep and deliberately destroyed my character as Raja Petra’s Malaysia Today. Yet I cannot help disagreeing with the recent move by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block access to the site.”

“Such blatant and crude employment of State power is inconsistent with the widening of the democratic space – an approach the current Administration adopted long before the 12th General Election.”

“Citizens' right to information aside, MCMC's high-handed approach also sends out the wrong message as it is at odds with the Multimedia Super Corridor Bill of Guarantees – a ten-point Bill that prescribes zero Internet censorship. The government will do well to appear consistent in its application of Internet regulation and steadfast in its commitment to ensure, wherever possible, free access to information as controversial or inaccurate as they may often be in Malaysia Today's case.”

“I am sure many are aware that Raja Petra is for the time being hosting the site elsewhere. It is quite bemusing that MCMC should have thought the blocking of access to Malaysia Today would actually succeed. Internet censorship may not only be unnecessary, it is quite often impossible, especially when the targeted site is, for better or worse, one of the most popular across the country.”

“Few would disagree with the view that Malaysia Today deliberately invites controversy upon itself and does its best to elicit reaction from the government and certain individuals that become targets of Raja Petra. In his incessant desire to concoct sensationalism, he often peddles half-truths and occasionally, outright lies. "

"The inability to judiciously moderate comments also results in racially and religiously offensive remarks being posted without any restriction by the web master. Nevertheless, none of these should justify an attempt at outright censorship. There are ample alternative channels to pursue action if desired - public rebuttals or civil suits for defamation are a few. And from personal experience, I find it apt sometimes to simply ignore the site and its wild stories even at great cost to my own reputation.”

“Apart from violating the principle of openness and transparency that this Administration champions and that I have publicly defended, this move also threatens to further alienate young, urban voters from Barisan Nasional."

"This act of censorship betrays a lack of faith in Malaysia's youth to intelligently decide the truth for themselves. Tabloids sell far more than broadsheets in many countries, but it would take a bold person to suggest that readers of The Sun or The Mirror in the UK, for example, take all of its content at face value."

"I see every indication that bright young Malaysians, too, can apply the same self-filtering process. What they will not stand for is the State imposing its own filter on the Web. The Barisan Nasional government needs to be savvier in responding to issues on the Internet.”

Friday, August 29, 2008

A People's Budget by a Caring Government


Prime minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, tabled a RM207.9 billion people’s budget for 2009, calling on Malaysians to unite in the face of a global environment of higher prices and slower economic growth.

The budget stress on improving the public transport for the people, provided a social safety net for the poor, helped middle-income earners get a bigger disposable income, placed emphasis human capital development, strengthening national resilience, expanding tax exemptions, dishing out higher allowances and further provided for the development corridors' progress to boost national wealth in the years ahead.

Anwar’s road to Putrajaya - a myth or reality?


Opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim still has a very long journey ahead to Putrajaya. Whether the final destination to reach Putrajaya could have actually be materialized or is merely perpetuating a myth which begin in the by-election in the Permatang Pauh constituency, but definitely it is attracting too much political attention from the political analysis and public.

Ironically, Anwar's bid to lure parliamentarians from Sabah, in particular to defect from the BN to wrest power by Sept 16 seems quite difficult to materialize.

Barisan Nasional leaders from East Malaysian states today ticked off newly sworn-in Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly stoking speculation that defections from their ranks into his Pakatan Rakyat alliance were imminent.

They also reiterated their support for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"We are not merchandise, we are not promotional items. We have prestige and dignity and this is a struggle we will never gamble," Mohd Shafie Apdal, the BN MP for Semporna told a press conference.

"There should not be any speculation... playing with these issues and fabricating stories as if we are goods and items to be sold," said Shafie, who is also unity, culture and heritage minister.

Surrounded by some 20 legislators from Sabah and Sarawak, Shafie said East Malaysian MPs had agreed to pledge their loyalty to the BN and will be submitting a declaration to the prime minister by today or tomorrow.

Shafie stressed that East Malaysian MPs would never secede from the Barisan, but would stand by the leadership regardless of the rumours being spread.

"All those rumours are concoctions by irresponsible people... Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman and Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's have again and again pledged our loyalty to BN," he said.



