TERENGGANU CRISIS OVER -AHMAD AS MB

The Terengganu political crisis can be considered superficially ended when the Umno supreme council has agreed to endorse Datuk Ahmad Said's palace appointment as Terengganu Mentri Besar.

It seems that this is the best way to resolve the political crisis by UMNO supreme council. Legally, now UMNO’s man for Terengganu is Datuk Ahmad Said.

He can be relieved from facing expulsion thus ending an impasse that had threatened to turn into a constitutional crisis.

Idris, who also took part in the meeting, had been directed to accept the endorsement.

Abdullah said, the priority now was for Ahmad to put together a State Exco line-up as soon as possible, denying that decision to endorse Ahmad "humiliated" him and the party.

SABAH GHAPUR QUITS DEPUTY MINISTER POST

Another Deputy Minister quits, is business unusual or otherwise? You figure it out yourself.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Ghapur Salleh has quit his post eight days after accepting his appointment by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The reason is: He is not interested in any government post. He just want to do his own thing.

Datuk Ghapur Salleh retained his Kalabakan seat uncontested for the 2nd consecutive term.

Ghapur, 64, the Kalabakan MP and Kalabakan Umno chief retained his Kalabakan seat uncontested for the 2nd consecutive term.He said yesterday that he had sent his resignation letter to the Prime Minister’s office.

He is the second Sabah MP after Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman to turn down a Federal deputy minister’s post following the March 8 general election. Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman declined to take up the post of Deputy Transport Minister.

However, he said he remained Kalabakan Umno division chief and dismissed any talk of him quitting the party or joining the Opposition.

IS IDRIS’S POLITICAL GAME OVER?

It’s a political ball-game. It is crystal clear that Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh is creating a genuine political realignment and to redefinition his political position and party loyalties.

Evidently, the Terengganu MB crisis seem to solve temporary when Former Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh has sought the forgiveness of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin - who is also Sultan of Terengganu - over matters which had incurred the ruler’s wrath and forgoing the Mentri Besar’s post.



The political ball is over to Umno leadership and awaiting the respond to the decision now.

16 BN MPS HOP OVER TO PKR?

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohamad Akin claimed today that up to 15 to 16 Barisan Nasional parliamentarians including Umno MPs are ready to jump ship to PKR.

The 12th general election concluded on March 8, 2008 and the opposition parties - PKR, DAP and PAS - won 82 seats in Parliament, while BN captured 140. The opposition coalition needs another 30 MPs to defect before it can form the government.

Ironically, there is no political crisis. But the continuation of PKR courting BN elected representatives, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, in a bid to form the federal government, dramatically creating the political instability of the country. The general instability is what worries the people and foreign investors.

Logically, the defection by buying up parliamentarians is not impossible as Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, “Both sides are trying to buy. That is very democratic. RM10 million is the going price. Just imagine, if you are a Yang Berhormat and you had RM10 million in the pocket. That's very democratic." This is what worries the ruling party.

The political hopping frogs demonstrate once again how the “ethical factor” is discounted by public because of an unfortunate but widespread belief that politicians are unreliable when it comes to matters of ethical conduct. Indeed the general election campaign had illustrated how a holiness contest between politicians is doomed to backfire when it comes to conflict of interest.

It is arguable to say that the accepting level of discernment in the public response about raising ethical standards in public life of politicians especially toward political jumping frogs is still low or with the objection. But most voters are able to distinguish between those charges that matter and those, which are irrelevant to a fair judgment about the personal political benefit or national interest.

As a consequence, the public cynicism toward ethical politicians is reinforced while measures designed to enhance accountability and probity is weakened.

Undoubtedly, in this complex political incident, to a certain extent, it appeared the normative core conspiracy theory that consists of two schools of thought, which are intended to balance out the relation between the goal of maximum personal political benefit and public justice.

