Excerpts from Lim Guan Eng's press conference - TheStarOnline.tv

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng says Penangites should treat the new state government as their friend. He has plans to run the state government free of the New Economic Policy by making sure all government procurements and contracts are made public.

Henti projek mega P. Pinang - Utusan

Oleh: Rokiah Abdullah

PULAU PINANG 13 Mac – UMNO Pulau Pinang meminta kerajaan Pusat menghentikan semua projek mega yang dirancang di negeri ini termasuk perkhidmatan bas RapidPenang yang telah beroperasi 31 Julai tahun lalu.

Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Azhar Ibrahim berkata, langkah tersebut perlu dilakukan bagi memberi laluan kepada kerajaan baru Pulau Pinang di bawah pimpinan DAP merencanakan projek mengikut acuan mereka sendiri.

Beliau berkata, tindakan itu juga sebagai memenuhi keinginan rakyat Pulau Pinang yang tidak mahukan kemajuan dan pembangunan yang ditawarkan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN).

‘‘Ini bukan balas dendam. Ini tanggungjawab kerajaan negeri yang baru untuk memajukan dan membangunkan negeri ini mengikut cara mereka sendiri.

‘‘Kami akan memujuk, merayu dan meminta kepada kerajaan Pusat supaya segala projek mega di Pulau Pinang ditarik balik,” katanya.

Beliau yang juga Setiausaha Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri menyatakan demikian kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri Mesyuarat UMNO negeri di Menara UMNO di sini hari ini.

[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0314&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_10.htm]

DAP biadab -- Arahan pulau majlis pelantikan MB Perak dianggap hina raja Melayu - Utusan

Oleh: Herman Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR 13 Mac – DAP bertindak biadab apabila mengarahkan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) daripada parti itu memulaukan majlis angkat sumpah pelantikan Menteri Besar di hadapan Pemangku Raja Perak, Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah yang sepatutnya berlangsung hari ini.

Beberapa pemimpin yang membidas tindakan DAP itu turut menegaskan, adalah satu penghinaan kepada institusi raja-raja Melayu jika ada mana-mana pihak yang tidak menghormati majlis tersebut yang merupakan sebahagian daripada adat istiadat Kesultanan Perak.

Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata, tindakan DAP melalui kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Penasihatnya, Lim Kit Siang semalam merupakan sesuatu yang di luar batasan.

“DAP secara terang tidak bertanggungjawab dan tidak menghormati kedudukan kesultanan Melayu.

“Niat memulaukan istiadat pelantikan juga menunjukkan mereka hanya gilakan kuasa sehingga sanggup membelakangkan kesetiaan kepada raja dan negara,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.

DAP malam tadi mengarahkan kesemua 18 ADUN parti itu di Perak memulaukan majlis angkat sumpah jawatan Menteri Besar yang dijadualkan petang ini. Pada pilihan raya lalu, Barisan Nasional menang 28 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri, Pas (5) dan PKR (7).

[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0314&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_01.htm]

Malaysia opposition struggling to form state governments - Reuters

By Jalil Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition alliance struggled on Thursday to reach power-sharing pacts in states that fell under its control in weekend elections dubbed a "political tsunami".

The three opposition parties, which won five out of 13 states in a shock election result, are now in a post-election battle to share the spoils without stoking racial and religious tensions.

"Things are looking very, very fragile for opposition-held state governments," said Zainon Ahmad, the political editor of the local Sun newspaper. "They have difficulty in dividing the spoils of war."

First one and then another of the parties in the opposition alliance threw a fit over representation in the new Perak government, before Sultan Azlan Shah, the state's titular leader, cancelled the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday in exasperation.

The Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) on Thursday retracted an earlier threat to boycott the ceremony because the Sultan had named Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) as chief minister.

The party was initially upset since it and a third party in the alliance, the People's Justice party led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, won more state seats in Perak than PAS did at Saturday's elections.

[More at http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSKLR17040020080313]

Penang CM slams PM, denies stoking racial tension - Malaysiakini

By Beh Lih Yi

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has vehemently refuted Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s claim that he was stoking racial tension over the issue of dismantling the New Economy Policy (NEP) in the island state.

In a sign that could signal the start of a rocky relationship between the federal and the state governments, Lim has instead slammed Abdullah for seeking to provoke racial tensions with his allegations.

“I said we will have an open-tender system (in Penang). What’s the problem with that? Unless Abdullah doesn’t like open tenders but corruption, cronyism and inefficiency.

“I don’t understand what has it (abolishing the NEP) got to do with marginalising the Malay or the Indian community. I think he is not right, (he’s) going on the wrong facts and trying to provoke (racial) sentiment,” Lim told a press conference after witnessing the swearing-in of 10 of his state excos at the Dewan Sri Pinang today.

Yesterday, Abdullah expressed his dismay over the plan by the DAP-led state government not to practise the NEP, an affirmative action policy which favours the bumiputeras.

