UMNO MPs pledge their support for Abdullah

Source: www.nst.com.my

More than 50 UMNO Members of Parliament pledged their support for party president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a five-minute meeting at Parliament House today.

Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz spoke to reporters on behalf of the MPs.

Conspicuously missing was the Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. The meeting ended with a round of applause for Abdullah.

Penang CM: Review cases decided by Eusoff Chin and Ahmad Fairuz

Source: www.thestar.com.my

PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has called for an immediate review of cases, which had been decided by former Chief Justices Tun Eusoff Chin and Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim. He said the review would be the most appropriate redress or remedy to restore the independence and integrity of the country's judiciary and to uphold the rule of law.

Lim said the focus of the probe, if the Attorney-General (AG) ordered for one, should be mainly on Eusoff and Ahmad Fairuz because as judges, they carried a higher responsibility.

He said he was one of those affected by the decisions made by these judges, referring to his 18-month jail term for sedition in 1998 and publishing false news for complaining that the AG did not prosecute former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik for alleged statutory rape.

Lim was asked to comment on the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry, which held there was evidence that lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Manson, Eusoff, Ahmad Fairuz and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad were involved in a conspiracy to manipulate the appointment of judges.

On Friday, the Cabinet directed the AG's Chambers to institute immediate investigations into all allegations against the individuals identified in the report.

Lim said people whose lives had been affected by the decisions made Eusoff and Ahmad Fairuz had the right to demand for the cases to be reviewed.

"Justice must not only be seen to be done but in this case, justice has to be done,'' he told reporters after presenting rice aid to 2,013 welfare aid recipients at the Caring Society Complex Saturday.

The state also distributed free rice to 1,149 recipients at the Southwest district office, 1,333 at the North Seberang Prai district welfare office, 1,809 at Dewan Yayasan Aman SMK Penanti in Bukit Mertajam in Central Seberang Prai and 1,338 at Dewan Serbaguna Jawi in South Seberang Prai.

The state had allocated RM130,000 for the programme and had purchased the rice at a lower price of RM16 per sack.

Lingam video clip: Commission's report: Laws may have been broken, says Zaid

Source: www.nst.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: The cabinet has ordered the attorney-general to immediately direct agencies to investigate allegations levelled against six prominent individuals identified in the Lingam video clip.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said the six were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, retired chief justices Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan and prominent lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam.

The six were among the 21 witnesses who gave evidence before the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam video clip.

The clip basically shows Lingam engaged in a conversation over judicial appointments with Ahmad Fairuz.

During the 17-day hearing between Jan 14 and Feb 15, the public was privy to some explosive revelations.
Zaid, who is the de facto law minister, said the government took into account the findings of the commission which had identified and decided that the 14-minute recording in the clip was authentic and recommended that appropriate action be taken against individuals identified and were said to have committed certain offences.

"Following these findings, there is a possibility that offences against the law have been committed as stipulated in the commission's report," he told a news conference to announce that the government had decided to make the commission's report public.

The five-man inquiry panel, led by former chief judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor, in its report said there was sufficient cause to invoke the Sedition Act 1948, the Prevention of Corruption Act 1961, the Legal Profession Act 1976, the Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Penal Code against some of the principal individuals involved.

"We do not discount the possibility of other laws being contravened," the report stated

The commission said the findings have, at the very least, provided the catalyst for further investigations so that, it hoped, there would be complete transparency and full accountability.

"This is absolutely essential if we are to wipe out once and for all the stain of that remark once made by justice N.H. Chan in reference to the judiciary that 'Something is rotten in the State of Denmark'," said the report.

Zaid said the government took into account the findings of the commission which had identified and decided that the recording in the clip was authentic.

He said the report and recommendations were information and as such an investigation must be carried out.

Zaid said the cabinet urged the public, including the media, to allow the investigation process to proceed uninterrupted without undue pressure or any prejudice against any individuals identified in the report.\

Johor Umno Youth: Non-Malay membership proposed

Source: The Star

JOHOR BAHRU: Among the feedback gathered by the state Umno Youth from its grassroots was one that suggested revisiting the idea that the party should be open to non-Malay membership.

The division has been collecting suggestions from the grassroots that members hope the leadership will look into before the party branch elections begin in July.

Johor Umno Youth chief Razali Ibrahim said that there were 149 suggestions over how the party could move forward after the heavy losses in the March 8 general election.

“Everything you can imagine, from the most rational to the most extreme, was discussed,” he told reporters after an eight-hour meeting here on Sunday.

Razali said that the suggestions included revisiting the vision of Datuk Onn Jaafar who had called for Umno party membership to be open to all Malayans (then) and for the party to be renamed the United Malayans National Organisation.

“In his time, his vision could not be accepted, but maybe the suggestion can be received in this new political landscape,” said Razali.

He however was quick to point out that the suggestions mooted were not the stand taken by Johor Umno Youth, but that of the grassroots.

He also said that the grassroots perceived that the rakyat (citizenry) was disillusioned with what was reported in the mainstream media and turned to alternative sources like bloggers for news.

“They said that the mainstream media is the only channel through which the Government can get its messages across to the people, but asked what could be done if the people don't read newspapers or watch mainstream television stations,” he said.

Razali said that the grassroots were now waiting and watching closely the direction the top party leadership would take in response to their suggestions and views.

He said that the 149 suggestions from the meeting would be forwarded to Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein Onn and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman within a week.

Not proper to question Malay rights, Nik Aziz tells Ong and Karpal Singh

Source: Bernama

PASIR PUTEH, SUN: Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat says it was not proper for the MCA and DAP to question Islamic-oriented Malay rights.

He said such rights were provided for in the Federal Constitution, hence they should not be raised.

"But PAS will reject the rights if they are solely for Malay interests,” he told reporters after opening an ice factory, here today.

He was responding to the statements by MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and DAP chairman Karpal Singh that questioned the speech which touched on Malay dominance by Kelantan prince, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra, at a seminar in Kuala Lumpur on April 12.

The two leaders regarded the speech as way out of royal line and trying to drag the monarchy institution into the country’s politics.

In relation to the issue, Nik Aziz, who is also PAS’ spiritual leader, said the party could not support Malays who themselves rejected Islamic interests.

"It’s better to be friends with the Chinese and Indian Muslims who are loyal to the religion,” he said.

Nik Aziz said the country’s sovereignty must be protected but must be based truly on the struggle for Islam by the Malays.

On another matter, Nik Aziz said he hoped the federal government would proceed with the development projects planned before the March 8 general election.

These projects include the road construction from Kota Baharu to Kuala Krai as the state government has already approved the land acquisition for the project.

However, Nik Aziz hopes the state government will be given the power to appoint more reliable contractors for the projects.

Police report filed against BN members

Source: www.thestar.com.my

KUALA TERENGGANU: PKR’s national youth wing has lodged a police report against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and 23 Barisan state assemblymen.

The wing’s national deputy chief Fariz Musa and five opposition party members lodged the police report at 4.45pm at the district police station here on Monday, alleging that the Barisan members had made treasonous statements against the Yang DiPertuan Agong, who is also the Sultan of Terengganu.

Fariz claimed the report was made based on statements made by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and 22 assemblymen in two Malay dailies on March 24.

He claimed the statements were contemptuous and disrespectful of the monarchy.

Siapa dituduh binatang? Sultan?

Sumber: www.harakahdaily.net

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Mac (Hrkh) - Perdana Menteri (PM) yang dituntut berundur, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mesti menjelaskan siapakah yang dimaksudkan binatang dalam sepanduk tunjuk perasaan penyokong-penyokong Ketua Perhubungan Umno Terengganu, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Sepanduk itu tertulis "Kami nak Idris, natang".

"PM, TPM (Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak), Idris dan 23 Adun yang dilaporkan dikurung oleh Idris untuk memastikan mereka menyokong cita-citanya menjadi Menteri Besar (MB) kini dilihat sebagai pihak yang bertanggungjawab merestui sepanduk di dalam demonstrasi penyokong-penyokong Idris Jusoh itu.

"Siapa dituduh binatang? Sultan (Terengganu)?" tanya beliau.

Sambil menyifatkan perbuatan itu lebih buruk dari kebiadaban dan sifat kurang ajar, Mahfuz mengingatkan Perdana Menteri dan penyokong-penyokongnya bahawa merekalah yang dituduh sebagai pihak yang bertanggungjawab dengan sepanduk itu.

"Tunjuk perasaan itu menyokong Idris. Idris adalah kehendak PM (untuk menjadi MB). TPM pula hanya ikut sahaja kehendak PM sebab beliau kini didakwa terlalu takut kepada PM.

"Sebab itulah saya diberitahu sudah bertebaran SMS di sana sini yang menuduh PM, TPM, Idris serta 23 Adun tersebut yang 'buat' sepanduk itu," kata beliau.

Polis tidak cari?

Mahfuz menuntut pihak polis bertindak segera ke atas sesiapa sahaja yang terlibat dengan sepanduk itu yang turut ditayangkan dalam laporan berita sebuah stesen TV tempatan semalam.

"Tahun lalu, ketika polis menuduh pembangkang mengadakan perhimpunan haram di Batu Burok, sibuk sangat mereka mencari siapa membakar jalur gemilang untuk menutup perbuatan mereka menembak rakyat yang tidak bersenjata dengan peluru hidup.

"Kenapa tidak cari siapa yang buat dan pamer sepanduk-sepanduk yang dilihat menghina Sultan itu? Amboi, bukan main lembut dan mesra Ketua Polis Terengganu memberi nasihat," kata beliau.

