Nizar appointed as Perak MB - TheStarOnline.tv

Newly appointed Menteri Besar of Perak Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin of PAS gives a press conference after seeking an audience with Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah at Istana Kinta in Ipoh Wednesday.

Cracks Appear In Perak Opposition Coalition, Differences Between Perak DAP & HQ - Bernama

IPOH, March 12 (Bernama) -- The pact between the DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and PAS which had earlier agreed to form a coalition government in Perak appears to have caused differences between Perak DAP and its headquarters over the post of the Menteri Besar.

The DAP Headquarters have directed that 18 of their state assemblymen not to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the PAS representative, Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, as the new Menteri Besar of Perak scheduled at Istana Iskandariah on Thursday.

DAP Advisor Lim Kit Siang said in a statement tonight that the decision to appoint PAS Assemblyman Mohammad Nizar Jamaludin as the Menteri Besar did not receive the mandate of the DAP's Central Executive Committee.

The three political parties had collectively submitted a letter to the Sultan of Perak to form the coalition government and had named Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham, Perak PKR Treasurer Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Perak PAS Secretary Mohammad Nizar to be considered as candidates for the post of Menteri Besar.

The Sultan of Perak today consented that Mohammad Nizar be appointed the 10th Menteri Besar of Perak and the decision was announced by the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, who also had an audience with the three candidates at Istana Kinta here this afternoon.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=320345]

Penang Govt Scrapped NEP To Victimise Bumiputeras, Says Ali Rustam - Bernama

MELAKA, March 12 (Bernama) -- The DAP-PKR led Penang state government's decision not to implement the New Economic Policy (NEP) is to victimise the Bumiputeras, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said today.

He said the NEP, introduced by the second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein in 1970, had contributed to national economic growth and the spin-offs were reaped by all races.

"The NEP has narrowed the rural-urban poverty gap and restructured society. The benefits are enjoyed by all races, be they Bumiputeras or non-Bumiputeras," Mohd Ali, who is also Melaka chief minister, told Bernama.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, after being sworn in as Penang chief minister yesterday, said the state government would not implement the NEP.

Guan Eng said the NEP, implemented after the May 13 racial riots in 1969 to eradicate poverty and restructure society, was the root cause of cronyism, corruption and incompetence.

Objecting to Guan Eng's adverse remarks on NEP, Mohd Ali said the Penang government cannot be fair and balanced in its administration and protect the interests of Bumiputeras, majority of whom are still in need of government.

"Instead, the Bumiputeras may become like the natives in Australia and New Zealand. The state government's policy is very dangerous to Malaysia and its multiracial populace," he said.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=320305]

Lim: DAP rejects Nizar as MB - Malaysiakini

While the long-drawn debate on who should be the Perak mentri besar finally came to an end today, an unexpected twist came in the form of DAP leader Lim Kit Siang who said that his party had not approved PAS’ Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin to lead the state.

“The decision to appoint a PAS assemblyperson Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin as Perak mentri besar has caused shock and consternation to DAP leaders, members and supporters,” he said in a brief statement today.

The statement came just hours after it was announced in Ipoh that the Regent of Perak has agreed on Nizar’s appointment.

Earlier Nizar, state DAP chairperson and Sitiawan state assemblyperson Ngeh Khoo Ham and PKR’s Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi had met with Regent Raja Nazrin Shah.

Ngeh and Jamaluddin were the two other candidates vying for the post.

The three of them later told a press conference that the regent had agreed with Nizar’s appointment as well as the appointment of Ngeh as deputy menteri besar (1) and an Indian candidate - to be named later - as deputy menteri besar (2).

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/79733]

Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin Is New Perak MB - Bernama

IPOH, March 12 (Bernama) -- The secretary of the Perak PAS Liaison Body, Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, 51, has been picked for the post of Perak Menteri Besar by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

Mohammad Nizar will lead the coalition government to be formed by PAS, DAP and PKR which together won 31 state seats in the general election on Saturday.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar at 4pm tomorrow.

Mohammad Nizar, who is also the State Assemblyman for Pasir Panjang, said the consent from the Sultan of Perak was conveyed to him by the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, who had granted an audience to the leaders of the three political parties at Istana Kinta, here at 5pm today.

PAS, DAP and the PKR yesterday submitted three names -- Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham, 47, Perak PKR treasurer Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, 52, and Mohammad Nizar, -- for selection by Sultan Azlan to lead the new state government.

The three names were submitted after the three political parties had received the Sultan's consent to form the coalition government.

