| Irwam Muhammad Zain Mon | Jan 12, 09 | 11:44:01 am MYT | |
| KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Jan (Hrkh) - PAS mendesak kerajaan Malaysia segera mengusir keluar Duta Amerika dari negara ini kerana negara tersebut bersekongkol dengan Israel menyerang Gaza. Menurut Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat, Mahfuz Omar kerajaan Malaysia perlu mengambil langkah sedemikian sebagai tanda komitmen mereka dalam isu keganasan rejim Zionis terhadap penduduk Gaza. "Jika kerajaan Malaysia serius membantah tindakan Israel dan apa yang dipersetujui Amerika, tindakan mengusir Duta Amerika perlu segera dilakukan. "Jika enggan berbuat demikian bermakna mereka (kerajaan Malaysia) merestui apa yang diputuskan oleh Amerika iaitu membenarkan Israel terus menyerang Gaza," tegas beliau. Jelas Mahfuz, tindakan sedemikian perlu dilakukan selain dari tindakan memboikot barangan dari Amerika. Selain dari mengusir Duta Amerika, PAS juga kata Mahfuz mendesak agar kerajaan Malaysia memanggil Duta Mesir dan mendesak Mesir agar membuka sempadan di Rafah agar bantuan dapat disalurkan kepada Palestin. "Jika Mesir enggan berbuat demikian, Malaysia boleh mendesak negara-negara OIC supaya memboikot Mesir," jelas Mahfuz. Mahfuz tidak dapat hadir ke Mesyuarat Khas Dewan Rakyat membincangkan isu di Palestin hari ini menjalni pembedahan kecil Sabtu lalu dan masih berada di wad Hospital Besar Alor Star. - mks._ |
Monday, January 12, 2009
PAS desak Malaysia usir Duta Amerika - HARAKAH DAILY
How New Era College was sabotaged
Kua Kia Soong | Jan 2, 09 4:29pm
Lim Lian Geok, acknowledged as the soul of Malaysian Chinese education, had a well-known rallying cry to the community which was: “The best antidote to sabotage is to construct!”
Throughout the 50s and 60s, Malaysian Chinese education faced an incessant sabotage from the Umno-led coalition and Lian Geok paid the price of adhering to his principles by losing his teaching permit and even his citizenship.
Later, Lim Fong Seng, the father of the Unified Examination Certificate and leader of the Independent Chinese Secondary Schools Movement, ignited the campaign to construct the Chinese-medium Merdeka University.
In the 80s and 90s, Fong Seng was leader of the Malaysian Chinese Civil Rights movement and he too paid a high price for holding firmly to his principles, by losing business opportunities and suffering detention under Operation Lalang in 1987.Inspiring leaders such as Lim Lian Geok and Lim Fong Seng held firm to their principles. And they stood out because they walked the talk. They had a vision of upholding and developing mother-tongue education into a complete and first-class educational system in the country.
Leaders such as Fong Seng inspired confidence among all sections of the community. Above all, he welcomed intellectuals and professionals into the movement on an inclusive basis. His vision for the Merdeka University and his defence of our civil rights through a two-party political system was unflinching.
Construct, construct and reconstruct!
In the last 10 years, we have struggled hard against sabotage and obstacles to uphold these same principles and construct New Era College to its present stage of development. Financially, we are in the strongest position we have ever been with more than RM1 million in accumulated profits.
We attained ISO 9001 certification in 2007 through our inspired quality management system. From 148 students and three departments in 1998, we have reached a total student population of 1,700 and eight departments today. We have more than 80 highly-ranked universities in both the East and West as our international partners. Our graduates have done us proud in these foreign universities and many are pursuing postgraduate studies.Most precious of all, we have built a wonderful, committed and united team through this effort. The glory of the last 10 years goes to each and every member of staff in this college. I thank them for their dedication, selfless sacrifices and making this mission a success in these 10 years.
We have been through thick and thin – the fund raising campaigns, the obstacles from the authorities not just in the LAN (National Accreditation Board) approval of our courses but in the suppression of the launching of the Sepang campus by the authorities in 2001.
Sabotage, sabotage and more sabotage
Shockingly, in the last two years, we have witnessed sabotage from the most unexpected source – the Dong Jiao Zong leadership itself!
(Dong Jiao Zong, which set up New Era College, is umbrella body of the Chinese education movement and is made up of Dong Zong, comprising Chinese schools’ boards of directors, and Jiao Zong, comprising Chinese schools teachers.)
We have watched the black operation against the former chief executive officer of the Dong Zong secretariat, Bock Tai Hee by the Dong Zong chairman, Yap Sin Tian (left) in 2006. This will be revealed in Bock’s memoirs, as well as in mine, soon to be published. The more serious consequence of this black operation was the departure, in droves, of the most committed, talented young educationists who had been groomed by Bock to be the future leaders of this movement.
There we have observed Yap’s coarse methods of using divide-and-rule and interfering in the CEO’s work to meet his ultimate objective of getting rid of Bock and emasculating the whole Dong Zong secretariat.
While the secretariat under Lim Fong Seng was the pulse, the strength and conscience of the whole Malaysian Chinese community, Yap has today done a service to Umno and the Barisan Nasional by destroying the spirit and independence of the Chinese education movement.
This whole ‘New Era controversy’ of 2008 has been an elaborate confidence trick carried off by Yap and his associates in his second black operation – to get rid of me. Their method was simple – to create doubts on the financial situation of the college.
