"It goes back to the fundamental contradictions in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Vision 2020 ..... It offered the image of an economically and technologically modern society,
but failed to recognise that you cannot simply create a modern economy with modern technology and keep everything else pretty much unchanged."
-Clive Kessler, Bumpy stretch ahead for Malaysia
Six months down the road, it appears that Najib is losing his grip on party matter - and he needs another "war" to prop him up.
Everything Umno does, seems to be going wrong - from the proposed Internet Filter, to Rohaizat's candidacy, to the caning of Kartika, to the beer issue, to the reversal of the Non-Muslims only ruling for the Black eyed Peas concert, to the Visit Malaysia advertisement. Let us not forget Najib's address to the media - encouraging it to be bolder in its journalism, and to report without fear or favour, while at the same time retaining the PPPA....... and of course Moohyiddin's lie at Permatang Pasir, that Singapore threatened to go to war over water.
Morale in Umno is low - bigtime - and he needs a reason to have his Umno minions to rally around him.
As usual, Umno looks for a "bogeyman" to attack, in its efforts to unite Umno that appears to be very much shaken after last year's mandate - it is a party so weak, that cannot feel at ease unless it gets a two-third majority in Parliament.
In search of a bogeyman to blame their failures on, we now hear that our former Information Minister, Zainudin Maidin saying (in Utusan, of course), “If 50 years of independence have given a deeper understanding of the poison sowed by Kuan Yew 40 years ago, the recent events mentioned would not have occurred.” “Singapore sticks to a Third World democracy despite having a developed world mentality, while Malaysia has a Third World mentality but a developed world democracy.”
We had plenty of racist rhetoric from the fascists/extremists. Candle-light vigils disrupted. We had cycling children apprehended. Then came the Perak coup in which hooligans took control of the State assembly with the support of Najib. Then the threats of violence by a group of hoodlums disguised as NGO at the anti-ISA rally. We had Teoh Beng Hock die with the "cooperation" of MACC. We had some two-bit "Islamists" threatening violence and blood using a cow head, with an "inexperienced" police force looking on. Lately. we had Najib openly announcing that he "wants" Selangor, despite the people's mandate. And today, we have Aduns arrested in Perak. (That's the "developed world democracy" Zam speaks of!)
All these, while he goes around proclaiming a "1-Malaysia" - devoid of Law & Order.
To me, there is a very obvious pattern of events that are taking place - "somebody", it appears, is desperately trying to subvert the the whole system that holds the country together. This "somebody" needs to rally one sector of society against all the others, whose support they have lost (and have no hope of regaining).
The temperature is being raised, and those on the offensive are now bent on creating a very nervous society which can one day "snap", and then run riot. This will bring about calls to curtail civil liberties and "stern action". It is being made increasingly obvious that the lazy Home Minister isn't too keen on the "review" of the ISA, as it was a convenient tool to be used on dissenters on the pretext of "national security".
To make it possible for them to retain ISA and other draconian laws (like the Police Act, PPPA, Sedition Act, UUCA and the OSA), they seem to need some level of "insecurity". The people (mainly the Malays) need to feel insecure - and only then can these archaic laws be retained. They need to feel like they are defending something that means everything to the Malays - and "hang the other Malaysians", and hold them at ransom (that includes the "bumiputeras or pribumis" in the penisular or Sabah and Sarawak).
They need to raise the temperature of politics and threaten the public with chaos and trouble. The Malays must be made to feel that they will lose everything, when they never did gain much - beyond the political hogwash and racist rhetoric peddled by their Umno masters. They want us to ask for "stern action" against dissenters.
So what we have now is the creation of 2 Malaysias in "1-Malaysia" .... one has to hold the other by the balls. That is the "Pekan Formula" .... that is Ketuanan UmnoPutera.
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Showing posts with label in. Show all posts
Showing posts with label in. Show all posts
20090302
A cyber war in Malaysian politics?
FEB 19 — Once upon a time, before the Internet became as common as the television in Malaysian homes, public figures made local speeches that were tailored to suit the audience that was physically present.
This worked well for politicians wishing to entertain the parochial tendencies of the audience of the day without jeopardising their prospects of becoming nationally relevant.
Today, however, such speeches quickly leak into the wired world of the Internet, putting things into a different context, and revealing the speakers' supposed real values to the world.
Playing local politics with the awareness that the audience is always the whole wide world is no easy task, especially for those who have been in politics and in power long before the Internet changed everything.
The dominant Umno learned this the hard way three years ago when it decided to telecast "live" its national assembly. The parochialism and racism expressed by its candidates on that occasion for the nation to hear soon forced it to backtrack.
Defensive arrogance does grow out of the inability to evolve.
The attempt to block access to Raja Petra Kamarudin's controversial Malaysia Today website last year managed to stop traffic going to that site, but did not stop access to its contents. Mirror sites sprung up immediately to nullify the censorship.
The police decision in September 2008 to use the Internal Security Act to jail Raja Petra, along with prominent opposition politician Teresa Kok and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, merely backfired. The de facto minister of law, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, soon resigned in protest.
Publicly calling female bloggers liars, as then Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor did in March 2007, is also not a very smart thing to do. The negative reaction on the web on that occasion was tremendous.
Opinions expressed for local consumption becoming national news is part and parcel of a revolution in information technology which carries enormous consequences for the near future. Some are positive, and some will certainly not be.
Through the Net, you can sell old useless books you have under the stairs on the world market; you can get to know strangers on the other half of the world merely by being on chat sites; and you can arrange an entire holiday to the south of France without talking to any salesperson at all.
In Malaysian politics, we have witnessed how SMSes, videos and phone cameras have come into play. While these can uncover abuse of power, as in the case of the woman forced to do ear-squats naked while detained by the police in December 2005; reveal dubious practices, as in the case of the Lingam Tapes released in 2007 showing a prominent lawyer boasting about his ability to fix top judge appointments through political connections; and contribute to court cases, as in SMSes supposedly sent by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to a lawyer, discussing the detention of a close associate then charged with involvement in the murder of a Mongolian woman.
The latest political incident involving IT innovations concerns the circulation of nude pictures of prominent opposition politician Elizabeth Wong, secretly taken on a phone camera.
The case of Wong (also a blogger), who has offered to resign from her position as state assemblywoman for the opposition-held Selangor, adds worrying dimensions to the political use of modern IT.
First, it is not only the line between the local and the national that is being erased. The line between the private and the public is fading fast as well.
That is worrying indeed. Most urbanites in Malaysia of all races, especially in the Klang Valley where Wong lives, would undoubtedly consider Wong the victim. Mass media attempts to class the case as a "sex scandal" — and this happened on both sides of the Causeway — smack of shameless sensationalism, journalistic amateurism and political opportunism.
In the sanctity of her home, surely she is allowed to walk scantily dressed, sleep half-naked, even shower nude, and yes, have sex without clothes on. The culprits deserving punishment are those who facilitated the publicising of those pictures, regardless of whether they were taken with her permission or not.
