A former "brain drain" serving Selangor Government.

Selasa, 23 Disember 2008 | SuaraKeAdilan

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has named Othman Omar as the new general manager of the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS).

The 49-year old Othman is due to succeed acting general manager Low Siew Moi from Feb 1 next year.

Othman was picked from a long list of candidates, including ultra-Malays who had offered themselves for the post in protest of Low’s appointment.

However he does not believe his ethnicity was the primary consideration for his selection.

“I’m sure the selection was based on merit,” Othman told reporters.

“And I also believe with the experience I’ve got, I could make a difference where I could help transform PKNS to improve. Because I can and I think I can. I think that’s my responsibility,” he added.

Othman has 25 years of experience in the construction and property industry and has worked overseas in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Low who was also present, said the controversy surrounding her appointment has been resolved and the six staff bodies of PKNS have issued an apology to Khalid.

PKNS staff had protested her appointment, replacing outgoing general manager Harun Salim, on the grounds of her Chinese ethnicity.

A 57-year old a trained accountant, Low has served PKNS for 35 years. She said she would remain as deputy general manager of finance when Othman took over next year.

Six-cornered fight?

BN PICKS POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHT FOR BY ELECTION

A FORMER legal eagle has been named as Barisan Nasional's candidate in next month's Kuala Terengganu by-election, Mr Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh.

PAS isn't BN's only opposition. This by-election could very well see a six-cornered fight.

3. The Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) party
and three independents have already expressed interest in the seat.

4. 89-year-old Maimun Yusuf, a textile trader with seven grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
5. Entrepreneur Mohd Azlan Ismail and
6. Scrap rubber dealer Isma Arifath Hassanuddin.

The Electric New Paper, Singapore.

PAS challenges DAP to give its reasons

Tuesday, 23 December 2008 | staronline

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS, in its push to have hudud laws introduced if the opposition coalition takes power, has upped the ante on its partners by challenging the DAP to give its reasons for its objections.

The call for DAP to explain why it objected to hudud laws was made by its spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

“If they (DAP) refuse to accept the laws, they must state their reasons why they cannot accept it.

“This message is for all coalition members to state strong arguments why they cannot accept hudud laws,” Nik Aziz told reporters at his office here yesterday.

Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Mentri Besar, was asked to comment on the recent statement by party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa during a debate with deputy Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin recently.

Husam said that Pakatan Rakyat would have implemented hudud laws had they been successful in taking over the Federal Govern- ment on Sept 16.

However, Khairy disagreed with the hudud implementation suggestion and said that the present status quo should stay.

Nik Aziz said there would not be any problem for PAS to implement hudud laws if Pakatan became the Government because the only obstacle was the lack of understanding of the laws by those within the coalition.

He said he could not see why people were reluctant to accept the punishment of 100 lashings for illicit sex, amputation of limbs for theft or death for murder when the current punishment for murder and drug trafficking was also death by hanging.

“I cannot see why they cannot accept hudud laws which are no different from the colonial laws of the West,” he said.

In a separate press conference, Husam said non-Muslim voters in Kuala Terengganu should not be unduly worried over his statements on hudud laws.

Speaking to reporters at the PAS headquarters here yesterday, Husam said the Barisan Nasional was using scare tactics to frighten voters.

Rising concerns that Najib will revert to privatisation, mega-projects and cronyism as economy dips

By Wong Choon Mei | Isnin, 22 Disember 2008 | suaraKeAdilan

Controversy over IJN, RM1.7bln budget terminal rages on.

Despite an eleventh-hour decision to defer privatising the National Heart Institute (IJN), debate on the issue has continued to rage on - indicating the high-level of unhappiness over the Finance Ministry’s attempt to raise cash at the expense of affordable public health care.

Another deal very quietly put through on the same day - a RM1.7 billion project granted to Sime Darby Bhd and Air Asia to build a new low-cost carrier terminal in Negeri Sembilan - is also setting off alarm bells.

Back-to-back, the two deals have raised concerns the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government was bringing back past policies that relied on mega projects, cronyism and privatisation to pump-prime the fast-sinking economy.

“Those were the policies promoted by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. Although there was development, the policies were condemned because they also masked huge corruption and wastage of public monies,” said an economist at a foreign bank.

All in the name of rising costs, economic turmoil

Last week, the government pulled back from the brink. It temporarily shelved the proposed privatisation of IJN - a national icon for reasonable, yet high-quality health care services.

“It was never meant to be a commercial institute,” Yahya Awang, one of Malaysia’s foremost cardio-thoracic surgeons, told the press.

“I am told that even the doctors there were not informed of the idea. Therefore, I am suspicios of the privatisation idea. It is not as if the hospital is not doing well.”

Like Yahya, many prominent Malaysians have begun to question if the government had the right to forsake - or to even reduce - its social duty of keeping public amenities open to all and maintained at reasonable costs even though global prices may be escalating and the local economy a step away from recession.

“Healthcare is a service and must be more than a business. We should continue to implement justice in healthcare,” said G Palanivel, a former deputy minister.

For political show

Even Mahathir - the architect of Malaysia’s privatisation programme that oversaw the flotation of national phone firm Telekom Malaysia Bhd and power utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd in the ’80s- appeared to disagree with his prodigy Najib Abdul Razak over the IJN stake sale.

Najib, the deputy premier and finance minister, had days earlier given approval-in-principle to conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd to buy 51 percent in IJN from the Ministry of Finance. He was forced to retract and defer the stake sale following a huge wave of public protest.

“There has not been any complaint on IJN. They have performed extremely well. Serving the rich and poor. Everyone benefited from IJN, including myself,” said Mahathir, a former patient who underwent by-pass surgery there.

But the ex-premier, who celebrated his 83rd birthday on Saturday, could not help letting slip the political angle for the postponement. He admitted that Najib and the Barisan could not afford to give the opposition any opportunity for attack.

Mahathir’s comments came just hours before Najib announced the IJN privatisation would be deferred until after an in-depth study was done and just a day before Najib named the Barisan candidate for the upcoming Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

Meanwhile Deputy Health Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad, who rushed off to Kuala Terengganu to brief the state’s health department staff, said the federal government would not sell IJN as long as there were no alternatives that provided the same services.

“It is a good idea but what about those in the low-income group? Can they be assured of obtaining similar service? These are the things that the government needs to consider,” said Latiff.

Key test for Najib

Seen as a key test for Najib - who is also the incoming president of Umno - the KT parliamentary seat if won with a thumping majority would be seen as an endorsement for his leadership over the Malay community.

However, an unconvincing win or worst still, an outright loss, would be read as regret amongst Umno members that they had given him such easy passage to the party presidency.

Najib had swept all but one nomination for the Umno top job, which brings in tow the premiership of the country. He is due to take over from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March 2009.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim too warned against a “heartless political gimmick”.

