Siapa Layak Menjadi Pemimpin Malaysia?

By : Alina Simon and Sulaiman Jaafar

MACHANG, Wed:

No more cah keting (sabotage) and clannish pride! Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak did not mince his words when he told off Kelantan Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders and grassroot members to stop internal bickering and infighting.

Najib, who spoke to a crowd of supporters here today, went straight to the heart of the problem at the start of his speech by bluntly stating that the practice must stop if the BN were to win back Kelantan.

He pointed out that the habit of sabotage and camps within the party had denied BN the chance of recapturing Kelantan in the 2004 general election.

“If they truly wanted a change, the change should start from their hearts, instead of merely mouthing platitudes,” Najib said, praising state BN leaders for co-operation and singled out state BN and Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Annuar Musa for his willingness to step aside and allow the post of Menteri Besar to go to Deputy Finance Minister and Bachok Parliamentary incumbent Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin.

Awang Adek will be defending his seat against Pas deputy president Nasharuddin Mat and contesting in Pas-held Perupok seat.

"Annuar said he was also willing to act as campaign manager for Awang Adek during the campaigning period. This is the spirit of co-operation that we want between the big three all in one boat," he said, referring to the top state leaders who also include Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed.

Speaking in a mixture of the local dialect, Najib voiced his frustration of having to repeatedly step in and resolve the problem in the state while injected humour to soften the sting of his words.

"I am tired of coming to Kelantan, I come here and shout, then go home so exhausted I had to ask my wife for a massage,” he said in the Kelantanese accent. "I had to drink honey water to keep up my strength.”

BN lost out to Pas by getting only 21 of the 45 state seats but added Pengkalan Pasir state seat after a by-election in 2006.

Najib cited Kemuning state seat under the Machang Parliamentary where BN lost by only two votes as an example of the extent of damage caused by their inability to put aside their sentiments.

"I was so disappointed,” he said. “With that two votes, we could have formed a BN government in Kelantan. It could not have been due to Pas' strength. We won the parliamentary seat and we should have won the state seats too. The only valid reason for the defeat is because of infighting.” - NST

Zain el-Din Hashimi Wed Feb 27, 08 3:38:06 pm MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Feb (Hrkh) – Tinjauan Harakah mendapati para pemimpin Umno/BN telah melakukan banyak penyelewengan bagi memastikan mereka menang dalam pilihan raya umum ke-12 pada 8 Mac ini, sekali gus memerintah negara.

Penyelewengan yang dilakukan bukan sahaja menggunakan media cetak (surat khabar), media eletronik (stesen tv, radio), malah terkini menggunakan segala kemudahan awam seperti papan-papan iklan (billboard) di lebuh raya, stesen LRT dan sebagainya.

Inilah tindakan tidak bertamadun Umno, menggunakan apa sahaja walaupun melanggar etika dan arahan Pengerusi Suruhanha Pilihan Raya (SPR), Tan Sri Abdul Rashid minggu lalu yang memberi amaran keras kepada mana-mana parti politik yang bertanding agar tidak menggunakan kemudahan awam.

Kerakusan pemimpin Umno/BN berkempen untuk pilihan raya kali ini tidak mengikut tempoh seperti yang telah ditetapkan kerana mereka telah berkempen sakan sebelum tarikh pembubaran parlimen.

Menjelang hari pembuangan undi, Malaysia tidak lagi diperintah oleh pemimpin-pemimpin Barisan nasional, tetapi ditadbir oleh kerajaan sementara, justeru mereka tidak boleh menggunakan jawatan seperti Perdana Menteri atau timbalannya, mereka hanya boleh sebut Pengerusi Umno atau BN.

Dalam tempoh tersebut mereka tidak berkuasa hingga sampai hari mengundi. Maka mereka tidak boleh muncul dalam televisyen, kalau mereka dibenarkan, pembangkang juga mesti juga boleh berbuat demikian, tetapi semua itu mustahil boleh berlaku, semua pegawai di mana-mana jabatan bagaikan petugas BN untuk memastikan kemenangan parti itu.

Seorang pengguna LRT yang ditemui menegaskan, kerajaan pimpinan Umno/BN sudah tidak lagi relevan, kalau di Thailand, Pakistan parti pembangkang boleh meraih kemenangan dengan berhadapan parti pemerintah dalam pilihan raya, angin kemenangan itu juga tidak mustahil akan bertiup pada 8 Mac di Malaysia.

"Saya berkata demikian kerana tidak berpuas hati mereka menggunakan segala kemudahan awam tanpa batasan, sedangkan pilihan raya saya ibaratkan macam peperangan, dari segi logiknya, tentera yang memiliki segala persenjataan canggih akan menang berbanding dengan tentera yang hanya menggunakan senapang patah, tetapi Allah penentu pada 8 Mac nanti," tegas beliau dengan nada kesal.

Pendapat beliau itu disokong oleh seorang Pengurus Besar sebuah syarikat swasta yang tidak mahu dikenali Beliau kesal dengan tindakan pihak berkuasa. Katanya tidak cukup dengan itu semua, mereka menjadikan para pegawai SPR sebagai balaci khususnya pada hari penamaan calon 24 Februari lalu.

Katanya lagi, beliau mendapat maklumat terdapat seorang calon pembangkang (PAS) yang bertanding di salah sebuah Dun di Selangor ditawarkan sejumlah wang dari calon BN agar menarik diri supaya tidak bertanding sebelum jam 3.00 petang tadi (Rabu 27 Feb).

Menurutnya, jika semua calon bertanding secara ‘gentlement’ dalam pilihan raya tanpa bantuan SPR, media cetak atau eletronik tidak berpihak mana-mana, rasanya ia satu kemenangan yang amat berharga kerana pilihan raya dijalankan dengan bersih dan adil.

Kalau kita jumpa orang tua-tua di Rembau , terutamanya di Kg Gadong , Kg Tanjung , Kg Seberang Paya , Kg Mungkal , Kg Memperah dan lain-lain kampung yang berdekatan , mereka akan katakan Khairy sebenarnya bukan orang Rembau.

Menurut adat orang Rembau , keturunan adalah mengikut asal keturunan ibu. Dalam kes Khairy , orang tua-tua Rembau mengatakan Khairy bukan orang Rembau tetapi ialah orang Pulau Pinang , kerana ibu Khairy ialah orang Pulau Pinang , hanya arwah ayahnya saja orang Rembau.

Begitu juga dalam kes melantik Undang Rembau. Mestilah dilihat dari keturunan sebelah emak. Hanya dua suku yang layak menjadi Undang di Rembau ini , iaitu suku Dato Sedia Raja dan suku Lela Maharaja. Jika ayah suku Dato Sedia Raja dan emak adalah orang bukan dari dua suku tadi , maka secara otomatik , anak tidak layak untuk menjadi Undang.

Selamat Datang ke Rembau , Tanah Beradat

Di dalam politik UMNO, kawan jadi lawan dan lawan jadi kawan. Perebutan kuasa boleh menyebabkan kawan jadi lawan dan akhirnya siapa yang kurang berkuasa akan jatuh terjelepok.Isu pencalunan yang menjadi kecoh di kalangan pemimpin UMNO adalah usaha dan kerjasama Khairy dan beberapa ahli fikir Dollah Badawi termasuk Kalimullah dan Anuar Zaini. Merujuk kepada cita cita ingin menjadi Perdana Menteri pada umur 40 tahun, maka setiap pencalunan berpandu kepada keakraban Khairy dan bakal calun. Contoh terbaik adalah Datuk Rahman yang dahulunya berjasa kepada UMNO terengganu kerana berjaya menjatuhkan TG Hj Hadi, kini menjadi mangsa menantu ex Perdana Menteri itu.

Kekecohan tidak berlaku di Terengganu sahaja malah beberapa buah negeri. Sehinggakan pihak berkuasa menjadikan lokasi lokasi tertentu sebagai kawasan panas. Ada yang berpiket sehingga 3 hari, ada yang berkunjung ke rumah Menteri Besar dan Pedana Menteri untuk merayu, tetapi kuasa Khairy melebihi segala galanya. Semua rayuan ditolak dan keputusan adalah muktamad.

Kini Khairy bakal bertanding sebagai Ahli Parlimen Rembau. Kononnya ia kampung halaman. Merujuk kepada artikel di atas, beliau bukan lah rakyat jati negeri sembilan. Mungkin kenyataan ini benar. Kulit nya tidak sawo matang, tetapi lebih kepada ular sawa. Gelap ala mamak. Macam Zainuddin Mydin. Mungkin ada bau bau bacang tapi itu bukan tajuk cerita.
Percaturan politik lebih kepada nafsu dan cita citanya menggusarkan semua pihak. Najib Razak sudah membisu, Hisammuddin Hussin pun sudah terdiam, ini kan pula Ahli Parlimen atau wakil rakyat.

Kuasanya ada pada Abdullah Badawi. Raja kepada raja di negara kita. Kuasanya melebihi adat Negeri Sembilan, termasuk 'UNDANG'. Ia sudah mampu merubah sesuatu, kalau ia mahu. Tambahan lagi dengan kuasa yang ada. Umpama sang Qarun yang cuba menjadi tuhan kerana kaya dan kuasa dunianya.

Kini UNDANG di dalam bahaya. Raja sekian alam sudah berada di Rembau. Tunggu waktu untuk berkuasa dan mempunyai hulubalang. Sejauh mana kebalnya sistem UNDANG dan adat PEPATIH boleh bertahan dengan kuasa manusia yang mampu memetik jari untuk mencari hulubalang. Duit jadi bicara. Budak bisu dan bodoh pun boleh jadi raja asalkan dia kaya. Ini kan pula menantu bekas Perdana Menteri yang mampu merubah struktur UMNO sebelum pilihanraya di dalam sekelip mata. Yakinnya beliau sehingga tidak bimbang kalau kalau UMNO kecundang akibat rakyat yang berpatah arang.

Berwaspada dan ubahlah sebelum parah. Sedikit luka, bawa bencana. Anak muda mampu mengarah. Khairy adalah manusia gila kuasa. Merbahaya kepada rakyat jelata serta pemimpin yang ada. Tanah Negeri Sembilan amat berharga. Ianya serupa, tapi adat mengawal segala. Ianya boleh menjadi punca. Undang dan raja raja, tunggu masa. Bila kuasa ada ditangan, lintah boleh menjadi naga, Bilis boleh menjadi jerung.

Mungkin ramai yang tidak perasan tetapi inilah hakikatnya. Menantu PM yang dikatakan begitu berkuasa nampaknya telah gagal menyusun beberapa orang kuatnya untuk bertanding dalam pilihanraya umum yang akan datang.

Satu persatu orang-orang menantu PM dicantas oleh "Kelab Menteri Besar". Didalam tulisan yang lalu kami menyiarkan bagaimana Wan Farid yang seharusnya menjadi Menteri Besar Terangganu dicantas oleh Idris Jusoh.

Cuba perhatikan bagaimana Norza Zakaria yang menjadi proksi menantu PM yang paling kanan gagal untuk mendapatkan mana-mana tempat untuk bertanding dalam pilihanraya umum yang akan datang. Norza yang sebelum ini digembar-gemburkan akan bertanding di kerusi parlimen Bukit Katil, Melaka atau kerusi parlimen Titiwangsa tersungkur ke bumi dikerjakan oleh Ali Rustam dan Zulhasnan.

Sementara Ahmad Zaki Zahid yang juga merupakan Ketua Pemuda UMNO Putrajaya yang sebelum ini digembar-gemburkan akan mengambil alih kerusi Tengku Adnan hanya mampu menelan air liur sahaja.

