S'poreans' top worry – jobs

By Michelle Tay

HAVING a rice bowl - and eating from it - matters most to Singaporeans.

A new survey has found that even before Singapore announced it was in a technical recession in October, Singaporeans' greatest fears were unemployment and insufficient food.

Synovate, a global market research company, surveyed the consumer attitudes of 7,400 respondents in 10 countries, between the months of August and November.

The firm found that four out of 10 Singaporeans listed 'losing my job' as their top fear going into a recession.

Their second biggest fear was not having enough food.

Indeed, when asked which items they would first give up when tightening their belts, none of those surveyed said they would cut back on food.

Nearly three out of 10 Singaporeans said holidays would be the first to go. Next on the list was branded items - which 18 per cent of respondents said they would cut out first - while 13 per cent would forgo high-tech gadgets.

Companies across all sectors are retrenching staff. The latest figures show that the resident unemployment rate in Singapore is at 3.3 per cent, up from 3.1 per cent in the previous quarter.

US private employers cut 250,000 jobs in November, an unexpectedly large number and the biggest in seven years, while the service sector, which powers most of the economy, posted its worst slump on record.

Wednesday's reports were the latest signs that the slide in the US job market is nowhere near bottom and suggested Friday's government payrolls report could exceed current expectations for 320,000 job losses in November.

Companies are cutting jobs at breakneck speed, with Credit Suisse, Nomura Holdings, State Street Corp and Canon Inc announcing job cuts totalling almost 10,000 on Wednesday.

Clearly, the fear of losing one's rice bowl is not unique to Singaporeans.

Respondents in six out of the 10 countries - including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Russia - surveyed also said that was their biggest fear.

Being unable to pay mortgage or rent was Americans' top fear, followed by the fear of losing their jobs.

Among the responses from those surveyed in other countries included the fear of losing money from investments.

In shopping capital Hong Kong, however, 14 per cent of respondents said they were afraid of 'giving up luxuries.'

Meanwhile, 56 per cent of Singaporeans surveyed said they have spent less on luxury goods in the last six months.

They have also cut down in impulse buying - and even necessities.

Marketers said even in tough times, brands need to continue to invest in ensuring they remain visible to consumers.

Mr David Mayo, vice president of Ogilvy & Mather Advertising Asia Pacific, said: 'The people who will benefit are those who can deliver and provide an all-encompassing customer experience.'

'A recession is the point to pick up new customers. And coming out of a recession is when you make them loyal customers,' he added.- Straits Times,Singapore

Analisis PRK P36: Siapa antara 'Top 3' ini jadi taruhan PAS?

Oleh Mohd Sayuti Omar

KALAU BN ada tiga hingga lima calon untuk diletakkan bertanding dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu pada 6 Januari depan, Pas pula ada tiga calon yang menjadi sebutan dan sandaran untuk merampas kerusi berkenaan. Di sini saya tidak bercadang untuk mengulas dan menganalisa calon-calon BN, dan hanya akan menyorot calon-calon Pas sahaja.

Tiga nama disebut-sebut akan diletakkan oleh Pas, ialah Naib Presiden, Mohamad Sabu yang juga calon Pas di kerusi berkenaan dalam pilihan raya umum lalu, Pesuruhjaya Pas Terengganu, Mustafa Ali dan seorang ahli perniagaan Prof Khazani Abdullah.

Ketiga calon ini realtifnya berbeza antara satu sama lain. Mohamad Sabu dikenali sebagai pekerja parti yang lantang dan rajin di dalam Pas. Pekerja yang pandai mengulas isu dan membuat humor ketika bersyarah. Beliau juga menjadi daya penarik kepada majlis ceramah Pas.

Kerana kehebatan itu beliau saya sifatkan sebagai calon berlabel nasional. Mustafa Ali pula pemimpin veteran dalam Pas yang berpengalaman. Saya namakan sebagai pekerja lama parti. Manakala Khazani tokoh muda Pas yang masih belum dikenali calon amatur dan harapan masa depan. Pekerja baru parti.

