tunku |
- GE13: Najib – Pakatan’s inability to agree on fundamental questions will create tension in the country
- GE 13 : The BR1M Way Forward
- GE 13 : The Real Costs of a Welfare State
- GE 13 : Who is Best Positioned to Provide a Sustainable Social Safety Net?
- GE 13 : Indians To Benefit From BN's People-centric Agenda
- GE 13 : Indian Community's Support For BN At Optimum Level - Ghani
- PM Instrumental In Fruition Of DRB Hicom-Volkswagen Venture
- GE13: Pakatan leadership should step down to show commitment to change, says Dr M
- GE13: Penang trade bodies, NGOs to support BN on free port, monorail
- GE13: Poor turnout for Anwar in Felda settlement at Paya Besar
- GE13: MCA helped Chinese schools even in opposition areas, says Dr Chua
- Lim Kit Siang’s Interview With Sinar Harian: PR’s PM Remains A Secret
- HADI’S SANDIWARA IS EXPOSED AND FOR ALL TO SEE
- GE13: BN wins battle of the ceramahs
- SUARAM’s Devastated Over Bala’s Premature Death
- Karpal insists PAS’ agenda will cause chaos and conflict
- GE13: Four Sabah division chiefs quit PKR, join Umno
- GE 13 : How Pakatan Piggy-Backs on the Hopes of Young People
Posted: 26 Apr 2013 03:00 AM PDT  "Can we place our trust in Pakatan? We cannot. Tensions will arise in our country with a situation of not just uncertainty but maybe chaos if they were to continue bickering among themselves when trying to form a (federal) government," Najib told a crowd of several thousand Barisan supporters at the 1Malaysia People's gathering here on Friday. Najib urged Malaysians to consider carefully whether they could entrust Pakatan with the federal government because the Opposition grouping had consistently failed to reach consensus on key questions, including the selection of election candidates, which had resulted in PAS and PKR contesting against each other in one parliamentary and six state constituencies. Najib also pointed out that Pakatan partners' failure to agree on who should be prime minister should Pakatan win indicated their inability to remain on the same page. Najib told the crowd that he had received an increasingly positive feedback towards Barisan from the people in all his campaign stops nationwide so far. This was due to growing confidence of the Barisan's capabilities to deliver on its pledges to the people, he said. "This is why on May 5, if we want Malaysia to continue to remain a fast developing country with stability, peace and harmony, then the choice is Barisan," said Najib. The gathering, which was held this morning, is the first of four events, which the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend during his one-day visit to Perak. |
Posted: 26 Apr 2013 02:10 AM PDT  The Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) or 1Malaysia People's Aid was repeated in Budget 2013 and its scope expanded to include single people. Apart from RM500 for households earning less than RM3,000, Najib announced BR1M cash assistance worth RM250 for single, unmarried people aged 21 and above, earning less than RM2,000 a month. This financial assistance is one of the various initiatives undertaken by the Barisan Nasional government to alleviate the burden of low-income earners in facing the rising cost of living. In its election manifesto, BN has pledged to make BR1M an annual feature and increase the amount to RM1,200 for households and RM600 for singles. This is a remarkable approach to providing financial assistance directly to those who need it most. Costing RM2.6 billion, the programme benefits approximately 80 per cent of households in Malaysia. In contrast, Pakatan Rakyat's promises – to abolish tolls and lower the price of petrol and car duties – are wasteful as these benefit only those who drive cars, including the middle class and the rich. In the name of helping the poor, the Opposition seeks to help the well-off pay less. BR1M, meanwhile, gives cash hand-outs directly to the lowest income section of the population. With the economy growing at 5.6 per cent, Malaysia is financially well-placed to support such measures. This also indirectly helps to boost the economy. "Usually, if the government gives money to low-income earners they will use the money instead of saving it compared to high-income earners," said Prof Amir Hussin Baharuddin, lecturer of economics at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). "They will use the BR1M they get to buy household needs and it will create demand in the market," he told New Straits Times. This will in turn generate job opportunities and help new businesses. Other countries have provided fiscal stimuli in the recent past, including the United States and China. This can be done in several ways, such as increasing government spending on infrastructure or by lowering taxes to spur growth. In Malaysia, programmes like BR1M can provide a shot in the arm to the local economy by boosting consumer spending. "Private consumption is expected to grow by 6.5%, underpinning our gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast of 5% in 2013," said a recent analyst report by Affin Investment Bank, referring to BR1M as a growth driver of household disposable income. So BR1M can help millions of hard-working Malaysians as well as the economy itself. What is in this for the Opposition not to like? |