Kelab Menteri Besar sebulat suara untuk memastikan agenda jahat menantu PM tidak berjaya. Cuma Mahadzir Khalid dan Mohammad Hassan sahaja yang dikuasai oleh menantu PM. Selebihnya bersatu untuk memastikan menantu PM tidak menang mudah.

PM yang tidak tahu apa-apa sudah pasti hanya akan bersetuju jika "disergah" oleh Menteri Besar. Lihatlah bagaimana Shahidan Kassim masih lagi berjaya berkuasa di Perlis.

Menantu PM semakin panik sekarang ini. Sudahlah orang-orang kuatnya tersungkur, nasibnya di Rembau masih lagi belum pasti. Calon pembangkang yang melawan menantu PM, Badrul Hisham menjadi semakin popular disini.

Mangsa-mangsa menantu PM yang tersungkur akibat catur politik jahatnya seorang demi seorang telah menyatakan kesediaan mereka untuk membantu Badrul. Makin lama makin ramai.

Kami akan terus berjuang sehingga ketitisan darah yang terakhir untuk memastikan Rembau tidak akan menjadi tempat di Negeri Sembilan yang pertama tergadai ke Singapura. Tambahan lagi menantu PM adalah orang luar yang lahir di Kuwait.

Anak Jati Rembau.

Intan Abdullah Wed Feb 27, 08 3:51:48 pm MYT

PASIR MAS, 27 Feb (Hrkh) - Semua kerajaan yang ada di dunia ini adalah milik Allah kerana Dialah pencipta yang berkuasa ke atas sekalian makhluknya. Justeru, Menteri Besar Kelantan, Tuan Guru Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat meminta agar semua pihak khususnya pentadbir agar menjadikan al-Quran dan Sunnah sebagai rujukan terpenting dalam menjalankan sesuatu proses pembangunan

"Semua yang terjadi di atas dunia ini, sama ada projek dan usaha pembangunan telah tercatat pada kertas kerja Allah. Pernah suatu ketika dahulu, ada sesetengah pihak yang kurang yakin dengan kita (PAS) untuk menjalankan aktiviti pembangunan, tetapi hari ini kita buktikan ianya adalah tidak mustahil dengan izin Alah," ujarnya dalam satu Majlis Pecah Tanah Kompleks Pejabat Majlis Daerah Pasir Mas dan Pejabat Tanah dan Jajahan Pasir Mas di Bandar Baru Pasir Mas, Lubuk Jong pagi tadi.

Jelasnya, proses kejuruteraan negeri adalah untuk memajukan Kelantan dengan berpegang kepada manifesto kerajaan negeri iaitu Itqan Mas'uliyyah' yang telah diperkenalkan kepada semua penjawat awam untuk memastikan segala yang dijalankan mendapat keredhaan dan keberkatan Allah semata-mata.

"Selain itu, kita juga hendaklah mengendalikan segala masalah yang berkaitan dengan manusia ini dengan kembali kepada ajaran Islam kerana menjaga negeri ini adalah bererti menjaga manusia," katanya.

Nik Aziz yang juga merupakan calon Dun Cempaka menegaskan bahawa sejak PAS menerajui Kelantan, pelbagai perubahan telah dijalankan.

"Pada peringkat awal, kita telah meminta semua urusan kewangan perlu dipindahkan daripada menggunakan bank konvensional kepada bank Islam bagi mengelakkan bercampur dengan unsur riba yang dilarang oleh Allah," ujarnya.

"Tiada sebuah kerajaan di negara Asia yang melakukan tindakan sedemikian melainkan kerajaan negeri Kelantan," ujarnya lagi.

Tambahnya, apa jua yang telah diperintahkan oleh Allah tidak kira apa jua bentuk suruhan dan larangan adalah untuk kebaikan hambaNya, kerana Dia lebih mengetahui apa yang terbaik untuk hamba ciptaanNya itu.

"Ia adalah sebagai suatu usaha untuk mencapai keberkatan Allah khususnya bagi membangunkan negeri ini selari dengan kehendak Allah," katanya lagi.

Sementara itu, Ketua Wip Majlis Daerah Pasir Mas, Osman Zakaria menyatakan kos pembangunan projek tersebut menelan belanja RM14.8 juta bagi membina kawasan perumahan, rumah kedai, kafeteria, kompleks pejabat, surau, taman permainan dan sebagainya yang dijangka siap sepenuhnya pada tahun 2012.

"Ia akan dilengkapi dengan kemudahan prasarana yang akan menjadi tarikan bagi industri pelancongan selain merupakan koridor pembangunan yang berupaya menaiktaraf sosioekonomi penduduk Pasir Mas," ujarnya.

Menjelaskan mengenai kedudukan projek tersebut, Pengarah Projek tersebut, Ir. Suharto Mohd Nasir menerangkan 80 peratus Fasal Pertama projek itu telah siap dengan 34 unit kedai dan 75 peratus daripadanya telah habis dijual.

"Ia bukanlah suatu projek bagi mencari keuntungan, kerana ia adalah untuk membantu membangunkan Pasir Mas oleh syarikat Taman Semasa Sdn. Bhd," katanya.

Turut hadir dalam masjlis tersebut ialah Exco Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Dato' Takiyuddin Hassan, Pengerusi Eksekutif Taman Semasa Sdn. Bhd, Dato' Albert Tan, calon PAS Parlimen Rantau Panjang serta Dun-dun sekitarnya, iaitu Ustazah Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof, calon PAS Bukit Tuku, Abdul Fatah Haron, calon PAS Dun Meranti, Ustaz Nasurudin Daud, calon Parlimen Pasir Mas, Dato' Ibrahim Ali, Calon PAS Dun Tendong, Ustaz Mohd Daud dan calon PAS Dun Pengkalan Pasir, Hanifa Ahmad.

The political uncertainty in Perlis seems to be over with a deal struck on a mid-term change in state leadership.

It is understood that Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim will defend his Tambun Tulang state seat after a deal was made for him to remain as Mentri Besar for only two years, Umno sources said.
Sources said Shahidan gave his word to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya on Friday.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad are said to be aware of the written agreement.

“This is the compromise that was reached,” said a highly-placed party source who declined to be identified.

When reporters asked him to confirm this yesterday, Shahidan was evasive.

“I have heard people saying so, but I don’t know,” he said.

At a press conference held by Radzi at his home in Bintong later, the Home Affairs Minister, who is defending his Kangar parliamentary seat, did not want to talk about the matter.

He only said that this would be his last general election, adding that he wanted to pave the way for younger blood.

After Friday’s announcement that Shahidan would stay on as Mentri Besar, the political drama continued here yesterday.

Only this time, it involved his younger brother, Senator Datuk Ismail Kassim.

Shahidan announced the full list of candidates to contest the 15 state and three parliamentary seats before a huge crowd that had gathered at Dewan 2020 here at 10am.

For the Arau parliamentary seat, the name read out was that of Ismail.

The incumbent MP, Datuk Seri Syed Razlan Syed Putra Syed Jamalullail, was announced as the candidate for the Pauh state seat.

However, at 1pm Shahidan announced that the Barisan Nasional leadership had agreed to a switch to enable a lone woman candidate to be fielded, with Perlis Wanita Umno chief Datuk Mastika Junaidah Husin getting the Arau parliamentary seat.

But in the evening, the decision was reversed and Ismail was given back the seat.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid will defend his Padang Besar parliamentary seats.

Both Radzi and Azmi were not in the hall. Eight new faces are contesting state seats.

They are the MCA’s Yip Sun Onn, who will contest in Titi Tinggi and Dr Por Choo Chor in Indera Kayangan, and Umno's Matrawi Kassim in Beseri, Datuk Mat Isa Sabu in Bintong, Jamil Saad in Sena, Mat Hassan in Kuala Perlis, Bakri Datuk Ali in Kayang and Abdullah Hassan in Sanglang.

Abdullah has been given the task of wresting Sanglang, the opposition’s sole seat in Perlis, now being held by PAS.

PAS is contesting 12 state and two parliamentary seats, while Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is contesting three state seats and one parliamentary seat.

Azmi, 66, said he was surprised with the party leadership’s decision to re-nominate him for the Padang Besar seat, although he had expressed his intention to retire.

“I am so touched, this shows that my services are still needed. We have to work hard.

“I am confident that the voters in Perlis will vote for the Barisan although new faces are being fielded,” he added. - THE STAR

(KLPOS.COM) - Ketua Pemuda PAS, Salahuddin Ayub berharap bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad bersama-sama menyekat kemenangan menantu Perdana Menteri, Khairy Jamaluddin yang bertanding untuk kerusi Parlimen Rembau.

Beliau juga menggesa para pengundi di Rembau agar meminta ulama yang mereka yakin kesalehannya untuk bersolat istikharah bagi mendapatkan petunjuk dari Allah sama ada mereka patut mengundi Khairy atau tidak.

Salahuddin memberi jaminan bahawa Barisan Alternatf (BA) sedang meneruskan usaha yang giat dan bersungguh-sungguh dengan para pemimpin dan ahli-ahli Umno yang mahu memastikan kekalahan Khairy.

"Dr Mahathir pernah menyatakan bahawa misinya ialah untuk mengajak para penyokong Barisan Nasional (BN) menggunakan pilihan raya kali ini untuk membersihkan parti itu khususnya Umno dari pemimpin yang korup dan tunggul mati.

"Beliau juga pernah menyatakan bahawa kerajaan pimpinan (Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri) Abdullah (Ahmad) Badawi dikuasai Khairy.

"Malah menantu Perdana Menteri itu sendiri tidak menafikan dakwaan Mathias Chang (bekas Setiusaha Politik Dr Mahathir) bahawa beliau (Khairy) kaya-raya kerana menguasai Perdana Menteri," kata Salahuddin yang akan mempertahankan kerusi Kubang Kerian.

Khairy juga, katanya lagi, tidak menafikan pendedahan Dr Mahathir bahawa kerajaan BN Terengganu adalah bonekanya (Khairy) apabila Dr Mahathir menyatakan Terengganu sebenarnya diperintah oleh Khairy dan orang yang dipanggil Patrick Badawi oleh Dr Mahathir.

"Kita percaya kepada apa yang dinyatakan oleh Dr Mahathir itu. Jika beliau membuat dakwaan tanpa asas, sudah tentu beliau diambil tindakan.

"Mengapa Perdana Menteri, Khairy, keluarga dan rakan-rakan mereka yang terbabit dengan pendedahan Dr Mahathir terus menikus dan takut mengambil tindakan?

"Sedangkan, pendedahan-pendedahan Dr Mahathir itu mengaitkan mereka dengan perbuatan korup peringkat tertinggi kerana bapa mertua Khairy adalah Perdana Menteri dan Khairy sendiri didedahkan oleh Dr Mahathir menguasai kerajaan pimpinan bapa mertuanya," beliau mempersoalkan.

Oleh sebab itulah, Salahuddin meminta Dr Mahathir bertindak menyekat laluan Khairy ke puncak kuasa seperti yang diidamkannya.

Khairy sering dilaporkan mahu menjadi Perdana Menteri selewat-lewatnya ketika berumur 40 tahun. Beliau kini berumur 32 tahun.

"Memandangkan Khairy tidak mengambil apa-apa tindakan yang melampaui keraguan untuk menolak pendedahan-pendedahan Dr Mahathir itu, kita amat bimbang Khairy akan membawa kemusnahan kepada negara yang kita dicintai ini.

