PKR Karim keep on repeating the same mistake.

I am puzzled that SAPP did not issue any strong statement to reply PKR startegist Datuk Karim Ghani's remarks that SAPP must join Pakatan Rakyat on the old excuse that local Sabah parties are ineffective.

Karim's point is that only big national parties like PKR and the Pakatan coalition have the power to solve Sabah's problems. Wasn't that the same reason Karim used when campaigning for UMNO entry into Sabah?

Karim used to pride himself as the man who brought UMNO to Sabah and a party man whose only duty is to the party (UMNO). That was after he was sacked by USNO in the late 1980s.

He was very close to the than UMNO Deputy President Anwar Ibrahim, no doubt, but was also implicated in the murky world of UMNO politics in the 1990. It was reported that he was the head of UMNO's task force on "Pengundi Luar" (Outside Voters, aka Phantom Voters).

It is a mystery that PKR has not only accepted him but even made him "Director of Strategy". As chief strategist, his first strategy was to offend SAPP supporters and other Sabahans who have gotten fed up with "Big Brother" talk by West Malaysian parties.

As I recall, Karim's reason for leaving UMNO was because he said the Federal Government under PKR (Pakatan) would revive USNO, the party that he was responsible for putting an end to. Any USNO man today can vouch their regret for the dissolution of USNO in 1992.

Sabahan (Daily Express Sunday Forum)

PKR: Something is 'seriously wrong'

Sabah’s RM1b road maintenance deal raises dust

KOTA KINABALU: Despite spending hundreds of millions of ringgit annually on road maintenances, Sabah has not ‘one single decent road’.  Knowing this, why has the government renewed the contracts of four contractors who performed ‘poorly’ in the past?

Posing this question, former Sabah minister Kong Hong Ming said there was no justification for the extension of the maintenance contracts.

“I understand the government has approved the extension of these monopolized contracts for another term.

“They have renewed their contracts for another 10 to 15 years starting this year even before the expiry of their existing ones.

“The total contract value will constitute RM800 million to RM1 billion a year of public spending in the future,” said Kong, who is now PKR Tawau division chief.

Kong stressed that the government must justify to the public such a heavy financial commitment into the future, especially knowing that the contractors had under-performed and were ineffective in maintaining public roads.

“Judging from the series of recurring complaints highlighted in the media by community leaders, opposition parties and even Barisan Nasional party members on the deplorable conditions of public roads throughout the state, it is obvious that something has gone seriously wrong with the performance of these monopolized road maintenance contracts awarded by BN government,” said Kong, who is a civil engineer turned lawyer.

He criticised the decision to commit the state to an RM1 billion a year expense to only four contractors as an unjustified debacle.

“Based on the existing contracts and huge spending per year, the people of Sabah should be enjoying reasonably good or at least well-maintained roads throughout the state.

“But there are obviously some discrepancies and irregularities between the big spending and actual work done on the ground.

“Despite frequent complaints, there is no obvious improvement on the poor road condition and network in the state.

“In Sabah, we have reached such a sorry state of affairs that even new roads are unfit, unsafe and unserviceable,” he said.

Unhealthy practice

Calling for transparency, Kong urged the government to appoint an independent body to audit, examine and review the performance and weaknesses exposed in the road maintenance contracts.

“Perhaps, there is no political will in this present administration to stop the unhealthy monopoly practice that is depleting the state resources to the maximum instead of optimizing public spending to benefit the public and local contractors in terms of job opportunity and employment,” he said.

He said the practice of issuing road maintenance contracts for public roads under the state and federal jurisdiction only began in 2002.

Prior to that, road maintenance was by the relevant departments or local contractors by way of competitive quotations and open tenders supervised by Public Works Department and local authorities.

“Each of these long term contract runs into hundred of million per year for 10 to 15 years,” he pointed out.

It is understood that at least one of the road contractors is closely-linked to Chief Minister Musa Aman and is also involved in other business dealings associetd to him.

by Queville To

'At all Cost' a dangerous statement?

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali called Datuk Seri Najib Razak “uncivilised” today for urging Umno to recapture the country’s wealthiest state, Selangor, with whatever “weapon was at their disposal”.

The prime minister said last month that Umno must forget it lost the central state to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in 2008, but rise to win it back.

“I want to ask Najib, what does he mean ‘at all cost’?” said Azmin at the launch of PKR’s “Jelajah Selangor Tawan Putrajaya” (Jelas) campaign here today.

“Kill? C4 (bombs)? Rob? Snatch? Blow up? Bribe? This is a statement of an uncivilised prime minister who doesn’t believe in democracy,” he added.

Azmin also pointed out that PR only needed swing votes of 2.8 per cent in Sabak Bernam and 3.1 per cent in Pandan to win the parliamentary seats.

Umno’s Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakri is the Sabak Bernam MP while MCA’s Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is the Pandan MP.

Azmin said PR was ready to wrest the Tanjong Karang parliamentary seat from Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar in the next general election that is expected to be called within a year.

“Even though Tanjong Karang is not represented by Keadilan but PAS, we want to tell Najib that our ties in Pakatan Rakyat are strong enough,” said the Gombak MP at a hall packed with some 200 PKR members.

“Our goal is one: Umno must be buried in the coming election,” he added.

Noh, who is the minister of agriculture and agro-based industry, retained the Tanjong Karang constituency by defeating PAS’s Mohamed Hanipa Maidin with a 3,820-vote majority.

Umno won the Sungai Burung and Permatang state seats in the Tanjong Karang constituency.

By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider

Pilihan raya umum ke 13, PAS lawan PKR di Sabah

"Saingan tiga penjuru antara calon BN, PKR dan PAS akan berlaku di banyak kerusi di Sabah kali ini, " kata Pesuruhjaya PAS Sabah, Mohamad Abdullah.

PETALING JAYA: Khabar buruk untuk Pakatan Rakyat PAS dan PKR  berebut kerusi di Sabah menjelang pilihan raya umum ke 13 akan datang.


Pesuruhjaya PAS Sabah, Mohamad Abdullah secara terus terang mengatakan PAS tidak gembira dengan PKR yang menurutnya ego dan tidak mahu mengalah.

Tokoh veteran PAS Sabah itu memberi amaran keras, PAS akan mencabar calon  PKR jika rundingan pembahagian kerusi antara dua parti pembangkang itu  gagal.

Menurutnya, rundiangan akan gagal  jika PKR menunjukkan sifat ego dan tidak mahu mengalah.

“Saingan tiga penjuru antara calon BN, PKR dan PAS akan berlaku di banyak kerusi di Sabah kali ini. Saya berjanji kerusi PAS akan ditandingi oleh calon PAS, bukan lagi calon dari PKR.

“PKR parti yang sombong dan bercita-cita terlalu besar, sedangkan mereka tidak ada penyokong di Sabah.

“PKR mahu bertanding semua kerusi termasuki di kerusi PAS.  Mereka tidak sedar tiada ahli hingga tiada pekerja jentera pilihan raya,” katanya ketika ditemui di muktamar PAS di Gombak minggu lalu.