“Do not marginalise the Malays. I want to ask Lim Guan Eng what are his plans for the Malays in Penang. What are his plans for the Indians in Penang. What are his plans for other minority groups in Penang?” said Abdullah.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/79783]

Lim apologises, DAP reps to attend ceremony - Malaysiakini

The crisis which developed yesterday over the appointment of a PAS menteri besar in a DAP-led Perak state assembly seemed to have been resolved today.

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang who rejected the appointment of a PAS candidate today apologised for any offence caused to the Perak royalty over his statement.

“My three-paragraph statement at 7pm last night that the DAP central executive committee emergency meeting on March 9 had not given approval for a PAS mentri besar to head a Perak coalition state government was not made out of disrespect to the Perak sultan and regent, both whom I have always held in the highest regard and I apologise for any offence caused," he said.

“The statement was on the party position at the time. There have been further discussions and developments on the matter in the hours after the statement. Announcements of the latest position will be made.”

This was immediately followed by state DAP chairperson and Sitiawan state assemblyperson Ngeh Khoo Ham who told Malaysiakini that whatever misunderstanding that occurred over the matter has been clarified.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/79736]

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]

Guan Eng sworn in as Penang CM - TheStarOnline.tv

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng took his oath as Penang’s fourth Chief Minister on Tuesday. The new chief minister later outlined his plan for the state at a press conference.

Perak MB post: Three names submitted - The Star

By Hah Foong Lian and Chan Li Leen

IPOH: The new Mentri Besar from the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition will be sworn in as early as Wednesday after Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah decides among three potential candidates.

The candidates are state DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham, state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) treasurer Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and state PAS secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

Revealing this at a joint press conference, Ngeh said the names were submitted to Raja Nazrin Shah at Istana Kinta here at 2pm on Tuesday.

"All parties within the coalition have jointly agreed on the submission of the three names for his decision.

"We would like to impress upon the people that all three parties have unanimously agreed to fully endorse whichever candidate is chosen," he said at the Perak DAP headquarters.

Also present were state PKR chief Zulkifly Ibrahim, Mohammad Nizar and other DAP assemblymen.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/election/story.asp?file=/2008/3/11/election2008/20080311154411&sec=Election2008]

Penang Administration Will Be Free From NEP, Says Lim - Bernama

PENANG, March 11 (Bernama) -- Just a few hours after being sworn in as Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng Tuesday announced that the DAP-Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) coalition government will run its administration free from the New Economic Policy (NEP) which he claimed could breed cronyism, corruption and systemic inefficiency.

In his maiden speech as the Chief Minister, Guan Eng said the new state government would implement an open tender system for all government procurements and contracts.

The NEP's stated goals are poverty eradication and economic restructuring so as to eliminate the identification of ethnicity with economic functions.

The policy, which was implemented in 1971, also espouses the redistribution of wealth and affirmative action for Malays and bumiputeras to have at least 30 per cent of the country's wealth.

Following Guan Eng's statement, he was asked on Malay rights and responded that "the fate of all races and their destiny are very much the same."

"I don't want to talk about any particular race because our fate are all the same and our direction is also the same," he said.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=319962]

Sack bad advisers, PM urged - The Star

By Sim Leoi Leoi and Raphael Wong

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik let rip on the last day of his office in Government by issuing the strongest advice to the Prime Minister.

Change the advisers because they are giving the wrong advice, which partly led to major losses for Barisan Nasional in the general election, the Gerakan adviser said.

Dr Lim, who retired from active politics last year, said although he still had confidence in Abdullah’s leadership, Abdullah had got to think a lot and much deeper on issues of the day and “do something.”

“There is no leadership issue. The advice given to him has been wrong. If his advisers have been giving the wrong advice, remove them all. If it’s been the right advice, why should we be here now?

Dr Lim was talking to reporters after handing over his Energy, Water and Communications Ministry tag at his office here yesterday.

Other reasons contributing to the losses included the arrogant attitude of some Barisan politicians, the lack of cyber campaigning and the discriminatory implementation of government policies by certain civil servants, he pointed out.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/11/nation/20602704&sec=nation]

Umno And Other BN Component Parties Support Abdullah - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, MARCH 10 (Bernama) -- Umno and other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties today unequivocally voiced full support for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister and Umno president.

Umno deputy president and deputy BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the stand was very important to maintain confidence in the country, especially investor confidence as well as helping Umno face new challenges.

"Therefore, trust and confidence in the Umno leadership is very important. As such, the Umno supreme council hopes there will not be any more doubt about Umno's top leadership or any speculation or effort to change leadership or any action that does not reflect the desire of the supreme council," he said at a press conference after a BN Supreme Council meeting here.

The BN Supreme Council meeting was held after the Umno Supreme Council meeting at Menara Datuk Onn of the Putra World Trade Centre here.

Najib said the same matter had been raised at the BN Supreme Council meeting chaired by Abdullah, where all heads of the BN component parties had voiced unanimous support for Abdullah as Prime Minister and BN Chairman.

Najib said he had very good relations with Abdullah as Umno president and Prime Minister and it was the desire of the supreme council to see the good relations maintained.

"When there is unity, leadership and trust, the party will be stronger and more united," he said.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=319858]