Anwar at it again

Terengganu: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday renewed his vow to seize power from the ruling coalition, as the two sides lock horns for a key by-election.

Anwar has laid low since failing to meet a self-imposed September 2008 deadline to unseat the Barisan Nasional government, after general elections that saw the coalition handed its worst results in half a century.

The opposition alliance is now hoping to reinvigorate itself with a win in the January 17 by-election which is seen as a referendum on the political mood since the March 2008 national polls.

"I want to say that we in the alliance are determined to topple the Barisan Nasional coalition," Anwar said at an opposition rally here late Tuesday that drew some 10,000 supporters.

"For a start, I will help our alliance candidate from PAS obtain a big victory," he said.

Top figures in the alliance - Anwar's Keadilan as well as the Islamic party PAS and the Democratic Action Party that represents ethnic Chinese - stood shoulder-to-shoulder to dispel signs the partnership is under strain.

The partnership of three ideologically divided parties is intent on putting its differences aside for the by-election, which will be contested by PAS candidate Mohamad Abdul Wahid, 52.

Anwar had said he would topple the Government by mid-September with the help of defecting lawmakers, after elections that saw the opposition gain five states and a third of parliamentary seats in unprecedented results.

But that deadline came and went and the promised mass defections from the Barisan Nasional never materialised - underlining the dominance of the coalition which is the only government Malaysia has ever known.

Anwar's momentum completely stalled in October when Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi agreed to stand down next March, defusing public anger at the government's handling of the economy and failure to introduce promised reforms.

The Government is now exploiting bickering within the opposition, but Anwar said the alliance was united despite disagreements over issues such as a PAS call for the introduction of Islamic "hudud" law including the stoning of adulterers.

Anwar said that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is slated to take over from Abdullah in March and is spearheading the by-election campaign, would suffer if the government loses.

"Najib is heading the Barisan Nasional machinery and if Barisan loses, it will hurt his credibility. The loss to the Government will be a big blow to Najib," he said.

"It is a barometer for the future direction of politics in Malaysia," he said.

"As I see it, the winds of change from the March 8 electoral tsunami are still blowing strong."

DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said Najib may be forced to call elections much earlier than the end of the Government's five-year term which expires in 2013.

"We hope a victory here will be a yardstick for us to win the next general election and take over the country. It is possible that a snap election would be held at year end," he said.

Tee Keat strengthens grip on MCA with changes at The Star

By Leslie Lau

Consultant Editor

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 – The end is near for Datuk Steven Tan, the man who turned The Star into a local media giant, after it was announced today that he would relinquish in six months his position as executive deputy chairman of the newspaper group.

Tan’s retirement was announced in a filing to Bursa Malaysia today, in what will be seen as a move by MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat to strengthen his grip on the party, which controls The Star.

However, the retirement of Tan, who has been a steady hand at the helm of The Star since the 1980s and who took the company from an also-ran to become Malaysia’s most profitable newspaper, could spook the stock market and fund managers.

The move is seen as an attempt by Ong, who was voted in as MCA president last October, to replace – in the party and its assets – those who are seen as close to former president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.

According to the company’s announcement, Tan will remain a non-executive director of the public-listed company, Star Publications (Malaysia) Berhad.

While no announcement was made about who his replacement would be, The Malaysian Insider understands that Datuk Clement Hii, who is chief executive officer of education group SEG International and a close friend of the party president, will be appointed to the board of the company but it is not clear if he will take over Tan’s position.

It is understood that Hii will become Ong’s point man on the board to help the MCA president direct policy in the newspaper.

Before SEG International, Hii, 49, had also worked as a journalist and was once the Chief Editor of The Borneo Post in Sarawak.

Speaking to reporters after chairing his party’s presidential council meeting, Ong declined to comment on the changes in the newspaper publisher.

Tan retired as The Star’s group managing director last June and was succeeded by Datin Linda Ngiam. It is still unclear whether Ngiam, a protege of Tan, will get to keep her job.

Component Parties To Suggest Improvements At BN Convention

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties will submit feedback and suggestions on improvements at the BN Convention scheduled to be held next year.

MCA vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the BN members were looking forward to the BN Convention as the grassroots would be able to make suggestions and give their feedback directly to the BN top leadership.