Bernama melaporkan, Ketua Polis Terengganu Datuk Ayub Yaakob menasihati pihak-pihak yang terlibat dalam kemelut berhubung pelantikan Menteri Besar Terengganu agar tidak menghadiri atau terlibat dalam mana-mana perhimpunan haram.

Ayob terkenal berikutan tindakan polis menggunakan peluru hidup menembak rakyat yang dituduh menghadiri perhimpunan haram di Batu Buruk tahun lalu.

Kedegilan

Sambil menyifatkan apa yang berlaku itu adalah akibat kedegilan Abdullah untuk melantik Idris sebagai MB sehingga mengetepikan perubahan dan keamanan di Terengganu, Mahfuz meminta rakyat Terengganu membuat lebih banyak laporan polis ke atas Abdullah, Najib serta 23 wakil rakyat Barisan Nasional (BN) yang terlibat.

Malaysiakini melaporkan, petang tadi, Angkatan Muda KeADILan (AMK) membuat laporan terhadap PM, TPM serta 23 wakil rakyat Barisan Nasional (BN) yang didakwanya "bersikap biadap dan menderhaka" kepada Sultan Terengganu.

Laporan tersebut dibuat oleh Timbalan Ketua AMK pusat, Fariz Musa, di ibu pejabat polis daerah Kuala Terengganu jam 4.30 petang tadi.

"Lebih banyak laporan polis ke atas mereka perlu dibuat kerana apa yang berlaku itu mencabar kedaulatan undang-undang dan keluluhuran perlembagaan.

"Rakyat tidak boleh biarkan perbuatan itu, nanti Umno dan BN akan pijak lagi kedaulatan undang-undang dan keluluhuran perlembagaan. Selepas (dibuat laporan polis) itu, rakyat boleh tengok sendiri apa polis buat," katanya.

Kurang ajar

Sebuah akhbar harian hari ini melaporkan Ketua Umno Bahagian Cheras, Datuk Syed Ali Al- Habshee berkata, tindakan Umno Terengganu yang menentang secara terang-terangan pilihan Majlis Penasihat Pemangku Raja (MPPR) itu secara tidak langsung mencerminkan sikap biadap mereka yang tidak menghormati kedaulatan kesultanan Melayu.

"Kalau kita ada masalah kita kena duduk berbincang, sultan adalah kedaulatan orang Melayu, saya khuatir rakyat hilang kepercayaan.

"Bukan dengan cara macam ini (bantah), kurang ajar dengan Sultan," katanya.

"Kita marah apabila DAP memulaukan keputusan Istana Perak, malah, kita memaki-hamun DAP kerana menderhaka kepada Sultan tetapi di Terengganu keadaan terbalik pula, Umno Terengganu sanggup menentang Sultan yang juga merupakan Yang di-Pertuan Agong secara terbuka," katanya lagi.

Akhbar tersebut juga melaporkan, rakyat Terengganu mahu semua pihak menerima dan menghormati keputusan MPPR yang melantik Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Kijal, Datuk Ahmad Said, 51, sebagai Menteri Besar Terengganu yang baru.

Tinjauan akhbar itu di sekitar Kuala Terengganu mendapati, rakyat berpendapat, keputusan yang dibuat oleh MPPR perlu diterima bagi mengelak dituduh menderhaka kepada istana.

"Kita sebagai rakyat Terengganu perlu menerima keputusan yang dibuat oleh MPPR kerana jika tidak ikut, kita seperti menderhaka kepada sultan," akhbar itu memetik seorang peniaga buah, Zainal Abidin, sebagai berkata. (Gambar penunjuk perasaan membawa sepanduk yang tertulis "Kami nak Idris, natang" boleh dilihat di sini)

Raja of Perlis breaks silence, says some parties took advantage of MB impasse

ARAU, 19 March - The Raja of Perlis today made the unprecedented gesture of speaking frankly about the recent crisis over the tussle for the mentri besar’s post. In breaking his silence, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail said the events leading to the appointment of the menteri besar should be regarded as a lesson for future events. The Perlis Ruler said the events which led to the appointment of Datuk Dr Md Isa Sabu were “out of the ordinary.”

"In these past days, there was an unusual event which occurred in Perlis. It was a change in which the elected representatives and assemblymen did not give a vote of confidence for the previous menteri besar. This matter had confused the laymen. But for those who knew and understood the law, it was a simple matter."

"Now, that matter has become history. We cannot change the past. But I hope in the future, every government officer would hold closely and respect the constitution. If not, the country and state would be in chaos," he said after witnessing the swearing-in of seven state executive council members in Istana Arau. He was speaking off the cuff despite having a prepared text with him during the 11.30am ceremony.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin regretted that there were parties who took advantage of the supposed confusion over the matter. "There were some who had used certain parties, including the newspapers, for their own benefit,” he said. “The appointment was done according to Perlis' constitution, and was based on the constitutional monarchy principle.”

Md Isa was appointed on Monday. The ceremony was witnessed by the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, former state secretary Datuk Ismail Othman and state legal advisor Abdul Rasid Sudin.

Nevertheless, the Raja of Perlis thanked former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and his previous Exco members for leading the state government during the past four years.

On the state's development, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin urged the people to continually better themselves and not rely on subsidies while urging for more development of job opportunities.

"I don't want Perlis to be known as only suitable for pensioners. Many migrate to bigger towns due to the absence of jobs here. I hope the new leadership would look into this."

The ruler urged all Exco members and the other assemblymen to focus on developing the state, advising them to fulfill their obligations as elected representatives of the people.

On development, the Raja of Perlis urged the new state leadership to set up a think tank for education and solving the people's problems.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin would also seek help from Universiti Sains Malaysia, of which he is the chancellor to develop the think tank.

The state government was also urged to utilise expertise from two universities- Universiti Malaysia Perlis and Universiti Teknologi Mara, Arau - to develop the think tank.

Khir Toyo offers to quit as state Umno liaison chief

Former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo is set to quit as Selangor Umno liaison chief, according to sources.

He made his offer to resign Wednesday and the matter will be discussed at a liaison committee meeting tonight, the sources said.

Selangor Barisan Nasional was handed a shocking defeat in the March 8 polls, with the Opposition taking 30 of 56 state seats it contested to form the state governmment. Dr Khir did however retain his Sungai Panjang state seat.

It was the first time since Independence that the Opposition had taken the country’s most developed state.

After the election, DAP lodged a police report against Dr Khir for allegedly signing a contract on behalf of the Selangor Government with Puncak Niaga Holdings a day before polling.

Pandamaran assemblyman Ronnie Liu claimed in the report that once the state government had been dissolved, Dr Khir was not allowed to sign any contract on behalf of the state government.

Recently-appointed Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the new state government would review the deal.

Razaleigh to challenge Abdullah for Umno presidency, cites need to 'heal' party

MP for Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has made public his intent to challenge Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the presidency. He has offered himself to lead Umno to “heal the party”, which he described to be "in a bad way.”

While acknowledging that his advancing age might be used against him, the 71-year-old former Finance Minister, who held the Gua Musang parliamentary seat since 1969, expressed willingness to take up the challenge if he was given the opportunity.

Tengku Razaleigh, who challenged but lost to then Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the 1987 party elections, said he was “young” then and ever ready to challenge anyone with his ideas.

“I still have ideas, I am still brave because I am independent and I don’t depend on anyone. If my service is still needed and my strength can still be used, I am offering myself to work for the rakyat,” he told a press conference here today. “Even though I am old but I am still strong. If there are enough nominations for me to contest in the Umno election, I will give my service if I am needed.”

The Gua Musang Umno division chief, who described Umno’s defeat in the recent general election as the most painful and horrible moment in his political career, said he would call for a special meeting in his division tomorrow to discuss his proposal for the party to hold a special meeting to discuss the defeat.

Tengku Razaleigh had recently distributed letters to all Umno divisions and branch heads, urging them to utilise a section in the party’s constitution to call for a special Umno EGM on May 11, the party’s anniversary, to discuss the dismal polls performance.

He felt the meeting should be held before the annual general meeting in August to “avoid confusion.”

“I felt the general assembly has to deal with lots of issues, so let us have this special meeting to discuss the election results. I hope the other Umno divisions will consider this. This can be done according to the party’s constitution and it is an abnormal thing. We need to discuss this defeat. Haven’t the Umno members realise we’ve lost five states? Are they still sleeping?”

On the desire of the five opposition-led state government’s desire to do away the National Economic Policy, Tengku Razaleigh said the topic was questioned because some quarters tasked with implementing the policy had “abused their powers to the point of raising ire of both commoners and Umno members.”

“The discrimination should not have happened as the NEP was a trust for the rakyat,” he said. “The policy is not meant solely for a group of people but the rakyat should view its overall objective which is to bring unity to the country. I support the policy in principle but I feel that it should be continued to remain as it was formulated back then.”

Raja Nazrin dikurnia putera

KUALA LUMPUR - Pemangku Raja Perak, Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah dan Raja Puan Besar, Tuanku Zara Salim semalam telah dikurniakan seorang putera.

Menurut Setiausaha Sulit Sultan Perak, Kolonel Datuk Abdul Rahim Mohamad Nor, putera kepada pasangan diraja itu dilahirkan di Hospital Pakar Damansara di sini pukul 10 pagi semalam. "Tuanku Zara dan putera- nya itu berada dalam keadaan sihat walafiat," kata Abdul Rahim.

Sementara itu, tinjauan di hospital berkenaan pada sebelah petang mendapati, sanak-saudara dan kenalan pasangan diraja itu tidak putus-putus menyampaikan ucapan tahniah.

