One down, two to go — Selangor and Kedah next

By Khalid Samad

FEB 19 — The above summarises the psy-war which the BN through its various channels is trying to put forward to the public. However, as can be confirmed through a cursory glance in the media, the Perak issue is far from settled. What may have originally been considered a simple issue by the BN has developed into something far more complicated than what it bargained for.

The statement by the “pretender MB of Perak” that he will refer the issue of being called up by the Special Privileges Committee to his lawyer is a sign that what is currently happening was not expected by the BN. It seemingly forgot that the position of the speaker and all the committees formed during the earlier sessions are still technically intact. They can only be disbanded and reappointed, if that is what the BN wishes to do, through a sitting of the state assembly.

It is quite clear that should the “pretender MB” and his exco refuse to attend, the speaker through the Special Privileges Committee can take disciplinary action against them. This may include being suspended from the assembly. Should this happen, BN will find itself in the minority and a “vote of confidence” for Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin be passed in the assembly. Should they decide to attend, they will find themselves at the mercy of the SP Committee and again be suspended from the assembly due to their accepting their appointments without first referring the process of change to the assembly in the first place. This would appear to be a classic case of "damned if I do and damned if I don't".

As we now know, the SP Committee has suspended the “pretender MB” for 18 months and his six excos for 12 months each from the state assembly. The decision was made in their absence. It will be interesting to see how they get out of this sticky situation. My guess would be, again, by a total disregard of any law, written or otherwise, by invoking the name of Sultan of Perak and by chanting the age-old Umno mantra of “Hidup Melayu!”

The proper way out of this mess, as has always been stressed by the PR, is for new state elections be held. As we are aware, even if the force their way out of this mess which they created for themselves, the stability of the state government hinges on the three independent state assemblymen whose eligibility to attend the assembly is itself in question. Based on their previous behaviour, they are far from dependable.

Similarly, in both Selangor and Kedah, for all the hype, the facts on the ground are that the BN has made little if any headway. If the strength of a political party is measured by the support it has from the public, it may even be surmised that the BN is continuing to lose ground in all three states. The current developments pertaining to Elizabeth Wong in Selangor has only galvanised support for her and the PR. There is even talk of ensuring that the BN candidate, whoever he or she will be should there be a by-election in Bukit Lanjan constituency, will lose his/her deposit! Such is the anger and frustration over the BN tactics and no amount of denial will convince the public that the BN was not in any way involved in the smear campaign. Such is the reputation of the BN.

For the two upcoming by-elections, the PR machinery is already moving. Umno however is bogged down with its upcoming party elections. There will be little time for them to do anything after that, given that the by-elections will be held a day after their general assembly. We hope to see a battle-weary, torn and tattered BN machinery emerging from the general assembly, weary from the backstabbing, money-grubbing campaigning which has emerged as their trade mark over the years.

Without wanting to sound over-confident, as I never believe in under-estimating my opponent, I feel that the Malay proverb "sepandai-pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga" is very apt in this situation. All that the BN has managed to do is convince the public that it has not yet learnt its lesson and is therefore in dire need of another trouncing. In this matter, I believe we Malaysians will be very happy to oblige.

Khalid Samad is MP for Shah Alam. He is also head of the Shah Alam Pas division and also a member of the Pas political bureau which is the most powerful bureau in the party. His website is www.khalidsamad.com

One down, two to go — Selangor and Kedah next

By Khalid Samad

FEB 19 — The above summarises the psy-war which the BN through its various channels is trying to put forward to the public. However, as can be confirmed through a cursory glance in the media, the Perak issue is far from settled. What may have originally been considered a simple issue by the BN has developed into something far more complicated than what it bargained for.

The statement by the “pretender MB of Perak” that he will refer the issue of being called up by the Special Privileges Committee to his lawyer is a sign that what is currently happening was not expected by the BN. It seemingly forgot that the position of the speaker and all the committees formed during the earlier sessions are still technically intact. They can only be disbanded and reappointed, if that is what the BN wishes to do, through a sitting of the state assembly.

It is quite clear that should the “pretender MB” and his exco refuse to attend, the speaker through the Special Privileges Committee can take disciplinary action against them. This may include being suspended from the assembly. Should this happen, BN will find itself in the minority and a “vote of confidence” for Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin be passed in the assembly. Should they decide to attend, they will find themselves at the mercy of the SP Committee and again be suspended from the assembly due to their accepting their appointments without first referring the process of change to the assembly in the first place. This would appear to be a classic case of "damned if I do and damned if I don't".

As we now know, the SP Committee has suspended the “pretender MB” for 18 months and his six excos for 12 months each from the state assembly. The decision was made in their absence. It will be interesting to see how they get out of this sticky situation. My guess would be, again, by a total disregard of any law, written or otherwise, by invoking the name of Sultan of Perak and by chanting the age-old Umno mantra of “Hidup Melayu!”

The proper way out of this mess, as has always been stressed by the PR, is for new state elections be held. As we are aware, even if the force their way out of this mess which they created for themselves, the stability of the state government hinges on the three independent state assemblymen whose eligibility to attend the assembly is itself in question. Based on their previous behaviour, they are far from dependable.