He said there was nothing to stop the government from putting the privatisation back on track once the KT by-election was over.

“The postponement is a mere political ploy to avert a voter backlash in Kuala Terengganu,” Anwar said.

Good for Sime, bad for the country?

IJN, for which Sime had offered to pay cash, caters mainly to the lower and middle income groups and to civil servants as well. It is fairly well-run and makes an annual profit of RM20 million.

According to Tian Chua, Information Chief of KeADILan, this means RM10 million would be lost from national coffers each year if the 51% stake divestment went through.

While the deal was obviously good for Sime, offering the diversified group a stable and strategic source of income, the people would be left with the short end of the stick, Tian warned.

To recoup its investment, Sime would have to run IJN commercially to maximise profits - which in turn would lead to higher fees for patients, he added.

“But it is not clear how the privatisation of IJN can benefit the people, especially since the people will be forced to bear the higher cost of medical service while the country will lose a good source of income,” said Tian.

Despite being at opposing ends of the political pendulum, both men insist they will push for hudud laws once they come into power

By Wong Choon Mei | Isnin, 22 Disember 2008 | suaraKeAdilan

Both Umno Youth Chief aspirant Khairy Jamaluddin and PAS vice president Husam Musa said they would push for the introduction of hudud - Islamic law that regulates the bounds of acceptable behaviour and the punishments for serious crimes - once they come into power.

The comments have spurred DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang to take to task his Pakatan Rakyat colleague Husam.

Lim was also afraid Husam’s comments would turn away the crucial Chinese vote in the upcoming Kuala Terengganu by-election.

“Hukum hudud is not Pakatan Rakyat policy and it is for Husam to clarify what he actually said,” veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang wrote in his blog today.

“If unclarified, Husam’s statement would create unease, anxiety and opposition not only among the 11% of the Chinese voters in the critical Kuala Terengganu by-election on Jan 17 but also among both Malay and non-Malay voters whether in Terengganu or the rest of Malaysia.”

Nevertheless, in the case of the KT seat, Lim may have less to worry about.

“What’s the difference there for the Chinese in KT. It is not just Husam but also Khairy who wants hudud,” said a political watcher.

The hudud remarks were made during a forum-cum-debate entitled Malaysian Political Reformation.

“I give the guarantee that we will carry it out,” said Husam. “Why must hudud laws be the agenda of PAS when all Muslims must be responsible for them?”

Khairy wants hudud

Husam’s forthrightness led Associate Prof Mohd Agus - also participating in the forum - to ask Khairy point-blankly if he would push for hudud law if he became Umno Youth chief.

Khairy, the 32-year old son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said he would.

Many in the audience were taken aback by his answer.

“It contrasted against his earlier remarks about multi-racialism and how important it was for Malaysians to shift to a new paradigm. With Husam, well, PAS and DAP have never been hypocritical about their opposing stands,” said a spectator who declined to be identified.

Khairy, who had voiced support for a strong two-coalition system, had said : “”In fact, the BN has even amended the Universities and University Colleges Act 1987 to provide greater autonomy to the universities in adopting decisions pertaining to management and administration.

“All these clearly depict the strength of the BN government in championing the interests of the people although the number of its elected representatives may be short of the two-third majority in the Dewan Rakyat.”

But the UUCA amendments pushed through Parliament earlier this month had drawn heavy fire from student bodies and civil groups alike, who said the Act restricted their intellectual development.

Khairy himself had stood up in Parliament to urge the government to let undergraduates take part in politics.

Perhaps political maturity, rather than opportunistic and random bickering, may carry the day for the Chinese at Kuala Terengganu.

Said opposition stalwart Lim Kit Siang: “DAP’s stand on the secular character of Malaysian nation and state as agreed in the social contract by our forefathers when Merdeka was achieved 51 years ago remains consistent and unchanged.”

Laporan rasuah Setiasaha Politik Najib masih teka-teki .

Harakahdaily | Tue | Dec 23, 08 | 9:02:36 am MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, - Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Tertinggi (MPT) KeADILan, Badrul Hisham Shaharin mendakwa bahawa laporan rasuah terhadap Setiausaha Politik Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak yang diserahkan kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) Ogos lalu sehingga kini masih 'senyap' tanpa sebarang penjelasan mahupun tindakan.

"Ini menunjukkan bahawa kata - kata Najib mengenai memerangi rasuah politik hanya sekadar menanam tebu di tepi bibir sahaja.

"Harapan ahli Umno untuk melihat Najib memulihkan Umno pasti akan kecewa. Najib akan menjadi pelengkap kemuncak kemusnahan Umno itu nanti," katanya dalam blog peribadinya semalam.

Dalam blonya itu juga menyatakan pada 16 Disember yang lepas, beliau dan KeADILan Rembau telah memanggil satu sidang media khas untuk menjawab ugutan BPR terhadap Setiausaha keADILan Rembau dan mendedahkan satu lagi bukti rasuah politik dalaman Umno dan antaranya melibatkan bakal Presiden Umno, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Dalam sidang media tersebut didedahkan dokumen 27 muka surat yang mengandungi aduan lengkap berkenaan kegiatan rasuah Dato' Setiausaha Politik Najib. Beliau dilaporkan mengedarkan RM1000 kepada perwakilan untuk memastikan kemenangan beliau sebagai Ketua Bahagian Umno.

Laporan tersebut yang telah diserahkan kepada Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail, Pengerusi Lembaga Disiplin Umno dan Ketua Pengarah BPR, Putrajaya mengandungi wang tunai sogokan yang diterima pengadu dan rakaman perbualan yang jelas boleh mensabitkan kesalahan.

Semua ini telah diserahkan pertengahan Ogos namun sehingga kini masih senyap.

Dalam sidang media itu juga Badrul Hisham memberitahu hanya satu dari lebih daripada 10 dokumen berkaitan rasuah Umno yang dimiliki dan kebanyakan dokumen yang mengandungi rasuah melibatkan pemimpin Umno Negeri Sembilan akan didedahkan dalam masa yang sesuai.-azm_

Exclusive interview with Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang

NO TO PRIVATIZATION

Anwar sniffing victory in Taib’s backyard

DEC 20 — The winds of change are blowing in Sarawak. They are fanning the fire of Dayak nationalism and fuelling increasing Chinese dissatisfaction for the Barisan Nasional government over the state's lethargic economic situation.

Even among the ruling Malay Melanau community, there is growing unhappiness over the reluctance of its leader Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to step down as chief minister after 27 years.

For the Dayaks, the animosity towards the old stalwart is even stronger. As a young Kayan waitress I met in a Kuala Lumpur restaurant recently remarked to me: "I don't like Taib Mahmud."