The marvel of it is that there are some in the community, and even so-called progressives, who have fallen for his cheap trick. For this irresponsible and costly act, Yap and his cohorts will have to pay the price in court since I will be suing them for defamation.
Thus, the ‘achievements’ of Yap these three years have been considerable. He has succeeded in doing what Umno and the BN have failed to do in the last three decades, namely, to get rid of Bock and me from the Chinese education movement.
As at the Dong Zong secretariat, Yap has also succeeded in driving away the most committed and talented activists from New Era College. The new enrolment for 2009 has dropped drastically and donors have withdrawn their aid to the college.
The most important withdrawal is the RM12 million indoor stadium and classrooms at the existing basketball/tennis courts. That is why Wu Jiancheng, the Confucian independent secondary school headmaster, called him “Bai Jiazi” - meaning he has sold off the family jewels!
Destruction of New Era has already begun
Through their sabotage in casting doubt on the management of the college, Yap and his cronies have already done irreparable harm to the college. They have further destroyed the principles of the college even before I leave New Era:
1. The whole New Era controversy exploded because Yap ordered our heads of departments out of the June 14 meeting of the Board of Governors. This was a breach of the democratic practice of not only the college but also the whole Chinese education movement.
2. Yap, in his role as chairman of the Board of Directors, has shown contempt for the board by failing to schedule any meetings since August 2008, despite the need to approve urgent college agenda. Even though the Board of Governors is the only college body recognised as accountable by the Higher Education Ministry and therefore could have easily obtained an injunction against the directors, they chose not to, in deference to veteran Chinese educationist Sim Mow Yu’s appeal.
4. Yap has violated the autonomy of the campus by overriding the CEO of the college and demanding a head of department to “show cause” as to why he sent an email to the press. As in Dong Zong, Yap has interfered in the running of the college.
5. Yap and his cronies have, for the first time in the history of the Chinese education movement, compromised its cherished political independence, through their actions regarding the college. First they allowed the MCA, through the deputy minister of higher education, to intervene in the New Era controversy with various offers to me and the heads of department, saying that the government has the right to intervene.
The lawyer he has employed to sue Confucian secondary school headmaster Wu Jiancheng is an MCA lawyer. His apologist in the parent company’s Higher Education Committee is Cai Weiyan, another MCA man. But their historic compromise was seen in their joint caper with the MCA leaders and then Umno menteri besar Mohamad Khir Toyo just before the March 8 general elections.
Yap has yet to account for Sepang project
Under Yap’s leadership, the Chinese education movement has compromised its political independence. Just before the March 8 general elections, Yap and the other Dong Jiao Zong leaders signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) on the Sepang project. It was arranged by the top MCA leaders with the presence of the then Selangor MB and the boss of Hong Leong, Quek Leng Chan.
This MOU stipulated that the contract on the Sepang land for the New Era campus would be signed within three months. It was obviously an attempt by the Barisan Nasional with the co-opt of Yap and the other Dong Jiao Zong leaders to try to swing the Chinese votes to the BN during the March 2008 general elections.
It is now nearly a year and Yap has still not accounted to the Chinese community on the Sepang project. We have exposed the unreasonable conditions in the Sepang contract.
All that Yap can show for his three years as Dong Zong chairman is his successful eviction of Bock and me from the secretariats of Dong Zong and New Era College. He has failed to exhibit the qualities of a Chinese education movement leader. His sabotage of independent Chinese secondary school Duzhong and New Era College is unforgivable and thus his days as Dong Zong leader are numbered.
2009 sees the beginning of a movement to ‘Save the Chinese Education Movement’. We want leaders who are visionary, principled, who cannot be compromised by the ruling coalition, and who have an inclusive attitude to all who can contribute to the movement. Corrupt leaders and saboteurs of the movement must be toppled and be held to account for their misdeeds.
Dr KUA KIA SOONG is former principal of the New Era College.
New Era College senate head punched while giving speech - The Star Online
Monday January 12, 2009
KAJANG: What started out as a happy event turned chaotic at the New Era College convocation.
A man went up to the stage as college senate chairman Dr Yap Sin Tian was giving a speech and punched him in the face in front of 500 people, including students, parents and guests.
Helping hand: Dr Yap being helped to stop his nosebleed after he was punched yesterday. However, the attacker managed to flee the scene.
Dr Yap, who is Dong Zong (the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia) president, was ushered to a seat with a fractured cheekbone and nose. An ambulance arrived later to send him to the Kajang Specialist Hospital.
College principal Mok Soon Choong took over the podium to continue the speech and calmed the situation.
Witnesses said the attacker wore a shirt used by members of a fund-raising event in the college. The man has been identified as a former college graduate.
Attack sequence: Stills taken by 8TV showing the man punching Dr Yap while he was delivering his speech during the convocation yesterday. Dong Jiao Zong Education Centre directors, who were seated near the stage, tried to catch him but he managed to escape.
It is unclear if the attack is linked to an ongoing squabble between Dr Yap and the college’s former principal Dr Kua Kia Soong.
Dr Yap had supported Dong Zong when it did not extend Dr Kua’s contract which expired in December.
The Dong Jiao Zong has made a police report on the attack.
College officials said they would conduct their own investigation.
In Penang, MCA vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong Lai expressed regret over the attack.