Difahamkan, tiada sebarang pelawat dibenarkan melawat baginda dan laluan di sepanjang tingkat tiga di hospital berkenaan dikawal.

Pihak media pula hanya dibenarkan berkumpul di pekarangan lobi saja.

Tepat pukul 2 petang, Raja Nazrin Shah dan ayahandanya, Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah dan Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Bainun serta kaum kerabat lain muncul di pekarangan lobi hospital sambil diiringi oleh Pengarah Perubatan hospital itu, Datuk Dr. Azizi Omar dan Pakar Neonatologi, Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin.

Sebelum beredar, Raja Nazrin Shah yang kelihatan ceria dilihat sempat bersalam-salaman dengan Musa sebagai tanda ucapan terima kasih.

Raja Nazrin orders 31 coalition signatures agreeing to cooperate, Nizar as MB

IPOH: The Regent of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah, dismayed at the squabbling over the formation of the DAP-PKR-Pas coalition state government, has postponed the swearing-in of Pas’ Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Mentri Besar until the three parties get their act together.

In a meeting with Nizar and the other two MB nominees, Ngeh Koo Ham of the DAP and PKR’s Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi at Istana Kinta in Ipoh, Raja Nazrin instructed them to collect the signatures of all 31 assemblymen under the coalition to state that they:

* agree to work together and cooperate under the coalition government; and,

* also agree to Nizar as the collective choice as Mentri Besar.

The meeting at Istana Kinta unfolded at 2.30pm while VIPs were arriving as the swearing-in at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar. By 4.45pm, after Raja Nazrin issued his instruction, all guests left Istana Iskandariah after receiving word that the swearing-in was definitely postponed till tomorrow.

Although Nizar’s appointment provoked a disapproving outburst from DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang yesterday, the palace insisted that Nizar was the apt choice, given that the coalition had given their three names for the Sultan of Perak to make the selection. Lim had earlier instructed all the 18 DAP state assemblymen in Perak to stay away from the ceremony as he did not agree to the selection of the PAS representative as the Menteri Besar. Lim later apologised and retracted his statement.

Haggling on who should be in the Exco compelled more negotiations into late afternoon. In a statement revealing Raja Nazrin’s instruction, Ngeh denied that the postponement was due to the PKR's threat to pull out of the coalition because they didn't get their Exco seat allocation.

Later, the postponement was announced by Comptroller of the Royal Household at the Istana Iskandariah, Datuk Seri Raja Mansor Raja Razman.

Meanwhile, Istana Kinta said in a statement to Bernama that the postponement was in view of the latest development that showed that the DAP, PKR and PAS had not reached a strong consensus in forming the coalition government. The statement, signed by the Private Secretary to the Sultan of Perak, Datuk Abdul Rahim Mohamad Nor, said Raja Dr Nazrin Shah had ordered that the swearing-in ceremony be postponed.

“In the light of recent developments, it appears to his Royal Highness The Regent of Perak Darul Ridzwan, that there are some uncertainties as to whether the three parties, DAP, PKR, PAS are able to work together to form a coalition, and form a stable government. As a consequence, His Royal Highness The Regent of Perak Darul Ridzwan has directed that the appointment and swearing in ceremony of the Menteri Besar scheduled for this afternoon be postponed.” However, the statement did not indicate when the ceremony would be held.

Here is the blow-by-blow account on the drama as it unfolded today:

11.42am: The DAP apologises for its statement yesterday that the party’s CEC protested the appointment of Perak Pas secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as Menteri Besar

2.16pm: Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham announces that representatives from all political parties in the Perak coalition government will attend Nizar’s swearing-in

2.30pm: Nizar, Ngeh and Jamaluddin in a meeting with Perak Regent Raja Nazrin Shah, presumably about the confusion on who should have been Mentri Besar and also the line-up for the State Exco

2.45pm: PKR issues a statement saying it won't take part in the administration if the Exco composition is not reconsidered though it accepts the decision to appoint Nizar as Mentri Besar

3:05pm: Ngeh clarifies in a statement the confusion behind the appointment of the new Perak Menteri Besar but gave the assurance that the new coalition state government would stay united and agree to a collective leadership.

3.30pm: The Raja di-Hilir arrives at the Istana Iskandariah. Police have cordoned the area. No one is allowed into the compound. Only Bernama and RTM is permitted to cover the swearing in while other members of the media have to sweat it out outside the palace while waiting for developments. A crowd of 100 has gathered at the roundabout outside the Istana Iskandariah

3.45pm: Former Mentri Besar Datuk Tajol Rosli arrives at Istana Iskandariah in a Toyota Fortunner

3.55pm: Nizar, Ngeh and Jamaluddin leave Istana Kinta but refuse to speak to the media. It is assumed that they are going to Istana Iskandariah

4:15pm: The media has got word that the swearing-in may be postponed till tomorrow but no official confirmation has been given.

4.45pm: The swearing-in has been definitely postponed till tomorrow due to haggling over the Exco line-up. DAP, PKR and Pas cannot agree on the composition after DAP, after conceding the MB's post to Pas, is now demanding a lion's share of the Exco seats. Both DAP and PKR state leaders have retreated to their respective headquarters in Ipoh to deliberate on the issue.

4.55pm: Ngeh issues statement that Raja Nazri has instructed the coalition to collect the signatures of all 31 DAP-PKR-Pas assemblymen agreeing to work together under a coalition government and that Nizar is the collective choice as Mentri Besar. Ngeh also denies that postponement is due to PKR's threat to pull out of the coalition because they didn't get their Exco seat allocation

5.10pm: Tajol Rosli and Raja di-Hilir and their wives leave Istana Iskandariah. The media also calls it a day.

Suggestion: New TV Station for Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak & Selangor???

It's obvious that the 'new government' of the said 5 States needs to start an effort to setup a new TV Station, and take over/restructure the current state radio station, in order to convey the right & perfect information to all of Malaysians, at least the 'rakyat' the said 5 States.

Apology to Perak Sultan and Regent - No offence intended

Sources: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2008/03/13/apology-to-perak-sultan-and-regent-no-offence-intended/#comments
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 13th, 2008 at 10: 13.56 and is filed under DAP

>>>

My three-paragraph statement at 7 pm last night that the DAP Central Executive Committee emergency meeting on 9th March had not given approval for a PAS Mentri Besar to head a Perak coalition state government was not made out of disrespect to the Perak Sultan and Regent both whom I have always held in the highest regard and I apologise for any offence caused. The statement was on the party position at the time.

There have been further discussions and developments on the matter in the hours after the statement. Announcements of the latest position will be made.

No DAP CEC mandate for PAS Menteri Besar in Perak

Sources: http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2008/03/12/no-dap-cec-mandate-for-pas-menteri-besar-in-perak/#comments
was posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008

>>>

The decision to appoint a PAS Assemblyman Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin as Perak Mentri Besar has caused shock and consternation to DAP leaders, members and supporters.

The DAP Central Executive Committee, at its emergency meeting in Penang on Sunday, 9th March 2008, had given approval for the formation of a Perak coalition government comprising 18 DAP Assembly members, seven PKR Assemblymen and six PAS Assemblymen.

DAP is prepared to accept DAP chairman and Assemblyman for Sitiawan Ngeh Koo Ham or PKR Behrang Assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi as Perak Mentri Besar.

As the appointment of PAS Assemblyman for Pasir Panjang Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin as Perak Mentri Besar representing the third and smallest political party in the proposed coalition has not received the mandate of the CEC, DAP Perak Assemblymen will stay away from the swearing-in ceremony for Perak Mentri Besar scheduled tomorrow (13th March 2008).

Pas' Nizar is new Perak MB, historic two deputy MBs post created

Perak Pas secretary and Pasir Panjang assemblyman Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin will take his oath before Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah tomorrow as the new Mentri Besar. For the first time in Perak’s history, the posts of deputy Menteri Besar I and II were created, allowing for a balanced representation of all the three major races.

Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham, who is Sitiawan also assemblyman and Beruas MP, will be appointed as deputy Mentri Besar 1. It is believed that a Parti Keadilan Rakyat state assemblyman will be appointed as deputy Menteri Besar 11 and represent the Indian community. PKR has seven state assemblyman with Hutan Melintang assemblyman S. Kesavan being the only Indian who defeated National MIC Women deputy chief S. Thangasvari.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at Istana Iskandariah In Kuala Kangsar at 4pm, 13th March 2008.

Speaking to reporters at Istana Kinta here today, Mohammad Nizar pledged that the coalition government's commitment in serving the people and called upon supporters to accept the appointment wholeheartedly.

"The Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah has expressed his wish for a smooth transition of power and we hope the rakyat will ignore baseless rumours and allegations going around,” he said. "We will do our best in the interests of the people and hope to perform better than the previous government.”

Meanwhile, Ngeh said the name of the second deputy Menteri Besar would be announced after the swearing-in ceremony. "We will hold a meeting on this matter tonight and also decide on the possible Exco line-up," he said.

The three-party coalition, on Tuesday, had submitted the names of three candidates -- one each from DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Pas -- to Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak for consideration for appointment as Mentri besar.

Apart from Mohammad Nizar and Ngeh, state PKR treasurer and Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi was also included in the list. In the March 8 general election, DAP secured the highest number of state seats with 18, followed by PKR with seven and Pas with six in the 59-seat state assembly.

BN leaders express support for Abdullah to continue to lead Government

A long line of leaders from Barisan Nasional component parties, including Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, called on Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to express their support for him to continue leading the government.

Component party chiefs including MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and MIC president Datuk Seri Samy Vellu also called on Abdullah to express their continued support as the coalition chief.