GE 13 : The Real Costs of a Welfare State Posted: 26 Apr 2013 01:20 AM PDT  Denmark is reforming its system because of the story of 'Carina', a 36 year-old mother of two who has been on the dole since she was age 16, has been receiving RM8,000 per month, and has more disposable income than over a third of the country's full-time workers. In the UK, Mick Philpott – who has been convicted of manslaughter after burning down his house with six of his children to obtain a better property – has touched off a furious debate over Britain's welfare system, with even Labour ceding ground on the issue. Philpott has spent years in scrapes with the law with a minimal work ethic and history, and yet it has been reported that Philpott and his various partners claimed up to RM250,000 in benefits for their children. In Japan the Diet has reduced welfare payments by more than RM2,2 billion over a three-year period to take the 'comfortably poor' off benefits after discovering that many welfare recipients make more than the average low-income working person spends on costs of living. The developed world, over the last thirty years, has worked to reduce welfare systems to true safety nets to aid the poor. This began under the late Margaret Thatcher, who broke the very real situation in which able-bodied adults chose to stay home and be supported by a decreasing number of workers. Britain had fallen to a three-day work week at one point, and abuse of leave and welfare was so bad that the country was known as the 'sick man of Europe'. It was only after the UK forced adults who could work back into the work force that its economy regained its old poise and became one of the leaders of Europe, and the world, again. The UK's labour participation rate (the percentage of working-age adults actually working) rose from 62 per cent in 1984 to over 70 per cent today. Currently, Malaysia has a 58 per cent participation rate. However, because that refers to having "worked at least one hour of gainful employment in the preceding week", many economists believe that only 47 per cent of the working population is employed for more than 20 hours per week. Experts on welfare systems almost unanimously agree that the more generous the welfare system, the lower the labour participation rate. Pakatan Rakyat is nevertheless proposing that we should take able-bodied workers out of the work force at the very moment the rest of the world is desperately trying to keep their workers in. At a time of global economic uncertainty and a universal consensus that welfare should be trimmed back, this would strike most political parties as ridiculous. Somehow, Pakatan looks back to the crippled UK of the 1970s and sees a situation worth repeating. |
GE 13 : Who is Best Positioned to Provide a Sustainable Social Safety Net? Posted: 26 Apr 2013 12:24 AM PDT  That's because only with a Pakatan Government will he be guaranteed to benefit from Anwar's "safety net" with its important measures such as free health care, abolished road tolls and, of course, cheaper petrol. This is essential for the thousands of litres of fuel the high-performance Porsche chugs through each year. It's true. The rich would do very well from Anwar arriving in Seri Perdana because, having read Pakatan's manifesto, they will note that Pakatan's so-called safety net contains general measures that are not means tested, meaning our millionaires benefit as much, if not more, from a 40 sen a litre petrol price cut than a rubber tapper riding a scooter. Likewise with Pakatan's free education promise. Apart from the fact that free university education is proven to lead to lower academic standards, elsewhere in the world it has been found that better-off families use it to their best advantage, taking six years to complete a three-year course while poorer students finish up on time and get a job. The problem is that Pakatan Rakyat has proposed an across-the-board safety net that sets out to catch those who aren't falling; and this is grossly unfair because not only does it divert funds away from those in need, but it is set to cost the economy a fortune. During the tenure of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, every single social measure he has presided over has been based on need. It sounds logical doesn't it? BR1M is for those earning less than RM3,000 per month and has proven so successful, it is set to become permanent. 