“It is sad to see such an incident happening in an educational body. Any problem should be settled without the use of violence,” he said.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Surat Dari RPK Kepada Penduduk Kuala Terengganu
Dear Voter,
I trust this letter finds you in good health. You probably already know why I am writing to you. So please allow me to dispense with all the bullshit and cut to the chase, as much as this may appear extremely abrupt and not within Malay culture. I feel I should not labour too much on Malay, Chinese or Indian culture when our mission is to see the emergence of a new culture, a Malaysian culture, a melting pot of cultures if you like.
I am not a politician. I am not a political party member. Neither am I holding any position in any political party, association, movement, or whatever. I am just, what the government calls me, a Blogger. Why they call me a Blogger I do not really know. But I suppose it is because they view me as being behind Malaysia Today and they consider Malaysia Today a Blog.
Anyway, what the government chooses to label me as is not important because what I am going to say to you is not about me but about the future of this country. So, maybe what I would like to be called is a Malaysian. That’s right. I am a Malaysian, just like you, and I am addressing you as one Malaysian to another.
On January 17, 2009, you will be coming out to vote in the Kuala Terengganu by-election. Nevertheless, while you may view this as merely a by-election, it is not really a by-election as much as it is a proxy war between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. Yes, it is an election to decide whether you, the Kuala Terengganu voters, are happy with the federal government or whether you would like to send a message to Barisan Nasional that you are not happy with the way Malaysians are being treated.
On March 8, 2008, half the Malaysian voters voted for Pakatan Rakyat. Granted, it was not a vote in support of Pakatan Rakyat as much as it was a vote against Barisan Nasional — a protest vote, as some would call it. But whether it was a vote in support of Pakatan Rakyat or a vote in protest of Barisan Nasional is not really the issue. The objective was to send a message to Barisan Nasional that the people are not happy. And the people demonstrated this by not voting for Barisan Nasional.
But did Barisan Nasional get the message? Did they take pains to change? No! What happened instead was that Barisan Nasional became even more arrogant. They did not understand that Malaysians have had enough of the arrogance of power and the result of the 8 March 2008 general election was meant as a medium to send a message to Barisan Nasional that 51 years was enough. No more arrogance! But the arrogance continued. Barisan Nasional did not repent. Instead, they demonstrated even more arrogance.
The Permatang Pauh by-election, again, proved that Barisan Nasional had not repented. The dirty tricks they pulled off managed to reduce Anwar Ibrahim’s majority from almost 20,000 to just 15,000. Okay, Anwar Ibrahim still performed better than Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in the general election just five months before that. He still got two out of three votes or 66% of the votes. But what would have happened if the vote-majority had been razor-thin like what happened in Kuala Terengganu on March 8, 2008 where the UMNO candidate won by a mere 600 votes? The almost 5,000 votes that they robbed Anwar Ibrahim off would have turned victory into defeat.
I am aware that many of you have received RM300 over the last few days. Some have received RM500 and others as much as RM1,000. This money is aimed at buying your votes. They hope that once you take this money you will feel obligated to vote for Barisan Nasional and that you will feel guilty if, after taking the money, you vote for Pakatan Rakyat.
Well, don’t feel guilty. Take the money by all means. But you need not vote for Barisan Naisonal even if you do take the money. The money does not belong to Barisan Nasional. It belongs to the people. It is your money. So you are just taking back the money that was originally yours in the first place.
Do you really think Barisan Nasional would hand out money that belongs to them? No way! They took this money from you. Over 25 years, from 1974 to 1999, they siphoned out an estimated RM12 billion in Oil Royalty due to Terengganu. Then, from 2000 until 2008, they siphoned out another RM8 billion in the guise of Wang Ehsan. That comes to a total of RM20 billion. And how much are they throwing back at you in this January 17, 2009 by-election? Yes, that’s right, only RM80 million.
Okay, RM80 million sounds like a lot of money. It certainly is when you consider that the law says you must not spend more than RM200,000 in the election. So RM80 million is way above the allowed RM200,000. And that is just the Ang Pows they are going around town to hand out to the voters. What about the posters, flags, banners, balloons, T-shirts, caps, food and drinks, vehicles, helicopters, police outriders, salaries, etc., which you, the rakyat, are ultimately paying for? Don’t be surprised if I tell you that the total amount spent is going to touch at least RM250 million and that this is probably the most expensive by-election ever. And we are yet to calculate how much it costs to station 6,000 police personnel in Kuala Terengganu over the two-week period.
But whose money is all this? Why, yours of course. They are spending your money, or should I say, wasting your money, just to retain the Kuala Terengganu parliament seat. And why the need to spend what may come to RM500 million in the end– if we take into consideration the total mobilisation cost — just to win a by-election? Well, as I said earlier, it is because the Kuala Terengganu by-election is not just a by-election but a proxy war between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
Malaysians from all over the country are hoping that you, the Kuala Terengganu voters, will do the right thing. And the ‘right thing’ here is to send a message to Barisan Nasional that you can’t be bought, especially with your own money — which they robbed from you in the first place. Also, send a message to Barisan Nasional that you have had enough of the arrogance, the threats, the rampant corruption and wastage of the rakyat’s money, the abuse of power, and whatnot. Tell Barisan Nasional on January 17, 2009 that 52 years is enough. After 52 years it is time for change.
With regards to the 6,000 police personnel based in Kuala Terengganu over these two weeks, don’t be too alarmed. Sure, it is partly meant to intimidate you and to give an impression that trouble may be brewing over the horizon, especially if Barisan Nasional does not win the by-election. But this is not the real reason. Remember, when they handed you the RM300, RM500 or RM1,000, they asked you for copies of your identity cards on the excuse they need this ‘for the record’? Well, it is not really ‘for the record’. They want to use these copies of your identity cards to create ‘phantom voters’. And don’t be surprised if on Polling Day many of the 6,000 police personnel turn up in ‘plain clothes’ to vote in your place.