"Oleh sebab itulah saya benar-benar berharap Dr Mahathir membantu memastikan kekalahan Khairy di Rembau," kata beliau.

Kepada ahli-ahli Umno yang mengundi di Rembau, Salahuddin meminta mereka jangan membelakangkan nasihat Dr Mahathir yang juga bekas Presiden Umno.
Dr Mahathir baru-baru ini mengingatkan supaya umat Islam merujuk kepada ulama untuk memilih pemimpin termasuk dari sudut politik.

"Saya menggesa mereka supaya bersolat istikharah dahulu untuk mendapatkan petunjuk dari Allah adakah mereka patut mengundi Khairy yang bertanding mewakili BN di kawasan Parlimen Rembau.

"Jika mereka belum bersedia untuk bersolat istikharah, saya menggesa mereka memohon ulama yang mereka yakin kesalehannya untuk bersolat istikharah memohon petunjuk dari Allah adakah mereka patut mengundi Khairy," kata beliau.

Di pihak BA, Salahuddin memberitahu, segala usaha sedang dilakukan untuk memastikan Khairy tidak dipilih sebagai Ahli Parlimen Rembau termasuk meneruskan usaha yang giat dan bersungguh-sungguh dengan para pemimpin dan ahli-ahli Umno yang mahu memastikan kekalahan Khairy.

Tiga penjuru di Lembah Pantai
24/02/2008 10:54am

KUALA LUMPUR 24 Feb. - Menteri Pembangunan, Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil dijangka menghadapi tentangan tiga penjuru di Parlimen Lembah Pantai.

Beliau yang mempertahankan kerusi itu dijangka ditentang oleh anak Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Nurul Izzah Anwar dan calon Bebas, Periasamy a/l Nagaratnam.


BN sarawak menang 4 kerusi parlimen tanpa bertanding
24/02/2008 11:04am

KUCHING 25 Feb. – Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak melakar kemenangan awal pada hari penamaan calon apabila memenangi empat kerusi Parlimen tanpa bertanding.

Calon BN menang di kerusi Parlimen Tanjung Manis, Selangau, Kapit dan Kanowit.


BN menang tanpa bertanding di Kalabakan
24/02/2008 10:54am

KOTA KINABALU 24 Feb. – Calon Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh, menang tanpa bertanding di Parlimen Kalabakan.

Abdul Ghafur diisytihar menang setelah hanya beliau sahaja yang menyerahkan borang pencalonan selepas tempoh pencalonan ditutup.


Rahman Palil menang tanpa bertanding DUN Sementa
24/02/2008 11:12am

SHAH ALAM 24 Feb. _ Exco Selangor, Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil menang tanpa bertanding di kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sementa di bawah kawasan Parlimen Kapar.
- Utusan


Ketua Menteri Sabah ditentang 3 penjuru
24/02/2008 11:11am

SANDAKAN 24 Feb. - Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Musa Aman ditentang tiga penjuru di Kaw DUN Sungai Sibuga. Mereka ialah Ahmad Thamrin Mohd Jaini (PKR), Gusniah Diong (bebas) dan Osman Enting (Bersekutu).

Presiden LDP, Datuk Liew Vui Keong sah ditentang Timbalan Ketua Pemuda parti sendiri, Fong Vun Fui yang bertanding tiket bebas di Parlimen Sandakan, seorang lagi calon DAP, Chong Chui Lin.

M Khaleel Kas
Sun Feb 24, 08 9:27:19 am MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Feb (Hrkh) - Pemerhati politik dan ahli akademik menempelak Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan pimpinan tertinggi Umno-BN kerana gagal menyediakan senarai calon Barisan Nasional (BN) lebih awal.

Menurut Timbalan Naib Canselor (HEP) dan Allumni Universiti Utara Malaysia, Prof Dato Dr Faiz Ahmad dalam segmen wawancara secara langsung di TV3 pagi ini, ketidakcekapan BN terutamanya pimpinan tertinggi parti dalam menamakan calon-calon untuk bertanding menggambarkan berlakunya kemelut dalaman BN.

"Perkara sebegini tidak patut berlaku apatah lagi dalam konteks Umno. Kami lihat sebagai pemerhati politik bahawa dalam parti ada masalah dalaman,"jelasnya apabila ditanya oleh pengacara mengenai perubahan nama-nama calon di saat-saat akhir.

Tambah Dr Faiz lagi, sebagai parti politik yang telah lama berkecimpung dalam politik negara ini, Umno sepatutnya matang dan perkara mengenai perubahan nama-nama calon di saat akhir tidak berlaku.

"Tidak patut berlaku, kematangan politik patut ada pada Umno,"katanya sambil membidas tindakan Umno yang mengecewakan calon-calon dan penyokong yang digugurkan di saat akhir.
Sementara itu, Pengarah Eksekutif Yayasan Strategik Sosial, Dato' Dr Denilson Jayasooria juga bersetuju bahawa tindakan yang dilakukan oleh BN dalam mengubah senarai calon yang dikemukakan akan menyebabkan kekecewaan di kalangan calon dan penyokong parti.

" Jangan...dah beritahu kemudian tukar, dah beritahu kemudian tukar...susah, bila wakil rakyat ditukar susah kebaikan wakil rakyat lama untuk diketahui oleh pengundi sesuatu kawasan," bidas Denilson mengenai sikap tidak konsisten Umno-BN yang kerap menukar calon dalam pilihan raya kali ini.

Menurutnya, antara penyumbang kepada penukaran di saat akhir ini berkemungkinan berlaku akibat politik melobi dalam parti.

Katanya, tindakan ini bila berlaku akan menyebabkan ketidaktentuan.

Dalam pada itu, Dr Faiz memuji tindakan parti politik lain dengan merujuk kepada pembangkang terutamanya PAS yang menyediakan calon-calon lebih awal dan ini menurutnya memberikan gambaran betapa bersiap sedianya parti PAS.

Tambahnya, keadaan ini memberikan kelebihan kepada PAS dan pembangkang kerana memberikan gambaran bahawa mereka lebih bersedia, tersusun dalam gerak kerja dan tidak berlakunya perpecahan dalam parti.

Katanya, bila dalam keadaan begini berlaku 'advantage' kepada PAS, rakyat melihat kecekapan ada dalam pembangkang dan undi akan berpihak kepada mereka. - mks.

Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob
Sat Feb 23, 08 11:00:17 pm MYT

Tinggal beberapa jam sahaja lagi proses penamaan calon bagi Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 akan berjalan, sebaik sahaja pintu pagar tempat penamaan calon dibuka jam 9.00 pagi ini, bermulalah satu era baru dalam sejarah politik negara.

Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 cukup mendapat tumpuan pelbagai pihak dari dalam mahupun luar negara. Rencah politik tanah air diwarnai dengan pelbagai lakaran politik yang kadang-kadang suram, ada kalanya cerah.

Kehadiran Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan), Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam kancah politik negara selepas dihumban jauh oleh Umno pada taun 1998 dalam peristiwa 'duka'.
Ketika itu bermulalah edisi reformasi yang kini menjengah usia lapan tahun, dan sepanjang usia reformasi ini berlansung, pemimpin bertukar ganti dari yang muda hingga ke tua.

Lupakan kisah reformasi seketika kerana pilihan raya umum juga adalah proses reformasi dan transisi politik yang lebih penting untuk dibicarakan.

Semua mata akan tertumpu kepada Parlimen dan Dun 'panas' esok terutamanya di kawasan yang ditandingi muka-muka baru.Umno paling pening kerana terpaksa bergelut dengan penentangan di kalangan ahli dan akar umbi selepas Presiden Umno, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dikatakan meminggirkan kelompok penyokong bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Pilihan raya umum kali ini juga lebih menarik memandangkan 'superstar mee segera' akan bertanding di Parlimen Rembau selepas disahkan pencalonannya oleh Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Dato' Seri Utama Mohamad Hassan.

Superstar yang dimaksudkan ialah Naib ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin yang kini sedang giat berkempen di Kelantan dengan slogan '18 tahun, Pade Doh'.Di celah-celah kelekaan Khairy menumpukan kempen di Kelantan, menantu Perdana Menteri itu terlupa bahawa beliau adalah calon di Parlimen Rembau yang seara geografinya jauh dari negeri Kelantan.

Rembau merupakan satu Parlimen yang tidak pernah dihuni leh Kahiry meskipun ada yang menyatakan kaluarga menantu PM itu berasal dari Rembau, dan disebabkan beliau adalah Naib ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno, maka 'seat' nya terjamin.

Ramai sebenarnya mahu melihat, apakah keangkuhan Khairy membelah politik bangsa dengan gaya 'samsengnya' itu mampu diterima masyarakat yang sudah muak dengan adegan dan lakonan Khairy kononnya seorang pembela bangsa.

Suka penulis memetik rangkap kata calon Parlimen Rembau yang akan menentang Khairy, Badrul Hisham Shaharin bahawa menantu Perdana Menteri itu sememangnya popular kerana berbanding Khairy kerana " Saya tidak terpalit dengan tuduhan dan pendedahan keterlibatan sebagai agen asing (menggadaikan kedaulatan negara), saya bukan jutawan muda yang mengumpul harta dalam sekelip mata,"

Secara sinis Badrul Hisham mengingatkan Khairy bahawa jangan terlalu angkuh dengan kekuasaan yang ada tatkala Khairy hanya tahu bergantung kepada populariti sebagai menantu Perdana Menteri sahaja.

Persaingan di Parlimen Rembau bakal jadi tempat 'panas' yang akan ditumpu mata-mata politik selain lensa media yang bertandang membuat laporan.

Rembau juga kini sebaris dengan Parlimen lain yang sebelum ini dikenali sebagai Parlimen Panas antaranya ialah, Marang, Kuala Terengganu, Machang, Bukit Bintang, Pekan, Kota Bharu, Batu Gajah, Ipoh Timur dan Arau.

Justeru esok adalah tarikh keramat yang akan menentukan samada Badrul Hisham akan menentang kahiry di Parlimen Rembau, yang seterusnya akan menyaksikan kempen ala samseng yang akan digunakan Khairy sepertimana kaedah kempennya di Ijok awal tahun 2007.

Rembau bakal melakar sejarah bangsa jika Badrul Hisham berjaya mengalahkan Khairy yang dikatakan lebih popular meskipun tidak pernah merawat nasib susah masyarakat di Rembau.

Apa yang Khairy tahu hanyalah 'memberukkan' rakyat dan 'memonyetkan' bloggers.Sama-sama kita nantikan pertarungan yang akan bermula jam 9.00 pagi ini. - mks.

Smart Naza Mon Feb 18, 08 4:53:57 pm MYT
Saudara Pengarang,
Assalamualaikum.

Saya ingin membuat saranan kepada Harakah supaya dalam masa terdekat ini Barisan Alternatif melakukan serangan psikologi songsang ke atas para pengundi. Ada segelintir pengundi yang masih lagi dibelenggu dengan ketidakcerdikan mereka. Masih lagi tidak membuka mata. Masih lagi tidak menggunakan akal fikiran yang waras.

Mereka ini seperti lembu yang dicucuk hidungnya. Maka, mereka inilah yang akan menyebabkan kekalahan kepada usaha murni BA untuk menawan Malaysia daripada BN.

Saya perhatikan selama ini tidak banyak poster-poster atau risalah-risalah yang membuat pendekatan psikologi songsang ini. Kebanyakan risalah dan poster-poster tersebut memaparkan sesuatu yang tidak banyak memberi ruang untuk orang ramai berfikir.

