SANDAKAN 28 April - Wakil rakyat Barisan Nasional (BN) di Sabah tidak pernah terfikir untuk menyertai pihak pembangkang seperti yang diuar-uarkan oleh Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Timbalan Ketua UMNO Bahagian Libaran, Datuk Juslie Ajirol berkata, kenyataan Anwar itu cuma strategi baru politiknya untuk melemahkan BN di Semenanjung yang dilanda masalah selepas prestasi buruk pada pilihan raya umum lalu.
"Semua wakil rakyat BN Sabah tidak berhasrat untuk melompat ke PKR atau parti pembangkang lain yang ada di negeri ini. Di Sabah, kita menolak sepenuhnya parti pembangkang terutamanya PKR Sabah.
"Perkara ini telah dibuktikan pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 lalu," katanya semasa berucap pada majlis penutup Sukan Tahunan Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Tiram Batu 19 dekat sini semalam.
Ahli Parlimen Libaran itu berkata, Anwar hanya berangan-angan kosong dan perbuatannya jelas sedang mengelirukan rakyat terutamanya di negeri ini.
Beliau berkata, Anwar sememangnya sedia maklum, senario politik di Sabah amat berbeza dengan Semenanjung dan menyedari tidak ada wakil rakyat BN yang akan menyertai pembangkang.
[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0429&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka%5FHadapan&pg=mh_06.htm]
Monday, April 28, 2008
Wakil rakyat BN Sabah tolak pembangkang - Utusan
Pertahan ketuanan Melayu - Utusan
KUALA LUMPUR 28 April - UMNO akan terus berperanan memperjuangkan ketuanan Melayu supaya kaum itu tidak dipandang rendah dalam negara sendiri, kata Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Presiden UMNO berkata, orang Melayu tidak boleh hidup sebagai 'kuli', sebaliknya mereka perlu dilihat berada pada satu kedudukan yang sama dengan kaum- kaum lain.
Justeru, katanya, usaha untuk memajukan dan memperkasakan orang Melayu akan diteruskan tetapi dalam masa yang sama hak-hak kaum lain tetap terpelihara.
Ujarnya, masih terdapat orang Melayu yang perlu diperkasakan dan diperkuatkan meskipun ada dalam kalangan mereka ketika ini telah menempa beberapa kejayaan.
''Orang Melayu merupakan penduduk asal di negara ini dan tidak boleh hidup sebagai kuli. Oleh itu untuk menjadi 'tuan' kita perlu berjaya kerana kita mahu orang Melayu berperanan dalam pembangunan negara.
''Inilah yang dikatakan ketuanan Melayu dan bukannya hendak perintah orang lain atau memaksa kuasa terhadap orang lain,'' kata Abdullah kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi (MT) UMNO di Menara Datuk Onn, Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) di sini hari ini.
[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0429&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka%5FHadapan&pg=mh_04.htm]
MPs looking forward to the 12th parliament - Malaysiakini.tv
Newly elected lawmakers took oath of office in parliament today after March 8 general elections which changed the political landscape.
MP Bloggers - TheStarOnline.tv
New MPs Jeff Ooi and Tony Pua are famous for their blogs and both are committed to blogging while they are seated in the Dewan Rakyat.
Altantuya's father comes to parliament - Malaysiakini.tv
The plight of the family of murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu was
taken to Parliament today, while the 222 newly-elected members gathered
for their oath-taking ceremony.
Altantuya's father, Dr Shaariibuu Setev (photo), was in the building
this morning with a one-page letter appealing for the help of the MPs
in relation to the case.
Shaariibuu had hoped to personally deliver the letter to both Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul
Razak.
People's Needs, Priorities Come First Than Party's, Says Abdullah - Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The government will always give importance to the people's problems and interests, particularly to meet the needs of the low-income earners, by initiating programmes to ease their burden, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday night.
The prime minister said though the Barisan Nasional (BN) was facing various setbacks, the coalition would ensure the people's agenda was accorded priority over everything else.
"Serious attention will be given to the masses' woes. The BN is still the federal government and is governing the nation from the mandate given by the people. Issues concerning the people will be given prompt attention," he told a press conference after chairing a meeting of the supreme council, Umno's powerful decision-making body.
Abdullah said the government viewed the fuel price hike issue seriously as it could lead to an increase in prices of consumer goods and other problems that might surface due to global food shortage.
In this regard, he said, the government would expedite measures to set up a food stockpile and the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry had drawn up a proposal paper to implement the national food security plan.
Abdullah said the proposal paper would be tabled in the Cabinet soon for perusal.
[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=329587]
Malaysia's new lawmakers take oath - Channel NewsAsia
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's new parliament session got off to an exciting start on Monday with the highest number of opposition lawmakers being sworn-in in history. Of the 222 MPs sworn in, half were fresh faces.
Hogging the spotlight in parliament were the first mother and daughter MP team dressed in turquoise, the party colour of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Opposition Parliamentary Chief, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has made it into the history books as the first woman to lead the opposition.
Despite the noticeable absence of her husband, de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, she has other reasons to celebrate.
She said: "I am proud that my daughter has actually made it to the parliament together with me. Both of us are committed to work for the people. We are grateful that the people have confidence in us."
Despite being a political rookie, MP for Lembah Pantai, 27-year-old Nurul Izzah Anwar, is eager to take on the government MPs and has vowed not to let the people down.
She said: "Peoples’ aspirations rest on our shoulders. I feel this is a huge responsibility. But (at) the end of the day, if you are sincere to your country (and) constituency, you will do your best."