Once again, the questions therefore are: Can new form of political jumping ethics politically replace traditional forms of “non-jumping” political ethics or are they just artifacts of an individualistic post-materialist political society with no real political substance but just more than RM10 million? Are we going to protect the notorious Malaysian political jumping frogs or exterminate them for the sake of healthy political culture? Is the ethical jurisdiction needs the integrity spotlight at full beam? You ought to decide it before too late.

UMNO SACKED SULTAN’S CHOICE OF MB AHMAD SAID

Political crisis is on. This is a serious one as Kijal assemblyperson Ahmad Said this morning was sacked from UMNO for disobeying party leadership.

Datuk Ahmad Said, this morning officially received his appointment letter as the Terengganu menteri besar and supposed to have been sworn in Sunday, has been stripped of his Umno membership for disobeying the party's leadership, a state Umno official confirmed Sunday morning.

The state’s party leadership decided at a meeting last night to strip Ahmad of his membership after he defied the party leadership by agreeing to take up the post.

Umno president and prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had backed former Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh to retain the Menteri Besar post. Idris also had the support of all the 22 BN assemblymen, excluding Ahmad.

However Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, who is the present king, preferred Ahmad to take over as the state’s Menteri Besar. Idris is believed to have had fallout with the sultan over several issues.

Ahmad is believed had the support of seven out of eight Umno divisions in Terengganu.

IDRIS SUPPORTER TO FORCE BY-ELECTION IN TERENGGANU

The by-election might happen in Terengganu if the crisis of Menteri Besar can’t be solved politically.

The palace announced the surprise appointment of Datuk Ahmad Said, 51, as Menteri Besar yesterday as all but two of the Barisan Nasional assemblymen in the state declared their support for incumbent and prime minister-backed Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh. It is the sultan’s prerogative to appoint Ahmad to the post.

It is a new record in Malaysia that a state took 14 days to appoint a Menteri Besar after the general election. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail earlier pointed out the appointment of the Menteri Besar had to be in accordance with the laws of the state, which held that the person must be a member of the state legislature who, in the opinion of the Regent and Regency Advisory Council, commanded majority support.

In a joint declaration, the 22 pledged to stay away from the palace ceremony and some said they were willing to vacate their seats to force by-elections if Idris was not appointed.

The office of the Sultan of Terengganu said the swearing-in was to take place at the Istana Tamu at 8am tomorrow morning, which the 22 newly elected assemblymen told a press conference they would not attend.

THE REAL REASON RADZI RESIGNING

Do you know why Radzi was resigning? Is his resignation a normal process of rejuvenation of the party or unable to work effectively anymore?

Read Basir Ahmad’s analysis…

KESALAHANNYA MENGENEPIKAN ARAHAN, MENGAIBKAN PM SANGAT BERAT

Radzi bukan ahli UMNO biasa, beliau adalah Setiausaha Agung. Setiausaha Agung adalah jawatan yang dilantik oleh Presiden. Sepatutnya Radzi adalah orang yang paling setia kepada Abdullah. Ini juga satu tamparan hebat kepada Abdullah yang kini turut menghadapi pelbagai cabaran berat dari pelbagai sudut

Mungkin ada yang terkejut mendengar berita Radzi meletakkan jawatan Setiausaha Agung UMNO dan BN. Namun jika kita mengikuti perkembangan dan pergolakan politik di Perlis sejak beberapa bulan sebelum PRU 2008, kita seharusnya dapat menghidu bahawa Radzi telah melakukan sesuatu yang melayakkan dirinya bukan sahaja disingkir daripada jawatan Setiausaha Agung UMNO, malah patut disingikir daripada parti.

Segalanya bermula apabila beliau secara terbuka mengumumkan bahawa Dato’ Seri Shahidan Kassim tidak layak menjadi Menteri Besar Perlis? Ia menjadi tajuk perbualan hangat kerana beliau berkedudukan Setiausaha Agung UMNO ketika itu. Orang beranggapan bahawa amat tidak patut beliau menyerang Shahidan secara terbuka kerana ia mengaibkan imej parti dan menggugat kestabilan UMNO di Perlis.