Among Umno leaders who called on Abdullah were Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Wanita chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, Puteri head Datuk Noraini Ahmad, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, FT Umno chief Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Abdullah will be having an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at 6pm to inform the king that Barisan Nasional had won the general elections and that he was ready to form the gov ernment.

He is expected to be sworn in at 10am, 10th March '08.

Barisan Nasional wins federal government but opposition takes five states

The Barisan Nasional will form the next Government as it has won more than half the parliamentary seats.

However, the coalition suffered some of the greatest defeats in its history. Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in accepting the results, said this was clear proof of democracy at work in the country.

Among the results yesterday were:

• The Barisan lost Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor,
• PAS strengthened grip on Kelantan,
• Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting won in their seats,
• Among ministers who lost their seats were Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin,
• Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon lost to Dr P. Ramasamy in the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.

Meanwhile, party leaders urged for calm and police have banned all victory celebrations.

Batal guna dakwat, SPR permainkan rakyat

Tindakan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) membatalkan penggunaan tanda dakwat kekal di kuku atau jari tangan pengundi pada pilihan raya umum ke-12 ini menunjukkan suruhanjaya ini tidak berwibawa dan mempermainkan rakyat.

Ahli Jawatankuasa Bersih, Mohamad Sabu menegaskan ekoran tindakan SPR itu,sudah tiba masanya Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Rashid Abdul Rahman meletak jawatan.

"Agenda yang dibawa SPR bukan lagi sebagai sebuah badan bebas dan bukan lagi bertaraf suruhanjaya. Jika beberapa hari sebelum penamaan calon, kita dikejutkan dengan setem duti diwajibkan bagi setiap borang pencalonan, tetapi pada hari pencalonan, diumumkan setem duti tersebut tidak diwajibkan.

"Dan hari ini timbul pula penggunaan tanda dakwat tidak akan dilaksanakan. Jika tiada undang-undang mengenai penggunaan ini, SPR mesti membawa perkara ini untuk pindaan undang-undang di Parlimen,"katanya sewaktu dihubungi Harakhdaily malam tadi.

Mohamad yang juga Naib Presiden PAS turut mempersoalkan, jika selama ini kerajaan boleh pinda perlembagaan untuk lanjutkan tempoh Pengerusi SPR, undang-undang bagi penggunaan dakwat kekal ini juga seharusnya dapat dilaksanakan.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Jabatan Pilihan Raya PAS Pusat, Wan Nik Yusuff berkata, PAS sudah menjangkakan daripada awal, kerajaan tidak akan bersetuju dengan pandangan pembangkang berhubung dengan penggunaan tanda dakwat kekal ini.

Katanya untuk meredakan 'mood ' pihak pembangkang, SPR mengambil langkah awal kononnya bersetuju untuk melaksanakan penggunaan dakwat kekal.

Katanya SPR juga membuat keputusan tersebut tanpa merujuk keputusan kerajaan, yang mana sebarang peraturan mengikut tatacara pengundian mesti mendapat kelulusan kabinet.

"Apabila SPR membuat maklum balas bagi hak pembangkang, PAS sudah menjangkakan daripada awal, tidak mudah bagi BN untuk menerima. Sebelum ini, pelbagai alasan yang diberikan bahawa perkara ini sukar dilaksanakn termasuk dari segi syarak.

"Ini kerana, di sebalik pelaksanaan dakwat kekal ini akan mematikan beberapa strategi kotor BN,"katanya.

Tambahan pula katanya, buku Peraturan Pilihan raya yang diedarkan untuk persiapan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 ini, tidak terdapat apa-apa pindaan pada Seksyen 19. Melalui peraturan tersebut, mengesahkan SPR tidak akan berusaha untuk meminda atau memasukkan penggunaan dakwat celup jari atau titik dakwat di kuku.

Katanya, menurut SPR sekiranya penggunaan dakwat celup jari atau titik dakwat di kuku ini dilaksanakan, bermakna tatacara pengundian akan bermula dengan pengesahan kad pengenalan dan nama pemilih dalam buku daftar oleh kerani pertama. Seterusnya kerani kedua akan menjalankan titik dakwat pada jari. Langkah seterusnya kerani ketiga akan memberi kertas undi dan menindik kertas undi untuk dipangkah. Akhir sekali pengundi akan memasukkan kertas undi ke dalam tong disediakan.

Bagaimanapun katanya, prosedur ini tidak terdapat dalam Seksyen 19 Peraturan Pilihan raya. Jika penggunaan dakwat celup jari atau titik dakwat di kuku ingin dilaksanakan, Seksyen 19 ini harus jelas.

Dalam pada itu jelas Wan Nik, pihaknya juga telah 'tercium bau' melalui pihak tertentu yang melaporkan terdapat beberapa 'broker tertentu' yang dilantik oleh pihak Umno untuk mengundi lebih daripada sekali.

"Langkah paling selamat untuk mereka mengundi lebih daripada sekali ialah tiada apa-apa tanda dakwat pada jari pengundi. Atas hujah Umno ghairah ingin menawan Kelantan, perjalanan pilihan raya ini dikawal melalui dakwat,"katanya.

Katanya lagi, sungguh pun penggunaan tanda dakwat kekal di kuku atau jari tangan pengundi tidak dilaksanakan, PAS bersedia menghadapi segala kemungkinan yang berlaku.

Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman ketika mengumumkan perkara itu menyatakan keputusan itu dibuat pada mesyuarat berasaskan nasihat dari segi perundangan serta aspek ketenteraman dan keselamatan awam.

Alasan yang diberikan SPR penggunaan dakwat kekal itu perlu dibatalkan kerana hasil daripada siasatan terhadap laporan yang dibuat kepada pihak polis, yang mengesahkan terdapat pihak-pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab telah membeli dakwat dari luar negara bagi menjalankan aktiviti memujuk dan menyogok orang yang kurang faham mengenai penggunaan dakwat itu untuk dicalit sebelum hari mengundi.

Sebelum ini, pada 13 Ogos 2007 SPR telah memutuskan akan menggunakan tanda dakwat di kuku atau jari tangan pada pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Abdul Rashid sewaktu pengumuman tersebut menyatakan SPR membuat keputusan untuk menggunakan dakwat khas dari India , yang sukar dipadamkan untuk beberapa hari, adalah selaras dengan kenyataan Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan yang membenarkan penggunaannya yang tidak melanggar hukum syarak. Penggunaan tanda dakwat kekal merupakan salah satu daripada tuntutan Gabungan Pilihan Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) untuk menghalang pengundian berganda.

SPR batal tanda dakwat

Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) membatalkan penggunaan dakwat khas bagi menanda kuku atau jari pengundi pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 Sabtu ini atas faktor perundangan, ketenteraman dan keselamatan awam.

Keputusan itu dibuat selepas SPR menerima laporan daripada Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) berhubung empat individu yang dikatakan sudah membeli dakwat khas dari luar negara untuk dicalit pada kuku pengundi sebelum hari pengundian.

Empat kes berasingan itu dilaporkan antara 16 hingga 21 Februari lalu, iaitu dua kes di Perlis serta masing-masing satu kes di Kedah dan Kelantan. Kes yang diklasifikasikan sebagai cubaan menipu oleh empat lelaki berusia antara 33 tahun hingga 40-an itu sedang disiasat polis.

Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, berkata SPR memandang serius beberapa masalah undang-undang, ketenteraman dan keselamatan awam yang dikenal pasti boleh berlaku jika cadangan menggunakan dakwat khas dilaksanakan.

"Proses pengundian serta ketenteraman dan keselamatan awam tidak boleh sekali-kali dikompromi. SPR amat dukacita atas keputusan yang dibuat ini.

"Namun begitu, demi menunaikan kewajipan dan tanggungjawabnya dalam menjamin kelancaran proses pengundian, dan demi ketenteraman dan keselamatan awam, SPR perlu mengambil keputusan tegas dan muktamad ini," katanya pada sidang media di Pusat Media SPR di sini, semalam.

Turut hadir, Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail dan Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

Musa berkata, siasatan awal polis mendapati pihak yang terbabit cuba menimbulkan kekeliruan ketika pilihan raya ini dan disebabkan itu polis menghantar laporan kepada (SPR) bagi mereka menimbangkan penggunaannya, Sabtu ini.

"Kami mengklasifikasikan kes ini sebagai cubaan menipu dan Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Perdagangan sedang menyiasat," katanya.

SPR sebelum ini mengumumkan cadangan menggunakan dakwat khas dari India itu untuk menanda kuku atau jari pengundi bagi mengelak penipuan pada pilihan raya umum. Tanda dakwat itu bagaimanapun tidak terpakai bagi pengundi pos yang perlu membuat pelbagai pengisytiharan bagi menentukan kesahihannya.

Tanda dakwat berwarna hitam yang membabitkan kos kurang RM1 juta itu bertujuan memuaskan hati semua pihak berikutan pelbagai desakan oleh parti politik selepas pilihan raya umum 2004, supaya SPR menyekat perbuatan yang dianggap sebagai penipuan dalam proses pengundian.

Abdul Rashid berkata, kegiatan itu (mengecat kuku) dikesan berlaku terutama di kawasan luar bandar dan pedalaman bagi menimbulkan kekeliruan dan syak wasangka mengenai status pengundi berkenaan.

"Mereka ini mungkin dianggap sebagai telah mengundi apabila datang pada hari pengundian. Selain itu, kemungkinan ada pengundi yang terpedaya itu tidak keluar mengundi kerana takut dianggap telah melakukan kesalahan.

"Jika pengundi itu hadir mengundi, sudah tentu akan timbul keraguan di kalangan ejen calon dan petugas SPR mengenai status mereka. Ini boleh menyebabkan tercetusnya kekecohan di tempat mengundi yang mungkin sukar dikawal jika berlaku secara berleluasa," katanya.

