KAMPAR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Kampar Umno division has sent a petition to party state liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali asking him to resign as he has failed to carry out his duty as a leader.
The petition was signed by 111 representatives of the division and its Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings, as well as the branch heads at a special meeting recently.
Division secretary Abdul Rahman Md. Som said a copy of the petition was sent to Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
This followed a call from the division head Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan on April 14 for Tajol Rosli, the former Perak Menteri Besar, to step down to make way for a more energetic leader.
Speaking to reporters after meeting about 500 members from the division at Changkat Tin, near here, today, Abdul Rahman said the petition also conveyed the division's disappointment over Tajol Rosli's lack of initiative to revive the spirit of Perak Umno members following Barisan Nasional's dismal showing in the March 8 general election.
He said the members were under stress as Perak Umno had lost its direction and there was no specific plan of action for its strength to be restored as soon as possible.
[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=329385]
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Kampar Umno Sends Petition Asking Tajol Rosli To Resign - Bernama
Mara will handle money, not Pakatan governments - The Star
IPOH: The Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry has rerouted its funds meant for the five Pakatan Rakyat states, claiming that the move would prevent the rakyat from being “victimised”.
Its minister Datuk Noh Omar said the funds would be channelled through Mara in those states. He however did not explain what he meant by the word “victimised”.
“Previously, the funds were channelled through the respective State Economic Development Corporation,” he told reporters after opening the Perak Malay Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting here yesterday.
Noh also criticised the Selangor and Perak state governments for their decision to charge rental on the land occupied by the ministry’s training centres in the two states.
“The centres provide training for everybody regardless of their political beliefs.
“But the state governments are more interested in profit and failed to see the services provided by the ministry to the people,” he said.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/27/nation/21080789&sec=nation]
'MIC president was not making a threat' - NST
By : Suganthi Suparmaniam
KUALA LUMPUR: There was mixed reaction to MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu's statement that he would seek support from other countries if the government continues to ignore the Indian community.
MIC Puteri chief J. Usha Nandhini said the statement must not be taken negatively as Samy Vellu had spoken as a guardian of Indians in the country.
"I don't think it's a threat. Previously, he spoke as a cabinet minister, now he is speaking at a different platform. He has to speak for the 600,000 MIC members and the 1.7 million Indians in the country," she said.
"As the party president and former senior cabinet minister, for him to say this shows that the government has to be fast in implementing whatever policies that it has promised."
She said gone were the days when people were satisfied with mere promises. They now wanted to see how soon a promise could be delivered.
Usha said Barisan Nasional had always looked after the Indians, but sometimes it failed to look at some of the issues affecting them.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Sunday/National/2224856/Article/index_html]
Karpal: I'm no bigot - NST
By : Sharanjit Singh and Syed Umar Ariff
GEORGE TOWN: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh yesterday dismissed allegations that he was a bigot for continuously making a stand against the formation of an Islamic state.
Karpal, who has come under fire in blogs and also received death threats, said he had never insulted Islam and that Muslims should not turn him into another Salman Rushdie.
"I cannot understand why some people are saying that I have insulted Islam.
"What I have been against and will continue to be against is attempts by Pas to turn this country into an Islamic state," he said, adding he was just standing up for what was stated in the country's Constitution, that Malaysia was a secular state.
He said anyone who opposed his stand could be deemed to be challenging the constitution.
Karpal said he would continue to fight against the Islamic state issue despite being criticised in blogs, including a call to kill him on the Johor Pas website.
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Sunday/National/2224838/Article/index_html]
Return cash, Khir's wife told - The Star
SHAH ALAM: Give back the RM9.9mil, withdraw the application to dissolve the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation (Balkis) and the matter is settled.
This is Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's offer to Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik who was the organisation's head when she and the other members decided to transfer the RM9.9mil from its coffers after Barisan Nasional lost the state during the March general election.
The group also decided to dissolve the organisation.
Khalid said his offer was the best solution to resolve the controversy.
“If not, the state will pursue the matter because the people want us to be correct. If there has been misconduct, then justice will take its course,” he told reporters yesterday.
The issue blew up when it was revealed that Balkis, lead by Zahrah, who is the wife of former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, transferred RM9.9mil to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) three days after the state fell to Pakatan Rakyat.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/27/nation/20080427072727&sec=nation]
Najib: Let’s put keris issue to rest - The Star
PEKAN: Umno hopes the issue of party Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein wielding the keris will now be put to rest after his apology.
Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Hishammuddin's apology was something great and noble.
Najib was speaking to reporters after launching Al Taqwa Mosque's new water distillation tank and dispensers in Peramu Jaya near here yesterday.
On Friday, Hishammuddin admitted that the raising of the keris during the wing's annual assemblies was among the causes of the Barisan Nasional’s poor performance in the general election and apologised to the non-Malays over the incidents.
He also apologised to the Malays for failing to uphold a symbol of their heritage.
Najib reiterated that the unsheathing of the keris did not signal an intention to declare war or bear any racial overtones.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/27/nation/20080427080121&sec=nation]
No need to be fearful, Malays told - The Star
VIDEO: Anwar admits Pakatan governments have fewer Malays
SHAH ALAM: PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has admitted that Malay representation in Pakatan Rakyat state governments was lower than in previous governments.
However, he said the agenda and policies of Pakatan Rakyat was to affirm the Supremacy of the People.
“This means we will champion the cause of all people,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the launch of a book by the late Rustam A. Sani entitled Failed Nation? – Concerns of a Malaysian Nationalist and Social Roots of the Malay Left here yesterday.
Anwar said given that Malays made up the majority in Kedah, Perak and Selangor, their welfare would definitely be taken care of.
He said that since the Chinese made up the majority in Penang, they should be made to feel that their rights were well protected.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/27/nation/20080427080345&sec=nation]
Hamid: ISA will remain in place - The Star
By Farik Zolkepli
KOTA TINGGI: Preventive laws, including the Internal Security Act (ISA), will not be abolished, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
Such laws serve the purpose of maintaining public order, he said when commenting on a claim by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Pakatan Rakyat would abolish preventive laws should they rule the country.
“The measure, which was introduced before the country’s independence, has been continued and improved.
“The ISA is not for the purpose of carrying out injustice but to protect the public’s right to live in comfort without fearing for their lives,” he said, adding that the Government could not wait for anything bad to happen before taking action.
He added that Anwar never did anything when he was deputy prime minister and it was easy for the Opposition to promise things than actually implement them.
On the five Hindraf members held under the ISA, Syed Hamid said people should look at what they had done in the first place.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/27/nation/21080581&sec=nation]
Ku Li: Democratic and fair election the only way to end internal strife - The Star
By Ian McIntyre
KOTA BARU: Gua Musang Umno division head Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah does not believe that contests for the top posts can cause a split similar to the 1987 episode, which resulted in Umno breaking into two groups.
There would not be a lingering split as the party now has the maturity and conviction to overcome differences of opinions, he said, adding that Umno members should treat each other as “brothers-in-arms”.
Tengku Razaleigh, 71, said only a democratic and fair contest during the party elections can put to rest issues about leadership capabilities.
Such a contest would also mark a process to elevate Umno back onto its rightful position, he said.
“The president's post in Umno is not decided by a handful of leaders. It must be decided by grassroots members,” he said.
He was addressing a gathering of some 2,000 people at Balai Islam here on Friday evening.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/27/nation/21081086&sec=nation]
Saturday, April 26, 2008
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]
