Malaysia Satu juara lagu 1Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA: Lagu "Malaysia Satu" ciptaan Audi Mok, lirik Nur Fatimah, nyanyian Faizal Tahir diumum juara Pertandingan Lagu 1Malaysia.

Anwar Ibrahim,Menteri Parlimen Persekutuan Malaysia?

Penulis kelakar melihat cara nama Anwar Ibrahim Al Saiful Bukhari ditulis dalam aturcara program Forum Dunia Islam-US 2009 di Doha, Qatar.

Nama Al Saiful Bukhari ditulis sebagai Minister of Parliament,Federation of Malaysia dalam laman aturcara Forum tersebut.Setahu penulis,Al Saiful Bukhari ini hanyalah Member of Parliament.

Ooh..inilah ropanya bentuk lobang hidong Menteri Parlimen Persekutuan Malaysia yang tidak hadir acara Perasmian Parlimen negaranya sendiri?Walaupun ropamu tidak kukenal tatapi lobang hidongmu tatap menjadi pojaan hatikuu..sukma wa al bukhari..

Paling-paling kuat pun tulislah,Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen Persekutuan Malaysia.Tetapi,yang ditulisnya Menteri Parlimen Persekutuan Malaysia.Bila masa Al Saiful Bukhari dilantik menjadi Menteri Parlimen kita pun tak tahu.

Setahu rakyat,Anwar Ibrahim Al Sukmawi cuma Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh.Adakah mungkin kerana semua dalam sesi itu yang paling koman pun,Timbalan Perdana Menteri Iraq,Barham Salih?

Tetapi,kalau ikut jejak langkah Madeleine AlBright pun ok juga.Taruh sahaja bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia.Tidaklah segan apabila berjumpa Yahudi-yahudi Agung dunia dalam Forum itu.Ada yang kata kerana hendak berjumpa Yahudi Agung,Al Saiful Bukhari sampai tidak peduli upacara perasmian Dewan Rrrrakyat.

Oleh kerana ia sidang besar bersama Yahudi Agung, tidak pun,Al Saiful Bukhari boleh beritahu aparatnya di Qatar,supaya letakkan sahaja dia sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia 16 September.Barulah terangkat sikit, tapi 16 September bila dan yang mana tak tahulah.

maharajazhou

Isu moral, yang halal hanya pembangkang? — Utusan Malaysia

FEB 19 — Sepanjang Februari ini, kontroversi tiga isu moral melibatkan wakil-wakil rakyat pakatan pembangkang hangat diperkatakan.

Lompat parti, menderhaka kepada raja dan skandal seks di kalangan wakil rakyat pembangkang menyebabkan tumpuan terarah kepada pakatan itu sepanjang bulan ini.

Bagi sesetengah pihak, kegawatan dalam pakatan itu adalah "hiburan politik" semata-mata dan dibaca sebagai lumrah. Tetapi pihak yang lain menganggap ia memualkan.

Kenapa isu-isu tersebut menjadi kontroversi bukan lagi sesuatu yang menarik dibincangkan. Sebaliknya, apa yang dipersoalkan ialah cara pimpinan pakatan itu mendepani isu-isu moral. Lagak dan sikap mereka bagai orang “gila talak” yang terlalu sukar menerima hakikat.

Strategi mereka terang-terang defensif keterlaluan, tidak rasional dan kadang-kadang di luar batasan semata-mata mahu mengalih tumpuan atau mencuri simpati rakyat.

Yang peliknya, Barisan Nasional terus-terusan dijadikan sasaran. Pemimpin BN dituduh merancang konspirasi jahat menjatuhkan wakil-wakil rakyat pembangkang menerusi pendedahan skandal demi skandal.

Yang terbaru, kes gambar bogel exco kerajaan negeri Selangor, Elizabeth Wong dari Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Sepantas kilat BN dituduh dalang menjatuhkannya.

Begitu juga ketika peletakan jawatan wakil rakyat Bukit Selambau dari PKR, V. Arumugam, yang dikaitkan dengan skandal seks. BN turut dituduh terlibat menjatuhkannya.

Dalam kes Wong, penasihat PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim membuat kesimpulan, BN yang merangka pelan konspirasi jahat terhadap Wong dan pakatan pembangkang.

"Ada satu corak serangan melanda wakil rakyat pembangkang di Perak, Kedah dan Selangor. Cara ini kerja keji dan jahat," kata Anwar.

Pemimpin pembangkang terus menutup salah mereka. Kalau wakil rakyat BN berdepan kes-kes moral, mereka tidak kata itu konspirasi sebaliknya mendesak pemimpin itu meletak jawatan.

Dalam kes video adegan seks bekas Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek misalnya, pemimpin DAP, Lim Kit Siang dan Ketua Penerangan Pas, Mahfuz Omar senada menganggap ia memalukan dan meminta polis melakukan siasatan secara menyeluruh.

Tetapi dalam kes Wong, ia tidak dilihat daripada unsur moral wakil rakyat itu tetapi niat jahat kerajaan.

Istilah konspirasi menjadi popular apabila Anwar menggunakan strategi mengalih tumpuan umum — iaitu menuduh wujud konspirasi jahat BN — bermula pada 1997 ketika beliau berdepan tuduhan liwat.

Sehingga ini, sebarang kes moral melibatkan pemimpin atau wakil rakyat pembangkang disebut sebagai konspirasi BN.

Harus diingat, sebelum beliau didakwa atas tuduhan liwat, BN sudah diserang habis-habisan oleh pembangkang. Ketika itu mereka minta kerajaan siasat seorang pemimpin kanannya yang terlibat kes seks luar tabii.

Tetapi apabila Anwar dipecat daripada kerajaan, pembangkang ikut rentak Anwar mengatakan tuduhan dihadapinya suatu konspirasi BN.

Tuduhan bahawa BN merancang konspirasi menjatuhkan Anwar sekali lagi dicanang apabila beliau berdepan kes liwat terbaru, tahun lalu.

Baru-baru ini, apabila BN membentuk kerajaan negeri di Perak, pembangkang menuduh BN tidak bermoral kerana menarik wakil-wakil rakyat pakatan itu untuk lompat parti.

Sedangkan, sejak pilihan raya umum lalu, Anwar yang memulakan “kempen lompat parti” menjaja ke mana-mana kononnya beliau akan berjaya menarik wakil-wakil rakyat BN untuk pembentukan Kerajaan Pusat baru pada 16 September 2008.

Apabila Sultan Azlan Shah membenarkan pembentukan kerajaan BN dan melantik Menteri Besar Perak baru, mereka saman Sultan dan sanggup jadi penderhaka.

Inilah potret lama politik pakatan pembangkang di bawah dominasi Anwar, mereka tidak berubah.

Semua salah laku dan kejengkelan jika berlaku kepada pemimpin BN akan dianggap sebagai "haram serta kotor" tetapi ia menjadi "halal" jika membabitkan pembangkang. — Utusan Malaysia

Kemanakah Hala Tuju NGO Melayu Malaysia?

Dr Novandri Hasan basri

Penulis ingin merujuk kepada petikan akhbar yang disiarkan oleh MalaysiaKini. Diantaranya:-

Gabungan NGO Melayu Malaysia hari ini menggesa Raja-raja Melayu supaya membatalkan kerakyatan rakyat Malaysia yang mempertikaikan hak istimewa orang Melayu dan menuntut supaya dipertahankan kedudukan istimewa mereka seperti yang terkandung dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

Mereka membuat gesaan tersebut di perhimpunan sempena sambutan Maal Hijrah yang diadakan di Georgetown.