Mohamad dari Tawau berkata, sikap sombong dan tidak mahu mengalah PKR berlaku semasa rundingan kerusi Parlimen Batu Sapi dalam pilihan kecil tahun lalu.

Menurutnya, wakil PAS berunding selama dua hari dua malam dengan wakil PKR tetapi gagal menemui jalan penyelesaian.

Enggan mengalah

“Wakil PKR enggan mengalah walaupun kami mengatakan Batu Sapi adalah kerusi tradisi PAS. Kami juga memberitahu mereka, PKR tiada penyokong di Batu Sapi.

“Tetapi untuk menjaga hubungan Pakatan Rakyat, PAS mengalah dan kerusi itu ditandingi calon PKR, Ansari Abdullah.
“PKR gembira kerana berjaya merampas kerusi PAS tetapi calon kami menangis.

“Apa yang berlaku selepas itu? Jentera PAS yang bertugas untuk calon PKR itu, tiada satu pun jentera PKR dan akhirnya Ansari kalah,” katanya.

Mohamad berkata, PAS akan bertanding lima kerusi Parlimen iaitu  Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Kota Belud, Putatan dan Sepanggar dan 15  kerusi dewan undangan negeri (DUN).

Katanya, rundingan dengan DAP telah selesai dan parti itu setuju dengan kerusi yang akan ditandingi oleh PAS.

Bagaimanapun, rundingan PAS dengan PKR belum diadakan kerana  wakil parti itu dari Semenanjung belum datang ke Sabah.

“Wan Azizah (Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail) beritahu kami supaya tunggu wakil PKR dari Semenanjung untuk berbincang mengenai pembahagian kerusi antara PAS dan DAP.

“Tetapi Pilihan raya semakin hampir tetapi bayang muka pemimpin PKR dari Semenanjung pun belum nampak lagi.

Oleh Muda Mohd. Noor

Sabah DAP, PKR cannot function without help of Big Boys

Big banners in the city announced the May 27 Harvest Festival Dinner organised by Sabah DAP to be graced by party supremo Lim Kit Siang. Lim has been in and out of Sabah every month.

Two weeks back PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim dropped by in Sabah, like his wife last month, to hold press conferences about their party. Anwar then held ceramahs in Sandakan. All these top guns from KL make me wonder - It is because Sabah PKR and DAP are not capable of doing anything without having their party bosses around?

It is as though if Lim Kit Siang were not here, the Sabah DAP has nothing to show. If Anwar is not here, then PKR goes back to sleep. What will happen if Pakatan forms the State Government in Sabah?

Will their Cabinet be able to meet without having Lim Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim around? Serious, after the debacle over the "shadow cabinet" in Sarawak, can't these two parties learn and empower their Sabah leaders?

After 48 years in Malaysia, have Sabahan leaders become even more dependent on KL for everything.

Political Observer

Anwar shouldn’t unilaterally decide on Sabah, S’wak CM

Comment

He doesn’t seem to realise that people in Sabah and Sarawak prefer their chief ministers to be elected by democratic means

De facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief Anwar Ibrahim  attributes his poor showing at the April 16 Sarawak state elections  to, among others, the idea of a Dayak chief minister.

Anwar was  entertaining an online news portal’s TV network earlier this week on his monumental failures in Sarawak, as in Sabah earlier. Like his equally naïve interviewers, he didn’t seem to know whether he was coming or going on Sarawak.

Anwar’s take was that the Malays in Sarawak were put off by the idea of a Dayak chief minister and refused to award even one seat to the party.

He claimed that the minority Malays, only 20 per cent of Sarawak, accused him of promoting the idea of a Dayak chief minister at their expense. Anwar, it appears, tried to unsuccessfully reason with them that the Dayaks were in a majority in Sarawak and therefore the chief minister should come from that community.
For those unfamiliar, Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud is a Melanau and therefore a Dayak.

The difference is that unlike the great majority of Dayaks who are Christian if not pagan, Taib is a Muslim.
However, he has a Christian paternal grandfather and as many Christian relatives as Muslim ones. He also avoided talking about Islam like the plague since he knew that the Dayaks were watching him like a hawk.

Taib even blasted the recent seizure of bibles in Malay print in Kuching as “stupid”.

It was enough to secure the release of the bibles.

Interestingly, no Sarawak Malay has ever been chief minister of the state.

All four chief ministers so far have been Dayak, Taib and his predecessor and maternal uncle Abdul Rahman Yakub being Muslim, and the first two being Christians i.e. Stephen Kalong Ningkan and Penghulu Tawi Sli, both Iban Dayaks from the Sarawak National Party (SNAP).

The Ibans, the biggest community in Sarawak, failed as chief ministers, because of opposition from the other Dayak communities i.e. Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and Melanau.

The Sarawak Malays are in no position to object to a chief minister on the grounds that he’s Dayak or a non-Muslim.

To digress a little, the Sarawak Malays are in fact Bidayuh living on the coasts of the Kuching division and Ibans along the coast of the other division who converted to Islam.

The Brooke dynasty referred to them as Malays after the fashion of the colonial British who used it as an umbrella term to describe various ethnic groups in Peninsular Malaysia.

Also, it’s unlikely that the Dayaks will ever support the idea of a Sarawak Malay being chief minister of the state. If one is thrust on them, he won’t last in the tumultuous politics of Dayak country.

It’s more likely that a Sarawak chief minister would continue to come from among the non-Iban Dayaks – the creed is not in question – and this would ensure political stability in the state. If a Sarawak Malay wants to be chief minister he should not deny his Dayak heritage.

PKR’s emphasis on a Dayak CM, in any case, led to allegation among the Sarawak Malays that such a candidate would turn the state into a Christian one, according to Anwar.

The de facto PKR chief is like a “bull in a china shop” raising a preposterous non-issue. He naively treads, like all Peninsular Malaysians, where even devils and angels dare not.

Sarawak is Anwar’s second monumental blunder in Malaysian Borneo after Sabah.

In Sabah, Anwar thundered that there was no way he would have Jeffrey Kitingan as the Sabah PKR chief”. Jeffrey, who has many Musli relatives, was accused openly by Anwar of being a racist and harbouring a hidden Christian agenda, whatever that means.

Anwar was playing politics where he should not be doing so.

Jeffrey pushed for the idea that the Sabah PKR chief should be democratically elected by the division chiefs and not appointed by the party headquarters (read Anwar) in Kuala Lumpur.

Anwar would have none of it and wanted a Muslim to head Sabah PKR although the majority of the members were non-Muslim Dusun, including Kadazan (urban Dusun), and Murut.

Anwar’s excuse is that the Muslims, no doubt the illegal immigrants with MyKads included, were now in a slight majority in Sabah.