1Malaysia Clinics are a better way of getting medical care to the needy than Pakatan's proposed grand gesture on healthcare. And what of 1Malaysia shops (KR1M)? They are derided by the Opposition but sell life's essential items to Malaysia's very poorest at 85 locations nationwide. In light of Pakatan's opposition to KR1M, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has challenged them to say whether it would close the stores if elected. So far, no response. The safety net proposed by both sides gives us a valuable insight into their overriding political ideologies. BN wants to reward hard work and innovation but also ensures those who are truly struggling are not left behind. It's also known as fairness. Pakatan's package takes us to a socialist worker's paradise of "benefits for all". Their manifesto, says head of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) Wan Saiful Wan Jan, is a welfare state document that will "catapult us firmly to the left". One more point needs to be made about the safety net that is already at work under BN. While Pakatan bleats ceaselessly about moving away from race-based policies, Najib's welfare initiatives are doing just that. Every single measure under the 1Malaysia banner pays no consideration to race. While Pakatan has been talking the talk, Najib has been walking the walk. |
GE 13 : Indians To Benefit From BN's People-centric Agenda Posted: 25 Apr 2013 07:45 PM PDT  Makkal Sakti president Datuk R. S. Thanenthiiran said, as things stood, the community had witnessed and benefitted from the many people-centric programmes implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, such as the 1Malaysia People's Aid programme. He noted that based on the numerous by-elections held since the last general election in 2008, it was apparent that the level of support from the community for BN had been on the upswing. "I hope they'll continue to show their support for the BN in this general election," he told Bernama Thursday. Thanenthiiran said campaign rounds in states like Perak, Penang and Selangor revealed that the Indian community was receptive to the BN election manifesto which was deemed more realistic, and capable of delivering more goodies for them. The party, he said, focused on five items in the manifesto that would benefit the community, namely improving housing in estates, aiding Tamil schools, increasing the equity of the Indian community to three per cent, job opportunities and the BR1M assistance. He pointed out that the BN's promise to set up a special unit to ensure a successful implementation of policies to uplift the Indian socio-economic status also proved Najib's commitment to bring further progress to the community. Thanenthiiran said the BN-friendly party was mobilising about 90,000 members to help campaign for BN candidates |
GE 13 : Indian Community's Support For BN At Optimum Level - Ghani Posted: 25 Apr 2013 07:00 PM PDT  Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state government under his leadership for 18 years had also fulfilled the needs of the Indian community in various sectors, including education, social and religion. "During my tenure, much has been done for Indian education. For example, four Tamil schools in Gelang Patah have been given new locations and allocation to build new buildings. "One of the schools, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Kangkar Pulai has emerged as the top school among the 10 top schools in the country governed by board of trustees," he told reporters after attending an excellence award presentation Indian Development Associations in Gelang Patah, at Dewan Raya MPJBT, Taman Universiti, here, Thursday night. He added that the state government had also resolved and relocated many temples that were build along railway track. Ghani said the temples were relocated to new sites after being given land. "The state government has also assisted Indian non governmental organisations by contributing financial assistance for culture and welfare activities," he said. |
PM Instrumental In Fruition Of DRB Hicom-Volkswagen Venture Posted: 25 Apr 2013 06:00 PM PDT  Its group managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil said without the support and assistance of the prime minister, the joint venture between DRB Hicom and Volkswagen to produce locally-assembled or completely-knocked-down (CKD) Volkswagen vehicles would not have been realised. "The prime minister sacrificed his annual leave in 2010 to meet with the Volkswagen management in Europe to convince them to work with us. "Had it not been for his intervention, DRB-Hicom and the national automative industry would have lost the opportunity with Volkswagen, which had initially earmarked an industrial area in Samut Prakat, Thailand for its CKD regional base," he said at a DRB-Hicom gathering with the prime minister here Thursday. Volkswagen inked an agreement with DRB-Hicom in Singapore in March last year to produce Volkswagen cars for the local as well as Asean market. Mohd Khamil also acknowledged Najib's support in the establishment of the International College of Automotives, Malaysia (ICAM) aimed at producing highly skilled and knowledgeable manpower for the local automotive industry. The ICAM's campus located at the DRB-Hicom automotive complex in Pekan is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in the third quarter of this year. He said the ICAM would reinforce Pekan's status as the national automotive hub under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) initiative. Meanwhile, Najib noting that Volkswagen would be injecting another RM600 million in Pekan, said the undertaking was to let the people benefit from foreign investment. The success of the automotive industry in Pekan was a combination of DRB Hicom's efforts and the Barisan Nasional's government policy to spur greater economic change and growth in Pekan. Najib said the government was constantly finding approaches to help the business community through various incentives to attract foreign investment into the country. |