Kira-kira 1,500 orang - termasuk 400 kanak-kanak - dari sekumpulan 20 pertubuhan Melayu, menyertai perhimpunan selama dua jam itu yang bermula jam 9 pagi (29 Disember) di Polo Ground, di luar Sri Mutiara - kediaman rasmi Gabenor Pulau Pinang......

Bagi penulis, gesaan seperti di atas merupakan satu gesaan yang paling 'keras' yang pernah dikeluarkan oleh sebarang persatuan Melayu sejak isu yang menyentuh hak-hak Melayu berkemundang di arena politik Malaysia.

Ianya straight to the point dan pedas. Sesiapa pun yang menerima info. ini pasti mengundang pelbagai spekulasi, negatif atau positif, baik atau buruk, benar atau tidak.

Paling tidak, ianya menimbulkan satu persoalan yang perlu dijawab dengan serius iaitu apakah usaha NGO Melayu Malaysia tersebut benar-benar akan mendatangkan sebarang faedah yang mampu mengoncang sesiapa yang pernah dan akan memperkotak-katikkan hak Melayu di negara ini?

Persoalan ini perlu dijawap kerana secara teorinya, usaha NGO Melayu Malaysia itu perlu dipuji kerana dapat mengumpulkan persatuan-persatuan Melayu untuk menyuarakan pandangan mereka mengenai satu isu yang sebenarnya telah diterangkan dengan jelasnya oleh pihak tertinggi di dalam negara ini iaitu sultan-sultan dan dipertuan negeri. (rujuk artikel ini)

Secara peribadi, penulis ingin melihat follow-up kepada usaha tersebut. Tentunya penulis mengharapkan sesuatu yang berkesan serta mampu mengubah persepsi rakyat Malaysia terhadap isu hak-hak Melayu.

Dalam masa yang sama, penulis juga mengharapkan agar perubahan yang mahu digesa itu lahir dari hati yang ikhlas serta bertimbang rasa oleh pihak-pihak yang selama ini menyalahguna isu hak-hak Melayu untuk berlagak hero kepada bangsa mereka.

Realitinya, hak-hak Melayu perlu dipertahankan oleh semua bangsa, bukannya bangsa Melayu sahaja.

MINDA INTELEK MELAYU

Malaysia Today interviews the Home Minister

Today, Malaysia Today interviews the Home Minister to get his take on a range of issues that have been the bone of contention with most Malaysians. This article is of course just a satire and any similarities with persons still alive, already dead, or about to die is purely coincidental.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Malaysia Today: YB, thank you for agreeing to an interview with Malaysia Today’s No Holds Barred column.

Yang Berhormat: Thank you for inviting me. It is very seldom that the alternative media would interview a member of the Cabinet so that we can set the record straight and correct the lies and wrong perception about the government, which are spread by the alternative media. Normally, the alternative media just reports rumours without obtaining the government’s side of the story. I congratulate the alternative media for becoming more mature in giving the government space to inform the public of the truth.

But before we start, I would like to offer my condolence to the Indian government on the recent tragedy in Mumbai. I thank God that Malaysia does not suffer such acts of terrorism, primarily because we have the Internal Security Act, which allows us to detain terrorist before they can cause any harm to society. This shows that the Internal Security Act has been very successful in maintaining law and order and in safeguarding the security of this country.

MT: Since you have brought up the matter of the ISA, YB, can we start by talking about that?

YB: Sure.

MT: The people criticise the ISA and…….

YB: Which people? The alternative media always talks about ‘the people’. But which people are you talking about?

MT: Well, I suppose the civil society movements and human rights movements.

YB: These people are in the minority. The majority of the people voted for the government. So this means the majority support the ISA. If not they would not have voted for the government. It is the majority that counts, not the minority. We can’t make laws or abolish laws just for the sake of the minority. We must do what the majority wants. The ISA is to prevent terrorism. If, in 2001, the US also had the ISA, their Twin Towers would still be standing. Malaysia’s Twin Towers is still standing because of the ISA.

MT: But the ISA is not used against terrorists. The government has always said that Malaysia does not have any terrorists. The ISA is used to deny the people freedom of speech.

YB: There is still freedom of speech in Malaysia. Who says that there is no freedom of speech?

MT: It is not freedom of speech which does not exist in Malaysia. It is freedom after speech.

YB: That is different. Then you can’t say that there is no freedom of speech in Malaysia. There is freedom of speech. Of course, if you say the wrong things, then you run the risk of being detained under the ISA. Berani cakap, berani tanggunglah!

MT: Okay, then what would you regard as ‘saying the wrong things’?

YB: Well, like inciting the people to hate the government or saying something that may start racial problems.

MT: But we already have so many other laws like the Sedition Act, Criminal Defamation, PPPA, and so on, to charge those who may have broken the law. Why the need to detain them under the ISA? Just charge them in court.

YB: That would not be so easy. We will need evidence to charge them in court. Without evidence how to charge them?

MT: But how do you know all those people who the government has detained under the ISA have committed a crime? Is it not possible they are all innocent?

YB: No, we have evidence. That is why we detained them.

MT: But if you have evidence then why not use this evidence to charge them?

YB: I already said there is not enough evidence to charge them.

MT: But there is enough evidence to detain them?

YB: Yes. The evidence is enough to detain them, only not enough to charge them.

MT: But when you sign the Detention Order you must first see all the evidence. Is this not so?

YB: That is true. Only when I am satisfied there is enough evidence will I sign the Detention Order.

MT: But you still feel that the evidence, though sufficient to detain them, is not sufficient enough to charge them.

YB: That is correct. But the detainee still has a chance to appear before the Advisory Board within three months to argue his case. If the Advisory Board is of the opinion that the detainee is innocent then he will be released. So we are quite fair.

MT: Have many people been released through the recommendations of the Advisory Board so far?

YB: Well, not many…..maybe none so far. But this only means we were not wrong in detaining them. If not, surely the Advisory Board would have recommended their release.

MT: But there have been reports that, from time to time, the Advisory Board has recommended the release of some detainees. However, the Home Minister has always overruled their recommendations.

YB: Yes, that is true. This is because the Advisory Board was mistaken and we did not agree with their recommendations. So we overruled them.

MT: This would mean the Advisory Board is a lame duck and has no power. It is the Home Minister who has the final say. Would this not be so?

YB: That is not true. The Advisory Board does have power.

MT: Power to do what?

YB: Power to recommend the release of the detainee.

MT: But the Minister does not follow their recommendation and overrules them. The Minister has the final say.

YB: But this does not mean the Advisory Board does not have power.

MT: If you say so YB. Okay, can we now talk about the Umno party elections and the numerous complaints about corruption in the party?

YB: What corruption are you talking about? There is no corruption in Umno.

MT: But the mainstream media has been reporting the many complaints of money politics.

YB: That is money politics, not corruption.

MT: Is there a difference?

YB: Of course there is. Corruption is when you pay to get something. Money politics is not corruption.

MT: What would you call money politics then?

YB: Money politics is……..well, money politics.

MT: And that is not corruption?

YB: Of course not.

MT: Okay, whatever. Now, on the matter of race relations, don’t you think that Malaysia is very dangerously being pushed to the brink of racial problems?

YB: That is why we have so many times said that the opposition is stirring the sentiments of the many races.

MT: But it is not the opposition that is doing this.

YB: Then who?

MT: Umno.

YB: Umno is a responsible party. We do not play the race card. It is the opposition that is doing this.

MT: In what way is the opposition doing this?

YB: They are asking for the government to abolish Ketuanan Melayu and the NEP. This makes the Malays angry and may cause the Malays to mengamuk. The opposition should stop all this nonsense before the peace and harmony of this country is compromised.

