Johan Jaafar pengerusi baru Media Prima

Johan Jaafar pengerusi baru Media Prima
Apr 28, 09 5:31pm
Pengerusi Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Datuk Johan Jaafar dilantik sebagai pengerusi eksekutif baru Kumpulan Media Prima berkuatkuasa Khamis ini.

Pengumuman pelantikan beliau dibuat dalam kenyataan Media Prima kepada Bursa Malaysia hari ini.

Johan akan menggantikan Datuk Abdul Mutalib Razak yang bersara hari ini.

Media Prima memiliki New Straits Times Press Berhad (NSTP) yang menerbitkan akhbar New Straits Times, Berita Harian dan Harian Metro.

Ia juga memiliki semua stesen TV swasta di Malaysia - TV3, 8TV, TV9 dan NTV7 - serta dua stesen radio - Hot FM dan Fly FM.

Kumpulan itu juga memilik syarikat iklan Big Tree dan UPD.

Johan juga merupakan bekas ketua pengarang kumpulan Utusan Melayu. Beliau aktif menulis sebagai kolumnis dalam akhbar News Straits Times dan juga Berita Minggu.

Jawatan beliau lain termasuklah, anggota lembaga pengarah Majlis Pembangunan Multimedia, dan lembaga pengarah Bernama.

Johan mendapat perhatian umum ekoran kepetahannya mempengerusikan program mingguan di RTM - Debat Perdana - yang turut memberi peluang kepada pemimpin pembangkang turut muncul di kaca TV.

Beliau juga pernah dipilih untuk mempengerusikan debat antara Ketua Umum PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dengan Menteri Penerangan ketika itu, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek mengenai isu harga minyak.

Johan juga mempengerusikan debat antara Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng dengan Presiden Gerakan, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon berhubung skandal tanah di negeri tersebut sewaktu pentadbiran BN.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/103270

Why was PKR defdeated in Batang Ai?

An alaysis by The Brokenshield

It is obvious that the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is still riding on the wave of political tsunami in Kedah by winning the Bukit Selambau by-election with a bigger majority last Tuesday, but it failed to cause a wave in the Batang Ai by-election.

Its candidate the former five-term Lubok Antu MP Jawah Gerang was soundly defeated. He secured 2,053 votes as against the BN candidate, Malcolm Mussen Lamoh of 3,907 votes.

Several factors have been attributed to the failure of Keadilan to take advantage of the seemingly dissatisfied 8,129 voters who have been shabbily treated by the BN State government – the broken promises, the unpaid claims, lack of land for farming and lack of infrastructural facilities.
Dayaks not ready to abandon BN

Theories are many attributing to the failure. But obviously, one of the main factors is that Dayaks are not ready to abandon the State Barisan Nasional, even although many of its policies are against their interests.

Truthfully, many have indeed benefited from the BN polices. For example in this by-election, there are a number of instant “noodle” projects, the promises to look into their problems, to tar-seal their roads and to provide various health and recreational amenities as well as the financial assistance. Being simple-minded and trusting the BN to fulfill its promises, they therefore voted for the BN candidate.

BN polices are perceived as “fair”.

These voters have also been told that the BN and chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s polices are "fair" in that some Dayaks and Dayak leaders have benefited from such policies; Dayak leaders in PBB like Alfred Jabu Numpang whose wealth is perhaps at par with Leonard Linggi Jugah, the richest Dayak in Sarawak will surely cling like leeches on to Taib Mahmud.

And even in Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) itself there are leaders who have timber concessions, large tracts of land for oil palm plantation, school and government contracts. Naturally, these Dayak leaders are at the forefront of the campaigns trying to convince their fellow Dayaks to support Taib’s policies even for small minor rural development projects.

As the Dayak Iban community in Batang Ai is one of the poorest in Malaysia, these projects and promises are therefore very tempting; and hence how could they refuse such offer and abandon Barisan Nasional and Abdul Taib Mahmud?

But the Barisan Nasional must also remember that this was a by-election during which they promised heaven on earth. However, both the voters and PKR are watching whether the promises made will be fulfilled by the time the next state election comes in two year’s time or even sooner than expected.

PKR is considered an “outsider” party.