Thursday, August 28, 2008

Syed Hamid: Malaysia Today published slanderous articles


MCMC had instructed all Internet service providers to block access to Malaysia Today.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said today that the prominent news portal Malaysia Today had been banned because it published "libelous, defamatory and slanderous" content.

"I think we don't intend to curtail people's freedom and right to give information and debate, but when you publish content that is libelous, defamatory and slanderous to other people I think it is only natural we take action," he said.

He said Malaysia Today had ignored warnings against publishing "slanderous" articles.

"So many warnings and opportunities have been given and it is not heeded, so I am sure they have exercised their authority well under the law."

Anwar sworn in and as Opposition leader


PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as Permatang Pauh MP at 10.05am Thursday in a brief ceremony in Dewan Rakyat.

Anwar, who turned up for the event in a simple black baju melayu, was accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their daughter Nurul Izzah.

The seven-minute oath-taking ceremony, which took place immediately after morning prayers, and before Question Time, was witnessed by speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, Anwar's family, ministers Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and other MPs from both sides of the divide.

"Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. I, Anwar Ibrahim, as an MP, do hereby swear with all honesty that I will fulfill my duties honestly and will defend and protect the Constitution".

After the ceremony, Anwar took his place on the first seat on the Opposition block, located at front row of Block H, which directly faces the seat of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Pandikar Amin also announced Anwar's appointment as the Opposition leader.

Anwar repeated his claim that he will form the government by Sept 16. However, he refused to back up his claim with names of Barisan Nasional MPs who would cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Anwar Ibrahim is Permatang Pauh new MP


Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the new Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament, having garnered a 15,671-vote majority. He got 31,195 votes, while Barisan's Arif Shah got 15,524 votes and Hanafi Amat (Akim) managed 92 votes, losing his RM 15,000 deposit.


1. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR) : 31,195 votes

2. Hanafi Mamat (AKIM) : 92 votes


3. Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN) : 15,524 votes

Turnout:
81.01 percent%

There were 447 spoilt votes and 98 unreturned ballot papers.


Monday, August 25, 2008

Anwar refuses to take oath

PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he would not take any oath in connection with the sodomy charge he faces for fear it would be manipulated by certain quarters.

He claimed that his sodomy accuser, former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, had sworn on the Quran on purpose in an attempt to deny him victory in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election on Aug 26.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Fence-sitters support BN


The fence-sitters are showing their support to BN candidate Arif Shah Omar Shah.

Anwar has taken RM60 million of Magnum’s money

Nallakurrapan said Anwar has taken RM60 million of Magnum’s money from him.

Is Anwar political chameleon?



Vote for Change?

Vote for a better candidate

Najib: Reject Anwar for pawning Malay dignity

PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim is pawning the dignity and principle of the Malays to achieve his dream of becoming prime minister. And he should be rejected as a leader.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim is so desperate to become prime minister that he is willing to pawn the dignity and principle of the Malays like opening Universiti Teknologi Mara to the other races who are allowed to establish their own universities.

Najib said that Anwar Ibrahim should not politicize the future of the race, religion and nation just because he wanted to achieve his dream of becoming a leader.

Najib said those who like to politicize the dignity of the race, religion and nation should be rejected as a leader.

He urged the Permatang Pauh electorate to give priority to political stability, economic growth and development as the basis when casting their vote at the by-election.

If Anwar Ibrahim becomes PM........

Saiful's oath of being sodomised by Anwar Ibrahim

PKR : Bisexsual movement symbol?

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Dirty politics at work by Anwar Ibrahim?


The Permatang Pauh by-election seen the politics overall with a particular focus on the dirty political strategies widely used by Anwar Ibrahim.

He is saying one thing and doing another, it’s cruel and inhumane. He is doing whatever he takes to get as many votes as he can, ethically or unethically.

Gangster Politics used by Anwar Ibrahim


Gangster Politics is one of the dirty political strategies widely used by Anwar Ibrahim in Permatang Pauh by-election.


It tangentially aimed at slandering the opponent to get as many votes as you can, ethically or unethically.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Theory of RAHMAN or RAHMAAN?



Rahman is the transliteration of an Arabic given name رحمن that comes from the triconsonantal root R--M, meaning benevolent. In Islam, the name الرحمن is considered one of the 99 Names of God.