MT: But is it not time we treat all Malaysians equal and no longer treat one race as having more privileges than others?

YB: Aiyah, how can! That is the kind of talk that makes the Malays angry. It is dangerous to suggest such things. We must maintain the harmony between the many races and not say things like that.

MT: But what gives one race the right to have more privileges than others?

YB: That was the agreement when we gained Merdeka in 1957. How can we go back on what was agreed?

MT: What agreement?

YB: The Social Contract that was agreed by the Malays, Chinese and Indians.

MT: Many say that the Social Contract does not exist. Have you ever seen it? Can Malaysians see a copy?

YB: It was not a written contract. It was a verbal contract.

MT: When was it made and under want circumstances was it made?

YB: It was agreed upon when Umno, MCA and MIC jointly negotiated for Merdeka from the British.

MT: And what were the terms of the contract?

YB: That Malay would be the National Language and Islam the official religion plus the Malays would be accorded special rights and privileges such as certain quotas in the civil service and in educational institutions.

MT: But has this not since been amended many times in breach of the original Social Contract?

YB: No! In what way has it changed? Everything still remains the same.

MT: The government imposes new rules such as companies must be 100% Bumiputera before they can get import permits or APs and 30% of houses built must be sold to Bumiputeras according to the land area and so on. This was not part of the so-called Social Contract agreed by Umno, MCA and MIC before Merdeka. They are new rules made up as we went along.

YB: True. But the non-Malays accepted them.

MT: How do you know they accepted them?

YB: Because they continued to vote for the government. If they did not agree then they would not have voted for the government.

MT: But they did not vote for the government. 49% of the Malays and more than 80% of the Chinese and Indians did not vote for the government in the last general election. This means they do not agree with the government policies.

YB: But we still won more than 60% of the Parliament seats.

MT: That is only because of Gerrymandering. Malay majority seats like Putrajaya, where the voters are 98% Malay, have only 5,000 voters while seats that are 80% or more non-Malay have 120,000 voters or more. That is why the government still won and not because the majority voted for it.

YB: That is beside the point. We still can’t deny the fact that we won 140 seats and the opposition won only 82 seats.

MT: Yes, but if the votes were evenly divided between constituencies with a variation of plus-minus 20% the government would have fallen by now. It is only through Gerrymandering that the government managed to hold on to power.

YB: That is your opinion. It does not mean it is true.

MT: Thank you, YB, for the interview. I am sure you have helped enlighten Malaysians with your view of things.

YB: Thank you. I hope I have managed to rebut the opposition lies and propaganda and I look forward to similar sessions in future where the government can be given an opportunity to set the record straight.

Laporan Utusan Malaysia menyeleweng, PAS Selangor kesal

Mohd Khalil Abdullah, Harakah

PAS Selangor kesal dengan laporan muka depan akhbar Utusan Malaysia di bawah tajuk "PAS akui sukar tadbir Selangor bersama PKR,DAP" (bertarikh Sabtu, 6 Disember 2008) yang sesungguhnya tersasar dan menyeleweng sama sekali dari kenyataan sebenar Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor, Dato' Dr Hasan Mohd Ali, di dalam sidang media PAS Selangor yang diadakan pada hari Jumaat 5 Disember, 2008 lalu.

Menurut Ketua Penerangan PAS Selangor, Roslan Shahir Dato' Mohd Shahir, di dalam sidang media berkenaan Dr Hasan tidak pernah menyebut bahawa PAS menghadapi kesukaran untuk memperjuangkan serta mempertahankan hak orang Islam dan Melayu di Selangor sebagaimana yang dilaporkan oleh Utusan Malaysia.

"Malah beliau menegaskan dalam sidang media berkenaan bahawa PAS tidak terpinggir dan sebarang anggapan sebegitu tegas beliau sebenarnya dimanipulasi oleh Barisan Nasional untuk menggugat kerjasama baik antara PAS, DAP dan KeADILan di Selangor,"jelasnya dalam satu kenyataan kepada Harakahdaily hari ini.

Tambahnya,Dr Hasan juga tidak pernah menyebut bahawa kadang-kala PAS terpaksa melupakan matlamat perjuangan utama parti iaitu untuk menegakkan syiar Islam semata-mata kerana mahu mengambil hati KeADILan dan DAP sebagaimana dilaporkan oleh Utusan Malaysia.

"Malah yang sebenarnya beliau telah menggariskan dengan jelas bahawa PAS tidak pernah dan tidak akan bertolak-ansur dalam hal-hal berhubung Islam dan kepentingannya di Selangor,"katanya.

Katanya,PAS Selangor merasakan bahawa pihak Utusan Malaysia sangat tidak bertanggungjawab sehingga terlanjur mengeluarkan laporan yang sedemikian rupa yang mencerminkan rendahnya nilai profesionalisma di dalam akhbar berkenaan.

"PAS Selangor beranggapan laporan tersebut berunsur jahat kerana tidak ada mana-mana pihak dari media arus perdana yang turut hadir dalam sidang media berkenaan membuat laporan seperti itu di akhbar-akhbar mereka.

"PAS Selangor ingin menasihatkan pihak Utusan Malaysia agar lebih berhati-hati dimasa-masa yang akan datang dan tidak lagi mengorbankan etika dan profesionalisma kewartawanan ketika membuat laporan sebagaimana yang berlaku ini,"jelasnya lagi.

Tambahnya lagi, dalam pada itu PAS Selangor akan terus mengadakan sidang media setiap dua minggu sekali bagi memberi peluang kepada rakyat Selangor dan seluruh masyarakat Malaysia mendapat maklumat terus darihal peranan dan perkembangan PAS Selangor di dalam kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat negeri ini.

Malaysia opposition seeks to prove it can govern

Despite the prospect of Malaysia's economic growth slowing to just 1.5 percent in 2009, according to leading local investment bank RHB, from an expected 5.4 percent this year, Penang has seen a rise in foreign investment.

By Julie Goh, Reuters

PENANG - Malaysia's manufacturing state of Penang believes it can introduce controversial economic reforms and win investment despite a global economic slowdown and the challenge of being an opposition-run state.

The opposition alliance's triumph in Penang, the third largest state in terms of economic output in Malaysia, was one of the biggest shocks in March's historic elections that brought the opposition to power in five of the country's 13 states.

How well it can now govern those states could determine whether the alliance can sustain an unprecedented challenge to the Barisan Nasional government, which has ruled this southeast Asian country of 27 million people for 51 years.

"Yes, the economic slowdown has affected Penang. I'm not going to run away from admitting it," Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told Reuters in an interview last week.

"That's why, we are adopting an expansionary budget next year, one that is pro-growth, pro-jobs and pro-poor," he said.

Despite the prospect of Malaysia's economic growth slowing to just 1.5 percent in 2009, according to leading local investment bank RHB, from an expected 5.4 percent this year, Penang has seen a rise in foreign investment.

The state has received $1.69 billion worth of investment in the first seven months of 2008 against $1.30 billion for the whole of last year, Lim said.

U.S. firm National Instruments (NATI.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said this month it would spend $80 million to set up a plant, while Honeywell (HON.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it would shift some operations to the island.

FROM INMATE TO CHIEF

The island, lying strategically at the head of the Malacca Strait and a free port until 1969, built up one the largest electronics manufacturing bases in Asia from the 1970s offering good infrastructure and a bilingual workforce.

"Investors feel that because there is a new government, and they feel that because this new leadership is in tune to their concerns, this is one of the added advantages that they want to invest in Penang," the 48-year-old Lim said.

Even so, he is looking to the federal government to provide 500 million ringgit ($138.1 million) to retrain workers who lose their jobs in the current downturn.

