Kok: Utusan turned pig issue ugly - Malaysiakini.tv

Selangor state executive councillor Teresa Kok is not pleased with Malay daily Utusan Malaysia for making her an 'easy target' over the modern pig farm project fiasco.

She criticised the paper for taking her blog comments out of context and making the modern pig farm issue in Selangor "ugly and distasteful to the Malay community."

"I am now reluctant to take interviews from Utusan. On one hand we wish we could reach out to the Malay readers but on the other, our comments are being twisted and turned by them. I think whatever I say now will be used against me," she said.

Ketuanan Melayu tercabar - Kaum lain lebih dominan dari segi politik, ekonomi – Tengku Faris - Utusan

Oleh Herman Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR 12 April – Usaha penyatuan Melayu perlu diberi keutamaan yang tinggi pada masa ini berikutan kedudukan orang Melayu dan Islam yang kian tercabar, titah Tengku Mahkota Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra.

Baginda bertitah, beberapa perkembangan yang berlaku selepas Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 lalu jelas memberi petunjuk bahawa kedaulatan dan ketuanan Melayu tercabar, mungkin terhakis atau lenyap suatu hari nanti.

“Lebih-lebih lagi keputusan pilihan raya lalu menunjukkan masyarakat Melayu berpecah belah dan sedang berhadapan dengan kaum lain yang lebih dominan dari segi politik dan ekonomi,’’ titah baginda.

Baginda bertitah demikian ketika merasmikan Perhimpunan Perpaduan Melayu sempena Maulidur Rasul 1429 Hijrah di Dewan Merdeka Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) di sini hari ini.

Kira-kira 3,000 peserta menghadiri majlis tersebut yang dianjurkan oleh gabungan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Melayu yang dikenali sebagai Barisan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (BBPM).

Antara NGO terlibat ialah Gabungan Penulis Nasional (Gapena), Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia (DPMM), Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), Persatuan Kebajikan Islam dan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Pekida) dan Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM).

Baginda menambah, orang Melayu kini juga semakin keliru tentang kedudukan benteng kekuatan mereka dalam usaha mempertahankan hak dan ketuanan Melayu.

Justeru baginda bertitah, perkara utama yang harus diketahui dan difahami ialah peruntukan Perlembagaan yang menegaskan bahawa orang Melayu adalah penduduk asal yang dijamin hak istimewa sebagai rakyat Malaysia.

“Peruntukan berkaitan hak dan ketuanan Melayu mesti dipertahankan iaitu agama Islam sebagai agama rasmi negara, bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa kebangsaan dan Raja-Raja Melayu sebagai Raja Berperlembagaan di negeri-negeri yang menjadi sebahagian daripada Malaysia.

“Perkara-perkara ini bukan sahaja perlu dipertahankan tetapi juga dijadikan tiang seri atau tonggak kepada kelangsungan ketuanan Melayu,” titah baginda.

[More at http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0413&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka%5FHadapan&pg=mh_01.htm]

Mahathir Incomparable, Says Mukhriz - Bernama

JITRA, April 12 (Bernama) -- Although retired and not directly involved in the country's administration, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still highly respected and his credibility, incomparable.

This, said Jerlun Member of Parliament, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, was why the DAP was paying special attention to Dr Mahathir.

"Although my father retired five years ago, his political influence is still strong.

"And although the DAP chairman Karpal Singh regards my father as a clown, it was indeed difficult for Karpal to get the better of him as a politician when my father was helming the country.

"This 'clown' (Dr Mahathir) served as prime minister for 22 years and had won four or five general elections," he told reporters after officiating at a water-pipe installation ceremony at Kampung Telaga Jambu, Pida 2 in Jerlun, near here, today.

"Karpal and Lim Kit Siang (now DAP adviser), on the other hand, before had lost badly in the general election to the Barisan Nasional led by Dr Mahathir. So if a 'clown' could trounce Karpal, then he (Karpal) is worse than a clown."

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326427]

Leadership Transition In Umno Must Take Place Now, Says Dr M - Bernama

KAJANG, April 12 (Bernama) -- Leadership transition in Umno must be done now to ensure the party was on a solid footing to lead the Barisan Nasional (BN) in recapturing states lost to the opposition in the next general election, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said this was because reviving the party would take time and general elections must be held no longer than five years.