The fact that she is an unmarried woman, and not a man, has had a serious impact on how the incident is being interpreted. Should a male politician, married or not, such as former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo, for example, have been photographed in the nude while asleep, the fallout would have been minimal, even comical.
The Wong case also shows the disturbing shrinkage of moral space when the private and the local are technologically subsumed under the public and the national.
Moral values do differ geographically, individually, culturally and according to lifestyle. This diversity is denied when such a case gets politicised, and here, the supposed sensitivities of the vocally most religious, most parochial, most traditional and most rural are allowed to define the national public norm. Wong is being sacrificed to appease illiberal elements within the opposition. Surely, this is not what the Pakatan Rakyat is fighting for.
A political cyber war has started in Malaysia. While we thought that the old would be at the mercy of the new in such a showdown, it is time to realise that, in truth, the more desperate and more immoral has the edge.
The writer is a Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. His latest book is "March 8: Eclipsing May 13" (with Johan Saravanamuttu and Lee Hock Guan, ISEAS).
20090228
Umno Youth angrily mobs Karpal in Parliament
By : V. Vasudevan & Eileen Ng
DEWAN RAKYAT, Thurs:
The group had been waiting at the parliament tower for Karpal and as soon as he arrived they surrounded him and started heckling him over his warning to Pemuda Umno yesterday.
He accused Umno Youth of having sent him two bullets while debating the Royal Address.
"Where did the celaka Pemuda Umno fellows get the bullets?" he had asked while pronouncing himself not afraid.
The drama started when Karpal was confronted by the 22-member group comprising Selangor Umno Youth members as the MP was making his way into the parliament's tower block at 2.45pm.
However, Karpal refused to recant his allegation that the wing had sent bullets in the mail to him recently, as well as using the term “celaka” (damn) to berate the movement.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs - Fong Kui Loon (DAP-Bukit Bintang), N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) and Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), who just came back from lunch, went to Karpal’s aid after being informed by parliament staff of the incident.
They claimed they were roughed up by the mob, with their bodies pushed and shoved by several Umno members. "One even pulled my tie. At one point, I nearly fell into the fountain," Lim claimed.
However, the trio manage to wheel Karpal into the House, while the Umno Youth group continued to heckle and shout at them.
Moments later, Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) tried to cool down the situation but he was greeted by more shouts.
"Who are you? Go away," shouted several members of the mob.
.
Karpal's son, Gobind Singh (DAP-Puchong), who sprinted to his father's aid, traded verbal blows with the group. At one point, Gobind and a member of the mob had to be restrained by their respective members to prevent fisticuffs.
The situation improved after BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chief Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing appeared and urged the group to disperse.
"Please go back and respect the House. We can't have such incidents happening here," he told them.
Gombak Umno Youth chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, who was part of the mob, told reporters that they are Umno members “willing to die defending the party.”
"He (Karpal) must stop insulting the Rulers and the Malays," he said. “Our patience is running out.”
Karpal immediately took up the matter in Chambers and demanded to know how the group made it into the compound.
"What security is the House providing?" he asked speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, who promised to investigate and assured members that everything was done to protect them.
"I am disabled but not intimidated by this. The police were there and they just watched," Karpal claimed.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said not agreeing with Karpal was not an excuse to get physical with him. "We must come up with a ruling that all parliamentarians must be protected," he said.
Later, at a Press conference at the Parliament lobby, Karpal remained defiant despite the scare. “I maybe in a wheelchair but I will not be cowed or intimidated by anyone,” the MP dubbed the Tiger of Jelutong said.
The Press conference was also attended by Pakatan Rakyat leaders and members. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang were at Karpal's side.
The MP for Bukit Gelugor also declared he would not apologise for the terms he had used while debating the Royal Address yesterday.
“There is no question of apology," he said. "They abused and threatened me and insisted I apologise. I said that was out and told them back off. They were becoming menacing and they looked like they were ready to hit me."
Karpal likened the group antics as to that of brazen gangsters. “As an MP, I have duties which I will carry out without fear,” he said.
Karpal also criticised parliament security. “Each time we start the sitting, there is a motion by the Home Minister to ensure that members have safe passage to parliament and are safe from any disturbances while here. How could they allow them to enter the parliament compound? Where is the security?” he asked.
Despite the incident, Karpal did not lose his sense of humour. “Singh is King. I should be paid royalty for promoting the movie (the Bollywood movie). I will share the royalty with you all (looking at the press),” he quipped.
Karpal had twice referred to the title of the movie in passing as a way of reinforcing his credentials as a fearless man.
Opposition leader, Anwar said he was disappointed with the uncultured behaviour of the Umno Youth members. “I demand fast action from the authorities that MPs are safe and their security assured,” he said.
Lim said this was the first time the Parliament history that such an incident had occurred. “It is shameful and outrageous. It is in violation of parliament sanctity. This shows how ugly Malaysian politics have become,” he said.
Lim called on Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to publicly apologise for this outrage.
DEWAN RAKYAT, Thurs:
7:07pm UPDATE: DAP chairman and MP for Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh was confronted by a group of Selangor Umno Youth members at the Parliament tower block this afternoon but this soon culminated in a shouting match and a scuffle that led MP for Segambut Lim Lip Eng to having his shirt tugged.
He accused Umno Youth of having sent him two bullets while debating the Royal Address.
"Where did the celaka Pemuda Umno fellows get the bullets?" he had asked while pronouncing himself not afraid.
The drama started when Karpal was confronted by the 22-member group comprising Selangor Umno Youth members as the MP was making his way into the parliament's tower block at 2.45pm.
However, Karpal refused to recant his allegation that the wing had sent bullets in the mail to him recently, as well as using the term “celaka” (damn) to berate the movement.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs - Fong Kui Loon (DAP-Bukit Bintang), N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) and Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), who just came back from lunch, went to Karpal’s aid after being informed by parliament staff of the incident.
They claimed they were roughed up by the mob, with their bodies pushed and shoved by several Umno members. "One even pulled my tie. At one point, I nearly fell into the fountain," Lim claimed.
However, the trio manage to wheel Karpal into the House, while the Umno Youth group continued to heckle and shout at them.
Moments later, Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) tried to cool down the situation but he was greeted by more shouts.
"Who are you? Go away," shouted several members of the mob.
.
Karpal's son, Gobind Singh (DAP-Puchong), who sprinted to his father's aid, traded verbal blows with the group. At one point, Gobind and a member of the mob had to be restrained by their respective members to prevent fisticuffs.
The situation improved after BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chief Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing appeared and urged the group to disperse.
"Please go back and respect the House. We can't have such incidents happening here," he told them.
Gombak Umno Youth chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, who was part of the mob, told reporters that they are Umno members “willing to die defending the party.”
"He (Karpal) must stop insulting the Rulers and the Malays," he said. “Our patience is running out.”
Karpal immediately took up the matter in Chambers and demanded to know how the group made it into the compound.
"What security is the House providing?" he asked speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, who promised to investigate and assured members that everything was done to protect them.