Another reason for PKR’s failure to gain foothold in Sarawak’s rural areas is that the Dayaks especially the Ibans have been told to be wary of peninsular-based political parties. PKR is an “outsider” party, the party that does not respect the Iban customs.

This issue has been highlighted in the recent by-election and so repeatedly reminded that the Ibans are skeptical with parties like Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and even UMNO spreading its wings into Sarawak.

The State BN knows that the Ibans have always been suspicious of peninsular people and telling them what happens in Sabah makes them more frightened.

Sabah is now under the control of UMNO and everything that needs to be done must receive approval from UMNO headquarters. PKR under Anwar Ibrahim will be no different. The “yes Anwar no Taib” slogan was not effective enough to sway voters in the Batang Ai by-election.

The point was clearly emphasized by president of PRS and director of operations for the Batang Ai by-election James Masing who said the defeat of peninsular-based party, PKR in the by-election “is proof that it has no place in Sarawak”.

“This goes to show that Sarawakians want Sarawakians to be in control in Sarawak, not those outsiders. It showed we do not want PKR to come in.

”Again being multi-racial and “outsider-based” party, PKR has no answer to argue over the current political set-up of the State Barisan Nasional where all communities are represented by their respective communal parties that is considered by the State political leadership as the best assurance towards political stability and economic progress.

Racial-based party is still preferred.

Thus they see in multi-racial parties like PKR and Sarawak National Party (SNAP) as not suitable as of now as the people are still conscious of racial-based parties. SNAP was once a very powerful Dayak-based party, and when it became multi-racial, it slowly lost its power and influence among the Dayaks.

The Dayaks’ frustrations in SNAP gave birth to a racially-based party, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in July 1983. This belief still holds true till this day. Look at PBB which is representing the Malay/Melanau communities, SUPP the Chinese community and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) representing the rural communities. PRS was almost caught in trouble with some non-Dayak elements in the party. It is now slowly becoming a Dayak-based party.

PKR Sarawak- Bickering over the choice of candidate.

The other contributing factor that needs mention is the continued internal bickering in PKR over the selection of the candidate for the by-election and carried over into the nine-day campaign period. Two groups with one supporting Jawah Gerang and the other Nicholas Bawin almost came to blows on the eve of nomination day.

This heated argument in front of the unfriendly media became the main stories of the local papers and were being exploited by the BN to its advantage.

It was said that when Anwar came to Sarawak one week before nomination, he was supposed to announce that Bawin would be the candidate, because Bawin who had been a member of PKR had already prepared for the by-election since May 22, 2008 the day that the late Dublin Unting, the incumbent state assemblyman went into coma.

But the group supporting Jawah who recently joined PKR confronted Anwar and even threatened to resign from PKR if he did not accede to their demand. Anwar was more or less held to ransom had he not given in to their demand.

Meanwhile, Bawin’s supporters became angry and refused to campaign for Jawah.

Even there were rumours to suggest that Bawin himself and his supporters campaigned for the Barisan candidate.The unabated bickering had made the PKR preparations go haywire. Although Bawin was the director of operations, he was no where to be seen in the PKR operations.

He was believed to have campaigned in Engkari and Lemanak. Thus, a coordinator of the election in the person of YB Dominique Ng was appointed.

Ng played down the open bickering amongst the party leaders and members and said: “The wrong choice of candidate was not an issue in the PKR camp because even if we fielded Bawin, the party would be defeated just as badly.”

PKR’s election workers were not paid.

Grouses and grumblings among the PKR election workers were also heard that they had not been paid for their services and that no food was prepared for them. This is bad for PKR’s psychological warfare against the enemy.

Political observers see that voluntary services by the members for the party’s campaigns may be a good strategy in the peninsula, but in rural Sarawak it cannot be done this way due to many factors one of which is that the campaigners come from poor families.

There is also a need to buy petrol for their cars or outboard engines as they have to travel through difficult terrain, and poor road conditions or fast running water or rapids to reach vast and sparsely populated constituencies.

Few elected representatives and campaigners from Penang and Selangor who campaigned for the PKR candidate had visited the various longhouses and had some unpleasant experiences – the hazardous journey passing through difficult terrain, sleeping in the longhouses with little food and drinks.

But such experiences will help them to understand Sarawak better."No money, no talk" The other factor pointing to the failure of PKR was money. In Sarawak, money is still the most important tool of the election. Without it, you cannot win any election in Sarawak.