Heading such a powerful state is a big change for Lim.

He was detained under a harsh security law from 1987-1989 along with his father, Lim Kit Siang, who leads the Democratic Action Party, part of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's opposition alliance.

The younger Lim is one of the most vocal and powerful critics of the government and has been accused of stoking racial tensions over a range of issues, from dual language road signs to demands that a system of affirmative action for ethnic Malays be ended.

Any mention of race in this country where nearly 60 percent of the population is ethnic Malay and where there are large ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities is met with a forceful response by the Malay-dominated government.

Lim, an ethnic Chinese, says the 37-year old programme designed to lift Malays out of poverty has enriched only those with political connections and has also entrenched corruption.

Malaysia's ranking in Transparency International's corruption perception index has fallen to 43rd from 37th since 2003.

The government insists it is doing all it can to stamp out what it coyly labels "money politics" but Lim and the opposition say no real action has been taken.

Since winning power, Lim has initiated a system of governance he calls CAT -- competency, accountability and transparency -- a move he said has endeared him to foreign investors and now he plans to replace closed tenders with open tenders.

"It has been challenging in the sense that there are so many things to dismantle, all the past excesses," he said.

So far, Penang voters appear to be willing to give Lim the benefit of the doubt.

"We voted the opposition into power. We should give them some time to implement changes," said Ong Swee Aik, who sells shoes in the 65-storey Komtar building, which also houses the state government office. :If they do a good job, we will vote for them again in the next election."

Malaysia opposition seeks to prove it can govern

Despite the prospect of Malaysia's economic growth slowing to just 1.5 percent in 2009, according to leading local investment bank RHB, from an expected 5.4 percent this year, Penang has seen a rise in foreign investment.

By Julie Goh, Reuters

PENANG - Malaysia's manufacturing state of Penang believes it can introduce controversial economic reforms and win investment despite a global economic slowdown and the challenge of being an opposition-run state.

The opposition alliance's triumph in Penang, the third largest state in terms of economic output in Malaysia, was one of the biggest shocks in March's historic elections that brought the opposition to power in five of the country's 13 states.

How well it can now govern those states could determine whether the alliance can sustain an unprecedented challenge to the Barisan Nasional government, which has ruled this southeast Asian country of 27 million people for 51 years.

"Yes, the economic slowdown has affected Penang. I'm not going to run away from admitting it," Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told Reuters in an interview last week.

"That's why, we are adopting an expansionary budget next year, one that is pro-growth, pro-jobs and pro-poor," he said.

Despite the prospect of Malaysia's economic growth slowing to just 1.5 percent in 2009, according to leading local investment bank RHB, from an expected 5.4 percent this year, Penang has seen a rise in foreign investment.

The state has received $1.69 billion worth of investment in the first seven months of 2008 against $1.30 billion for the whole of last year, Lim said.

U.S. firm National Instruments (NATI.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said this month it would spend $80 million to set up a plant, while Honeywell (HON.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it would shift some operations to the island.

FROM INMATE TO CHIEF

The island, lying strategically at the head of the Malacca Strait and a free port until 1969, built up one the largest electronics manufacturing bases in Asia from the 1970s offering good infrastructure and a bilingual workforce.

"Investors feel that because there is a new government, and they feel that because this new leadership is in tune to their concerns, this is one of the added advantages that they want to invest in Penang," the 48-year-old Lim said.

Even so, he is looking to the federal government to provide 500 million ringgit ($138.1 million) to retrain workers who lose their jobs in the current downturn.

Heading such a powerful state is a big change for Lim.

He was detained under a harsh security law from 1987-1989 along with his father, Lim Kit Siang, who leads the Democratic Action Party, part of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's opposition alliance.

The younger Lim is one of the most vocal and powerful critics of the government and has been accused of stoking racial tensions over a range of issues, from dual language road signs to demands that a system of affirmative action for ethnic Malays be ended.

Any mention of race in this country where nearly 60 percent of the population is ethnic Malay and where there are large ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities is met with a forceful response by the Malay-dominated government.

Lim, an ethnic Chinese, says the 37-year old programme designed to lift Malays out of poverty has enriched only those with political connections and has also entrenched corruption.

Malaysia's ranking in Transparency International's corruption perception index has fallen to 43rd from 37th since 2003.

The government insists it is doing all it can to stamp out what it coyly labels "money politics" but Lim and the opposition say no real action has been taken.

Since winning power, Lim has initiated a system of governance he calls CAT -- competency, accountability and transparency -- a move he said has endeared him to foreign investors and now he plans to replace closed tenders with open tenders.

"It has been challenging in the sense that there are so many things to dismantle, all the past excesses," he said.

So far, Penang voters appear to be willing to give Lim the benefit of the doubt.

"We voted the opposition into power. We should give them some time to implement changes," said Ong Swee Aik, who sells shoes in the 65-storey Komtar building, which also houses the state government office. :If they do a good job, we will vote for them again in the next election."

Cuti-Cuti Malaysia

by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

1. There are only 365 days in a year. Take away 104 days of Saturdays and Sundays weekends and we have left 261 working days. But Malaysia is multi-religious and we must not work during Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali. But we must also not work on Wesak Day, Taipusam, Christmas, New Year, Federal Territory Day, various Muslim holy days and I do not know what else.

2. But we must not work on by-election polling day also. Then there is the Agong's Birthday and the birthdays of all the Sultans and Governors.

3. We seem to find more reason for not working. If the holiday falls on a weekend, then have a long vacation beginning the day before Saturday and the day after Sunday - four days in all.

4. I love all these. Kuala Lumpur is cleaner when people leave the city for balik kampong on Raya and Chinese New Year. It is exhilarating to drive on streets which are almost deserted.

5. But I ask myself are people like me, a pensioner being paid and not working? Or is the country on automatic - administrating itself? Or is it that there really is not much work to do that we can close up for one-third of the year?

6. We are still a developing country. Developing requires work. Rich developed countries can afford not to work. August holidays see the cities like Paris and London bereft of traffic.

7. I believe, but I may be wrong, that when you are trying to catch up with someone running ahead of you, you must run faster than him. We have this great ambition to become a developed country. If we move slower than our objective can we catch up? I think we cannot.

8. A developed country today and a developed country in 2020 is not the same. In 2020 it will be far more advanced and richer than in 2008. The developed status is not static. It is moving.

9. Even if it seem to be growing slowly percentage-wise, but its one percent is bigger than our 5 or 6 percent. Our base is lower. To catch up we must really grow faster.

10. Can we grow faster by not working? I think not.

11. Lets look at the implication of having holidays. If workers have to work on holidays they have to be paid twice their daily wage. If they work beyond working hours they have to be paid four times their wages. And many industries just cannot stop operating.

12. All these add up to higher cost of production and therefore we will be less competitive. For a trading nation which depends on exporting goods, raw material and services, the cost of our exports is important. We will not be competitive especially against low-wage countries. But not to worry. The Government will make us competitive by withdrawing subsidies and giving them back again under different headings in the budget or off-budget.

13. Its a bit early but I would like to wish everyone Happy Hari Raya. Please drive slowly. We want you to come back after a very relaxing 4 - 5 days holiday. Do not worry about unfinished work. It can take care of itself.

P.S. I think the Government and the private sector should consider retreats. It's not a holiday of course but comes very close to a holiday. Besides you can become a savvy agriculturist.

Defisit besar Malaysia semakin membimbangkan

DEFISIT belanjawan Malaysia yang semakin besar merupakan satu perkara yang amat membimbangkan, kata agensi penilaian Standard & Poor's.