"Five years is not a long time, If we don't do it (leadership transition) now, it might be too late, more so if the opposition are able to govern the states (Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor) well," he told reporters after giving a speech at a Malay leadership forum here today.

He was commenting on remarks by Umno vice president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would be holding discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak about the latter taking over the mantle of leadership.

Dr Mahathir said if it was true the handover would take place, it was something good as leadership transitions should be done smoothly.

"Most of Umno members want this, he (Abdullah) must respond and do it in a good way. If not, there will be calls extraordinary general meetings to have amendments made to the party constitution, followed by a motion of no confidence... all this will be bad for the image of Umno," said Dr Mahathir.

He also said that he had nothing to do with it (power transition).

"Nothing to do with me, I am not involved in this. He has to do the needful for the party. It is obvious that instead of blaming me or blaming everybody else, he must accept responsibility because it happened during his tenure of office," he said.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326424]

Rahim Thamby Chik tawar diri bertanding Naib Presiden - Utusan

KUALA LUMPUR 12 April - Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik bersedia menawarkan diri untuk bertanding bagi mana-mana jawatan dalam UMNO termasuk Naib Presiden dalam pemilihan parti itu pada Disember ini.

Katanya, dengan pengalaman politik yang ada, beliau akan membantu untuk memperkukuhkan dan membina kekuatan parti itu.

``Saya adalah ahli parti. Jika ada sokongan saya sedia pertimbangkan,’’ katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas menghadiri muzakarah Majlis Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu (Gabem) di sini hari ini.

[From http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0412&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_09.htm]

周美芬：明反暗支持回教国‧行动党公正党应道歉 - Sin Chew Daily

（吉隆坡）马华妇女组署理主席拿汀巴都卡周美芬说，为了取信於民，落实大选宣言的承诺，行动党和公正党应该向人民道歉，同时必须確保回教党改变其修宪成立回教国，实施回教法的目標，否则继续和回教党结盟，就是明反暗支持，欺骗人民！

她说，行动党和公正党对回教党要建回教国的立场其实是明反暗支持。

“在修宪成立回教国始终是回教党最终目標的情况下，行动党和公正党仍旧与回教党结盟，並不断的为回教党粉饰，证明了两党已暗地里默认了回教党的斗爭路线，欺骗人民的事实不容否认，行动党与公正党应向人民鞠躬道歉！”

周美芬今日（週六，12日）发表文告说，回教党主席哈迪阿旺受访时表示，回教党过去倡导的回教国理想，始终是回教党的政治斗爭路线；接著，回教党长老协商理事会副主席拿督哈伦丁也发表若夺下中央执政权便会修宪实施回教法的言论，这证明了回教党从来不曾放弃成立回教国，实行回教法的目標。

[More at http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/61633]

蔡细历：希山若再举剑 “民联大可舞动关刀”- Nanyang Siang Pau

（槟城12日讯）马华前副总会长拿督斯里蔡细历说，巫青团长拿督斯里希山慕丁会否在今年的巫统大会再次举剑，这是大家关注的，“我相信希山慕丁已从本届大选成绩得到教训。”

他说：“我相信他会吸取教训。

“就像我之前所说，如果他再举剑，民联或华基党也可舞动关刀。”

他昨晚出席“分析大选，探索未来”政治论坛后，如是回答群众的提问。

谈到廉政时，他表示，全马人民都要看到政府是清廉的，而现在由民联执政的5个州属固然是新官上任三把火，可是没有人会知道再过一些日子民联是否还会这样清廉，不要忘记政治人物，始终还是政治人物。

谈到霹雳州政府研究发永久地契予新村时，他说，他并非要泼冷水，但从法律情况而言，该州政府要发永久地契并不容易落实。

[More at http://www.nanyang.com/index.php?ch=7&pg=10&ac=833057]

New Approach To Tackle Poverty - Najib - Bernama

PEKAN, April 12 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Saturday the government would use a new approach in tackling hardcore poverty by focusing on programmes or high technology projects that are capable of providing income to the hardcore poor.

The deputy prime minister said the new approach was necessary as the previous ones were not effective in tackling the problem due to a number of reasons.