"I am disabled but not intimidated by this. The police were there and they just watched," Karpal claimed.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said not agreeing with Karpal was not an excuse to get physical with him. "We must come up with a ruling that all parliamentarians must be protected," he said.
Later, at a Press conference at the Parliament lobby, Karpal remained defiant despite the scare. “I maybe in a wheelchair but I will not be cowed or intimidated by anyone,” the MP dubbed the Tiger of Jelutong said.
The Press conference was also attended by Pakatan Rakyat leaders and members. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang were at Karpal's side.
The MP for Bukit Gelugor also declared he would not apologise for the terms he had used while debating the Royal Address yesterday.
“There is no question of apology," he said. "They abused and threatened me and insisted I apologise. I said that was out and told them back off. They were becoming menacing and they looked like they were ready to hit me."
Karpal likened the group antics as to that of brazen gangsters. “As an MP, I have duties which I will carry out without fear,” he said.
Karpal also criticised parliament security. “Each time we start the sitting, there is a motion by the Home Minister to ensure that members have safe passage to parliament and are safe from any disturbances while here. How could they allow them to enter the parliament compound? Where is the security?” he asked.
Despite the incident, Karpal did not lose his sense of humour. “Singh is King. I should be paid royalty for promoting the movie (the Bollywood movie). I will share the royalty with you all (looking at the press),” he quipped.
Karpal had twice referred to the title of the movie in passing as a way of reinforcing his credentials as a fearless man.
Opposition leader, Anwar said he was disappointed with the uncultured behaviour of the Umno Youth members. “I demand fast action from the authorities that MPs are safe and their security assured,” he said.
Lim said this was the first time the Parliament history that such an incident had occurred. “It is shameful and outrageous. It is in violation of parliament sanctity. This shows how ugly Malaysian politics have become,” he said.
Lim called on Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to publicly apologise for this outrage.
Umno Youth angrily mobs Karpal in Parliament
By : V. Vasudevan & Eileen Ng
DEWAN RAKYAT, Thurs:
The group had been waiting at the parliament tower for Karpal and as soon as he arrived they surrounded him and started heckling him over his warning to Pemuda Umno yesterday.
He accused Umno Youth of having sent him two bullets while debating the Royal Address.
"Where did the celaka Pemuda Umno fellows get the bullets?" he had asked while pronouncing himself not afraid.
The drama started when Karpal was confronted by the 22-member group comprising Selangor Umno Youth members as the MP was making his way into the parliament's tower block at 2.45pm.
However, Karpal refused to recant his allegation that the wing had sent bullets in the mail to him recently, as well as using the term “celaka” (damn) to berate the movement.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs - Fong Kui Loon (DAP-Bukit Bintang), N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) and Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), who just came back from lunch, went to Karpal’s aid after being informed by parliament staff of the incident.
They claimed they were roughed up by the mob, with their bodies pushed and shoved by several Umno members. "One even pulled my tie. At one point, I nearly fell into the fountain," Lim claimed.
However, the trio manage to wheel Karpal into the House, while the Umno Youth group continued to heckle and shout at them.
Moments later, Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) tried to cool down the situation but he was greeted by more shouts.
"Who are you? Go away," shouted several members of the mob.
.
Karpal's son, Gobind Singh (DAP-Puchong), who sprinted to his father's aid, traded verbal blows with the group. At one point, Gobind and a member of the mob had to be restrained by their respective members to prevent fisticuffs.
The situation improved after BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chief Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing appeared and urged the group to disperse.
"Please go back and respect the House. We can't have such incidents happening here," he told them.
Gombak Umno Youth chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, who was part of the mob, told reporters that they are Umno members “willing to die defending the party.”
"He (Karpal) must stop insulting the Rulers and the Malays," he said. “Our patience is running out.”
Karpal immediately took up the matter in Chambers and demanded to know how the group made it into the compound.
"What security is the House providing?" he asked speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, who promised to investigate and assured members that everything was done to protect them.
"I am disabled but not intimidated by this. The police were there and they just watched," Karpal claimed.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said not agreeing with Karpal was not an excuse to get physical with him. "We must come up with a ruling that all parliamentarians must be protected," he said.
Later, at a Press conference at the Parliament lobby, Karpal remained defiant despite the scare. “I maybe in a wheelchair but I will not be cowed or intimidated by anyone,” the MP dubbed the Tiger of Jelutong said.
The Press conference was also attended by Pakatan Rakyat leaders and members. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang were at Karpal's side.
The MP for Bukit Gelugor also declared he would not apologise for the terms he had used while debating the Royal Address yesterday.
“There is no question of apology," he said. "They abused and threatened me and insisted I apologise. I said that was out and told them back off. They were becoming menacing and they looked like they were ready to hit me."
Karpal likened the group antics as to that of brazen gangsters. “As an MP, I have duties which I will carry out without fear,” he said.
Karpal also criticised parliament security. “Each time we start the sitting, there is a motion by the Home Minister to ensure that members have safe passage to parliament and are safe from any disturbances while here. How could they allow them to enter the parliament compound? Where is the security?” he asked.
Despite the incident, Karpal did not lose his sense of humour. “Singh is King. I should be paid royalty for promoting the movie (the Bollywood movie). I will share the royalty with you all (looking at the press),” he quipped.
Karpal had twice referred to the title of the movie in passing as a way of reinforcing his credentials as a fearless man.
Opposition leader, Anwar said he was disappointed with the uncultured behaviour of the Umno Youth members. “I demand fast action from the authorities that MPs are safe and their security assured,” he said.
Lim said this was the first time the Parliament history that such an incident had occurred. “It is shameful and outrageous. It is in violation of parliament sanctity. This shows how ugly Malaysian politics have become,” he said.
Lim called on Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to publicly apologise for this outrage.
DEWAN RAKYAT, Thurs:
7:07pm UPDATE: DAP chairman and MP for Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh was confronted by a group of Selangor Umno Youth members at the Parliament tower block this afternoon but this soon culminated in a shouting match and a scuffle that led MP for Segambut Lim Lip Eng to having his shirt tugged.
He accused Umno Youth of having sent him two bullets while debating the Royal Address.
"Where did the celaka Pemuda Umno fellows get the bullets?" he had asked while pronouncing himself not afraid.
The drama started when Karpal was confronted by the 22-member group comprising Selangor Umno Youth members as the MP was making his way into the parliament's tower block at 2.45pm.
However, Karpal refused to recant his allegation that the wing had sent bullets in the mail to him recently, as well as using the term “celaka” (damn) to berate the movement.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs - Fong Kui Loon (DAP-Bukit Bintang), N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) and Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut), who just came back from lunch, went to Karpal’s aid after being informed by parliament staff of the incident.
They claimed they were roughed up by the mob, with their bodies pushed and shoved by several Umno members. "One even pulled my tie. At one point, I nearly fell into the fountain," Lim claimed.
However, the trio manage to wheel Karpal into the House, while the Umno Youth group continued to heckle and shout at them.