Baru Bian seen as stooge for Anwar

He decided unilaterally that the Sabah chief minister should be Muslim.
He does not seem to realise that the local Muslims in Sabah were not a homogenous community and were further divided into Dusun Muslim – Ranau, Bisaya and Orang Sungei, among others – Bajau, Suluk, Brunei Malay, Irranun, Banjar, and Cocos-Keeling, among others.

In “compensation”, Anwar decided also unilaterally that the chief minister of Sarawak would be Dayak and Christian.

He went on to appoint Baru Bian, an Orang Ulu Christian, as Sarawak PKR chief.

No one in Sarawak accepts Baru because he was not elected but thrust on the membership by the party headquarters (read Anwar).

That’s one reason why PKR failed to interest the people of Sarawak on April 16.

Baru was seen as a proxy and stooge for Anwar and Peninsular Malaysians.

Jeffrey’s stand in Sabah, meanwhile, was that if the division chiefs in Sabah elected a Muslim head, so be it.
Anwar did not want to risk elections and deal with the possibility of a non-Muslim head.
Eventually, Jeffrey left amidst accusations that he was the King of Frogs, a label he has explained, and interested only in party posts and positions and in being number one and chief minister.

Jeffrey’s explanations that his politics was all about the people, the issues, principles, policies and priorities, and not posts and positions, were pooh-poohed by Anwar and drowned out by the propaganda barrage from party headquarters.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan thinks that Anwar made many promises to Jeffrey, all of which he had no intention of keeping, made use of him to build up the party in Sabah and eventually played him out.

If anyone is obsessed with the ethnicity and faith of the chief ministers of Sabah and Sarawak respectively, it’s politicians from Peninsular Malaysia. They don’t seem to realise that Peninsular Malaysia – Malay, Chinese, Indian – is no political model for Sabah and Sarawak.

The people in Sabah and Sarawak prefer the chief minister to be elected by democratic means and decided by the respective governors in accordance with the constitutional provisions. Any departure from this would be an exercise in illegality, and ultimately, futility.

The current unease in Sabah over the post of chief ministeris is wholly due to the fact that the candidate is appointed by Putrajaya and not elected by the people in accordance with the state constitution.

Also, Sabahans are no longer willing to tolerate a situation where a candidate stays too long in the post. The idea is that the rotation of the Sabah chief minister’s post should be continued but every five years and not two years as previously and by election. It’s not known whether the proponents want the chief minister’s post to be confined to Umno, an unacceptable idea, or rotated among the Barisan Nasional component parties as until 2003. The local parties want in as well.

Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition alliance, and Anwar would do well to take heed of the thinking on the ground of the people in Sabah and Sarawak on the post of chief minister for their respective states. PKR should allow only elected candidates to head the party’s Sabah and Sarawak chapters.

In that case, Jeffrey would probably be back with PKR in a wink, the party is yet to accept his resignation, but not so much to wrest the post of Sabah chief. Many feel that he should play the role of elder statesman in Sabah and Sarawak for PKR and function as a de facto chief. Jeffrey’s return to PKR may help arrest the party’s declining fortunes in Sabah and Sarawak.

Joe Fernandez (Free Malaysia Today)

Is Anwar lying?

Anwar is lying, says SNAP


There was no written agreement with PKR or Pakatan Rakyat on seat allocations 'few months' before the April 16 Sarawak elections, says Sarawak Nasional Party.

KUCHING: Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP) has strongly rebutted PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s claims that it had signed an agreement with the party, to contest only in three seats a few months before the recent Sarawak election.



SNAP Youth chief Dayrell Enterie said Anwar’s statement was “totally incorrect”.

“This statement of his (Anwar) is totally incorrect as neither SNAP nor its president (who was erroneously named Stanley Jugol in the Malaysiakini article) had entered into any written agreement whatsoever on seat allocations with PKR.

“SNAP wishes to reiterate that it is not a push-over party for any West Malaysian entity nor is SNAP a Pakatan stooge,” he said in a statement mailed to FMT.

Dayrell was responding to Anwar who had reportedly said that “there was an agreement in writing, where SNAP only agreed to contest three seats, and then they asked us if it is possible to have another three”.

“It was signed a few months before the election by (SNAP president) Stanley (Jugol),” Anwar had said.

Anwar had also said that Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian and his “Dayak boys had strong issues against SNAP”.

“It was not just about being from a different party… (it was also about) whether or not this group of people (from SNAP) can be trusted,” Anwar said.

Inherent right

Expressing SNAP’s frustration, Dayrell said the party was fed up with the insinuations and allegations PKR has slapped it with.

“As a Sarawak-based Party, SNAP has an inherent right to decide its own direction. Being a local party, it has the legitimate obligation to care for Sarawakians.

“SNAP is fed up with the allegations by a Pakatan party that it is Umno-funded, and an agent for BN.

“We left because SNAP was not accorded any respect,” he said, adding that in view of PKR’s treatment of SNAP in the last state election, there is now a strong desire for SNAP to be unencumbered by any political collaboration.

This, however, did not mean that SNAP will not collaborate with anyone.

“SNAP subscribes to the Borneo Agenda which seeks the fulfilment of the 18-points of the 1962 Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.

“We welcome those who share SNAP’s aspirations to struggle for better deals for the people of Sarawak, especially the rural poor,” he said.

He added that it is imperative that all the election promises made by campaigners from Peninsular Malaysia be fulfilled.

“They should never assume that Sarawak can be a dumping ground for all these empty sweet talks and rhetoric. SNAP, after all, stays put while the West Malaysians have all left,” he said.

Lifted from FMT

PKR willing to talk with SAPP

PKR willing to join hands with BN’s foes

As far as the party is concerned, the enemy of my enemy is my friend and PKR is currently in talks with SAPP to form an electoral pact.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat lynchpin PKR has no qualms in forging an electoral alliance with parties that share a “common enemy”– Barisan Nasional (BN).
One of those negotiating a possible electoral pact is the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), said PKR vice-president Tian Chua.

Tian said PKR has maintained good relations with the party which quit BN in September 2008 to become independent after a fallout with the ruling coalition’s top leadership.

SAPP, led by former Sabah chief minister, Yong Teck Lee, has accused BN of neglecting the East Malaysian state and failing to eradicate poverty there.

“Any party fighting for change should work together,” Tian told a press conference here today.

On the talks with SAPP, he said no agreement has been reached but the Batu MP is confident of a positive outcome.

“We hope to reach it before the 13th general election,” he said.

It is widely speculated that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will hold snap polls by year-end.

Can PKR work it out?

PKR’s track record in forming electoral alliances with East Malaysian parties have so far been disastrous.

In the recently concluded Sarawak election that saw Pakatan make significant inroads in what is known as BN’s “fixed deposit” state, talks between PKR and the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) collapsed after the former was accused of arm-twisting.

PKR leaders denied the allegation and blamed the failed talks on SNAP’s “arrogance” instead.

The party’s Sabah chapter is also known to be plagued with infighting.

