Power struggle puts PAS at crossroads

A power struggle in Islamic party PAS will be put to the test in leadership polls this week which pit hardline clerics against young moderates who want to rebrand the party. MCPX PAS has enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to deep public disillusionment with the Barisan Nasional coalition that has governed the multiracial country for half a century. PAS has formed an unlikely alliance with two other opposition parties which has stuck together despite wide differences in their ideologies, giving them a chance to unseat the coalition in the next elections due in several years. But the PAS general assembly on June 5-7 will lay bare the dilemma at the party's core - whether to swing back to its hardline roots or to put on a more moderate face to continue winning back support after some barren years. "The party is at a threshold - whether it can transcend its history of catering largely to Muslims and put in place a model that everyone in the country including non-Muslims can accept," said pollster Ibrahim Suffian. "They need to be able to articulate issues relating to the economy, security, international trade... to not only look after your hereafter, but look after your here and today," said Ibrahim, from Merdeka Centre research. Some 60 percent of Malaysians are Muslim Malays, but the population includes large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities, and if PAS wants to break out beyond its niche it needs to attract support from minorities. Curiously, despite pushing for the creation of an Islamic state and the introduction of "hudud" laws like chopping off thieves' hands, PAS has won the trust and support of many non-Muslims. Chinese and Indian voters have enthusiastically supported PAS candidates in seats where they stood for the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance, and thousands have joined PAS 'Supporters' Clubs' around the country. Rebranding exercise in jeopardy Much of the attraction stems from PAS' reputation as a clean party untainted by the corruption which is endemic in the ruling coalition. And in Kelantan, where it has long been in power, minorities have few complaints and are not obliged to observe local bylaws that discourage skimpy clothing and high heels. Reforms introduced before landmark 2008 elections, when the Pakatan Rakyat snatched a third of parliamentary seats in an unprecedented performance, reversed a decline that had seen PAS decimated in 2004 polls. "They stopped talking about wanting to impose stricter syariah laws and they had much more moderate faces in the party, people who were professionals and able to converse in English," said Ibrahim. But this rebranding exercise is now in jeopardy with a vote for top leadership posts, including the deputy presidency, which will see a clash between incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa and challenger Husam Musa (right). Husam is an economist who typifies the party's new generation of educated professionals, while Nasharuddin is closely identified with the party's conservative president Abdul Hadi Awang. Husam is an ally of PAS' iconic spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, a quirky figure who is a highly respected religious leader and also a big supporter of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Nasharuddin meanwhile played a leading role in "secret" talks last year with the ruling party Umno - which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition - that were hugely controversial within the party. Observers say that if Nasharuddin retains his post, the fragile bonds between the opposition partners will begin to erode, jeopardising its ability to challenge the coalition. "PAS is at a crossroads now. This meeting will see whether PAS is inclined to have a good relationship with Umno or have a good relationship with its opposition partners," a party insider told AFP. He said that a rebuke to Husam would also send out a negative message to non-Muslims that it remains the "party of the ulamas", the elderly cohort of clerics who have historically dominated the party. "As a political party PAS has to go with the (reform) approach, that which is accepted by the Malaysian people. During the last general election PAS had a lot of support from non-Muslims and it has to maintain that," he said. - AFP as quoted by Malaysiakini

Itu cuma pilihanraya kecil

Harga diatas kepalanya ialah RM100 juta.Namun Menteri Luar, Datuk Anifah Aman tidak gundah dengan jumlah saman sebesar itu oleh Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim terhadapnya.

Beliau nampaknya tetap berpegang pada dakwaanya di Washington baru-baru ini bahawa Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat menawarkan jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri untuk memancingnya melompat menyertai gerakan 16 September yang gagal.

Menjawab soalan wartawan mengenai saman berkenaan semasa sidang akhbar di Wisma Putra Jumaat, Anifah yang juga Ahli Parlimen Kimanis,Sabah memberi contoh dakwaan Aminah Abdullah iaitu calon Bebas Pilihan Raya Kecil Dewan Undangan Negeri Penanti bahawa beliau ditawarkan wang dan jawatan Timbalan Ketua Menteri 1 Pulau Pinang untuk tarik diri.

''Ini cuma pilihan raya kecil yang tidak melibatkan pembentukan kerajaan, calon Bebas ini telah ditawarkan wang dan kedudukan.

''Jadi fikir-fikirlah, jika calon Bebas dalam pilihan raya kecil ditawarkan jawatan, apatah lagi jika ia melibatkan pembentukan Kerajaan Persekutuan," katanya.

Mengenai saman RM 100 juta yang difail oleh peguam Anwar,Sankara Nair di Mahkamah Tinggi ,Kuala Lumpur Rabu ,Anifah kata,' kepentingan rakyat lebih penting daripada hal saman.”- Agendadaily 29/5/2009

Measures taken to address PKFZ issue in best interest of people: Ong

SHAH ALAM, May 29 -- Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says that any measure taken to address problems relating to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) will be done in the best interest of the people, even if it affects his own political career.

"I am going to unfold (all the strategies and queries relating to the audit report on the PKFZ) one after another. I have been cautiously optimistic about the matter because through my personal experience and some observational studies conducted by potential investors, I think by and large people believe that this (PKFZ) itself is a viable project.

"So, we have to make the project work in the best interest of the people.

"Don't forget that when we talk about a soft loan, the soft loan comes from the people, who are the tax payers of the country," said Ong to reporters after visiting Kumpulan Karangkraf Sdn Bhd, near here, Friday.

The audit report on PKFZ by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was posted in its entirety on the Port Klang Authority (PKA) website Thursday.

The cost of the project had risen to RM7.453 billion, including interest, compared with its original price tag of RM1.957 billion.

The audit report entitled "Position Review of Port Klang Free Zone Project and Port Klang Free Zone Sdn Bhd" noted that the cost of the project, excluding interest, was at RM3.522 billion.

Investigation into the 405-hectare PKFZ trans-shipment hub was initiated after it was revealed that its development cost jumped from below RM2.5 billion to RM4.6 billion.

DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang in his statement Friday said that PKA had incurred losses and the government should do the necessary even if it meant liquidating it (PKA) since the PwC report indicated PKA would not be able to break even in the near future.

To this, Ong said: " Lim is entitled to his own opinion. As far as I am concerned, we have been going through months of brainstorming on the way forward and not just focusing on the report or investigations alone."

He also said that the time was ripe for PKA to engage financial and legal consultants to do the necessary 'cleaning-up' and restructuring of the financial obligations of PKA.

"I believe that by doing so, only then can we move forward with a clean slate," he added.

-- BERNAMA

1Malaysia not Najib's burden alone, says Michael Chen

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 -- The 1Malaysia concept envisioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak can only be realised through teamwork and not by the premier alone.

Former Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Michael Chen said it could only be achieved if both the government and people put in efforts and show determination in nation-building to achieve that common goal.

He likened the process to winning a football match where to win, a team would need the commitment and support from not only the coach, but the players and supporters as well.

"We must have a common goal and the wisdom needed to achieve it," he said at a forum on 1Malaysia organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama)'s Centre of Excellence and Taima Journalism Academy, here, Thursday.

The forum was moderated by Bernama's deputy editor-in-chief Zulkefli Salleh.

Chen acknowledged that the road to achieving 1Malaysia was a lengthy one due to the many different races, religions and cultures.