Speaking to reporters outside Istana Kinta, Mohammad Nizar said Ngeh would be appointed Deputy Menteri Besar I.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=320267]

PM Beri Amaran Kepada Lim Jangan Marakkan Ketegangan Kaum - Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, 12 Mac (Bernama) -- Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini memberi amaran kepada Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng supaya tidak membuat kenyataan yang boleh memarakkan ketegangan kaum.

Lim, selepas mengangkat sumpah jawatan sebagai Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang semalam, memberitahu pemberita bahawa kerajaan negeri pimpinan DAP itu tidak akan mengamalkan Dasar Ekonomi Baru.

Lim juga berkata DEB, yang diperkenalkan pada 1971 selepas rusuhan kaum 13 Mei 1969 untuk membasmi kemiskinan dan menyusun semula masyarakat, merupakan punca kepada "kronisme, rasuah dan ketidakcekapan."

Abdullah memberitahu Bernama selepas mengadakan pertemuan dengan para pegawai tinggi kerajaan di pejabatnya di sini, bahawa DEB yang diperkenalkan perdana menteri kedua allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, sebenarnya telah berjaya meningkatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi dan ini telah memberi faedah kepada semua kaum.

"Saya ingin bertanya kepada DAP kaum manakah yang telah menjadi lebih miskin kerana DEB.

"Saya ingin juga memberi peringatan kepada kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang supaya jangan menimbulkan keadaan di mana ketegangan antara kaum boleh berlaku," tegas Abdullah yang juga Ketua Perhubungan Umno Pulau Pinang.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/bm/news.php?id=320242]

Orang Melayu Undi DAP Tidak Ada Semangat Kebangsaan, Kata Aziz Tapa - Bernama

Oleh Mohamad Bakri Darus

MELAKA, 12 Mac (Bernama) -- Generasi baru Melayu yang mengundi pembangkang terutama DAP pada pilihan raya umum Sabtu lepas tidak mempunyai semangat kebangsaan; fikiran mereka bercelaru; dan hanya terikut-ikut mahukan perubahan, kata veteran Umno Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Tapa hari ini.

Beliau berkata jika mempunyai semangat kebangsaan golongan ini tentu mengundi Barisan Nasional (BN) kerana parti tulang belakang BN ialah Umno, yang memperjuangkan nasib Melayu.

"Saya kata orang Melayu kurang berfikir, suka ikut emosi kerana pepatah Melayu ada menyebut 'bumi kelikir, langit temberang, tak baik-baik fikir jadi hamba orang', inilah kesannya," kata Aziz dalam temubual dengan Bernama di rumahnya di Jasin dekat sini.

Tokoh budayawan dan sejarawan berusia 84 tahun itu berkata, generasi muda ini mahukan perubahan saja tetapi mereka tidak tahu perubahan itu boleh merosakkan masa depan mereka.

"Falsafah orang Belanda: manusia sentiasa berkehendakkan yang baru tetapi kadang kala dia terlupa yang baru itu merosakkan dia," katanya.

Pejuang kemerdekaan itu berkata mereka tidak tahu betapa susahnya orang Melayu dahulu berjuang untuk mendapatkan kemerdekaan negara daripada penjajah Inggeris tetapi mereka yang hidup senang lenang pada hari ini, cuba membiarkan hak-hak istimewa orang Melayu terhakis.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/bm/news.php?id=320195]

Media changes tone after shock poll results - Malaysiakini

The government-friendly media has changed its tone after shock election gains by the opposition, aiming to win back readers alienated by biased coverage, industry sources said today.

Malaysia's mainstream newspapers and television networks, many of them partly government-owned, were awash with flattering coverage of the ruling coalition ahead of Saturday's polls.

But after unprecedented losses, which saw the government lose its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time in four decades, opposition figures who had been ignored or vilified are now being splashed on front pages.

"It is a wake-up call for us. The mainstream media should revisit and review our policies," said Azman Ujang, general manager of the state news agency Bernama.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranks Malaysia 124 out of 169 on its worldwide press freedom index, and says the main media are "often compelled to ignore or to play down the many events organised by the opposition".

[More at http://malaysiakini.com/news/79690]

Penang Government Appoints Two Deputy Chief Ministers - Bernama

PENANG, March 12 (Bernama) -- The Penang government today announced the appointments of two deputy chief ministers to help administer the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng named Penanti state assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as first Deputy Chief Minister and Perai state assemblyman Prof Dr P.Ramasamy (DAP) as second Deputy Chief Minister.

He told a news conference that they would take their oath of office before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas tomorrow.

Lim said the appointment of two deputy chief ministers was to represent the multiracial people in the state.

He also said that he would meet Abdul Rahman to inform him of the state executive council line-up which would comprise seven DAP and three PKR assemblymen.

However, he did not reveal their names or the portfolios created.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=320124]