Ezam challenges Anwar

By Ian Mc Intyre

SUNGAI PETANI: The former protege of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has challenged the latter to an open debate on current political issues, including the latest accusations that Anwar had “masterminded” the Bukit Selambau state by-election.

Former PKR Youth head Ezam Mohd Noor issued the challenge after holding a ceramah (political address) here Monday evening, saying he was ready to debate Anwar on a one-to-one basis anytime.

“It must only be Anwar. I am not afraid of him as I want him to clarify many issues, especially on the fate of PKR whom I co-founded when he was imprisoned,” he said.

Ezam was one of Anwar’s closests aides before quitting the party. He joined Umno last year just before the 12th general election.

He alleged that Anwar had convinced the former Bukit Selambau assemblyman V. Arumugam to resign after an expose was forthcoming concerning morality issues over the latter’s personal conduct.

“He influenced Arumugam to resign, and arranged safe passage for him to India where he is now residing.

“This is a unique case as even the Kedah Mentri Besar (Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak) and state executive councillors were not notified of his resignation until much later,” Ezam said.

He also claimed that the main reason he left PKR was not because of any personal grouse with Anwar, the man he had once idolised and “went to jail for,” but because Anwar had “initiated the self-destruction of the party.”

“The basis of PKR is a multiracial party with Malays as the backbone. It was set up similar to the Barisan Nasional model.

“Anwar however destroyed its fabric by making empty promises to the Indians and Chinese and left out the Malay leaders,” he alleged.

Ezam also claimed he was not a racist and called for equal treatment to Chinese, Indians and other racial groups -- but only if Malays and Islam formed the backbone of the country’s political status.

TruthWatch: Interesting revelations about whats happening in PKR.

Fangs bared as Guan Eng slams 'Tiger Park' critics

By : SHARANJIT SINGH

IT looks like the cat's out of the bag and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has begun to show his true colours -- that he does not take kindly to criticism.

After calling for public feedback on an ill-conceived idea for a tiger park in Penang, Lim hit out at critics who opposed his plan.

Saying they should come up with constructive criticism, he said those who objected to his idea should substantiate their arguments with facts and not just emotions.

"Otherwise, they are just wasting their time.

"I accept their criticism but it is not right to start blaming us when the park idea is just at a proposal stage."
The question that begs to be answered is if critics do not oppose the plan when it is at the proposal stage, just when does the chief minister expect them to do so?

Surely Lim's idea of calling for feedback is not just to get glowing praises to everything that he proposes.

Lim had proposed a tiger park on a 40ha plot owned by the Penang Municipal Council known as Pondok Durian Cap Kaki in Relau.

However, the proposal has received a litany of criticism since it was put forth.

Besides the people, others who have objected to the proposal include non-governmental groups like the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MyCat), Sahabat Alam Malaysia and The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF-Malaysia), who know what they are talking about.

Gerakan has also come out against the proposal.

The tiger park idea and how it is being handled by Lim's administration actually brings back a sense of deja vu to the people of Penang.

It has all the makings of how the previous state government handled the much-despised Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project.

Despite all-out criticism against the project, the Gerakan-led state administration failed to pay heed to the people's feelings.

The project was fast-tracked by the state government without any public input.

The state government paid the ultimate price for its folly when Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon's administration was booted out, partly due to the PGCC saga, in the March 8 polls last year.

While the tiger park project has brought some unwanted publicity to Penang, several other bewildering incidents involving the state administration have also become the talk of the town.

It involves no less than Lim's very own political secretary, Ng Wei Aik.

Ng, who is Komtar assemblyman, was involved in an operation carried out by the Welfare Department to round up homeless people in George Town recently.

At one point, Ng gave chase after a homeless man tried to run away.

His zealousness in catching the vagrant has been picked up in the blogs and questions are being raised as to his action, which has been described as nothing but an attempt to get cheap publicity and score brownie points.

With such bewildering antics of politicians in the state, Penang is set for some interesting times ahead. New Straits Times

Nizar seeks 'help' from the Chinese

Andrew Ong | Mar 28, 09 11:43am Malaysiakini

Ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has made an impassioned plea to the Chinese community to reach out to the Malay voters of Bukit Gantang. MCPX Mohd Nizar said that the Chinese community - influenced by a freer Chinese media - were already solidly behind Pakatan Rakyat, but Malays were still largely unable to hear his explanations on current affairs first hand. He explains that this was due to the authorities thwarting several of Pakatan Rakyat’s bid to reach the Malay voters, particularly in Trong and Kuala Sepetang. Citing an example, Mohd Nizar said that the authorities had stopped a function at a mosque in Trong yesterday. “You represent the business community here. It is incumbent upon you to inform all Malays who frequent your shops or do business with to support Pakatan,” he said. TruthWatch: Ini lah petualang Melayu yang sanggup di pergunakan oleh dap untuk muslihat dap. Boleh kah nizar menjaga kepentingan Melayu atau ia hanya kementingan faedah peribadinya sahaja ? Kalau kita tinjau pemerintahan nya sebagai mb selama 11 bulan apa yang kerajaan nya buatnya adalah mengikut nafsu dap. Tidak apa program untuk kepentingan orang Melayu. Ini yang menyebabkan 2 Adun Melayu pkr tak sanggup lagi duduk dalam kerajaan nizar yang di kuasai oleh dap melalui 6 orang exco dari 10 exco semuanya. Orang-orang Melayu Perak hendak lah sedar akan hakikat ini . Jangan dibiarkan pisang berbuah dua kali. Kita mesti menangkan UMNO. Pakatan Rakyat telah menunjukkan kesombongan terhadap Sultan Perak. Adakah kita ingin membenarkan pr dan dap ini terus menunjukkan kan kesombongan kepada Raja kita? Patutkah kita membiarkan mereka terus kurang ajar kepada Raja kita ? Kita fikirlah sendiri sebelum terlambat.