"The convention is crucial to the BN as it can ensure that the coalition is relevant to the people of various races. The MCA has many suggestions...Let all these be discussed during the convention," he told reporters after attending the BN Supreme Council meeting here.

The meeting, which lasted three-and-a-half hours, was attended by representatives of all the BN component parties and chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also the BN chairman.

Liow, who is also the Health Minister, said the MCA held many brainstorming sessions among its members shortly after the 12th general election on March 8 and had gathered several suggestions aimed at improving the BN.

"We will present these suggestions at the convention," he said.

Meanwhile, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the BN Convention would enable discussion to be held on the effectiveness of the BN in fulfilling the aspiration of the people.

"This is an indication that the BN top leadership continues to respond to the aspiration of the people, particularly the young generation. Many suggestions would be presented by various parties so that the BN would be more sensitive to the needs of the people," he said.

Dr Koh also said the BN conceded that it still had weaknesses or inadequacies and hoped that these could be overcome after the convention.

-- BERNAMA

Dewan Rakyat: MP hits out at shoddy work by those who farm out jobs

By : Reports by V. Vasudevan, Irdiani Mohd Salleh, Evangeline Majawat


(From left) Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman says the materials used are sub-standard; and Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh says there is no proper monitoring of projects

ROADS in rural areas are substandard because the contractors had sub-contracted the work, a backbencher said yesterday.

"Projects are sub-contracted and quality is compromised," said Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak)

"For example, for a road project worth RM500,000, half goes into the pockets of those who got the job. The eventual sub-contractor will be left with RM250,000 to build the road. What materials can you get other than lower quality stuff?" he asked during the debate on the Work Ministry's allocations at the committee stage.

He said he was not against contractors making a profit.

"But if the margin goes up to 60 per cent of the value of the project, then something must be wrong."
Tajuddin said some of the main contractors were just licence holders who did nothing except take a cut and leave the work to others.

"They farm out the work to others. So, in the end, the road is built with sub-standard materials."

Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) said the Public Works Department should also look at the way the projects were being monitored.

"Surely this could not have happened if there was proper monitoring."

Tajuddin agreed, saying that monitoring of projects must have been compromised by those on the ground.

There were more complaints about roads from Alexander Nanta Linggi (BN-Kapit), who regretted the delay in the construction of the Kapit-Sibu link.

"It was to have been built under the Seventh Malaysia Plan but was pushed to the Eighth Malaysia Plan. Now, I am told it will be built under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

"What am I going to tell my constituents?"

Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) quipped that only God knew the day when some of the road projects in Sarawak would be completed, as promises had been made for so long that the public had grown weary of them.

He said many roads were to have been built but the PWD had either postponed or delayed the work.

"I hope the ministry will be able to give a comprehensive answer to the status of various road projects in the state."

Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (Pas-Hulu Langat) called on the government to widen the Batu 9-Dusun Tua trunk road in his constituency.

"The road is in a bad shape. I hope the government will repair and widen it."

Dewan Rakyat: MP hits out at shoddy work by those who farm out jobs

By : Reports by V. Vasudevan, Irdiani Mohd Salleh, Evangeline Majawat


(From left) Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman says the materials used are sub-standard; and Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh says there is no proper monitoring of projects

ROADS in rural areas are substandard because the contractors had sub-contracted the work, a backbencher said yesterday.

"Projects are sub-contracted and quality is compromised," said Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak)

"For example, for a road project worth RM500,000, half goes into the pockets of those who got the job. The eventual sub-contractor will be left with RM250,000 to build the road. What materials can you get other than lower quality stuff?" he asked during the debate on the Work Ministry's allocations at the committee stage.

He said he was not against contractors making a profit.

"But if the margin goes up to 60 per cent of the value of the project, then something must be wrong."
Tajuddin said some of the main contractors were just licence holders who did nothing except take a cut and leave the work to others.

"They farm out the work to others. So, in the end, the road is built with sub-standard materials."

Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) said the Public Works Department should also look at the way the projects were being monitored.

"Surely this could not have happened if there was proper monitoring."

Tajuddin agreed, saying that monitoring of projects must have been compromised by those on the ground.