Currently, SAPP has two MPs and two state assemblymen. Winning Sabah and Sarawak is key to realising Pakatan’s quest to wrest Putrajaya in the next general election.

Reveal findings of landslide probe

On a separate matter, Tian urged the government to be more transparent and reveal the findings of its probes on illegal hillslope developments.

The demand comes as the nation mourns the deaths of 16 orphans in a landslide tragedy in Hulu Langat, Selangor, last Saturday.

BN and Pakatan, which now controls Selangor, are racing for votes with both fighting to give bigger cash compensation to those affected. The state will be the key battleground for Najib’s quest for a stronger mandate.

Tian said the government must not repeat its move to classify the findings of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide in 2008 which destroyed 14 bungalows and forced 2,000 residents to be evacuated.

“The findings must be made available to the public. Enforcement law will be much more effective if the public knows,” he said.

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid (FMT)

Anwar predicts election this year

Michael Kaung

The 38% increase in native votes in favour of the opposition in Sarawak is a 'clear' indication of change, says the PKR chief.

KOTA KINABALU: PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has a gut feeling that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership will call for a snap general election in July this year.

“With all these issues – religion, sex video, my court case and abduction threat to my daughter Nurul Izzah – it is a clear message that the election is coming very soon,” he said.

The former finance minister urged party leaders to work hard and update their respective election machinery in preparation for the 13th general election.

“We must get ourselves ready in facing the coming general election which is expected to be held in July this year,” Anwar told a news conference after meeting with top party leaders from Sabah at its headquarters in Penampang near here yesterday.

Anwar arrived here on Saturday for a series of public talks and meet-the-people sessions in Pitas, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud and here.

After meeting with Sabah PKR leaders, Anwar left for Sandakan.

He said that it was the responsibility of PKR under Pakatan Rakyat to fight for the people in getting back their ancestral land that had been taken away from them.

Anwar also touched on the on-going discussion among the opposition parties, particularly between Sabah PKR and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), as part of their preparations in taking on the ruling BN in the coming general election.

“We’re hoping the negotiation will go on smoothly as long as the decision does not breach the PKR constitution,” he said.

Changing voter trend
 On the recent Sarawak state election, Anwar said the outcome of the election indicated a wind of change in favour of the opposition.

He said the 38% increase in votes from the natives in certain areas in Sarawak was a clear message that the voting trend had changed and was now favouring the opposition.

He attributed this to the corrupt BN’s politics.

Anwar also pointed out the need to review the existing Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 to allow Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan and Terengganu to control 20% of their own oil and gas.

“We want this 20% for these four states. We want to change the Act and every single contract must be transparent and open to all Malaysians; the decision is not with the prime minister alone.”

Anwar said it was clear that under the existing law only the prime minister has the right to approve any contract in Petronas and the company did not even have to report to the finance minister.

Also present were PKR Kota Kinabalu divisional chief Christina Liew and Darell Leiking, who heads the Penampang division

Masa untuk PAS keluar dari kokongan DAP, PKR

Muda Mohd Noor

Kempen yang dibuat oleh Umno dan yang lain melabel dan menggambarkan PAS menjadi kuda tunggangan dan alat DAP sudah mula berkesan.

 

PETALING JAYA: Tidak syak lagi muktamar PAS 3 Jun depan akan menjadi platfom menilai hala tuju  bagi mengembalikan keyakinan dan sokongan pengundi Melayu menjelang pilihan raya umum ke 13.

 

Masa terbaik untuk presiden Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang memantap dan seterusnya membawa PAS sebagai parti yang setanding dengan dua lagi parti Pakatan Rakyat – PKR dan DAP.

PAS jelas tidak menonjol berbanding PKR dan DAP. Pengiktirafan PKR kepada PAS di Selangor sekadar melengkapkan Pakatan Rakyat, manakala DAP tidak memberi layanan sewajarnya kepada PAS Pulau Pinang.

Bagi penganalisa politik tempatan – Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling – ini masa terbaik bagi PAS untuk menjadi sebuah parti yang bebas dari kokongan PKR dan DAP.

“Pemimpin mereka perlu berusaha menjadikan PAS  kuat dan tidak terpengaruh dengan pemikiran PKR dan DAP.

“Kempen yang dibuat oleh Umno dan yang lain melabel dan menggambarkan PAS menjadi kuda tunggangan dan alat DAP sudah mula berkesan.

“PAS sudah merasakan pengundi Melayu menolak parti itu seperti yang berlaku dalam pilihan raya negeri Sarawak dan beberapa siri pilihan raya kecil sebelum itu.

“Maknanya PAS tidak boleh kekal dengan apa yang ada sekarang,” kata Ketua Kluster Sejarah, Warisan dan Sosiobudaya  Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (IPSI) di Perak.

Tetapi penganalisa itu menambah, “PAS perlu kekal ditadbir ulama, kerana jika terlepas (dari golongan tersebut), ideologi parti akan bertukar.

“DAP sudah berubah, PAS juga sudah mula keluar untuk mendapatkan masyarakat Islam, nak cuba menjadi parti nasional, tetapi belum berjaya.

“Juga berlaku pertembungan antara PAS dengan PKR dan DAP. PAS tidak menonjol sangat kerana belum berjaya menarik hubungan dengan orang bukan Islam.

“Kini  PAS perlu mencari jalan bagaimana mahu menjadi inklusif dalam Islam,” katanya.

PAS hanya menjadi relevan jika parti itu kuat. Tetapi dalam Pakatan Rakyat, PAS nombor tiga selepas DAP dan PKR.

Untuk menjadi kuat khususnya di kalangan orang Melayu tidak semestinya PAS perlu memperjuangkan negara Islam.  Orang Melayu sudah tahu PAS adalah parti berteraskan Islam.

Tetapi PAS perlu teguh dan tegas dalam perjuangan Islam. PAS perlu menerangkan bagaimana mengurus ekonomi Islam dan bagaimana Islam hendak menghadapi cabaran global.

Sokongan pengundi Melayu tidak lagi majoriti kepada PAS, sebaliknya kepada musuhnya Umno. Ini bermakna kerusi tradisi milik PAS sudah tidak selamat bagi parti itu.

Tetapi PAS tidak kehilangan penyokong tradisional, cuma yang menjadi masalah golongan pengundi muda dan pengundi atas pagar termasuk orang Melayu di kota.

Jika PAS boleh menyakinkan orang Melayu bahawa parti itu bukan sahaja cekap berpolitik tetapi juga boleh menangani isu ekonomi, pendidikan, sosial dan semuanya, PAS akan menjadi parti politik nombor satu di kalangan orang Melayu.

Najib pandikutti?

Najib: Anwar’s name-calling will not make me lose sleep

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was not losing any sleep over derogatory name-calling by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said politicians could have differing opinions but they should focus on policy matters and issues related to the people.

“To attack someone personally is to be trapped in a cauldron of politics that has no ethics. This (the name-calling) is not causing me to lose sleep,” he said after chairing a Budget 2012 Consultation Council yesterday.