They are hoping that at least 20,000 to 25,000 of you will not come out to vote. This is quite normal because in any election the best we can expect is a 70% or so voter turnout. 30% of 80,000, therefore, comes to roughly 20,000 to 25,000 ‘no show’ voters. They can then always ‘safely’ increase the voter turnout to 75% and no one will be the wiser. This means they can pad the ballot boxes with about 4,000 to 5,000 ‘additional’ votes with no problems whatsoever. Now can you see why they need 6,000 police personnel in Kuala Terengganu? Take a wild guess and no prize for the right guess.
I urge you, therefore, to come out and vote so that you can deny them the opportunity to vote in your place. And come out early. Come out as soon as the polling stations open. If you go and vote after lunch you might find you are not able to vote because you ‘already voted’ — as many found out in the Permatang Pauh by-election on 26 August 2008.
In the Permatang Pauh by-election, at least 600 voters could not vote because someone else had already voted in their place. And that is only what was reported. Many just silently went home without complaining that someone had voted in their place. We expect the incidences of ‘sudah undi’ to be very high on 17 January 2009. And if that happens lodge a protest. And make a police report as well. In Permatang Pauh, about 50 police reports were made — and of course no action was taken.
One issue they are playing up to the hilt is the issue of the Islamic State and Hudud laws. This is aimed at frightening the Chinese voters. Why don’t you turn the tables on them and, for once, place Barisan Nasional on the defensive. Ask UMNO what their stand on the Islamic State is. Instead of allowing them to demonise PAS, ask UMNO to declare that they are opposed to the Islamic State and will never agree to Islamic laws. Make this a condition before you decide whether you will vote for the Barisan Nasional candidate. If Umno refuses to do this then why are they demonising PAS? Will UMNO, therefore, not also be considered in support of the Islamic State and Islamic laws?
Then ask UMNO why they are giving so much problems to the Christians. The Christians are very unhappy with the UMNO-led government’s policy on churches and the Bible. But all this is happening at federal level and only in the UMNO-run states. The Christians face no problems in Pakatan Rakyat-run states, not even in Kelantan. Is it not Umno, rather than PAS, that is intolerant of the non-Muslims? This is the reality. And almost 20 years of PAS rule in Kelantan lies testimony to this.
So why are they demonising PAS when it is UMNO that causes so much problems for the non-Muslims? Many reject PAS because they fear Islam. But PAS has been very tolerant and helpful to the non-Muslims. Kelantan offers the non-Muslims permission to build places of worship even when they did not approach the state government for permission. UMNO repeatedly denies non-Muslims permission to set up places of worship.
Yes, it is time that UMNO be asked to state very clearly its stand on the Islamic State and Islamic laws. PAS is not in power. PAS can never be in power. PAS has only 23 seats in Parliament. Even if it wins the Kuala Terengganu by-election it will still only be 24 seats. PAS can never win more than 30 seats in Parliament. Even in the best of times, like in 1999, it won only 27 Parliament seats. PAS can never go beyond 30 seats. Anyway, every general election, PAS contests only 60 seats. So how can it win more than that?
It is UMNO that leads the federal government. And it is Umno that decides the policies and makes the rules. And it is UMNO that is giving the non-Muslims all these problems. So why is PAS being demonised? Why do the non-Muslims fear PAS? This, I can’t seem to understand. You fear PAS because of what it MAY do if it comes to power — even though it can never come to power, not without DAP and PKR. But you do not fear UMNO when it is already in power and is the one giving the non-Muslims all these problems. Is this logical?
It would be very nice if the Kuala Terengganu voters, once and for all, force UMNO to state its stand on Islam. Let UMNO declare its stand openly and before 17 January 2009, if they dare. I dare bet that they won’t. That is because, while they are demonising PAS on its Islamic State stand, Umno itself does not dare state its stand. At least PAS is honest about the matter. Can we say the same for UMNO? UMNO whacks PAS but it is not PAS that is the problem to the non-Muslims. It is UMNO.
I would like to end by saying I hope you, the Kuala Terengganu voters, will not let Malaysia down. We are depending on you to teach Barisan Nasional a lesson on January 17, 2009. A message needs to be sent to Barisan Nasional. And you have the opportunity to do this in the Kuala Terengganu by-election. Do this for Malaysia. And, more importantly, do it for the future generation, your children and grandchildren. You owe them this much.
Yours truly,
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Wawancara Wahid, Mingguan Malaysia digesa mohon maaf dan perbetul kesilapan - Harakah Daily
Sun | Jan 11, 09 | 1:34:10 pm MYT
KUALA TERENGGANU, 11 Jan (Hrkh) - Akhbar Mingguan Malaysia digesa memperbetulkan kesilapan menghilangkan perkataan dalam laporan wawancara bersama Calon PAS, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut yang tersiar dalam akhbar berkenaan hari ini.
Akhbar itu juga diminta memohon maaf kepada Calon PAS berikutan kesilapan yang bagi Pesuruhjaya PAS, Mustafa Ali sebagai sesuatu yang mungkin disengajakan.
"Kalau tersalah ejaan mungkin kita boleh terima, tetapiini salah perkataan, seperti disengajakan," katanyakepada wartawan dalam satu sidang medianya di PusatMedia PAS, Kuala Ibai hari ini.