He said the concept promoted by Najib was similar to that practised by the United States of America and Singapore, which was for every citizen to be treated fairly.

"Malaysians should understand that 1Malaysia is not only important to promote integration but also to take the nation to greater heights and to enable Malaysians to compete globally," he said.

Chen was confident that Najib could guide the nation into realising the 1Malaysia concept.

He said this was because Najib was like his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who observed and learned from other developing and developed nations.

Chen said Najib also took over the country during a difficult time, as his father did, and now faced this Herculean task to turn the country around.

Abdul Razak took over from Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1969 after the May 13 incident, regarded as a dark period of Malaysian history where racial tensions were high.

When asked how Malaysians could contribute towards achieving 1Malaysia, Chen said they could start by cultivating a "saving mentality and culture" and spend frugally.

Besides that, a national school system could also be implemented to promote racial integration, he said.

-- BERNAMA

'Fighting cock' set to ruffle some feathers

By Joceline Tan

Independent candidate Aminah Abdullah is in the mood for revenge and her campaign logo is a set of keys which some say she will use to unlock PKR’s “dirty secrets” in the Penanti by-election.

PKR thought it would be an easy-peasy walkover in Penanti when the Barisan Nasional decided to sit out the by-election.

But it looks like PKR candidate Mansor Ismail cannot take things for granted. He will win hands down but he may find a portion of the Malay vote going one way and the Thai vote going the other.

The three independents are stirring up things, particularly the sole lady candidate Aminah Abdullah, who used to be the Wanita PKR leader for Penang.

This was what some in PKR had feared - that in the absence of a big showdown between two real and credible political parties, the voters would get distracted by the minor players and sideshows.

And Aminah seems to be warming up for the role. She is also in the mood for revenge. She accused PKR of trying to buy her out as a candidate and has threatened to expose the “dirty secrets” of PKR and its leaders.

The lady is a “fighting cock,” as the Penangites like to say of combative people.

Her tough stance surprised reporters who had thought she was just another makcik politician.

“I spoke to her a few days before the nominations. She came across excited and happy to be a candidate. When I urged her to reveal her plans, she giggled and said that if she told me everything now, there would be ‘no thrill left’. Those were her exact words. She surprised me when she started making those threats,” said one journalist.

Aminah opted to use the keys logo for her campaign. Some say that is because she intends to use them to unlock the secrets that she claims to know about PKR.

It is said love and hate are two opposing emotions on the same plane and Aminah now hates PKR as passionately as she used to love the party.

Basically, Aminah felt that her devotion to the party during its early days was not appreciated and that she was cast aside after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was released.

She was an enthusiastic party member with an activist attitude towards politics which suited the party fine during the reformasi period.

At her height, she was the Wanita PKR chief for Penang as well as the Bukit Bendera division. Her government servant husband, Mohd Rofi Osman, was the Bukit Bendera deputy chief.

But as Anwar prepared to make Penang a frontline state for the 2008 general election, people like Aminah found themselves overshadowed by other more ambitious people and were forced out. By then, everyone wanted to be part of the game .

Finally, in 2007, she quit the party in what seemed like an organised spat of resignations among people aligned to former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Noor.

But PKR people say that while she was hard-working, she was argumentative and did not work well with people.

“A good leader must also be focused. We don’t mind if we are talking about A and she is talking about B.

“But at meetings, we would be talking about A and she would be talking about Z; it was totally off tangent. We just didn’t know what to do with her,” said Batu Maung assemblyman and state exco member Malik Kassim.

Aminah’s current campaign team comprises mainly of her husband and four daughters and it seems to centre around her intense feelings against PKR.

When reporters asked about her schedule after she filed her nomination papers, she said rather candidly: “Kak Min penat, nak balik tidur” (I am tired. I want to go home to rest).

Aminah may not be a credible candidate but she is likely to be the beneficiary of votes from Penanti voters who are Umno members. Pro-Umno voters who might have otherwise stayed home on voting day, will probably cast an anti-PKR vote in her favour.

A chunk of the Thai vote will likely go to one of their own, namely the other independent Nai Khan Ari.

Nai has a track record for community work in his village and his humble body language is a contrast to the aggressive Aminah or unconventional style of the third independent Kamatrul Ramizu Idris.

By most accounts, none of the independents is a proxy of the Barisan Nasional but it is possible that certain local personalities from the Barisan are backing some of these candidates because they want to chip away PKR’s command of the votes.

Meanwhile, the hottest topic at PKR ceramah is not Penang issues or arch enemy Umno but the political impasse in Perak.

The political ripples in Perak have spread to Penang, former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is a big crowd drawer and people want hear about Perak politics.

Except maybe for PKR’s Malik, who said: “I am dying to know what dirty secrets Aminah has to tell.” The Star

Study confirms mothers-in-law are the chief cause of divorces

KUALA LUMPUR: Every married person knows it, but a local study has confirmed it – mothers-in-law are the chief cause of divorces, especially in the Indian community.

Data in the Malaysia Community and Family Study 2004 by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) revealed that “meddlesome in-laws” is the number one reason why Indian couples get divorced.

It is also among the top three factors for divorce among the Malays and Chinese. The other two factors are incompatibility (42.3%) and infidelity (12%).

“Interference by in-laws is the main reason for Indians to divorce. It is the top-ranked reason at 30%,” said LPPKN director-general Datuk Aminah Abdul Rahman when presenting a paper on Malaysia’s family profile and its effects at Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia yesterday.

Infidelity is the marriage breaker among the Malays and Indians but it is tolerated among the Chinese.

“Among Malays, the second most common reason is infidelity and refusal to put up with polygamy,” she said.

“Among the Indians, infidelity is the second highest ranked reason for divorce at 25%,” she said.

However, the Chinese considered infidelity as the least crucial reason for a divorce.

Cheating was at the bottom along with health and gambling addiction at 4.2%.

Surprisingly, abuse is not a reason for divorce among the Malays and Chinese, but is a reason among Indians at 5%.

“Another overall reason which ranked high among the three races at 11.5% is ‘not being responsible’,” she said.

Although it is common perception that the family institution is quite fragile and divorces are rampant, data shows otherwise - only 0.7% of the population was divorced in 2000.

The data shows that divorce is more likely to happen to those under 25 and above 40.

Meanwhile, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that more Malaysian women were choosing to marry later in life and it could cause a reduction in fertility rate and an ageing society.

“The National Family Policy and its action plan will address this issue of late marriages,” she said.

The policy would be presented to the Cabinet soon. The Star

Islam and Napoleon

• Religions are all founded on miracles â" on things we cannot understand, such as the Trinity. Jesus calls himself the Son of God, and yet is descended from David. I prefer the religion of Muhammad â" it is less ridiculous than ours.
  • Letter from St. Helena (28 August 1817); as quoted in The St. Helena Journal of General Baron Gourgaud, 1815-1818 : Being a Diary written at St. Helena during a part of Napoleon's Captivity (1932) as translated by Norman Edwards, a translation of Journal de Sainte-Hélène 1815-1818 by General Gaspard Gourgaud, t.2, p.226
  
  
• Muhammad was a great man, fearless soldier; with a handful of men he triumphed at the battle of Badr, great captain, eloquent, a great man of state, it regenerated his homeland, and created in the middle of the deserts of Arabia a new people and a new power.
  • Statement of 1817 quoted in Précis des guerres de César, écrit à Sainte-Hélène sous la dictée de l'empereur (1836) edited by Comte Marchand, p. 237

Islam The True Religion - Napoleon Bonaparte

• I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of the Quran which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness.
  • Letter to Sheikh El-Messiri, (28 August 1798); published in Correspondance Napoleon edited by Henri Plon (1861), t.4, N° 3148, p. 420

DAP tawar jawatan MB kepada saya, PKR main politik kotor kata Jamaluddin

Oleh: HANAFIAH MAN

Tindakan ADUN Behrang, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi meninggalkan PKR dan menjadi ADUN Bebas dilemparkan dengan pelbagai tuduhan dan tohmahan kononnya beliau telah ‘dibeli’.