Muhyiddin : I will be the ultimate No 2 but will Dr Mahathir play games again ?

Newly-elected Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will play the role of the ultimate No. 2 to Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Muhyiddin said in his winding up speech on Saturday that this was just as what Najib had done when he was No. 2 to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Pledging his loyalty to Najib, he promised to be on his boss' side in both good and bad times.

"I acknowledge deeply that I am the number two man, not the number one.

"If a number two person is to act like the number one, the ship will surely sink. Thus, I pledge that I will be by his side, through good and bad times.

"I will not be the deputy that will bring about his downfall," he said.

The UMNO elections - a comment by Economist

Mar 26th 2009 | BANGKOK
From The Economist print edition

Malaysia’s ruling party chooses a new leader, but not a new direction

PARTY conferences are seldom thrilling but this week’s gathering of over 2,500 ruling-party faithful in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, has the eyes of the nation upon it. For, as the United Malays National Organisation goes, so goes the country.

Since Malaysia’s independence from Britain in 1957, UMNO’s chosen leader has always become the country’s leader. This year the torch is passing from Abdullah Badawi, the prime minister, to Najib Razak, his deputy, who is standing uncontested as UMNO leader and due to be sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth prime minister next week.

But his ascension to the top has its difficulties. A resurgent opposition is riding a wave of discontent as the country slides into recession. Some types of old-fashioned repression, like the decision to suspend two opposition newspapers, no longer work in a digital age. The party is widely seen as corrupt and self-serving. Its record on economic growth and maintaining order still attracts support from older Malaysians but counts for much less with younger voters. Everyone in UMNO agrees that trouble lies ahead.

Can it be averted? Mr Najib talks of “massive changes”. But Malaysians have heard it all before, most recently in March 2008, after UMNO’s dreadful showing in a parliamentary election. The spasm of introspection soon turned into a blame game and Mr Badawi was forced to say he would resign. The ensuing scramble for positions in UMNO has done little to change a widespread view that the party has been in power too long. The only person willing to stand against Mr Najib, the consummate insider, was Razaleigh Hamzah, a veteran outsider. Such a contest might have produced a debate about the party’s direction. Instead, Mr Razaleigh’s candidacy was quashed by party chiefs.

The underlying problem—for UMNO and Malaysia—is, to use the favoured euphemism, “money politics”, meaning backhanders paid for public-sector contracts or, where UMNO is concerned, seats at the high table. On March 17th the party’s disciplinary board said it had found 15 members guilty of money politics. They included Ali Rustam, chief minister of Malacca state, who was campaigning to become deputy party leader. He was duly disqualified. (The results of the polling for senior positions were due to be announced on March 26th.) Mr Rustam did not, however, step down as chief minister, nor is he facing criminal charges. Such episodes make talk of reform ring hollow. For all his fumbling, Mr Badawi seemed to recognise this. It is unclear whether anyone in the new ruling circle does.

