Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz briefs the press on the prime minister's meeting with the Umno members of Parliament.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Mahathir using dirty tactics - Malaysiakini.tv
Mukhriz defies dad's call to quit, will fight PM within Umno - NST
By June Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, Tues:
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir is not following his father former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad out of Umno. But the first-term MP for Jerlun said he was not backing Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Umno president.
“My friends and I are of the opinion that the prime minister should relinquish all three positions held by him which are the post of prime minister, Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman immediately,” he told a packed press conference at a hotel here today. “This is the decision that I have made for now. I will not hesitate to change this decision if things do not change for the better in due time,” he said.
Mukhriz reiterated that his father’s decision to resign from the party was because he loved Umno.
“I also believe that there are many ways to skin a cat, hence I am announcing that I will stay on in Umno, as the parliamentarian for Jerlun and an Umno member. I will be loyal to the party as a member but I will be a strong voice that will criticise the deficiency of the party’s leadership,” he said, reading from a press statement in Bahasa Malaysia.
He claimed several other members have given Abdullah an ultimatum, that is to quit all three positions before the branch elections start in July.
On whether his father Dr Mahathir welcomed his decision to stay on in the party, Mukhriz replied: “My father is unaware of my decision. I have yet to speak with him and tell him about this.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/20080520211413/Article/index_html]
Live bullet sent to Karpal - Malaysiakini.tv
DAP leader and member of Parliament Karpal Singh received a live bullet in an envelope at his law firm in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
The live bullet was accompanied with a note warning him against speaking out on the controversial issues of Malay rights and the constitutional powers of the sultans.
Federal Territories Ministry Will Not Be Abolished - Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- The Dewan Rakyat was Tuesday told that the Federal Territories (FT) Ministry will not be abolished because its establishment was under an act of Parliament.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique said the call for its dissolution by Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) because there was an overlap of functions with Kuala Lumpur City Hall, was not accurate.
"On the question of the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur being elected, it is a matter for the Housing and Local Government Ministry to consider. The FT Ministry has no say in this. It has to be brought up to the Cabinet for decision," he said when winding up debate for his ministry on the motion of thanks for the royal address.
His explanation was supported by Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) who interrupted and said : "If you (Wee) want to abolish the FT Ministry, wait until you become prime minister."
[From http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=334299]
Umno MPs back Abdullah - The Sun
By Giam Say Khoon
KUALA LUMPUR (May 20, 2008): Members of Parliament (MPs) from Umno today threw their support behind an embattled Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as party president and gave their assurance that they would not leave Umno.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz said the statement of support was made in a special one-hour meeting with Abdullah when the Parliament session broke for lunch, following the dramatic announcement yesterday by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno, and his urging members who share his views on the leadership to do the same.
During the meeting, Sri Gading MP Mohamed Aziz represented all Umno MPs present in assuring Abdullah that they would remain with the party.
Said Mohd Nazri: "The departure of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will only make Umno stronger. This is not new and no one in Umno will want to see the party collapse."
He said 95% of the 78 MPs from Umno attended the meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Umno vice-president, were abroad on official duty.
Mahathir's son, Datuk Mukhriz, who is Jerlun MP, was absent at the meeting. Nazri said the party did not want him to feel bad over his father's decision. Mukhriz held a press conference in the evening to announce that he would stay put in Umno.
[More at http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=22493]
Opposition Wants Azalina Be Referred To Rights And Privileges Committee - Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was not only bombarded with questions by angry opposition lawmakers, but some even demanded that she be referred to the parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee for giving confusing answers in the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday.
The lawkers claimed that Azalina had discriminated against the five Pakatan Rakyat-controlled states with regards to tourism programmes.
The atmosphere became heated up when Azalina denied that her ministry had dropped tourism programmes in the five states after the March 8 general election, while actually, she said, the programmes had and would be carried out with active promotion by her ministry and Tourism Malaysia.