There were more complaints about roads from Alexander Nanta Linggi (BN-Kapit), who regretted the delay in the construction of the Kapit-Sibu link.

"It was to have been built under the Seventh Malaysia Plan but was pushed to the Eighth Malaysia Plan. Now, I am told it will be built under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

"What am I going to tell my constituents?"

Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) quipped that only God knew the day when some of the road projects in Sarawak would be completed, as promises had been made for so long that the public had grown weary of them.

He said many roads were to have been built but the PWD had either postponed or delayed the work.

"I hope the ministry will be able to give a comprehensive answer to the status of various road projects in the state."

Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (Pas-Hulu Langat) called on the government to widen the Batu 9-Dusun Tua trunk road in his constituency.

"The road is in a bad shape. I hope the government will repair and widen it."

Dr M scoffs at Abdullah's pledge

JOHOR BARU: One day after advising Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to "shut up" after stepping down as prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad continued to criticise his successor.

Dr Mahathir scoffed at Abdullah's pledge to complete institutional reforms before leaving office.

"He only has a few months (to complete the reforms)," he told reporters after a Hari Raya function hosted by a Johor Umno grassroots action body yesterday.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Mahathir blamed Abdullah for "destroying" Umno following the party's dismal performance in the last general election.

Anwar drops by at the RPK trial (updated)

kitsam was in court this morning on Day Three of the RPK trial and sends us this report:

I was there this morning. First time to court. Arrived there very early at 7.45am, wearing the uniform “I am with RPK”. The crowd grew bigger by the minute. From my chat with Marina, she said the cards sent to RPK on which were written “No to ISA” would not be passed to him. So from now on, I’m going to avoid that.

Our hero RPK arrived at around 8.30am. The crowd was happy to see him; some even said it’s better for him to be in court rather than in the Kamunting cell. I got to squeeze into the court room, and by 8.40am, the room was full, with many others standing at the back.

The trial started a bit late, at around 9.15am. In between, many people wished RPK, and Marina got to hold him as well. Of all the journalists there, only one reporter interviewed RPK (the only one foreign reporter) while the rest of them just sat there waiting for the trial to start. A few MPs came today - Ronnie Liu, followed by Lau Weng San - and surprisingly at 10.10am, Anwar and Azizah came in as well, much to the delight of RPK.

The trial took a break for 15mins at 10.25am, and I called it a day, went to work! Forgot to mention, during the trial, people were going out and others were coming in, non-stop. I guess there must have been around a hundred people, with 50 squeezed in the small room and others waiting outside for their turn to support RPK. A good show of support from all. Thank you everyone, a great day.

READ MORE HERE: http://anilnetto.com/

Man held at polling centre after scuffle

UPDATED PERMATANG PAUH, Aug 26 Just half-an-hour after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim voted at Sekolah Rendah Seri Penanti, a scuffle broke out between police and a bearded man in a PKR T-shirt. The man was handcuffed and taken to the nearby Kubang Semang police station at 10.30am after stepping beyond a safety line imposed by police to separate opposing party supporters. The fracas had caused an elderly woman who had just stepped out from the polling centre to be knocked down.

With a crowd of about 1,000 present, the narrow dual carriageway leading to the polling centre has been choked as both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional supporters continue to flock to the area, resulting in five FRU trucks moving in at about 10.25am. Meanwhile, at SK Seberang Jaya, where BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah had voted promptly at 8am, supporters of both camps continue to lob verbal volleys at each other but there were no reports of violence. Rumours of violence at SK Tanah Liat are unfounded. The road in front of the school is very narrow, leaving BN and Pakatan supporters shoulder-to-shoulder as they shout their support. Despite this, police are on top of things and are holding a tight watch on things, stringently checking all visitors for proper identification before allowing entry to the school. As of 1pm, election officers say 60% of the 1,750 registered to vote here have cast their ballots. This is in spite of police refusing to allow voters to park their motorbikes in the school compound in the midst of the midday downpour. On Penang Island itself, a roadblock has been set up on the road leading to the Penang Bridge, causing all motorists heading out of the island to slow to a crawl even though police are not stopping anyone.