Muhyiddin Is Deputy President

Mar 26, 09 8:04pm Malaysiakini

MCPX [Reactions below] 10.05pm: Muhyiddin Yassin, who bagged 1,575 votes, defeated Muhammad Muhd Taib (916) in the race for Umno deputy president. After the official announcement was made at 10.40pm, Muhyiddin was swarmed by supporters and press photographers. He is almost certain be appointed deputy prime minister. For the three vice-president posts, the winners are Zahid Hamidi (1,592), Hishammuddin Hussien (1,515) and Shafie Apdal (1,445). All the winners are seen to be loyal to incoming prime minister Najib Abdul Razak. Najib had yesterday suffered a setback when outgoing PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law, 33-year-old Khairy Jamaluddin, seized the position of chief of Umno's youth wing - a nurturing ground for future leaders. In another high-profile contest, former cabinet minister and political veteran Rafidah Aziz was knocked out as leader of Umno's women's wing, in favour of her deputy Shahrizat Jalil, who is another ally of Abdullah. DEPUTY PRESIDENT Muhyiddin Yassin - Pagoh, Johor (1,575 votes) Muhammad Muhd Taib - Kelana Jaya, Selangor (916) VICE-PRESIDENT (3 posts) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - Bagan Datok, Perak (1,592) Hishammuddin Hussein - Sembrong, Johor (1,515) Mohd Shafie Apdal - Semporna, Sabah (1,445) Mohamed Khaled Nordin - Pasir Gudang, Johor (1,397) Rais Yatim - Jelebu, Negri Sembilan (491) Mohd Isa Abdul Samad - Telok Kemang, Negri Sembilan (432) Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar - Kota Tinggi, Johor (410) Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik - Masjid Tanah, Malacca (192) REACTIONS Muhyiddin Yassin This is a big responsibility and I will carry out my task to the best of my ability to work with Najib. I urge everyone - winners or losers - to remain united for the sake of party unity. We want to show that Umno, in whatever conditions, will take care of the Malay people, as well as all Malaysians in general. I give my assurance that I will work hard and will remain loyal to Najib. I believe the delegates are very mature and they know that deputy president's post is something significant and important. They know that this means Umno's business and they were looking to see who can assist the president-cum-prime minister. I believe they (the delegates) have made all the assessment based on my experience and I do thank them for what they have done. Muhammad Muhd Taib (who lost deputy president's post): I accept the decision of the delegates. I will continue to serve the party in any capacity. There will always be a winner and a loser in any contest. To me, I have no deep regrets. I accept it as the decision of the delegates. Umno must move on. What is important is to close party ranks to face current challenges and regain the people's support for Umno. When asked if all the winners were from Najib's camp, Muhammad responded with a laugh: "No! Umno's camp." Ahmad Zahid Hamidi I am thankful that the members have placed their trust to elect me. Now it is my duty to work in closing ranks with the party members in a bid to strengthen the party. I agree we have a difficult task ahead of us to strengthen the party, but with hard work and commitment from everyone, especially the winning candidates and party members, we can build this party to where it was once before. My win comes with a heavy responsibility and I will try and fulfil it to the best of my abilities. Hishammuddin Hussein I am thankful for the win and promise not to betray the trust that the delegates and members have placed on me. It is a chance for me to contribute further to the party that I love. Furthermore, I am thankful that members do not believe on the allegations made against me by various quarters, especially by the opposition. This is a sure and winning line-up (referring to the three winning vice-presidents) and we would work hard with the incoming president to build and strengthen the party. Shafie Apdal This is an important win for Sabah as this showed that a member from the state is able to garner the support of the people not only from East Malaysia but also from Peninsular Malaysia. My victory also proved the untruth in the opposition's allegations that a candidate from Sabah would be marginalised by Umno. I will work hard with the party president, deputy president and the other vice-presidents to rebuild the party. There is a much work ahead of us, and I am relishing to the task ahead. Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik (who came out last in the veep race) It is a difficult loss but considering I was the last to qualify as a candidate, it is nevertheless an achievement. I think the delegates have decided on Ahmad Zahid, Hishammuddin and Shafie. It seemed certain that this team would win. It is difficult when they have decided on a fixed team. Earlier tonight 9.10pm: The latest word is that two certain winners for the vice-president post are Zahid Hamidi and Shafie Apdal. The race for the third and final slot is a battle between Khaled Nordin and Hishammuddin Hussein. The race for the deputy president's race between Muhyiddin and Muhammad Taib is still too close to call. However both their supporters are claiming that their man is in the lead. And for the supreme council seat, Azalina Othman Said is said to be very happy after hearing that she had retained her seat. A total of 51 candidates are contesting for 25 places. 8.05pm: With the counting for the party polls going on for about 90 minutes now, word has it that Muhyiddin Yassin is leading the race to the deputy president. The other candidate for the race is Muhammad Muhd Taib. As for the vice-president's post, delegates are also saying that most of them have voted for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Mohd Shafie Apdal and Khaled Nordin. The early favourite for this race, Hishammuddin Hussein, is said to be lagging behind. The other candidates for the veep race are Rais Yatim, Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar and Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik.

Abdullah: Limit Terms Of Office Bearers

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi delivering his keynote address at the 59th Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came up with two radical proposals yesterday for Umno to adopt in its agenda for change -- limit the number of terms of its office-bearers and a one-man-one-vote system in the election process.

The prime minister, in his keynote address at the 59th Umno general assembly, spoke extensively on the shortcomings of the party he had been a member of for 45 years, and reinforced the reform mantra that has emerged over the past year.

"We must heed the alarm bells that have rung so loudly, demanding us to ask 'what went wrong' or 'why and how did we go wrong'.

"My spontaneous response to that question is we failed to manage our own success. We were intoxicated by our achievements and we became complacent. We believed that we had become all-powerful. We have put our own positions within the party first, instead of being concerned over Umno's position in the eyes of our citizens and the nation," he said.

It was Abdullah's last keynote address at the assembly as party president before he hands over the reins to Datuk Seri Najib Razak who, through an agreed succession timetable, had been elected unopposed after the preliminary stages of the intricate Umno election process.
"Perhaps, the party needs a mechanism that provides members with greater say and for us to shed the practices that do not allow those without positions or material wealth to be fairly treated. Perhaps the time has also come for Umno to consider setting a maximum number of terms for those holding office.

"Perhaps Umno should also give every member the right to vote to choose their leaders, especially for key party positions, to overcome and eradicate the problem of money politics," he proposed.