Malah, tindakannnya itu juga dituduh sebagai cubaan untuk mendapat perlindungan Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi mengelakkan dirinya daripada menghadapi tuduhan rasuah yang dikenakan ke atasnya.

Namun tuduhan-tuduhan yang berat itu sedikit pun tidak menjejaskan dirinya kerana pada hakikatnya beliau tahu apa yang berlaku.

Dalam temubual bersama Agendadaily beliau menceritakan secara terperinci bagaimana mainan politik dalaman PKR sehingga membawa kepada tindakan beliau dan ADUN Changkat Jering meninggalkan parti tersebut

SIRI KEDUA temubual ini berkisar kepada isu-isu yang berkaitan dengan ‘sepak terajang politik’ PKR serta tawaran kepada beliau untuk menjadi Menteri Besar Perak selepas pilihan raya umum Mac 2008.

“Keputusan saya meninggalkan kerajaan pakatan pembangkang dulu bukan kerana habuan atau jawatan. Kalau itu yang saya mahu, saya dah jadi MB sama ada MB daripada parti PKR atau MB daripada DAP. Malah kalau saya gila sangat nak jawatan itu, masa keluar PKR dan sedia memberikan sokongan kepada BN, saya boleh kenakan syarat agar saya dipilih menjadi Menteri Besar.” ujarnya.

Kalau begitu kenapa YB membuat keputusan meninggalkan PKR selain daripada sebab-sebab yang telah YB bagi tahu (pada temubual siri pertama sebelum ini).

“Dalam PKR pun ada konspirasi untuk pinggirkan saya dengan Kapten Osman. Ia bermula daripada soal tuduhan rasuah yang dikenakan terhadap saya dan Kapten Osman sehinggalah kepada peristiwa bila mana ADUN BN kawasan Bota, Datuk Nasharuddin sertai PKR.

Kononnya ada tiga lagi ADUN BN yang akan ikut sama. Mereka yang hendak masuk ini dijanjikan jawatan Exco.

Usaha ini dibuat kerana dengan tambahan empat kerusi daripada BN, kerusi pakatan akan bertambah kepada 35 dan BN tinggal 24 kerusi sahaja.

Jadi sebab itu surat perletakan jawatan saya dan Kapten Osman sebagai ADUN dikeluarkan kerana mereka dah yakin ada majoriti lebih dengan kemasukkan empat ADUN BN ke dalam PKR. 35 kerusi jika ditolak dengan dua kerusi saya dan Kapten Osman mereka masih ada majoriti 33 kerusi.

Apakah ini merupakan mainan politik pimpinan PKR di peringkat negeri Perak untuk menyingkirkan beliau dan Kapten Osman?

Sebenarnya ini adalah mainan politik pimpinan PKR negeri Perak dan juga Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sendiri.

Kenapa saya kata begitu. Pada malam timbul isu surat perletakan jawatan saya dan Kapten Osman telah diserahkan kepada ( Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri) V. Sivakumar, kenapa Anwar pada malam itu tidak ambil inisiatif hubungi Sivakumar sebagai Speaker untuk jangan serahkan surat perletakan jawatan itu kepada Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR). Dalam kes Arumugam di Bukit Selambau, kenapa Anwar boleh simpan dulu surat perletakan jawatan bagi cara jalan penyelesaian, Kenapa dalam kes kami sepatah pun dia tak cakap apa-apa.

Kenapa tak tunggu kami balik kerja. Maknanya Anwar setuju dengan tindakan ini kerana dia mempunyai perancangan, bagi kerusi Changkat Jering, Ketua Bahagian PKR , Ismail hendak dijadikan calon manakala di Behrang, Ketua Bahagian PKR Pasir Salak, Mustapa Kamil Ayub akan dicalonkan.

Ini cara mereka… buat rancangan nak dapatkan empat ADUN BN, kami berdua, saya dan Kapten Osman dikorbankan, dan orang ‘kesayangan’ Anwar boleh bertanding dalam pilihan raya kecil.

Malah Ismail pada malam kekecohan surat perletakan jawatan saya dan Kapten Osman dikeluarkan, Ismail telah mengadakan mesyuarat persiapan pilihan raya di Bukit Gantang dan mengumumkan bahawa beliau akan menjadi calon.

Sedangkan perkara itu belum pun sampai kepada SPR dan mereka seharusnya sedar akan ada proses undang-undang yang akan kita ambil. Langkah awal saya, saya hantar surat penafian kepada SPR, Istana dan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri bahawa saya menafikan saya telah meletakkan jawatan. Sura itu sampai ke pejabat SPR jam 7.56 pagi, lebih awal daripada surat perletakan jawatan yang dihantar oleh Sivakumar.

Bagi saya Anwar jelas hendakkan orang-orang dia sahaja memegang jawatan.

Kenapa YB buat kesimpulan demikian

Taktik ini sama dengan apa yang berlaku dengan bekas Timbalan Ketua Menteri 1 Pulau Pinang, Fairus Khairuddin. Tak sabarkah mereka nak tunggu sehingga pilihan raya umum ke-13. Nak suruh cepat berhenti, mereka buat aduan rasuah terhadap Fairus, tapi kerana beliau tak tahan, letak jawatan dan akhirnya orang kepercayaan Anwar, Dr Mansor dinamakan sebagai calon untuk DUN Penanti.

Inilah yang mereka cuba lakukan kepada saya dengan Kapten Osman Jailu. Buat aduan rasuah dengan harapan saya dan Kapten Osman letak jawatan.

Isu rasuah ini bagaimana ceritanya kerana semasa kes ini berlaku ia dikatakan perancangan BN

Dalam soal rasuah ini, pada mulanya saya memang ingat ini semua perancangan BN hendak kenakan saya. Tapi melihat kepada apa yang berlaku kepada Fairus, saya penuh yakin ia adalah rancangan yang diatur oleh orang PKR sendiri.

Mana tidaknya, kes yang didakwa membabitkan saya berlaku apabila bekas ADUN Bota dari PKR dulu, Kapten Usaili Alias hubungi saya beritahu ada orang nak jumpa bincang pasal permohonan satu projek pembangunan di Bandar Baru Seri Iskandar. Ajak saya jumpa di Hotel Casuarina.

Saya minta mereka datang ke pejabat. Selepas jumpa orang itu letak sampul surat. Saya tanya sampul apa itu. Orang itu beritahu sumbangan RM5,000. Saya tanya sumbangan untuk siapa, dia kata untuk parti. Kalau untuk parti bukan kepada saya, sepatutnya kepada Usaili dan Usaili ambil sampul itu.

Memang jadi amalan saya, tetamu yang datang saya akan iring mereka sampai pintu keluar. Bila saya buka pintu saya dah nampak ada pegawai Pencegahan Rasuah dah tunggu di luar. Tapi mereka tidak pun ambil apa-apa tindakan ketika itu.