Menurut S&P, ini lebih-lebih lagi di tengah-tengah tekanan pembangkang yang dijangka memaksa Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, meningkatkan perbelanjaan bagi mendapatkan sokongan.

'Kedudukan kewangan Malaysia adalah lebih teruk berbanding misalnya setengah tahun lalu,' kata Pengarah Penilaian (S&P) di Singapura, Takahira Ogawa, dalam satu interviu dengan agensi Bloomberg semalam.

'Penyusunan semula kedudukan kewangan Malaysia agak perlahan. Jika saiz defisit besar dan tidak dapat disusun semula dalam jangka masa sederhana, ia akan membawa kepada lebih banyak masalah,' ujar beliau lagi.

Pada 29 Ogos lalu, Datuk Seri Abdullah berkata kerajaan Malaysia akan menghadapi defisit terbesar sejak 2003 tahun ini, dan merancang mengurangkan cukai dan meningkatkan perbelanjaan dalam 2009.

Jurang belanjawan Malaysia akan membesar kepada 4.8 peratus daripada Hasil Kasar Dalam Negeri (GDP) berbanding dengan 3.2 peratus dalam 2007, kata Datuk Seri Abdulah, dalam belanjawannya yang diumumkan Jumaat lalu.

Menurut beliau, langkah-langkah belanjawan itu mungkin dilakarkan bagi menarik sokongan rakyat.

'Dengan keadaan politik di Malaysia, mereka perlu menumpukan perhatian kepada keprihatinan segera rakyat ketika ini berbanding dengan memperkenalkan dasar-dasar yang mungkin tidak popular bagi menghadapi pertumbuhan jangka panjang ekonomi,' ujarnya lagi. / Bloomberg, BHS

Anwar, back in Malaysia parliament, stages walkout

By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press Writer

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim rejoined Malaysia's Parliament on Thursday, resurrecting his mission to become prime minister a decade after he was charged with sodomy and his career written off.

Hours after he was sworn in, Anwar staged a walkout to protest proposed legislation that critics say is meant to bolster a new sodomy case against him.

Anwar says his alliance is on track to topple the government by Sept. 16 with defections from the governing National Front coalition, which has ruled Malaysia since its independence from Britain in 1957.

"I am glad to be back after a decade. I really feel vindicated. I feel great," Anwar said on Thursday.

Anwar was forced to resign his Parliament seat in 1999 amid a sodomy allegation and was jailed for six years after he was convicted of corruption and sodomizing his family driver. The sodomy conviction was overturned by Malaysia's top court in 2004.

A special election was held Tuesday after his wife vacated her seat, which she had held for two terms during Anwar's political exile. He regained the seat in a landslide victory.

Anwar's triumph came on the heels of big gains by the opposition in the March general elections that loosened the governing National Front's 51-year grip on power.

The Front returned to power with a simple majority of 140 seats in the 222-member house. Anwar's People's Alliance coalition increased its strength from 19 to 82 seats and needs 30 more to form a government.

"Anwar — whatever we think of him and many of us are deeply skeptical — is looking more and more like our future prime minister," columnist Karim Raslan wrote in The Star daily on Thursday. "There is a mounting sense of inevitability to his impending succession."

Tuesday's election also was a gauge of public anger against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration, which the opposition has painted as corrupt, inefficient and uncaring toward minorities.

The opposition promises to scrap Malaysia's decades-old system of preferences for ethnic Malays. The government says that would jeopardize the country's unity.

Within hours of being sworn in on Thursday, Anwar led the opposition in a walkout to protest a proposed law that would make it mandatory for criminal suspects to provide DNA samples.

Critics say the law is meant to target Anwar, who has been accused of sodomizing a 23-year-old male aide in case separate from the 1999 one.

Anwar has dismissed the allegation as a "sickening" government conspiracy to prevent his rise to prime minister and has refused to give a DNA sample to police, saying he fears it would be tampered with.

A court will hear his case on Sept. 10 to set a date for the trial. Under Malaysian law, even consensual sodomy is punishable by up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

On Thursday, Home Minister Syed Hamid's closing speech on the DNA legislation debate was interrupted numerous times by heckling opposition lawmakers.

Just as Syed Hamid was finishing his speech, Anwar led all opposition members in a walkout, watched by stunned government lawmakers. He told reporters that the opposition had demanded the setting up of a select committee to study the bill first.

"We have walked out because they have refused to respond" to the request, he said. "So there's no point in staying and participating in this debate."

___

Associated Press writers Eileen Ng and Sean Yoong contributed to this report.

45th Hari Kebangsaan - Malaysia 1963

Datuk Yong Teck Lee speaking at the SAPP HQ unveiling of the "Malaysia 1963" bill board on Wednesday, August 20.

1. For 45 years, the nation has been struggling with the idea whether the national day (Hari Kebangsaan) should be celebrated starting from 1957 (when Malaya achieved independence) or 1963 (when Malaysia was formed after the Malaysia Agreement with the United Kingdom, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak).
   

2. Both Sabah and Malaya achieved independence on August 31 but on different years; Malaya in 1957 and Sabah in 1963. On 16 September 1963, Malaysia was officially formed and the new Malaysia flag with 14 stripes of red and white and the 14-pointed star was raised for the first time in Malaysia.
   

3. At one of the BN Supreme Council meetings last year (2007 being 50 years after Malaya achieved independence), this was debated again, mainly between the UPKO President who favoured 1963 and an UMNO leader who insisted on 1957. As we all know, the federal government defied historical truth and went ahead to declare the 50th Hari Kebangsaan for Malaysia, thereby using 1957.
   

4. Today, we see that the authorities still insist on using the historically erroneous date of 1957 for Hari Kebangsaan. What saddens the people is that even the Sabah State Government has mistakenly or obediently adopted the 1957 date by declaring this year's (2008) Hari Kebangsaan as 51st rather than 45th. We note that Sarawak has done the right thing by celebrating the the 45th Hari Kebangsaan and not the 51st Hari Kebangsaan.
   

5. SAPP calls on the Sabah State Government to do justice to the early pioneers of Sabah and the founders of the Malaysia to declare 2008 as the 45th Hari Kebangsaan and not the 51st Hari Kebangsaan. People in Sabah (then North Borneo) and Sarawak has nothing but colonial rule to celebrate in 1957. As true Malaysians, we should celebrate 1963.
   

6. Our bill board "Malaysia 1963" at our party HQ today is to highlight to the Government and the people that we celebrate Malaysia 1963 and the 45th Hari Kebangsaan. We call on academicians, historians, civil servants and our political leaders to speak up in the interests of history and true facts so that the government will respect history and truth.

http://www.sapp.org.my

GOOD NEWS FOR MALAYSIA

Penasihat DAP lim Kit Siang berkata dalam blognya:

Bad News.

Anwar Ibrahim to be charged in court tomorrow.

A sad and black day for Malaysia

For Maharaja Blogger:

Best News.

Anwar to be charged on sodomy tomorrow.

The happiest and brightest day for Malaysia and all Malaysian

Bad and very bad news for Malaysian Malaysia.

LIM, IT IS TIME TO CRY LIKE YOUR PAPA CRIED ON THE DAY OF SINGAPORE SEPRATION FROM MALAYSIA.


MAHARAJA BLOGGER
6 Ogos,2008
http://maharajablogger.blogspot.com/

'Malaysia baru' Anwar pukau pengundi

Kebangkitan kembali Anwar Ibrahim dalam arena politik negara adalah satu kejutan di luar jangkaan. Ramai penganalisis politik pada awalnya berpendapat karier politik beliau telah tamat sewaktu terpenjara.