Walaupun Pas Terengganu tidak ‘kasik’ calon dan masih ada serangkaian calon lain, seperti Wan Mutalib Embong, Abu Bakar Chik dan lain-lain, tetapi itulah tiga nama yang dikira akan disenaraipendekkan oleh Pas Terengganu untuk dipertimbangkan dan diputuskan oleh Pas Pusat dan Majlis Syura Ulama.

Rasanya elok juga untuk melihat populariti calon-calon berkenaan berdasarkan poll yang dibuat oleh beberapa portal berita dan juga blog persendirian termasuk blog saya. Perbandingan ini hanya tertumpukan kepada dua nama saja, Mohamad Sabu dan Mustafa Ali kerana Khazani tidak disenaraikan dalam mana-mana poll.

Ada empat orang nama yang disenaraikan dalam poll berkenaan, iaitu Mohamad Sabu, Mustafa Ali, Wan Mutalib Embong dan Syed Azman Syed Ahmad. Jelas sekali dari segi popular menurut poll-poll itu, Mohamad Sabu menjadi pilihan utama berbanding dengan Mustafa Ali.

Misalnya poll yang dibuat oleh KL.Pos yang dikutip jam 11:00 pagi ini (11 Disember 2008) Mohamad Sabu mendapat sokongan sebanyak 89%, Mustafa 4% dan Wan Mutalib sebanyak 7%.
Manakala poll dari blog pinkturtle pula yang dikutip pada waktu sama daripada 430 pengundi, sebanyak 68% atau 291 undian diberikan kepada Mohamad Sabu, Syed Azman 27% atau 115 undian, Wan Mutalib dan Mustafa masing-masing 3% atau kira-kira 11-13 undi saja.

Poll dari blog saya pula yang dikutip pada masa sama, daripada 216 pengundi Mohamad Sabu menerima 122 undian atau 56%, Syed Azman 43 undi atau 19%, Wan Mutalib menerima 6 undi atau 2% dan Mustafa menerima 21 undi atau 9%. Saya turut meletakkan pilihan ‘calon-calon lain’ yang menerima 24 undi atau 11%.

Saya mengagakkan mereka yang membuat pengundian menerusi poll dalam ketiga blog berkenaan adalah hampir 90 % orang yang sama dan kebanyakan mereka adalah pelayar dari luar Kuala Terengganu. Jelas dari poll itu Mohamad Sabu menjadi calon popular dengan mengatasi calon-calon lain dari ketiga poll berkenaan.

Ada beberapa sebab kenapa Mohammad Sabu popular, antaranya kerana nama beliau sudah disebut awal-awal oleh Mursyidul Am Pas, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat yang mahukan Mohamad Sabu diberikan peluang bertanding sekali lagi. Sedikit sebanyak pandangan Nik Aziz itu mempengaruhi pengundi terutamanya pengundi yang taksub dengan cara politik beliau (Nik Aziz).

Selain itu ialah kerana Mohamad Sabu dilihat popular berbanding dengan nama-nama lain di kalangan masyarakat bawahan dan mereka yang meminati politik berbentuk ceramah.

Persoalannya kini apakah Pas Terengganu akan mengambil kira trend yang ditunjukkan oleh poll berkenaan ataupun suara pemerhati dan peminat politik Pas di luar Terengganu itu? Kalau Pas memperlakukan ini sudah tentu Mohamad Sabu adalah calon paling layak.

Sebaliknya sekiranya Pas Terengganu ada kriteria dan indikatornya sendiri, populariti berdasarkan poll dan ukuran orang awam itu tidak akan diterima pakai dan memungkinkan Mohamad Sabu tidak akan diturunkan semula.

Dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu ini apa yang paling diutamakan kemenangan. Pas perlu menang untuk membuktikan bahawa pengaruh Pas masih kuat di negeri itu. Kemenangan itu juga akan menjadi petunjuk untuk masa depan Pas – pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 nanti.

Manakala dalam konteks Pakatan Rakyat pula kemenangan itu sangat penting bagi meyakinkan rakyat untuk meneruskan projek terbengkalai untuk menumbangkan kerajaan BN yang diilhamkan oleh Anwar Ibrahim.

Justeru calon yang dianggap benar-benar mampu memberi kemenangan akan dipilih dan diberikan keutamaan.