GE13: Pakatan leadership should step down to show commitment to change, says Dr M Posted: 25 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT  He urged Pakatan leaders including PAS spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, DAP chairman Karpal Singh and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang to make way for younger leaders. "Kit Siang and I got involved in politics in 1964. I have retired nine years ago while he is still contesting in this general election," Dr Mahathir said in a speech during the meet the people session in Guar Chempedak. He also dismissed the allegation by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak that he was trying to build a Mahathir dynasty with his son Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir running in the Ayer Hitam state seat. "If I had wanted to build a dynasty, I would have fielded my children as candidates when I was the Prime Minister. "Instead, I didn't allow them to be involved in politics. Now that I have retired, I can't stop them if they want to join politics," he told reporters. "It seems that leaders from the opposition are building a dynasty. Kit Siang chose his son Guan Eng to be the chief minister of Penang, Nik Aziz is also grooming his children to take his place," he added. |
GE13: Penang trade bodies, NGOs to support BN on free port, monorail Posted: 25 Apr 2013 04:00 PM PDT  Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong said the memorandum will carry some 1,000 signatures from representatives of companies, trade organisations and NGOs. "A free port status will generate 1,000 jobs in Penang," Lam said. The signatures will be presented to Najib on April 30 at a dinner organised jointly by PCTH and associations which represents all races in Penang at Han Chiang High School. |
GE13: Poor turnout for Anwar in Felda settlement at Paya Besar Posted: 25 Apr 2013 03:00 PM PDT Only about 100 people comprising party workers and supporters including those from Kuantan PKR division turned up to lend support. Felda Lepar is one of the major Felda settlements under the Paya Besar parliamentary constituency, traditionally a Barisan Nasional stronghold. Anwar spoke on a host of issues including reiterating that Pakatan Rakyat would reduce the prices of oil within a day after taking over Putrajaya. He also told the crowd that he had forgiven former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for putting him in jail. Later, he introduced the PKR candidates for Paya Besar parliament - lawyer Murnie Hidayah Anuar - and Jefri Jaafar Tukemin for Lepar state seat. Anwar said support for the Pakatan was strong in Kuantan and Indera Mahkota but needed a push in Paya Besar. He urged the crowd to help spread the message around in its bid to win over the parliamentary seat for this elections. |
GE13: MCA helped Chinese schools even in opposition areas, says Dr Chua Posted: 25 Apr 2013 02:00 PM PDT  He said the party continued to bring development to the constituency despite losing the Gopeng parliamentary seat and its two state seats, Teja and Simpang Pulai, to PKR in the last elections. The voters should support candidates who are able to serve them, help to resolve local problems and bring development, Dr Chua said during a dinner with Gopeng folks in Lawan Kuda here on Thursday. He earlier went on a campaign trail in Gunung Rapat. Barisan Nasional has fielded Datuk Tan Chin Meng for the Gopeng seat and Datin Yew Sau Kham and Datuk Chang Kon You for the Teja and Simpang Pulai seats respectively. Dr Chua said a strong mandate for Barisan was important for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to continue with the country's Economic Transformation Programmes (ETP). The ETP has already shown good results and enabled the Government to implement various programmes for the benefit of the people, he added. Dr Chua cited the IMalaysia People's Aid (BR1M) as an example. The RM500 BRIM 1.0 was given out last year and another RM500 BRIM 2.0 this year. Barisan has pledged to give BR1M annually to those with monthly household income below RM3,000. The amount would be gradually increased to RM1,200. |