Umno now elects its office-bearers through a voting process that involve only delegates selected from the grassroots. The election for key positions, for instance, are determined by only about 2,500 of the three million members.

The party constitution also does not place restrictions on the number of terms each person can hold office.

Abdullah, who will turn 70 later this year, ran through the various achievements of Umno since the independence but lamented the decline, citing as a grim reminder the results of the general election last year, where Umno and its Barisan Nasional partners lost ground.

Umno's glory has dimmed so much, he noted, that it was now everybody's favourite whipping boy.

And he asked: "Umno is facing a test of credibility. Why are we suffering this fate, blamed to this terrible extent? Why are we now seen to be completely without virtue? There are a number of internal factors which have led to this erosion of public trust in Umno.

"First, longevity in power has led to complacency, and a number of leaders are increasingly out of touch with the ordinary people who have been the source of Umno's strength for so long.

"Second, relative neglect of the rural community in our desire and intent to achieve developed nation status.

"Third, ineffectiveness of Umno political programmes in reaching out to the younger generation, apart from what is already being implemented by various governmental institutions.

"Fourth, prolonged conflict among ourselves, especially while competing for positions within the party, has eroded the spirit of fraternity among party members.

"Fifth, materialism has seeped into the party, making a number of party members greedy and avaricious, hence creating the negative perception that Umno is a corrupt party."NST

Nizar Vs Zambry: Case will go to Federal Court

By Yeng Ai Chun

KUALA LUMPUR: In a setback for former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, the Court of Appeal ruled Friday that his suit against the new MB Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir would be moved to the Federal Court.

Nizar had filed an appeal on Monday against the High Court’s decision to refer his suit against Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, as to who the rightful MB is, to the Federal Court.

On March 6, Justice Lau Bee Lan ruled that there were constitutional issues involving the interpretation of Article 16 (6) of the Perak Constitution and later referred four consitutional questions to the Federal Court for determination.

Nizar, 52, had filed for a judicial review on Feb 13, seeking a declaration that he is the rightful mentri besar of Perak and an injunction to bar Dr Zambry from discharging his duties as the mentri besar.

On Friday, the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed Nizar's appeal and saying the High Court judge had been correct in interpreting Section 84 of the Court of Judicature Act.

Datuk Mohd Raus Sharif who chaired the three-judge panel also read out that leave for judicial review was granted and that Zambry was party to the second proceedings.

The referral would be heard on Monday at the Federal Court. Star

TruthWatchMalaysia: The earlier the decision of the Federal Court the better for Perak and Perakians. It will allow the MB Dato Zambry to carry out his duties and programmes in governing the state in order to face the economic slowdown that we face now.

Police view Thailand's allegation about Kelantan seriously

NARATHIWAT (SOUTHERN THAILAND), Wed.:

Malaysian police are taking seriously Thailand's allegation that Kelantan is a transit point for drugs distribution in Malaysia and say the matter has to be tackled urgently.

Kelantan's deputy police chief, SAC II Amir Hamzah Ibrahim, said if the matter is not investigated quickly, it will tarnish the country's image abroad.

He was speaking after attending a joint border cooperation meeting at Sungai Golok here today.

At the meeting, Amir Hamzah represented Kelantan and led 30 delegates from various agencies while Narathiwat was represented by its governor, Vinai Karuwanwat.

The Thai delegation raised the issue of drugs distribution and informed that distributors stored various drugs in Kelantan before distribution throughout Malaysia.
Commenting on the matter, Amir Hamzah said the Kelantan Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department had been instructed to meet Thai authorities to get further information on the matter, adding that if it was so appropriate action would be taken.

Amir Hamzah also said the Thais had been told not export to Malaysia honey oranges that had been sprayed with the pesticide ''Ethion''.

"We have given a one-year period for them to comply and if not the import of such fruit will be banned," he said.

Thais were also reminded to undergo blood tests at entry points to prevent the spread of diseases.

At the meeting, Amir Hamzah and Vinai signed a memorandum on border security.

Meanwhile Kelantan security council director, Roslee Mamat, said the situation at the border was under control although the situation in southern Thailand was uncertain.

Speaking to reporters after the border meeting, he said Malaysians were reminded to be vigilant when visiting the area.

"This is part of ongoing meetings where matters are raised to ensure that aecurity is maintained fully," he said.

Roslee said it was the intention of agencies on both sides that cooperation continued in the interests of people of both countries. BERNAMA

Adun Hulu Klang diminta mohon maaf buat tuduhan wang zakat

SHAH ALAM: Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS), hari ini meminta Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) kawasan Hulu Klang, Saari Sungib, memohon maaf dan menarik balik dakwaan kononnya berlaku pemindahan wang zakat jutaan ringgit yang tidak diagihkan oleh Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS).

Pengerusi MAIS, Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa, berkata kenyataan Saari itu adalah satu fitnah yang menjatuhkan imej dan integriti MAIS yang dinaungi Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

"MAIS mahupun LZS tidak pernah memindah atau merancang untuk melakukan sedemikian terhadap wang zakat yang belum diagihkan," katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini, hari ini.

