Penang Deputy CM: I am not being replaced

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 1 - Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin today ruled out talk that the PKR leadership is replacing him soon.

According to Fairus he was not informed by either PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or the party leadership that he was being removed from his position.

He said that he learnt that it was only Seberang Jaya assemblyman, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, who has made statements to the effect and if there was going to be a change, he would have been duly informed by the party higher ups.

Saying that he was happy and welcomed Arif Shah, he did not think that the Sebarang Jaya assemblyman would take his place.

Recent news reports have quoted Arif Shah as saying that he might leave Umno for the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

Arif Shah, who is the only BN elected rep in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency, is said to be not on talking terms with the Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid.

Arif Shah took on Anwar in the recent Permatang Pauh by-election. He has described the latter as his "master" and friend when the former was the Umno Permatang Pauh division chairman and he was the division Youth chief.

Fairus lashed out at Arif Shah for making an "irresponsible, improper and politically immature" statement in the media.

He said that since the day he was appointed, certain quarters have been trying to "pull me down". He added that he was the youngest Deputy Chief Minister in the history of Malaysian politics and this sparked "jealousy".

He also added that the it was the people who voted him in and that they will not get rid of him because he is a fighter and would not retreat.

Fairus is the Penanti assemblyman who has been plagued by accusations of under-performing.

"We are a new government. I was only elected eight months ago and am still learning and improving," he said, adding that the process would "take time".

Meanwhile, State Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said Arif Shah's leaving Barisan was an "internal Umno matter" and had to be settled by Umno.

Ties between Umno and Gerakan in Penang remained severed since Gerakan broke off the its affiliations on Sept 8 at the height of the controversy over allegedly racist remarks by suspended Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said it was up to PKR to decide if they wanted Fairus replaced as the position of Deputy Chief Minister I had been promised to the party.

Unity the core to social understanding, says Penang CM

The practice of visiting one another, which has become a tradition of the country’s multiracial society, can foster closer relations among the people and enhance the spirit of unity, the essence of social understanding, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

“This is in tandem with Islam as a universal religion, being the Islamic way of life a comprehensive one and encompasses all aspects of life, whether economically, socially and politically,” he said in his Aidilfitri message.

Lim said that the aspects on the diverse race, religion, customs and language were not a hindrance to progress.

“It is this diverse aspects that enable Malaysia to be a developed nation, (and) the people able to maintain the country’s peace and political stability despite facing global constraints and the world economic crisis,” he added.

In Kuala Lumpur, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said that unity, built through the festivities of various races, was like a house built on stilts which would not collapse easily even when hit by strong winds.
“Each and everyone of us are the stilts that uphold the peace and prosperity of this beloved country,” he added.

In Kuching, Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, in his Aidilfitri message, said the people of other races were encouraged to visit open houses hosted by Muslims to foster relations and build friensdhips.

Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and family will host Aidilfitri openhouse for state dignitaries and VIPs on the first day of Hari Raya and on the second day when it would be opened to department heads and the public at the Astana Negeri banquet hall in Petra Jaya from 10am to 1pm.

In Kota Kinabalu, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman called on the people to remain united and steadfast to ensure smooth implementation of development programmes in Sabah.

“I believe with continued hard work and cooperation, there will be more progress in the coming year, he said.

On Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, Musa said it served as a special occassion for reconciliation and forgiveness among family members and friends.

It a festivity to be shared with friends from different religions and races, he added. - BERNAMA

Penang Ini Kita Yang Punya

Negeri ini rakyat yang punya. Kita sapu semuanya, zakat, duit masjid, duit orang Islam belasah semuanya.

PILIHANRAYA KINI

Penang makes August 26 a holiday.

From The Malaysian Insider

PENANG, Aug 24 — In an effort to ensure a full voter turnout, the Penang government has declared Aug 26, polling day for the crucial Permatang Pauh by-election that could return Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to parliament, a special public holiday.

Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng made the announcement in a press statement today as he pulled out all stops for Anwar, his ally in the nascent Pakatan Rakyat electoral pact that won five states and denied Barisan Nasional its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority in the March 8 general elections.

“The Penang state government has been mulling over the decision ever since the Elections Commission fixed a working day on Tuesday August 26 as polling day in defiance of public opinion that this will reduce the voter turnout,” said Lim, who is also Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general.

The announcement came a day after the Education Ministry declared a special school holiday in Permatang Pauh to allow schools to be used as polling stations. There are 58,459 voters in the constituency in mainland Penang.

“By fixing polling day on a working day and giving such preferential treatment of a special school holiday, the Education Ministry is trying to gain an advantage for a certain party and their candidate,” Lim charged as campaigning in the critical by-election enters its last 48 hours.

“To ensure a level-playing field and fairness to all candidates, the Penang state government has decided to declare August 26, 2008 as a state public holiday,” he noted.

Lim said the special holiday is taken as an additional holiday in the state and need not be replaced by taking away another holiday.

The chief minister urged all voters to turn out to cast their votes on Tuesday.

“The state government requests all factories to assist their workers in Permatang Pauh to carry out their duties to determine not only their choice of wakil rakyat but also decide the destiny of the country.”

Anwar is favoured to easily win the constituency, which he had held between 1982 and 1999 when he was convicted of corruption, as he only faces political lightweight Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim) president Hanafi Mamat.

His wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail retained the seat for three terms before quitting last July for Anwar to return to parliament and try to fulfill his prediction of toppling the BN government by Sept 16.