She added: "I have to leave my family in Kuching to find work in Kuala Lumpur because there are no jobs available there."

Therefore, it’s not surprising that Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has set his party's sights on capturing Sarawak at the next state elections due in 2011.

The once impossible ambition of the state's warring opposition parties to defeat the Barisan Nasional may actually come true with Anwar and PKR.

They are hoping to ride the coat tails of Pakatan Rakyat's success in the March 2008 general election and finally remove Taib and consequently Barisan Nasional from power.

PKR is expected to continue attacking the record of Taib’s rule especially his family's dominant business interests in the state. It is also expected to manipulate the negative sentiments of the larger Dayak community to remove Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is seen to be the vehicle of the smaller sized Malay Melanau community, from power.

The election is expected be decided on the issues of the day — considering the similar multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic composition of both competing main parties, the ruling PBB and the opposition PKR.

Among the issues expected to be aired in the election are denial of land titles to the Dayaks who occupy hundreds of thousands of acres of tribal land settlements in rural Sarawak. The Dayaks have claimed ownership of the land for decades but were denied by the State Constitution after the formation of Malaysia in 1965.

Anwar's PKR is promising to award them the land titles if it wins the upcoming elections.

PKR's junior partner in Pakatan Rakyat, the DAP, is expected to whip up racial sentiments and focus the hatred of the city-dwelling Chinese against Taib over the issue of extending their property leases which are due soon.

The Sarawak Chinese have for a long time worried about the possibility of their livelihood being threatened if their leases are not extended. However, such an event is highly unlikely in Sarawak where the Chinese have benefited from the trust given to them by the Sarawak political leadership to develop the economy of Sarawak.

The DAP is promising them freehold land titles as a reward for putting them in power. It would be interesting to see how the newly formed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission would perceive these political inducements.

Sarawak is also fertile ground for Pakatan Rakyat to test its much hyped Bangsa Malaysia values.

Sarawak is truly multi-ethnic in nature. The politically dominant Malay Melanaus comprise 20 per cent, the commercially powerful Chinese comprise 30 per cent and the rest is made up of 26 non-Muslim indigenous communities collectively referred to as Dayaks.

The ethnic barriers are broken down further by the high percentage of mixed marriages registered estimated at 30 per cent of all mixed marriages in Malaysia annually.

And there are signs that PKR is fast gaining ground. At a recent party fund-raising dinner in Miri, about 3,000 people, mostly from the Dayak community, attended and raised an estimated RM300,000 for the state PKR war chest to fight in the state elections.

The Sarawak state assembly currently has a total of 71 seats. Taib's PBB holds 35 seats, the Sarawak United Progressive Party (SUPP) 11 seats, the Sarawak Progressive Development Party (SPDP) eight and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) eight, for a total of 62 seats.

According to reliable sources, the BN could lose up to 30 seats in the next state elections, which would mean that Pakatan Rakyat just needs to capture six extra seats to win power, if the elections were held today.

Anwar is hoping that by capturing the state government, it would force Sarawak BN Members of Parliament to jump ship to Pakatan Rakyat and help him capture power at the federal level.

He would then avoid facing a rejuvenated Umno under the heir apparent prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, at the next general election.

BN must work hard to stop Anwar and PKR from winning too many seats in the Sarawak state elections to prevent the erosion of grassroots support which will eventually lead to major losses in parliamentary seats in BN's once impenetrable backyard.

A week is a long time in politics, many people say. But time is not on the side of ailing long-time strongman Taib.

He is exactly in the same position where Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamd was in 2003. He needs to engineer a more sincere and smooth transition of power to a politically acceptable successor. That is his biggest problem.

The next Sarawak state elections will hinge on his statesmanship. Failure to do so may launch Pakatan Rakyat into power in Putrajaya. - theMalaysianinsider.

Kelantan Umno backs hudud

By Leslie Lau -Consultant Editor

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 - Kelantan Umno will lobby the federal government to allow the Islamist party Pas to introduce hudud law, which prescribes stoning, whipping and amputation as punishment for criminal offences, in what will certainly spark intense debate and rouse opposition from non-Muslims.

The Malaysian Insider understands the Kelantan state Umno leadership is planning to declare their support, which comes on the heels of Pas vice president Datuk Husam Musa's admission on Saturday that his party would introduce hudud if it wins federal power.

The support appears designed to place pressure on Pas, which has successfully gained support among more moderate Malaysians by appearing to place its stated aim of forming a theocratic Islamic state on the back-burner.

Pas has tried to project a more moderate and progressive image in recent years, but this has resulted in some restlessness from among its more conservative members, and a clear split in the party.

Last Saturday, Husam made his statement on hudud in an open debate in Kelantan with Umno Youth chief contender Khairy Jamaluddin. Khairy had reportedly said he agreed to back hudud as well.

Pas has tried unsuccessfully in the past to introduce hudud and other strict Islamic law.

But these attempts have all failed because of the federal government's refusal to sanction any vote on changes to the federal constitution.

Kelantan Umno's move now suggests they want Umno to call Pas's bluff.

If Pas is allowed to try to introduce hudud, it will certainly cause difficulties in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ranks.

The Chinese-dominated DAP could be forced to leave the PR alliance, while PKR would feel duty bound, as a Muslim-majority party, to back Pas.

Recently, more conservative groups in Pas have begun calling for more say in PR governments and for these administrations to inject Islamic values into the respective states.

These conservative groups have called for the sale of alcohol to Muslims in the urban state of Selangor to be banned, while in Penang, they are objecting to Muslim participation in a street dancing contest organised by the DAP-led government.

Umno's move could also help Barisan Nasional (BN) regain some of the non-Malay support, especially in the crucial upcoming Kuala Terengganu vote, as Chinese voters may be uneasy with all the talk of hudud.

Pas says difficult to get consensus on Hudud from political partners .

KOTA BAHARU, Dec 22 - Pas has admitted that the implementation of Hudud and Qisas laws would have to be postponed even if Pakatan Rakyat is able to take over the government in future.

This is because it will require the agreement of its two other Pakatan Rakyat partners, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP, which has already objected to the plan.

The admission was made by Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa at a press conference, here, today as the three opposition components had signed an agreement in August, stating that any policy change should have a multilateral agreement among them.

Husam said Pas would not act unilaterally in coming up with the Hudud law if the party ruled the country but would instead work together with DAP and PKR on the matter.

"However, Pas will continue with its struggle to implement Hudud law, which is God's law, by explaining to all quarters, including the Pakatan Rakyat component parties, until they are ready to accept the law.

"We will discuss the Hudud law and if they cannot accept its implementation when the time comes, we will postpone it," he said.

In Islamic law, Hudud usually refers to the punishments that are fixed for certain offences including theft, robbery, illicit sex, alcohol consumption and apostasy. Punishment for these offences are corporal in nature, involving whipping, stoning to death and amputation of limbs.