Maka, wajar beliau dibebaskan untuk menerima rawatan kesihatan bagi sakit tulang belakang atas sifat perikemanusiaan.

Lebih-lebih lagi apabila parti serpihan Umno, PKR hanya mempunyai kekuatan satu kerusi parlimen yang disandang oleh isterinya melalui pilihanraya umum 2004.

Namun semua persepsi akan matinya karier politik Anwar berjaya dipadamkan dalam sekelip mata melalui agenda "Harapan Baru Untuk Malaysia" dalam pilihanraya ke-12.

Sekiranya dianalisis, PKR telah menunjukkan tanda-tanda kebangkitan sejak pilihanraya negeri Sarawak pada 2006 lagi.

Keupayaan parti ini untuk memenangi kerusi DUN Sarawak, dan hampir kesemua kerusi yang disandang oleh BN telah berjaya dikurangkan undi majoritinya, sesuatu yang di luar jangkaan.

Bagaimanapun penganalisis di Semenanjung gagal menginterpretasikan mesej yang cuba dihantar oleh pengundi dari Sarawak.

Sekilas lalu, Anwar antara pemidato yang dikenali dengan gaya percakapan yang mampu memukau para pendengar. Penglibatan beliau dalam politik telah bermula sejak zaman masih remaja dan bakat muda beliau lebih menonjol semasa menjadi penghuni Universiti Malaya.

Pada 1974, beliau melancarkan demonstrasi besar-besaran apabila ada laporan media yang menyatakan, penduduk Baling, Kedah mati kerana kelaparan.

Hasil demonstrasi tersebut, beliau ditahan bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalan Negeri (ISA) selama 22 bulan tetapi dalam senyap-senyap kerajaan BN terpaksa mengambil tindakan proaktif untuk membangunkan masyarakat luar bandar.

Kerajaan telah melancarkan skim-skim baru untuk mempertahankan harga getah, stok negara untuk getah, penubuhan pembangunan getah Risda, memberikan hak milik tanah kepada penduduk luar bandar, membina pusat asuhan kanak-kanak untuk menjaga anak penoreh getah dan sebagainya.

Kesemua ini telah dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan selepas demonstrasi Baling 1974.

Apabila beliau menyertai Umno pada awal 1980-an, ramai pemimpin muda terutamanya dalam PAS kecewa kerana Anwar dilihat sebagai seorang pemimpin yang mempunyai keupayaan untuk membawa Islam ke alaf baru. Dalam bahasa Anwar, "beliau mahu membersihkan tong tahi dari dalam."

Walau Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad perdana menteri ketika itu, namun Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah adalah pemimpin utama yang memainkan peranan untuk membawa Anwar bersama Umno.

Hasil usaha Ku Li, Anwar dibebaskan daripada ISA dan kemudiannya dibawa masuk ke dalam Umno. Jawatan pertama yang ditandangi oleh Anwar selepas beberapa bulan menyertai parti Melayu itu adalah ketua Pemuda.

Beliau memenangi jawatan tersebut dengan undi yang amat tipis dalam sekitar 25 undi sahaja. Namun keakraban beliau dengan Dr Mahathir mengembangkan pengaruhnya dalam parti.

Dalam tempoh masa 17 tahun, Anwar berjaya menguasai parti sehingga mencapai jawatan timbalan presiden sekali gus menduduki kerusi timbalan perdana menteri.

Umum berpendapat sekiranya beliau berkompromi dengan Dr Mahathir sewaktu krisis kewangan pada 1997-1998, kemungkinan besar beliau telah menduduki kerusi perdana menteri yang menjadi idaman setiap ahli politik.

Tetapi keseluruhan lanskap politik negara telah berubah apabila Anwar mengambil keputusan untuk melawan arus politik negara.

Sejak beliau tumbang daripada singgahsana kuasa, boleh dikatakan secara konsisten beliau bercakap atas paksi kuasa rakyat dan selepas 10 tahun berada di luar Dewan Rakyat, kini beliau sekali lagi beradu tenaga mencuba nasib untuk kembali ke kerusi parlimen yang sekali gus mungkin membuka ruang untuk beliau menjadi perdana menteri keenam negara.

Kerusi parlimen P44 boleh dikatakan secara tradisinya adalah milik Anwar sejak tahun 1982. Sebelum itu, kerusi tersebut kubu luat PAS. Dalam pilihanraya tersebut, beliau bertanding atas tiket BN menentang calon PAS, Zabidi Ali dan menang dengan majoriti 14,352 undi.

Pada 1986, beliau ditentang oleh Mohamad Sabu, tokoh muda PAS waktu itu (sekarang naib presiden). Walaupun menang tetapi Mohamad berjaya mengurangkan undi majoriti kepada 10,479.

Pada 1990, di kala Umno masih mengalami luka parah akibat pengharamannya dan perebutan kuasa yang menyebabkan penubuhan Parti Melayu Semangat 46, Anwar masih berjaya mengekalkan kerusi beliau dengan undi majoriti sebanyak 16,150 dengan mengalahkan Mahfuz Omar (bekas ketua Pemuda PAS, kini ketua penerangan).

Pada 1995, DAP meletakkan calon Melayu di kawasan tersebut dan keadaan ini membuka ruang lebih besar kepada Anwar untuk kembali ke Dewan Rakyat dengan majoriti yang lebih besar iaitu 23,515 undi.

Calon DAP itu Abdul Rahman Manap. Bagaimanapun tiada siapa menduga, tahun itu merupakan pilihanraya terakhir bagi Anwar kerana belum sempat pilihanraya seterusnya diadakan, beliau telah ditumbangkan daripada singgahsana politik Umno.

Krisis kewangan yang kemudiannya berubah wajah kepada krisis perebutan kuasa dalam Umno menyebabkan Anwar dipecat dan dihumban ke dalam penjara.

Walaupun tuduhan liwat dikenakan, namun kebangkitan rakyat memuncak apabila beliau hadir ke mahakamh dengan mata lebam.

Dr Mahathir mengisytiharkan Parlimen dibubarkan pada 1999 dua bulan sebelum Ramadan bermula kerana situasi bulan itu yang boleh dikatakan majoriti masjid dan surau telah dikuasai oleh pengikut Anwar.

Dr Mahathir khuatir, Ramadan akan digunakan secara maksimum untuk menghasut masyarakat Melayu untuk mengundi menentang Umno. Lagipun ketika itu, tempoh Dewan Rakyat untuk dibubarkan semakin hampir.

Dengan hati yang terguris air mata, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, seorang surirumah dan bekas doktor gigi, bangkit mempertahankan suaminya dan meneruskan perjuangan politik bagi pihak kekandanya.

Parti Keadilan Nasional dengan wajah baru untuk rakyat Malaysia tanpa mengenal bangsa dan agama ditubuhkan pada April 1999, lima bulan sebelum pilihanraya umum.

Dalam pilihanraya tahun itu, Dr Wan Azizah bertanding di kerusi P44 Permatang Pauh dan ditentang oleh bekas setiausaha politik Anwar sendiri dan juga timbalan ketua menteri Pulau Pinang, Dr Ibrahim Saad.

Ramai berpendapat tujuan utama Dr Mahathir meletakkan Dr Ibrahim untuk membunuh karier politik rakan Anwar itu kerana sudah menjadi rahsia umum beliau seorang kroni Anwar.

Kalau menang, Dr Ibrahim mempunyai masa depan yang cerah. Kalau kalah, yang akan terkubur Dr Ibrahim dan bukannya Umno.

Dalam pillihanraya umum tersebut, Dr Wan Azizah menang dengan majoriti 9,077 undi. Beliau menerima 23,820 undi, manakala Dr Ibrahim menerima 14,473 undi.