Moments later, Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) tried to cool down the situation but he was greeted by more shouts.
"Who are you? Go away," shouted several members of the mob.
.
Karpal's son, Gobind Singh (DAP-Puchong), who sprinted to his father's aid, traded verbal blows with the group. At one point, Gobind and a member of the mob had to be restrained by their respective members to prevent fisticuffs.
The situation improved after BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chief Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing appeared and urged the group to disperse.
"Please go back and respect the House. We can't have such incidents happening here," he told them.
Gombak Umno Youth chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, who was part of the mob, told reporters that they are Umno members “willing to die defending the party.”
"He (Karpal) must stop insulting the Rulers and the Malays," he said. “Our patience is running out.”
Karpal immediately took up the matter in Chambers and demanded to know how the group made it into the compound.
"What security is the House providing?" he asked speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, who promised to investigate and assured members that everything was done to protect them.
"I am disabled but not intimidated by this. The police were there and they just watched," Karpal claimed.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said not agreeing with Karpal was not an excuse to get physical with him. "We must come up with a ruling that all parliamentarians must be protected," he said.
Later, at a Press conference at the Parliament lobby, Karpal remained defiant despite the scare. “I maybe in a wheelchair but I will not be cowed or intimidated by anyone,” the MP dubbed the Tiger of Jelutong said.
The Press conference was also attended by Pakatan Rakyat leaders and members. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang were at Karpal's side.
The MP for Bukit Gelugor also declared he would not apologise for the terms he had used while debating the Royal Address yesterday.
“There is no question of apology," he said. "They abused and threatened me and insisted I apologise. I said that was out and told them back off. They were becoming menacing and they looked like they were ready to hit me."
Karpal likened the group antics as to that of brazen gangsters. “As an MP, I have duties which I will carry out without fear,” he said.
Karpal also criticised parliament security. “Each time we start the sitting, there is a motion by the Home Minister to ensure that members have safe passage to parliament and are safe from any disturbances while here. How could they allow them to enter the parliament compound? Where is the security?” he asked.
Despite the incident, Karpal did not lose his sense of humour. “Singh is King. I should be paid royalty for promoting the movie (the Bollywood movie). I will share the royalty with you all (looking at the press),” he quipped.
Karpal had twice referred to the title of the movie in passing as a way of reinforcing his credentials as a fearless man.
Opposition leader, Anwar said he was disappointed with the uncultured behaviour of the Umno Youth members. “I demand fast action from the authorities that MPs are safe and their security assured,” he said.
Lim said this was the first time the Parliament history that such an incident had occurred. “It is shameful and outrageous. It is in violation of parliament sanctity. This shows how ugly Malaysian politics have become,” he said.
Lim called on Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to publicly apologise for this outrage.
20090111
Sabah Umno helps out in by-poll
Terengganu: Sabah Umno leaders headed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman together with central party leaders and Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties joined the procession to escort the BN candidate to the nomination centre here for the Kuala Terengganu by-election, Tuesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak with the Menteri Besar Terengganu Datuk Ahmad Said walked with thousands of leaders and Umno and BN supporters to escort candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh to the nomination centre in the State stadium here.
Among Sabah Umno leaders who were present include Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin who is also the Umno Liasion Secretary, Umno Information Chief Datuk Sapawi Haji Ahmad, other Umno divisional heads, Youth, Wanita and Puteri Umno heads.
The BN candidate Wan Ahmad would be challenged by PAS candidate Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut and independent candidate Azharudin Mamat @ Adam in the by-election on Jan 17.
Musa, Yahya and Sapawi also toured the operation rooms and campaigning centres set up by Sabah Umno in the polling areas that falls under the responsibility of Sabah Umno for the coming by-election.
20090108
WAJIB AMBIL TAHU: SENARAI PRODUK ISRAEL-US DAN ALTERNATIF LAIN - WHY I'M BOYCOTTING ANYTHING 'MADE IN ISRAEL'
http://www.mcm2ade.blogspot.com/
WAJIB AMBIL TAHU: SENARAI PRODUK ISRAEL-US DAN ALTERNATIF LAIN -
WHY I'M BOYCOTTING ANYTHING 'MADE IN ISRAEL'
WAJIB AMBIL TAHU: SENARAI PRODUK ISRAEL-US DAN ALTERNATIF LAIN -
WHY I'M BOYCOTTING ANYTHING 'MADE IN ISRAEL'
20090103
Guan Eng wants Anwar to rein in squabbling leaders
PENANG, Jan 2 – DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has urged Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to maintain discipline among PKR leaders to ensure the people's continuous support for Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
He was responding to reporters’ questions about the misunderstanding between some PKR and Pas leaders in Perak, which could affect PR’s chances of winning the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.
Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, told a press conference at his office that he would look into the cause of the misunderstanding and would find ways to resolve the matter.
On the candidate fielded by Pas for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat, Lim said DAP would give its full support to the candidate.
“DAP, as a component in Pakatan Rakyat, will support and extend our cooperation to ensure a win for the candidate," he added.
Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang announced last night that Wakaf Mempelam Assemblyman Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut would contest the Kuala Terengganu by-election, for which nomination will be held on Jan 6, followed by polling on Jan 17.
The by-election is held following the death of its Member of Parliament Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28 last year. – Bernama
20081229
Pakatan Rakyat Row Hots Up: Fauzi denies Pahang PKR in shambles after takeover
KUANTAN: Newly-appointed Pahang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman yesterday rebutted rumours that the party was in a shambles after he took over the post from Zakaria Abdul Hamid recently.
Fauzi said he met the PKR state and divisional leaders on Saturday and all of them supported his appointment which was decided during a supreme council meeting recently.
Asked to comment on the opposition from the PKR Youth wing, Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK), Fauzi said this was normal in a democratic organisation.
Indera Mahkota member of parliament Azan Ismail of PKR said there was opposition from a few members of AMK initially, but all of them finally agreed to support Fauzi.
Fauzi, the former deputy information minister and ex-Kuantan member of parliament, left Umno to join PKR in July.
Pakatan Rakyat Row Hots Up: Clam up, don't bicker in public, says Syed Husin
BERNAMA
Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali says parties should settle differences internally
"I wish to urge and plead with the various parties in Pakatan (Rakyat) to stop taking their differences and conflicts to the media, especially the BN-controlled ones.
"This includes not only the Selangor MB (Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim) and the Kapar MP (S. Manikavasagam) but also the Selangor speaker (DAP's Teng Chang Khim) and the Klang MP (DAP's Charles Santiago)," he said in a statement here yesterday. Besides PKR, the other members of PR are the DAP and Pas.
Manikavasagam announced on Friday that he would quit PKR, saying he was dissatisfied with Khalid and the way the menteri besar ran the affairs of the state.
Khalid hit back on Sunday, saying that Manikavasagam was free to resign. He said he was also not interested in meeting the MP or asking him to reconsider his decision to quit.