Radzi orang Perlis dan Shahidan juga orang Perlis. Barangkali Radzi marah kerana Shahidan tidak memberikan beliau layanan yang sepatutnya sebagai veteran dan Setiausaha Agung dalam parti. Ada juga yang mendakwa bahawa Radzi tidak puas hati kerana Shahidan tidak mengagihkan projek dengan adil ke kawasan Parlimen Kangar (kawasannya) dan kawasan Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid (Parlimen Padang Besar).

Pertikaian itu berleretan hingga ke hari terakhir menjelang penamaan calon PRU 2008. BN Perlis adalah yang terakhir mengumumkan senarai calon. Kesukaran berlaku kerana wujud dua kem – kem Shahhidan dan kem Radzi yang turut dianggotai oleh Azmi Khalid yang ketika itu juga berjawatan menteri pusat, sama seperti Radzi. Shahidan mengemukakan senarai calon dan dalam masa yang sama Radzi dan Azmi juga menyerahkan senarai mereka.

Akhirnya penyelesaian dicapai dengan Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi memutuskan ketiga-tiga tokoh politik Perlis itu menamakan calon-calon bagi tiga kawasan Parlimen di negeri itu. Shahidan memilih calon bagi kawasan Arau, manakala calon-calon bagi kawasan Kangar dan Padang Besar masing-masing dipilih oleh Radzi dan Azmi.

Tanpa diduga BN mencapai kemenangan besar di Perlis. Hanya satu kerusi DUN dimenangi Pas. Umum menganggap kemenangan besar itu adalah hasil kejayaan Shahidan yang telah berpolitik dengan betul bagi mempertahankan keutuhan UMNO dan BN Perlis ketika beliau sendiri sedang menghadapi serangan daripada kem Radzi/ Azmi.

Kemuncak pertikaian berlaku selepas pilihan raya semasa pelantikan Menteri Besar. Orang ramai menyangka Shahidan akan terus menjadi MB kerana beliau turut mendapat restu daripada Perdana Menteri, tetapi tidak semena-mena Raja Perlis memperkenan pelantikan Dato’ Mat Isa Sabu.

Mat Isa adalah bekas exco yang digugurkan daripada senarai calon PRU 2004, tetapi dipilih semula bertanding di kawasan DUN Bintong pada PRU 2008. Bintong terletak dalam kawasan Parlimen Kangar yang ahli Parlimennya ialah Radzi.

Ini bermakna nama beliau naik semula atas pilihan Radzi. Ini juga bererti bahawa Mat Isa adalah orang Radzi. Apabila nama beliau disyor menggantikan Shahidan dan diperkenan pula oleh Raja Perlis, jelaslah bahawa segala yang berlaku adalah permainan politik Radzi dan Azmi.

Raja Perlis turut dipengaruhi oleh kem Radzi/ Azmi kerana mereka berjaya meyakinkan baginda bahawa Mat Isa mendapat sokongan daripada sembilan ADUN baru. Kesembilan ADUN itu adalah orang Radzi/ Azmi kerana hampir kesemua mereka adalah wakil rakyat di kawasan Parlimen Kangar dan Padang Besar. Mereka telah dipilih untuk menjadi calon oleh Radzi dan Azmi.

Apabila Abdullah tidak melantik semula Radzi dan Azmi dalam kabinet barunya, ia adalah jelas satu hukuman terhadap mereka. Radzi dalam kabinet 2004 adalah Menteri Dalam Negeri dan Azmi Menteri Sumber dan Alam Sekitar.

Pengguguran mereka adalah mesej yang jelas bahawa Abdullah marah sangat dengan tindakan Radzi dan Azmi. Sebagai Presiden UMNO dan Perdana Menteri beliau mempunyai hak untuk marah kerana apa yang berlaku telah memalukan dirinya. Beliau yang memilih semula Shahidan, tapi keputusannya diketepikan oelh Radzi dan Azmi yang menggunakan istana untuk menjatuhkan Shahidan.