At a Malaysian Indian Voice gathering in Klang recently, Anwar apparently accused Najib of playing gutter politics by allowing a sex tape – allegedly involving him – to be released and went on to call the Prime Minister “a real pandikutti” (Tamil for piglet).

Najib said he believed the rakyat would be able to judge for themselves the politicians who did that. “I don’t have to comment any further because I am confident the people can judge such a thing,” he said.

On the views that the “Loyal Brigade” formed by Perkasa was a nucleus for a militant grouping, Najib said that peace and harmony should be the first consideration for the country.

“We have been enjoying peace for so long.

“I am not saying that this is a good or a bad idea but we should not do anything that can threaten peace, harmony and stability in the country,” he said, stressing that the Government would not keep quiet if there was any attempt to threaten national security and harmony.

An online portal, meanwhile, has quoted Anwar as denying that he had called Najib pandikutti. He said he did mention the term pandikutti, but denied attributing it to Najib.

Source: Star

'Citizenship-for-votes': Letter forged, says Umno

Hulu Selangor Umno chief Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar has denied that he had ever written or signed a letter to solicit citizenship-for-votes ahead of anticipated snap polls.

“We never wrote that letter. Why should we? We won in the (Hulu Selangor) by-election (last year)," he said when contacted this morning.

Mohamed Idris (left), who is also Hulu Bernam assemblyperson, claimed that the letter is a forged one and described yesterday's claims by PKR as being tantamount to "slander".


"This is slander, because that was not my signature on the letter and my name was not stated in full," he asserted.

Selangor PKR deputy head Zuraidah Kamaruddin had produced a copy of a letter, written on what appeared to be Umno letterhead paper and signed by one Idris Abu Bakar. It was addressed to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

The letter sought citizenship for about 2,000 permanent residents for the purpose of helping "BN win" in the constituency.

"The letterhead is not very clear (in the media reports), but what is certain is that the Hulu Selangor Umno division did not produce it.

"I don't know if some people stole the letterhead to produce the letter. It is quite easy, but the thought of (soliciting citizenships for votes) never even crossed my mind," said Mohamed Idris with a chuckle.

Malaysiakini had yesterday contacted his office for comment, and a member of his staff confirmed that a "support letter" had been issued to the Home Ministry.

However, when contacted again today, she said that the letter was not signed by Mohamed Idris, and refused to comment further.

Hulu Selangor parliamentarian P Kamalanathan has yet to respond to Malaysiakini's queries on the matter.

'Authenticity not verified' 

Contacted for comments, Zuraida admitted that she had not attempted to verify the authenticity of the letter and its content with the Home Ministry before making the claim.

The Ampang parliamentarian, however, said "as concerned citizens" PKR has done its part and now it is up to the relevant authorities to investigate.

"This is the standard line lah, typical of BN-Umno to deny. Now they will do the necessary cover-up," she said.

Zuraida (left in photo) lodged a police report this morning on the letter at Bukit Sentosa police station, located in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency.

"We are not worried about Umno's vote-bank as much as we are concerned about national security," she added.

By Aidila Razak Msiakini

SAPP: No three formula offered

Agreement labeled as 'Coffee Shop Talk'

KOTA KINABALU, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Assistant Secretary-General Datu Shuaib Bin Datu Mutalib, said it is not true that PKR had offered a three formula to SAPP for BN to take on BN in a straight fight.

"With due respect to former Sabah PKR chairman, Ansari Abdullah, the only formula as presented by PKR's Treasurer General William Leong was for SAPP to withdraw in return for some future arrangements.


"William Leong had claimed to represent Pakatan Rakyat by virtue of the seat being allocated to PKR. The PKR delegation concluded the meeting with SAPP by agreeing to a "friendly contest" against the BN at Batu Sapi and not to attack each other (SAPP and Pakatan). But the agreement with PKR was later labeled as mere "coffee shop talk" by Sabah DAP chairman Dr. Hiew King Chiew.

"We later heard that if PKR did not contest, then DAP would field a candidate. This is the same type of confusion and in-fighting that plagued the Sarawak opposition parties last month. At Batu Sapi, the PKR infighting was infamous for the public boxing match among PKR leaders at the Sandakan airport after Ansari was announced as the PKR candidate.

"As recorded by the media, other than William Leong, the PKR team consisted of the then PKR Vice President, Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah Chairman Thamrin Jaini and Christina Liew. Ansari came and left half way. SAPP was represented by Datuk Yong Teck Lee, deputy presidents Haji Amde Sidik and Datuk Liew Teck Chan, Information Chief Chong Pit Fah and myself.

"Ansari said Pakatan Rakyat decided to maintain the "status quo" at Batu Sapi for PKR, but the fact is that there was no PKR candidate at Batu Sapi in the 2008 elections because the PKR candidate at Batu Sapi disappeared before nomination day and the Gum Gum PKR candidate withdrew during the cooling off period. Surely, Ansari knows why.

"As for the June 2009 meeting between the then Sabah PKR chairman Azmin Ali and Datuk Yong in the presence of Datuk Eric Majimbun (SAPP) and Ansari (PKR), it is well known that before and after the meeting, both leaders had issued press statements confirming the "one-to-one" formula fight against BN in the coming general elections. But after that meeting, Azmin was replaced as the Sabah PKR Chairman and Ansari was demoted. So, it a fact that in 2009, SAPP had already started talks with top PKR leaders on a common formula to fight the BN. We should learn from the experiences and plan our fight against BN accordingly.

Shadow cabinet: Who is power hungry?

PKR vs DAP: More than just a spat, a crossroad for Pakatan and New Politics


It is really sad that DAP still has not shirked its chauvinistic mentality after all this years. Ignoring calls to open up the party to embrace multi racialism, today DAP is still a closed party helmed by a select few who continue to hang on to age-old politics.

KUCHING - The DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat are at loggerheads over the shadow cabinet line-up announced on Sunday. Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng in his blog yesterday accused "someone" in the PKR Political Bureau of being "power hungry"' for objecting to being given "junior" portfolios. The DAP-PKR tussle over posts in the Sarawak shadow Cabinet escalated into a full-fledged war today  - Malaysian Insider


If one reads the above with care, what does it all say?

It is really sad that DAP still has not shirked its chauvinistic mentality after all this years. Ignoring calls to open up the party to embrace multi racialism, today DAP is still a closed party helmed by a select few who continue to hang on to age-old politics.

Apparently still gloating on their Sarawak win, they have become vain and insensitive to their coalition partners in PKR Sarawak. Preferring to admonish their partners in public, without regard for sensitivities and close cooperation, will only lead to more misunderstanding. At the rate DAP is conducting themselves in the Pakatan Rakyat, it won’t be long before this attitude will cause the disintegration of the Opposition Coalition.