Wawancara yang disiarkan itu antara lain menyebut Wahid kononnya berkata " Saya kenal Allahyarham Razali (Dato' Razali Ismail bekas ahli Parlimen Kuala Terengganu).Allahyarham seorang yang profesional dan mengamalkan rasuah,".
"Sepatutnya ia ditaip 'tidak mengamalkan rasuah'," kata Mustafa Ali yang turut kesal dengan insiden yang dianggap sebagai kesilapan yang keterlaluan.
Bagi Mustafa, ia melanggar etika dan profesionalisme media, dan beliau mengharapkan ia tidak diulangi.
Beliua turut menyatakan pihaknya kini sedang mengkaji tindakan selanjutnya jika akhbar terbabit tidak membuat pembetulan dan memohon maaf dalam tempoh sebelum hari pembuangan undi.
Selain itu Mustafa juga mengulangi amaran kepada pihak BN agar tifak terus menggunakan media arus perdana untuk menyelewengkan fakta mengenai kenyataan pembangkang.
Malah paling dikesali, isu hudud yang tidak relevan dengan isu yang sepatutnya dibangkitkan dalam pilihan raya kecil ini dimainkan sekali lagi oleh akhbar arus perdana, katanya.
Mereka kekurangan modal dan isu untuk menghentam pembangkang hingga isu yang tidak ada kena mengena dengan situasi kempen dimainkan dalam media, katanya.
Mustafa sekali lagi memberi amaran kepada pihak terbabit agar profesional dalam melaporkan kenyataan mana-mana pihak yang terbabit dalam pilihan raya kecil ini./wann_
Tiga kesilapan pilih Wan Farid - Harakah Daily
| Mohd Rashidi Hassan Sun | Jan 11, 09 | 7:42:13 am MYT | |
| KESILAPAN besar Umno ialah dengan meletakkan Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh menjadi calon Barisan Nasional untuk mempertahankan kerusi Allahyarham Razali Ismail. Silap bukan kerana Wan Farid calon pilihan Perdana Menteri, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang tidak diterima kumpulan TPM, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak. Walaupun ada cerita-cerita orang Umno, Najib lebih suka jika Roslan Awang Chik, Presiden Persatuan Kontraktor Melayu Malaysia menjadi calon. Wan Farid dan Roslan berseteru. Roslan yang dikenali lebih rapat dengan TPM sebelum ini adalah Ketua Umno Bahagian Kuala Terengganu yang ditewaskan oleh Wan Farid ketika menjadi Setiausaha Politik Abdullah beberapa tahun lepas. Perseteruan ini bukannya persepsi. Perseteruan ini adalah realiti yang tidak dapat ditolak Umno, akibat perpecahan dalaman yang serius. Perseteruan yang berpanjangan ini merupakan kesilapan pertama Umno. Sehingga ada orang-orang Umno tertentu, sudah menyatakan sokongan dan kesediaan untuk mengundi calon PAS, Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut secara diam-diam. Hari ini Umno-BN yang meletakkan Wan Farid sebagai pengganti Razali, berkempen dengan memuji kehebatan serta jasa-jasa bekas Ahli Parlimen itu. Rakyat di luar Terengganu boleh dibohongi. Tetapi orang-orang Umno dan rakyat Terengganu sendiri menyaksikan bagaimana ketika hayat Razali, beliau diketepikan dan dikalahkan oleh orang-orang Wan Farid dalam pemilihan bahagian. Bagaimana mungkin Wan Farid atau Umno KT, boleh menjaja beliau sebagai kesinambungan legasi Razali, jika allahyarham bekas timbalan menteri itu langsung tidak dipedulikan ketika hayatnya? Kesilapan kedua ialah soal personaliti Wan Farid. Bukan soal hendak dibahaskan dia orang baik atau jahat. Bukan juga nak dibangkitkan kegemarannya berkaraoke. Masalahnya ialah beliau tidak dilihat mewakili golongan marhain dan golongan miskin bagi negeri Terengganu, yang sentiasa terletak dalam kelompok negeri-negeri termiskin di Malaysia. Masalahnya bukan pada rakyat sahaja. Ada kalangan orang-orang Umno sendiri yang mendakwa Wan Farid jenis 'hidung tinggi'. Barangkali beliau tidak begitu, mungkin pada raut wajahnya kelihatan begitu tetapi hatinya tidak. Soalnya perkara ini bukan persepsi atau ia menjadi bahan serangan kempen PAS untuk memburuk-burukkan personaliti lawan. Ianya adalah hakikat yang berlaku, wujud dalam Umno sendiri. Sehingga ada kalangan Umno yang mendakwa, jika pun keluarga Wan Farid membuat kenduri, beliau lebih mengutamakan kawan-kawan di KL daripada orang Terengganu sendiri. Itu cerita orang Umno, entah betul entah tidak. Tetapi, jika TPM sendiri yang risau dengan personaliti calon BN ini, dan meminta beliau lebih tersenyum kerana raut wajahnya yang serius berbanding Abdul Wahid, maka ada banyak perkara yang 'tidak kena' kepada calon BN itu. Kesilapan ketiga ialah isu penguasaan kekayaan negara, sama ada peruntukan dari Kerajaan Persekutuan dan penggunaan wang royalti yang dikaitkan dengan Wan Farid serta Idris Jusoh dan anggota keluarga mereka. Orang-orang Umno ramai yang tidak berpuashati dengan penguasaan kedua-dua mereka kepada hasil kekayaan negeri. Penglibatan