Senang cakap, Radzi dan Azmi telah `menderhaka’ kepada ketua dengan memperalatkan raja Perlis untuk melantik orang lain menjadi MB .

Kini Shaidan tidak lagi menjadi MB Perlis, tapi dalam percaturan politik beliau masih menang walaupun tidak sepenuhnya kerana akhirnya Radzi telah memilih jalan untuk menghukum diri sendiri dengan meletakkan jawatan Setiausaha UMNO dan BN.

Sebenarnya, jika Radzi sendiri enggan meletakkan jawatan, kemungkinan Abdullah akan memecatnya. Sebelum Abdullah mengumumkan keputusan memecatnya, lebih baik dia sendiri mengundur diri secara sukarela.

Malah disebabkan kesalahan yang dilakukannya sangat berat iaitu menderhaka kepada ketua, UMNO layak mengkaji keanggotaan Radzi dalam parti. Setidak-tidaknya beliau patut dihadapkan ke hadapan Jawatankuasa Disiplin.

Radzi bukan ahli UMNO biasa, beliau adalah Setiausaha Agung. Setiausaha Agung adalah jawatan yang dilantik oleh Presiden. Sepatutnya Radzi adalah orang yang paling setia kepada Abdullah. Ini juga satu tamparan hebat kepada Abdullah yang kini turut menghadapi pelbagai cabaran berat dari pelbagai sudut.

Segalanya berpunca daripada keputusan PRU 2008. Ternyata tarikh 13 Februari yang Abdullah pilih untuk membubarkan Parlimen bukanlah angka yang membawa tuah baginya.

RADZI UNABLE TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH PM

Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad has resigned as Barisan Nasional and Umno secretary-general. Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, the MP for Putrajaya and former Tourism Minister in the previous Abdullah administration, immediately replaced the MP for Kangar.

Speaking at a Press conference at Menara Datuk Onn, Radzi said he was resigning because was “unable to work effectively anymore.”

"I have spoken to the president. I offered my resignation from both posts. I also thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve for four years. I have enjoyed these four years and I pray that Umno will continue to prosper under his leadership," he said.

Radzi, the Home Affairs Minister in the previous government, was dropped from the new Cabinet when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi unveiled his cabinet line-up yesterday.

NIK AZIZ BROKE TABOO INCLUDED WOMAN IN NEW KELANTAN EXCO

Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat broke the PAS taboo by inject a first woman as the Pas-led Kelantan Government's new EXCO member.

Kijang assemblywoman and former Senator Wan Ubaidah Omar, who won the seat uncontested, will head the women and family development, and health committee.

The 52-year old mother of seven, who was widowed following the death of her husband in 2001, said her own experience would help give her an insight into helping this group.

PKR PRESIDENT NEW OPPOSITION LEADER

PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is the new opposition leader in Dewan Rakyat.

The opposition alliance of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), DAP and PAS have agreed to nominate PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the parliamentary opposition leader for the current parliament session.

According to the statement, PKR de facto leader,Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang the three leaders, in a meeting last night, agreed that Dr Wan Azizah would be the opposition leader until Anwar contest and win a parliament seat.

UMNO YOUTH TAKE NO ACTION AGAINST MUKHRIZ

Like father like son but the son’s faith is better than father as the Umno Youth executive council chose not to take any action against Mukhriz.

The question arises: Is it a wise decision by not taking action against Mukhriz? Although it is damaging to UMNO and existing two schools of thoughts, but the Umno Youth executive council chose not to take any action.

Umno Youth today decided not taking action against its errant leader, Mukhriz Mahathir but pass the buck back to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Following the Umno Youth executive council meeting, the movement's chief Hishammuddin Hussein said no action would be taken against Mukhriz for writing a scathing letter to Abdullah demanding that he should resign in the wake of the party’s setback in the March 8 polls.