Qisas (law of retaliation) refers to offences that involve bodily injury or loss of life. The punishment is death or imprisonment, but compensation in the form of money or property is accepted if the victim's guardian forgives the offender.

Husam said many things had be done before the Hudud and Qisas laws could be brought to Parliament, including holding a referendum or discussions with the legal bodies.

He said at the same time, several national issues such as racial unity, the New Economic Policy (NEP), corruption and the economy, would also have to be addressed fast.

"The Hudud law is still hypothetical. There are other issues that have to take precedence," he said.

He cited the NEP which focused on the advancement of the Malays in the field without taking into consideration the poor among the Indians and Chinese who also needed assistance, hence Pas regarded the NEP as unIslamic.

He said PAS would continue to explain to the people Hudud and Qisas laws to discourage them from committing crime.

Asked how long would the people have to wait for the implementation of the laws, Husam said: "What's wrong with waiting longer? Umno has not done it after more than 50 years in power."

- Bernama

Don't bail out corporations, Bail out Citizens

Salmah Mat Husain | Mon | Dec 22, 08

(Hrkh) - Pernahkah anda bayangkan sebelum ini harga getah lebih RM4 sekilogram, namun sekarang sudah menjunam kepada 70 sen sahaja. Apa jadi apabila pendapatan penoreh susut lebih 500 peratus.

Sedangkan harga keperluan harian masih lagi berada di paras tinggi biar pun harga minyak sudah diturunkan.

Naib Presiden PAS, Dato' Husam Musa berkata, kerajaan tidak boleh berdiam diri tanpa mengambil sebarang langkah bagi mengatasi bebanan yang terpaksa ditanggungjawab sebahagian besar rakyat di luar bandar sekarang.

Katanya antara langkah yang boleh diambil termasuk mewujudkan stok penimbal getah kebangsaan.

"Sekiranya kerajaan boleh memperuntukkan RM5 bilion ringgit wang KWSP kepada Valuecap Sdn Bhd untuk melindungi syarikat-syarikat tertentu, kenapa tidak sejumlah wang digunakan untuk membantu pekebun kecil," katanya di sini.

Menurut beliau sekiranya RM5 bilion itu digunakan untuk membeli getah pada harga lebih 70 sen sekg bermakna tujuh bilion kg getah mampu dibeli di pasaran.

Katanya, stok penimbal juga dapat membantu mengurangkan lambakan komoditi itu akibat kejatuhan harga, sekaligus mampu mengekang tekanan aliran penurunan harga di pasaran.

"Kini terdapat hampir 600,000 pekebun kecil di seluruh negara yang menghadapi bebanan kejatuhan harga dan kos sara hidup yang memeritkan," katanya.

Pemimpin Umno tidak pasti BN menang

Muda Mohd Noor | Dec 22, 08 6:54pm | Malaysiakini

Beberapa pemimpin Umno tempatan berbelah bahagi berhubung peluang calon BN Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh menang dalam pilihanraya kecil Kuala Terengganu, bulan depan.

Pemimpin Umno di bahagian Kuala Terengganu berkata, personaliti Wan Ahmad Farid yang dianggap "elit" menyebabkan calon itu sukar mendapat sokongan pengundi kampung.

Katanya, yang enggan dikenali, jika hendak dibandingkan senator itu dengan bekas ahli parlimen Datuk Razali Ismail, "ia ibarat langit dengan bumi".

"Datuk Wan Farid boleh dianggap daripada golongan elit yang kurang bercampur dengan orang.

"Saya mendapat tahu ramai orang yang berniaga di pasar Kuala Terengganu tidak kenal dengan calon BN itu, sebaliknya lebih kenal Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said," katanya ketika diminta mengulas peluang timbalan menteri itu menang dalam pilihanraya kecil itu yang bermula 6 Januari ini.

"Bayangkan, Datuk Razali yang disenangi oleh semua orang cuma menang dengan majoriti kecil 628 undi."

Sabtu lalu, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak mengumumkan Wan Ahmad Farid sebagai calon BN.

Pemimpin tersebut berkata, satu faktor lagi yang menyebabkan BN sukar menang ialah kedudukan hampir 5,000 guru yang turut mengundi.

"Adakah golongan guru ini akan mengundi Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid sebagaimana mereka mengundi Datuk Razali?" katanya.

Golongan pendidik dikatakan ingin bekas ketua penerangan Umno bahagian Mohd Zuber Embong, seorang pegawai kanan pendidikan negeri - namanya antara lima pemimpin yang turut diura-urakan untuk dicalonkan.

Pengerusi peti undi Kuala Ibai, Sulaiman Ali bagaimanapun yakin golongan guru secara umumnya akan tetap bersama BN dalam pilihanraya kali ini.

"Atas semua faktor itu, saya meramalkan peluang Datuk Wan Farid untuk menang ketika ini ialah 55 peratus," katanya.

Pemilihan Wan Ahmad Farid juga telah menyelesaikan banyak masalah di bahagian tersebut, tambahnya, yang juga ahli jawatankuasa bahagian.

Sulaiman berkata, perebutan mereka yang hendak menjadi calon BN telah selesai dan maklum balas yang diperolehi bahawa mereka akan berdiri di belakang bekas setiausaha politik Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Di peti undi Kuala Ibai, dari bancian awal yang kita buat, mereka tidak ada masalah dengan Datuk Wan Farid.

"Kita juga yakin boleh menang sekurang-kurangnya 300 undi seperti pilihanraya umum lalu daripada lebih 2,000 pengundi dari empat saluran di sini," katanya.

Sementara bekas naib ketua bahagian Hamzah Mohd Zain ketika dihubungi berkata, BN akan menang "jika tiada pengkhianatan dilakukan oleh ahli parti".

Beliau bagaimanapun tidak menjelaskan punca-punca boleh berlaku pengkhianatan tersebut.

Katanya, semua pihak perlu melupakan pergeseran sewaktu pemilihan Umno bahagian baru-baru ini.

"Jika jentera pilihanraya bersatu dan bergerak, Datuk Wan Farid akan menang," katanya.

Beliau berkata BN harus mempertimbangkang kekuatan PAS di tiga kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN): Batu Burok, Ladang dan Wakaf Mempelam.

"Ruang untuk menang ada tetapi kena kerja kuat. Tetapi ketika ini peluang adalah 50-50," katanya.

Hamzah berkata, faktor lain ialah pengundi atas pagar dan pengundi Cina.

"Jika mereka mereka mengundi BN, Datuk Wan Farid akan menang," katanya.

PM fails to get cabinet members to declare assets

Monday, 22 December 2008 - - The Malaysian Insider

He may have been successful in pushing through several important pieces of legislation but Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been an abject failure in persuading his ministers, deputy ministers and their family members to declare their assets.