Manipulative politics not part of New Politics

It is really senseless how internal squabbles can come out so openly in the mainstream media. One really wonders if third-parties have been prodding such a blow-up. Surely, DAP has enough sense to sit down and work it out with their coalition partners? Already PAS is wondering what the hell is going on. The MSM had a field day reporting this exclusive and splashed it all over national television. BN leaders are also laughing their heads off.

DAP really needs to shake off such a mentality if it intends to stay in the coalition. The SNAP-DAP merger fiasco is hardly over, and yet DAP Sarawak has already started another one. Such bullying tactics in the past led a meek PKR into conceding most of the choice urban seats to DAP. Insisting on safe seat allocations in the urban areas at the expense of PKR, DAP went on to garner a historic win. Offering little help to PKR during the Sarawak election, who were seriously shorthanded while contesting on all fronts, had also impaired PKR’s chances to win more seats than anticipated.

Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has in the past given in to DAP’s demands as an equal coalition partner, but DAP still continues to take advantage of his friendly gesture. It is Wrong to think you are smart and he is naive. This is not what new politics is about. This is even worse than old politics. How is it different from manipluating and bullying? Shame on you, Wong Ho Leng and DAP.

Just as we call on Malaysians to reject the corrupt and despicablle Umno elite and BN, we must call on Malaysians to reject this sort of 'cheating' politics - of getting unfair advantage by taking undue advantange, and later on having the cheek to laugh at your opponent for being naive and falling to your 'skilled' hand. Do we admire this type of he-man, cave-man tactics? Which leads to the question of what type of culture do we want for ourselves and our children?

Do we want to be smart, sharp, alert, capable, caring and protecting of those who are less gifted? Or do we simply want to be cunning, calculative and win at all costs? Malaysians, think carefully. Don't blindly support for the sake of supporting. All leaders, regardless of party Or coalition, must Deserve our respect especially as far as such basics are concerned.

Bumi and Dayak interest

Making a mockery of Baru Bian’s suggestion to include a more equal Bumi and Dayak participation in the Shadow Cabinet, DAP's Wong Ho Leng had also gone on to belittle his counterpart in PKR. He rubbed salt into Baru by describing the portfolio alloted to him as 'junior'. Is this sheer spite or gross insensitivity? Whichever disgusting reason, Wong Ho Leng should go back to school and learn some manners before he walks out the door as a Member of our Malaysian Parliament!

The question is, why is Wong making it so personal? Is he trying to chop down Baru Bian's persona and credibility so that he can be the indisputable 'Chief Minister' of Sarawak. So much ambition with just 12 seats!  It is incredible and if this is a reflection of how other DAP leaders are, especially at national level, then PKR and PAS must wake up instantly and dump DAP. They may look foolish for a while, but better they realize that they have been nurturing a viper in their bosom before they become like MCA - raped, abused and ditched by an uncaring spouse!

Wong has sunk to a personal low by questioning the Sarawak PKR chief’s powers. Why can’t he try to listen to Baru Bian's views instead of railroading the Shadow Cabinet proposal through at press conference and later on with juicy statement aimed at tarnishing his own coalition mate? If I were PKR and PAS, I would demand disciplinary action against him. Is there any difference between him and Zulkifli Noordin or Zahrain Hashim. Even Wee Choo Keong has a bit more class, and that to me, is really digging the bottom of the barrel.

Wong cannot hide the fact that Bumi and Malay interest were sidelined in DAP's Shadow Cabinet proposal. Yes, DAP federal level - please do take note of this. It is DAP's proposed Shadow Cabinet lineup and not Wong's. This is how the people in Sarawak will judge the lineup - a DAP proposal. And the people of Sarawak are more than just Chinese. Nearly 70 per cent of Sarawakians are non-Chinese, in fact.

Winnability and Winning the Only Thing

I fail to understand why Guan Eng and Kit Siang continue to close an eye and let Sarawak run wild when they should withdraw their franchise if Wong and co. really have full automation. Why let a loose cannon tar the good name of the DAP?

If winnability and the number of seats are all that matters, then every single Single one of the Sarawakian people should vote BN and dump Pakatan. If it is all a numbers game and winning is all that counts, let's stick with the BN. Why take a chance this motley group of Churchmouses calling themselves DAP, PKR and PAS!

Many Malaysians often say silly things like, Winning is not the Only thing, it is Everything! Then let's keep Taib Mahmud. Who can beat him at the numbers and winnability game? At 75, he cleans up 35 seats each time for the PBB for the past 30 years. Enough humbers for you? Seeing stars yet?

Wong can stubbornly cling onto his face, but as far as national and state politics are concerned, he is nearly finished! So instead of swaggering and thinking of how to teach these orang peninsula a lesson, he should realize he is already yesterday's news in Sarawak itself. How many Iban, Dayak, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Malay and Melanau in Sarawak would wish to go near him after his Crass reaction on the Shadow Cabinet lineup that marginalizes their representation?

The arrogant should always repent. Humility is the core essence of humanity. Those who are guilty may have used their cunning to take advantage and bully their colleagues. And Malaysians, DAP and Pakatan supporters may have been blinded because of the recent election success. They forgot the very promises that Pakatan made - Reform, New Politics, Civil Culture.

So do not try to grandstand in public or deflect attention from this fact. Never ever try to deal like this again. Stop the hot gas, start working by repairing ties with humility. Maybe that way, you can gain the forgiveness of your colleagues and the Sarawak people. It is actually a very Serious crime what DAP has done. It is little different from what Pakatan keeps accusing Umno of doing - bamboozling people and being hypocritical. No amount of water can wash you guys clean.

Summary and implications for DAP, PAS and PKR

A stern-faced Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had dismissed the shadow Cabinet line-up as a mere proposal from DAP, claiming the final list had yet to be determined by other PR parties. He has also just called on the Pakatan to close ranks.

Really, it is simply incredible that the setup of a Shadow cabinet at the state level can erupt into a full scale mudslinging contest. Seriously, DAP should investigate if there 'external' forces that encouraged Wong Ho Leng into his horrible actions.

It is also unacceptable of Wong Ho Leng to go public with his grievances. In the aftermath of the Kedah DAP fiasco in 2009, wasn't the Pakatan secretariat set up for a purpose? Doesn't the DAP, or for that matter PKR and PAS, respect their own secretariat. If not, then this is another lie the DAP and Pakatan has told the nation. Please don't rush to make a public announcement. Clarify among yourselves first, then only only tell. And make sure, you tell the truth now.

Sarawak DAP must come to terms that PKR and PAS are part and parcel of the Opposition Coalition. Due respect and a smooth cooperation should be the order of the day amongst coalition partners. DAP cannot continue to make their own calls, without due consultation with the Coalition Partners.

Finally, this fiasco is a stab in the back for Sarawak PKR and its chief Baru Bian. It is very unethical and totally uncalled for and Baru should be extended an apology for such a low blow. Truly, memories of PKR's Zulkifli Noordin and PAS' Khalid Samad come back to me.

If DAP at federal level cannot get its Sarawak leaders to resolve this matter amicably, we are pretty sure that this coalition will not last.