According to Hishammuddin, the Umno Youth has accepted the controversial letter as a personal missive, which was unfortunately leaked to the public.

Nevertheless he said Umno Youth would not take action against those who leaked the letter to a number of Internet websites.

Hishammuddin also said that the letter was Mukhriz's personal view and this did not reflect the opinion of Umno Youth, which had expressed full support for Abdullah's leadership.

He said that Mukhriz told the closed-door meeting that his views were those of the public and there was nothing wrong with expressing his views.

KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN NOT IN THE CABINET 2008

Suprisingly, Khairy Jamaluddin is not in the line up of cabinet 2008.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced his new administration on Tuesday, trimming his Cabinet from 32 to 27 seats, of which more than half featured new faces.

Abdullah, who retained his Finance portfolio, scrapped the post of parliamentary secretary.

He did not retain big names such as Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (former International Trade and Industry Minister), Datuk Azmi Khalid (former Natural Resources and Environment Minister), Radzi Sheik Ahmad (former Home Affairs Minister), Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis (former Science, Technology and Innovations Minister) and Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor (Tourism Minister).

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (former Housing and Local Government Minister) asked not to be reappointed so that he could focus his energies on rebuilding the MCA after its disappointing performance in the election.

Abdullah also merged the Home Affairs and Internal Security ministries, saying that they had many overlapping functions, and named former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar as its minister.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, formerly Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister, saidAbdullah also appointed two corporate figures, who will be sworn in as senators later Tuesday, as ministers in the Prime Minister's Department.

They are lawyer Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the former MP of Kota Baru who was not chosen to contest in the recent general election, and Maybank chief executive officer Datuk Amirsham A. Aziz; the latter will head the Economic Planning Unit. he was looking forward to the challenges of his new portfolio.

KABINET BARU 2008

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi:- Perdana Menteri-

Menteri Kewangan - (TS Nor Yakcop - Menteri Kewangan Kedua)

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak: - Timbalan Perdana Menteri- Menteri Pertahanan

JPM (Menteri)- TS Bernard Dompok- Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz- D Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi- Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (Kelantan) - Menstrukturkan Institusi Perundangan- Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz (Senator / CEO Maybank) Mengetuai EPU

KDN (disatukan)- Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Jaafar Albar


Kem Perdagangan Antarabangsa (MITI)- TS Muhyiddin Yassin

Pelajaran- DS Hishamuddin Hussein

Kem Luar- DS Dr Rais Yatim

Kem Perusahaan Komoditi- TS Peter Chin

Kem (Kekkwa - disatukan) - Datuk Shafie Afdal

Kem Pengajian Tinggi- DS Khaled Nordin

Kem Pertanian- D Mustapa Mohamed

Kem Sains- Datuk Maximus Ongkili

Kem Pelancongan - DS Azalina Othman Said

Kem WP- DS Zulhasnan Rafie

Kem Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar- Datuk Douglas Unggas

Kem Pengangkutan- Datuk Ong Tee Kiat

Kem Pembangunan Wanita- Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen

Kem Perpaduan Usahawan- Datuk Noh Omar

Kem Kerjaraya- Datuk Zain Mohamed

Kem Tenaga Air Komunikasi- Datuk Shahziman Abu Mansor

Kem Kesihatan- Datuk Leo Tiong Lai

Kem Penerangan- Datuk Ahmad Sabery Chik

Kem Sumber Manusia- Datuk S Subramaniam (MIC)

Kem Perdagangan Dalam Negeri- Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad

Kem Kemajuan Luar Bandar- Senator TS Muhamad Mohd Taib

Kem Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan- Datuk Ong Ka Chuan

Kem Belia dan Sukan- Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob

(Menteri yang tiada dalam Kabinet kali ini - Datuk Seri Rafidah Azid, Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Datuk Azmi Khalid dan Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis)

Separuh daripada Kabinet adalah muka baru. Tiada perlantikan Setiausaha Parlimen. Jumlahnya daripada 90 orang dikurangkan kepada 68 orang.