Beliau berkata, pembatalan itu juga disebabkan peruntukan undang-undang perlu digubal bagi mengadakan peruntukan yang membenarkan pengundi yang kukunya dicalit dan pengundi yang enggan berbuat demikian, diberikan kertas undi.

Jika tanda dakwat itu hendak diperkenalkan, ia tidak boleh menjejaskan hak pengundi untuk mengundi selaras Perkara 119 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang bermakna hak pemilih berdaftar tidak boleh dinafikan kecuali jika pemilih berdaftar itu hilang kelayakan untuk mengundi mengikut undang-undang.

"Peruntukan undang-undang yang perlu digubal didapati tidak akan mencapai maksud asal SPR memperkenalkan penggunaan tanda dakwat itu. Berdasarkan cadangan asalnya, seseorang yang kukunya telah dicalit dengan dakwat tidak boleh diberi kertas undi.

"Dari sudut praktiknya, jika SPR masih perlu memberikan kertas undi kepada pengundi sedemikian, kaedah tersebut tidak akan membawa makna atau memberi kesan positif, malah berpotensi besar menimbulkan perselisihan faham serta pertengkaran dan pergaduhan di tempat mengundi," katanya.

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Presiden PAS diarak lima ribu penyokong

MARANG, 24 Feb - Presiden PAS, Dato' Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang ditentang oleh Setiausaha Politik Menteri Besar Terengganu, Dato' Dr Ahmad Ramzi Mohamad Zubir bagi kerusi Parlimen Marang.

Di kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Rhu Rendang, beliau ditentang oleh Ketua Pemuda Umno Bahagian Marang, Razali Idris.

Pengumuman dibuat oleh Pegawai Pengurus Pilihan Raya di Pejabat Daerah Marang sebentar tadi.

Bagi kerusi Dun Alur Limbat, Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pilihan Raya PAS Pusat, Dato' Mustafa Ali, yang juga Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu, ditentang Alias Abdullah.

Di Bukit Payung, Naib Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Terengganu, Ustaz Mohd Nor Hamzah ditentang calon BN oleh Zaidi Muda.

Manakala AJK PAS Kawasan Marang, Mohd Draman menjadi calon PAS di Dun Pengkalan Berangan ditentang oleh Yahya Khatib Mohamad.

Pengundian akan diadakan 8 Mac depan.

Sebelum itu, rombongan calon PAS diarak kira-kira 5 ribu penyokong yang berhimpun sejak 7.30 pagi di Markas Besar MTD Rhu Rendang di Kampung Kijing dekat sini.

Calon-calon BN diiringi sekitar 500 orang penyokong sahaja. Parlimen Marang mempunyai 74,813 pengundi.

Pada PRU ke-11 tahun 2004, Ustaz Hadi yang menjadi Ahli Parlimen Marang sejak tahun 1990, tewas kepada Dato' Abdul Rahman Bakar dengan hanya 163 undi sahaja.

Kali ini, Rahman yang juga Ketua Umno Bahagian Marang diketepikan oleh Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno negeri Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh.

Turut diketepikan dari senarai calon BN adalah Ketua Umno Bahagian Kuala Terenganu, Dato' Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, Dato' Tengku Putera Tengku Awang (Hulu Terengganu) dan Dato' Rosli Mat Hassan (Dungun).

Rahman ketika ditemui wartawan di pusat penamaan calon mengakui bahawa Umno bahagian itu berada dalam kucar-kacir kerana beliau diketepikan sebagai calon BN.

Bagaimanapun beliau menafikan berlakunya perpecahan dalam bahagian.

Rahman mengakui sehingga kini ramai ahli dan penyokong Umno memprotes tindakan Idris mengetepikan beliau.

Menurutnya bantahan berlaku bukan sahaja di Marang tetapi di seluruh negeri.

Katanya, beliau akan cuba memujuk para penyokongnya untuk menghentikan bantahan kerana bimbang ianya menjejaskan peluang calon BN di Marang.

Apa yang dibimbangkan katanya, ahli-ahli dan penyokong Umno seluruh negeri membuat 'silent protes' terhadap calon-calon BN.

Beliau bagaimanapun berkata, walaupun proses memujuk ahli untuk tidak menentang keputusan menggugurkannya amat perlahan, namun yakin ianya akan dapat di atasi.

Sehingga kini difahamkan penyokong-penyokong melemparkan pelbagai kecaman terhadap Idris yang didakwa membohongi Presiden Umno, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sehingga mengetepikan Rahman.

Azalina and Ghapur win for Barisan without contest again

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional made a good start in the general election, taking seven parliamentary seats and two state seats uncontested on nomination day.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said retained her Pengerang seat uncontested for the second time, as did former Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh in Kalabakan.

PAS won a state seat without a fight when Wan Ubaidah Omar took Kijang in Kelantan after Barisan candidate Mustopha Ahmed was disqualified because he was an undischarged bankrupt.

In 2004, Barisan had a better start when it won 21 seats uncontested.

With the nomination process completed, the scramble for the 10.9 million Malaysian votes began almost immediately.

Many of the candidates went on a walkabout in their constituencies to meet voters and introduce themselves after their nominations were accepted. By evening, many had begun holding ceramah to woo their electorates.

A total of 1,109 nominations for 505 state seats and 479 for 222 parliamentary seats were accepted by the Election Commission.

In the last Parliament, which was dissolved on Feb 13, Barisan controlled 198 of the 219 seats, DAP had 12, PAS seven, PKR one and Independent one.

MCA No 2 may announce his decision on contest today

With the MCA scheduled to announce its list of candidates tomorrow, speculation is rife that MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy is still unsure whether he would contest in the general election.

It is learnt that the Transport Minister is seriously considering withdrawing from the race for health reasons and that he had already conveyed his plans to party leaders.

Until 1.30 this morning, the Pahang politician was still huddled with his aides and supporters to talk about his plan but it is understood that he may announce his decision today.

He spent the late afternoon meeting with party members and attended a dinner at the Rasah New Village in Seremban but left no indication on the talk about his political future.

Chinese dailies reported on the front pages of their evening editions yesterday that Chan, who is the incumbent MP for Selayang, would withdraw from the polls on medical grounds.

Chan and party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting could not be reached for response to the speculation by the vernacular press.

Party sources said Chan had already conveyed his decision to the party leadership, adding that Chan had been told that “it is up to him to decide”.

They added that there was no need for Chan to rush to make a decision as the nominations would only be on Sunday and that “anything could happen between now and Sunday”.

A close friend of the former Universiti Pertanian Malaysia lecturer said Chan had talked about his wish to step down “for the past few months” but he had persuaded him to continue.

On Aug 29 last year, his press secretary Ng Kok Wai said in a statement that Chan had gone on a two-week leave due to health reasons.

The statement said he needed to go abroad for a medical check-up and consultation and that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had approved the leave.

On Sept 12, he reported for work after the medical check-up in Australia, quashing rumours that he had resigned.

Chan said he managed to spend more time with his family while in Australia but declined to disclose details of his medical condition, saying it was “personal”.

Chan, 53, has been an MP for four terms. He was first elected as the Tanah Rata state assemblyman in 1986 and has served in various party capacities including MCA Youth chief and vice-president.

The Bentong-born Chan entered the political foray when he joined MCA at the age of 25. After a five-year stint as a university lecturer, Chan became political secretary to the late health minister and MCA vice-president Tan Sri Chan Siang Sun in 1986 and moved up the ladder until he became the present MCA deputy president.

BN Strategy for Election 2008

Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is staying put as menteri besar of Johor.Controversial Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof, sometimes referred to as the “close-one eye” MP, was dropped.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, who is staying on, dropped five out of eight MPs.The MIC dropped only two out of its nine MPs — vice-presidents Tan Sri K.S. Nijhar and Datuk S. Veerasingam — but changed 13 out of 19 of its state assemblymen after intense criticism that it had not done enough for the community.

Sweeping changes were also made in the line-up for state seats in Malacca: 50 per cent are new faces.In Kelantan, a fresh team led by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Awang Hussin will lead the charge to wrest the state from Pas after 18 years.

Awang Adek will be assisted by Datuk Alwi Che Ahmad. Both will only contest state seats.In a surprising move, PNB chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kamal Piah is expected to contest the Pasir Putih parliamentary seat.

These are among the more significant changes appearing after the candidates’ list started trickling out yesterday. Over the next 48 hours, it will be known whether there are other major changes at federal level.Indications are that at state level, only Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon will be moving to federal level.

There is speculation that Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim may retire; but, senior Barisan Nasional officials think that major changes are more likely at federal level.

So far, three cabinet members are confirmed to be re-contesting — Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdullah Zin and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn. None has been dropped so far.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali, the subject of much speculation, is also staying put.Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam will be defending his state seat of Bukit Baru.

Conspicuously missing from the list was controversial Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof. Former Serkam assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Hamzah will contest in his place.The MIC, under pressure from Indians over economic and welfare issues affecting the community, made a sweeping change in its list for state assembly seats: bringing in 13 new faces and retaining just six incumbents.

Those seeking re-election include Samy Vellu, its long-serving president who will defend the Sungai Siput seat for a ninth term.Till late yesterday, menteris besar and BN component party chiefs were still meeting Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to finalise their lists.

Regardless, it is still the position of the menteris besar that is drawing much talk — made more interesting by news that Awang Adek and the tough-talking Alwi are to be moved from federal to state seats in Kelantan.

This has strengthened the belief that BN is making a concerted attempt to recapture Kelantan, which it lost to Pas in 1990.