According to Kwong Wah Yit Poh, the best selling paper in Penang, Anwar Ibarhim in an exclusive interview said that RAHMAN should be spelled as RAHMAAN because the Arabic pronunciation of Rahman should be Rahmaan (double-a).



Why is Anwar so obsessed with the spelling of the word? It is because of the the RAHMAN Theory which foretell that the first seven Prime Ministers of Malaysia ‘must’ follow the alphabets of the word RAHMAN:


R = Tunku Abdul Rahman (1st PM)
A = Abdul Razak Hussein (2nd PM)
H = Hussein Onn (3rd PM)

M = Mahathir (4th PM)
A = Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (5th PM)

A = Anwar (6th PM)

N = Najib (7th PM)


If the pronunciation of Rahman is Rahmaan, then Anwar should become the next Prime Minister. Otherwise Najib should be the one.


If A is for Anwar, then N could be Najib, Nik Aziz, Nurul Izzah, Nasaruddin Md Isa, or even DAP – Ngieh?

Najib swears: 'I never knew Altantuya'

Should’ve been there any political conspiracy in the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu? Datuk Seri Najib Razak hits back at Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and private investigator P. Balasubramaniam’s claim that Najib knew Altantuya were nothing more than lies by taking oath according to the Islamic teaching.



According to Nik Aziz, in Islam, when a person swore on the name of Allah, he was inviting Allah to be a witness.

"This has a very significant meaning. According to Islamic laws, if you swear on Allah’s name and withdraw later, you will have to encounter kafarat (a fine for breaking a rule).

Thus Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s move can be seen as the clear-cut answer to the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

It has been reported that Datuk Seri Najib Razak last night (22 August 2008) publicly swore according to Islam at Masjid Jamek Guar Perahu that he never knew murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, nor had anything to do with her.

The deputy prime minister said: "Even though this is not an official oath on the Quran: Wallahi, Wabillahi, Watallahi, I never knew nor had anything to do with the Mongolian woman Altantuya (Shariibuu)."

Najib said he did not know if anybody else wanted to swear, but "I know I did no wrong. This is between me and God".

It was a repeat of the oath he had taken at an Umno closed-door meeting earlier.

Najib's oath was backed up by honorary consul-general for Mongolia in Malaysia, Datuk Syed Abdul Rahman Alhabshi, who was also at the mosque.

Syed Abdul Rahman said the claims of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and private investigator P. Balasubramaniam that Najib knew Altantuya were nothing more than lies.

Syed Abdul Rahman said he had been the first Malaysian to be informed by police of Altantuya's murder and the first to go to Mongolia, where he opened a safe containing her documents.

"There was not one document, nor picture or video involving Najib (in the safe)," Syed Abdul Rahman said.

Hamzah: "Anwar harassed my wife"

Anwar is being accused of sodomy and now, being a womanizer. It is interesting to note that of all opposition leaders, why Anwar is the only one to be accused of moral wrongdoings. Not once but a few times.

Nik Aziz, Hadi Awang, Lim Kit Siang and Karpal had been arch political enemies of Barisan Nasional longer than Anwar, but so far we do not hear any nasty stories about them.

To be accused of sexual misconduct is a serious matter especially for top politicians who aspire to be leaders of the rakyat. Just imagine a Prime Minister who preaches the people, especially the young generation, to be good morally but he himself does the contrary.

Of course, we have also heard so many stories about sexually-corrupt leaders being blackmailed by foreign powers to be their political slaves.

On 19 August 2008, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin had been quoted by Kwong Wah Jit Poh newspaper as saying that Anwar had in 1998 tried to take advantage of his wife even though they were best of friends then.

He told the newspaper that Anwar had "kacau" his wife. Therefore, he thinks that the voters should not vote for Anwar in the coming Permatang Pauh by-election.

In view of this, Anwar has demanded an apology from Hamzah within forty-eight (48) hours or face a RM10 million lawsuit.

It has been reported that Hamzah declined and instead challenged Anwar to proceed with his libel suit.

How interesting if the court proceeding is held before the by-election. We certainly want to hear the details of what actually happened. Surely Hamzah has some proofs in his sleeves to be revealed to the court.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

World-Class Leader vs Caring Leaders


Which one do you prefer?

World-Class Leader or Caring Leaders?

It turns out that the best leader is caring leader.