Lim Kit Siang’s Interview With Sinar Harian: PR’s PM Remains A Secret Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:00 AM PDT However, Kit Siang's statement saying that PR has better political awareness than BN when it comes to combating corruption, somehow sounded like a joke. Perhaps Kit Siang has forgotten that Teoh Beng Hock did not came to MACC for a class trip, he was there as a witness to a corruption case involving DAP leader. Kit Siang also might have forgotten that all of those who has close relationship with PR leader, Anwar Ibrahim, suddenly became rich when he was appointed as Minister. Kit Siang also may have missed how acres of land in Kelantan fell to the hands of DAP leader from Perak. Perhaps all of these are not corruption for Kit Siang, instead, they are rights of PR leaders which can never be questioned by anyone. However, what is interesting about the interview was not about Kit Siang's view on corruption, it is something more basic,'Who is PR's Prime Minister?' Kit Siang's reaction to this question reminded us to Anwar's reaction when asked about his sexual orientation. Just like Anwar, Kit Siang somehow find it hard to answer such basic question. Kit Siang responded to the question with this lengthy answer as follow: "This matter has gained mutual agreement and understanding between top leadership of DAP, PKR and PAS where it does not have to be informed to the public. Our main problem is the matter of can we win with comfy majority for GE13. Perhaps 45 seats for PKR, 40 seats for 40 and 40 seats for DAP. It is well balanced, and by then, we will see who's the Prime Minister. Kit Siang's statement somehow sounded like,'the question of who becomes the next Prime Minister is our business, not rakyat'. Thing is, rakyat need to know who is the next Prime Minster before they vote as assurance that the fate of both them and the country is in the hands of the person who truly deserve the post. Some DAP supporters would definitely feel worried if Hadi Awang becomes Prime Minister and forces hudud to be implemented in this country. PAS supporters in the other hand are beginning to reject Anwar as Prime Minister on the excuse of his moral issues as well as pluralism. Meanwhile, Malaysians generally would not accept Kit Siang as Prime Minister due to his strong racism. Even if PR Prime Minister is not among those names mentioned, rakyat still want to know who the person is and which party does this person represent. This is because, all three parties, DAP, PAS and PKR promotes three different styles of ruling. Rakyat also need the certainty that if they give the win to PR, that there won't be any fight on ruling styles or even the fight for Prime Minister post, which might last for a very long time. Not just that, the question on whether PR could resolve the Prime Minister post issue in short period of time soon after they win the GE is very subjective. Even the 'short period of time' is another question. Rakyat need to know that their life would not be affected while the fight goes on. If Kit Siang do not see the question of 'who is the next Prime Minister' as something important, then Kit Siang do not even deserve to be a politician. Especially when he has the possibility of also becoming the next Prime Minister. Thus, how would PR convince rakyat that the future PM is not someone who does not understand the importance of Prime Minister itself? |
HADI’S SANDIWARA IS EXPOSED AND FOR ALL TO SEE Posted: 25 Apr 2013 09:30 AM PDT  What Hadi is saying is simple…so long as DAP does not oppose they can be partners despite PAS cannot and will not be able to implement the Hudud. Actually, a sane man would ask: "What actually is Hadi talking about? Does he know that his party cannot implement Hudud due to the disagreement and in this sense, where does PAS go from here?" Hadi has lost his senses because his party cannot implement Hudud and Islamic laws even if the opposition pact wins Putrajaya due to the disagreement and objections from DAP and PKR. To Hadi, as he had said the main objective was to win Putrajaya and after that he did not mention whether PAS could or could not implement the party's objective to set up an Islamic state. It is a pity that a leader of an Islamic party that has struggled since the 50s to set up an Islamic state failed again just bvecause the party aligned itself with two other political parties that do not place Islam in high position. Whether he will be the Prime Minister or not if the opposition pact wins Putrajaya, Hadi cannot guarantee or ensure that an Islamic state would be set up. As such, voters should not see Hadi as the champion of Islam and the religion's struggle when he and his party party could not establish an Islamic state as he and his party promised and pledged. Not going too far in the future, even in Kelantan where the party has ruled for nearly 20 years, the party has not even implement any Islamic laws except the nitty gritty laws that invited angry reactions from the non-Muslims. In short, Hadi does not know where he and his party is going and so thus the leaders in the party where they are not insync with each other in many matters including the use of kalimah ALLAH by Christians in their Bible. The party's deputy spiritual chief Dr Harun Din had insisted and put his foot down on the matter, contrary to Hadi's own statement on the use of kalimah ALLAH issue. With such background in the party as well as the debacle on seats in Penang and few other states, the party is actually in a tight spot – between political inspiration and religious compulsory obligations. And what Hadi and his party try so hard to ignore is the opinions of Muslims who know and can differentiate between the party's religious obligations and political greed. Thus, Hadi's sandiwara is exposed for all to see. |