A few days after the March 8 general elections, the prime minister, reeling from the serious setback suffered by the Barisan Nasional and aware that he needed to snatch the news cycle from Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the resurgent Pakatan Rakyat, announced that all members of the Cabinet, deputy ministers must fill up asset declaration forms by the Anti-Corruption Agency.

Following this, the ACA announced that the information on asset declaration would be made available online so that members of public can scrutinize the information.

But sources have told the Malaysian Insider that the plan has faced stiff resistance from several ministers, who did not want the veil to be lifted on assets owned by family members.

A government official said: "There were strong objections from ministers who felt that it would be an invasion of privacy for the public to know what the financial worth of their spouses, brothers and sisters.

"Several of them were prepared to step down from the Cabinet rather than submit to this asset declaration.

Faced with this wall of resistance, Abdullah backed off. As a result, this plan to make the government more transparent appears headed for nowhere

To be sure, even the Pakatan Rakyat-run states have not been able to make good its promises of listing down assets owned by its elected representatives.

Hukum hudud not Pakatan Rakyat policy

Monday, 22 December 2008

Media reports that PAS vice president Datuk Husam Musa has said that PAS will implement hudud if Pakatan Rakyat takes over the Federal Government has created a frenzy of reaction.

Hukum hudud is not Pakatan Rakyat policy and it is for Husam to clarify what he actually said.

DAP's stand on the secular character of Malaysian nation and state as agreed in the social contract by our forefathers when Merdeka was achieved 51 years ago remain consistent and unchanged.

If unclarified, Husam's statement would create unease, anxiety and opposition not only among the 11% of the Chinese voters in the critical Kuala Terengganu by-election on January 17 but also among both Malay and non-Malay voters whether in Terengganu or the rest of Malaysia.

Lim Kit Siang

After Husam’s hudud remarks, a small opening for BN in KT vote

Monday, 22 December 2008 - - By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider

By declaring that his party would introduce the hudud if it wins federal power, Pas vice president Datuk Husam Musa may have unwittingly placed the Islamic state issue on the Kuala Terengganu by-election agenda.

Today, the DAP, the Chinese-dominated secular partner of Pas in the Pakatan Rakyat alliance, quickly disassociated itself from the remarks, which will certainly cause concern among many non-Muslims because such strict Islamic law would introduce whipping, stoning and amputation as punishment for criminal offences.

"Hukum hudud is not Pakatan Rakyat policy and it is for Husam to clarify what he actually said," veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang wrote in his blog today.

"DAP's stand on the secular character of Malaysian nation and state as agreed in the social contract by our forefathers when Merdeka was achieved 51 years ago remains consistent and unchanged," he added.

Husam's hudud remark will give the MCA, a party which had been abandoned by Chinese voters in the March elections, an opening to regain some support from the opposition and possibly win over the small but significant number of Chinese voters in the crucial Kuala Terengganu vote.

MCA Wanita chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun told The Malaysian Insider that her party was against hudud, saying that the entire non-Muslim community would "definitely go against it".

She noted that Husam had effectively shot PR's chances in the by-election with his statement and that nothing the DAP said now could lessen the damage.

"The most important thing is what exactly is the policy when they run the government," Chew said, drawing attention to Pas's act in passing hudud law in Terengganu when it ruled the east coast state previously.

"I think people will look for that," she said.

Husam was challenged by Umno Youth chief hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin to disclose Pas's stand in a public debate on "Malaysian Political Reformation" in Kota Baru last Saturday.

Asked how she felt about Khairy's promise to also push for hudud, Chew dismissed the possibility of Umno, MCA's senior partner in the Barisan Nasional coalition, deciding to introduce the strict Islamic code.

"At the moment, Khairy is not one to decide the direction and policy of the government," Chew said.

The other Umno Youth chief hopeful, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, was equally dismissive of Husam and Khairy.

"That is only their political rhetoric, trying to be a champion for the Malays without thinking of the nation's multiracial structure," the former Selangor Menteri Besar told The Malaysian Insider.

"Hudud is only a small claim in Islam. Not implementing hudud does not mean we fail to become good Muslims," said Khir.

"For me, it is more important that the effort to become a good Muslim should be done by Umno Youth, by having youths who are responsible, ready to face challenges, willing to uphold justice and who are free from all the bad points of life," he added.

Wan Farid: Terbukti Abdullah masih berpengaruh

Monday, 22 December 2008 - - Zulkifli Sulong, The Malaysian Insider

Pemilihan Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh sebagai calon BN dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu telah memenuhi sebahagian impian yang saya mahu lihat dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu nanti. Kini, saya menunggu calon Pas pula. Jika Datuk Wan Mutalib Embong, timbalan Pesuruhjaya Pas Terengganu dipilih, maka “my dream contest” saya terlaksana sepenuhnya. Impian ini telah saya lakarkan sepenuhnya dalam tulisan saya sebelum ini.

Memang nama Wan Farid sebagai calon BN sentiasa timbul sejak dari hari kematian Datuk Razali Ismail lagi. Namun, ia diganggu sedikit sebanyak oleh permainan politik dalam Umno, apatah lagi menjelangnya pertembungan dalam Umno Mac 2009 nanti.

Wan Farid dikaitkan dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan dikaitkan pula dengan menantu PM, Khairy Jamaludin Abu Bakar. Wan Farid sebut-sebut sebagai wakil Khairy dalam menjalankan apa-apa projeknya di Terengganu melalui wang ehsan ketika Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh memimpin Terengganu sebelum ini. Wan Farid juga dikaitkan dengan beberapa projek Kementerian Dalam Negeri yang dipimpin Abdullah sebelum ini. Antaranya Tragedi Hitam Batu Burok yang telah menyebabkan dua penyokong Pas terkena peluru hidup.

Ekoran keintiman hungan itu, apabila Datuk Seri Najib Razak bakal mengambil alih kuasa Mac 2009 (jika tidak ada apa-apa pertukaran pelan), nama Wan Farid agak kelabu sikit. Dia dibayangi oleh Ketua Sektor, Jabatan Pelajaran Terengganu, Muhamad Zuber Embong. Sehingga jam 12 tengahari Sabtu lepas (hari nama Wan Farid diumumkan sebagai calon), nama Muhamad Zuber masih di atas. Bahkan, Zuber dikatakan telah siap dengan surat perletakan jawatannya sebagai pegawai kerajaan untuk membolehkan beliau bertanding dan seterusnya melibatkan diri dalam politik.

Nama Wan Farid juga dikatakan hampir terlepas untuk menjadi calon BN apabila dia dilantik satu penggal lagi sebagai senator apabila penggal pertamanya tamat 23 Disember ini. Dalam masa yang sama nama Senator Nordiana, ketua Puteri Umno Terengganu, tidak disambung untuk penggal kedua.