Pengumuman itu dibuat oleh DS Abdullah dalam siaran langsung oleh RTM dan TV3 sebentar tadi.

PRESIDENT SAPP:NEP HAD EXPIRED IN 1990

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the New Economic Policy had lapsed in the 1990s and that it was unhealthy for political leaders of different races to be pro or anti the policy based on racial prejudice.

"At the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur last Monday, our party once again highlighted the dangers of racial and religious polarization and the mixing of religion with politics. There are much bigger issues facing the country than an expired NEP."

He said, NEP had expired in 1990 and was replaced by the National Development Policy (NDP), which was formulated by the National Economic Consultative Committee (NECC) from 1989 to 1990.

"The NECC was formed to formulate a post-NEP policy and I was one of the representatives from Sabah, along with the then deputy chief minister Datuk Ahmad Baharom and leaders from chambers of commerce. The process took a year to complete and the successor to the NEP was the NDP.

Yong said SAPP had two years ago voiced objections to a proposal by Umno Youth to revive the NEP as it had been "discredited" and that the party preferred to support actions to help weaker sections of society irrespective of race.

The statement by the Penang government to not practice the NEP was redundant as the policy no longer exists, he said.

COLLECTIVE POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY, NOT ABDULLAH ALONE!

Malaysia's ruling coalition has kept its majority but suffered significant losses in the general election. From either macro or micro political aspect, it should be a 'political collective responsibility', not Abdullah alone.

Ironically, the BN coalition, led by Abdullah as the leader of the main ethnic Malay-based component party Umno, give a full support to him to led the government.

Senior Umno leaders too stood behind the prime minister yesterday, slamming Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir's call for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign as a move that could weaken the party in its moment of distress.

Logically, the controversial school of thought only Abdullah resigning as prime minister and Umno president can the recovery of Umno seems to be not in the right path now as the political dust yet to be settled. For the sake of political stability, all parties should avoid political grandstanding and emotive outbursts.

Malaysia ruling coalition Barisan Nasional BN failed to obtain 2/3 majorities, which is 148 seats in 2008 General Election. It only won the simple majority of 139 out of 222 parliamentary seats and lost 82 seats to opposition.

The opposition (DAP, PAS and PKR) has taken 5 states - Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Perak and Kelantan. However, MIC, GERAKAN, PPP suffered heavy losses. The second bigest UMNO partner MCA only won 15 of the 40 parliamentary seats it contested.

Mukhriz, son of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, an executive committee member of the UMNO Youth movement wrote a letter asked Abdullah "to do what is appropriate" following the Barisan Nasional's coalition suffering a humiliating general election result.

"I appeal to you to take responsibility for the defeat. Only by your resigning as prime minister and Umno president can the recovery of Umno, BN and the nation be accomplished successfully," he wrote, echoing his father's statements last Sunday.

MCA WANITA CHIEF FIRST WOMAN MINISTER

MCA Woman power! How about MCA man power?

MCA Wanita Chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen will be the party's first woman minister in MCA history.

MCA party sources said, MCA president and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting would declined a cabinet post as he felt responsible for the party's poor showing and lack of support from Chinese voters in the general election.

MCA is believed to have four new representatives as the new minister for the first time since 1979. MCA Wanita Chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen will be the party's first woman minister.

The MCA line-up is said to comprise party secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan, vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai and Wanita chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen. Datuk Ong Ka Chuan is expected to take over from Ka Ting at the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

The other three will probably assume the portfolios traditionally allocated to MCA, which are Transport goes to Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Human Resources Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, and Health Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

The posts were previously held by Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn and Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek.

ANTI-KHAIRY SENTIMENT CAUSED POLITICAL AND ECONOMY INSTABILITY?

