Ku Li on the possibility of Sabah crossover - Malaysiakini.tv

Another leader within the Barisan Nasional fold warned today at a forum in Subang Jaya that Sabah MPs may yet abandon ship.

Speaking to a gathering of Umno members this afternoon, Gua Musang parliamentarian and Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, also known as Ku Li, explained that the opposition's repeated boasts to the media about taking over is not far-fetched at all.

Anwar admits Pakatan governments have fewer Malays - TheStarOnline.tv

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledges that Malay representation in Pakatan Rakyat state governments is lower than in previous governments. He spoke to reporters after launching two books by the late Rustam A. Sani in Shah Alam on Saturday.

林冠英：无惧国阵压力‧檳不取消新格局政策 - Sin Chew Daily

（檳城‧北海）檳州首席部长林冠英强调，檳州政府绝对不会受到来自国阵及各方面的压力，而取消州政府致力推动的新格局政策。

他说，在经过了三十多年，人民才有机会选出一个他们所要的人民政府，所以政府推行更具动力与魄力的人民政府计划，绝对不能失败。

他说，州政府决定还政予民，所以决定不分种族、宗教信仰及政治背景，唯才是用，目標就是要如何將檳城的经济搞得更好及使人民受惠。

他说，新格局的政府除了要廉节外，也要有公信力及更能干的交货给人民。

林冠英今日（週六，4月26日）在北海林氏宗祠，为世界林氏宗亲总会壮青年团主办及马来西亚林氏宗亲总会青年总团承办林氏太始祖诞辰3100週年纪念跨国万里汽车远征祭祖行主持挥旗礼时，这么说。

他希望檳州人民在大选过后，大家都应该重新团结一致的归队，共同为檳州的发展作出贡献。

[From http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/63523]

Government May Scrap Penang Monorail Project For Lack Of State Cooperation - Bernama

PENANG, April 26 (Bernama) -- The federal government will not proceed with the monorail project in Penang if the state authority does not give its cooperation, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said Saturday.

"So far, we have not received any approvals from the state government. If the state government has other plans with regard to the monorail, we are not doing it. The project is scrapped," he told reporters here.

The 51.2 kilometre monorail project costing RM1.2 billion is among mega projects proposed for implementation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) to complement the present public transport system network in Penang.

Nor Mohamed said it required full cooperation and approval from the state government because it involved the development of land and under the constitution, land matters were under state jurisdiction.

"If there is no cooperation, how are we to proceed," he told reporters after chairing the first meeting of the Federal Action Council of Penang. The council comprises government department heads, senior government officers and Barisan Nasional assemblymen. Nor Mohamed who is Member of Parliament for Tasek Gelugor, said the DAP-led Penang government had not given its approval because several issues relating to land acquisition and tender had not been finalised.

Other mega projects under the 9MP would also be shelved if the state government disagreed with them or if there was lack of understanding, he said.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=329228]

Opposition Playing 'Psy-war' To Gain In Politics, Says Rafidah - Bernama

KOTA KINABALU, April 26 (Bernama) -- The opposition party is playing a psychological war in order to gain in politics, but their threats should not be taken lightly, Wanita Umno Chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said Saturday.

She said the game the opposition were playing in the political arena was to give the impression that they were gaining grounds.

"No doubt the opposition have won in five states which had come as a surprise even to them.

"Maybe it's our weaknesses that have allowed them to win. But we will not take their threats lightly," she told reporters after a meeting with the Sabah Wanita Umno leaders here.

She said having won in those states have given the opposition extra motivation and strength to take over the other states too.

Nevertheless, Rafidah said the rakyat and the BN members of parliament would not be influenced and stay strong in not succumbing to the promises made and the various strategies used by the opposition.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=329221]

Apology Over Kris Won't Derogate Malay Dignity, Says Najib - Bernama

PEKAN, April 26 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein's apology over the "kris issue" will not derogate from the Malays' dignity because kris is a mere symbol, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Saturday.

The dignity of the Malays would only remain redeemed if they were successful in strategic fields to continue to compete with other races, said the deputy prime minister who is also Umno deputy president.

"I hope the issue will not crop up again. Datuk Seri Hishammuddin has done a very solicitious and noble act, meaning he is ready to seek apology though some people say it was not his intention to declare war or has a conviction in any racist move," he told reporters here today.

He was commenting on the Umno Youth head's apology for drawing and kissing a kris at the last Umno Youth assembly which was said to be among the factors to Barisan Nasional's dismal performance in last month's general election.

Najib said: "Kris is a weapon in the context of our culture, not more than that. But because there are people playing up the issue, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin's move, I hope, will be accepted as something positive, sincere and noble so that the issue will not crop up again."

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=329177]

Several SNAP leaders waiting for the right time to join PKR - The Star

KUCHING: Several leaders in Sarawak National Party (SNAP) are ready to defect to PKR, said party secretary Edmund Stanley Jugol.