Namun, keputusan atau kompromi saat akhir diperolehi dan nama Wan Farid diumumkan sebagai calon. Mengikut maklumat yang saya terima, Muhamad Zuber telah dimaklumkan, beliau akan dipilih sebagai calon oleh bakal presiden Umno, Najib dan persiapan rapi telah dibuat oleh beliau. Saya juga difahamkan, beberapa hari menjelang pengumuman itu, Abdullah selaku Presiden Umno telah memaklumkan secara jelas kepada Wan Farid dia adalah calon BN.

Nampaknya, jika peristiwa ini diambil kira, pengaruh Abdullah dalam kepimpinan Umno masih tinggi walaupun beliau akan melepaskan jawatannya Mac 2009. Jika tidak masakan beliau masih boleh menentukan calon pilihan raya yang penting ini padahal sudah jelas beliau akan meninggalkan tampuk kepimpinan Umno itu Mac depan.

Ramai juga tertanya-tanya, kenapa sampai lebih dari sekali Abdullah terpaksa menegas dan mengesahkan beliau akan memenuhi pelan peralihan kuasa Mac 2009 nanti.

Sebelum ini, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, bekas presiden Umno yang dikatakan sangat berpengaruh itu, pernah memberikan amaran untuk menggerakkan ahli-ahli Umno menentang Abdullah jika PM itu mahu menangguhkan peraihan kuasa Mac 2009 nanti.

Nampaknya, dari kenyataan kedua-dua tokoh ini, isu apakah pelan peralihan kuasa dalam kerajaan dari Abdullah kepada Najib, masih belum tuntas lagi. Ada pihak-pihak dalam diam-diam sedang berusaha untuk merubahnya.

Ia ditambah panas lagi apabila dalam Dewan Rakyat baru-baru ini, lebih sepuluh anggota Dewan dari Pakatan Rakyat yang dipimpin Anwar memberikan sokongan terbuka kepada Abdullah. Ia dizahirkan melalui sokongan mereka kepada penubuhan Suruhanjaya Anti Rasuah Malaysia (SARM) dan Suruhanjaya Perlantikan Hakim (SPK). Bahkan, Anwar sendiri mempertikaikan kenapa Abdullah tidak menerima sokongan penuh dari para penyokong kerajaan sendiri dalam membahaskan cadangan penubuhan kedua-dua suruhanjaya ini.

Kini, melalui pemilihan Wan Farid, penyokong setia dan petugas berdedikasi Abdullah dan menantunya Khairy, terbukti pengaruh Abdullah masih kuat. Padahal, Wan Farid akan berkhidmat kepada Najib selepas Mac 2009 nanti. Secara tabiinya, calon pilihan Najiblah yang sepatutnya menjadi pilihan raya Umno. Ini tidak berlaku dan calon pilihan Najib iaitu Muhamad Zuber terpaksa menggigit jari dan ia pula berlaku di saat-saat akhir.

Nampaknya, walaupun hampir kesemua pemimpin Umno akan hadir ke Kuala Terengganu, tetapi kempen mereka sebenarnya bukan untuk memenangkan Wan Farid tetapi lebih untuk calon-calon mereka yang akan bertanding Mac 2009 nanti.

Jika benar Wan Mutalib akan menjadi calon Pas, semua ini memudahkan laluan beliau untuk menuju ke bangunan Parlimen yang terletaknya Dewan Rakyat. Harap-harapnya begitulah.

Wan Farid Can Bring 'Excellent Victory' - Idris

December 22, 2008 00:13 AM -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 (Bernama)Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh is able to bring an "excellent victory" for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Kuala Terengganu by-election on Jan 17, former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said Sunday night.

He said this was based on Wan Farid's credibility and experience.

"As I see it, with the selection of a suitable candidate -- an Umno division head and deputy minister of calibre -- we have a strong party machinery.

"Wan Farid's experience and credibility will ensure an excellent victory for BN in Kuala Terengganu," he told reporters after closing the 10th International Robot Olympiad 2008 at International Islamic University Malaysia in Gombak.

Idris who is Mara chairman represented Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar at the function.

Idris said Wan Farid's position in the government and Umno would enable the BN machinery to be mobilised without any problem. Wan Farid is two-term Kuala Terengganu Umno chief.

However, Idris said BN did not expect an easy win, but better than what it achieved in the last general election because the contest in the coming by-election would also be stiff.

The Kuala Terengganu by-election is held following the death of Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28.

--

Wan Ahmad Farid Best Candidate, Says Ahmad Shabery

December 21, 2008 -- -- BERNAMA

KUANTAN, The choice of Deputy Home Minister, Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election is apt as he is the best candidate, said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Ahmad Shabery said Wan Ahmad Farid was Umno's best hope to win the seat with a larger majority.

He was talking to reporters after a briefing on the flood situation in the Kuantan district by Kuantan District Officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Mat here on Sunday.

Also present were Information Ministry secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Siaraf, Information Department director-general Datuk Abdullah Morad, Special Affairs Department director-general Datuk Mohd Amin Salih, and Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong.

Ahmad Shabery said the Kuala Terengganu by-election could see a big win for BN given that there is a growing trend for the coalition.

"I feel that in Kuala Terengganu there is an up and down trend for the BN. The downward trend was during the general election where even though we won it was only by 600 votes. This means our candidate will, God Willing, win with a bigger majority

The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election is being held following the death of its previous MP Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28.

Ahmad Shabery, who is Kemaman MP, said a big win is not impossible now as the people were wiser in choosing leadership coupled with an increasingly better economic situation.

He said the public was aware that the recent uncertain economic situation was not caused by a weak administration but rather by a global economic situation that to some extent affected the country.

Ahmad Shabery said the country was fortunate that it could withstand economic conditions while others like the United States were faced with a bad crisis which led to closure of many big companies.

"There are no mass lay-offs here. We can overcome as we have a capable and responsible government leadership," he said.

On another note, he said he was satisfied with nationwide preparations for floods including for flood-prone state like Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

Ahamd Shabery, who is also Deputy Chairman of the National Disaster and Relief Management Committee, said the three states had established standard operating procedures (SOP) to help flood victims.

Exclusive Interview With PM: An Epilogue

Sunday, 21 December 2008 Courtesy MalaysiaToday.

By TAY TIAN YAN and LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily

Some said that we are going to miss Pak Lah once he steps down. To be honest, I was having such a feeling right after the interview ended, even though he has not step down at the moment.

In any case, he is a good man. It is rare among politicians. This is also our first impression of him: gentle, moderate and honest. Otherwise, the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition would not gain 92% of the parliamentary seats in the 2004 general elections.