Walaupun mereka membuat pendekatan psikologi dalam risalah dan poster tersebut, tetapi ini tidak membuatkan pengundi-pengundi di atas pagar ini untuk berfikir dengan baik.

Jadi sudah sampai masanya pihak BA membuat pendekatan reverse psikologi pula. Cadangan saya, dalam masa sesingkat ini iaitu sehingga sebelum 8 Mac, pihak BA perbanyakkanlah 'flyers', 'stickers', risalah-risalah, poster yang menggunakan pendekatan 'reverse psikologi'.
Edaran sebelum pengundian

Edarkanlah perantaraan ini pada hari Jumaat, 7 Mac di masjid (sebelum sembahyang Jumaat), di surau-surau (sebelum mengundi), di kereta dan di rumah-rumah sehari sebelum mengundi.
Ini kerana, kebiasaannya pada malam sebelum pilihan raya, TV3 akan membuat program jahat dalam bentuk penipuan yang terakhir sebelum mengundi. Dalam kesempatan itu, masukkanlah kata-kata seperti berikut untuk dilekatkan di kenderaan / dalam rumah / tempat yang sesuai:

"Untuk KENAIKAN TOL, KENAIKAN MINYAK, KENAIKAN HARGA BARANG, MENGAYAKAN PEMIMPIN BN, PENYELEWENGAN, RASUAH, SEKS, PEMBAZIRAN, SAMSENG, AMPU SANA, AMPU SINI, HIPOKRIT, TALAM DUA MUKA DAN BANYAK LAGI undilah BARISAN NAJIS (BN)" atau,

"Anda penyokong setia BN? Bagus dan terima kasih. Kerana anda akan pastikan kemenangan kepada BN. Dengan kemenangan ini anda akan terus MEMBAYAR TOL (walaupun penyokong setia) dan MENGKAYAKAN PEMIMPIN ANDA (biar pun penyokong setia tidak mendapat apa-apa pun).

Anda juga dapat membiarkan PEMIMPIN BN DAPAT MEMBINA RUMAH BESAR-BESAR, MENAIKKAN HARGA MINYAK, MENYEBABKAN KENAIKAN HARGA BARANG, MELAKUKAN RASUAH, PENYELEWENGAN, PENIPUAN, MELAKUKAN SEKS, PEMBAZIRAN DUIT RAKYAT DAN BANYAK LAGI. We LOVE U!

Jika pihak BA mempunyai buah fikiran yang lebih baik untuk menambah perasa dengan kata-kata yang lebih baik lagi maka terpulanglah. Kata-kata di atas adalah sebagai contoh sahaja. Saya harap para pengundi di atas pagar atau pengundi-pengundi totok BN ini akan terjaga dari khayalan mereka.
Amin.

Saya mohon BA mempertimbangkan idea saya ini untuk masa hadapan negara Malaysia yang kita cintai ini. Saya hanyalah penyokong kerdil yang mampu menjanakan idea untuk kejayaan BA. Wasalam ... --- aba.

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Feb (Hrkh) - Rakyat mesti memuktamadkan usaha bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad untuk membuang penyakit bawaan penggantinya, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pada 8 Mac ini, kata Ketua Dewan PAS Pusat, Salahuddin Ayub.

"Dr Mahathir telah memulakan usaha untuk membuang pelbagai penyakit yang dijangkitkan oleh Perdana Menteri ke atas negara ini sejak pertengahan 2005 lagi.

"Sekarang telah hampir 3 tahun Dr Mahathir telah berusaha tetapi penyakit bawaan Perdana Menteri ke atas negara ini semakin teruk.

"Rakyat Malaysia bertanggungjawab memuktamadkannya dengan memberikan ubat yang terbaik seperti yang disarankan oleh Dr Mahathir dalam syarahannya pada program anjuran Majlis Prihatin Malaysia (PRIMA) Ogos lalu dengan membuang punca penyakit, iaitu Perdana Menteri sendiri," kata beliau.

Dalam syarahannya itu, Dr Mahathir menyeru orang-orang Melayu supaya tidak lagi memberi sokongan kepada kepimpinan Abdullah yang disifatkan telah banyak melakukan kerosakan dan membiarkan rasuah berleluasa.

Salahuddin menyeru seluruh rakyat Malaysia supaya menyekat kemenangan Barisan Nasional (BN) untuk menyelamatkan negara ini dari kemusnahan.
"Rakyat Malaysia khususnya para penyokong BN akan menyesal dan mengutuk diri sendiri jika terus mengundi BN tanpa mempedulikan ingatan Dr Mahathir bahawa kemenangan BN akan membawa kepada kemusnahan negara ini," kata beliau yang turut hadir dalam program syarahan Dr Mahathir anjuran PRIMA itu.

Beliau juga meminta rakyat supaya tidak melupakan pendedahan Dr Mahathir bahawa Abdullah melindungi kes rasuah seorang bekas menteri.

Sambil mendakwa berlaku tindakan menyembunyikan siasatan Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) ke atas seorang menteri kabinet, Dr Mahathir berkata: "Saya tahu agensi itu telah menyiasat seseorang, tetapi ada cover up. Masa saya. Saya ingat tindakan akan diambil, tetapi tidak".

Ditanya siapa, bekas Perdana Menteri berkata, "seorang menteri kabinet semasa pentabiran saya."

Dr Mahathir juga yakin para pemimpin Umno yang membenarkan rasuah berlaku di negara ini akan menggunakan rasuah dalam pilihan raya ini.

Baginya, jika orang Melayu memilih pemimpin yang melakukan rasuah dan memberi undi kerana sogokan RM200, kepimpinan yang akan menerajui negara adalah kepimpinan yang rasuah.

Dr Mahathir juga menjangkakan pilihanraya umum kali ini mungkin yang paling kotor dan beliau bimbang Umno dan BN akan menggunakan "cara-cara haram" untuk mempengaruhi pengundi.
Mengambilkira ingatan Dr Mahathir itu, Salahuddin berharap rakyat menggunakan pilihan raya kali ini untuk memastikan tindakan Perdana Menteri melindungi rasuah tidak berulang lagi.

"Jika kita tidak membuang Perdana Menteri dan suku-sakatnya, tindakan melindungi perasuah akan berterusan dengan lebih buruk lagi selepas ini," kata beliau.

Oleh kerana Perdana Menteri melindungi rasuah, katanya lagi, rakyat tidak akan tahu sampai bila-bila siapakah bekas menteri rasuah yang dilindungi oleh Perdana Menteri itu.

"Adakah beliau kini sedang bercakap besar kononnya hendak merawat Kelantan?" tanya beliau sambil mengingatkan rakyat Kelantan supaya memerangi pelbagai wabak yang memusnahkan yang hendak dibawa oleh Umno ke Kelantan menjelang 8 Mac ini.

Salahuddin seterusnya bertanya, bagaimana pula dengan tanggapan rasuah ke atas Perdana Menteri yang melindungi kekayaan anak menantu dari disiasat rakyat?

"Bagaimana pula Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang terus dikaitkan dengan pembunuhan Altantuya Shaaribu dan masih tidak dilihat bersih dari skandal rasuah dalam pembelian Sukhoi dan Scorpene?" tanya beliau lagi.

Beliau mengingatkan, jika rakyat tidak membuang penyakit bawaan Perdana Menteri yang menyebabkan negara ini bergelumang dengan rasuah, mereka akan tambah tersiksa dengan kemegahan para pemimpin BN seperti Perdana Menteri sendiri, anak menantunya, Timbalannya, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, Datuk Seri Annuar Musa dan lain-lain

When Kelantan fell to PAS for the first time in 1990 I thought that's it, we're screwed. There goes our free text books, scholarships and no more development for this state.

By Afif Rais

Although I was born in Kuala Lumpur, I spent most my childhood growing up in Pasir Mas and Machang in Kelantan. My mom and my grandma especially, was a staunch supporter of UMNO and BN themselves. Naturally I was brought up to believe that UMNO/BN is good and the opposition PAS/Semangat 46/PKR or whatever is bad. Not to mention the fact that the government controlled media had been brainwashing us young ones with BN propaganda ever since I can remember.

When Kelantan fell to PAS for the first time in 1990 I thought that's it, we're screwed. There goes our free text books, scholarships and no more development for this state. Funnily enough, nothing of the sort happened though. We still get our free text books. I still get my scholarship when I got into boarding school and the state did progress over the years although not as much as other states especially on the west coast.

As I grow up and crossover from adolescent into adulthood, I didn't care much about politics. I didn't bother to register myself as a voter cause I thought BN was going to win and continue to rule the country anyway. Nevertheless I still see myself as pro-government and pro-UMNO and view the opposition with much suspicion. That of course thanks to the pro-government mass media.

But it all changed last year at around the time the PM announced his marriage to his current wife. I was curious to know about Jean Danker so I googled up her name and I stumbled upon this revealing article on Malaysia Today.net written buy a man named RPK. Now I RPK didn't actually paint a rosy picture about the PM or his future wife and I was curious why he doesn't like our PM so much and what the PM did to deserve such treatment. So I went to the Malaysia Today.net website and started reading every article posted there from the beginning to the end. On that fateful day my political believes changed almost overnight.

Unlike other politically aligned media, Malaysia Today provides a fair and impartial views to both sides, the government and the opposition. Although I must admit they did a lot more government bashing these days, the opposition is also not spared. True to it's tag line, Malaysia Today is the undisputed, credible source of independent news for the country.

If you're a foreigner and you'd like to know the real deal about Malaysia, don't go to the popular news website like The Star or NST, come to Malaysia Today.net instead. There you'll be fed with a censored,pro-government and toned down version of all events and happenings in the country. Malaysia Today.net meanwhile provides uncensored, no holds barred and the real news of what's happening in Malaysia today.

Take the recent rally held by Bersih (Coalition for Clean and Fair Election) for example. I read with disgust what the mainstream media wrote (or lack of) about the event. They played down the event like almost nothing happened. Only 1000 people came out to the streets? Who're they kidding? If you just do a little bit of googling on the Internet you can see the numbers should easily surpass the 40000-45000 marks from the pictures shown by the alternative media or the foreign press.

It's no secret that these papers are controlled by BN component parties like UMNO and MCA but they have just destroyed any tract of credibility and professionalism left by choosing not to publish what really happened on that historic day. I used to be a regular NST reader and I read The Star from time to time but since the Bersih fiasco, I stopped buying or reading those papers altogether. Let's not kid ourselves. There's no such thing as press freedom in this country.

Why I won't vote for BN.

Politics is a very dirty world. Be it the government or the opposition you must get your hands dirty the moment you stepped into politics. It is just from my point of view, the BN-led government is much more corrupt and dirty than the opposition because they holds the power. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Now I didn't make that up, I read it from somewhere. That's why we need the opposition for the sake of democracy.

If we don't have any opposition than the ruling party can do whatever they want. They can bulldoze a bill through parliament, appoint any judge in their favor, arrest and lock up anybody who speaks out they mind or dare to let out the truth. Heck even if they wish to sell off the country to Singapore they also can because who's going to stop them? We need the opposition to provide some checks and balance in the running of the country.

Another reason why I wont vote for BN is because of their extremely arrogant leaders. Take Nazri Aziz for example. During the beginning of the Lingam video clip controversy he casually boasted that you don't need to go to the streets to protest against the government. If you don't like the present government, vote them out in the next general election. Trust me Mr. Minister guy, that's exactly what I and like-minded people will do in this upcoming election.