You need it to charter boats and vans and pay workers for their food. You need to buy petrol, and even to buy votes. The Barisan Nasional is doing such a thing, sometimes very openly. And nobody can touch them.

In Sarawak, Taib said: “I am the government.”

For any Sate election, PKR must realize that it is fighting not the politicians or political parties of the Barisan Nasional alone, but the entire government machinery – the State civil service, KEMAS (community development department), MIS (Malaysian Information Service), RTM, the council staff, teachers and community leaders.

The might of BN machinery.

Logistically, the Barisan Nasional has superior assorts of political weapons such as the use of helicopters to fly ministers to campaign in any remote area unreachable by any other means. Several helicopters were used in this by-election.

For the Barisan, money was not a problem. In this by-election alone, it spent several millions of ringgit on travelling, lodging and accommodation expenses, not to mention the instant “noodle” projects that they promised the voters and money allegedly used to buy votes of between RM500 and RM1,000 per vote.

Compared with PKR, how could it match the machinery and the organizational skills of the Barisan Nasional? Just impossible, but then the local PKR, unlike the recent by-election, must organise itself with the limited funds available.

PKR must get organised NOW!

Thus, if PKR is seriously thinking of the next state election, it must begin its planning now, start to identify potential candidates and should look for funds. To unseat this state government, at least a sum of RM500,000 for each of 71 State constituencies is required, otherwise PKR should forget about contesting in Sarawak, let alone trying to change the State government.

Rhetoric alone cannot help. Money is the name of the game.Batang Ai – a litmus test for PKRAs mentioned previously, the Batang Ai is a major test for PKR in the Iban-dominated constituency. Winning here would mean the people and PKR are ready to change the government and losing would spell disaster.

Although Ng said that the loss will not dampen the PKR fighting spirit, there are others who feel that the defeat here will have some impact on the next election.Ng said: “We have in fact learnt one or two things from the campaign and this experience will be useful for future elections.” Certainly PKR has a lot to learn.

http://akimomogun.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-was-pkr-defdeated-in-batang-ai.html

“1Malaysia” - Malaysia Under 1…….