Seperti disebutkan tadi nama Khazani tidak dimasukkan ke dalam poll. Jadi beliau tidak mendapat petunjuk apakah beliau mampu atau tidak. Namun Dewan Pemuda Pas Terengganu beriya mahu menonjolkan Khazani sebagai calon dalam pilihan raya berkenaan sambil menafikan yang Pas Terengganu kekurangan calon tempatan.

Berdasarkan latar belakang pendidikan akademi Khazani yang luas dan cemerlang itu beliau berkelayakan. Tetapi bila diukur kepada pengalaman dan penglibatan dalam politik ia masih mentah dan muda.

Mari kita tinjau satu persatu potensi yang ada kepada ketiga calon berkenaan.

Mohamad Sabu – memang beliau orang luar dan pertama kali bertanding di Kuala Terengganu. Beliau pernah menang di luar negerinya, iaitu di Kelantan selama dua penggal. Mohamad Sabu adalah tokoh yang tersendiri dalam Pas dengan anutan, fahaman dan aliran pemikiran sendiri. Beliau dilihat seorang pejuang Islam yang percaya kepada kekuatan semangat, iltizam yang ampuh dan bukan bersujud kepada kebendaan.

Mohamad Sabu bukan seorang pengamal politik kebendaan. Kehidupannya sendiri sedarhana. Kepercayaan dan dasar politiknya, Hadith dan Quran. Beliau seorang yang tertarik dengan pendekatan Islam secara jema’i.

Dari segi dakwah menerusi ceramah memang ada kepada beliau. Mohamad Sabu juga mempunyai semangat perjuangan yang kental dan tidak cair dengan ugutan. Pendeknya Mohamad Sabu seorang pejuang Islam tulen dalam Pas dan sudah teruji keimanannya.

Bagaimana pun statusnya sebagai orang luar memberi sedikit masalah kepadanya. Pilihan raya kecil menyebabkan pengundi akan melihat kepada isu-isu local dan dalam hal ini sebagai orang luar beliau tidak mempunyai kelebihan berbanding dengan calon setempat. Apa lagi pengundi di Kuala Terengganu itu sendiri kuat semangat kedaerahannya dan melihat calon yang ada pertalian persaudaraan dengan mereka.

Mustafa Ali – adalah tokoh veteran Pas Terengganu yang banyak pengalaman. Beliau sudah tidak popular dan sedang menghadapi kesuraman cahaya politiknya. Di luar Terengganu beliau sudah ditolak dengan politiknya yang kurang tegas dan play save. Kelebihan yang ada kepadanya ialah beliau calon tempatan. Mustafa mempunyai banyak pertalian persaudaraan dengan pengundi di Kuala Terengganu.

Khazani Abdullah – Beliau tokoh muda yang belum dikenali. Dalam erti kata lain beliau tidak mempunyai apa-apa aset semasa melainkan mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan dan kerjaya yang baik.

Berdasarkan kepada huraian dan dapatan itu Pas kini hanya mempunyai dua calon sahaja iaitu Mohamad Sabu dan Mustafa Ali. Sekrianya pengundi Terengganu masih berpegang kepada tradisi dan politik 'semangkuk' (tempatan) maka Mustafa Ali lah calonnya.

Kesimpulannya bagi saya sebelum Pas memutuskan calon, Pas harus melihat apakah yang diharapkan daripada kemenangan pilihan raya kecil kecil itu. Sekiranya Pas mahu menjadikan kemenangan itu sebagai modal meneruskan projek terbengkalai 16 September, Pas harus memilih calon yang boleh menyambungkan projek berkenaan. Sebaliknya jika Pas merasakan projek itu perlu terbengkalai maka Pas boleh memilih calon yang hanya membawa kemenangan tetapi tidak akan merubah suasana politik nasional.