"Fishermen in the east coast, for instance, are not able to earn income for up to three months during the monsoon season," he told reporters after officiating the Fish Protech high technology aquaculture project in Kuala Pahang.

Najib said assistance in the form of fishing nets or boats, therefore, would not be effective in freeing the group from the clutches of poverty.

The modern aquaculture project might be the answer, he said, as it could generate income for the fishermen compared to the traditional aquaculture projects.

The 4ha project is being developed by Majuikan Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) and expected to involve 300 participants from fishermen in the area.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326345]

Pak Lah vows to do utmost to ‘revive’ Umno and ensure wrongs be put right - The Star

By Nelson Benjamin and Meera Vijayan

JOHOR BARU: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has pledged to do his utmost to “revive” Umno, saying this was among the many things he needed to do.

Admitting that he had to shoulder part of the blame for the party’s and Barisan Nasional’s poor performance in the general election, the Prime Minister said he wanted to ensure that “wrongs be put right”.

He cited judicial reform, the fight against corruption, reducing crime and improving race relations as among his other priorities.

“And it includes issues related to freedom of religion, things that I promised in my 2004 manifesto,” he told reporters after holding a closed-door meeting with Johor Umno leaders at a hotel here.

The Umno president and Barisan chairman added that he also wanted to improve the public delivery system, saying that this issue was already being addressed.

He said progress was also being made in overcoming the economic deficit and stimulating the economy.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/12/nation/20935580&sec=nation]

Karpal: Make it easier for converts to renounce Islam - The Star

PETALING JAYA: Converts who want to renounce Islam should be given an easier course of action in the process, says lawyer Karpal Singh.

He said in a statement that while he lauded the Government’s move to introduce new regulations for those wanting to convert to Islam, it was more important to address this issue.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced yesterday a regulation requiring non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam to inform their family first, so as to prevent any disputes when they died.

Karpal Singh said that no obstacle should be placed in the way of Muslim converts who wished to return to their original religion.

“As the position stands, converts are required to resort to the Syariah Court to renounce Islam, and are further required to undergo rehabilitation,” he said.

He called for the Government to relax the requirements of this move, adding that that there was considerable concern and disquiet among converts on the issue.

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/12/nation/20931447&sec=nation]

Kedah denies sabotaging tourism programme - The Star

LANGKAWI: The Kedah Government has denied that its raids on entertainment outlets in Langkawi were to sabotage tourism activities.

State tourism and community development committee chairman Mohammad Radzhi Salleh said the local authorities and police initiated Ops Noda Khas to check social problems.

“The Tourism Ministry should thank the local authorities for enforcing existing law to check social menace,” he said, in response to Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s call to the Pakatan Rakyat states not to sabotage the ministry’s activities.

Azalina had said that the state authorities had carried out raids at entertainment outlets during the National Water Festival in Langkawi last weekend.

“I want to make it very clear that the state government did not give any directive to the local authorities to carry out the enforcement operations.

Mohammad Radzhi said Azalina’s statement that the raids were carried out to sabotage the festival was baseless.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/12/nation/20932025&sec=nation]

WPI kini Iskandar Malaysia - Utusan

JOHOR BAHRU 11 April – Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini mengumumkan pertukaran nama dan logo Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI) kepada Iskandar Malaysia.

Menurutnya, Iskandar dipilih sempena nama Sultan Johor dan penggunaannya berkuat kuasa serta-merta.

‘‘Bermula sekarang ia bukan lagi WPI tetapi Iskandar Malaysia,” katanya selepas mempengerusikan Mes- yuarat Keempat Pihak Berkuasa Wilayah Pembanguan Iskandar (IRDA) di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata, nama baru itu akan memudahkan lagi sebutannya di kalangan pelabur terutama rakyat asing berbanding sebutan lama.

‘‘Ia lebih baik lagi kerana jika WPI, orang tertanya-tanya apa itu WPI, tetapi Iskandar tentu tidak akan timbul lagi persoalannya,” katanya.

Iskandar Malaysia merupakan pusat pertumbuhan ekonomi mega di atas kawasan seluas 2,217 kilometer persegi di selatan Johor dan telah dilancarkan oleh Perdana Menteri pada 4 November 2006.