abang calon BN iaitu bekas Adun Ladang, Wan Hisham Wan Salleh dalam projek besar Monsoon Cup diratib dibibir orang Umno. Kedua-duanya Wan Farid dan Idris dikatakan tidak disenangi kumpulan Menteri Besar, Ahmad Said. Kedua-dua mereka adalah kroni rapat menantu PM, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar yang juga Ahli Parlimen Rembau dan Patrick Lim yang dikenali sebagai Patrick Badawi. Ketiga-tiga isu ini adalah isu besar kepada Umno. Ianya bukan rahsia dan amat diketahui oleh rakyat, khususnya pengundi-pengundi di KT. Hakikat daripada ini menyebabkan, BN menjadi terlalu defensif. BN tidak mampu lagi menjual idea pembangunan. Mereka terpaksa menjawab isu-isu ini sebelum rakyat menjatuhkan hukuman terhadap BN. Bagaimanapun di kalangan BN juga sedar bahawa tidak mungkin dalam tempoh seminggu dua ini semuanya dapat di atasi. Bagaimana mungkin calon BN yang sudah lama dikenali termasuk dalam golongan elitis yang tidak mesra rakyat, boleh mengubah sikapnya dalam tempoh dua minggu. Bagaimana mungkin seseorang yang sifatnya susah untuk 'manis muka' boleh diterima rakyat hanya selepas menjadi seperti 'badut sarkas' dalam tempoh dua minggu sahaja? Hakikatnya, angin perubahan rakyat selepas PRU Mac 2008 sudah tidak dapat lagi dibendung. Umno sudah semakin tidak relevan dan BN semakin tidak diterima rakyat. Implikasi kekalahan Wan Farid bukan setakat beliau hilang jawatan timbalan menteri, senator atau setiausaha politik, ia adalah signal bahawa rakyat terus menolak legasi Abdullah dan tidak menerima kepimpinan yang bakal diwarisi Najib. - mks. _ |
2 'bom' baru Ezam, Anwar arah urus damai dengan Dr. M - mStar Online
Oleh G. MANIMARAN
KUALA TERENGGANU: Bekas 'orang kuat' Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor malam tadi mendedahkan bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu pernah memintanya supaya menguruskan langkah berdamai dengan Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad tidak sampai seminggu selepas dipecat.
Malah, Ezam bekas Setiausaha Politik kepada Anwar juga mendedahkan tarikh tepat beliau melihat kandungan enam kotak rahsia yang dikaitkan dengan kononnya bukti gejala rasuah pemimpin-pemimpin Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) semasa berada dalam kerajaan.
Justeru, beliau turut mencabar Anwar sendiri menjawab pendedahan-pendedahan tersebut sebelum memperincikan kedua-dua perkara itu kelak.
Anwar dipecat sebagai Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kewangan pada 2 September dan ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) 20 September.
"Hari ini (malam tadi) saya mendedahkan dua perkata penting... saya selama ini tidak mahu mendedahkan, memalukan dan menelanjangkan Anwar.
"Saya tidak mendedahkan perkara ini di Permatang Pauh (ketika pilihan raya kecil Ogos lalu ditandingi Anwar).
"Tetapi saya terus dicabar untuk mendedahkan (di mana beradanya enam kotak)... hari ini saya mendedahkan perkara ini," kata beliau ketika berucap di pusat bandar Kuala Terengganu malam tadi.
Mengulas lanjut tentang dua pendedahan itu, Ezam yang juga bekas Ketua Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) berkata, selepas berucap mengecam kepimpinan Dr. Mahathir (bekas Perdana Menteri) pada 7 September, Anwar pada hari berikutnya meminta menguruskan langkah berdamai.
"Pada 7 September, Anwar mengkritik dan mengecam Dr. Mahathir, kata macam-macam tentang Dr. Mahathir, tetapi pada hari esok beliau minta saya menguruskan cara untuk berdamai dengan Dr. Mahathir.... macam mana punya pemimpin ini?' katanya.
Ezam menyertai Umno pada Mei lalu.
Ezam sebelum ini juga pernah mendakwa bukti-bukti itu tidak ada pada beliau, sebaliknya disimpan Anwar.
"Kalau ada pada saya, sudah tentu saya telah tunjukkan. Saya konsisten dengan perjuangan membanteras rasuah," katan beliau bulan lalu.
Ezam berkata, ketika masih bersama PKR, beliau pernah menyuarakan kepada Anwar yang juga Penasihat PKR supaya mendedahkan kandungan kotak-kotak itu, tetapi Anwar meminta beliau supaya menunggu.
"Saya tidak setuju. Itu antara sebabnya saya keluar PKR," katanya.
Bulan lalu, Angkatan Muda PKR Terengganu telah mencabar Ezam agar mendedahkan kandungan kotak rasuah itu sewaktu berkempen dalam pilihan raya kecil Kuala Terengganu.
Ketika ditemui selepas ucapannya, Ezam mengakui bahawa beliau telah berusaha untuk menunaikan permintaan Anwar itu.
"Saya telah menghubungi beberapa orang Dr. Mahathir, tetapi saya tunggu biar Anwar menjawab apa yang saya dedahkan ini dulu.
"Yang lain saya akan keluarkan kemudian.... saya cabar Anwar jawab perkara ini dulu, saya tidak mahu orang-orang dia jawab, biar Anwar jawab sendiri," katanya.