"In Kedah, the Visit Malaysia Year Go Green drive will be held from Aug 21 to 24, while in Kelantan, the Pesta Nasi 100 will run from July 9 to 11. This shows that the ministry still includes such events in the tourism calendar," she said in winding-up the debate for her ministry on the royal address.
However, some opposition lawmakers were unhappy with her answers and stood up several times to seek clarification but Azalina gave no way and continued with her winding-up speech.
The situation became even more heated up when Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) suggested that Azalina be immediately referred to the parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee under Section 36 (12) of the Standing Order for giving confusing answers.
His motion was supported by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) who said: "The minister came to confuse this august House. This should not be allowed. That is why Section 36(12) needs to be amended for the first time as presently a minister can abuse the parliamentary privileges."
However, Mohamed Azmin's motion was rejected by Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee as he said, the minister had replied to the issues and queries and any disagreement did not require Azalina to be referred to the committee.
[More at http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=334247]
Ku Li: I’ll stay to fight Abdullah - The Star
By Nik Khusairy Ibrahim
ALOR STAR: Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah will remain in Umno to challenge Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the party presidency and also to clean up the party.
The Gua Musang MP also said he would never form a pact with the Opposition to set up a new government even if Umno was battered by internal conflict.
“I have my own party. Why must I quit the party? I will remain in the party to challenge the president (Abdullah) and will fight to clean up the party,” he said yesterday after opening a gathering organised by the Kedah Malay Unity Organisation.
He said he had no plan to work out a pact with Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“I am not in contact with Anwar. There is no reason for me to form a pact with the Opposition,” he added.
Razaleigh said he was shocked by Dr Mahathir quitting the “new Umno” that he formed 21 years ago.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/20/nation/21301499&sec=nation]
Nik Aziz happy with Dr M’s move - The Star
By Ian McIntyre
KOTA BARU: Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was the “happiest politician alive” after he was told that former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had decided to leave Umno.
Nik Aziz, who is also PAS spiritual adviser, however opened the door for Dr Mahathir to join the Islamist party because he was a strong leader with principles and a sharp mind, which would be beneficial to PAS.
However, he said it was not a formal invitation but Dr Mahathir should join PAS of his own accord.
He said the news would rejuvenate PAS members and “inspire” Umno members to leave, as the party was no longer relevant.
He said Dr Mahathir should have left Umno a long time ago and chosen Islam as the platform for his political struggle.
He said he admired Dr Mahathir for his intelligence and comforting speeches but the problem was that he followed secularism governance.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/20/nation/21298608&sec=nation]
PAS man lit the ‘resignation’ fuse - The Star
ALOR STAR: The man who challenged Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno is actually PAS member Ismail Wan Teh.
Ismail was wearing a non-governmental organisation’s hat when he asked Dr Mahathir if he would be willing to quit Umno as a sign of protest against Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s leadership.
Ismail, the Kedah Citizens’ Action Group deputy chairman, asked the question based on Dr Mahathir’s call to Umno members to resign en masse as a show of no-confidence in Abdullah.
Ismail asked if Dr Mahathir were willing to quit, as it would have a major impact on Umno.
Dr Mahathir who was probably not aware that Ismail was a PAS member, said it sounded like a challenge.
“I will leave Umno until Abdullah’s leadership is ended,” he said.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/20/nation/21301873&sec=nation]
'Quitting may well reflect his guilt' - NST
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed is ruining the party which kept him in power for 22 years, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said.
The Bukit Gelugor member of parliament said Dr Mahathir was "unabashedly" showing his true colours.
"He has brought upon himself the ominous act of resigning from Umno with a view, obviously, to destabilise the government of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"Dr Mahathir has shown that he is incapable of becoming a statesman. He has been and remains a gutter politician."
Karpal said Dr Mahathir, identified by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam video clip as one of six personalities to be investigated, was the Barisan Nasional chairman and prime minister at the time the alleged offences were committed.
"He should be brave enough to remain an Umno member until he clears his name. Dr Mahathir should not panic and desert his party now.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/2244863/Article/index_html]
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