It is understood that its strategy includes fielding state Umno chief Datuk Anuar Musa and Hamad Kama for parliament seats.In Johor, the position of Ghani became clearer yesterday when senior BN sources said he would again contest the Serom state seat, which he is expected to win easily.

It is understood that Ghani, a menteri besar for three terms, was told about the matter at a meeting on Johor BN candidates with Abdullah in Putrajaya.

The decision ended weeks of speculation about his position as menteri besar and whether he would be moved to a federal seat.

It is understood that Ghani would be retained as he has laid a strong foundation for the Iskandar Development Region — a cornerstone project by the federal government to create a new economic zone that would provide business and employment opportunities for the population — and the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) in Mersing.

Given that both these corridors are in their infancy and there is a need for continuity, the federal leadership felt that Ghani’s service was still needed to encourage the inflow of foreign investments.In the 2004 general election, Ghani was supposed to switch to a parliamentary seat.

But, after announcing this to his supporters and colleagues, Ghani was asked to defend his state seat as the sultan had called Abdullah and asked that Ghani be retained for another term.

He went on to defeat Pas’ Abu Bakar Tambi by a majority of 8,081 votes.As for Tajol Rosli, the message came from the man himself when he told his constituents, at two functions in Pengkalan Hulu yesterday, that he would be contesting the Pengkalan Hulu state seat, albeit for the last time.

Talk of his relinquishing his post began after the 2004 general election, when he voiced his intention to step down after having served two terms.

Tiga menteri besar sah pertahan kerusi

Sekurang-kurangnya empat Ketua Perhubungan Umno negeri - Johor, Perak, Terengganu dan Melaka, sudah mendapat pengesahan akan dikekalkan sebagai Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri.

Mereka - Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh dan Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, dikatakan dimaklumkan mengenai perkara itu dalam pertemuan berasingan dengan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi di Putrajaya.

Mohd Tajol Rosli, Idris dan Mohd Ali menemui Perdana Menteri kelmarin, manakala Abdul Ghani semalam, untuk memuktamadkan senarai calon Barisan Nasional (BN) negeri masing-masing bagi Pilihan Rraya Umum Ke-12, 8 Mac ini.

Berdasarkan senarai calon BN Melaka dan Terengganu yang diumumkan semalam, Mohd Ali akan mempertahankan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Bukit Baru, manakala Idris di DUN Jertih.

Bagaimanapun BN Terengganu menggugurkan lima Ahli Parlimen termasuk Timbalan Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar (Marang) serta tujuh Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) termasuk dua Ahli Exco, Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Awang (Bukit Payong) dan Wan Mohd Wan Hassan (Kota Putera).

BN Melaka pula menggugurkan 11 wakil rakyat termasuk Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Datuk Dr Mohd Ruddin Abd Ghani (Parlimen Bukit Katil) dan Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof.

Empat Exco Melaka turut digugurkan. Mereka ialah Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pertanian dan Pembangunan Desa yang juga Ketua Umno Bahagian Alor Gajah, Datuk Wira Hamdin Abdollah; Pengerusi Belia dan Sukan yang juga Pengerusi MIC negeri, Datuk R Raghavan; Pengerusi Hal Ehwal Wanita, Kebajikan dan Perpaduan yang juga Ketua Wanita Umno Jasin, Datuk Ramlah Abas dan Pengerusi Penerangan, Multimedia, Sains dan Teknologi, Datuk Seah Kwi Tong.

MIC turut mengumumkan senarai calonnya semalam dengan Menteri Kerjaraya, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu kekal bertanding di Parlimen Sungai Siput untuk penggal kesembilan. Senarai calon BN Perak pula dijangka diumumkan hari ini atau esok, tetapi Mohd Tajol Rosli semalam mengumumkan beliau kekal bertanding di DUN Pengkalan Hulu.

Sementara itu, Abdul Ghani dijangka mengumumkan senarai calon BN Johor pada Sabtu ini. Sebelum ini, tersebar spekulasi kemungkinan Abdul Ghani akan bertanding di kerusi Parlimen dan Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin disebut-sebut menggantikannya sebagai Menteri Besar.

Sumber bagaimanapun berkata, khidmat Abdul Ghani masih diperlukan bagi memantau dan merealisasikan koridor Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI).

Abdul Ghani adalah Pengerusi bersama Pihak Berkuasa WPI (Irda), selain Abdullah sendiri. Khamis lalu, Perdana Menteri menghadap Sultan Johor di Istana Bukit Serene, dipercayai bagi membincangkan kedudukan Menteri Besar itu.

Menurut sumber itu, Mohamed Khaled sudah diberitahu mengenai keputusan mengekalkan Abdul Ghani sebagai Menteri Besar dan Ahli Parlimen Pasir Gudang itu dijangka mempertahankan kerusi berkenaan pada pilihan raya umum bulan depan.

Selain empat negeri itu, Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin, pula disebut-sebut akan dilantik sebagai Menteri Besar Kelantan sekiranya BN merampas semula negeri berkenaan.

Malah, Dr Awang Adek yang juga Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Kelantan, kini mengetuai jentera pilihan raya di Kelantan dan dibantu Ketua Penerangan Umno negeri, Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad.

Difahamkan, Dr Awang Adek akan bertanding kerusi DUN di Bachok, selain mempertahankan Parlimen Bachok yang dimenanginya pada 2004. Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno Kelantan, Datuk Seri Annuar Musa pula, jika bertanding, akan berpindah ke kerusi Parlimen.

BN juga dikatakan akan mencalonkan tokoh korporat yang juga Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutif Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, untuk bertanding di kerusi Parlimen Pasir Putih. Senarai akhir calon BN Kelantan dimuktamadkan Perdana Menteri pagi semalam dan akan diumumkan Annuar, hari ini.

Abdullah condemns illegal Hindraf rally

YAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi condemned the action of the Hindu Rights Action Force in organising an illegal assembly in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, saying it was an attempt to raise fear in the people and disrupt the general election.

He said the group did not respect the process of democracy because by creating trouble they would scare off the people from coming out to vote.

"The business community, too, would be affected and, like the majority of people, does not support such behaviour because this is not the Malaysian way," he said after launching a project to upgrade a road under the Northern Corridor Economic Region here.

"The country has prospered not because of demands made through illegal demonstrations."Everything we do is for the people and we meet their needs and this is what they want.

"This is also the way we have been developing the country and this is what is meant by stability for the growth of the people and nation."

Abdullah is on a one-day visit to Kedah, the first state he is visiting after the dissolution of parliament on Wednesday to pave the way for the general election on March 8.

In yesterday's incident, police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse several hundred Hindraf supporters who gathered in the city centre.

About 160 people, including one on the police wanted list, were arrested but most were released after their particulars were taken. Nine, including one woman, all aged between 35 and 40, were remanded for repeatedly defying police orders to disperse.

One policeman was injured.The prime minister said action would also be taken against those who caused chaos during campaigning.

He said the authorities had an obligation to the peace-loving majority to prevent any disruption to the conduct of the polls.

"We have just dissolved parliament and are making pre-parations for the general election.

"If actions are detrimental to security and affect the smooth process of the election, we will definitely take action."

Asked if he would allow Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is on the list of potential candidates for Negri Sembilan and tipped to contest the Rembau parliamentary seat, to contest in the general election, Abdullah said he had yet to discuss the candidate list from the respective state BN chairmen or leaders of the various BN component parties.

Asked on the strong performance of the ringgit which hit a 10-year high against the US dollar, Abdullah, who is also Finance Minister, said this proved the strength of Malaysia's economy.

"We hope the nation's strength and stability would continue to draw more investors and improve our relationship with other countries in fields besides the economy," he said.

Earlier, Abdullah said the government would continue to help the people with the difficulties caused by spiralling prices of goods globally.

"In fact, we have never stopped providing for the people although the rising prices have caused us to carry out more development programmes.

"We are a caring government just as we want the people to be caring citizens."

Abdullah later launched the RM158 million upgrading project which involved 525km of roads in padi fields under Mada in Perlis and Kedah.

He also witnessed a RM10.4 million cheque presentation by state secretary Datuk Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah to more than 30 farmers' organisations in Mada who were affected by the floods last year.

Tun Mahathir - Kembali kepada Islam, rujuk Ulama

GOMBAK, 16 Feb - Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menyarankan umat Islam belajar daripada Ulama untuk mendapat pemahaman yang betul tentang ajaran Islam yang sebenarnya. Kenyataan itu membuatkan hadirin memberi tepukan gemuruh kepada Penaung UIAM itu.

Semasa memberikan ucaptamanya di satu Program 'Global Peace : Crisis In Islamic World' di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) pagi tadi, Dr Mahathir turut berkata, tanpa Ulama umat Islam sukar untuk memahami Islam yang sebenarnya.

Beliau dijemput memberi ucaptama di UIAM sempena program Minggu Ummah 2008.Turut hadir ialah, Pengerusi UIAM, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid; kepimpinan akademik UIAM serta mahasiswa dari pelbagai negara yang menuntut di universiti tersebut.

Berucap lanjut Dr Mahathir mengingatkan supaya ummah merujuk kepada Ulama untuk memilih pemimpin termasuk dari sudut politik.

Malah, beliau mengingatkan peranan Ulama sejak 1400 tahun lalu yang dijadikan sumber rujukan dan beliau turut menyeru semua kembali kepada asas Islam merujuk kepada Al-Quran dan Hadis.

Menjawab soalan hadirin sewaktu sesi soal jawab, Mahathir turut menasihati agar para pemimpin untuk mengikuti ajaran agama yang sebenarnya.