Beliau meminta supaya Saari memohon maaf dan menarik balik kenyataan atau berhadapan dengan tindakan undang-undang sekiranya gagal berbuat demikian.

Sebuah akhbar hari ini memetik Saari sebagai berkata, berjuta-juta ringgit wang kutipan LZS yang tidak diagih sebelum ini disimpan dalam deposit tetap, dipindahkan ke akaun Takaful Structured Invest, di bawah MAA Takaful pada 11 Disember tahun lalu.

Mohamad Adzib berkata, apa yang berlaku ialah wang zakat yang belum diagihkan disimpan dalam akaun simpanan tetap sama ada di Bank Islam ataupun Bank Rakyat yang dijamin daripada segi keselamatan dan mengikut hukum syariah.

"Sebarang pindahan wang zakat mahupun Baitulmal perlu mendapat kelulusan jawatankuasa yang berkaitan sama ada di MAIS ataupun LZS," katanya. - Bernama

Truth Watch: Kadang-kadang Adun ini pandai-pandai buat kenyataan tanpa usul periksa. Sekarang Mais hendak saman kan dah susah. Lain kali buat kaji selidik dulu dan bila pasti baru keluarkan sebarang kenyataan atau tuduhan.

Announce Candidates Involved In Money Politics Before Umno Elections - Mat Taib

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 -- Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib has urged the disciplinary board to announced the names of candidates involved in money politics before the party elections.

"Yes, I have heard such talks but let us wait for an announcement from the disciplinary board. It is best to announce their names soon," he told reporters at parliament lobby here Monday.

Muhammad was commenting a front page report in Utusan Malaysia that several candidates vying for Umno's top posts have been summoned by the disciplinary board in connection with money politics.

The Rural and Regional Development Minister said a quick announcement was necessary to calm down the situation.

Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar agreed with Muhammad and urged that the names of candidates involved in money politics announced before the elections on March 24.

"We cannot wait any longer as it will bring chaos and destroy the party. Money politics must be stamped out as it will erode the peoples' confidence in Umno," said the Home Minister.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Hasan Malek urged those investigated for money politics to accept them and respect the disciplinary board.

"Umno members who offered to contest party posts must accept the risks. If there is proof, then action must be taken irrespective whether they are "big fish" or "small fish".BERNAMA

Truth Watch: This a good proposal. Lets not repeat what happened to Isa Samad. He was haulded to the Disciplinary Board despite winning the highest votes for the Vice Presidential post. Subsequently he was suspended for two terms. The Board must ensured that anybody who are involved in money politics should be barred from contesting any posts. Taking action againt those involved in money politics should set an example to the others.

Unity Government For Malaysia

KOTA BAHARU, March 15 -- Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today stressed he was against the idea of a Barisan Nasional (BN)-PAS unity government as mooted by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

"It's been tried before but did not work out. PAS was not appreciated in the coalition and I have many misgivings about this," he told reporters when met at the home of Nik Nur Madihah Nik Mohd Nor, 18, who scored 20As in last year's Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, in Kampung Parang Punting, near here.

However, Nik Aziz said he was only expressing his personal opinion and that the matter needed to be deliberated at PAS' Muktamar (annual general assembly) in June.

Following the suggestion for a unity government by Abdul Hadi, Umno vice president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin asked PAS to outline in detail what it had in mind.

Yesterday, PAS Youth voiced its support for the move saying it was timely.

However, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng demanded that the PAS president explain what he meant by a unity government to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the DAP, PAS' allies in the Opposition pact.BERNAMA

Truth Watch: In politics anything is possible. They say politics is the art of possible. If in Barisan there is two Chinese based parties i.e MCA and Gerakan I do not see why we cannot have the two Malay based parties be together i.e Umno and Pas. Further more during this trying times we must stay united to face the looming economic tsunami.

The coming 'Great Recession'

Comment by Wong Chun Wai

The Government has thrown a RM60bil lifeline for the country to try and prevent it from slipping into a recession. But with the world economic climate looking more gloomy than ever, there are concerns that it may not be able to halt the downward trend.

IT was already 9.30pm when Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak walked into his home.

He had missed dinner with the editors he had invited for the briefing on the RM60bil mini-budget to stimulate the economy.

The Deputy Prime Minister appeared drained. His wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, asked if he had eaten.

Just some noodles, he said, adding that he had been with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi since 3pm to go through the economic package.

As he began giving the editors a scenario of the doom-laden global economy, some of his listeners looked stunned. As he picked on the keropok on the table, it became obvious that some of those at the table had failed to see the dark clouds before the financial tsunami that is now approaching Malaysian shores.

There is no escaping the storm in an inter-connected globalised economy.

With many countries going bankrupt and their financial institutions collapsed, American billionaire Warren Buffet gave the most appropriate description — the American economy has fallen off a cliff. The US economy will eventually recover although a rebound could rekindle inflation worse than that experienced in the late 70s, he said.

He regarded the US economy as close to the worst-case scenario and added that the economy can’t turn around on a dime.

In short, it is already in free-fall and no one is sure when it will hit the ground but the US has certainly dragged the rest of the world down with it.