The alleged anti-Khairy Jamaluddin sentiments seem to be one of the main factors that cause the Bursa Malaysia halted trading and the major economy slowdown of Malaysian economy.

Khairy Jamalduin is the son-in-law of the current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and was alleged of influencing the Prime Minister when making critical decisions, thus creating the anti-sentiment that cause the major set back of the general election. The negative trend is continuing, as the negative factors had emerged and the feel good factor is deteriorating unless new measures being introduced.

The negative factors such as: The Raja Perlis has consented to the appointment of Bintong assemblyman Datuk Dr Md Isa Sabu as the new Menteri Besar of Perlis, replacing the embattled Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who still claimed that he had the prime Minister's authority to continue as MB but that the Ruler has ignored it.

Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s coy play seeking the Prime Minister to “do the right thing” has bloomed into what the phrase really meant: a letter circulated among Umno members and played up by the blogs has Mukhriz categorically pleading to Abdullah to resign and take responsibility for BN’s dismal performance for the sake of Umno's survival.

In Trengganu, Umno is still undecided as to who should become Mentri Besar after Datuk Idris Jusoh seemed unable to garner support to continue with his stewardship.

In MCA, the fight for the MCA leadership is on. The challenger Datuk Chua Jui Meng, serving 15 years as a vice-president of MCA and a former health minister, he is wrestling the MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting. He accused Ong should bear full responsibility toward the dismal performance in the general election.

Neither MIC is in good shape, no positive sign shown that Datuk Seri Samy Vellu will be accepted fully by MIC as well as Indian community.

Ironically, due the political scenario of the ruling BN component parties, the current snapshot of the economic outlook and future economy performance of Malaysia strongly suggested a major slowdown. The economic scenario is dramatically different before the 12th general election. The feel factors had lost totally. As long as the political uncertainty remains unsolved which continue to create uncertainty to the growth. This applied to Bursa Malaysia too.

Despite the fundamental economy of Malaysia is strong, but the downturn should be accurately foreseen and address. On the other hand, Malaysia's shock election results, which have left an untested opposition ruling Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Kelantan states, have raised fears over economic growth and investment prospects.

The stock market will remain under substantial short and mid-term selling pressure. The future market will depend on the political dust to settle, but undeniable, the growth could be affected if the new 5 state governments failed to get the support of the federal government over planned infrastructure mega-projects and funding allocated.

External factor too put a great pressure to Malaysian economy. Externally, US are facing economic recession due to the losses suffered by banks and hedge funds. More and more details emerge of the losses suffered by banks and hedge funds due to investments centered on the troubled US housing market. Thus the performance of Malaysian economy has been adversely affected by the greater-than-expected slowdown in the economy, particularly in the United States as well as the continuing weak fear political sentiments, which affected the domestic and foreign direct investment climate.

IS HO REJOIN MCA POLITICAL ETHICS OR ETHICAL ETHICS ?

The notorious political frogs start jumping again after the 12^th General Election. This time, it happened to MCA. Ho, 56, an MCA life member, were sacked for contesting the N1 Tanah Rata, Pahang state seat as an independent but rejoined MCA after he won the seat. Its impact however will be conditional on the culture and ethos of MCA.

Earlier, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who heads the disciplinary committee said, two MCA members who stood as independent candidates to contest in the elections will face disciplinary action to be expelled.

On the other hand, Datuk Ibrahim Ali had his fight for supremacy in Pasir Mas is another battle in his personal war against UMNO but was expelled by party after he contested in the 2004 elections as an independent.

The public reaction toward this political jumping frog demonstrates once again how the “ethical factor” is discounted by public because of an unfortunate but widespread belief that politicians are unreliable when it comes to matters of ethical conduct. Indeed the past few weeks during the campaign, it illustrated how a holiness contest between politicians is doomed to backfire when it comes to conflict of interest.