Anti Corruption

It’s all about fighting corruption, no political conspiracy

Fighting corruption is a very difficult task especially when it is deeply entrenched in our society. Malaysians should no longer tolerate corruption as part and parcel of our life.

Although it needs the strongest political will to fight corruption but the most important factors in combating this malice are government’s accountability and transparency as well as the ability to enforce the laws free from any form of intervention.

Thus the government’s move recently to ensure an independent anti-corruption agency (ACA) is most welcome. Even the opposition parties had lauded the move.

But when ACA arrested two Perak executive council members, they accused the action as politically motivated.

There is no political conspiracy in the arrests of the two Perak executive council members, said Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan.

“We don’t politicize issues. They were suspected of accepting bribes and that was why they were arrested. “We had investigated and charged Umno leaders in the past for graft. We have also charged high-ranking civil servants. This case is no different. “They were allegedly involved and we arrested them. It has nothing to do with politics,” he said.

Ahmad Said also said political parties, non-governmental organizations and other quarters should cooperate with the agency to eradicate corruption. “We just cannot let them go.

If the people in power are corrupt, don’t expect us as the enforcement agency to just listen and see, without reacting.” He thanked the public for information leading to the arrests of the exco members and four others in this latest case.

“Even if the DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Umno or other parties for that matter, have information on graft, they should inform us.”

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

2 Perak PKR EXCOS nabbed by ACA, Perak Government falls into turmoil


Two Perak PKR state executive councilors and a former PKR state assemblyperson were among six people detained in an Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) operation.

The duo are Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering), who is exco for tourism, human capital and NGOs and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang), the exco for entrepreneur development, agriculture and commerce.


The incident is expected to send the Perak government into turmoil as the Pakatan Rakyat government only holds a slim three-seat majority over Barisan Nasional.

In a statement, the ACA said the six were detained for alleged graft in relation to a RM180 million housing project in Seri Iskandar, about 30-minute drive south of Ipoh.

Five of them, aged between 45 and 57, were picked up yesterday following a public tip-off. Meanwhile Jamaluddin was arrested at 10.30am this morning when he surrendered himself to the ACA. He was accompanied by his lawyer.

"Three of the suspects, including an exco, were detained immediately after allegedly accepting RM100,000 in return for expediting the application process for a housing project worth RM180 million. They are also believed to be involved in sexual bribery.

The ACA also revealed that among those arrested were a Perak Tengah district councilor, a technician with the state development body and two businessmen. It is learnt that the two members of the state cabinet were not involved in sexual bribery.

According to the ACA, the five who were nabbed in a sting operation yesterday - including Mohd Osman, a retired army captain - were caught red-handed with RM100,000 found in a bag belonging to the exco at a hotel in Ipoh.

Several of them were spotted at the Ipoh Sessions Court today with handcuffs, and the five have been remanded for three days to facilitate investigations. They have yet been charged.

Jamaluddin, who has been taken in for questioning, is expected to be brought to court tomorrow. The ACA had earlier asked him to surrender himself to the agency following the arrest of the five at 6pm yesterday.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Anwar caused Penang loss RM9 mil

Former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said BFSB’s chairman then was Amin Shah, the elder brother of Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah. But at that time, Arif Shah was not a director or shareholder in the company.

Its Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim intervened in a share purchase deal of a state-owned company 10 years ago resulting in the state suffering a loss of RM9mil.

Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said Business Focus Sdn Bhd (BFSB) which was owned by the Penang Development Corporation, bought the shares of Penang Shipping Corporation for RM29mil, Dr Koh told a press conference at a hotel in Seberang Jaya yesterday.

BFSB, however could not pay up on time and Anwar, who was deputy prime minister and finance minister at that time, instructed Penang state government to extend the payment period. The company ultimately only paid up RM20mil.

“When the company first defaulted in 1998, we wanted to take action but Anwar intervened. He asked us to give chance because of the economic crisis. “He said the company would be getting contracts from the Government and more businesses, so they would be able to pay.” “

When instructions came from higher up, we renegotiated based on trust because Anwar, as DPM and finance minister, would have had a bigger picture of the company’s potential,” Dr Koh said.

He said BFSB was supposed to have paid up within two years but defaulted in 1998. The company defaulted again in 2003; the state “came down hard” on the company.

“When we took legal action to wind up the company, we had only collected RM20mil,” he said.

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