The grim fact is that the Malaysian exports would slump drastically with lower prices for key commodities, including palm oil and crude oil and a sharp drop in demand for electronic and electrical products.

Our foreign direct investments would be reduced by at least 50% while our stock market has already taken a beating, even before the financial crisis.

Manufacturing, particularly in the electronics sector, has already been badly affected and retrenchments have begun.

As the World Bank revised the global growth rate to 0.5%, Malaysia, like the rest of the world, has made changes to its own forecasts, expecting growth this year, even with the stimulus package, to be between -1% and +1%.

The fall has become faster than what has been expected. If we avoid the recession this year, it will be only narrowly.

Now, the International Monetary Fund expects that the global economy will contract this year, with its managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn calling the crisis a “Great Recession”.

The fact is that a recession would have been inevitable had this economic package not come into place. The RM60bil is to stop the slide but even with the money, many see the situation as touch and go.

Singapore, for example, has already declared itself in a recession with possibly a 10% contraction. That’s how bad it could be.

But unlike the Singaporeans, Thais, Japanese, Chinese and South Koreans, we have taken a rather complacent attitude towards the economic crisis. It has not helped that some leaders kept giving assurances that Malaysia would be spared, which only provided false hope.

This is not about politics. Many European leaders have come clean by declaring they have no idea how to respond to the problem because this is unprecedented, with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao declaring that this is the most difficult year of the century.

Besides calling their people to be resilient and to face up to the challenges, many European leaders have said that their stimulus package would at best buy them time and ease the difficulties.

Najib must be saluted for being honest about the prospects ahead. It will be gloom and doom.

But the bright side, whatever little there is, in Malaysia is that liquidity is still strong in Malaysia with excess funds of over RM250bil in circulation.

The savings by Malaysians have been good and the prudent practices inculcated have helped. The highly regulated practices in our banking industry, which had been frowned upon in the past, have turned out to be of help.

The immediate concern will be on how fast the funds are disbursed to the relevant sectors so jobs can be created and the spillover effects felt by Malaysians.

There is no room for wastage and leakage. There will be little patience for any act of impropriety and incompetency with the financial tsunami fast approaching.

Yes, Prime Minster

Mar 5th 2009 | BEIJING

China faces daunting problems, but Wen Jiabao makes it clear that transparency is not the answer

Reuters

IN HIS first state-of-the-nation speech since the global economic slump began battering China late last year, Wen Jiabao, the prime minister, painted a grim picture of the troubles ahead. With the help of massive government spending, China was still aiming for economic growth of 8% this year, he said on Thursday March 5th. But he revealed few new ideas about how this is to be managed.

At the opening of the annual session of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress (NPC), Mr Wen said that China was facing “unprecedented difficulties”. But his speech revealed nothing of any stimulus plans beyond the 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion) in spending announced in November last year. Vain hopes for a new package had helped briefly to buoy global stockmarkets.

Chinese leaders clearly do not want to be fettered by democratic debate as they pursue their dimly outlined efforts to keep the economy growing. The NPC is a rubber-stamp affair at the best of times. But this year China has in effect dropped any pretence that it has a serious role. To save money, officials say, it has been shortened to nine days. Its schedule is as leisurely as ever. The sparse official agenda makes no mention of any special discussion of stimulus measures or of the big spending promised on health-care reform.

Mr Wen said the budget deficit this year would rise to 950 billion yuan. According to the official press, this would be nearly three times bigger than the previous record deficit in 2003. Mr Wen said that at less than 3% of GDP, it would still be “safe” (America’s budget deficit is likely to rise to more than 12% of GDP this year). But in spite of widespread calls, including even in some official newspapers, for more to be revealed of the government’s budget and especially its stimulus plans, the Ministry of Finance’s budget report to the NPC stuck to its usual broad-brush approach.

Many critics in China have complained that not enough has been earmarked for health care and other welfare programmes. The budget calls for a 38% increase in central-government spending on health care this year, compared with a 24% increase in total spending. In January the government said 850 billion yuan would be spent on health-care reforms over the next three years. In the long run it is hoped this will help stimulate the economy by reducing the tendency to save money for medical emergencies. As a share of GDP, government health-care spending has long been small by world standards.

China’s armed forces, pampered by double-digit annual increases in spending for 19 of the past 20 years, get a raise of around 15%. This is down from nearly 18% last year and could be intended as a sign that in these hard times welfare-related programmes have a higher priority. But the defence budget is so opaque that the government’s figures have to be treated with enormous scepticism. The army will stage a vast parade through Beijing in October to mark 60 years of Communist rule. A big naval review is also planned for April. The cost of these is secret.

The NPC meeting, and a parallel one of its 2,000 member advisory body, could see a few glimmerings of dissent, at least in the corridors. There have been numerous worries expressed on the internet and in some Chinese newspapers that the government’s spending programme could lead to huge waste and corruption. Mr Wen said the government would ensure that spending would receive “proper oversight” and that government affairs should be made “more open and transparent”. His speech, however, was not a promising start.