Ezam juga berkata, selain berusaha untuk mendamaikan kedua-dua mereka, beliau juga pernah menguruskan usaha damai dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebelum dibebaskan pada 2004.
Mengenai enam kotak berkenaan, Ezam mengulangi bahawa ia masih berada dalam simpanan Anwar yang kini merupakan Ketua Umum Pakatan Rakyat dan Ketua Pembangkang di Parlimen.
Jelas beliau, menurut Anwar kotak-kotak berkenaan berada di dalam dan di luar negara.
"Ada satu ketika saya pernah bertanya di mana kotak-kotak itu, Anwar memberitahu bahawa jangan takut, ia berada di tempat yang selamat di dalam dan di luar negara," katanya lagi.
Kata Ezam, beliau masih ingat dengan tepat tarikh kali terakhir melihat kotak dan dokumen-dokumen berkenaan.
"Tarikhnya saya dedahkan hari ini iaitu 8 September, hari anak sulung saya lahir... hari isteri saya dimasukkan ke hospital dan saya tidak berada bersamanya.
"Saya tidak ada bersamanya kerana saya diminta menguruskan kotak ini dan usaha damai dengan Dr. Mahathir... ini pengorbanan saya, saya masuk penjara (selama dua tahun) disebabkan mendedahkan soal rasuah," katanya.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Isma Guna Dikir Barat Sebagai Cara Kempen - BERNAMA
KUALA TERENGGANU, 25 Dis (Bernama) -- Peniaga getah sekerap dari Rantau Panjang, Kelantan yang menawarkan diri untuk bertanding sebagai calon bebas pada pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu 17 Jan, Isma Airfath Hassanuddin mahu menjadikan hiburan sebagai cara kempen dalam pilihan raya itu.Isma Airfath, 38, berkata, dengan mengadakan persembahan kebudayaan termasuk dikir barat dan konvoi bermotor menggantikan ceramah politik, ia dapat mengurangkan ketegangan sepanjang tempoh kempen pilihan raya."Tak perlu berceramah... kita buat dikir barat, pertunjukan pentas untuk raih pengundi. Saya yakin minda pengundi di Kuala Terengganu dah cukup terbuka," katanya kepada pemberita di sini, Khamis.
Isma Airfath, yang tiba dari Rantau Panjang bersama konvoi kereta mini dan van antik Vokswagen di Taman Batu Buruk petang ini, percaya cara sedemikian dapat mengelakkan sebarang kejadian seperti rusuhan seperti yang berlaku di Kuala Ibai pada pilihan raya umum lepas.Katanya selama ini kempen pilihan raya di negara ini sering berlaku dalam suasana tegang dan beliau berpendapat sudah sampai masanya keadaan itu ditukar dengan melakukan kempen secara santai.-- BERNAMA
Airod Diberi Tanggungjawab Baiki Pesawat C-130H Hercules - BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Dis (Bernama) -- Airod, syarikat pakar dan peneraju utama Malaysia dalam penyelenggaraan, pembaikan dan baik pulih (MRO) pesawat, diberi tanggungjawab membaik pulih sebuah pesawat C-130H Hercules miliki Derco Aerospace Incorporation yang terhempas di Gafsa, Tunisia 12 tahun lalu.Pengurus Program Baikpulih pesawat itu, Azriman Yahaya berkata, Airod berjaya mendapat tender bagi membaik pulih pesawat tersebut pada November 2007."Sebanyak 12 syarikat termasuk Airod telah bersaing untuk mendapatkan tender ini. Akhirnya Airod berjaya memperolehinya kerana pengalaman dan kepakaran yang sedia ada pada kumpulan kami."Selain Malaysia, antara negara yang bertanding untuk mendapatkan tender ini ialah Singapura, Perancis dan Portugal," katanya kepada pemberita di Pusat Operasi Airod di Lapangan Sultan Abdul Aziz, di sini hari ini.Beliau berkata pesawat itu dilerai kepada beberapa bahagian untuk diangkut ke Malaysia menggunakan sebuah kapal laut dan kapal itu tiba di Pelabuhan Klang semalam. Kerja meleraikan pesawat itu mengambil masa kurang dari sebulan membabitkan pakar Airod dan Derco.Menurut Azriman kerja membaik pulih akan bermula pertengahan Januari dan dijangka mengambil masa setahun."Pesawat ini telah terbiar selama 12 tahun di sebuah kawasan padang pasir di sana (Tunisia). Pesawat terbabit remuk di bahagian kepala akibat terbabas dan melanggar hujung landasan."Kapal laut yang mengangkut pesawat C-130H itu mengambil masa 23 hari untuk sampai ke Pelabuhan Klang dan dari situ, 11 treler digunakan untuk mengangkutnya ke Pusat Operasi Airod di Subang."Pesawat C-130H merupakan pesawat pertama dari luar negara yang akan dibaik pulih oleh Airod dan ini merupakan satu sejarah buat kami kerana sebelum ini Airod hanya membaik pulih pesawat yang ada dalam negara," kata Azriman.Derco Aerospace Incorporation adalah sebuah syarikat penerbangan yang berpangkalan di Milwaukee, Amerika Syarikat.-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Umno mengkhianati saya..., kata Zahar - MALAYSIAKINI
Bekas ketua bahagian Umno Petaling Jaya Selatan, Datuk Zahar Hashim berkata, beliau tidak mengkhianati Umno, tetapi sebaliknya Umno yang mengkhianatinya.