I can name a few other equally arrogant and foul-mouthed ministers and BN leaders like ZAM, Tengku Adnan, Ali Rustam, Mohamad Taib, Samy Vellu, and KJ for example. KJ even has a special name for us bloggers, monkeys. Well I've got news for you dude, us monkeys are the ones who will take over the country's leadership in the future. We hold the power to decide who runs the country next and unlike our ignorant, brainwashed forefathers and people in rural areas, we got our news from the Internet. Unlike them, we're immune from the BN government propaganda that have been etched in our forefathers head for generations.

I believe in the some not too distant future from now, when the Internet reaches out every corner of the country and every facet of society, people will stop reading, watching and listening to BN controlled mass media. Then, people will know the corrupt practices of their beloved BN leaders, scandals, lies, cover-ups, mass accumulation of wealth from the tax-payers money, everything the rakyat is blissfully ignorant about now would surface and then the truth would prevail.

If only my folks in Gua Musang, Lipis, Chemor, Mukah or Beaufort, in short everybody in rural areas of the country has access to Malaysia Today.net, I won't be surprised if the BN government is toppled in the next general election.

Time to change

All my life I have been a BN/UMNO supporter and deep inside I still do.

It's just that for now I have absolutely no faith on the current administration. I greatly admire what Tun Dr. Mahathir did for the country and although his not a saint, you have to admit that he's a visionary and he knows which direction to guide the country to in the best interest of the people.

At least he doesn't flip-flop with his decisions or let his son in law runs the country for him.

I still can't recall what the current PM did for the country for the past 4 years. Turn Malaysia into an economic powerhouse in the region? Nah, Mahathir did that. Lead the OIC and NAM? That's Mahathir's legacy too. Envisioned Malaysia as a developed country in 2020? Wait, that's Mahathir's doing too.

What I can recall is the PM wasting billions of ringgit of the people's money on some obscure boat-race, hike up the fuel's price and toll rates, bow down to the Singaporeans, go for holidays in his private jet bought with people's money, send one damn lucky tourist into space on some more people's money and introduce his very own brand of Islam which nobody understands. Let's not go into the part where he sleeps during meetings and functions, I mean whoever does that? He's the butt of jokes of other countries for goodness' sake!

So guys if you think the country is in good and capable hands, the economy is burgeoning and well and you can walk on the streets without fear for your safety, think again. Take a moment to see what's really happening in this country at Malaysia-Today.net. It is not as rosy as what the BN-controlled mass-media painted in their newspapers, radio and TV stations.

I don't exactly follow what RPK wrote like a gospel but this guy don't just go posting any bullshit on his site, he's got pages and pages of rock-solid proof to boot. If only half of what he wrote is true than the country is going to the dogs. Imagine the country's top policeman is a crook, in cahoots with underworld crime lords. I shudder to think if all of them are true.

This coming election I'll be voting for the first time ever and I assure I won't be voting for any party with a scale as their symbol.

Now is the time to show those arrogant BN leaders that we the people who holds the power to decide who runs the country. They say the opposition is not capable of running the country but we'll never know until we tried right? Although I think it's almost impossible to have a new non-BN government this time, at least we can give BN the beating of their life.

I'm calling all my friends, fellow Kelantanese working outside the state, KL, Selangor, Johore, Penang, wherever, let us go home and vote BN out. Mari kita pakat kelik dan ngundi PAS! If some BN or UMNO people approach you offering means of transportation to go home, just take them! Just remember on polling day let us vote for any party other than BN. Let's give them a taste of their own medicine. They think we're stupid or something?

In 2004 we have BN members doing door to door visits giving folks clothes, kain pelikat and stuff sometimes with money folded up nicely inside, sometimes not. You know what my folks back home did? They don't mind receiving the clothes and the money, after all they're just donations right? But on election day they'll still vote for PAS and have a nice big laugh at those BN losers.

We people of Kelantan don't care so much about your so-called development and progress. We're content with what we already have and are more concerned with the life hereafter.

I don't want my beloved Pasir Mas to turn into some faceless bustling urban setting like PJ or JB. I want my beloved Pasir Mas to retain it's charming idyllic ambiance, no skyscrapers, no traffic jam, very little crime, everything is laid back and relaxed where people and neighbors still cares and look after each other.

Pade doh AAB, KJ, Najib and their cronies hijacking the country's wealth and lying to the people.

Let's give the opposition a chance. We have nothing to loose and so much to gain. They say the PAS government didn't create enough jobs for it's people that's why thousands move to big cities like KL, JB and Penang to make a living. I say have you counted the number of people who hail from Kedah, Perak, Pahang, Melaka and Sabah who did the same? It's quite normal for people to flock to urban areas like KL, JB and Penang to look for better job opportunities. Just like in Indonesia where people flock to Jakarta, New Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta in India and Hong Kong and Shang Hai in China.

We bloggers are not all anti-government or pro-opposition. We represent the new generation of open-minded and learned young Malaysian who speaks out our mind because we care for the country and would like to correct what's wrong it. Gone were the days where they can spoon-fed us with propaganda through the print or electronic media. Today's youth have unrestricted access to free and independent news and information from all over the world. We are not opposed to progress and development but we are against any form of oppressive government who thinks they can control and shape our minds with brute force or threats. We're against corrupt and dishonest leaders and we certainly have a very low tolerant for bullshit.

I think ZAM and KJ have really underestimated the power and roles played by bloggers like you and me. They've certainly messed up big time by stereo-typing and name-calling bloggers. If you scour around the Malaysian blog scene today you'll find more anti-establishment bloggers than pro-government ones. Yesterday the pen is still mightier than the sword, today the keyboard can do much more damage than the sharpest razor blade. The future lies in our hand and let's us say exactly what we had in mind by going out in forces to vote for a change in this coming election.

KUALA LUMPUR - (REUTERS):

MALAYSIAN police used water cannon and tear gas on Saturday to break up an anti-government protest by ethnic Indians carrying roses to symbolise a peaceful demand for justice. With the Malaysian government concerned about street protests in the run-up to early general elections on March 8, around 100 policemen, including riot police with helmets and shields, turned out to disperse a gathering of about 300 men, women and children.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling coalition is widely expected to retain power at the polls, although with a reduced majority, but many Indians accuse his multi-racial coalition, dominated by ethnic Malays, of racial discrimination.

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hinraf) first announced the protest in January as a way to press its demand for the release of five of its leaders jailed under tough internal security laws.
The Malaysian government detained the men without trial soon after more than 10,000 ethnic Indians marched in the capital last November to complain about a lack of job and education opportunities, in response to a call from the group.

'I want the five to be released,' said Parvathy Raman, a 30-year-old accounts executive from Kuala Lumpur, who joined the protest. 'I want the government to hear our problems. Everyone knows there is discrimination, but the government denies it.'

Children as young as 10 were among the demonstrators at Saturday's protest, where some people carried yellow and red roses, while chanting slogans such as 'We love Badawi'.
Others wore orange T-shirts printed with the slogan 'People Power'.

The protesters aimed to march to the Malaysian parliament to give the roses to Mr Abdullah, but were halted by police a short distance away after being refused a permit to assemble in public.

The red roses symbolised love and peace, while the yellow roses symbolised the group's demand for justice and the release of the jailed men, Hindraf said.

'We want our rights and justice,' said one demonstrator, Tamilarasu, 21, a casual labourer at a golf resort who rode a bus for several hours from his home on the northern island of Penang to attend the protest in the capital. 'We're not happy with the government.'

Police helicopters hovered overhead as protesters waved the Malaysian flag, portraits of the Malaysian king, and orange banners that read, 'We want our rights, No to the Internal Security Act'.

Protesters defied police orders to disperse, but scattered when sprayed with tear gas and water laced with chemicals.

'Police were too rough,' said S. Manikavasagam, a spokesman for the ethnic Indian group that organised the protest. 'They used their power.'

He said police had arrested 20 protesters, but police officials at the site could not confirm the figure. (Straits Times)

KUALA SELANGOR, Feb 16 (Bernama) --

Two recent surveys indicate that the majority of voters in the Klang Valley rely on the candidate than the party in picking their elected representative, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said here.

He said the surveys, conducted by the Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN), showed that between 50 and 70 per cent of the respondents looked at the personality of the candidate rather than the party when making their choice in an election.

The surveys revealed that the mindset of voters had changed, signalling that the Selangor BN must ensure that its candidates in the Klang Valley must be well qualified and acceptable to the voters, he told reporters after launching the Sekinchan Smart Community programme at the Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Yoke Kuan in Sekinchan near here last night.

As such, the criteria for choosing election candidates in Selangor included good educational background and good interpersonal skills, he said, adding that good looks would be an added advantage.

Khir said this new trend was also apparent among the Indian voters in the Batu Caves state constituency, adding that Selangor BN had to propose more than one potential candidate from the MIC to gauge their popularity and acceptance.

He also called on voters in Sekinchan to return the BN to the state seat held by the DAP

LAMAN web dan bloggers pro pembangkang sudah pasti akan menggunakan internet sebagai medium utama dalam menghadapi propaganda Barisan Nasional sepanjang kempen Pilihan Raya Umum ke 12ini.Di sebalik pelbagai usaha BN untuk menyekat kebebasan penyebaran maklumat, ia ternyata gagal menghalang kemaraan rakyat yang semakin sedar dengan pelbagai salahlaku serta penyelewengan pemimpin kerajaan.

Walaupun internet terhad kepada segmen tertentu dari kalangan pengundi, namun perkembangan pesat teknologi maklumat serta peningkatan rakyat celik IT amat membimbangkan BN, terutamanya menantu Perdana Menteri, Khairy Jamaluddin.

Pengendali laman web terkenal, Malaysia-Today, Raja Petra Kamaruddin berpendapat, internet tetap digunakan secara konsisten dan lebih aktif oleh rakyat Malaysia sejak pilihan raya umum 2004 setelah tercetusnya gelombang reformasi kebangkitan rakyat akibat tangkapan Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Kita telah bersedia dengan strategi di peringkat bloggers untuk berhadapan dengan pihak Umno sejak 10 tahun yang lalu, bukan hanya dalam jangka masa mendekati pilihan raya ini," Tegasnya.

Meskipun ramai yang mempunyai tanggapan mengenai kepentingan web tersebut yang masih dipandang rendah akan keberkesanannya kepada pengundi, Raja Petra memaklumkan bahawa terdapat sebilangan pengundi yang berusia dalam lingkungan 40 hingga 50 tahun yang tidak pernah mengundi sebelum ini mendaftar untuk mengundi dalam pilihan raya kali ini selepas terkesan dengan pengaruh maklumat pada laman web.

"Mereka ini adalah pengundi yang tidak pernah mendaftar, tetapi setelah mendapat maklumat daripada laman-laman web mereka mengambil keputusan untuk mengubah kerajaan yang ada kerana telah 'fed-up',"

Selain itu, beliau menyatakan bahawa terdapat lebih kurang 11 juta bilangan pengguna internet berdaftar di Malaysia yang aktif menggunakan teknologi 'broadband' atau jalur lebar sepanjang tahun.

"Ini bermakna sebahagian besar daripada mereka merupakan pengundi dalam pilihan raya ini, walaupun kita mengetahui bahawa orang bandar kurang berminat untuk mengundi berbanding orang kampung.Sebab itu Umno-BN mensasarkan orang kampung yang pada pandangan mereka lebih mudah untuk digula-gulakan," tegas beliau.

Dalam pada itu, pihaknya juga mendapat maklumat bahawa Umno-BN telah mengadakan banyak perbincangan bagi mengatur strategi khusus memerangi laman web dan blog pembangkang namun kesemuanya menemui kegagalan.