Projek berharga RM47 bilion itu bakal direalisasikan oleh Khazanah Nasional Berhad yang dilantik oleh kerajaan bagi membangunkan Iskandar Malaysia sehingga tahun 2025.

[From http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0412&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka%5FHadapan&pg=mh_06.htm]

Najib comments on heist - TheStarOnline.tv

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants all airports in the country to be regarded as high security areas at all times. He spoke to reporters after a mock cheque presentation at Felda on Friday.

Selangor To Proceed With Pig Farm Project In Tumbuk - Bernama

KUALA SELANGOR, April 11 (Bernama) -- The integrated pig farm project in Kampung Tumbuk in Kuala Langat will proceed as planned despite objections from several residents, said Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

He said the Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance) government felt that it was better to proceed with the project as the existing farming practices produced stench and posed danger to public health such as the spread of Japanese Encephalitis virus.

"The state government has secured the site and it will take time if we are to find another place," he told reporters after meeting youths in Ijok state constituency.

He said if the government decided to close all pig-rearing farms in Selangor, it would mean that it was not being considerate to the interest of other communities.

A modern and environmental-friendly pig farming system was therefore needed, he said.

He claimed that the decision had been studied by the previous Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo and supported by the MCA.

Abdul Khalid also said that he was of the views that certain media organisations were exploiting the issue to create friction between races and between him and the previous menteri besar.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326268]

Abdullah To Discuss Power Transition With Najib - Bernama

JOHOR BAHARU, April 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will discuss with his deputy, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak, the transition of power to the latter, said Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Friday.

He said Abdullah had told the closed-door meeting with the Johor Umno Liaison Body here that he would discuss in detail the power transition plan with Najib, who is also Umno deputy president.

"The period of transition and so on were not mentioned in detail... matters such as when the transition will take place and so on will be discussed between him (Abdullah) and Datuk Seri Najib," Muhyiddin told reporters after attending the meeting at a hotel, here.

He said Abdullah had previously stated openly that Najib would succeed him as Prime Minister.

Abdullah, who is also the Umno president, had announced at the Briefing by the Umno President for the party's information machinery at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday that Najib would be his successor and he would hand over the post when it was time.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Pagoh Umno division head, said that at the meeting, Abdullah explained issues that were raised concerning the last general election such as the factors for the defeat, support of the non-Malay voters and the young voters.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326258]

MCA Slams PAS On Islamic State Issue - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is not an Islamic state under the Federal Constitution and it should never become one, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said Friday.

He said MCA held firm to the constitution and would not tolerate any Pas statement on turning the country into an Islamic state.

Such a statement, he added, was not only unacceptable and dangerous to the multiracial society but also breached the constitution.

"MCA is totally against it. Our forefathers have already discussed and agreed that all different races would be accommodated. So, we will hold firm to the spirit of the constitution," Ong told reporters after chairing the Presidential Council meeting at Wisma MCA here.

He was commenting on PAS deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din's statement in the party's mouthpiece, Harakah Daily that PAS would amend the constitution and turn Malaysia into an Islamic state if it held control of the federal government.

To a question that when similar issues arose last year and both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said that Malaysia was an Islamic country, Ong replied:

"No matter who used what term to discuss about Malaysia, they can't change the fact that the constitution protects people of other faiths. I think we should not debate this. This is clearly stated in the constitution".

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326248]

魏家祥：回教党言论极端 - Sin Chew Daily

（吉隆坡）马青总秘书魏家祥博士强调，马青严厉拒绝回教党长老协商理事会副主席拿督哈仑丁“促请该党支持者忍耐等候回教党取得中央执政权后就实行回教刑事法”的极端言论。

魏家祥发表文告说，他在查阅联邦宪法制定过程的原始资料后，坚定地认为大马是一个世俗国，这也是参与草擬与制定联邦宪法先贤们的共同原意及建国契约。

当时，由马华、巫统及国大党组成的联盟达成制定宪法的共识。在联盟呈给李特宪制委员会（Reid Commission）的备忘录（志期1956年9月27日，第19页）中清楚指出︰马来西亚的国教虽是回教，但非回教徒国民在信仰与奉行各自宗教时不受到任何限制，以及我国是个世俗国。