GE13: BN wins battle of the ceramahs Posted: 25 Apr 2013 08:35 AM PDT Barisan Nasional attracted more support than PAS for respective ceramahs that took place within 500m of each other Thursday night. The Barisan ceramah attracted thousands of supporters despite a heavy downpour while the PAS camp was practically empty at around 9.30pm. The huge showing for Barisan versus the low turnout at the PAS ceramah was a big embarrassment for the ruling Islamist party and an indication of growing support for Barisan in Kedah. Kuala Kedah PAS information chief Ustaz Ridwan had called on organisers to cancel all PAS ceramahs in Kuala Kedah to attract a mammoth crowd to their camp in Taman Lembaga. |
SUARAM’s Devastated Over Bala’s Premature Death Posted: 25 Apr 2013 08:16 AM PDT  After hiding for quite a while after their lies were revealed, SUARAM once again came out to continue their unfinished mission, to use issue of Scorpene and Altantuya to bring down the government. For that, all of the sudden, SUARAM Director, Cynthia Gabriel, made a press conference on April 23 just to re-live this issue. Generally, most rakyat are aware that Scorpene issue has been proven as no issue when French Court made the statement saying that SUARAM's complaint was rejected as it was baseless. However, even though there was no case, SUARAM kept on lying by fabricating the stories about subpoenas and evidence documents. When scorpene issue was proven to have been fabricated to tarnish the government's image, automatically, Altantuya's murder became a huge question. If SUARAM fabricated the story about corruption on the submarines to ruin the government, obviously they might have been involved in Altantuya's murder to strengthen their fabricated story. Whatever it is, we do not have to be as low as SUARAM, making allegations without any evidence. Lets just leave this matter to the court and police to decide. The important thing here is for us to read SUARAM's next move. From the press conference SUARAM made, it was clear in Cynthia;s face that she seem regretful over the early death of private investigator, Balasubramaniam, before they even get to fight. Before this, Bala was said to have been directly involved as the 'middleman' in scorpene's corruption case as well as Altantuya's murder and he fled outside of Malaysia. Bala's 'disappearance' was claimed by SUARAM/opposition to have been paid by the government, particularly, the First Lady, to cover his involvement in the case. However, the allegation did not even follow the 'story' because Bala decided to tarnish the government's image, especially Prime Minister and wife. There is no way Bala would criticize the government if the government was the one which paid him. As he got back to Malaysia a few months prior to his death shows who has been 'funding' him while he was outside of Malaysia, the opposition. This is because, he went back with preparation to criticize the Prime Minister and government through the same issue, after SUARAM failed to do so. However, god 'loves' Bala, and He took him before Bala get to perform bad orders given by SUARAM/opposition. That is why, SUARAM is sad over his death. In their desperate and critical situation, it is hard for SUARAM to change their script. The very same script need to be used to continue their mission to bring down the government. There has been too many inconsistencies in SUARAM's story, and Bala was their last hope to 'finalize' their script. That is why with Bala's death, their easiest replacement is of course Bala's wife. Now, Bala's wife is being prepped to play the character of a victim. She will be featured aggressively on the final days before election. We do not know how far can she keep up with the play, but this might be tough for her after all, considering that she still seem unprepared. Do not be shocked over the things which SUARAM is capable of doing to bring the issue of Altantuya back to life as they failed to bring Bala to life. Whatever it is, we are convinced that Malaysians will not be fooled by SUARAM. Thus, let SUARAM stage any of their plays. Let them spend all of their masters' money. Lets just wait and see, when would their masters realize that SUARAM is a useless agent. |