Esoknya barulah saya dihubungi diminta datang untuk beri keterangan.

Bila lihat apa yang berlaku kepada Fairus, saya mula sedar, inilah cara mereka untuk pastikan saya dan Kapten Osman boleh disingkirkan daripada memegang jawatan bagi membolehkan orang ‘kesayangan’ Anwar mengambil alih.

Tak ada makna kita jadi pemimpin kalau negeri ini kita gadai. Malah saya pernah tegur Nizar apakah hanya kerana kita hendak angkat Anwar jadi Perdana Menteri, kita nak gadai Perak kepada Cina. Kerana nak angkat seorang, kita gadai semua. Dia tak jawab apa-apaun pun.

Keputusan saya untuk meninggalkan pakatan ini demi untuk menjamin kepentingan Melayu, bukan soal kepentingan diri.

Tapi banyak tuduhan yang mengatakan YB dibeli dan dapat tawaran daripada BN

Biar saya jelaskan. Kalau untuk kepentingan diri, masa selepas pilihan raya dulu, saya antara nama yang disebut untuk menjadi MB.

Malah Anwar jumpa saya beritahu perkara yang sama. Saya sedar diri saya dan mungkin saya tidak layak. Tapi Anwar beritahu jangan bimbang, dia dah ada pasukan yang akan membantu saya menjalankan tugas sebagai MB.

Saya kata kepada Anwar, kalau itu yang Datuk Seri janjikan, saya terimalah tapi Datuk Seri kena tunaikan janji itu. Masa perbincangan mengenai isu MB itu kami bertiga ADUN PKR Melayu iaitu saya, ADUN Changkat Jering Kapten Osman Jailu dan ADUN Kuala Kurau, Abdul Yunus Jamahri hadir.

Bukan itu sahaja, saya pernah menjadi ahli DAP pada tahun 1986 cawangan Tanjung Malim. Ngeh dan Nga jumpa saya minta saya aktifkan semula keahlian DAP dan mereka hendak meletakkan saya sebagai MB daripada parti DAP.

Alhamdulillah, perjuangan saya tidak dikaburkan dengan jawatan. Saya beritahu mereka saya ahli PKR kenapa pula saya nak masuk DAP. Saya bersyukur dengan keputusan yang saya buat pada ketika itu. kalau tidak, mungkin saya menjadi boneka mereka sahaja. - Agendadaily 20/5/2009

Ini lah cerita sebenarnya dari mulut YB Jamaluddin Md Radzi. Kadang-kadang kita tak percaya apa yang berlaku di belakang tabir. Tetapi kebenaran lambat laun akan terdedah juga. Mula keluar cerita Dato Anifah dijanjikan jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri oleh Anwar Ibrahim. Ini cerita yang berlaku di Perak selepas PRU 12 2008 yang lalu.

Bak kata pujangga kita boleh menipu segolongan orang pada satu masa tapi kita tidak akan boleh menipu semua orang pada sepanjang masa.

Nobel Prize winner Krugman: US 'depressed economy' could last 5 years

SEOUL The United States may emerge from recession in a technical sense as early as this summer, though a likely worsening in labor conditions means a "depressed economy" could last as long as five more years, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said Tuesday.

"I think it's quite possible that industrial production in the United States and perhaps in the world as a whole will bottom out sometime in the next few months, that GDP growth in the United States will be positive in the second half of the year and maybe a little bit later than that in Europe," Krugman told participants at a global financial conference organized by a South Korean media group.

Krugman said that he would not be surprised if the U.S. recession, which began in December 2007, ended in August or September this year.

Deteriorating labor markets, however, were likely to continue on into 2011, meaning "the period of a depressed economy" could last until 2013 or 2014, he said.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman delivers a speech at the Seoul Global Financial Conference in Seoul Tuesday where he said the United States may emerge from recession in a technical sense as early as this summer, though a likely worsening in labor conditions means a "depressed economy" could last as long as five more years - AP

Krugman, who teaches at Princeton University, won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences last year for his analysis of how economies of scale can affect international trade patterns.

He also writes columns for The New York Times.

The U.S. economy, the world's largest, contracted a worse-than-expected 6.1 percent on an annualized basis in the first quarter.

Americans increased purchases of cars, furniture and appliances, but businesses cut back spending and exports had their biggest drop in 40 years.

The U.S. unemployment rate hit 8.9 percent in April and many economists expect it to reach 10 percent by year's end.

Krugman said that while economic indicators from around the world are improving, they suggest that the pace of economic decline has only slowed.

"I share the optimism that the worst of this may be over," he said, also noting a stabilization in financial markets.

"What's really hard, however, is to say when does this go beyond stabilization to an actual recovery."

A general definition of recession is two straight quarters of economic contraction, although broader measures are also taken into account.

Krugman said, however, that defining the beginning and end of recessions is tricky.

He noted that in the United States they are officially dated by the National Bureau of Economic Research, which he said generally declares "that the end of a recession is when some major economic indicators begin improving. When it's no longer a case where everything is falling."

Krugman said that the last two U.S. recessions officially ended when industrial production turned up even though unemployment continued to worsen "long after the official end of the recession."

As an example, he cited the one in 2001, which ended after eight months in November, though the unemployment rate didn't bottom out until June of 2003. - AP

Apa bisa ibu pakai dan jadi Presiden kembali???

Anwar offered me the DPM's post, says Anifah

WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman has revealed that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had offered him the post of Deputy Prime Minister as bait to switch sides after the general election last year.

“Just for the information of the audience here, Anwar said he would form a government on Sept 16 but he has changed the dates many times. And he was trying to entice Members of Parliament.

“I was personally offered a very lucrative position, like a deputy prime ministership. These facts are not known to the world at large,” he said during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which was packed with American and foreign journalists.

“And he has started trying to buy other legislative members. I think he has not accepted the result of the last elections.

“We (Barisan Nasional) have lost five states and we willingly accept the people’s verdict.”

A Reuters journalist had earlier asked Clinton whether she raised the Anwar issue at her meeting with Anifah as the State Department’s annual human rights report had mentioned that charges against Anwar were politically motivated.

Clinton replied that she had raised the rule of law issues and larger questions concerning institutional reforms that Malaysia had been pursuing.

Anifah, who was calm throughout, said he had faith in Malaysia’s judicial system, citing the case of Perak where the High Court had reinstated Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Mentri Besar although it was a ruling made against the Federal Government.

Anifah said Anwar was tarnishing the image of Malaysia.

“It is our wish and hope that he will respect the democratic system in Malaysia.”

Anifah told another journalist that Malaysia would use the “good office” of the Asean secretariat to find a solution to the case involving Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who faces new charges less than two weeks before her house arrest was due to end after an American man swam across a lake and entered her home.

On improving US relations with Islamic countries, Clinton said the United States would seek out partners like Malaysia and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference for guidance.

Malaysia confirms first case of AH1N1 a.k.a Swine Flu

By FOONG PEK YEE and DHARMENDER SINGH

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of the A(H1N1) flu in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning.

All the 192 passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark on Wednesday are urged to contact the Health Ministry by calling 03-88810200 or 03-88810300

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the case made Malaysia the 36th country to be affected by the virus.

“Malaysia is now on high alert,” said Liow, who is in London now, enroute to Geneva, for a World Health Organisation meeting. He added he would return earlier than his scheduled return next Friday.