Similarly, in both Selangor and Kedah, for all the hype, the facts on the ground are that the BN has made little if any headway. If the strength of a political party is measured by the support it has from the public, it may even be surmised that the BN is continuing to lose ground in all three states. The current developments pertaining to Elizabeth Wong in Selangor has only galvanised support for her and the PR. There is even talk of ensuring that the BN candidate, whoever he or she will be should there be a by-election in Bukit Lanjan constituency, will lose his/her deposit! Such is the anger and frustration over the BN tactics and no amount of denial will convince the public that the BN was not in any way involved in the smear campaign. Such is the reputation of the BN.

For the two upcoming by-elections, the PR machinery is already moving. Umno however is bogged down with its upcoming party elections. There will be little time for them to do anything after that, given that the by-elections will be held a day after their general assembly. We hope to see a battle-weary, torn and tattered BN machinery emerging from the general assembly, weary from the backstabbing, money-grubbing campaigning which has emerged as their trade mark over the years.

Without wanting to sound over-confident, as I never believe in under-estimating my opponent, I feel that the Malay proverb "sepandai-pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga" is very apt in this situation. All that the BN has managed to do is convince the public that it has not yet learnt its lesson and is therefore in dire need of another trouncing. In this matter, I believe we Malaysians will be very happy to oblige.

Khalid Samad is MP for Shah Alam. He is also head of the Shah Alam Pas division and also a member of the Pas political bureau which is the most powerful bureau in the party. His website is www.khalidsamad.com

Abdullah Wants Prices Of Goods To Go Down

TASHKENT, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants traders to reduce their prices of goods so that consumers can enjoy the benefit of cheaper petrol and diesel in the country.

The prime minister said the problem was that prices of most goods had yet to go down despite the drop in fuel prices in the country for the fifth time, with the latest starting Tuesday.

"When the fuel prices went down, the prices of goods have not gone down as well. This is what I don't like to hear," Abdullah who is on the second day of his four-day official visit to Uzbekistan told Malaysian journalists here.

He said the traders were only interested in making a big profit, thus burdening the people.

The pump price of petrol will be RM2 a litre starting tomorrow, less 15 sen, while diesel will be RM1.90 per litre.

Abdullah said the government kept its word by reducing the pump prices following the downward trend of global oil prices.

However, the government was always at the losing end as people would still be angry with the government when the pump prices went down because the prices of goods did not go down as well, he added.

Abdullah said the people should not blame the government all the time as they, as consumers, had a role to play too in checking rising prices of goods.

"I am glad to hear that some non-governmental organisations plan to boycott some business premises for not reducing their prices," he said.

Abdullah hoped that consumer associations could enlighten the business associations on the plight of the people through discussions.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysian leader to step down in March

By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press Writer AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's prime minister announced Wednesday he will step down in March and hand over power to his deputy, averting an open rebellion from party members that could have led to a humiliating ouster.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose term expires in 2013, told reporters that he was stepping down early to prevent a split in his United Malays National Organization party, which forms the core of the ruling National Front coalition.

"In all my years of service, I have always been guided by my conscience ... and I do not want a divided party and governing coalition, but one that is united and harmonious," he said, flanked by his successor, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Abdullah had very little choice. His own party members has been clamoring for a new leadership after he led the National Front _ in power since independence in 1957 _ to its worst performance in a general election last March.

Initially, Abdullah refused to resign. Later, he said he would leave in June 2010, but when that failed to placate dissidents he agreed to quit in March 2009 after the party holds elections for its office bearers.

Abdullah said he will not defend his position as UMNO president in the elections. Instead, the post will be contested by Najib, who is expected to win unopposed. The party's president automatically becomes the prime minister.

Abdullah said he will hand over the premiership after Najib formally wins.

Until then, he said, he will pursue reforms in the judiciary, economy and administration. Abdullah is unlikely to achieve much given that his reform program has made little headway during his four years in office.

The global financial crisis and economic slowdown is expected to hit Malaysia's export-driven economy hard, with analysts predicting 3 percent economic growth in 2009 _ even as inflation reached a 27-year high this month.

Racial tensions are also running high between the majority Malays and the minority ethnic Chinese and Indians, who blame the government's pro-Malay policies for causing social fissures.

Anger against the government exploded in the general elections when opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's multiracial coalition, the People's Alliance, won an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament.

The March 8 election results triggered months of turmoil in the United Malays National Organization and have threatened its position as the country's dominant political force.

___

Associated Press writers Sean Yoong and Julia Zappei contributed to this article.

SAPP won't rejoin BN even if PM steps down

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) will not return to the Barisan Nasional (BN) fold even if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were to announce the leadership transition today (Wednesday), said its President Datuk Yong Teck Lee.

He said SAPP pulled out from the BN coalition on Sept 17 because of their struggle in wanting to see a lasting solution to the problems affecting the people in Sabah.

"It is not a personal issue that if Pak Lah were to leave...we (SAPP) will be back in BN. We are looking at issues at large, and not necessarily just the Prime Minister of the day," he told reporters here, Tuesday.

Asked on Abdullah's likely announcement today (Wednes-day), Yong said his guess was that the Prime Minister would not announce the leadership transition.

"The reasons being that he has the majority support of Umno members and the people of Malaysia who have voted for BN and he has a comfortable majority in Parliament," he said.

On a different note, Yong said as of Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, who has declared himself a 'Barisan independent' after SAPP pulled out of BN, had yet to submit his resignation letter as a member of SAPP.

- Daily Express, Sabah