回教只用於官方仪式

李特宪制委员会的1957年报告书没有列明回教是联合邦宗教的条文。当时，来自巴基斯坦的委员会成员之一，阿都哈密大法官则同意联盟的宪制建议，他认为將回教列为联合邦宗教的条文是“无伤大雅”的，因为回教只用於官方仪式而已。

魏家祥说，紧接著由联盟、州统治者与英殖民地最高专员组成的三方工作会谈更进一步地指出我国是个世俗国。

由东姑阿都拉曼、敦拉萨、敦翁毓麟、敦善班丹等参与的第1次三方工作会谈（1957年2月22日），联盟就指出大马是个世俗国。第19次的三方工作会谈（1957年4月17日）会议记录也清楚记载东姑阿都拉曼的声明，即整个宪法的草擬是以联合邦是个世俗国而制定。

[More at http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/61496]

Abdullah Akui Beliau Antara Penyebab BN Kehilangan Undi - Bernama

JOHOR BAHARU, 11 April (Bernama) -- Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengakui beliau merupakan di antara faktor yang telah menyebabkan Barisan Nasional (BN) kehilangan undi pada pilihan raya umum ke-12 bulan lepas.

Abdullah yang juga Presiden Umno berkata, disebabkan perkara tersebut beliau merasakan bertanggungjawab untuk berbuat sebaik-baiknya bagi memulihkan BN dan Umno.

"Saya merasakan saya adalah penyebab kepada `pembuangan undi' (undi tidak diberikan) kepada Barisan Nasional. Dan saya merasakan bertanggungjawab untuk membuat sebaiknya-baiknya untuk memulihkan BN dan Umno," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Perdana Menteri berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan pertemuan lebih dua jam dengan Badan Perhubungan Umno Johor yang diketuai oleh Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

Turut hadir pada pertemuan itu ialah Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang juga Naib Presiden Umno, Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Menteri Pengajian Tinggi Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin dan Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.

Ketua Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein tidak hadir kerana Menteri Pelajaran itu kini berada di Paris atas urusan rasmi kerajaan.

Perdana Menteri berkata, beliau memahami banyak perkara dan antaranya ialah perubahan-perubahan yang telah dijanjikan kepada rakyat sebelum ini tetapi masih belum ditunaikan oleh kerajaan sehingga kini.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/bm/news.php?id=326188]

Malaysia: Ruling Party Requires Members To Have Campaign Blogs - AP

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Candidates contesting some posts in Malaysia's ruling party will be required to set up blogs, an official said Friday (11 Apr) in a surprising turnaround for governing politicians who until recently derided online political writing as lies and rumors.

Abdul Rahman Dahlan, secretary general of the United Malays National Organization party's youth wing, said all those vying for national youth posts must have blogs to introduce themselves and their programs ahead of party elections in December.

"All candidates must have blogs," Abdul Rahman told The Associated Press. "If not, they are not qualified to be leaders."

In the past, party politicians have accused bloggers of spreading lies and rumors. Many of Malaysia's blogs contain critical commentary on the government.

But now, even youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin - who once compared bloggers to monkeys living by the law of the jungle - has a blog.

The decision appeared aimed at countering heavy losses that the ruling National Front coalition suffered in last month's general elections, partly because they underestimated the power of online campaigning. The United Malays National Party dominates the coalition.

[More at http://www.mysinchew.com/node/9822]

Malaysia launches armed airport patrols after shootout - AFP

Malaysian police have introduced armed patrols of the capital's main airport after a dramatic robbery that left five people injured in a hail of bullets, reports said Friday.

The robbers, who ambushed two money changers and their security guard outside the departure hall, escaped with more than a million dollars in cash in Wednesday's incident which highlighted Malaysia's rising crime rate.

Police chief Musa Hassan said armed personnel would patrol the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) departure and arrival halls around the clock.

"The move is to provide extra security at KLIA," he said according to the New Straits Times, adding that he had already proposed tighter security measures a month ago.

The daily said the shootout sent scores of people running for cover as more than 50 shots were fired, shattering large glass panels at the front of the building.

Separately, Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat said that three airport staff had been suspended over a security breach that saw a Bangladeshi man board a plane with a knife that he pulled out mid-flight, causing panic among passengers.

[More at http://news.id.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1336190]