Berkaitan dengan kewangan negara mengikut Islam beliau menyarankan agar masyarakat tidak menyimpan wang semata-mata, sebaliknya membelanjakan dengan jalan yang betul.

Selain itu beliau turut mengingatkan sesebuah negara Islam agar tidak membeli bon atau membuat pinjaman daripada negara musuh yang akhirnya menyiapkan bekalan ketenteraan untuk membunuh umat Islam di dunia.

Secara bersahaja beliau memberi amaran agar negara Islam tidak bergantung kepada mata wang Amerika Syarikat di masa akan datang.

Kesemua faktor ini katanya hanya akan menjadikan sesebuah negara itu miskin.

"Dengan jumlah wang yang banyak di tangan kita sewajarnya kita membelanjakannya menurut tuntutan al-Quran.

"Dunia ini bukan milik kita tetapi milik Allah," kata Dr Mahathir.

Sebelum itu kehadiran Dr Mahathir disambut dengan majlis yang gilang gemilang antaranya dengan kompang, iringan bunga manggar dan alunan selawat semasa memasuki Dewan Besar, CAC UIAM Gombak pada jam 11.00 pagi.

Beliau ditemani Pengerusi UIAM selain mendapat tepukan gemuruh lebih 4000 peserta yang setia menanti kehadiran bekas Perdana Menteri itu ke UIAM.

Seorang sumber memberitahu, sebelum ini Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak hadir ke UIAM ketika merasmikan sambutan Jubli Perak UIAM awal Januari lalu.

Namun sambutan kehadiran Najib itu tidak sehebat sambutan kehadiran Dr Mahathir.

Beliau juga memberitahu setakat ini Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dikatakan tidak pernah membuat lawatan rasmi ke UIAM, sebaliknya hanya menghadiri program universiti itu yang diadakan di luar kampus.

Seven ministers likely to miss out on elections

As many as seven of the 32 Cabinet members may not be fielded to contest in the general election.

Two of them – Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik and Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi – have publicly confirmed that they are retiring from politics but sources said about five others may also step aside.

Among the ministers speculated to be retiring are Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Rural Development Minister Datuk Aziz Shamsuddin, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zain and Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor.

A total of 32 people were appointed ministers when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reshuffled his Cabinet in 2006.

Earlier this year, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek resigned as health minister after a sex DVD was circulated by unknown people.

This means there could be at least eight vacancies to be filled.

Speculation about the positions of Dr Rais, Azmi and Aziz arose because of their ages.

Dr Rais and Azmi are both 66 while Aziz is 70. They are the incumbent MPs for Jelebu, Padang Besar and Shah Alam respectively.

Azmi is also being speculated as a possible mentri besar of Perlis.

Aziz was admitted to hospital for two weeks because of hernia in 2006 and his health has also been cited as another reason for him not to be fielded.

However, Aziz said his health was improving and stressed, “My age is not an obstacle to continue with my work. I’m ready to serve (the people) but I’m a party man.

“I abide by all party decisions and now it is up to the party leader whether he still wants me. If he needs me, I will continue to do my best. If not, I will support the party.”

Talk about Tengku Adnan not defending his Putrajaya seat arose because of the controversial Lingam video clip and the just-ended Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Asked about speculation of him being dropped, 57-year-old Tengku Adnan said, “I can’t comment on that. (But) I’m already working for the election campaign. We have started the ball rolling. So let’s wait and see.”

Dr Lim had said in an interview yesterday that he was not the only one leaving the Cabinet.

“Even though some of them (his Cabinet colleagues) know this could be their last Cabinet meeting, they still refused to say,” said Dr Lim.

Effendi, in an article in The Star yesterday, said it would be healthy for the Cabinet to be “infused with new blood, new talent”.

However, the vacancy created by Dr Lim is already spoken for.

Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has confirmed that he is going to the federal level.

LINGAM VIDEO INQUIRY: Commission ends inquiry, findings on March 11

The Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Lingam video clip ended this afternoon. The commission is expected to announce their findings on March 11. However, there is a provision for an extension to make the findings.

All relevant parties will make submissions by Feb 25.A total of 21 witnesses had testified, the last ones being Datuk V. K. Lingam’s former secretary G. Jayanthi, his former driver D. Ramachandran and consultant psychiatrist Tan Sri Dr M. Mahadevan.

The commission was chaired by former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor and comprise former Chief Judge Sabah, Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim, former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar, former solicitor-general Puan Sri Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim. Some of the commission's terms of reference:

* to ascertain the authenticity of the video clip;

* to identify the speaker, the person he was speaking to in the video clip and the persons mentioned in the conversation;

* to ascertain the truth or otherwise the content of the conversation in the video clip;

* to determine whether any act of misbehaviour had been committed by the person or persons identified or mentioned in the video clip and,

* to recommend any appropriate course of action to be taken against the person or persons identified or mentioned in the video clip should such person or persons be found to have committed any misbehaviour.

Serah warkah bantahan di Istana Negara: 2 anggota Bersih ditangkap

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 Feb - Dua ditangkap dalam satu sidang akhbar yang diadakan di perkarangan Istana Negara petang tadi.

Ketua Penerangan KeADILan, Tian Chua dan aktivis PAS yang dikenali sebagai Pakcik Amjal ditangkap secara kasar oleh pihak polis sebaik rombongan Gabungan Pilihan raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) selesai menyerahkan warkah bantahan kepada wakil Yang DiPertuan Agung pada jam 3.30 petang.

Tian Chua yang ditangkap ketika beliau cuba mempertahankan kain rentang Bersih yang dipegang oleh penyokong yang datang untuk sama-sama menghadiri sidang tersebut.

"Kenapa nak rampas banner ni? Apa salahnya?" ujarnya sambil ditarik oleh lebih 10 orang pegawai polis dalam pergelutan itu.

Bahkan terdapat perselisihan yang berlaku antara preman atau SB yang tidak mengenali antara satu sama lain sehingga wujud perang mulut antara mereka.

"Aku pun SB lah," kata seorang preman yang memegang kamera video sambil ditolak oleh beberapa orang preman dan plis yang lain. "Ah, sikit-sikit SB," tengking SB tersebut kepada preman yang ditolak tadi.

Insiden tersebut berlaku ketika Naib Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu tetap cuba untuk membuat sidang akhbar di tepi jalan persimpangan penjuru Istana Negara itu. Suara beliau tenggelam timbul diselangi jeritan polis yang meminta agar semua yang terbabit bersurai dan menegah kesemua pimpinan PAS dan Bersih daripada meneruskan sidang media itu.

AJK PAS Pusat, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi tetap meneruskan sidang akhbar sambil berjalan kaki menuruni jalan menuju ke tempat letak kereta sambil diiringi pegawai polis.

Seorang pegawai kanan polis, Superintendan Azri, mengarahkan pegawai-pegawai polis termasuk yang berpakaian preman untuk menghentikan kata-kata Syed Azman itu.

Setelah mencapai persetujuan, pihak Bersih mengumumkan sidang tersebut ditunda di Pejabat Agung PAS, Jalan Raja Laut pada jam 6 petang.

Ketika itu, pakcik Amjal sedang mengedarkan risalah kepada para wartawan yang hadir membanjiri perkarangan istana itu yang kemudian secara tiba-tiba ditangkap oleh pegawai polis.
Walaupun cuba dipertahankan oleh sebahagian penyokong Bersih, beliau tetap dibawa ke kereta polis.

"Kalau nak tangkap, saya rela menggantikan dia. Kasihanilah dia yang dah tua dan uzur, dia tak buat apa-apa kesalahan pun, kenapa nak tangkap dia?" ujar Syed Azman.

Superintendan Azri kemudiannya menerima panggilan untuk meminta Syed Azman merujuk kes tersebut ke IPD Brickfields selepas ini bagi menyelesaikan tangkapan tersebut.

Seawal jam 3 petang, rombongan Bersih yang terdiri daripada Naib Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu, Bendahari PAS, Dr Hatta Ramli, AJK PAS Pusat, Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad, Ketua Pemuda PAS, AJK PAS Pusat, Dr Syed Azman dan Naib Presiden PAS, Ustaz Ahmad Awang tiba di pintu masuk utama ke istana Negara.

Bagaimanapun, mereka dihalang daripada masuk menerusi pintu tersebut oleh kira-kira lebih 300 polis yang hadir beserta beberapa kenderaan polis seperti trak, lori, van dan motosikal berkuasa besar.

Mereka kemudiannya berarak masuk ke pintu sisi Istana Negara sambil diiringi pegawai-pegawai polis dan serta para wartawan.

Turut hadir, AJK PAS Pusat, Dr Lo' Lo' Mohd Ghazali dan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi KeADILan, Irene Fernandez.

Majlis bersurai pada jam 4 petang.

Pilihanraya Umum Ke-12: Tarikh Mengundi 8 Mac, Penamaan Calon 24 Februari

PUTRAJAYA 14 Feb. – Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) memilih hari Sabtu 8 Mac sebagai tarikh rakyat Malaysia akan keluar mengundi pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12.

Hari penamaan calon pula ditetapkan pada Ahad 24 Februari ini.

Ini bermakna tempoh berkempen dalam pilihan raya 2008 ialah selama 13 hari iaitu jangka masa yang agak panjang berbanding cuma lapan hari pada pilihan raya umum 2004.

Keseluruhannya, mulai hari pembubaran Parlimen semalam, parti-parti politik mempunyai tempoh selama 24 hari bagi merancang strategi terakhir untuk memenangi hati para pengundi Malaysia.

Pengundian akan diadakan ketika sekolah-sekolah ditutup sempena cuti penggal pertama persekolahan.