“1Malaysia” - Malaysia Under 1…….
Posted by barbie on April 17, 2009
Rais Yatim, the expert somersaulter is making the headlines again. We can never get enough stale, puke inducing statements from Umno ministers, even from the so called the ‘educated’ bunch. This bugger has a Phd I tell you, and his doctorate paper was titled - “Freedom under Executive Power in Malaysia: A Study of Executive Supremacy” which he dedicated to “all who have suffered from the tyranny of executive excesses.”
It mind boggling (actually, not really.. lah! just being polite here) that a person with such background and credentials would turn into a poppycock offering ridiculous opinions like “losing Pedre Brance aka Pulau Batu Putih to Singapore is a win-win situation”. Well, we can’t expect much from an intellectual whore, right? Oopss.. by calling Rais an intellectual whore, am I breaking any law here? *chuckles*
(Bernama) - The government is not looking to find fault with bloggers and other internet users but would like them to follow the law to ensure they did not misuse it.
Oh sure man! As long as we write like any of your MSM dogs, everything will be peachy. How about telling them to follow the law as well? Cannot lah double standards, and why singled out ‘bloggers and internet users?’
Minister of Information, Communication and Culture Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the ministry played an important role in establishing only the right kind of information reached the masses.
Rais Yatim….OOPS!!….I mean “Living Dinosaur”…..
“It is not that we are looking for faults all the time. But we would like the right of the people to be guarded by the relevant authorities and the law. “Our aim is to see the 1Malaysia concept succeed.
However, in order to succeed, the facts must not be twisted or misinterpreted by some until it raises racial sentiments.
Twisted or misinterpreted, u say??? How about misquoted? You think people are dumb like you? My foot twisted and misinterpreted. I bet people misintepreted you when you said “Bok House is not a heritage building“, when you actually wanted to say it is??? What?? Come on lah, we are not so smart like you to decipher what are you trying to say, stop confusing stupid people like us.
“If the right information does not reach the people how can there be success?
Hey Mr. Living-Dinosaur-Minister, please elaborate what is the RIGHT information?
What is NOT raising racial sentiments!!???
THIS???
Jangan membuat permintaan yang bukan-bukan - Utusan Malaysia
Pemimpin politik dan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Melayu kelmarin menyeru orang Melayu bangkit bersatu bagi menghadapi tuntutan kaum lain yang semakin keterlaluan.
Kita menyeru kepada bukan Melayu supaya jangan lagi membangkitkan dan mencabar ketuanan Melayu yang berkaitan dengan agama Islam sebagai agama rasmi, kedaulatan raja-raja Melayu dan hak istimewa orang Melayu.
Dalam menjaga keharmonian dan kesejahteraan hidup masyarakat majmuk, elok rasanya kita jangan mengungkit dan membuat permintaan yang bukan-bukan.
Terimalah apa yang telah diberikan.
Mengapa masa kini perpaduan kaum dilihat kian longgar.
Jika kita kembali merenung lima tahun lalu, suasana perpaduan kaum kita dicemburui oleh negara-negara lain.
Tetapi kenapa sejak pilihan raya umum 2008, suasana tiba-tiba berubah.
Dengan pelantikan Perdana Menteri baru yang membawa bersamanya gagasan Satu Malaysia, Rakyat Didahulukan, Prestasi Diutamakan, inilah masa untuk semua kaum bersatu membina negara kita mengharungi cabaran yang mendatang.
Alangkah baiknya jika kita ketepikan sengketa dan perbalahan atas nama politik.
Semua kaum harus sedar bahawa tunjang kestabilan negara ini ada di tangan orang Melayu.
Jika orang Melayu sendiri sudah berpecah kepada kumpulan-kumpulan yang memihak kepada parti politik tertentu dan yang tidak peduli apa pun yang berlaku, kestabilan negara boleh goyah.
Kesan perpecahan itu dapat kita lihat dan rasai sekarang.
Di samping itu, kaum bukan Melayu tidak sepatutnya mengambil kesempatan. Akibat perpaduan kaum tidak dijaga dan dipertahankan, ia turut menjejaskan kegiatan ekonomi dan hubungan masyarakat.
Para pemimpin yang mewakili masyarakat berbilang kaum patut menghentikan salah menyalah antara satu sama lain.
Sesungguhnya kedudukan orang Melayu dalam negara ini harus dihormati sebagaimana mereka banyak bertolak ansur dengan bukan Melayu.
Ambillah iktibar kekecohan politik negara Thai. Banyak kerugian ditanggung oleh kerajaan. Malah majoriti rakyatnya tidak menyokong tindakan yang merosakkan imej negara mereka.
Kita hanya ingin memperingatkan bahawa tindak-tanduk perpecahan di kalangan masyarakat majmuk sedang menjadi tontonan negara lain. Mereka sedang mengintai peluang untuk campur tangan jika kita terus lalai dan tidak bersatu.
Oleh itu, semua pemimpin politik dan masyarakat perlu membuat memikirkan masa depan anak cucu kita.
Bersatulah pertahankan perpaduan kaum yang telah kita bina lebih 52 tahun lalu. Jangan diulangi kesilapan lampau hingga kita dijajah lebih 400 tahun lamanya.
Segala kemajuan yang kita kecapi hari ini adalah atas dasar kerjasama dan perkongsian kuasa melalui kerajaan Barisan Nasional. Relakah kita melihat segala impian yang dibina hancur berkecai akibat perpecahan antara kaum.
Dalam konteks ini, tanamkan semula semangat perpaduan dengan didahulukan oleh parti-parti politik.
Translation? I am not going to waste my time translating this shit.
Basically, this hired mouthpiece of UMNO, party of our Prime Minister, who incidentally coined up the “1Malaysia” slogan, is telling us this :-
*Princes of Earth -ledge your souls to UMNO, to ensure peace and prosperity, ehem… of course prosperity is subjected to certain individuals only.
*Others - SHADDUP!! and obey. Wag your tail. Eat shit or whatever. Just RESPECT the princes becuse we’ve tolerated you for far too long.
*Progress and stability of the nation - exclusively for BN, one and only.
And because we’ve yet to hear even a whimper from our glorious PM and his bunch of yo-yos on this piece of crap, it’s a silent endorsement of sorts, on their intepretation of what Najib’s “1Malaysia” is all about, isn’t it?
Now aren’t we just about the luckiest bunch on this side of Mother Earth to have a great “People First” cabinet working for our well-being? Ah, we are so blessed! One thing I must give it up to BN, it is good at sloganeering. Damn freaking good! Not going to post it here, save you from puking. What? When Samyvellu came up with the ‘Rejuvenation’ campaign for MIC with him at the lead, you can tell these slogans are pretty much, rubbish!
So folks, STOP DREAMING AND GO BACK TO WORK!!! THE GAHMEN NEEDS OUR MONEY!!!!!