Meanwhile, A statement by the Health Ministry's director-general, Dr. Ismail Merican, said the young man was hospitalised on Thursday for fever, sore throat and body aches.

Tests confirmed that he was infected with the A(H1N1) virus, the statement said. He is receiving anti-viral treatment and was in stable condition, it said.

Ismail said the ministry had contacted members of his family but they have not been placed under quarantine.

Ismail said his department was taking steps to protect public health and that there was no reason to panic.

Meanwhile, in Putrajaya, acting Health Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said later Friday that the fact that Malaysia’s first A(H1N1) patient managed to pass through the scanners at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) undetected was in no way indicative of scanners’ failure.

Kong said the scanners installed since the start of the global alert on the disease traced elevated body temperature levels in travellers coming into the country and did not pick out the 21-year-old student flying in from the United States as the symptoms were not showing yet.

He said the virus had a two to three day incubation period during which none of the symptoms linked to the disease were visible and that was why he passed undetected by the scanner after his flight landed at 7.15am on Wednesday.

He said the Health Ministry would continue to use the scanners at entry points and continue with all the precautionary measures it had taken since the global alert was first issued and there were no plans to tighten measures further.

“The ministry has taken all the possible precautionary measures to control and contain the disease after the WHO (World Health Organisation) issued a level five alert so we are calling on the public not to panic as the situation is under control.

“I also want to assure the people that we will make public any information related to the disease that we have just as we did with our first case confirmed today,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that a man from Bukit Mertajam held under observation at the isolation ward of the Penang Hospital has been declared free of Influenza A (H1N1).

"We just got a report that the blood test on the 26-year-old man was negative," State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said when contacted by Bernama Friday.

A test on a sample of his blood had been sent to Kuala Lumpur.

The man was kept for observation Thursday after he was found to have fever and symptoms similar to those of Influenza A (H1N1) on his return from the United States.

Two weeks ago, a New Zealand tourist was admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) but a blood test also showed up negative. The Star.

Investors get assurance that in Perak, its 'business as usual'

IPOH, Wed:

PERAK Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir today gave the assurance that the state administration is running as usual and said that investors need not be unduly worried about the political impasse in the state.

He said the state government welcomed investors keen to invest in the Perak and was ready to help any investor having problems in having their application processed.

"They can rest assured about the political climate despite what you have been hearing about the situation here. When it comes to business, I think all Perakians are very serious about it and we would like to welcome everyone to Perak," he told reporters after chairing the weekly meeting of the state executive council here.

He said the state government he helmed functioned well despite the political impasse.

"What I want to say here is that business goes on as usual. We are going to focus more on the economic development of the state and the people can rest assured that economic development will go on," he said.
Dr Zambry said it was more important for him and his executive council to discharge their duties in the administration of the state effectively, honestly and respectably for the good of the people.

"That is what the people want because we do not want to be obsessed with political games which do not bring benefit for the people," he said.

He asked those questioning the validity of his appointment as the menteri besar to wait for the legal process to be completed and not to use the matter for political games which he said would lead to confusion in the political situation in Perak. - BERNAMA

Zambry back as MB

S. Tamarai Chelvi and Giam Say Khoon

PUTRAJAYA (MAy 12, 2009) : Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin clocked in as the Mentri Besar of Perak this morning following a High Court order declaring him the rightful chief executive of the state, but by afternoon, the seat went back to Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and Former Perak MB Datuk Tajol Rosli during the press conference at UMNO headquarter in Ipoh today.

This is because the Court of Appeal today granted an urgent application by Barisan Nasional mentri besar Zambry for a stay of execution of the High Court order made on Monday afternoon that Pakatan Rakyat's Mohammad Nizar is the rightful Mentri Besar, pending an appeal of the decision.

This means Nizar's position is now back to his position before 3.30pm on Monday, when the High Court decision was delivered.

In granting the stay of High Court judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim's order, Justice Datuk Ramli Ali said the case is unique as it does not only involve Nizar and Zambry alone, but the whole state.

He said the court has the jurisdiction to grant a stay order on declaratory orders.

"The court is satisfied that there are special circumstances in this case. Stay is granted," said Ramli, adding that the court will fix an early date to hear Zambry's appeal.

After the decision, Nizar's lawyer, Sulaiman Abdullah, asked whether the judge will be imposing any terms (conditions) but the judge said he would not.

Lawyer Ranjit Singh, who also represents Nizar, said they will file an application to set aside the stay order, before a panel of three judges of Court of Appeal, on an urgency basis.

Earlier, Sulaiman said "the best solution for this problem" is to fix an early date to hear the appeal.

He said Zambry should have gone back to the High Court for a stay order as in earlier attempts in the case, the Federal Court had ordered the case to go back to the High Court.

(On Monday, the High Court judge had asked the lawyers to put in written application for him to hear.)

Zambry's lawyer Datuk Cecil Abraham earlier told the court that if a stay is not granted, the "status quo" will be changed pending the appeal. He said if the Court of Appeal does not grant a stay, a dissolution can take place for fresh election.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who is an intervenor in the case, said if Nizar is asking for a dissolution of the assembly now, it has to be due to loss of confidence of the majority.

"If he goes to back to the State Legislative Assembly, what will happen? Thirty Barisan Nasional supporters will say we don't support you," said Gani, adding that Nizar will be asking for a dissolution. "Either way, If the Sultan of Perak says 'No', he has to go back to the Assembly."

Gani said the matter has to be settled "once and for all" and that the state cannot have changes "like flips of a coin" every few months.

> Zambry's response:

Zambry told reporters at the Umno headquarters in Ipoh he would continue his job as the Mentri Besar until the legal process is completed.

"It may look messy for the people but it was Mohammad Nizar who challenged my status as the MB. I hope the people can understand as I understand the public views but this is a legal process we must respect."

Zambry said BN has abided by the law and vacated the MB's office once the High Court made its decision,

"For me (after the High Court's decision on Monday), I did not go to the office or seek an audience with the Ruler although we (including the executive councillors) were invited to the palace to attend the investiture ceremony in Kuala Kangsar and I had ordered all to leave the office."

Asked for his opinion on Mohammad Nizar's official request to seek an audience with the Ruler, which was sent this morning, Zambry said when the Court decides, whatever happened before that was no longer valid.

Nizar Jamaluddin and his exco arrival at SUK Perak Building before leaving to Istana Kuala Kangsar to meet the Sultan Perak in this morning.

On the status of the state assembly sitting on May 7, which was branded by Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham as illegal, Zambry said the opposition could call him the illegitimate MB but the right to call for a sitting lies with the Ruler, not with the Mentri Besar.

Asked if BN will call for an emergency sitting to pass a motion of no-confidence against Mohammad Nizar, Zambry said it was premature to talk about this.

Zambry has also lifted Nizar's order to suspend State Secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Hashim and state legal adviser Datuk Ahmad Kamal Shahid.

> Nizar's response:

"Whatever court action, we need to sincerely stop the impasse. The only remedial action that can stop this impasse is a dissolution of the assembly."

Mohammad Nizar reached his office with his executive councillors, which was heavily guarded by the Federal Reserved Unit at 7.30am, and left 20 minutes later for Kuala Kangsar to attend the investiture ceremony at the palace.

He returned to the state secretariat around 1.30pm and vacated his office at 2.35pm.