PAS would be better off in the arms of  UMNO, before this coalition collapses and it loses more Malay votes. Being an Islamic party in a Muslim-predominant country, it will always have its own core and can only be rocked by external turbulence for a limited period of time.

PKR has always lived on principles and ideals - it takes only 24 hours to collapse this party because it is just a baby party. But being a baby party - it takes just 24 hours for it to grow back again. But as long it always stays true to its ideals, it will bounce back bigger and stronger. The day it stops doing that will truly be "the day the music died".

And DAP - the lone-ranger Chinese party. Unable to get along with anyone after all these years. Because it is too boastful and too bullying. It will have to continue to compete with the MCA and another pseudo-multiracial party, Gerakan.

Is that what you guys want people to think. Then the whole bunch of you - DAP, PAS and PKR - had better get your act together because I for one am starting to think of voting for Umno!

- Malaysia Chronicle

PKR is selfish

PKR criticized for being selfish

KOTA KINABALU: A veteran political activist has taken Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to task for keep on harping on her party's stand that there should be only a one-to-one fight with the ruling Barisan Nasional in Sabah in the coming general election.

Fredoline Edwin Lojinki, who served in the now-defunct UNKO in the 1960s, said that PKR was too preoccupied with this one-to-one fight for its own selfishness of only wanting to enhance its chance to be in Putrajaya, and for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be the Prime Minister.


"They do not know that by insisting on this formulae, they are usurping the rights of political parties and individuals in Sabah and Sarawak to contest in an election which should be respected by PKR and all," he said in a statement Yesterday.

Fredolone added the call for one-to-one fight with BN of course would enhance the possibility of BN losing since it has been in power for a very long 50 year time and given its current deteriorating clout among voters.

But PKR should also learn to approach this issue by way of respecting the views of sabah and Sarawak and the two states' inherent special autonomy rights within Malaysia.

PKR has tested it in Sarawak where they failed miserably by winning only in three seats out of as much as 50 they contested in the recently-concluded state election. Even the trio won because of their own personal strength rather than PKR clout, if any, in the state.

Actually, he said. PKR can help achieve the one-to-one fight with BN by containing itself to the 11 states in the Peninsular, and help the state based parties in East Malaysia as their allies.

"Aren't 11 states enough for PKR and Wan Azizah and Anwar. Your arrogant approach by merely 'offering' only three out of 71 seats to SNAP in the sarawak recently speaks volume of your similarity with the people's so-called common enemy, the arrogant Umno.

"If PKR is sincere, PKR and its allies DAP and PAS should stay away from Sabah and Sarawak and let our people have the peace of mind to elect from among our state-based parties who should represent us in Parliament and State Assembly.

"We can always be your partner at the Federal level. Why must a Peninsular party be always wanting to be controlling East Malaysia? This isn't the prayer of our forefathers when they agreed to form Malaysia with Malaya and Singapore back in 1963.

"In Sabah, we already see PKR-DAP-PAS' ill intention to field candidates in all the 60 state constituencies and all 25 parliamentary seats. Most likely PKR will 'offer' SAPP one or  two seats as enticement to partner with them," he said.

Fredoline added it is like SAPP going for all seats in Peninsular states and trying to offer PKR to contest in only two to three places.

"Is this acceptable to PKR? I think they would brush this aside as nonsense and illogical. But what about you doing this to Sabah and Sarawak parties and leaders.

"If you can hegemonise us now while you are still not a Federal Government, what more if you already occupy Putrajaya? You cannot be more arrogant than Umno, can you Wan Azizah?

"But having said that, since it is now a two party system, a sitting government will surely lose power if they don't listen to the people and offer them what they wanted.”

Source: The Borneo Post

Shadow cabinet: PKR power hungry, says DAP

Sarawak DAP has called PKR "power hungry" for its objections to the shadow cabinet mooted during the May 1 state Pakatan Rakyat leadership council meeting.

"(The national) PKR political bureau (on May 4 had) raised objections to the shadow cabinet line-up on the grounds that the portfolios given to them were 'junior'.

"There is no basis for this objection," Sarawak DAP chairperson Wong Ho Leng (left) said. "Since it is a shadow cabinet, no portfolio is senior or junior, more important or less important.

"It only shows that someone in the PKR political bureau is power hungry without (understanding) the true function of a shadow cabinet...," Wong said in a statement today.

In view of this, he said, Sarawak PKR should have some form of autonomy from the central leadership.

The PKR political bureau, Wong said, had made its decision without knowing the "full facts" of what transpired during the May 1 meeting in Kuching.

There was 'full consultation'

Rebutting Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian's statement yesterday that there was "no proper discussion or prior consultation" before the line-up was announced to the press after the May 1 meeting, Wong said Baru had clearly delegated three representatives to the meeting.

"In his SMS to me, Baru said he had forgotten about the... meeting. Hence, he sent a PKR national vice-president, state PKR committee member Ibi Uding and (Baru's aide) Vernon Kedit to attend.

"The PKR representatives discussed the shadow cabinet line-up and made amendments (to the list) before it was announced in a joint (press) conference," Wong said.

SARAWAK SHADOW CABINET
Natural Resources and Good Governance – Wong Ho Leng;
Land Development and NCR Affairs – Baru Bian;
Finance – Chong Chieng Jen;
Local Government – Ling Sie Kiong;
Tourism, Heritage and Environment – See Chee How;
Rural Development – Chiew Chiu Sing;
Industrial Development – Yap Hoi Liong;
Public Health – Dr Wong Hua Seh;
Social Development and Woman Affairs – Violet Yong Wui Wui;
Public Utilities – Wong King Wei;
Infrastructure Development and Communications – Chiew Wang See;
Agriculture – Ting Tze Fui

On the DAP side, it was attended by Wong and state party secretary Chong Chieng Jen. State PAS chief Adam Ahid and his deputy were scheduled to attend, but send their apologies for not being able to be present.

Wong explained that the DAP duo and the three PKR representatives discussed the shadow cabinet line-up for an hour.

"(During) the course of the discussions, Vernon called Baru Bian and (state PKR publicity chief) See Chee How. He could not have called to tell them about the weather or stock market.

"We exchanged views on the line-up. We made two amendments to the portfolios. There was full consultation," said Wong.

Were the three reps mere window dressing?

He also said Baru now owed the DAP an explanation on his claim that he had sent three representatives with "no decision making powers" to the meeting.

The three PKR representatives sat through the meeting and the (subsequent) press conference. They never said they had no decision-making power.

"They did not object when I read out to the dozen reporters the line-up of the shadow cabinet one by one," he said, adding that Baru could have made his position known earlier.

Wong said that it was disrespectful of Baru to delegate the trio to the meeting and not give them any decision making power., and asked if the three were mere "decoration".

"If Baru Bian had been more forthcoming by telling us before the meeting that the three representatives had no decision-making power, then I would have no qualms to call off or postpone the meeting," he said.