The people used to have high expectations of him, hoping that he could lead the country to change. But the 2008 general election results were the other way round. What are the problems?

Why he did not fully launched the reform when he was popular? Why he has to bear the consequences after the election to retire early?

Nothing can be done if Umno remains unchanged

Perhaps, his does not get the needed support from within the party like he does among the public. If he fails to control Umno, he can change nothing; if Umno remains unchanged, nothing can be done.

However, many are sharing the same thought with me. He should look pass Umno and go to the people. The people would back him and the result would be different.

However, all are now in past tense and Pak Lah must end his term of office early.

He wishes to speed up the completion of a number of commitments he made before he steps down. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) bills presented by him were passed in a very short period of time. It shows that he can still be dynamic.

The historical appraisal will be as well different.

He has to present the Special Complaints Commission (SCC) bill and call for the BN Supreme Council to restructure BN within the time left before his retirement. Meanwhile, he also has to improve racial elations and promote religious understanding.

Pak Lah will have more space to develop his ideas after getting rid of the party elections and interests. If he uses the past few years to complete these huge tasks, it would surely a different situation today.

When asked which were his most successful and unsuccessful efforts, he said he does not want to make a conclusion yet.

He added that he allows views from different people so that he can listen and observe before making any decision when dealing with a problem.

He thinks it is unfair of the public to fault his way of dealing with problems which sees it as his weakness.

Pak Lah is optimistic

Pak Lah's strengths and weaknesses have unexpectedly contributed to the rise of Pakatan Rakyat. He believes that Umno can change and BN is able to win back support. However, he didn't sound convincing. He feels like optimistic to me.

Along the interview, he bluntly expressed his views on some sensitive issues, as well as some inside stories. However, he thinks it is not the time to reveal them.

When we were still talking after the 45-minute interview ran over time for 80 minutes, his lunch arrived. A simple fried noodle and Indian rojak, which reflects his simplicity.

Just at that time, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah returned home and Pak Lah looked happy and contented.

What Pak Lah has lost is not as heavy as we imagined, and what he has gained is more than we thought.

Wan Farid to resign on Jan 5 for KT by-election

KUALA TERENGANU, Dec 21 – Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on Jan 17, is expected to resign as deputy home minister and as a senator on Jan 5, the eve of nomination for the by-election.

"I will continue to hold the post of deputy minister and, simultaneously, that of senator until Jan 5," he told Bernama.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had yesterday named Wan Ahmad Farid, 46, who is also Kuala Terengganu Umno Division chief, as the BN candidate for the by-election.

The Election Commission has set Jan 6 for nomination and Jan 17 for polling in the by-election, necessitated by the death of the Kuala Terengganu Member of Parliament, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail, on Nov 28. – Bernama

Najib: Two reasons why Barisan must win

Sunday, 21 December 2008 - - By : Rosli Zakaria and Sean Augustin, NST

Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh will be the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on Jan 17. BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who announced this yesterday, said the selection was one that both BN chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and he had in mind.

"When I discussed with the prime minister about the candidate for the by-election, we shared the same view.

"We also took into account the views of other BN members. We hope our choice is the best and that BN will succeed," he said.

Present were Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and her deputy Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Puteri Umno chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad and Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said.

The seat fell vacant following the death of Datuk Razali Ismail last month. Najib said the announcement was made earlier to give more time to the candidate to go to the ground as well as to deal with any problems.

He said obtaining a mandate on Jan 17 was important for two reasons: to reclaim the party's dignity after the loss in the Permatang Pauh by-election and in honour of Razali's contribution to both state and country.

Later at a press conference, Najib said Wan Ahmad Farid received the support of all 103 Umno branches in the parliamentary constituency.

He said all BN component parties had pledged their commitment to work to ensure a win for the coalition.

With fewer internal problems, a strong machinery and well-received candidate, we can focus on canvassing for votes.

"But I don't want those involved in the BN machinery to give priority to the Umno elections instead of ensuring BN's victory."

Wan Ahmad Farid said it was time for BN to prove that the party would always look after the interests of the people.

Another candidate for the by-election is Isma Airfath Hassanuddin, who will contest as an independent. Pas is expected to announce its candidate after its central committee meeting today.

KT BY-ELECTION NO HURRY : Pas to name candidate Next Year

By Rosli Zakaria, NST - - Sunday, 21 December 2008 16:23

PAS will officially named its candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election on January 1, party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi bin Awang said.

The announcement will be made at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium.

“The candidate can be considered better than Wan Ahmad Farid,” Abdul Hadi said at a press conference in Kuala Ibai near here.

Yesterday, Barisan Nasional named Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as its candidate to contest the Kuala Terengganu by-election.

Wan Ahmad Farid is the head of the Kuala Terengganu Umno division.

The seat fell vacant following the death of deputy education minister Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28. Razali had garnered 32,562 votes against PAS’ Mohamad Sabu, who got 31,934 votes, while independent candidate Maimun Yusof obtained 685 votes at the March general elections.

Anwar: Privatisation will be after by-election

Sunday, 21 December 2008 12:20

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday claimed that the sale of the National Heart Institute (IJN) would proceed after the Kuala Terengganu by-election on Jan 17.

He said the opposition stood firm in its belief that IJN should not be taken over by Sime Darby to ensure poor heart patients continued to get treatment.

"Heart patient fear they may have to solicit for funds to finance treatment should IJN be privatised," he said after opening a futsal tournament at Safira Country Club here.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Friday had announced that the takeover plan had been put on hold pending a study by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, Finance Ministry and Health Ministry.

Najib said the cabinet decided on the deferment following reactions from various quarters to the proposed takeover.

He had also denied that the decision had been influenced by the by-election.

Lima cara untuk pengundi PRK Kuala Terengganu buat semakan maklumat

Sunday, 21 December 2008 11:31

(HARAKAH) - Daftar Pemilih Pilihan Raya yang diwartakan pada 5 Disember lalu akan digunakan untuk Pilihan Raya Kecil Kuala Terengganu 17 Januari ini.

Setiausaha Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), Dato' Ngah Senik dilaporkan Bernama sebagai berkata, daftar pemilih tersebut mengandungi 80,229 pemilih, terdiri daripada 79,194 pemilih biasa dan 1,035 pemilih pos.

Menurut beliau, semua pemilih boleh menyemak maklumat pengundian mereka termasuk nama pusat mengundi, nombor tempat mengundi (saluran) dan nombor siri pemilih menerusi laman web rasmi SPR iaitu www.spr.gov.my.

"SPR juga ada menyediakan khidmat Sistem Pesanan Ringkas (SMS) dengan kerjasama Unit Pemodenan Tadbiran dan Perancangan Pengurusan Malaysia (MAMPU).