Earlier, Ngeh, who represented Mohammad Nizar to hold a press conference at the MB office, said while the legal process can go up to the Federal Court, such a prolonged impasse will not do any good for the people and the best solution is to hold fresh elections.

Mohd Nizar declared the rightful Perak MB

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur High Court today declared Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin the rightful Perak Menteri Besar.

PM: BN ready to work with opposition to resove Perak crisis

PEKAN: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Barisan Nasional government is willing to cooperate with opposition parties to resolve the political crisis in Perak but that does not mean that it would agree to a coalition government.

The prime minister said the cooperation should be based on the spirit of mutual respect and adherence to the country's law.

"Cooperation does not mean forming a coalition government. It doesn't have to be in that form... it can take various other forms but the most important thing is that there should be mutual respect," he told reporters after opening Pekan Umno branch meetings here Sunday.

Najib was commenting on the statement by DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang Saturday that he (Lim) was willing to meet Najib to discuss the Perak political impasse.

Najib stressed that the Perak political crisis could have been avoided if all parties had adhered to the law and respected one another.

"If we respect the law, and everyone should respect the law, there won't be any crisis and things won't turn into a crisis. But when all are claiming that they are right, then there are bound to be problems," he said.

Najib said the Barisan government had always kept an open attitude and had given best service to the people.

"We don't want the situation (in Perak) to prolong. We want to serve the people, for everyone in Perak and throughout the country," the prime minister said. - Bernama

Perak Assembly: Don't let law of the jungle rule, says Najib

Perak Assembly: Don't let law of the jungle rule, says Najib

Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor looking at an exhibit in ‘A Decade of Dedication’ exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum yesterday. With them is museum assistant curator Adline Abdul Ghani (left).

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must not descend into a disorderly state where the law of the jungle rules, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.

He expressed regret and disappointment over the pandemonium which marred Thursday's Perak state assembly seating, saying lawlessness would tarnish the country's image as a mature democracy.

Najib said the commotion, marked by abusive exchanges, scuffles, flared tempers, pushing and shoving, should not have occurred.

Instead, he said, both backbenchers and opposition members should have shown the world that Malaysia practised democracy based on a respect for the rule of law and maintaining decorum.

"Even though we do not like certain things, we cannot press on with our stand until it means denying the rights of other people. Everyone has rights, and this includes the government and the opposition.
"The reason we have rules and regulations is to ensure that the democratic system in Malaysia works smoothly. If we don't respect this or the rule of law, it will lead to a situation akin to the law of the jungle," Najib said after launching the "A Decade of Dedication" exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum yesterday.

Present were Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Albukhary Foundation chairman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.

On the forced removal of former speaker V. Sivakumar, Najib said Sivakumar should vacate his seat as he was no longer the speaker.

Asked whether Thursday's fracas was a tactic adopted by the opposition to force a state election, Najib said only the sultan had the prerogative to call for an election.

"It is the sultan's prerogative whether there is a election or not. You can't force it.

"If the sultan feels there is no need to dissolve the assembly as the current government can serve the people, then there is no need for an election."

Najib pointed out that the Pas government in Kelantan previously survived with a one-seat majority compared with Barisan Nasional's current three seats in Perak, which enabled them to administer the state.

On the opposition's contention that the BN takeover of the state government was unconstitutional as it managed to woo three former opposition members to become BN-friendly independents, Najib said party-hopping was a common occurrence in a parliamentary democracy system.

"(Former British prime minister Sir) Winston Churchill had switched party before and recently in America, a Republican senator crossed over to be a Democrat.

"This (party-hopping) is not wrong, it is not illegal or unconstitutional," Najib said, adding that previously there were efforts by the opposition to woo BN members of parliament to jump as well. NST

Najib's comments on Perak State Assembly Meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: The pandemonium at the Perak State Assembly was shameful, tarnishing Malaysia’s image as a law abiding and democratic country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He expressed regret over the fiasco, saying it was a tragic development.

“We should be showing to the world that we respect the rule of law. Even if we do not like something, we cannot push our point of view to the extent that we deny the right of others.

“The Government has its own rights and the opposition has its own rights too. So it is important that we remain focused on the rule of law so that our democratic system can function in a mature way,” he told reporters after launching “A Decade of Dedication Exhibition” at the Islamic Arts Museum here yesterday.

Najib said if people could no longer respect the rule of law, then things in the country could degenerate into something that was akin to the law of the jungle.

Asked to comment on claims by Pakatan Rakyat that the change of government in Perak was unconstitutional, Najib said:

“Changing party is a normal thing in a parliamentary democracy. Winston Churchill changed parties twice.

“In the United States, a Republican Senator recently crossed over to become a Democrat Senator. It is not unconstitutional to do so and it is also not illegal.”

He said people should not so easily forget about the plan to induce 31 Barisan MPs to join the opposition to enable the setting up of a new government before Sept 16 last year.

That, Najib said, was based on the same principle which the opposition did not consider as unconstitutional then.

“If we feel that can be done, why then it is wrong for three state representatives to support Barisan?” he asked.

Barisan took over the Perak Government in February after

three Pakatan Rakyat representatives quit their respective parties

to become pro-Barisan independents.

Najib also stressed that it was the right of the Sultan not to dissolve the state assembly and no one should try to force the Ruler’s hand on this issue.

“Remember, the Kelantan PAS Government had ruled the state with only a one-seat majority before. Now we have three, and with this three-seat majority support, we can rule the state.”

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Pakatan Rakyat’s behaviour showed utter disrespect to institutions such as the royalty.

“I think it is very annoying to see things like that happening. It is not the first time and it reflects how crude their actions are,” he told reporters after opening the Malaysian International Cocoa Fair.

Muhyiddin said TV footage showed that it was the opposition side which had misbehaved.

“You must be able to control your emotions,” he said.

PM - Be truthful to the people

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 (Bernama) -- Acknowledging the importance for any government to have the trust and confidence of the people, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that one of the best ways to win the trust and confidence of the people is to be truthful to them.

"Tell them the truth. If you've done well, tell them the policies are right. If the policies are not working, then you should have the courage to tell them that look, we've made mistakes but we intend to do better, we intend to correct these mistakes. And I think the rakyat would appreciate that.

"Although you are in the government, you are only human, and humans do make mistakes. The key is not that you will make mistakes, but how you recover from your mistakes. Hopefully mistakes will be few, but most of the decisions will be correct and the decisions will be spot-on.

"But there will be times when, because of changing circumstances, you suddenly realise that your policies or your decisions are not quite correct. But once you realise that they're not quite correct, be honest about it and tell people," the prime minister said in his latest jottings, uploaded yesterday, in his blog at www.1Malaysia.com.my

He said the people were intelligent and would appreciate honesty and truthfulness and the leaders should trust them.

"Over a period, certainly you will be able to develop that faith and trust with the people. Above all, keep your word. If you promise, you must deliver. One of the things that can undermine this faith and loyalty is if you break your promise. If you promise something, you must stick to your promise and you must deliver your promise," he said.

Najib said that over the past month, since taking over the helm of the nation, he had introduced, through his blog, a set of values, which he believed were fundamental in shaping formidable Malaysians befitting the 1Malaysia vision.

He said integrity completed this set of eight values, and was a key tool in ensuring that promises were kept and principles upheld.

"Once we are able to deliver what is promised and be more transparent and open with others, we will have built a solid foundation for trust," he said.