Pilihan raya umum kali ini membabitkan 222 kerusi Parlimen dan 505 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di 12 negeri kecuali Sarawak yang telah pun mengadakan pilihan raya negerinya pada 2006.

SPR menetapkan tarikh writ pilihan raya dikeluarkan kepada kesemua pegawai pengurus pilihan raya di 222 kawasan Parlimen esok manakala notis pilihan raya dikeluarkan pada Sabtu ini, kata Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Ab. Rashid Ab. Rahman pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Sehari selepas Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi membubarkan Parlimen semalam, anggota-anggota SPR bermesyuarat selama sejam pagi ini membincangkan tarikh penamaan calon dan pengundian Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12.

Menurut Ab. Rashid, sebanyak 10,922,139 pengundi layak mengundi pada pilihan raya itu berdasarkan kepada daftar pemilih yang diwartakan pada 5 Februari lalu.

Daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak 10,701,054 merupakan pemilih biasa manakala baki 221,085 pengundi pos.

‘‘SPR berharap rakyat Malaysia akan menggunakan sebaik-baiknya hak untuk memilih kerajaan bagi memerintah negara ini.

‘‘Pada hari mengundi jangan tidur, keluar mengundi. Tak usah pergi ke mana-mana. Hanya ini masanya untuk anda melaksanakan hak anda. Hak ini tidak datang selalu,” ujarnya.

Sidang akhbar SPR hari ini yang disifatkan oleh Ab. Rashid sebagai yang paling ramai dihadiri wartawan sepanjang perkhidmatannya selama lebih dua dekad dengan SPR turut disiarkan secara langsung oleh RTM dan TV3.

Mengulas mengenai tempoh berkempen selama 13 hari untuk pilihan raya umum itu yang dianggap agak panjang, Ab. Rashid berkata, masa tersebut mencukupi untuk semua parti yang bertanding.

Katanya, SPR telah mengambil kira pelbagai faktor termasuk soal keselamatan dan ketenteraman awam dalam menentukan tempoh berkempen itu.

‘‘Kalau kita nak panjangkan tempoh berkempen, negara kita ini banyak perkara sensitif yang mungkin boleh dimanipulasikan oleh sesetengah pihak. Saya rasa dalam hal ini (penetapan tempoh berkempen), kita telah berlaku adil,” katanya.

Pada pilihan raya umum 2004, SPR menetapkan tempoh berkempen selama lapan hari.

Pada pilihan raya umum 1999 pula, tempoh berkempen ditetapkan selama sembilan hari manakala pada pilihan raya umum 1990 dan 1995, masing-masing 10 hari.

Menurut Ab. Rashid, terdapat 30 parti politik berdaftar setakat ini dan kebanyakan parti itu dijangka bertanding pada pilihan raya umum nanti.

Mengenai jumlah 10.9 juta pengundi yang akan terlibat dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac ini, beliau berkata, ia merupakan peningkatan sebanyak 670,000 orang berbanding 10.3 juta pengundi dalam pilihan raya umum ke-11 pada 2004.

Pada pilihan raya kali ini, katanya, SPR akan memperkenalkan beberapa garis panduan baru termasuk penggunaan bahan kempen.

‘‘Langkah ini dibuat bukan untuk menyusahkan tetapi bagi memastikan pilihan raya dapat diadakan dengan lancar dan teratur,” ujarnya.

Mengenai penggunaan dakwat yang akan dicalit pada jari pengundi, beliau berkata, pelaksanaan prosedur itu akan diumumkan sedikit masa lagi.

Ab. Rashid turut memberi jaminan bahawa Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 akan berjalan dengan adil.

‘‘Saya rasa dalam hal ini kita telah berlaku adil.

‘‘Kadang-kadang di negara kita, banyak perkara sensitif boleh dimanipulasikan. Kita ada rekod yang baik. Pilihan raya umum ke-11 aman tenteram. Kita nak kekalkan rekod itu dan jangan ada sesiapa mengacau rekod itu. Negara tidak suka,” tegas beliau.

Ditanya sama ada SPR menjemput pemerhati asing untuk memantau pilihan raya umum nanti, beliau memberitahu, suruhanjaya itu tidak memberi sebarang akreditasi kepada pemerhati luar untuk berbuat demikian.

Mengenai kenyataan Malaysian For Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), iaitu pertubuhan tempatan yang telah mendapat pengiktirafan SPR untuk mengawasi Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12, Ab. Rashid berkata:

‘‘Badan itu telah melaksanakan tugasnya dengan baik (sebagai pemerhati dalam pilihan raya-pilihan raya kecil termasuk Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak 2006) dan memberi input-input berguna kepada SPR.

‘‘Cuma skop peranannya hanya untuk memastikan pilihan raya umum nanti dilaksanakan selari dengan undang-undang yang ditetapkan.”

ELECTION 2008: Early March polling date expected after Parliament dissolution

Parliament was dissolved 13th February 2008, clearing the way for the country’s much-awaited 12th general election. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ended weeks of intense speculation when he made the announcement at a press conference today at his office shortly after noon.

He said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to the dissolution, which is the first step in the process of getting 10.9 million registered voters to cast their ballots when polling is held as stipulated under Article 55 of the Federal Constitution.

Reading from a prepared two-paragraph statement, Abdullah said that state governments had been advised to dissolve their respective state assemblies at the same time.

The Election Commission and Parliament had been informed of the matter, he said, adding that the EC would fix the dates for nomination and polling days.

The EC is expected to meet tomorrow to fix the dates.

With the exception of Sarawak, which already had its state election in 2006, this general election will involve all 12 State Assemblies.

According to the Federal Constitution, a general election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of Parliament. Election regulations stipulate that the earliest nominations can be held is four days after the dissolution of Parliament or a State Assembly, while the earliest polling dates are seven days after nomination.

In the last three elections - 1995, 1999 and 2004 - nominations were within nine days and polling within 19 days of dissolution. If that is the precedent to be used, then nominations could be on Feb 23 and polling possibly on March 1 or 2.

The current five-year term of the Barisan Nasional ends only in May next year, but an early election has been on the cards since the middle of last year.

At stake will be 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats and the BN has maintained a comfortable two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat with its thumping win in getting 199 of the seats in 2004.

Abdullah's move to call for elections now received overwhelming support from State BN leaders who described it as timely.

Most of the state leaders said that their election machinery had been cranked up. All that was left to be done was for them to finalise their list of candidates, before forwarding it to Abdullah.

Royal Commission on Lingam video clip: Explosive new revelations

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk V.K. Lingam wrote an entire legal judgment for a civil suit in which the presiding judge awarded the litigant RM10 million in damages.

This was the latest shocking testimony delivered at the inquiry yesterday.

The star witness yesterday was G. Jayanti, a former secretary of Lingam, the lawyer at the heart of the royal commission of inquiry into alleged brokering of appointment of judges.

Jayanti, 45, testified that some time between November and early December 1994, Lingam had asked her and two other secretaries, Sumanti Jaaman and Jamilah Abdul Rahman, to do some "confidential typing".

"I soon discovered that this (confidential typing) was about preparing and typing the judgment in relation to civil suit number S5-23-23-94 between Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun vs Hassan Hamzah, Soh Eng Lim, M.G.G. Pillai and four others," she said.

"Datuk Lingam was dictating from some handwritten notes the draft judgment for Sumanti to type.

"Every now and then, he would order me to get various reported cases in the library to be incorporated in the judgment.

"He completed dictating the full judgment at about 3am."

In 1994, former High Court judge Datuk Mokhtar Sidin presided over a much-publicised defamation suit registered as 'Civil case No. S5-23-23-94' filed by businessman Tan in respect of four articles about him in the Malaysian Industry magazine.

Mokhtar's written judgment, which awarded Tan RM10 million in damages, was read out on Dec 5, 1994.The quantum awarded to Tan was seen then as setting the trend for multi-million ringgit defamation suits.

Most of Jayanti's testimony was in the form of a written statement admitted as evidence by the five-member panel headed by Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor.

In the statement, Jayanthi stated: "I must stress here that when Datuk V.K. Lingam was dictating the judgment that night, he was aided by his brother V. Sivaparanjothi, Encik Adam Bachek (a lawyer then) and W. Satchithanandan (a former Industrial Court chairman).

"She added that she kept the handwritten corrections of the draft judgment until handing them over, together with the corresponding formal judgment, to her lawyer Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Appearing in court yesterday in a white Punjabi suit and dark green jacket, she presented her answers clearly and calmly.Jayanti, who worked with Lingam for 13 months from April 1994, said her former employer read through the first printed copy of the judgment he had dictated.

"He corrected the draft judgment in red ink on certain pages. Sumanti then did the corrections accordingly and made a copy of the draft judgment in a floppy disk which was to be given by Datuk Lingam to Justice Datuk Mokhtar Sidin. I later discovered that the judgment as was written by Lingam was fully incorporated as the official judgment of the said judge," she said.

When asked by her counsel Shafee as to when she resigned, Jayanti said she tendered her resignation in May, 1995.

Shafee: Why did you leave the firm?

Jayanti: I was accused of taking his shares in Berjaya Group.

Shafee: V.K. Lingam accused you of stealing his shares?

Jayanti: Yes, he had one million shares.

Shafee: V.K. Lingam had one million Berjaya shares?

Jayanti: Yes. I used to deliver (the share certificates) to the securities company, it was two floors below in the same building. They went missing for a while.

Then he called me two weeks later and said they had been recovered. He asked me if I wanted to come back. I said I wanted to leave.

Jayanti, who is also represented by R.S.N. Rayes, will continue her testimony today.