Confirming his intention to join PKR, Jugo said it was a matter of timing for the leaders to move.

“There is so much more prospect in the Pakatan Rakyat. I will prefer to be part of this bigger group than to remain in SNAP,” he said yesterday.

Jugol, a former political secretary to the Chief Minister, indicated that his son, Darrel Walter Entrie, who is also SNAP youth leader, would also join PKR.

He said two other SNAP central executive committee (CEC) members Frankie Bedindan and Sylvester Belayong were also interested in joining PKR.

Jugol, Entrie, Bedindan and Belayong were among the SNAP members and several other Dayak leaders who met up with PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his visit here on Thursday.

None of them are elected representatives.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21069741&sec=nation]

ACA blames translation - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: The Anti-Corruption Agency has cleared the air on allegations that the Women's Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFMM) spent RM1.4 million on entertainment at a sports event last year.

In a statement, it said WSFFM's auditor had wrongly translated the word persembahan, which means performance, as entertainment in the annual report.

The agency also clarified that former youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was only a patron of the foundation and was not involved in financial management .

The statement said the word persembahan was related to the opening and closing ceremonies for the National Women's Games last year attended by participants nationwide.

The event was opened by the Raja Permaisuri Agong.

[From http://www.nst.com.my/Saturday/National/2224167/Article/index_html]

Penang CM to continue picking competent people to serve state - The Star

By Nik Khusairy Ibrahim

PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has given a personal guarantee on his policies of appointing Barisan Nasional members to positions in the state in an effort to placate his own party members.

He said he would continue with the policy to give opportunity to anyone with good credentials and capability to serve the state, in line with his competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) approach.

“I will not run away from taking responsibility over the decisions that I have made.

“I am confident the party (DAP) will support my decision. We want to implement the CAT approach, and we must start somewhere,” said Lim who is also DAP secretary-general.

Lim said this in response to mixed reaction from DAP leaders over the appointment of former Gerakan deputy secretary-general Datuk Lee Kah Choon as InvestPenang executive chairman and director of the Penang Development Corporation.

Among those who opposed the move was DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21073409&sec=nation]

MCA pledges to fight for everyone, work on mutual respect - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA will stand firm on what the Federal Constitution has provided for all races and will not let its spirit and definition be misinterpreted, said party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

As part of efforts to transform the party, he said MCA would break away from racial politics to fight for the rights of all races in religion, education, economy, politics and culture as stated in the Constitution.

“We are still a Chinese-based political party but our ways, direction and approach are for all races.

“We will give equal attention to what the multiracial community is concerned about and the MCA will speak, work and fight for them,” he said.

He added that the party would help build multiracial relationships on the basis of respecting and understanding each other as well as correct people’s perception that it was Umno’s running dog.

“It is only fair that we have genuine partnerships. There will be no more (perception of) who is on top or who is the follower,” he said, adding that the party wants mutual respect.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21075952&sec=nation]

‘RM9.9mil belongs to Balkis’ - The Star

PETALING JAYA: The RM9.9mil in the bank account of the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation (Balkis) belonged to it. And Balkis was within its rights to hand the money over to another organisation.

This is the stand of the president of the organisation at that time, Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik.

“We have sought legal advice and our lawyers advised us on the options available – either to put the money with any organisation or give it to the state.

“After some deliberations, we decided to give the money to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti),” Zahrah said yesterday.

The money was moved after a March 11 emergency meeting of Balkis, just days after the state government fell to the Pakatan Rakyat.

The current Selangor government is questioning the legality of the transfer of the funds.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21076243&sec=nation]

Did Balkis have the right to move out the RM9.9m? - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Questions are being asked whether it was correct for the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation (Balkis) to transfer out the RM9.9mil it had in its coffers a few days after the state fell to the Opposition.

Defending the money transfer, then president Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik said she had the legal right because her husband Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo was still the caretaker Selangor Mentri Besar at that time.

Dr Mohd Khir said the money was “temporarily transferred” to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) to ensure the money would be spent according to Balkis' purpose, namely for the welfare of children.

The state government, however, is questioning the transfer of the money and seeking legal advice. It has also asked the Registrar of Societies to put on hold the dissolution of Balkis, which the committee, led by Zahrah, also unanimously decided to do.

The Bar Council is of the opinion that Balkis' action could be tantamount to criminal breach of trust.

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21076831&sec=nation]

MCA to transform itself - The Star

MCA is set to transform itself and change the negative perception that it is subservient to Umno.

Party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, in an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, said some people have such a perception of the relationship between Umno and MCA when in fact the two parties are partners that respect each other.

“MCA hopes to see its transformation take shape in the next six months. This will enable the people to see the changes in MCA in three years or sooner,” he said.

Ong also said that the six-month time frame had nothing to do with the party election.

“We want to let people see the changes in MCA in terms of style, strategy and action within a short period of time.

“Such changes will not be window-dressing tactics which cannot withstand the test of time,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/26/nation/21071051&sec=nation]