Anwar triumphs against everything BN threw at him

Commentary by political editor Wan Hamid Hamidi

AUG 26 ~ It's still impressive that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could win the Permatang Pauh by-election today with a 15,000-plus majority, having to take on the massive Barisan Nasional election machinery with the assistance of the state apparatus.

BN did not seem to change its typical method ~ but not necessarily moral and ethical - of employing federal government agencies as well as the almost one-sided mainstream electronic and print media.

In the face of overwhelming odds, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader survived the onslaught led by his political nemesis Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is also BN deputy chairman and Umno deputy president.

From the swearing on the Quran by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who accused Anwar of sodomising him by force on the eve of nomination day, to Najib following in the footstep in denying knowledge of the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, the pressure on Anwar was tremendous.

Najib had said from day one that Saiful's oath was not politically motivated but the deputy prime minister kept repeating the sodomy charge, a clear attempt to cast doubt among voters especially the Malays.

There was also a surprise during the intense period of campaigning when two of PKR"s Perak state executive councillors were arrested and later charged for corruption, a move described by Anwar"s party as politically motivated, especially the timing of the arrest and the case.

The mainstream media, with its usual one-sided news reports, continued to portray BN as the saviour of the country while vilifying Anwar as the enemy of peace. The Malay press and the Bahasa Malaysia news programmes on several TV stations went even further to describe the former deputy prime minister, who once was their media darling, as the man who betrayed the Malays.

Federal leaders should have known better with the feedback received about their BN-friendly media which was also one of the major causes of the March 8 general election debacle for the ruling coalition. It 'lost five states and was denied its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament. For many voters, no matter how conservative and fearful they are of changes, they just couldn't stomach the old way of propaganda disguising as news.

Anwar, on the other hand, could only depend on the alternative media, which largely meant personal blogs on the Internet including his own, to disseminate his propaganda. Yet tens of thousands throng his nightly ceramah while many others were eager to greet him during his daily walkabout in the constituency.

Despite his glamourous and popular ceramah, Anwar was besieged with the problem of Saiful's oath ~ something sacred among the Malays although many are skeptical about it. But at least, according to some surveys, 30 per cent of the people believed in Saiful's claims.

He was, however, "saved" at the last minute when the imam who witnessed the oath came on the PKR platform in Permatang Pauh to declare his doubt about Saiful's act, adding that it was not proper according to the Islamic teachings. While the Kuala Lumpur Mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh came to Saiful's defence yesterday by declaring the oath was valid, it was politically too late for BN.

Even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came in to bolster the BN campaign, not only by visiting the constituency but also announcing the lowering of fuel prices ~ and assured the people that it had nothing to do with the by-election.

There was also the tabling of the DNA Identification Bill 2008 at the Dewan Rakyat which MPs are debating in the current session. The bill seeks compulsory extraction of DNA from a crime suspect.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar today denied that the bill was aimed at a particular person. Anwar, who was charged with sodomy for the second time in his life, after he was acquitted from a similar charge a decade ago, refused to provide the DNA sample, citing possible manipulation by the authorities.

While his case is to be heard on Sept 10, Anwar kept the by-election momentum going with his promises of a new government and good governance. He was also daring in repeating his aim to fight for "Ketuanan Rakyat" (people's dominance) instead of Umno's "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay dominance) in a constituency of almost 70 per cent Malay voters.

Whether he was still voted in due to his personal popularity, Malays and non-Malays alike may begin to see the seriousness of this former Umno strongman's vision of a multiracial Malaysia.

Whether Anwar can deliver his promise if he is in power will be another story. But at the moment many seem confident that he can do it while a good number remain doubtful over his Sept 16 deadline for BN MPs to cross over to his side ~ and form a new government.

PKR leaders and campaigners also have accused the police ~ some 6,000 present for the Permatang Pauh by-election ~ of targeting their supporters and making life difficult for the constituents with road blocks everywhere. Even most of Anwar's ceramah took place in the presence of police helicopters hovering overhead.

Again, the pro-BN mainstream media is silent on this except to report police taking stern action against a few rowdy PKR campaigners and BN leaders" statements condemning those election workers.

Yet the most number of complaints received by the election watch group, Malaysian for Free and Fair Election or Mafrel, are those against BN for abuse of public resources and vote buying.

For all that, Anwar managed to win big.