“Orang Melayu hanya mendapat projek yang kecil sahaja kerana projek besar diberi kepada kroni yang boleh memberi wang semula kepadanya,” katanya.
Zahar berkata, beliau tidak kesal meninggalkan Umno kerana orang Melayu meluat dengan kepimpinan termasuk di Selangor.
“Bagaimana Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib boleh menjadi menteri, ketua penerangan Umno dan Senator, tidak ada orang lain lagikah yang layak.
“Para pemimpin Umno sudah tidak ada kualiti, orang yang terlibat dengan politik wang, boleh menjadi menteri,” katanya.
Zahar berkata demikian dalam sidang akhbar selepas menyerahkan borang keahliannya untuk menyertai PAS dalam satu majlis di sebuah hotel di Ampang hari ini.
Zahar (foto, tengah) digantung jawatan ketua Umno bahagian awal bulan ini kerana mengkritik pemimpin utama Umno, termasuk mendakwa Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi dan timbalannya Datuk Seri Najib Razak menyalahgunakan kuasa dalam satu pertemuan dengan ketua-ketua bahagian di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC).
Beliau mendakwa, Muhd Taib bersama tujuh atau lapan ketua Umno bahagian di Selangor telah menemui Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, meminta supaya beliau (Muhd Taib) dilantik sebagai ketua perhubungan Umno baru Selangor, menggantikan Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
Tak calon Mat Taib
Zahar mendakwa, Muhd Taib telah menyalahkan Dr Mohd Khir di atas kekalahan teruk (Barisan Nasional) di Selangor.
"Hubungan saya dengan Tan Sri Muhd Taib sudah renggang," katanya.
Beliau mendakwa, satu ketika dulu, beliau yang mempertahankan Muhd Taib apabila menteri besar Selangor ketika itu, meminta Tan Sri Muhd Taib tidak dicalonkan bertanding dalam pilihanraya.
Zahar juga mendakwa, banyak kesilapan yang dilakukan oleh Muhd Taib dalam Umno.
"Kerana itu, bahagian saya - Petaling Jaya Selatan (PJS) - tidak mencalonkan beliau (Muhd Taib) untuk bertanding jawatan timbalan presiden Umno.
"Dia (Muhd Taib) marah saya kerana saya bercakap bahagian PJS tidak akan mencalonkan beliau, semasa berada di rumah Muhd Taib," katanya.
Sebab itulah, dakwa Zahar, Muhd Taib mensabotaj mesyuarat Pemuda Umno PJS, tetapi beliau tidak mengulas lanjut mengenainya.
Ketika diminta mengulas tawarannya pejabatnya kepada PAS, Zahar berkata, bangunan tersebut adalah miliknya.
Serah pejabat Umno
Beliau mendakwa kesemua pekerja di pejabat Umno bahagian tersebut, juga turut menyertai PAS bersamanya.
"Setiap hari, sekurang-kurang terdapat lima orang pekerja di pejabat tersebut," tambahnya.
Kini, katanya, pejabat tersebut telah menjadi pejabat PAS dan pekerja PAS juga akan turut ditempatkan di situ.
Mengenai dakwaannya bahawa 28 ketua cawangan dan 13 ahli jawatankuasa Umno bahagian turut menyertai PAS, Zahar berkata, Umno PJS kini berdepan dengan masalah besar ekoran tindakan mereka itu.
Kira-kira 70 orang menghadiri majlis tersebut, dan sebahagian daripadanya difahamkan adalah ketua cawangan dan AJK berkenaan.
Zahar juga meminta ahli-ahli PAS di kawasan berkenaan supaya jangan memandang serong niatnya untuk menyertai PAS.
"Niat saya adalah untuk membantu parti (PAS) dan orang-orang Melayu, khususnya di Petaling Jaya Selatan," katanya.
Pada masa ini, katanya, Umno PJS memberi sumbangan bulanan sebanyak RM150 seorang kepada orang miskin di kawasan tersebut, selain bantuan makanan seperti gula, beras dan minyak.
Zahar berkata memandangkan beliau yang membiayai sumbangan dan bantuan tersebut, maka ianya akan diteruskan walaupun beliau kini bersama PAS.
Isu Eurocopter
Ditanya mengapa beliau memilih PAS, Zahar berkata: "Ia kerana PAS adalah satu-satunya parti (orang) Melayu".
Ditanya mengapa beliau bertindak meninggalkan Umno selepas mendapat kemewahan dari parti tersebut, Zahar berkata: "Mula-mula saya masuk parti (Umno), saya sudah pun ada sebuah kereta mercedes".
Mengenai kes Eurocopter, Zahar berkata beliau mahu mendedahkan lebih banyak bukti mengenai penyelewengan kes Eucopter tetapi sukar berbuat demikian kerana ia membabitkan pegawai kementerian pertahanan dan kementerian kewangan.
"(Bagaimanapun) saya juga tidak tahu adakah kandungan pendedahan tersebut tertakluk dengan Akta Rahsia Rasmi (OSA)," tambahnya.
Zahar berkata, beliau adalah jurucakap kepada tiga syarikat yang memasuki tender untuk mendapatkan kontrak tersebut.
“Mereka anggap saya jurucakap kerana mereka tidak berani bersuara. Kita marah kerana penender membayar RM1 juta untuk memasuki tender, sedangkan kerajaan telah menetapkan syarikat yang memperolehi tender tersebut,” katanya.
Zahar berkata, keputusan kerajaan menangguhkan pembelian Eurocopter semata-mata untuk mengaburi mata orang ramai.