* Penulis dilahirkan di Kampung Gual Nibong, Gual Periok, Pasir Mas Kelantan pada Feb, 1960. Mendapat pendidikan dan pengalaman kewartawanan di Indonesia awal tahun 1980-an. Berkecimpung dalam dunia kewartawan/penulisan buku politik sejak lebih 20 tahun. Sehingga kini telah menghasilkan lebih 45 buah buku politik semasa. Antara buku yang menjadi sebutan "Anwar Ibrahim: Mimpi dan Realiti, "Sumpah dan Airmata Reformis Bangsa:,"Saya Mahafiraun", "Hitam Putih: Darul Arqam" dan lain-lain. Blog beliau boleh dilayari di msomelayu.blogspot.com - Pengarang

Tiga nama yang disebut-sebut adalah Md Sabu, Datuk Mustafa Ali dan Profesor Khazani Abdullah

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD TO THE TOP

Many who came to the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) on Monday night went back dissatisfied and disappointed, as most of them had expected the supreme council meeting would expedite the party’s election.

A journalist with a foreign wire was convinced that the meeting would touch on the matter as “the supreme council members were only informed about the meeting at the last minute.”

“After all there are several calls for the party polls to be expedited as the long campaigning period will drain resources, energy and funds,” he said adding that it would also affect productivity and bring about more money politics and politicking.

A close aide to a supreme council member said the meeting barely touch on the matter, as

“it only discuss the re-branding of UMNO”.

There is no doubt that the long campaigning period had its negative reaction.

For example, of late, attacks had been made against Najib Tun Razak, the man slotted to lead the nation by March next year.

Libelous and slanderous statements and news reports had been published about the deputy prime minister. The latest was a report on Malaysiakini, which published the so-called Najib’s manifesto.

“The fake manifesto is nothing more than an attempt to tarnish Najib as other moves have failed,” said a political observer.

The moves, he added, included to tie Najib with Altantuya case and the Eurocopter deal.

“The longer the campaign period would mean more attacks on Najib,” he said, adding that the opposition would also took the opportunity to weaken UMNO by trying to damage his reputation.

The opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, he said, would not be sitting still as besides Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Najib is among his main targets.

His people has started the ball rolling. On Tuesday, PKR Youth leader Badrul Hisham Shahrin, leading a group of five, had lodged a police report against Najib for corruption.

“It is only an accusation and would not stand up in court but still it is an attempt by Pakatan Rakyat to tarnish Najib,” added the political observer.

A former political journalist is in view that the party polls should be held earlier as the longer it takes the more damage would be created against the party.

“The rakyat wants change, and the changes should be made as fast as possible. UMNO’s credibility has been at stake for a long time and the changes could help the party to restore its honour,” he added.

He said that Najib share the same fate as his father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

The second Prime Minister had managed to restore UMNO after the party went through a “weak” period during and after the 1969 general election. During the election Perikatan had failed to secure the two-third majority.

And now Najib is also following his father’s footstep . . . but in a longer and more winding route to the top. – Oct 22, 2008

Razaleigh says he would not leave Umno even if he loses contest for top post

KOTA BARU:

Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said he would not leave Umno should he lose the contest for the Umno president’s post in March next year.

“I will accept the verdict. I am a life member of Umno. I am offering myself for the Umno president's post as I notice that no one dares to come forward.

“I feel duty-bound to help restore the Malays’ confidence in Umno. I am worried that if we do not correct restore the confidence, Umno will be rejected in the next general election,” he said today.

Razaleigh hoped his clarification would put to rest rumours that he would leave Umno and join forces with Pakatan Rakyat to form a coalition government.

Dompok, Bumburing retain Upko top posts

Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok and Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing today retained their posts unopposed, in the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) as president and deputy president, respectively.

The results which were announced after the party’s pre-council meeting here, also saw Arthur Sen and Datin Dr Jaina Sintian become the new youth and wanita chiefs unopposed, from their current positions as deputies.

Senator Maijol Mahap, Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin, Datuk Wences Angang and Datuk Tan Yong Gee also retained their posts unapposed as vice-presidents.

Datuk Christine Tibok Vanhouten, who did not defend her position as wanita chief, also secured a vice-president’s post unopposed.

Earlier, Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh was also nominated for vice-president but he decided not to defend his post by pulling out.
The Upko president is set to announce the appointments for two more posts of vice-president.

Dr Marcus, and Donald Mojuntin — who did not defend his youth chief position — are among those rumoured to be appointed.

Upko will hold its delegates conference from Oct 10 to 12.

The results for the remaining positions in youth and wanita movements are expected on Oct 10, while those for the remaining supreme council positions are expected on Oct 12. — BERNAMA