The government will be relieved if delegates keep debate to a minimum. It worries that a slowing economy might trigger an explosion of discontent among the fast-growing ranks of the unemployed. The fear is that open dissent in the ranks of party-picked legislators could make things worse. It also frets that, like last year, the NPC meeting could be overshadowed by unrest in Tibet. March 10th marks the 50th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule and security forces in Tibetan areas are on full alert for possible protests. The public-security budget is due to rise by nearly a third this year, up from 9% last year. Mr Wen is preparing for the worst

THE ECONOMIST

Nama Allah.....Pas jawab Pas

Nama Allah…PAS jawab PAS

Sidang Dewan Rakyat hari Khamis hangat membincangkan soal penggunaan nama Allah oleh agama lain. Semasa Menteri Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi menggulung perbahasan, isu kalimah Allah menyaksikan pertembungan pendapat yang ketara antara dua kumpulan dalam PAS. Kumpulan muda dalam PAS yang dilihat cukup liberal pendiriannya dan kumpulan ulama yang meletakan pensucian agama mengatasi kepentingan kepartian. Ia bermula dengan Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) Seri Gading, Datuk Mohamad Haji Aziz meminta penjelasan Zahid pihak manakah yang seharusnya membuat keputusan tentang permohonan agama lain untuk menggunakan nama Allah sama ada mahkamah sivil atau mahkamah syariah. Keduanya, beliau memberikan ingatan tentang bahaya jika nama Allah boleh digunakan oleh agama lain kerana dikhuatiri generasi muda Islam pada masa akan datang akan berpendapat dan melihat semua agama adalah sama kerana nama Allah digunakan oleh banyak agama. TWM: Inilah masaalah bila pempin Pas yang liberal sanggup mengadai umman demi untuk meraih sokongan politik dari bukan Islam. Nampak sangat mereka ini tidak kisah apa akan berlaku bila gerakan mubaligh dan gereja kristian sedunia akan menggunakan nama Allah dalam injil mereka untuk memurtadkan orang Islam di Malaysia seperti apa yang berlaku di kalangan saudara kita di Indonesia. Saya mohon mereka ini istighfar banyak-banyak.

Kepala Batas PKR Youth Chief Forced To Use Media To Expose Corruption

BUKIT MERTAJAM, March 5 (Bernama) -- Kepala Batas Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth chief Amizudin Ahmat admitted that he was forced to use the media to expose corruption involving certain state party leaders.

He said the revelation through the media was also to pressure the party leadership at take action. However, he declined to reveal the individuals alleged to have received bribes from three quarries in the state.

"Wait for March 7. I will hand over the evidence and I hope the committee concerned will be thorough and fair in its investigation," he said at a press conference, here, Thursday.

Amizudin said this Saturday (March 7), he would be called by the party's Special Investigation Committee to be questioned on the matter.

The bribery case was exposed on Feb 26 at a press conference held at the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) office.

At today's press conference, Amizudin was adamant that he had the evidence like documents including bank slips showing money from a quarry operator being put into one of the alleged individuals' personal account.

However, he declined to show the said proof when asked to do so by reporters but beat around the bush about the allegation.

"I did not say that two state PKR leaders were involved in corruption, but I have the proof of the transaction," he said.

Amizudin also expressed disappointment of being accused of receiving a bribe of RM5,000 monthly from a quarry and owning four cars, and of exposing Penang PKR's internal affairs because his term as MPSP councillor was not extended.

He said he was also upset that no action was taken against the two leaders believed to have accepted bribes although he had handed over the relevant documents as proof to the party president on Jan 8.

TWM: It looks like PKR leaders are not that clean after all. So PKR should not from now onwards take the moral high ground. Otherwise it in danger of being called a case of the pot calling the kettle black !!

Non-Muslims Cannot Use Word 'Allah'

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- A former grand imam of the National Mosque told the Dewan Rakyat today that the word "Allah" based on the belief of Muslims, cannot be used by the non-Muslims.

Taib Azamudden Mat Taib who is Pas representative for Baling, said this was because the meaning of Allah to other religions was different from the meaning of Allah to Islam.

Taib gave this explanation after Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asked him to explain the issue on the use of word "Allah".

Zahid, when winding up the motion of thanks for the royal address, said later that Taib's explanation was in accordance with the stance of the government, Islamic Development Department and National Fatwa Council.

Two other Pas lawmakers -- Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor) and Khalid Samad (Shah Alam) -- however had a different opinion.

Dr Dzulkefly said questions on the use of word Allah should not arise because according to the Quran, the word Allah was also used by non-Muslims. Khalid agreed and cited a verse which says the non-Muslims acknowledge that the Earth was created by Allah.

Sivakumar Can Be Investigated For Alleged Misconduct

ALOR GAJAH, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has the power to investigate allegations of misconduct against Perak State Legislative Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar.

"He is not immune from action under the law. Investigation can be made if he had acted beyond the scope of his official duties," MACC's Legal and Prosecution Division Director Datuk Abdul Razak Musa told reporters.

Yesterday, Sivakumar called an "emergency session" of the state legislative assembly, about 100 metres from the Perak Darul Ridzuan building, which houses the state legislative assembly.