"Mereka telah kaji cara untuk tangani 'cyber war' menjelang pilihan raya dengan menubuhkan kumpulan 'cyber-troopers' di bawah kelolaan Dato' Azalina dan Dato' Norza, tetapi semuanya gagal kerana kita telah tahu taktik mereka yang menghantar komen-komen yang membanjiri blog dan laman web kita sebagai perangkap.

"Jelasnya, usaha yang mereka jalankan sejak 1998 itu gagal menyaingi kumpulan pengendali laman web dan blog alternatif.

Sementara itu, seorang lagi penulis blog yang sensasi, Jeff Ooi pula merasakan sungguhpun kempen menggunakan internet sebagai medium mempengaruhi pengundi tidak relevan dengan kawasan luar bandar, ia tidak bermakna ia harus dikesampingkan.

"Sememangnya kempen siber memang tidak relevan dengan kawasan luar bandar kerana tiada akses internet yang mantap. Tetapi parti-parti politik telah lama menggunakan saluran tersebut untuk menyampaikan agenda kepada pengundi."

Bagaimanapun, beliau menyatakan bahawa rakyat Kelantan adalah antara pengguna internet yang agresif.

"Internet telah biasa digunakan secara agresif di Kelantan. Ketika saya singgah di sebuah warung di tepi jalan sebuah pekan kecil, saya sangat terkejut kerana ia mempunyai akses internet tanpa wayar (wireless)," katanya.

Dengan tidak menafikan bahawa terdapat halangan serta kekurangan kempen menggunakan saluran internet ini, beliau masih menyatakan bahawa ia merupakan suatu ruang yang seharusnya dimanafaatkan secara maksimum oleh jentera parti yang bertanding.

Hal ini sekaligus menangkis dakwaan yang dibuat oleh Naib Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO Malaysia Khairy, yang menyatakan bahawa laman web dan blog tidak akan menjadi faktor penentu dalam pilihan raya kali ini.

Bagaimanapun, beliau melihat ia akan menjadi 'jentera' yang lebih penting bagi menghadapi pilihan raya selepas ini.

Selain itu, Khairy turut mengakui pasukan dalam alam siber Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO Malaysia masih gagal menyaingi jentera siber pro pembangkang namun ia sudah ada permulaan yang agresif.

"Saya nampak pasukan kita masih belum dapat bersaing tetapi sudah ada permulaan dan saya nampak perkara ini penting bukan untuk pilihan raya kali ini tetapi pada pilihan raya selepas ini," kata Khairy pada Agendadaily ketika ditemui selepas melancarkan Jentera Pilihan Raya Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Gopeng, dekat Sungai Rapat Ipoh, Perak petang Sabtu.

Beliau menganggap ketika ini amat penting bagi jentera perang alam siber pemuda digerakkan berlatih menghadapi pilihan raya secara 'realiti' untuk tujuan membina kekuatan bagi menghadapi 'peperangan' sebenar dalam pilihan raya ke 13.

Katanya, "kalau kita ketinggalan kali ini, kita tidak ada latihan, kita tidak dapat praktis. Saya nampak alternatif media ini tidak akan menjadi satu faktor penentu di pilihan raya kali ini tapi pada pilihan raya akan datang atau seterusnya faktor media alternatif ini akan menjadi lebih penting".

"Kalau kita tidak menggunakan kesempatan ini untuk 'berlatih' dalam alternatif media ini, kita akan kehilangan satu peluang yang baik.

Kita sekarang kena dry run disamping kita cuba menangkis segala tohmahan dalam internet tapi kita akui mereka jauh mendahului kita dalam internet tetapi inilah juga masa yang baik untuk kita cuba dry run. "

Saidah Hairan Fri Feb 15, 08 8:31:32 pm MYT

SUNGAI BESAR, 15 Feb (Hrkh) - Ahli Umno Sungai Besar membuat aduan salah guna kuasa Menteri Besar, Dato' Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) di atas tindakan rakus dan zalim terhadap rakyatnya.

Aduan itu dibuat oleh Abdul Aziz Suloh di ibu pejabat BPR Putrajaya 14 Februari, lalu.
Dalam aduan tersebut, beliau mempertikaikan tentang pemberian tanah kerajaan melalui projek penswastaan tanah milik Jabatan Parit dan Saliran (JPS) kepada syarikat Rokeng Corproration sdn. bhad.

Syarikat Rokeng No. 563347-D dimiliki oleh ahli majlis MDSB, Dato' Hj Mohamad Mosloro Abdullah dan Hamidah Ahmad.

Akibat pemberian tanah kepada syarikat Rokeng pejabat JPS akan dipindahkan kerana kawasan tanah itu akan dibina rumah kedai tiga tingkat.

Katanya semua urusan pemberian tanah kepada Rokeng Corportion dibuat melalui orang kuat Khir Toyo iaitu Timbalan Ketua Umno Bahagian Sungai Besar, Masloro Ahmad.

Beliau turut membuat aduan tentang pemberian tanah dusun rancangan Merbau Berdarah Am 1, Mukim Sungai Panjang kepada rakyat di daerah Sabak Bernam yang diluluskan oleh mesyuarat kerajaan negeri pada 14 Februari 2005 telah dibatalkan pada 20 Januari 2006.

Beliau mendakwa tanah tersebut telah diberikan kepada kroni-kroni Khir Toyo.

Dalam aduan itu juga Khir Toyo didakwa telah menyalahgunakan kuasa dalam proses pembelian 19 buah rumah di Taman Perwira daripada pemaju Perwira Bintang Sdn Bhd bernilai lebih RM3juta.

Sedangkan kata beliau, MDSB tidak mempunyai sumber kewangan dan diarah meminjam daripada Tabung Amanah SUK semata-mata mahu menyelamatkan projek perumahan yang tidak laku.

Tindakan rakus Khir Toyo telah menimbulkan kemarahan orang Melayu di Sungai Besar, tegasnya.

Tambah beliau, Khir berlagak baik ketika berada di luar Sungai Besar tetapi dengan pengundinya beliau seorang pemimpin diktator berlagak sombong dan cakap besar.
"Orang Melayu kalau sudah marah dengan sikap pimpinan Umno, jangan marah kalau Umno akan hancur," katanya. - mns

Oleh Anis Nazri

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 Feb (Hrkh) - Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) cuba berdolak-dalih berhubung isu penambahan 1,031 pengundi pos di Dun Belantek, Kedah dengan mengatakan pihaknya hanya menerima senarai nama pengundi tersebut untuk dimasukkan ke dalam daftar pemilih, tanpa sebarang pertikaian.Pesuruhjaya PAS Kedah, Ustaz Azizan Abdul Razak, berkata penjelasan tersebut tidak munasabah dan menunjukkan badan itu tidak efisyen dan telus dalam setiap tindakan mereka.

Katanya, SPR juga tidak menunjukkan kredibiliti badan itu apabila tidak memeriksa terlebih dahulu senarai pengundi tersebut, dan hanya bertindak memasukkan nama-nama itu ke dalam daftar pemilih.

"Mereka kata mereka menerima nama yang dihantar oleh pihak tentera berdasarkan keperluan mereka. Yang keduanya, SPR kata nama-nama itu dulu sudah berdaftar di Daftar Pemilih Tambahan (DPT) 3, tapi tak dimasukkan. Jadi mereka isi borang baru untuk masuk semula.

"Bila ditanya kenapa tidak dipamerkan, mereka jawab hanya pamer di pejabat sahaja, sedangkan daftar itu bukan orang pejabat mereka yang mahu tengok. Orang ramai yang perlu tengok. Bagilah penjelasan yang rasional sikit," tegas Ustaz Azizan selepas berbincang dan menyerahkan memorandum bantahan kepada Timbalan Setiausaha Operasi SPR, Noordin Che' Ngah di Putrajaya, 6 Februari lalu.

Sebelum ini, PAS Kedah mendedahkan tindakan SPR mewartakan sebanyak 1,031 pengundi di Daerah Mengundi 01 Kota Aur/DUN N23 Belantek/Parlimen P013 Sik, sekali pun ketika dipamerkan dalam DPT suku ke-3 2007 tidak menyenaraikan nama-nama tersebut.

Mengikut DPI (Daftar Pemilih Induk) 2003 sehingga DPT ke-2 2007, SPR tidak pernah merekodkan senarai 1,031 nama pengundi pos berkenaan, sehinggalah DPT 3 2007 dipamerkan. Bagaimanapun, amat memelikkan apabila SPR mewartakannya dalam warta DPT 3 2007.

Dalam DPI 2006, bagi Daerah Mengundi tersebut hanya mempunyai 500 pengundi sahaja. Bagaimanapun, 1,031 pengundi pos anggota tentera ini dibawa dari dua kem iaitu A Kompeni 19 RAMD Sungai Petani (Kem Induk/Tetap di Sungai Petani) dan A Kompeni Bn 304 AW (Kem Induk di Gerik, Perak.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Jabatan Pilihan Raya PAS Pusat, Dato' Mustafa Ali berkata, PAS tidak berpuas hati dengan penjelasan SPR tersebut dan meminta badan itu meneliti memorandum tersebut dan mahu beberapa perkara yang mesti diberikan SPR untuk membuktikan proses pendaftaran itu berlaku dengan sewajarnya.

"Bagi kami apa yang berlaku itu telah melanggar peraturan biasa sebagaimana amalan yang kita tahu selama ini. Jadi, kita harap SPR teliti memorandum kita dan buktikan badan itu bebas dan telus," tegas beliau.

Wakil Bersih, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, menegaskan bahawa Bersih akan meneruskan agenda menuntut SPR melaksanakan keempat-empat tuntutan badan itu, di antaranya penghapusan undi pos.

"Apa yang berlaku di Dun Belantek ini menjelaskan lagi tentang keperluan dalam pilihan raya akan datang agar undi pos ini dihapuskan. Kita juga, sekali lagi membuat tuntutan tadi supaya Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman berundur segera kerana tiada kredibiliti, tidak telus serta tidak neutral, lebih-lebih lagi untuk mengendalikan pilihan raya umum akan datang,"tegas beliau, yang juga AJK PAS Pusat.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pemuda PAS Pusat, Salahuddin Ayub, berkata PAS memberi tempoh kepada SPR sehingga 12 Februari ini untuk memberi penjelasan tentang perkara ini.

"Kami juga meminta supaya SPR dapat menunjukkan kepada kami Borang B yang berjumlah 1,031 yang didakwa diisi semula oleh anggota tentera tersebut," tegas beliau.
Turut hadir dalam pertemuan dan penyerahan memorandum itu ialah AJK PAS Pusat, Ir Amiruddin Hamzah dan Hanipa Maidin.

Sebelum ini, dalam perkembangan sama, Ketua Penerangan PAS Kawasan Sik, Sanusi Md. Noor membuat laporan polis di Balai Polis Sik pada 4 Februari lalu.
Manakala, Ustaz Azizan menegaskan pihaknya juga akan membuat aduan kepada BPR dan tidak teragak-agak untuk membawa kes penipuan ini ke mahkamah.

HARAKAH

The People’s Mission

1. We, Malaysians of all races and of various faiths, are resolute in our desire for change and are determined to give birth to a system of governance, built upon the fundamental, spiritual and ethical values that are part of the teachings of all the great religions, that:

is honest, dynamic and truly accountable;

has a truly democratic parliamentary system that represents the interests of the people;

has truly independent and clean judicial institutions;

has a police force which is professional and executes its duties in a just and fair manner, according to the tenets of law;

has a mass media that is free and not beholden to those in power;

values accountability and transparency as its fundamental elements;

respects differences of views; and

supports a dynamic, resilient and just economy which is also internationally competitive.