Even though Baru himself was being kept abreast about the proceedings of the meeting by telephone, he did not raise any objection despite having the opportunity to do so.

New requirement for future meetings

In his parting shot, Wong said the entire episode over the shadow cabinet showed that Sarawak PKR had no authority to make decisions at state Pakatan leadership meetings.

"That was the complaint raised by SNAP, which failed to reach agreement with PKR on seats (the parties will contest) in the recently concluded state election.

"In order to avoid all unnecessary misunderstanding and excuses in the future, DAP will from now on insist that Sarawak PKR leadership show in black-and-white from their national headquarters that they have power to enter into discussions and above all, that they have decision-making powers," he said.

Chua Chui Meng made RM11 million from cigarette advertising!

Chua Jui Meng was Malaysia’s Minister of Health for nine years from May 1995 to March 2004. In 1995, Malaysia officially banned cigarette advertising. However, the law was not enforced until 2003. That ‘grace period’ cost the cigarette companies RM11 million, which was collected on behalf of the MCA but went straight into Chua Jui Meng’s pocket. MCA received nothing, poor thing.

By Raja Petra Kamarudin

In Malaysia, the displaying of cigarette packets in advertisements with a general warning on long-time smoking that was enforced since June 1976 has been banned since 1995.

However, this has not stopped tobacco companies from advertising their products. There are also restrictions on tobacco advertising after the ban of displaying of cigarette packaging, print media advertising is restricted to only one page and advertising on television should not be more than 15 seconds. They have found ways to continue to build their brands by using brand names for a bistro and cybercafes such as Benson & Hedges Bistro and Sampoerna A International Cyberworld, for stationery, accessories, clothing like Dunhill, Marlboro Classics, Davidoff, Perilly's, Pall Mall, John Player Specials, Winfield and Winston. Holiday tours like Mild Seven Seafarers Club, Peter Stuyvesant Travel and Tours, Kent Holidays and Salem Holidays and even in the sponsorship of concerts and entertainment events.

All of these are indirect advertising strategies employed by tobacco companies. Tobacco advertising is continued without displaying cigarette packaging until January 2003, when the Malaysian federal government has even banned such indirect advertising of tobacco brands, except in certain establishments licensed to sell tobacco products. Formula One Grand Prix and other sporting events are still allowed to use tobacco sponsorship.

80% in PolI says PKR an Umno Clone

Everyone of us, supporters or members of Pakatan Rakyat are looking forward and fighting very hard to see a change in Federal government comes this 13th general election.

As the days go by, the road to PutraJaya seems to be getting further and further away. What has happen? Everything seems to be breaking apart other then once in a while screaming from leaders that the coalition is still strong, working together and they are going to capture PutraJaya.

How is that to be when PKR leaders cannot provide truthful answers to all their follies. MPs and Aduns jumped ship, party members leaving, existing members not happy with what is going on and supporters dwindling.

There is no room for decent or vocal, all must abide according to what the leader said or instructed. Sound familiar and akin to Umno?

Within the three parties in the coalition, PKR wants to be the master and only what its leader says or instructs are valid. DAP suggest a merger with SNAP and without giving it a second thought was immediately rejected by PKR, the master. My tweet to PKR Anwar Ibrahim, "Explain why DAP can work with PAS despite history of differences, why PR cannot work with SNAP" and of course receive no reply.

The Sarawak shadow cabinet list can have so many controversies, mind you, its just a shadow cabinet and PKR wants to be in control.

Malaysia for all

PKR shoots down S'wak shadow cabinet line-up

Ang Ngan Toh

Another row is brewing among Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat coalition partners, this time over the composition of the shadow cabinet announced on May 1.

At a press conference in Kuching today, state PKR chief Baru Bian claimed that the line-up was unilaterally announced by Sarawak DAP chairperson Wong Ho Leng and that there was no prior consultation.

“We have decided not to accept it,” he said, adding that the line-up did not reflect enough Muslim and non-Muslim bumiputera representation.

“Therefore, it would be expedient to redress this imbalance and to review the matter at the next state Pakatan council meeting,” he said.

Baru's statement comes just a day after Wong had clarified that he had line-up announcement to the press with three PKR representatives present, after consulting them.

Wong had made the clarification yesterday after PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday that the line-up was not final.

Ho Leng insists PKR agreed to Sarawak shadow Cabinet

Wong said PKR may have neglected
to keep Anwar apprised of the
developments in Sarawak

Sarawak DAP has rebutted Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claim that the state’s shadow Cabinet was yet to be finalised.

State DAP chief Wong Ho Leng said today that Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had agreed to the line-up and Anwar’s statement was due to PKR’s failure to inform its de facto leader.

“The consensus was clearly reached since there was no objection,” said the Bukit Assek assemblyman in a press statement today.


“When Anwar said that the Sarawak shadow Cabinet line-up had not been finalised, it was apparent to me that he had not received full and proper communication or feedback from his party representatives. Such lack of communication is unfortunate,” Wong added.

Anwar said yesterday that the Sarawak shadow Cabinet had not been finalised and the current line-up was merely a DAP proposal.

“The line up is not final... we are discussing that... it is a proposal by DAP and we will have to consult PAS and PKR Sarawak,” the parliamentary opposition leader told reporters.

But Wong said today the line-up was discussed and approved by the PR Sarawak Council meeting in Kuching on Sunday.

He said that even though state PKR chief Baru Bian was in Sabah, the party had three representatives including Datuk John Tenewi Nuek, the vice president in charge of Sabah and Sarawak.

Wong said the interest of Sarawakians was “paramount and must be safeguarded” and “since it is merely a shadow Cabinet, no portfolio is ranked more important or senior to another.”

He stressed that the line-up was “not a reflection of the portfolios the elected [state assemblymen] will hold should Pakatan Rakyat form the state government one day.”

“The fact that there are more DAP members in the shadow Cabinet is merely because DAP has 12 elected representatives compared to PKR’s three and all elected representatives are in the shadow Cabinet,” added.

Wong said that the primary aim of the shadow Cabinet was to ensure alternative views and provide constructive debate in the assembly.

Baru, who is Ba’kelalan assemblyman, also said yesterday that Wong will be state opposition leader as DAP was the largest opposition party in the state assembly.

Wong also explained that although state PAS chief Adam Ahid was not an assemblyman, he was given the Islamic affairs portfolio as none of PR’s elected representatives were qualified.

PKR and DAP have also clashed over the latter’s proposed merger with the Sarawak National Party (SNAP).

PKR is wary of pursuing further co-operation with SNAP after talks over seat allocation for the April 16 state election broke down at the 11th hour, resulting in the two parties contesting each other in 25 constituencies.

Negotiations between Sarawak DAP and PKR had also broken down before the national leadership of both parties intervened, leaving DAP with 15 instead of the 20 it had initially targeted.

The April 16 vote saw DAP doubling its assemblymen to 12 while PKR won in three seats as Barisan Nasional (BN) swept over three-quarters of the 71-seat assembly.

Shanon Teoh