Santiago challenged Teng to prove that he had been bought over by the BN and was behaving like an opposition leader.
"They should sit down, discuss and settle their differences and conflicts internally. There are various existing channels and procedures to do so," said Syed Husin of the war of words among PR elected representatives.
He said that in the absence of PKR president Datyk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who are away until Jan 6, he would call a meeting of the political bureaus on Wednesday to discuss the main and related issues "in order to find a suitable solution".
"The issue of the Kapar MP's threat to leave PKR has been blown out of proportion by certain BN-controlled media.
"They have distorted statements by some Pakatan (Rakyat) leaders in order to portray as if the opposition alliance is in disarray.
"Obviously, their intention is to draw public attention away from the series of crises in the BN and also within major components of the government coalition, in view of the upcoming Kuala Terengganu by-election," he added. -- Bernama
Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali says parties should settle differences internally
KUALA LUMPUR: Please shut up. This is the appeal of Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali to leaders in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) opposition pact.
"This includes not only the Selangor MB (Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim) and the Kapar MP (S. Manikavasagam) but also the Selangor speaker (DAP's Teng Chang Khim) and the Klang MP (DAP's Charles Santiago)," he said in a statement here yesterday. Besides PKR, the other members of PR are the DAP and Pas.
Manikavasagam announced on Friday that he would quit PKR, saying he was dissatisfied with Khalid and the way the menteri besar ran the affairs of the state.
Khalid hit back on Sunday, saying that Manikavasagam was free to resign. He said he was also not interested in meeting the MP or asking him to reconsider his decision to quit.
"They should sit down, discuss and settle their differences and conflicts internally. There are various existing channels and procedures to do so," said Syed Husin of the war of words among PR elected representatives.
He said that in the absence of PKR president Datyk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who are away until Jan 6, he would call a meeting of the political bureaus on Wednesday to discuss the main and related issues "in order to find a suitable solution".
"The issue of the Kapar MP's threat to leave PKR has been blown out of proportion by certain BN-controlled media.
"They have distorted statements by some Pakatan (Rakyat) leaders in order to portray as if the opposition alliance is in disarray.
"Obviously, their intention is to draw public attention away from the series of crises in the BN and also within major components of the government coalition, in view of the upcoming Kuala Terengganu by-election," he added. -- Bernama
20081211
Pahang Umno Executive Secretary dies in accident
TEMERLOH: Datuk Abdullah Rahmat, 51, the executive secretary of the Pahang Umno liaison committee died when the four-wheel drive vehicle he was driving hit a cow crossing the East Coast Highway at KM92 near Lanchang.
Temerloh police district chief, ACP Ahmad Fadzillah Mohamed, said Abdullah and two friends were traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan when the accident happened at 9.15pm on Wednesday.
"After hitting the animal, the vehicle went out of control and slammed into the road divider, overturned and ended up in the middle lane upside down," Ahmad Fadzillah told reporters on Thursday.
Abdullah had serious head injuries and was declared dead while being taken to the Sultan Ahmad Shah Hospital in Temerloh.
One of his co-passengers, Ahmad Kamal Abdul Malek, 50, was seriously injured and is being treated at the same hospital while the other passenger, Mohd Fazzri Mohd Amri, 22, had light injuries.
Ahmad Fadzillah said after the accident, another car, a Perodua Kelisa, also from Kuala Lumpur struck the dead cow and skidded but its driver, Sahlan Mat Nor, 22, only suffered light injuries.
Abdullah's body was taken to his village in Pulau Tambun, Pekan Thursday morning and he is expected to be buried after 'Zohor' prayers. - Bernama
20081210
Abdullah Confident Of BN's Victory In Kuala Terengganu By-election
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is confident that Barisan Nasional will retain the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in the by-election on Jan 17.
"We want to win, we want to win, we want to win. That is my comment," he told reporters after chairing the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting here, Tuesday.
Asked why he was so confident of winning, Abdullah replied: "There must be some confidence, if not how we're going to say we want to win,".
Abdullah said among the reasons why he was confident of victory were because the seat belonged to the BN previously and the ruling coalition had strong support.
However, he said, BN must work hard to retain the seat.
The BN chairman also rejected the assumption that there would be a big swing by the voters.
"Not at the moment. You don't know how the people swing. They had the habit to swing even last minute for us or somebody else," he said.
Abdullah said Umno would nominate its candidate for the BN in the by-election very soon.
The BN also discussed who would be helping in the campaign for the Kuala Terengganu by-election.
The by-election was being held following the death of the Deputy Minister of Education, Datuk Razali Ismail, at the Institut Aminuddin Baki, Genting Highlands on Nov 28.
The Election Commission has fixed Jan 6 for nomination day while polling has been set for Jan 17.
-- BERNAMA
"We want to win, we want to win, we want to win. That is my comment," he told reporters after chairing the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting here, Tuesday.
Asked why he was so confident of winning, Abdullah replied: "There must be some confidence, if not how we're going to say we want to win,".
Abdullah said among the reasons why he was confident of victory were because the seat belonged to the BN previously and the ruling coalition had strong support.
However, he said, BN must work hard to retain the seat.
The BN chairman also rejected the assumption that there would be a big swing by the voters.
"Not at the moment. You don't know how the people swing. They had the habit to swing even last minute for us or somebody else," he said.
Abdullah said Umno would nominate its candidate for the BN in the by-election very soon.
The BN also discussed who would be helping in the campaign for the Kuala Terengganu by-election.
The by-election was being held following the death of the Deputy Minister of Education, Datuk Razali Ismail, at the Institut Aminuddin Baki, Genting Highlands on Nov 28.
The Election Commission has fixed Jan 6 for nomination day while polling has been set for Jan 17.
-- BERNAMA
PAS Candidate To Contest In K. Terengganu By-Election
PENANTI, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Tuesday Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the DAP will their give full support to any PAS candidate in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on Jan 17.
Anwar, who is also PKR advisor, said Kuala Terengganu would not be a safe seat for any party and the Pakatan Rakyat would be out in full force to fight for the seat.
"PKR and DAP have decided to give full commitment to the PAS candidate, whether he is the experienced Mohammad Sabu or others, to contest in Kuala Terengganu," he told reporters after celebrating his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's 56th birthday at Yayasan Aman here.
He said Pakatan Rakyat was confident of winning the seat which fell vacant after the incumbent, Datuk Razali Ismail, who is also the Deputy Education Minister, died of a heart attack while playing badminton on Nov 28.
In the March 8 polls this year, Razali won by a slim 628-vote majority, defeating PAS heavyweight Mat Sabu and 89-year-old independent candidatelead by Maimun Yusuf. Polling is on Jan 17 and nomination on Jan 6.
The Permatang Pauh MP also called on the federal government to set up an independent panel of experts to look into the causes of the 1993 Highland Towers collapse and the landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa on Saturday.
-- BERNAMA
Anwar, who is also PKR advisor, said Kuala Terengganu would not be a safe seat for any party and the Pakatan Rakyat would be out in full force to fight for the seat.