The eight values of 1Malaysia introduced by Najib were a culture of excellence, perseverance, humility, acceptance, loyalty, meritocracy, education, and integrity, which he said were paramount in efforts to add value to Malaysia as a developing nation.

"No one single value can be imbued without the other in order for 1Malaysia to truly take shape. While these values have long been taught in our culture, the application of these values must be renewed.

"I urge all Malaysians to inculcate and cultivate these values in our daily practices and actions not just amongst close friends and family, but in the workplace and our community at large," he added.

Abdullah's openess contributed to a flourishing democracy

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's openness and transparency in administration when he took over as the Prime Minister in 2003, contributed largely to a flourishing democracy in the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib said since taking over, Abdullah practiced a leadership that portrayed openness and one that was receptive to criticism.

The Prime Minister said, as a result, the people in country were now more alert and aware of their rights, and the government's responsibilities.

"The situation demands the government to be more responsive to the people," said Najib during his speech at a 'Majlis Jasamu Dikenang' ceremony held to honour Abdullah's retirement as the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here tonight.

The ceremony was graced by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nurzahirah.

Also present were Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Abdullah's wife Tun Jeanne Abdullah, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, cabinet members, foreign diplomats, government officers and dignitaries.

In his speech, Najib also announced that Abdullah has been appointed as advisor to the National Corridor development so that the government can continue to receive guidance and advise from the former Prime Minister.

Najib said to ensure the people enjoyed the benefits of the economic growth, economic regions were identified to be developed through the corridor development concept, aimed at stimulating the economy that can provide an even share of opportunities, a concept that received overwhelming support.

"The Corridor initiative is expected to stimulate the economic growth and ensure the welfare of the people," he said.

Looking back at Abdullah's contribution in various aspects during his tenure, the Prime Minister said slogans like Excellence, Glory and Distinction (Cemerlang, Gemilang dan Terbilang) introduced by Abdullah had injected and inspired Malaysians in search of to excellence.

The Prime Minister added that to instill a sense of excellence, Abdullah had also emphasised the importance of developing human capital.

Najib said Abdullah was very sensitive to the people and their needs and always emphasised on an efficient delivery system, a move that saw rapid and drastic changes in the efficiency of public service performances.

"For example, the public sector had transformed from just mere administrators and law enforcing body to a service oriented, efficient, transparent and increased efficiency delivery system," he said.

Abdullah had always wanted the public sector to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring national policies were implemented effectively and reflected a clean and incorruptible image, independent judiciary, establish good, efficient and meritorious governance and wipe out corruption.

Najib added that to ensure transparency in the Judicial system, the Judicial Appointments Commission and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) were formed.

In 2004, Abdullah also introduced Islam Hadhari (civilisational Islam) as a means of propagating development based on the principles of Islam.

Apart from giving importance to the modernisation of agriculture, Abdullah was also an acclaimed international figure during his tenure, helming the Organisation Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non Aligned Movement (NAM).

Najib who thanked Abdullah for entrusting him with the country's leadership through a smooth transition of powers, said he would continue the efforts of Abdullah.

"A smooth transition of powers is vital, especially when the country is facing an economic challenge in efforts to become a developed nation. The best gift that Malaysians can offer Abdullah now is to continue his vision and mission to see Malaysia become a peaceful, developed and successful nation," he said.

"On behalf of the entire nation, I wish to thank Tun Abdullah, Tun Jeanne Abdullah as well as his entire family for their services and sacrifices to the nation."

Conversion laws face major test

KUALA LUMPUR: The Court of Appeal's decision to refer the case involving the custody and conversion of the sons of S. Shamala and Muhamad Ridzwan (Dr Jeyaganesh C. Mogarajah) to the Federal Court last Tuesday has given rise to some interesting issues.

Chiefly, it is set to be one of the biggest tests for the government and judiciary following the cabinet's decision that children of divorced parents should be raised in the religion at the time of their marriage should one of them later convert to another religion.

The landmark decision two weeks ago, thus, will be tested by the highest court of the land if the current laws and enactments are not amended to provide clear interpretation on matters related to such conversion cases, according to those in the legal circles.

The cabinet's decision is seen by many as a move to alleviate the frustration of certain parents whose children had been converted to another religion without their knowledge, consent or against their will.

It is in line with the spirit of 1Malaysia, a concept espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has called on Malaysians to refrain from viewing matters from narrow ethnic perspectives.
Malaysia has a dual legal system, with civil and syariah courts operating side by side.

The Court of Appeal has decided to refer five constitutional questions to the apex court before hearing the appeals as it wants the Federal Court to adjudicate on conflicting Islamic and civil laws governing conversion and the freedom of the practice of religion.

For example, there will be the question of whether the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993, which gives the right to a converted parent to convert his or her children from a civil marriage without the knowledge and consent of the other parent, is inconsistent with the Guardianship of Infants Act 1961. This is because the amended Guardianship of Infants Act gives equal rights to a mother and father on the upbringing and custody of their children.

Then there will also be the issue of whether the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 (Act 505) is in conflict with the Federal Constitution and a federal law relating to the issue of converting a minor by a parent.

The Federal Court also has to decide whether there is jurisdiction for the civil High Court or syariah court to make conflicting orders, and if there has been conversion of children from a civil marriage into Islam by one parent without the consent of the other parent, where then would the non-Muslim parent seek remedy.

In the Shamala-Ridzwan case, both relied on both sets of laws -- Ridzwan on syariah and Shamala on the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

Under the two law systems, both were granted custody of the two sons from their 11- year marriage. Seven years later, they still do not have closure on the case.

The same also happened in the case of Indira Gandhi and K. Patmanathan (Muhammad Ridzuan Abdullah), where the syariah court had earlier granted interim custody of their three children to Ridzuan and two weeks later, the Ipoh High Court granted interim custody to Indira.

In layman's terms, it is a matter of concern if the Federal Court has to make an interpretation of whether the civil court has jurisdiction over the syariah court if the marriage was first registered under civil law.

But some quarters are concerned that without any amendments to the existing and related laws, the cabinet's decision may not be helpful.

As pointed out by Malaysian Bar president Ragunath Kesavan, the cabinet directive is a policy statement that requires amendments to existing laws for its full realisation.

"The relevant legislation must be immediately amended in order to fully implement this directive without further delay," he said.

Senator Datuk Gooi Hoe Hin said, in the spirit of 1Malaysia, the government of the day should fast track amendments to various laws to avoid further apprehension that the fundamental rights of non-Muslims enshrined in the Federal Constitution are not violated.

Such amendments will ensure that the basic principles of a socially-just system are further enhanced, thereby enabling the people to have greater confidence in the government, he added.

Some, however, argue that asking for the related changes as soon as possible is easy but the reality is that it will take time to put them into effect.

This is especially so in matters related to amendments in syariah which need the consent of the Malay rulers and Islamic bodies.

Several Muslim organisations have been reported to be against the cabinet directive, posing the question whether such amendments could be carried out.

Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria said the government needs to get the views of the Malaysian Mufti Council, stressing that "in Islam, when the father or mother is a Muslim, the child automatically becomes a Muslim unless the child is above the age of 15 and can choose his or her own religion".

Many syariah lawyers feel that the cabinet decision denies the rights of people who convert to Islam.

Senior lawyer Roger Tan said: "The Federal Court can decide and work both ways. It can depart from normal decisions. Nobody knows for sure."

Whatever the outcome, the government will need the support of the majority in Parliament to make the necessary changes for the benefit of all. -- Bernama

Can Asians truly accept democracy?