2. We, Malaysians of all races and of various faiths, pledge to uphold at all times the foundational principles of the Malaysian Constitution, namely:

the supremacy of the Constitution over all other laws;

the Yang DiPertuan Agong as the Constitutional monarch;

the separation of the powers of government and in particular the independence of the judiciary;

that fundamental liberties and freedoms guaranteed the rakyat shall not be interfered with, denied, or rendered illusory;

one man, one vote, both of equal value;

that Islam is the religion of the Federation, and all other religions shall be practiced in peace and harmony;

Bahasa Melayu as the national language, whilst safeguarding the unfettered right to use and learn other languages;

the special position of the Malays and the indigenous rakyat of West Malaysia, of Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate rights of all other races; and

A federal administrative system that fulfills its responsibilities, and protection and respect for the special position of Sabah and Sarawak.

3. We, Malaysians of all races and of various faiths, pledge to collectively :

work to create a just and prosperous Malaysian nation based on a truly democratic system of government;

protect and defend the rights and dignity of all the people and guarantee justice for all;

act to enhance economic prosperity through greater productivity, efficiency, and sound economic management in order to enable the country to face global challenges;

channel the country’s resources not only to meet the basic needs of the people but, more importantly, to ensure that the quality of life and social harmony are enhanced;

distribute wealth and opportunities fairly among all; and

develop quality social infrastructure and a clean and comfortable physical environment; enhance the quality of education, health and other social services; build mosques and other places of worship; build public parks and libraries; build arts and cultural centres; and provide the widest opportunities for information technology and other methods of communication.


The People’s Plan

1. We will initiate measures towards a democratic, transparent, accountable and ethical system of government that will provide the environment for a strong and sustainable economic recovery, for social harmony and prosperity, and justice and equality for all. To that end, we will institute measures to:

promote national unity;
build a genuine democracy;
enhance administrative transparency and accountability;
strengthen the national economy; and
give full effect to our social contract.

A. Promote National Unity

1. We will initiate measures to build and foster unity among the various ethnic and religious groups, having as our aim the evolution of a people with the common aspiration of justice and equality for all. To that end, we will :

immediately dismantle any and all remaining practices of “divide and rule” in public administration from the days of the BN administration;

cause to be established a Ministry in charge of Non-Islamic Religious Affairs;

put in place an affirmative action programme at Federal and all State levels to eradicate poverty and marginalization from amongst the weak and backward groups irrespective of race, social background and religion;

pay special attention to the Orang Asli in the Peninsula and all the indigenous groups in Sabah and Sarawak, and amend various laws and regulations pertaining to them so that justice is served, including establishing a Commission to protect Native Customary Rights (NCR) land and to resolve disputes relating to such lands while respecting their traditions and customs;
strengthen national integration by restoring the rights and privileges that were promised to the people of Sabah and Sarawak;

establish an independent Ethnic Relations Council, reporting directly to Parliament to help in building a united Bangsa Malaysia;

establish a Commission for Shari’ah Law at the Federal level;

reduce the influence of party politics in the respective State Religious Councils, mosques and other religious institutions;

allocate land for graves and places of worship for all faiths without any discrimination;

increase inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogues to strengthen mutual understanding among the people; and

encourage the development of a Malaysian culture based on common moral values and ideals. This requires an open attitude towards the diversity of cultures of the various ethnic and sub-ethnic groups in the country, taking account of the country’s history and evolution.

B. Build A Genuine Democracy

1. Genuine democracy must provide meaningful space for the people to express their views and to participate in various processes of daily administration and not merely to voting once in five years. All interest groups must be allowed to present and debate their views. Information will be free available subject to strictly defined restrictions. To that end, we will :

repeal the Internal Security Act and and all laws that presently permit detention without trial;

form an Independent Commission to consider if any form of preventive detention laws are necessary and, if thought so, to draft a bill to provide for the same and the necessary checks and balances;

form an Independent Commission to review all acts and laws (such as the Official Secrets Act, Sedition Act, Police Act, University and University Colleges Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act, etc.), with the objective of repealing whatever violates basic human rights;

take the necessary measures to ensure and safeguard the freedom of the press and the rights of peaceful assembly, expression and organisation, by amending the appropriate acts and laws and RTM will be corporatised and subject to an independent Broadcasting Commission;

ensure that the Human Rights Commission is independent and has representation from all major groups;

formulate a Freedom of Information Act to guarantee transparency and free flow of information from the government to the people;

to pass the necessary legislation to provide for local council elections;

so at to allow for more certainty in the electoral process, thereby affording to all parties participating in that process the most equitable opportunity to make preparation for the same and to remove any and all elements of surprise, make all necessary amendments to the law so that the date of dissolution of Parliament and general elections following thereafter shall respectively occur and be held every 5 years on a date or within a fixed period stipulated by law;

review and, where necessary, revise all previous redelineation of constituencies so as to ensure that differences in the numbers of registered voters in any two constituencies shall not exceed 20%;

enact a law to protect “whistle-blowers” of official misconduct and corruption;

sign and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

improve the quality and effectiveness of human rights education at all levels of education and institutions of higher learning as well as training centres for public servants; and

improve prison administration and conditions in line with with international standards.

C. Enhance Administrative Transparency & Accountability

1.The need for more transparent governance is pressing. Transparency and accountability must be integrated into all aspects of administration, without damaging efficiency. We will work towards the decentralization of power to the local level so that state governments will be more involved in their respective states’ development. To that end, we will :

establish a Royal Commission to review the judiciary and legal administration in the country, and to recommend proposals to enhance the independence of the judiciary, to regulate appointment and sacking of judges and to end abuse of the law on contempt of court;

strengthen the authority of Parliament by a system of all-party permanent committees with the power to name the Attorney General, the Chief Justice and other judges, the Inspector General of Police, the Governor of Bank Negara, who will be appointed by the Yang diPertuan Agong according to the Constitution;

limit the term of office of the Prime Minister, the Menteri Besar and Chief Minister to two terms;

guarantee freedom of the press so that they can monitor and expose any corruption and abuse of power;

implement effectively all existing laws that presently require a public hearing before any project is implemented or any regulation amended, such as the Environmental Protection Act, property re-valuation, and so forth;

review the method of appointing members to the Senate with the objective of introducing a method which reflects the interests of all the people;

reintroduce elections for local government so that local leaders can be made accountable;

introduce an ombudsman system for a more independent and effective public complaints body;

protect by law any individual or group that exposes mismanagement, abuse of power and corruption especially at the highest levels;

make the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) an independent body protected by the constitution and directly responsible to Parliament, and headed by a prominent person of standing;

make compulsory annual public declaration of assets by the people’s representatives;

enhance the independence and authority of the Elections Commission by giving full power to Parliament to appoint the Chairman and other members of the Commission through a process of open hearing;

clean up the voter register so that it is free from “phantom” voters, “overlapping” voters and foreign citizens;

reduce the voting age for Malaysian citizens to 18 years and introduce automatic registration for all citizens;

abolish postal balloting;

restore the image and status of the Royal Malaysian Police by means of a permanent committee as the Police Commission to receive and consider petitions by the people on police behaviour;

introduce legislation so that the Attorney General will no longer be a voting member of the Pardon’s Board, but will only act as advisor and resource person to the board;

separate the lower judiciary from the legal services so that they are not both controlled by the Attorney General;

strengthen the system of checks and balances by amending all laws, such as the Printing and Publication Act etc., that presently deny the power for judicial review;

review the position, administration and implementation of the Shari’ah laws to guarantee that justice is implemented and the beliefs of the Muslims are protected;

restore the integrity of the public services, by fully utilising its expertise and experience;

recognise members of the public services as equal partners in the effort to develop the country;

institute public sector reforms to raise efficiency and improve morale, work ethics, and working conditions within the public sector;

attempt to abolish the gap in service conditions between the public and private sectors, especially among those who have equal qualifications and carry out similar functions;

narrow the salary gap between the highest, medium and lower levels to set an example to the private sector; and

encourage members of the public services to a renewed determination to serve the people and country, and not the political leaders.

D. Strengthen The National Economy

(1) Reducing the people’s burden

(a) Reduce the tax burden

Raise the level of personal income tax exemption, in addition to increasing child allowance to a reasonable level;

Raise the level of personal income tax deduction for wives who are full-time home makers in recognition of their important contribution;

Raise the level of service tax exemption to a turnover exceeding one million ringgit a year;

Review the tax system with the objective of strengthening government revenues while reducing the tax burden on the people, especially the low- and middle-income groups.

(b) Eradicate absolute poverty

Eradicate absolute poverty by the middle of the next parliamentary term;

Reduce poverty levels in the next parliamentary term to half the levels of 1999;

Improve poverty eradication programmes so that they are free from political interference and truly help the poor;

Streamline various existing poverty eradication programmes;

Narrow the income and wealth gap without infringing on legitimate rights.

(c) Assist petty traders and hawkers

End the practice of using the licensing of small traders and hawkers as a source of revenue and as a party political tool, and instead use it purely for management and regulatory purposes to safeguard the well-being and health of the people, small traders and hawkers;

Provide comfortable, clean and attractive infrastructure and facilities for hawkers.

(d) Improve public transport services

Improve the quality of public transport and reduce fares to a level commensurate with the people’s living standards;

Issue taxi permits to individual entrepreneurs and their cooperatives, rather than to large companies;

Enhance the efficiency and quality of taxi services by private entrepreneurs through the establishment of cooperatives, associations, councils and the like;

Reduce the fares of domestic flights between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak to promote national unity and domestic tourism;

Modernise and enhance rail services in Peninsular Malaysia;

Develop the road system in Sabah and Sarawak;

Provide suitable facilities and regulations to reduce of road accidents and enhance public road safety;

Study the possibility of new forms of public transport in the main towns to improve the quality of urban life;

Provide more orderly and reasonably-priced school services bus to reduce the burden on parents.

(2) Just economic growth

(a) enhance domestic demand and productive, not wasteful, domestic investment

Review the existing regulatory framework and address its weaknesses;

Enhance private sector corporate governance, transparency and responsibility, and end the abuse of the banking and finance sector;

Give priority to projects which generate the greatest benefit to the people, projects such as medium and low-cost housing, modernisation of the railway system, road projects in Sabah and Sarawak, and others;

Halt mega-projects which are wasteful, environmentally destructive and of little or no benefit to the people;

Enhance economic opportunities for all by giving specific emphasis and appropriate support to groups that are weak, and effective support to local businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ensure that economic development is equitable and sustainable, and does not threaten social integrity or destroy the environment and natural resources;

Develop special development programmes for the poor and the low income in traditional villages, new villages and estates so that they are brought into the mainstream of development and provided with better income sources, jobs and title to land;

Ensure that special privileges are not abused to enrich only a small elite of those in power and their cronies.

(b) strengthen competitiveness, greater geographical dispersal of industry, develop resource based and hi-tech, information- and knowledge-based industries

Modernise and expand high productivity industries to increase the country’s economic competitiveness and to encourage high-value exports;

Address our technological weaknesses, in particular the technology gap between the backward and the advanced industries;

Ensure that large projects, including heavy industry projects, are managed in an integrated manner and in line with a practical industrial development master plan;

Provide incentives and greater support for small and medium-sized industries;

Encourage, by means of appropriate incentive schemes, further linkages between local, especially small and medium-sized industries, and large international corporations in order to accelerate technology transfer to local industries and increase the use of local inputs;

Support local entrepreneurs and encourage the upgrading of local skills and human resource capacity;

Utilise foreign capital, expertise, markets and technology in order to reinforce local economic fundamentals;

Enhance the role of science and technology by strengthening basic science education and developing appropriate technical training facilities;

Increase and improve the efficiency of financial allocations and other incentives for scientific and technological research and development.