"PKR and DAP have decided to give full commitment to the PAS candidate, whether he is the experienced Mohammad Sabu or others, to contest in Kuala Terengganu," he told reporters after celebrating his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's 56th birthday at Yayasan Aman here.
He said Pakatan Rakyat was confident of winning the seat which fell vacant after the incumbent, Datuk Razali Ismail, who is also the Deputy Education Minister, died of a heart attack while playing badminton on Nov 28.
In the March 8 polls this year, Razali won by a slim 628-vote majority, defeating PAS heavyweight Mat Sabu and 89-year-old independent candidatelead by Maimun Yusuf. Polling is on Jan 17 and nomination on Jan 6.
The Permatang Pauh MP also called on the federal government to set up an independent panel of experts to look into the causes of the 1993 Highland Towers collapse and the landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa on Saturday.
-- BERNAMA
20081209
Swing voters in Kuala Terengganu
Chinese Malaysian voters hold the key
I am not convinced that PAS president and former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang realises the importance of the Chinese Malaysian vote in a seat that is 88% Malay Malaysian, and in a state that is more than 95% Malay Malaysian. If he sidelines opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the DAP, it is likely that PAS will lose this by-election.
Ong Kian Ming, The Nut Graph
THE Kuala Terengganu by-election, which has to be called following the death of its Member of Parliament Datuk Razali Ismail from the Barisan Nasional (BN), will be held on 17 Jan 2009, with nomination day falling on 6 Jan.
The parliamentary seat is one of the classic swing seats in Malaysia. It went from a Barisan Nasional (BN) seat in 1986 (majority 3,324 votes to a Semangat 46 seat in 1990 (majority 1,880). It then reverted to the BN in 1995 (majority 4,852) before going to PAS in 1999 (majority 14,488) and then back to the BN again in 2004 (majority 1,933). The BN retained the seat in the 2008 elections (majority 628).
Without doubt, the bulk of the resources and campaigning will occur in the Malay Malaysian areas in this constituency where Umno will fight tooth and nail against PAS. But should both parties' strengths cancel each other out in these areas, the non-Malay Malaysian vote will play a decisive role in determining this by-election's outcome.
Non-Malay Malaysians only comprise 12% of Kuala Terengganu's electorate. Most of these voters are Chinese Malaysians (11%) and can be found in the town areas of Kuala Terengganu. They comprise almost 40% of the electorate in the state seat of Bandar, currently held by the MCA, and the only Terengganu state seat that Umno did not contest in the 2008 general election.
Voting patterns in Bandar
The influence of non-Malay Malaysian voters here can be neatly illustrated by a brief examination of voting patterns in the Bandar state seat.
PAS won this state seat by a margin of 511 votes in the 1999 general election against Wong Foon Meng, the MCA's new secretary-general. MCA's Toh Chin Yaw won back this seat in 2004 with a majority of 1,612 votes. He held on to this seat with a reduced majority of 1,142 in 2008.
The BN was able to win back this seat from PAS in 2004 largely because PAS was not able to hold on to the Chinese Malaysian votes it had clawed from the MCA in 1999. Table 1 below illustrates this point.
(Table 1)
In 2004, PAS lost this state seat because of its inability to hold on to the Chinese Malaysian votes in areas with a significant percentage of such voters.
Excerpt of Table 1: Cabang Tiga and Hiliran Masjid
It actually made gains against the BN from 1999 to 2004 in Cabang Tiga and Hiliran Masjid, two polling stations with about an 85% Malay Malaysian electorate.
But in four other polling stations with more than 40% Chinese Malaysian voters (Pulau Kambing, Kampung Cina, Pejabat Bandaran and Paya Bunga), PAS lost a significant number of votes.
Excerpt of Table 1: Polling stations with more than 40% Chinese Malaysian voters
Indeed, these four polling stations swung the elections by approximately 2,700 votes, an amount not only enough to win this state seat, but also larger than the BN majority at the parliamentary level (1,933).
The BN lost ground in these four decisive polling stations in 2008 but not enough to lose the state and parliamentary seats. In other words, if PAS had managed to retain the level of support it received in 1999 in these four polling stations with a large percentage of Chinese Malaysian voters, it is likely that they might have won the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in 2004 and 2008.
I am not convinced that PAS president and former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang realises the importance of the Chinese Malaysian vote in a seat that is 88% Malay Malaysian, and in a state that is more than 95% Malay Malaysian. If he sidelines opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the DAP, it is likely that PAS will lose this by-election.
However, if Hadi Awang is strategic and allows his Pakatan Rakyat partners ample room to campaign in the areas with a significant number of Chinese Malaysian voters, this electoral race would be much more competitive.
It would indeed be ironic if this by-election boils down to how a few Chinese Malaysian voters in four polling stations vote. This is just one of the many interesting storylines which forms the backdrop of what promises to be a keenly contested and politically significant by-election. 
Ong Kian Ming is a PhD candidate in political science at Duke University. He can be reached at im.ok.man@gmail.com. He thanks Lai Soon Keat and Dr Bridget Welsh for the 2004 and 2008 elections polling station data.
20081203
WILL WE SEE ANOTHER FLIP FLOP HERE IN MABUL?
Do you remember the decision by the State Government to scrap the building of a coal fired plant in Lahad Datu on the basis of environment on 4 May 2008. Then in a news on 21 November 2008, Datuk Zakaria Idris (BN - Gum Gum) said that blackouts due to insufficient power supply were common and threatened economic development in the east coast. Sabah has no choice but to accept a 300mW coal-fired plant in Sandakan to ensure sufficient power supply in the state’s east coast, an assemblyman told the State Assembly. Have you ever wonder if what is not right for Lahad Datu can be right for Sandakan? So much for the flip-flop disease of our nation leadership. Is it as contagious? Before that is sorted out, we now have a new environmental issues on Mabul island. A proposed 33 hectare oceanarium resort will be build in Mabul Island, located in the East Coast of Sabah.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun had said that it will not destroy the coral reefs. Rather, it would help ease pressure from the diving crowd coming from neighbouring Sipadan island.
The question now is should we have development at the expense of environment? How much can Sabah benefit from the tourist who would "flock" to the oceanarium? Is it jus another "project" for the rakyat? I leave it for your the rakyat to call the shots, remember the next general elections, even a vote make the difference...........its in your hand now.
Eight to stalk Selangor MB in show of protest
By EDWARD RAJENDRA
SHAH ALAM: Eight members of Gerakan Reformasi Rakyat Malaysia (Reformis) will stalk Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and strip naked when they come face to face with him.
The men, aged 33 to 50, are from the movement’s Dare to be Nude Squad.
They have decided to go ahead to bare all in protest against the state government’s decision to raise the rental of low-cost houses.
“Our struggle is to keep the rental rate for government low-cost houses under the People’s Housing Scheme from going up.
“We wanted a police permit to strip in front of the State Secretariat as a sign of protest but we were denied it, so, now we will stalk the Mentri Besar and go butt naked when we get the chance,” said movement president Ramlan Abu Bakar.