http://thedandelions.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/1malaysia-malaysia-under-1/

It’s called consensus, stupid!

It’s called consensus, stupid!

Posted by admin
Thursday, 16 April 2009 12:55
Apalah Melayu Umno ni bodoh sangat.
Tak paham lagi ke? Kayu sungguh!
Nobody is anybody’s puppet here.
Okay?
This is called democracy, something you will never understand in a million years.
And the democratic way is to rule by consensus, not by strong-arm and bully tactics a la Umno.

NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin

Read the piece below that was featured in the New Straits Times today. This Umno mouthpiece is tying to provoke DAP by insinuating that Lim Guan Eng is not really in charge of Penang but in fact Anwar Ibrahim is.
This is exactly what you would expect from the New Straits Times and its sister-newspaper, Utusan Malaysia. Their job it to drive a wedge between the three Pakatan Rakyat members plus split the Malays and non-Malays and bring them to the brink of another May 13.
These people should be hanged upside down from the tallest tree and their bodies allowed to rot in the sun. Just a few weeks ago they campaigned in Bukit Gantang saying that Nizar Jamaluddin is a boneka (puppet) of the DAP. Now, Lim Guan Eng is supposed to be a boneka of PKR. What next? Khalid Ibrahim is a boneka of PAS?
Umno and its lackeys must get one thing very clear. Pakatan Rakyat rules by consensus. For those who learned Bahasa Inggeris in Bahasa Malaysia, consensus means sebulat suara. Sebulat suara means one voice. One voice means all must agree before they do things.
This concept, of course, is very difficult for Umno to understand. Umno’s concept is as follows. We, Umno, the defenders of Ketuanan Melayu, decide and MCA, MIC, Gerakan, etc., nod their heads and agree or else they can go back to China or India or whatever. That is Barisan Nasional’s interpretation of consensus.
Pakatan Rakyat already announced this during the Kuala Terengganu by-election campaign. Pakatan Rakyat will not make any policy decisions (even those involving Hudud or the Islamic State) unless unanimously agreed by all the three partners. Not two out three. All three. That is the deal.Umno can’t seem to understand this. So they keep raising issues about Nizar being DAP’s boneka and Guan Eng being PKR’s boneka and so on. No one is anybody’s boneka! Get it? It is just that no one wants to act like Umno who decides on behalf of all the 14 members of Barisan Nasional what to do while telling all the rest to go to hell. That is not Pakatan Rakyat’s style. And this was announced during the Kuala Terengganu by-election.
Apalah Melayu Umno ni bodoh sangat. Tak paham lagi ke? Kayu sungguh! Nobody is anybody’s puppet here. Okay? This is called democracy, something you will never understand in a million years. And the democratic way is to rule by consensus, not by strong-arm and bully tactics a la Umno.

*************************************************

Is Guan Eng in charge of state or Anwar?
New Straits Times, 16 April 2009

Barisan Nasional component party leaders have lashed out at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for not keeping to his promise to announce the candidate for the deputy chief minister (DCM) I post yesterday.
They want to know who is in control of the state: whether Lim is still in power or de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.State Umno secretary and state opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said that Lim, as chief minister, had the prerogative to name his deputy.
"I do not understand why he must kowtow to Anwar? Why can't he decide on his own?
"The million dollar question which now begs for an answer is who is the real chief minister of Penang?" he told the New Straits Times.
Lim was reported to have said the DCM I post would remain vacant for the time being to give Anwar more time to resolve the party's internal issues.
State Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said the issue showed that the Pakatan state government was in a state of disarray.
"It looks like Lim is not in control of the state government any more. He has also reneged on the competency, accountability and transparency-style of administration which he continues to advocate.
"Dr Teng said the appointment was an important one to help Lim and others in the state executive council to address pressing issues at hand, such as the global economic crisis.
State MCA executive adviser Lau Chiek Tuan felt it was sufficient for Penang to have one deputy chief minister.
"If Lim insists in wanting another deputy, he should decide on the matter and not leave it to Anwar.
"The DCM I post was left vacant after Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin tendered his resignation on March 22.
The resignation took effect on April 8.
The two contenders for the post are Batu Maung state assemblyman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Sungai Bakap state assemblyman Maktar Shapee.