(c) Strengthening small and medium-sized agriculture and fisheries

Enhance food production for the security and stability of the country;

More research in agriculture, particularly in areas of high technology, food crops and the industrial use of agricultural output;

Protect biodiversity and encourage research in biodiversity conservation and the use of natural products;

A review of FELDA, FELCRA, RISDA, MAJUIKAN and other agriculture and fisheries development agencies to improve management and technology use for the benefit of settlers, farmers and fishermen;

Restructuring government monopolies to become more efficient, effective and market-driven;

Firm implementation of laws regulating fisheries exclusion zones to protect in-shore fishermen against encroachment by large fishing vessels and trawlers which cause extensive damage to coastal fisheries resources;

Development of idle land.

(d) Information technology and economy for all

Speed-up the installation of telecommunications and electricity infrastructure nationwide and seek to reduce usage costs;

Expand information technology (IT) education in all schools, beginning with primary schools;

Develop more effective IT appreciation programmes for the general public;

Launch a “One Village, One IT Centre” programme by giving appropriate incentives to encourage the dissemination of information technology facilities to small towns and rural areas;

Make compulsory information technology infrastructure planning in all new housing schemes, including low and medium cost housing, and push for the modernisation of the infrastructure in existing housing schemes;

Negotiate with software manufacturers to obtain cheaper software for the local market.

(e) Prioritising small and medium enterprises

Establish an investment fund, under-written by the government, for the development of small and medium enterprises and allocated according to performance and not political favouritism.

(f) Reorganising the privatisation policy framework

Details of privatisation contracts to be made public in the interests of transparency. The interests of consumers and workers, and the rights of the people, will be safeguarded. All future privatisations to be conducted on the basis of competitive bids;

Ensure that public monopolies do not become private monopolies;

Basic public facilities and services – such as water, education, health and public housing – will only be corporatised to improve management but will not be privatised;

Public enterprises that have already been privatised will be monitored closely to safeguard public interests. Enterprises that have been privatised will not be re-nationalised but any invalid contracts can be terminated in the interest of the people and the country;

Establish an independent commission to audit all large privatised projects in the interests of transparency and accountability.

(g) Strengthening the financial system

encourage and promote investment and credit facilities to productive sectors and not to speculation;

rehabilitate the image, prestige and integrity of Bank Negara;

ensure that Federal expenditure is channeled particularly to enhance the standard of living of the poor, and to interior and rural areas which are still marginalised.

E. Give Full Effect To Our Social Contract

(1) Education

Education is a fundamental responsibility of the state, although private education is allowed;

Establish a National Education Consultative Council to ensure that the practice and implementation of the national education policy and philosophy is both effective and just;

Stop the privatisation of public institutions of higher learning and review the implementation of the corporatisation policy so that it adheres to the principles of education and not financial gain;

Allocate the education budget in a fair and equitable fashion, without neglecting any group;

Provide more scholarships and other financial assistance on the basis of need;

Increase nursery and kindergarten facilities, especially for the lower income group;

Guarantee access to compulsory and free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels;

Improve standards and facilities for schools in the interior, especially in Sabah and Sarawak;

Review the schemes of service for teachers and introduce additional incentives for serving in the interior;

Raise the standard of teacher training for all levels of schools and increase the number of trained teachers according to demand;

Increase advanced training opportunities for teachers and lecturers so that they are always current in their respective knowledge and skills;

Strengthen the position of Malay language as lingua franca among the people;
Encourage and develop the Malay language as a dynamic literary and cultural language, which is accepted and used by all communities in Malaysia;

Recognise the right to study the mother tongue like Chinese, Tamil, Iban, Kadazandusun and others in schools, and improve the implementation of policies on mother tongue education, so that it is more efficient and responsive to the demands of parents. Trained mother tongue language teachers must be supplied by government schools when at least ten students need such teachers, and the training of mother tongue teachers must be improved at teacher training colleges and public institutions of higher learning;

Retain the various language streams in primary schools while encouraging greater integration among students of different ethnic groups, for example through co-curriculum activities;

Increase the number of mother tongue schools and upgrade their facilities according to need and demand;

Improve the teaching and learning of international languages, especially English and Arabic languages;

Improve the quality of and facilities in primary and secondary religious schools;

Strengthen the position of the existing public institutions of higher learning and improve their performance;

Systematically increase the number of public institutions of higher learning without weakening the existing ones, so that more qualified students have access to higher education at minimum fees or for free;

Guarantee the autonomy and standards of universities and other institutions of higher learning by establishing a Universities Commission as an independent supervisory body, and amend the University and University Colleges Act to ensure the fundamental rights of the academic community, including students;

Provide an educational television channel to complement formal education and to encourage life-long continuing education, with the help of the private corporate sector as well as public and private educational institutions;

Widen the scope of the National Accreditation Authority to monitor, investigate and propose recognition of certificates, diplomas and degrees outside the national education system. Degrees from institutions of higher learning in Arabia, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, China and other countries, and local educational certificates such as the United Independent Schools Examination (UISE) will be considered based upon academic standards.

(2) Health

Establish a National Health Council, with the objective of protecting the interests of the people and advancing the quality of health;

Abolish all programmes to privatise the public health system;

Review the cost and quality of service of all the health support services that have been privatised;

Increase expenditure allocations for the health sector;

Restructure the scheme of service for government medical staff to be more commensurate with their work load and responsibility;

Maintain low cost healthcare services for all the people;

Establish a commission to study the deficiencies in the existing health system and to make recommendations for improving the public health system;

Monitor private medical services and check any abuses;

Establish a national centre for disease control;

Increase continuing educational and specialist training opportunities for doctors, nurses and laboratory staff;

Review the possibility of incorporating complementary healthcare menthods such as homeopathy and traditional medicine within the Malaysian health system;

Step up health promotion activities, health education, preventive measures and monitoring of diseases;

Encourage the greater involvement of women in the health sector, including training more women doctors to handle female patients.

(3) Housing

Increase the number of good and comfortable low cost houses which meet household space and environmental needs;

Overcome the “squatter” problem as quickly as possible, preferably through development of housing in situ and/or land sharing;

Mandate a system of consultations between the “squatters”, developers and the authorities to reach settlement on matters of alternative housing or land or other compensation;

Provide public facilities around flats to ensure a balanced and healthy personality development;

Carry out efforts to provide easy and cheap credit facilities to help “squatters” to buy and own their houses.

(4) Social Services

Carry out the responsibility of the government to provide comprehensive social services that are fair and efficient;

Ensure that every housing project above a particular size provide social facilities, such as playing fields, public recreational clubs, libraries and so forth, for the use of the general public;

Provide a systematic and comprehensive arrangement to protect and provide assistance to the poor, orphans and single parents;

Ensure equal opportunities for the disabled to achieve self-improvement, education, careers, social participation and the provision of the necessary facilities to enable them to be independent in all public areas, facilities and buildings.

(5) Environment

Formulate a long term sustainable development policy involving all strata of society, to promote full support from all levels of government, non-governmental organisations, political parties and the public at large;

Amend the Environmental Protection Act so that no project can be started without the approval of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and the written commitment of the project proponents to implement all provisions for mitigation, as determined by the Department of Environment, with clear procedures for providing information and for consultations in the Environmental Impact Assessment process involving the main stakeholders;

Coordinate the environmental protection laws at the state and federal levels so that enforcement and supervision can be more efficient and cost-effective;

Implement laws relating to the protection of the national heritage, and increase fines for breaching the Environmental Protection Act and laws to protect our natural heritage;

Ensure that every state gazettes a reasonable number of national parks, conservation parks, sites for new urban centres and housing development areas in its master plan;

Work towards the standardisation of laws relating to forestry and logging among the various states and establish an independent inspection system to ensure that all these laws are firmly implemented;

Encourage all the states to immediately gazette sufficient water catchment areas to meet the needs of the future;

Consult with the state governments so that they implement the existing conservation plans and provide new conservation plans wherever necessary.

(6) Consumerism and Prices

Strengthen consumer protection laws, especially those relating to price control, cost of services and their quality, particularly during festive seasons;

Review the Consumer Act so that an independent Tribunal can be established, with participation from non-governmental organisations, to identify the list of necessary products and control price increases by establishing a price index for the purpose;

Encourage the cooperative movement for production and distribution of necessary goods;

Encourage consumer organisations to be more active in raising the awareness of consumers regarding their own rights;

Regulate advertisements so that they will not degrade the dignity of women or other groups.

(7) Workers

Form a framework of tripartite consultation that is effective, just and democratic, and amend laws relating to labour, trade unions and industrial relations consistent with it;

Repeal or amend laws which restrict the right of workers to form, participate and be active in trade unions;

Review and update retrenchment benefits and study the establishment of a national retrenchment fund to help retrenched workers;

Fix a reasonable minimum monthly wage for daily paid workers;

Fix a reasonable monthly wage for estate workers and seriously implement a housing scheme for estate workers;

Provide an example for a five day work week with normal working period of not more than 40 hours a week;

Review methods of recruitment and pay for foreign workers and reduce dependency on them;

Recognise the right of trade unions and union leaders to participate in national politics;

Increase the retirement age to 60 years for the public sector, consistent with the improvement of health and life span;

Ensure equal pay and benefits for men and women doing equal work or performing similar duties;

Increase maternity leave in the public sector to 90 days and introduce leave of 7 days for the husband;

Develop programmes with the private sector for continuing education and training in order to improve flexibility, expertise and productivity of workers;

Introduce retraining programmes for retrenched workers;

Review the effectiveness of the National Institute for Work Safety and Health and overcome its deficiencies.

(8) Women

Enforce strictly laws regarding the rights, interests and dignity of women and abolish laws and regulations that discriminate against women;

Protect the rights and welfare of women who have been abandoned by their husbands without any reasonable support;

Continue payments of pensions for widows even after they remarry;

Provide creches within the community and also at places of work;

Introduce flexible working hours for working women;

Study the Women’s Agenda for Change in order to implement appropriate recommendations therein.

(9) Youth

Give encouragement and facilities to youths in order to improve their talents in the fields of arts, sports and culture;

Provide projects aimed especially at discovering leadership talent in individual, cultural, entrepreneurial and social development;

Overcome problems, such as unemployment, drug abuse, drop-out and moral questions, faced by some youths with innovative methods;

Provide greater opportunities for youths of different social backgrounds to participate in skills training and in economic projects;

Provide more effective rehabilitation centres and work opportunities for youths that have become victims of social problems, so that they can be absorbed back into the community.

(10) The elderly and pensioners

Fix a minimum pension level that will enable pensioners to sustain themselves;

Encourage pensioners who are still able to work to contribute towards national development;

Have a half fare system for the elderly and pensioners for all types of public transport;

Make it obligatory for children or close relatives to look after the aged and support such moves by tax exemptions or some other incentives;

Ensure that the elderly are given priority to go on the pilgrimage;

Encourage non-governmental organisations to develop programmes and courses for the elderly and pensioners to improve their talents, develop new skills, participate in study tours; language courses, physical education and so forth

-- by KeADILan Profect Director's office