[More at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/344241/1/.html]
Anwar's Claim Of Defection By BN Reps Proven Untrue - Mohd Ali - Bernama
MELAKA, April 28 (Bernama) -- The claim by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that a number of Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentarians would be party hopping to join Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition coalition, has proven to be untrue.
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the smooth swearing-in of the MPs with no defections from the BN, for the first sitting of parliament's 12th session, which began Monday, proved that the BN representatives had the integrity that they could be proud of.
"I congratulate all the BN MPs who took their oath as they have upheld the people's trust and proved that Anwar's instigation and boast about defections from BN were nothing more than empty talk," he told reporters here Monday.
Also sworn in Monday was former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker. He is from Kota Belud, Sabah.
As expected, Mohd Ali said, Anwar's claim was mere political gimmick which got himself trapped.
Last week in Kota Kinabalu, Anwar was reported to have said that several BN MPs had decided to join Pakatan Rakyat and what was withholding them was only the time factor as they had not been sworn in.
Mohd Ali, who is an Umno vice-president, believes that the Pakatan Rakyat itself would face problems as the opposition coalition parties -- PKR, PAS and DAP -- have different policies and ideologies.
[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=329544]
Guan Eng: It’s a new form of colonialism - The Star
By Carolyn Ooi
PENANG: Re-routing the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry funds via a different body such as Mara is a new form of colonialism, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.
Lim hoped Minister Datuk Noh Omar would reconsider the decision as such a move would give a wrong impression to the public.
For years, it has been the practice by the Ministry to channel funds worth RM100 mil a year to the respective State Economic Development Corporations.
The money was used for purposes such as upgrading facilities and financing programmes for the benefit of the people.
However, on Saturday Noh announced that the funds would be channelled via Mara, to prevent the rakyat from being "victimised". He did not explain what he meant by the word "victimised".
Such a move was tantamount to forming a parallel government, Lim told reporters during the Mount Miriam Hospital "Ho Chiak" Charity Food and Fun Fair on Sunday.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/28/nation/20080428095226&sec=nation]
Kadar Shah: Hisham should resign - The Star
MUAR: The Muar division wants Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to resign over the keris issue.
Datuk Kadar Shah Tun Sulaiman Ninam Shah, claiming to speak for several branch leaders, made the call yesterday after Hishammuddin admitted that the keris issue was among the causes of Barisan’s poor performance in the March general election.
To admit the mistake is not good enough if the Youth chief does not take the responsibility and resign from all party and government posts, he said.
Hishammuddin had agreed that the keris issue was one factor which had caused Barisan to lose the people’s support, Kadar Shah said here yesterday.
Kadar Shah said besides resigning, Hishammuddin should also seek forgiveness from all Umno and Barisan members as the DAP had manipulated the keris issue to woo supporters.
He said that as a Cabinet minister for several terms, the Youth chief should be mature enough to know what a leader could do, and brandishing the keris could hurt the feelings of other races.
[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/28/nation/21083289&sec=nation]
Nizar, Guan Eng call for end to preventive laws - The Star
IPOH: Two Pakatan Rakyat state leaders have called for the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA).
While Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said certain provisions Act at least needed to be reviewed if not repealed, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng went step further, asking for the Official Secrets Acts (OSA) to be done away with as well.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had on Saturday said that preventive laws, including the ISA, would not be abolished.
Commenting on a claim by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Pakatan Rakyat would abolish preventive laws should it rule the country, Syed Hamid had said that such laws serve the purpose of maintaining public order.
Lim said he regretted Syed Hamid's decision.
“The fact that you have the ISA and OSA (shows that) you want to frighten the people,” he told a press conference at the Mount Miriam Hospital “Ho Chiak” Charity Food and Fun Fair in Penang yesterday.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/28/nation/21083406&sec=nation]
Mat Taib to do ‘sleepovers’ - The Star
By V. Chandrasekaran
BALING: Rural and Regional Development Minister Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said he would visit villages nationwide once every three weeks in a move to address urgent problems there.
He said he would sleep overnight in the respective village to find out more about the pressing needs of the people.
The new approach, which got the nod from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, kicked off with his first visit to Kampung Kuala Kerik in Sik, Kedah, on Sunday.
He spent a night at the village and took part in a gotong royong the following morning before leaving for a special meeting with 1,938 Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairmen at Dewan Rakan Muda here.
“It is sad to note that some villagers are still living in a deplorable state. They don’t even have proper road and basic amenities while those in the urban areas enjoy good facilities.
“Something must be wrong somewhere. It is high time we help improve their living standards and other facilities urgently,” he said.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/28/nation/21083934&sec=nation]
Khir: Balkis didn't need approval - NST
SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has challenged the state government to take legal action over the dissolution of Balkis (Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation) and the transfer of RM9.9 million funds.
In response to criticisms of the transfer the former menteri besar said: "Please don't talk rubbish and refer to our lawyer."
Dr Khir was defending his wife, Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik, the past president of Balkis, who has come under fire for calling an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on March 11 to dissolve the charity.
He said the dissolution of Balkis and transfer of funds to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) was done in accordance with the charity's constitution.
An EGM was convened after one-fifth of Balkis members requested for it, while the dissolution and transfer of funds to Bakti received approval from two-thirds of members, he said.
He said there was no need for auditors of Balkis to be informed or consulted before the charity was dissolved and the funds transferred.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Monday/National/2225390/Article/index_html]