The session was held under a tree after police stopped Sivakumar and 27 PAS-DAP-Parti Keadilan Rakyat assemblymen from entering the building because the sitting was deemed illegal.

Earlier Abdul Razak attended the closing of courses for MACC officers here by MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan. Meanwhile Ahmad Said said the MACC had completed its investigation on claims of money politics in Umno and found no cases so far.

Ahmad Said also said that the MACC needed more non-Malay officers as well as those from Sabah and Sarawak.

He said that the MACC was in the process of appointing 5,000 officers nationwide and was now filling up 182 posts.

--

MCA and Gerakan slam Guan Eng

By Manjit Kaur

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng must be held responsible for the alleged incompetence of executive council member Danny Law.

Several MCA and Gerakan leaders wanted Lim to be held accountable for choosing Law to head the state Tourism Development, Cul-ture, Arts and Heritage Com-mittee.

They were commenting on an e-mail which alleged that Law was incompetent, citing his “dismal performance” at an exposition in Australia.

State MCA deputy chairman Eng Hiap Boon said if Lim could not find a capable representative to promote the state abroad, perhaps an agency should be hired to do the job.

“If a Pakatan Rakyat leader is not qualified to explain and express his views to the world, he should not make a fool of himself, and give Penang a bad name.

“There are already a few blunders made by him (Law), including on the Kings of Tennis fiasco, therefore, I suggest that the Chief Minister do something soon to rectify the problem,” he said.

It was reported yesterday that a “concerned and frustrated Penan-gite”, identified as TK Choong Lim, had sent an e-mail to the Chief Minister stating that Law was unable to communicate fluently in English during the international fair.

TK, who claimed to be a tourism industry player for 15 years, said Law had failed to carry himself well as a Penang representative at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo 2009 in Melbourne from Feb 17 to 18.

Penang Wanita MCA chief Tan Cheng Liang said “quality” representatives were important and that good Barisan Nasional leaders had been “swept away” in the political tsunami of the general election last year.

“The Pakatan leadership is very quick to criticise Barisan representatives, now they have to look at themselves, and the mistakes that they are making.”

Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow, the former exco member for tourism, said that when Barisan ruled the state, the Chief Minister would hold weekly meetings with the exco members and evaluate their capabilities.

“English is really important, and if Law cannot communicate properly in that language, maybe he should just take care of countries like China, Japan and South Korea,” he added.TheStar

Zambry seeks court order to lift suspensions

IPOH, March 2 -- Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six state executive councillors (excos) on Monday applied to the High Court here to get a declaration that the decision of Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar to suspend them from attending its sittings is null and void.

In the originating summons filed this afternoon, Zambry and the excos claimed that the 18 and 12 months suspensions imposed on him and the excos respectively by Sivakumar contravened the state constitution.

Speaking at a press conference at his office here, Zambry said he understood the High Court would hear the application at 9am tomorrow.

The plaintiffs also want the court to declare that they have the right to attend and take part in all proceedings of the state assembly and carry out the duties entrusted to them.

Sivakumar has called for an emergency sitting of the assembly tomorrow and sent notices to the effect except to Zambry, the six excos and three Independent assemblymen.

The summons was filed by lawyers Hafarizam Harun, Badrul Hisham Abdul Wahab and Ong Teng Boon at the High Court at 3.55pm with some 50 Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters turning up to show support.

Zambry said they also wanted the court to declare that the assembly was not subject to orders, directives or guidance from Sivakumar.

"I wish to state that whatever the issue, whether the suspension of me and the other six plaintiffs, the right to attend assembly sittings and any other matters are now before the court. As such, any action by Sivakumar can be deemed sub-judice and in contempt of the court," he said.

He urged Sivakumar to act rationally according to the law and uphold the state constitution and his oath of loyalty to the Sultan of Perak.

The emergency meeting planned for tomorrow, he said, cannot be held because it is illegal as it did not get the consent of the Sultan.

The press conference was attended by all the BN assemblymen as well as two of the independents, Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Jailu and Behrang Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi.

The BN came into power in Perak early last month after the ruling opposition coalition lost its majority in the assembly.

The BN government now has 28 seats in the assembly, the same as the previous ruling coalition of PAS, DAP and PKR but the three independents, who left the opposition ruling coalition to become independent assemblymen, have thrown their support behind the BN.

Yesterday, Sivakumar had stressed that he would go ahead with the emergency sitting as planned despite the assembly's secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri issuing a statement that it was illegal because it did not get the consent of Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak.

Police have begun to mount roadblocks in front of the State Secretariat Building which houses the State Assembly and mobilised the Federal Reserve Unit to maintain peace.

Perak police chief Datuk Zulkefli Abdullah has issued a warning to the public not to gather in the area tomorrow while the state secretariat has also issued a notice that the building would be closed tomorrow.Bernama

TWM: Now we are watching the game to be played by Zambry. If Sivakumar tried to use the Standing Orders and his powers as Speaker to the limit now we are going to watch Zambry using the powers and authorities that he as the legally appointed MB of the Sultan of Perak. May the truth prevails and the sancity of the State Constitution and powers of the Sultan also prevails.