Karpal insists PAS’ agenda will cause chaos and conflict Posted: 25 Apr 2013 07:02 AM PDT  Party national chairman Karpal Singh said the introduction of hudud could result in conflict and chaos. "For example, if a Muslim and non-Muslim are jointly charged, it would be difficult to have a trial as each would be charged under different laws. "A non-Muslim cannot give evidence in the syariah court," he pointed out. Karpal was referring to PAS deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din's comments that hudud would be implemented if Pakatan Rakyat takes over the federal government. Haron said the DAP would accept hudud based on its willingness to contest under PAS' symbol in GE13. Although the DAP rejected the implementation of hudud a few years ago, it was now no longer the case, Dr Haron contended. Karpal said the Supreme Court headed by Tun Salleh Abas had in 1988 passed a ruling that secular laws would apply in the country. "That decision stands to this day," he said, adding that the DAP would not allow any amendment to the Federal Constitution to implement hudud. DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang insisted hudud had never been a part of Pakatan's common policy framework. "When we agreed to use PAS' moon symbol, it was on the basis of agreement with the common policy framework. "We all have different views in Pakatan, but as long as an idea is not in the framework, it will remain the individual party's objective. "So far, hudud is not in the framework," Lim said after visiting a coffee shop in Puchong. The veteran politician added that even if PAS were to find itself in a similar situation with the Registar of Societies as the DAP did recently, the DAP would be "happy to lend it its rocket symbol". |
GE13: Four Sabah division chiefs quit PKR, join Umno Posted: 25 Apr 2013 04:45 AM PDT  The division chiefs from Sandakan Mazhry Nasir, Saidil Simoi (Kota Belud), Irianshah Yunus of Kalabakan, Abdul Zainal Atin of Putatan and deputy division chief Zainuddin Hassan of Putatan handed over their application forms to Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Yahya Hussin on Thursday. Mazhry, who led the group said they joined PKR with the belief that local PKR members would be given autonomy to make decisions concerning the party's direction. "This did not happen, KL PKR was directing everything here'' he told reporters at the state Umno headquarters here. "Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is nothing but a great debater who can make people believe almost everything he says," Mazhry said. Mazhry said he had lost confidence in PKR after realising that the autonomy mentioned in its Buku Jingga' was not going to be observed. "This is a lie to Sabah PKR members and also to the people who have put their trust in PKR all these years," he added. |
GE 13 : How Pakatan Piggy-Backs on the Hopes of Young People Posted: 25 Apr 2013 04:07 AM PDT  PAS promised us a youth revolution in the party two years ago but is still run by a gerontocracy. At last year's Muktamar its youth division asserted itself by moving a motion against K-pop on the grounds it is "excessive entertainment". We wonder if they told that to the DAP youth singing along to Ubah Rocket Style? There is also the fact that PAS in Kelantan issues summonses to young people for, of all things, giving one's girlfriend a piggy-back. So much for being tolerant of youthful exuberance. At PKR youth was embodied by the ambitions of Azmin Ali, the prime offender in the damaging civil war in Selangor; Rafizi Ramli, an early victim of that war; and Nurul Izzah Anwar, the dynastic successor to Anwar who has squandered her career prospects by offending anyone and everyone from the police to Muslim scholars. So when it comes to youth, as with everything else, PKR-DAP-PKR don't have much in common but they are united by one deceitful construct: The notion that voting for them is somehow the right thing for the young to do, because Pakatan MPs are the outsiders - even underdogs - and therefore, electing them is a virtuous act. Nothing could be further from the truth. As its seat allocation process proved, there has been no real generational shift within Pakatan. Aging party hacks desperately cling to their seats or use their status to settle disputes, as Lim Kit Siang, 72, proved in Gelang Patah. The real way to honestly engage youth is to have workable measures to help young people through tertiary education and into the workforce and then to stop pretending they want anything different from all right-minded Malaysians: A stable economy, jobs, healthcare, tolerance, moderation – the basics. Datuk Seri Najib Razak understands this. That's why when he is addressing young people he doesn't gesture to the crowd like a rock star (Anwar's favourite motivational trick before his adoring fans). Najib articulates exactly the same ideas to an 18-year-old as he would to a 50-year-old, in a serious and easy to understand way. The real act of youthful defiance at GE13 would be to vote for the party that is reforming itself after 55 years in power; the party that is kicking out old candidates in favour of new ideas; and doesn't patronise young people along the way. That means a vote for BN. |
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