He said the movement could not accept the state executive council’s decision in July to raise the rental from RM124 to RM250 a month for about 6,200 homes.
“We will go naked to get the message across. Our act is to humiliate or embarrass the Mentri Besar for not keeping to his general election promises to help the low-income earners,” he said.
On Nov 29, Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had said that the police would reject applications for permits of such nature.
Ramlan said the act of going naked was similar to pie throwing, where pies are thrown at politicians or others as a means of protesting against political beliefs or against a perceived arrogance in the person.
Yesterday, Ramlan, together with nine other members, lodged a police report and also filed a report at the state Anti-Corruption Agency here against Khalid for alleged misuse of funds in organising a Rakyat’s dinner at the PKR national congress last week.
“We want Khalid to vacate his post while the investigations are going on,” he said.
20081124
JAIP director withdraws statement on yoga ban in Perak
(The Star) IPOH: Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIP) director Datuk Jamry Sury withdrew his statement to The Star on Sunday that Perak would adopt the fatwa (edict) issued by the National Fatwa Council to ban Muslims from practising yoga.
He said as JAIP director, it was beyond his jurisdiction and discretion to make a stand on a religious matter which was the prerogative of the Sultan of Perak.
“The fatwa (on yoga) cannot be adopted in Perak yet as it has not been discussed by the State Fatwa Committee and brought to the attention of the State Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council before being presented to the Perak Sultan for consent,” he told Bernama here on Monday.
The Star carried Jamry’s statement that Perak would abide by the fatwa on yoga issued by the National Fatwa Council.
Jamry, who is also the secretary of the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, was also reported as saying that a meeting would be held on Dec 9 before a public announcement would be made on the matter.
The National Fatwa Council had on Saturday issued a fatwa declaring yoga as “haram” (forbidden) for Muslims as it contains elements of Hinduism.
Council chairman Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin was reported as saying that the National Consultative Council had also agreed that any practice containing such elements were forbidden in Islam.
“There are three things that can erode a Muslim’s aqidah (religious faith), namely conviction, words and deeds. As these elements are found in the practice of yoga, Muslims must protect their religious belief from being eroded.
“I would like to advise Muslims to stop practising yoga and choose other activities like cycling, praying and zikir (chanting) for physical wellbeing and peace of mind,” he had said. -- Bernama
20081115
ALL RULES WERE OBSERVED IN ACCQUIRING EUROCOPTER EC725,SAYS MINISTRY
The Ministry of Defence on Friday reiterated that the acquisition of the Eurocopter EC725 helicopter was in accordance with the set regulations and without the influence of any party.
The Secretary General of the ministry, Datuk Abu Bakar Abdullah, in a statement said that the price offered by Eurocopter in the tender to replace the Nuri aircraft was through an international open tender which opened on November 7, 2007.
He said the decision to acquire the Eurocopter aircraft was based on the comprehensive bid made by the company and after it scored the highest marks covering the technical assessment and the offer of a reasonable offset price.
"Eurocopter also offered a proven system and fulfilled the military specifications. The Royal Airforce of Malaysia (TUDM) is responsible for being up to date with the latest information on current helicopter technology developments in the market which fulfill the needs of military operations.
"The assessment also took into account the suitability of use and the operations climate inMalaysia
Bernama reports Abu Bakar said that after the open international tender was out, a briefing session was held on Dec 6, 2007, during the Langkawi International Marine and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition and TUDM had provided the explanation on the technical and operational aspects expected of the potential aircraft to be purchased.
The representative from the Defence Industry Division meanwhile explained on the need for an offset package and this was in line with a letter issued by the Defence Ministry on Feb 4, 2005 on the Policy and Guideline on the Countertrade/Offset Programme. Among others, the programme stated that for any acquisition of defence equipment worth more than Euro 10 million or more, there should be an offer for countertrade/offset.
The open international tender was closed on February 12 this year and on the same date at 12 noon, the ministry's Committee for Opening and Scheduling of Tender (JMMT) had opened all the offer documents received, witnessed by the participating companies' representatives.
Abu Bakar said a total of seven offers were received with the bidding pricing including delivery charges. The pricing offered by Eurocopter (Code tender: T521/07/A/006) was Euro 233,345,390.
Other tenders included T521/07/A/001 with the price in Pound Sterling amounting to 341,888,123; T521/07/A/002 (RM663,189,500), T521/07/A/003 (Euro 104,632,729); T521/07/A/004 (US$220,496,700); T521/07/A/005 (US$708,305,497) and T521/07/A/007 (US$348,178,365).
"These documents were further divided into three groups and enlisted for assessment by the Technical Assessment Committee, Offset Evaluation Committee and Price Assessment Committee.
"The output of all the three committees were tabled at the Tender A Board Meeting on July 22, 2008 and subsequently its endorsement submitted to the Finance Ministry on August 4, 2008.
"On Sept 3, 2008, the Defence Ministry received the decision and approval from the Finance Ministry to choose Eurocopter's tender and the Ministry of Defence issued the Letter of Intention (LOI) to Eurocopter on Sept 15, 2008," Abu Bakar said.
The government earlier through a Cabinet meeting on July 18, 2007 had made the decision to acquire helicopters to replace the Nuri aircraft following wide complaints from the public on the performance of the Nuri.- 17/10/2008
The Secretary General of the ministry, Datuk Abu Bakar Abdullah, in a statement said that the price offered by Eurocopter in the tender to replace the Nuri aircraft was through an international open tender which opened on November 7, 2007.
He said the decision to acquire the Eurocopter aircraft was based on the comprehensive bid made by the company and after it scored the highest marks covering the technical assessment and the offer of a reasonable offset price.
"Eurocopter also offered a proven system and fulfilled the military specifications. The Royal Airforce of Malaysia (TUDM) is responsible for being up to date with the latest information on current helicopter technology developments in the market which fulfill the needs of military operations.
"The assessment also took into account the suitability of use and the operations climate in
Bernama reports Abu Bakar said that after the open international tender was out, a briefing session was held on Dec 6, 2007, during the Langkawi International Marine and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition and TUDM had provided the explanation on the technical and operational aspects expected of the potential aircraft to be purchased.
The representative from the Defence Industry Division meanwhile explained on the need for an offset package and this was in line with a letter issued by the Defence Ministry on Feb 4, 2005 on the Policy and Guideline on the Countertrade/Offset Programme. Among others, the programme stated that for any acquisition of defence equipment worth more than Euro 10 million or more, there should be an offer for countertrade/offset.
The open international tender was closed on February 12 this year and on the same date at 12 noon, the ministry's Committee for Opening and Scheduling of Tender (JMMT) had opened all the offer documents received, witnessed by the participating companies' representatives.
Abu Bakar said a total of seven offers were received with the bidding pricing including delivery charges. The pricing offered by Eurocopter (Code tender: T521/07/A/006) was Euro 233,345,390.
