Minyak Depa, Suka Hati Depa Laa

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened Friday to stop oil exports to the United States if violence breaks out after a controversial and hotly contested weekend referendum.

He told thousands of supporters in Caracas that he was sending the army to "protect" all of the country's oil fields ahead of the plebiscite on Sunday aimed at bolstering his power by changing the constitution.

"If 'Operation Pincer' is activated Sunday or Monday, there won't be a drop of oil from Venezuela to the United States," Chavez said, referring to what he has often claimed is a CIA operation to topple him from power.

"If this (referendum) is used as a pretext to start violence in Venezuela, (Energy) Minister (Rafael) Ramirez on Monday will order that oil exports to North America be stopped," he said. "I have ordered the defense minister ... to put in place plans to protect our oil fields and our refineries.

As of this night (Friday), they will be protected by the army," he said. Chavez also deepened a running row with Spain, whose King Juan Carlos recently told him to "shut up," by threatening to nationalize Spanish banks in Venezuela if the monarch did not apologize.

The warnings upped the stakes over the referendum, which polling companies said was too close to call. Chavez, opposition figures and analysts have all said they fear a close result will be viewed with skepticism by the losing side and trigger violence.

Venezuela currently exports around 60 percent of the two million barrels of oil it produces per day to the United States, which relies on the South American nation for 11 percent of its oil needs. Relations between Caracas and Washington have long been tense, but Chavez has raised his strident anti-US rhetoric several notches as he has fought to have his referendum pass.

The 53-year-old leftist leader is facing his biggest-ever challenge at the ballot box over the proposed constitutional reforms. Even Chavist loyalists in Venezuela's myriad urban slums are balking at supporting them.

With the result on a knife-edge, Chavez has taken to calling all opponents to the changes "traitors" and portraying the referendum as a struggle between his "economic socialism" and US "imperialism." "A vote 'yes' is a vote for Chavez -- a vote 'no' is a vote for (US President) George W. Bush," he told the crowd Friday.

Protests against the referendum have gathered strength, culminating Thursday in a huge rally that denounced Chavez's plan as a bid to turn Venezuela into a Cuba-like communist state. The proposed constitutional changes would do away with term limits for the president and lengthen his mandate from six years to seven.

It would also allow the government to censor the media in times of "emergency," and take over the central bank and expropriate property to guarantee food supplies. The fiercely anti-US leader, who has nurtured ties with Iran and China, has repeatedly accused Washington of fomenting resistance to him in the country, without advancing any evidence.

"Venezuela: we will never be a colony of the United States or of anyone -- we are free," he said in his rally speech. The US television network CNN was also attacked in his speech. He claimed it had incited his assassination by putting the caption "Who killed him?" under his images this week, and dismissed the network's apology and explanation that it was an on-air mix-up.

Chavez said he was ready to rule "until 2050" if the people wanted him, and he sent a message to his mentor, Cuba's Fidel Castro, saying, in English: "Fidel, how are you?" An editorial attributed to the Cuban leader on Friday warned that the United States may seek to assassinate Chavez.

Chavez has multiplied diplomatic disputes with other countries. As well as the running feud with Spain, he has said he would refuse to deal any more with Colombia, after its president axed him as mediator in negotiations for a hostage swap with leftist FARC guerrillas.

Angguk-angguk, Geleng-geleng

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has assured the people that he is listening with his “big ears” to all complaints and grievances.

The Prime Minister said he was aware of complaints about “what is happening to our economy, ... to this, and that.”

“I listen. The Prime Minister has big ears.

“At times pedih lah telinga ini – macam macam dengar (it is painful to these ears - hearing all sorts of things),” he said at the official opening of SJK (C) Ladang Harcroft in Puchong yesterday.

Abdullah stressed that he was not merely listening, adding that it was his duty to deal with problems and work on remedies.

“We are not keeping quiet. If we do not attend to problems, grouses, feelings of uneasiness, uncertainty and even anger, then one day we will suffer, everybody will suffer,” he said.

“If you are getting impatient, then I’m even more impatient,” he added.

Abdullah said while some matters could be resolved quickly, others took time and some issues needed even more deliberation.

He said the country had gained tremendous ground in eradicating poverty, cutting it down from 50% in 1971 to 5.7% at present.

“This is not something to be scoffed at. We Malaysians have every reason to be proud of the achievement,” he said, adding that the Government would continue to help the people regardless of race.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that eradicating poverty would not be an easy task.

“It’s not something that can be achieved in a short number of years. But we will persevere,” he said, citing education as an important tool in helping people break free from the scourge of poverty.
In a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Malaysia, mutual respect and understanding among the races was essential, he pointed out.

He revealed the workings of his Cabinet, saying that ministers like Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who is the MCA president, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Gerakan advisor Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik and Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein often “ganged up” on some issues.

“There is no feeling of difficulty, embarrassment or fear to speak up in the Cabinet on education, religion, culture or economy.

“We are not suspicious of one another. We are friends so we can be sincere and open with one another. That is the truth,” he said, adding that the Cabinet was comfortable with this kind of relationship, which was based on understanding and mutual respect.

“If there is no mutual respect, the Government can never survive in this kind of environment,” he said.

Abdullah reiterated that Malaysia’s strongest asset was its unity, strength and value in diversity.

“This will make Malaysia a truly great nation in the future,” he said.

In HONG KONG, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government was committed to addressing the “legitimate concerns” of any community in Malaysia.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who was speaking at a press conference during his roadshow to promote Malaysia to fund managers, said the rally by the Hindu Rights Action Front was due to exploitation by opposition parties anticipating the general election.

He described the New Economic Policy as an affirmative action policy that benefited all communities.

“Otherwise, this Government would not have been returned to power in each general election,” he said.