On the other hand, the community is by far impressed about the most notably case of the expellation of Datuk Ibrahim Ali from UMNO and address it as the ethical considerations determining political preferences.

It is arguable to say that the accepting level of discernment in the public response about raising ethical standards in public life of politicians especially toward political jumping frogs is still low or with the objection. Most voters are able to distinguish between those charges that matter and those, which are irrelevant to a fair judgment about the personal political benefit or national interest. As a consequence, the public cynicism toward ethical politicians is reinforced while measures designed to enhance accountability and probity is weakened.

Undoubtedly, in this two complex political incidents, to a certain extent, it appeared the normative core conspiracy theory that consists of two schools of thought, which are intended to balance out the relation between the goal of maximum personal political benefit and economic justice or otherwise?

The questions therefore are: Can new form of jumping ethics politically replace traditional forms of “non-jumping”political ethics or are they just artifacts of an individualistic post-materialist political society with no real political substance?

Besides, other important political ethical questions arise: Are we going to protect the notorious Malaysian political jumping frogs or exterminate them for the sake of healthy political culture? Is the ethical jurisdiction needs the integrity spotlight at full beam?

It is reported that Ho Yip Kap, 56, an MCA life member, was sacked for contesting the Tanah Rata state seat in Cameron Highlands as an independent but won in last Saturday’s general election, has rejoined MCA.

Pahang MCA chief Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said the state party had decided to accept Ho back into the party fold. However, the final decision will be made at the central committee meeting on Saturday. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, who is also Pahang BN chief, has been informed of the development and had given his blessing.

In a three-cornered fight, the former school principal polled 3,926 votes to beat well-structured MCA Cameron Highlands with at least 10 branches’ candidate Chai Kok Lim, who received 3,351 votes, and DAP contestant, Go Mong Nging, who garnered 2,043 votes and there were 409 spoilt votes.

FINAL ULTIMATUM FROM REGENT OF PERAK?

The whole world is watching! Whether democracy is being practice in Perak for the opposition to form the new Perak state government? The public had asked, is it another dramatic twist (Wayang kulit or Chinese drama) to the formation of new Perak state government? Is it the negative effect of political marriage of convenience?

The real question arises: It is a final ultimatum to form state government. But political ultimatum is an ultimatum too, is it necessary to make it final, so take it or leave it?

The long awaiting swearing-in ceremony of Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Mentri Besar today has been cancelled. It is believed that the main reason for the postponement of the swearing-in ceremony was due to an objection by the PKR's Jamaluddin over Nizar's appointment.

The regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, Ph.D (Harvard), had asked all 31 state representatives from the three parties to be present before him to swear the allegiance to the new Menteri Besar, whoever it is. Apparently Jamaluddin told the Raja Nazrin that he disputed the choice made by the regent yesterday to make Nizar the Menteri Besar.

Initially, the appointment of Nizar was objected by DAP leadership with party stalwart Lim Kit Siang saying that the party had only agreed for a Menteri Besar from DAP or PKR.

The problem seemed have been solved following Lim's apologizing over his objections and Ngeh stating that all misunderstanding have been clarified. But due to political dissatisfaction, PKR today issued a statement threatening to pull out from the state administration on hearing that eight out of 10 executive council posts going to DAP while the remaining two belong to other parties.

The initial agreement made is DAP get six EXCO posts and two each for PKR and PAS. But last-minute changes where DAP was given eight seats while PKR one and PAS one.

DEPUTY MB SELANGOR FROM DAP?

The deputy Menteri Besar need not be a Malay/Muslim person, thus paving the way for DAP to nominate its candidate for that post.

The Selangor new MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim clarified in a press conference that followed the sworn-in ceremony.

Earlier, PKR secretary-general and Ijok state representative Abdul Khalid Ibrahim today sworn-in as the 14th Selangor Menteri Besar before Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. The ceremony just took about 20-minute at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam at 3.30pm.