Other tenders included T521/07/A/001 with the price in Pound Sterling amounting to 341,888,123; T521/07/A/002 (RM663,189,500), T521/07/A/003 (Euro 104,632,729); T521/07/A/004 (US$220,496,700); T521/07/A/005 (US$708,305,497) and T521/07/A/007 (US$348,178,365).
"These documents were further divided into three groups and enlisted for assessment by the Technical Assessment Committee, Offset Evaluation Committee and Price Assessment Committee.
"The output of all the three committees were tabled at the Tender A Board Meeting on July 22, 2008 and subsequently its endorsement submitted to the Finance Ministry on August 4, 2008.
"On Sept 3, 2008, the Defence Ministry received the decision and approval from the Finance Ministry to choose Eurocopter's tender and the Ministry of Defence issued the Letter of Intention (LOI) to Eurocopter on Sept 15, 2008," Abu Bakar said.
The government earlier through a Cabinet meeting on July 18, 2007 had made the decision to acquire helicopters to replace the Nuri aircraft following wide complaints from the public on the performance of the Nuri.- 17/10/2008
20081011
YEN YEN: 3+1 formula can bring about changes in MCA
KUALA LUMPUR, FRI:
“The combination of three men and a woman for vice-presidents is a new platform in the party,” she said after attending the launch of a Welfare Services Department guidebook here today.
Dr Ng, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said she hoped she would be able to introduce changes in the party by offering herself for the post.
Asked how she rates her chances, she said, “I believe in my ability, otherwise you (the press) will have to help me next season (election). It is time for me to fight for bigger objectives after pursuing the MCA Wanita struggle for 33 years.” She said the delegates should vote for capable candidates based on their records, capabilities and commitment to the party.
“This must not be viewed from the gender perspective, although some say that it is very risky. I take the challenge to create a history in MCA.
“It is high time for me to contest as I do not see other opportunities ahead,” she said, adding that, it would be the first time in the MCA’s 59-year history a Wanita member is vying for a senior party post.
There are five others in the race. They are vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha, Youth Chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai who is also Health Minister and Johor state executive councillor Datuk Tan Kok Hon.
The “three plus one” formula for MCA vice-presidents is a perfect combination to bring about changes in the MCA, said MCA Wanita chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen who is vying for vice-president’s post.
Dr Ng, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said she hoped she would be able to introduce changes in the party by offering herself for the post.
Asked how she rates her chances, she said, “I believe in my ability, otherwise you (the press) will have to help me next season (election). It is time for me to fight for bigger objectives after pursuing the MCA Wanita struggle for 33 years.” She said the delegates should vote for capable candidates based on their records, capabilities and commitment to the party.
“This must not be viewed from the gender perspective, although some say that it is very risky. I take the challenge to create a history in MCA.
There are five others in the race. They are vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha, Youth Chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai who is also Health Minister and Johor state executive councillor Datuk Tan Kok Hon.
Najib: Umno must make changes to stay in power
By : Rosli Zakaria and Sean Augustin
He announced his candidacy a day after incumbent Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he would not be defending the presidency.
Najib made the annoucement at the end of a 30-minute speech to Umno members at a Hari Raya gathering and received a standing ovation.
Also present were Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, state BN chairman Datuk Ahmad Said, Kuala Terengganu division chief Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh and Kuala Terengganu member of parliament Datuk Razali Ismail.
Later at a press conference, he said the contest for the post was in line with party tradition and part of an orderly transfer of power.
"Following the decision by the party president, I humbly offer myself for the president's post. This will allow the democratic process in the party to run smoothly as well as pave the way for Umno members to strengthen the party," he said.
Najib thanked Abdullah for trusting and believing in his ability to lead the party and country.
He praised Abdullah for having placed the rakyat, party and country before self.
In his speech, Najib said the current political climate was forcing Umno to raise its game.
"We need to formulate policies that can make the people receptive to Umno. We need to be humble and I do not see why we cannot be humble. The people in the villages want us to be close to them.
"We have reached a stage where we have to look forward in our struggle. The loss of five states to the opposition in the 12th general election was a bitter lesson."
Despite the election results, he said Umno remained the party against which all others are compared.
"The people want us to think and find solutions so that we will not be trapped in a dilemma where we cannot move forward or backward."
Najib said the world had changed and Umno must change if it wanted to stay in power.
"We do not know if the people will still remember Umno for its struggle for independence, its fight against communism, its role in stopping racial conflict after May 13, 1969, or during the Confrontation (with Indonesia).
"Umno must reflect the wishes of the people. Our focus must not be on positions in the party. We must focus on our responsibility to the people."
Najib said he valued his relationship with Abdullah for whom he had been a loyal deputy.
"Some people say I cannot make a stand. That is their right. But as deputy, I have shown my loyalty to a leader. It is not right to fight the leader.
"We have always worked to find a win-win formula where the party's interests come first.
"Umno members at all levels must project an image that we work for the people and are sensitive to their well-being," Najib said.
KUALA TERENGGANU: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday officially offered himself for the post of party president.
Najib made the annoucement at the end of a 30-minute speech to Umno members at a Hari Raya gathering and received a standing ovation.
Also present were Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, state BN chairman Datuk Ahmad Said, Kuala Terengganu division chief Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Salleh and Kuala Terengganu member of parliament Datuk Razali Ismail.
Later at a press conference, he said the contest for the post was in line with party tradition and part of an orderly transfer of power.
Najib thanked Abdullah for trusting and believing in his ability to lead the party and country.
He praised Abdullah for having placed the rakyat, party and country before self.
In his speech, Najib said the current political climate was forcing Umno to raise its game.
"We need to formulate policies that can make the people receptive to Umno. We need to be humble and I do not see why we cannot be humble. The people in the villages want us to be close to them.
"We have reached a stage where we have to look forward in our struggle. The loss of five states to the opposition in the 12th general election was a bitter lesson."
Despite the election results, he said Umno remained the party against which all others are compared.
"The people want us to think and find solutions so that we will not be trapped in a dilemma where we cannot move forward or backward."
Najib said the world had changed and Umno must change if it wanted to stay in power.
"We do not know if the people will still remember Umno for its struggle for independence, its fight against communism, its role in stopping racial conflict after May 13, 1969, or during the Confrontation (with Indonesia).
"Umno must reflect the wishes of the people. Our focus must not be on positions in the party. We must focus on our responsibility to the people."
Najib said he valued his relationship with Abdullah for whom he had been a loyal deputy.
"Some people say I cannot make a stand. That is their right. But as deputy, I have shown my loyalty to a leader. It is not right to fight the leader.
"We have always worked to find a win-win formula where the party's interests come first.
"Umno members at all levels must project an image that we work for the people and are sensitive to their well-being," Najib said.
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PM to quit in march
(The Malaysian Insider) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi will not defend the Umno presidency.
He told leaders of the Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties here today that he will quit as party president by March next year.
This will pave the way for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to take over as Umno president and also Prime Minister if BN remains in power then.
STORY TO COME...
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