By John Teo

THE regional fallout from Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan’s remarks about how Chinese people need to be politically controlled amuses me no end.

The fallout was mostly negative not only among Chinese especially in Hong Kong and Taiwan but also among sections of people in the mainland (even if most Chinese, as one astute observer commented, would tend to agree with Chan if you scratched their façade).

Predictably, those who protested loudest were Taiwanese politicians, whose often egregiously unparliamentary antics are fodder for television news segments worldwide.

They do protest too much, especially as we now witness the tragicomedy of the trial of their former president; the one who brought down a half-century of rule by the powerful and corrupt Kuomintang only to be incriminated by his own family in some petty and illicit personal acquisitiveness. Chen Shui-bian’s claim of a political vendetta against him provides the comic relief.

It cannot be good for the ego for an entire race to be put down as unfit for democracy. The natural reflex would be to dismiss such a preposterous proposition, and bury such an unflattering thought in the deepest recesses of one’s being.

Singaporeans have long accepted it as fact and do so with great equanimity. And they can show us some pretty commendable results to boot.
Malaysians, to our misfortune, have not. Why not? Well, for starters, we like nothing better than to laugh at Singapore for even having an anti-litter law.

We do so not because we think we can keep our own country clean voluntarily, without pain of a stiff fine. We do so instead because we enjoy the “freedom” to litter — and enjoy it with gusto — while Singaporeans do not.

We also show ourselves unfit for democracy by abdicating any personal responsibility for whatever ails the nation and dumping it all at the feet of government.

We elected a government so evenly divided in Perak and get all worked up, frustrated and surprised that the only business that now gets conducted in the state seems to be politics, politics and more politics.

We forget that whichever government gets formed is our government, and start to throw tantrums when the government we thought we elected, and which about half the electorate seemed to prefer, is replaced through perfectly defensible constitutional means.

We wish that the political paralysis that is the predictable consequence will just go away, even as we seem unprepared to turn the page and move on. Instead, we hanker for “justice” and “fairness” as if they are the only important things that matter.

We fail to realise that democracy only thrives when there is acceptance that there can be only one winner at any one time, and that not making it is not the end of the world. We forget that whichever side wins, we, the voters, win all the same, all the time.

We overlook that the reason why the United States can be such a great functioning democracy is that a presidential candidate who won the popular vote but was denied the presidency by the courts in the closest election ever could still joke that he was once “the next president of the United States”.

We never pause to ponder for a moment how damaging it would have been for America had the plurality of Americans who voted for Al Gore in 2000 not accepted his concession of defeat and instead, with justification, goaded him to continually challenge the legitimacy of former president George W. Bush.

We never seem to appreciate that it is on the basis of the exercise of our vote that a chastened Perak Barisan Nasional dares now to take on the challenge to prove itself in hope that it will be able to regain the trust of the people come the next general election.

We encourage and partake of endless political debate and then turn around to angrily ask why the government is not focusing on the gravest economic threat to hit our shores in almost a century. We never quite comprehend that in a democracy, we invariably get what we deserve.

bimpeabc@tm.net.my

Samuel Huntington misunderstood?

Amina Chaudary | Apr 30, 09 3:58pm

I am the only Muslim to whom Huntington granted a formal interview during his lifetime. My interactions with him led me to believe that what many people thought of him and his ideas – especially many people in the "Muslim world" – probably misrepresented what he actually believed. MCPX The late Samuel Huntington will probably be best known for his controversial thesis, The Clash of Civilizations, in which he set forth the idea that civilisations – as opposed to just nations – would be an important factor in shaping the future of global politics. While his thesis addressed several different civilisations, it was perhaps most famous for its assertion that "Islamic civilisation" constituted a coherent and opposing force to the Western world. I attended one of Huntington's final classes at Harvard in 2005, during which a heated class discussion took place about United States’ involvement in Iraq. Huntington argued against the Bush administration's efforts at nation-building in the Middle East – an ironic position, since many of the war's supporters cited his thesis as a rationale for "restructuring" the Muslim world. As I watched students question how his thesis was used to justify policies he now disagreed with, I wondered whether Huntington remained committed to the basic arguments of his theory so many years after they were first published. After much persistence for an interview, he agreed to meet with me at his home. I recall his warm, friendly personality but also slightly sceptical demeanour, as if he was probing to understand whether the interview would in anyway misrepresent what he had to say. I would later understand why he might have been concerned: he mentioned how often he felt his name was used to justify purposes of which he would never approve. Huntington was controversial for a reason. In Clash of Civilizations, he wrote, "Current global politics should be understood as the result of deep-seated conflicts between great cultures and religions of the world..." Huntington erected a new Iron Curtain after the fall of the Soviet Union – "several hundred miles east... separating people of Western Christianity and Muslim people." For many, this perspective created a context for that conflict. Economic, social and political issues all fell to the margin; it was the Islamic faith that drove Muslims to rise up in anger and fight. Totally wrong implication drawn Yet, during the interview Huntington struck a far more conciliatory tone. When asked to clarify the quote, Huntington answered: "The implication, which you say some people draw, is totally wrong. I don't say that the West is united. I don't suggest that. Obviously there are divisions within the West and divisions within Islam – there are different sects, different communities, different countries. So neither one is homogenous at all. But they do have things in common. People everywhere talk about Islam and the West. Presumably that has some relationship to reality, that these are entities that have some meaning, and they do. Of course the core of that reality is differences in religion." He further argued, "Western countries collaborate with Muslim countries and vice versa. I think it's a mistake, let me just repeat, to think in terms of two homogeneous sides starkly confronting each other." It is impossible to tell how much of an impact Huntington's thesis had on such events as the decision to go to war in Iraq or the execution of the so-called "war on terror" after 9/11. However, it was very clear that Huntington had little patience for the misappropriation of his ideas in policy circles. He never shied from criticising the Bush administration during his last series of lectures at Harvard. I believe that Huntington felt as misunderstood and maligned by Muslims and the rest of the world as many Muslims felt by his thesis. It was almost as if he wanted an opportunity to clarify his ideas in his own voice to the community that had associated him for so many years with the dark side of American foreign policy. He wanted a chance to define himself rather than be defined by others, something Muslims, and other communities, all around the world can understand. While not straying from his roots as a realist, Huntington introduced nuances and qualifications to his thesis during our discussion. He qualified the need for conflict, and clarified the possibility of cooperation. Perhaps he was even sympathetic to the way his thesis was used to demonise Islam in the post-Soviet era. During the interview, Huntington explained how he recognised the misappropriation of his theory into various policy circles to further their own agendas for a division between the "West" and the "Muslim world". He argued that "Western countries collaborate with Muslim countries and vice versa." An example he provided was the partnership between the United States and Pakistan in issues related to global security. I thought the highlight of the interview was the final question I asked Huntington: "What is one thing about you that most people would be surprised to know?" His response: "Well, I guess, maybe you people...no, that would be unfair about you... but a lot people tend to think I'm a dogmatic ideologue – but I'm not." In an interesting twist of fate, it turned out that Huntington and the Muslim world shared something in common: the frustrating feeling that what many people believe about them is simplistic at best, and at worst, untrue. AMINA CHAUDARY is a PhD candidate studying Muslim-Western relations at Boston University and a regular contributor to Islamica Magazine. This abridged article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) with permission from the author. The full text can be found at Washington Post/Newsweek's Post Global.