"Perkhidmatan ini mula beroperasi hari ini sehingga 17 Januari depan dan setiap sms dikenakan caj sebanyak 35 sen," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Ngah berkata, pemilih perlu menaip SPR NO KAD PENGENALAN dan menghantar SMS itu ke nombor 15888 untuk mendapat maklumat yang mereka inginkan.

"Selain itu, mereka juga boleh membuat penyemakan di bilik gerakan Pejabat Pilihan Raya Negeri dengan menghubungi talian 09-... atau 09-6236161 mulai pukul 8 pagi sehingga 12 malam setiap hari bermula hari ini hingga 17 Januari depan," katanya.

Pak Lah: NEP No Longer In Existence

Saturday, 20 December 2008 - - By TAY TIAN YAN, LIM SUE GOAN, Sin Chew Daily

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi emphasised that the New Economic Policy is no longer in existence today.

"The NEP is a policy which is no longer in existence. The objective of this policy has been to eradicate poverty, as you all know."

He said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily at his private residence in Kuala Lumpur that the way the NEP was implemented had triggered the dissatisfaction among many people, including some Malays, adding that Malaysians needed a more transparent policy and open market.

He said, according to the UN Millennium Development Report, Malaysia is one of the countries that have drastically reduced the poverty rates. Nevertheless, the media have hardly reported on the country's success in reducing poverty.

"If you want to show the country's poverty in order to overthrow the government, or make the people very angry with the government, you can always show this kind of pictures on the TV every day. You can show the pictures of people lacking food supply, but that will be very unfair to the government, for the country's overall poverty rate has dropped!"

Postmortem on election defeat

Abdullah said Barisan Nasional would hold a general assembly next February to discuss the outcome of the March 8 general elections, and to overcome the weaknesses that have attributed to BN's humiliating defeat in the elections.

He said all BN component parties must stand on the same front to confront the opposition instead of engaging in infighting. He also said BN must stress the importance of collective responsibility and that any decision-making process must be done based on common understanding, while the philosophy and principle of power sharing must be protected at all times.

"We seldom met in the past, and therefore always quarrelled. But the situation has improved now. We are working harder to increase the number of meetings, including weekly Cabinet discussions to solve problems."

He said if BN were to make a decision with a show-of-hand, this is not called collective responsibility, as small parties are always the losers while UMNO and MCA are the winners.

"We must see the fact that when members of all BN component parties get together, we are all BN members. We must see Barisan Nasional as a big family, as the unity and strength of BN, coupled with the people's acceptance of BN, have made BN this powerful."

He also emphasised that BN hopes to re-establish its own image, and beef up the interaction among the component parties as well as the people's support for it. As a multiracial political alliance, BN must ensure that all component parties work closely together, for endless quarrels will only give rise to more divisions.

He said most component parties within BN are ethnic-based parties, such as UMNO, MCA and MIC, which have been steered towards the preservation of the interests of their respective ethic groups.

"Therefore I always openly emphasise that BN must set up a mechanism that allows us to meet regularly and discuss earnestly on issues related to various races."

Different tolerance levels

Abdullah said he himself has different levels of tolerance. For certain things, he could be very tolerant, so much so that some people are not able to accept it or are feeling unhappy.

He said this character of him could be seen from newspaper reports. Whenever something serious happens, he will normally not make any response within the first two days.

He pointed out that these issues could involve legal aspects, and sometimes we need to consider how other people have come to accept the incidents or the developments of these incidents.

"Take the latest yoga issue for instance. My daughter came over to ask me why I did not give a statement on this particular issue. Many people also sent me SMS to ask why I did not issue a statement."

He said anything could happen in Malaysia, and he must ensure that under whatsoever circumstances, Malaysians do not need to suffer the fears of starvation or feel that their safety is being intimidated.

"You can refrain from buying clothes, cars or shoes, but you must have enough food to eat."

He said food and safety are very important matters, and this is why agriculture must continue to exist.

"That's why we must keep on innovating and stressing education and human resource development. We must harness the latest technology and not fall behind. Our universities must be able to meet the current needs of the society and must no longer employ the curricula 20 years ago."

The prime minister said unless a leader knows how to handle racial issues, he will not be a successful leader.

"If a leader only takes care of a single ethnic group's interests, he will not become successful."

BN can recover from its wounds

He believes that BN and UMNO will recover before the next general elections, but as how they will perform in the elections, he said that will have to depend on DPM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who will take over as the prime minister soon.

On what makes him think BN and UMNO will recover, Abdullah said, "We have already captured quite many seats now!"

When asked to comment on the trend that many non-Malays are now leaning towards the opposition, he said BN component parties must work together closely and contribute their individual strengths towards BN.

"UMNO, BN, Gerakan, MIC and other component parties must work together. We must share our respective strengths. All component parties must trust BN, or it won't be able to operate at all."

He said MCA and Gerakan Rakyat must work harder to recoup the support of non-Malays. (Translated by DOMINIC LOH)

courtesy malaysiatoday

NOBODY JUMPED AT THIS STATEMENT - SINCE WHEN, IT ENDED? MANY IS ON & UMNO(BN) IS STILL ON IT! Is Pak Lah laughing at you?

Wan Farid Is BN Candidate For KT By-Election

December 20, 2008 - BERNAMA

Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid
Wan Salleh

KUALA TERENGGANU, - - Deputy Home Mnister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh was on Saturday chosen as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the by-election for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency on Jan 17.

The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Mnister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno deputy president, when addressing more than 4,000 BN supporters at the residence of Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said at Sri Iman here.

Najib said the selection of Wan Ahmad Farid, who is also Kuala Terengganu Umno division head, had received the consent of Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"For the candidate, the Umno president had taken all factors and opinions into consideration, and thus the BN now presents Datuk Wan Farid as its candidate for the P36 Kuala Terengganu by-election," he said.

The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election is being held following the death of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28.

Najib said Wan Farid, 46, who has held the Kuala Terengganu Umno division head's post for two terms, was the most appropriate candidate who was believed to be capable of retaining the parliamentary seat for the BN.

"I have had several discussions with the (Umno) president, I want to tell the president that I share his view in the selection of the candidate," he said.

In addition, he said, other Umno leaders as well as the leaders of the other BN component parties, including from the Terengganu state itself, supported the selection of Wan Farid.

"In a by-election, the candidate is among the factors that determines the party's victory and we are confident that our candidate is capable of achieving victory on Jan 17," he said.

He said the announcement of the BN candidate for the by-election this time around was made earlier than usual, which was on the eve of the nomination day, to enable the chosen candidate to be closer to the constituents.

It also gave the BN time to tackle or resolve whatever problems that might arise, he said.

Najib said the Kuala Terengganu by-election had great significance and must be won by the BN because it would have an effect on the party's future.

Among those present at the function were former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Wanita Umno head Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and Umno Youth head Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein.

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