Boleh dikatakan dalam pilihanraya 1999, Umno telah diselamatkan oleh pengundi bukan Melayu. Namun sumbangan bukan Melayu dilupakan begitu sahaja selepas pilihanraya umum 2004.

Pada tahun itu, BN telah meletakkan bekas imam besar Masjid Negara, Datuk Pirdaus Ismail untuk bertanding menentang Dr Wan Azizah. Namun faktor Anwar telah memberikan kemenangan solo kepada PKR.

Isterinya memenangi 21,737 undi, manakala Pirdaus menerima 21,147 undi. Dr Wan Azizah menang dengan majoriti tipis 590 undi - itu pun selepas pengiraan semula pada hari berikutnya.

Selepas pilihanraya tersebut, Umno menjangkakan PKR akan berkubur atau kembali merujuk Umno dalam masa terdekat. Namun kesemua jangkaan itu meleset.

Pilihanraya umum 8 Mac lalu menjadi satu titik perubahan dalam sejarah politik negara.

Anwar yang kembali daripada menerima rawatan sakit tulang belakang pada awalnya (setelah dibebaskan pada penghujung 2004) menggunakan "jaringan antarabangsanya" untuk menguatkan semula perhubungan beliau dengan negara-negara luar dan hampir setiap bulan berada di luar negara sama ada atas undangan pemimpin negara-negara yang dikunjungi atau untuk sesi ceramah di universiti-universiti terkemuka dunia.

Beliau kemudiannya mengalihkan pandangan kepada politik dalam negara dan menjanjikan "Malaysia Baru" sekiranya diberikan kepercayaan untuk kembali memimpin negara.

Berbekalkan kelemahan pemimpin BN dengan politik perkauman yang tebal, Anwar menggubal manifesto yang menjanjikan "Malaysia Baru."

Setuju atau tidak, terpulang kepada pembaca untuk menilai, janji untuk memberikan Malaysia Baru telah berjaya mempengaruhi massa untuk memberikan kepercayaan kepada gabungan tiga parti yang kemudiannya dikenali sebagai Pakatan Rakyat.

Hasilnya empat negeri baru jatuh tersungkur kepada kepada Pakatan dan cengkaman ke atas negeri Kelantan terus diperkukuhkan.

Lebih mengejutkan, kuasa dua pertiga luntur daripada BN dan apabila masyarakat Malaysia bangun pada pagi 9 Mac lalu, pancaran matahari pagi seolah-olah menjanjikan harapan baru untuk Malaysia.

Untuk Anwar kekal relevan dalam politik, isterinya mengisytiharkan mengosongkan kerusi P44 untuk memberi laluan kepada suaminya. Walaupun pelbagai spekulasi dan teori dikemukakan termasuk pengosongan kerusi sebagai satu strategi untuk menghalang tindakan undang-undang terhadapnya dalam kes moral, namun perkembangan tersebut sebenarnya menjadi satu medan politik yang terbaik untuk membuktikan kuasa rakyat.

Persoalannya, apakah BN sebagai kerajaan pusat mampu mengalahkan Anwar di P44 Permatang Pauh dengan kerajaan negeri dikuasai oleh Pakatan Rakyat?

P44, berdasarkan senarai pengundi yang digunakan dalam pilihanraya ke-12 mempunyai 58,449 pengundi. Pecahannya menunjukkan pemilih Melayu adalah majoriti dengan bilangan 40,563 atau 69.4 peratus. Pemilih Cina pula 14,320 orang atau 24.5 peratus, manakala India 3,507 orang atau 6 peratus.

Peratus keluar mengundi dalam pilihanraya itu tinggi iaitu 47,288 orang (81.8 peratus), manakala undi rosak pula 110.

Dalam kerusi parlimen ini terdapat tiga kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) iaitu Seberang Jaya, Permatang Pasir dan Penanti. BN hanya menguasai Seberang Jaya dengan majoriti 533 undi. Majoriti tersebut telah berkurangan daripada 4,464 uni yang dimenangi dalam pilihanraya 2004.

Permatang Pasir dikuasai PAS, manakala Penanti dimenangi oleh calon PKR, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin yang kemudiannyadilantik timbalan ketua menteri I Pulau Pinang. Kedua-dua kerusi tersebut dimenangi Pakatan Rakyat dengan majoritilebih besar berbanding 2004.


Bahagian II 'Lapan faktor BN tewas lawan Anwar'


Menurut blognya Security, K Raveendran Nair dilahirkan di Bukit Mertajam, bersebelahan Permatang Pauh, 33 tahun lalu.

Malaysia Debates DNA Bill With Eye On Anwar Case

(By SEAN YOONG/ AP) Malaysia's government on Monday (18 Aug) proposed a law that would make it mandatory for criminal suspects to provide DNA samples _ a move that critics claim is meant to bolster a sodomy charge against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar introduced the DNA Identification Bill in Parliament, but denied the government was targeting Anwar, who has refused to give police a DNA swab in an investigation into an accusation that he sodomized a male aide.

"There is no political motive," Syed Hamid told reporters. "I think it is ridiculous that (the opposition) looks at everything as having a political motive."

Anwar, who is contesting an 26 Aug by-election for a Parliament seat and wants to topple the government by mid-September, was charged with sodomy earlier this month _ the second time in a decade he has faced the accusation _ and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Anwar says authorities might tamper with his DNA sample to implicate him in the case. Police have dismissed his concern and pledged a fair investigation.

Parliament must debate the DNA bill before it can be passed, a virtual certainty because government lawmakers comprise a majority. It must also be approved by the Senate and the king.

Syed Hamid said officials began drafting the bill in 2001, but did not say when the government expects the law to take effect. Under the proposed law, suspects can be jailed for a year if they refuse to provide DNA.

Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua noted the bill was the first to be proposed in Parliament when it reconvened Monday after a monthlong break, raising questions about why it was "so important that it has to be rushed into Parliament at this time."

"Are laws being changed just to ensure a successful upcoming prosecution of some prominent personality? Are goal posts being shifted against the natural course of justice?" Pua said.

The sodomy accusation by Anwar's 23-year-old former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, was a bombshell for Anwar's three-party opposition alliance, which won an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament in March elections.

Anwar, 61, has rejected the accusation as a ploy to prevent him from carrying out his threat to engineer defections by government lawmakers to oust Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration by next month. Abdullah has denied any conspiracy.

Abdullah said Saiful's accusations should not be taken lightly.

"We must remember that he could be a victim," Abdullah was quoted as saying Sunday by the New Straits Times newspaper. "We tend to overlook small people like him who seek justice."

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, claims police also fabricated evidence against him in 1998 when he was charged with sodomizing his family driver. Malaysia's highest court overturned the sodomy conviction in 2004.

Malaysia nasihat pelabur asing usah percaya dakwaan Anwar

SINGAPURA: Ahli perniagaan asing yang bercadang melabur di Malaysia dinasihati supaya tidak mempercayai dakwaan penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kononnya beliau akan mengambil alih teraju pentadbiran Malaysia September ini.

"Usah percaya," kata Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin kepada ahli perniagaan Singapura yang menghadiri dialog perdagangan di sini, hari ini.

Muhyiddin berkata, beliau tidak nampak kemungkinan perkara itu berlaku, lebih-lebih lagi memandangkan Anwar sering mengubah tarikh beliau akan mengambil alih kerajaan persekutuan yang dikuasai Barisan Nasional (BN)dari Ogos ke September, kemudian ke Oktober dan seterusnya.

Kata beliau, persoalan paling besar ialah bagaimana Anwar akan menjadi Perdana Menteri sedangkan tidak seorang pun anggota parlimen BN, yang didakwanya akan menyertai beliau sejak pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lepas, berbuat demikian.

Dialog itu diadakan sempena seminar sehari tentang peluang perniagaan di Malaysia anjuran bersama agensi perdagangan Malaysia dan Singapura, dan dirasmikan Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin berkata, keadaan politik yang wujud di Malaysia sekarang adalah semata-mata hasil ciptaan Anwar, yang tidak sudah-sudah membuat cerita kononnya beliau akan mengambil alih kerajaan September ini.

Muhyiddin yang juga naib presiden UMNO berkata, pengundi di Malaysia telah membuat pilihan mereka pada pilihan raya umum lepas dengan mengundi BN bagi membentuk kerajaan persekutuan.

Katanya, walaupun BN tidak memenangi majoriti besar bagi kerusi parlimen seperti pilihan raya sebelum ini, namun "kemenangan tetap satu kemenangan".

Beliau berkata, banyak pelabur bimbang dengan keadaan politik yang melanda Malaysia sekarang kerana mereka tidak pasti tentang iklim pelaburan pada bulan-bulan akan datang.

Katanya, pelabur tertanya-tanya sama ada Malaysia masih stabil atau aman seperti sebelum ini atau adakah rakyat akan merusuh di jalan raya dan menimbulkan pelbagai masalah yang merugikan mereka yang melabur di Malaysia.

"Memanglah ini satu persoalan besar. Kami pun bimbang seperti anda juga, dalam menangani keadaan seperti ini.

"Apa yang dilakukan oleh kerajaan selama ini ialah terus memberi jaminan, dan bagi Malaysia, kami juga menyintai keamanan, sama seperti rakyat Singapura, kami cintakan kemakmuran dan kami sayangkan perpaduan yang telah kami kecapi sejak beberapa dekad lepas," kata Muhyiddin.

Rakyat Malaysia amat mementingkan keamanan kerana ia menjadi tanda aras yang kukuh bagi negara ini, kata beliau sambil menambah bahawa Malaysia juga amat mementingkan kestabilan dalam usaha menarik pelaburan.

Muhyiddin berkata, Malaysia mengamalkan sistem demokrasi sejak sekian lama dan sistem ini berjalan dengan baik, manakala BN pula menerima keputusan rakyat.

"Anwar Ibrahim perlu menghormati keputusan ini. Jika beliau teringin menjadi Perdana Menteri, beliau perlu tunggu empat tahun lagi, bertanding pada pilihan raya, menang dengan majoriti dan tubuhlah kerajaan, kalau itu berlaku," kata beliau.

Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia ingin mengekalkan kestabilan yang mereka nikmati sekarang.

Muhyiddin memberi jaminan kepada pelabur yang bercadang melabur di Malaysia dan mereka yang sudah melabur di negara berkenaan bahawa walaupun wujud beberapa perubahan dalam senario politik tempatan dan beberapa kerajaan negeri tidak lagi berada di bawah pentadbiran BN, namun perkara itu tidak menjadi masalah kerana dasar pelaburan sedia ada terus diguna pakai di seluruh negara.

Beliau berkata, negeri yang ditadbir oleh pembangkang juga mahukan pelaburan dan mereka akan memastikan setiap pelaburan baru dan yang sudah dibuat di negeri berkenaan sejak beberapa dekad lepas, akan dijaga dan dilindungi dengan sewajarnya. BERNAMA

Olimpik: Malaysia didakwa hantar pegawai lebih daripada atlit

Mohd Sabri Said
Wed | Aug 13, 08 | 1:08:19 pm MYT

PERMATANG PAUH, 13 Ogos (Hrkh) - Kerajaan mesti memberikan jawapan segera kenapa menghantar pegawai sukan melebihi atlit ke Sukan Olimpik di Beijing, China yang sedang berlangsung dari 8 hingga 24 Ogos ini, kata Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat, Haji Mahfuz Omar.

Beliau yang ditemui selepas berceramah di hadapan Surau Taman Sutera, Permatang Pauh semalam menegaskan, penghantaran pegawai yang terlalu ramai pastinya melibatkan wang rakyat yang banyak.

Menurutnya, PAS bukan menghalang penghantaran atlit ke Beijing kerana itu merupakan sukan terbesar yang menyaksikan ramai atlit dunia beraksi sekali gus boleh meningkatkan prestasi atlit Malaysia.

"Kerajaan mesti memberikan jawapan segera kenapa menghantar pegawai melebihi atlit yang menyertai sukan Olimpik di Beijing, China kerana terlalu ramai pegawai bukan boleh membantu atlit mencapai pingat sebaliknya merugikan," ujarnya.

Sudah memadai sekiranya seorang dua pegawai yang dihantar untuk seorang atlit demi mempastikan kesihatan atau prestasi mereka tidak menurun, katanya.

Tidak berbaloi katanya, berbanding negara lain Malaysia bertindak demikian sedangkan sampai hari ini Malaysia belum memperolehi sebarang pingat berbanding negara Asean yang lain termasuk Negara Togo yang berjaya meraih pinggat gangsa dalam acara kayak.

"Kita takut bila hantar terlalu banyak pegawai apapun tak dapat. Bila pulang nanti katok tudung botol kicap buat pingat emas, pingat perak kalung sana sini," ujarnya dalam ceramah anjuran PAS Kawasan Permatang Pauh semalam.

Namun apapun PAS dan juga rakyat Malaysia berharap atlit negara mampu menyumbangkan pingat dalam kejohanan berpestrij itu.

Menyentuh mengenai penubuhan Majlis Ekonomi oleh Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena berkata, penubuhan itu sengaja dirangka untuk membuktikan Dato' Seri Abdullah seorang yang bijak merancang sektor ekonomi negara.

Banyak penubuhan majlis ekonomi seperti Majlis Ekonomi Inflasi yang akhirnya barangan kawalan tetap naik tinggi membuatkan rakyat gelisah dan marah.

Penubuhan majlis ekonomi sambung Haji Mahfuz, bermakna menghabiskan wang rakyat kerana ia tidak menunjukan sebarang peningkatan bahkan memberi kepuasan kepada individu yang dilantik menggangotai majlis berkenaan apabila mendapat peluang melancung ke sana ke mari.

"Bila tubuh Majlis Ekonomi seperti Gabem, Majlis Ekonomi Inflasi atau lainya, ia bukan bermatlamat menaikan tahap kedudukan bumiputra bahkan menguntungkan segelintir sahaja," jelasnya.

Jesteru, dalam pilihan raya kecil Permatang Pauh nanti rakyat kena beri pengajaran kepada Barisan Nasional (BN) agar jangan sekali-kali bersikap angkuh sebaliknya bertindak dengan efesyen dan berwawasan supaya apa yang dirancangkan benar-benar memberi manafaat kepada keseluruhan rakyat.

Majlis yang dihadiri ribuan rakyat itu turut diisikan dengan penyerahan ahli baru PAS seramai 50 orang oleh Ketua Penerangan PAS Kawasan Permatang Pauh, Aziz Che Ani kepada Haji Mahfuz.

Berceramah sama dalam program itu semalam ialah Exco Kesihatan, Kebajikan dan Masyarakat Penyayang Negeri, Phee Boon Poh, Ahli Parlimen Padang Serai, Gobalakrisnan, Ketua Penerangan KeADILan Bahagian Permatang Pauh, Hazri Abu Bakar dan Ketua Penerangan PAS Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Ustaz Nor Azarizal Mohd Alawi.

Hadir sama dalam majlis tersebut ialah Yang Dipertua PAS Permatang Pauh, Omar Hasan. - mns_