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/20689/84/

Surat parti duit

Federal Court: Independents can keep seats

Federal Court: Independents can keep seats
Tan Yi Liang

PUTRAJAYA (April 9. 2009) : The Federal Court held today that it is the Election Commission (EC) and not the State Assembly Speaker who has the power to declare the Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang seats in Perak vacant.

It declared that the assemblymen for the three seats -- Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering), Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) -- can keep their seats as independent members of the state assembly.

"The Election Commission is the rightful entity which establishes that there is a casual vacancy of the seats in the state assembly," said Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, who read out the unanimous decision of the five-man quorum which included Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Arifin Zakaria, Federal Court Judges Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Ab Rahman and Datuk Augustine Paul, as well as Court of Appeal Judge Datuk James Foong.

In submissions before the court today, counsel for the three, Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin had said that it was "clear" under Article 36(5) of the Perak State Constitution that it was the EC and not the Perak State Speaker V.Sivakumar who had the power to declare the three seats vacant.

"In determining or establishing a casual vacancy, the EC can go beyond merely accepting a letter from the Speaker. The word 'establishes' means that the EC has to prove the resignation beyond doubt, and that is where Article 36(5) of the Perak State Constitution comes in. The Speaker has no role in establishing a casual vacancy," said Firoz.

He then added that Article 35 of the Perak State Constitution, which gives the Speaker powers to declare seats vacant must be read in concert with Article 36(5)

"Article 35 states that the Speaker's role is to receive a letter (of resignation) written and handed to him, but it must be read with Article 36(5) where a casual vacancy must be filled once the EC establishes it. The Speaker merely receives the letter, that is all," said Firoz, who was accompanied by Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail, who called for a distinction between casual vacancies of seats and disqualification of assemblymen.

"I am differentiating between casual vacancies and disqualifications. Each state has their own requirements, and the requirements are made very, very clear," said Patail, who cited clauses from various state constitutions to point out the difference.

However, Sivakumar's counsel Tommy Thomas submitted that the court was not the forum to discuss the issue as Sivakumar's decision was part of his duties as Speaker of the Perak State Assembly and as such was not subject to court scrutiny.

"When the Speaker did what he did (to declare the seats vacant), it was part of the business of the house. They are matters for the State Assembly to decide and not the courts," said Thomas who added that Sivakumar's decision was not frivolous.

Thomas said that the role of the EC was merely "administrative" in nature.

"All the Election Comission does is an administration role, and that is to fix the date. Who tells the EC of a vacancy? The only source is the Speaker. The only person who can write to the EC is the Speaker," said Thomas, who was supported by co-counsel Sulaiman Abdullah.

"The house and the EC have separate functions, and the consequence (of the separate functions) is this. The house decides on vacancies and the composition, and the EC deals with the process of elections," he said.

"The EC is forced to make a decision when the house has informed them of a vacancy. They do not decide whether the letter (of resignation) is valid. That is the role of the Speaker. The EC has no business establishing the fact of a casual vacancy. The member (of the State Assembly) who is deemed to have resigned has only resigned from the moment the Speaker says so," added Sulaiman.

He pointed out that if the EC were meant to decide, "then surely there would be procedures to deal with that."

"The first step the EC must take is to be notified of the vacancy before fixing nomination and polling dates," said Sulaiman.

Meanwhile, Ranjit Singh, a member of Sivakumar's legal team said that today's decision was not the end of the road for Sivakumar.

"We have filed two suits seeking a writ of quo warranto from the three independents, saying that they are impostors to their posts, and we also seek relief against the EC seeking to quash the decisions not to hold the by-elections and we want an order compelling the EC to hold the by-elections. That matter is fixed in May for our judicial review application," said Ranjit Singh.
"One of the suits was brought by Sivakumar, while another was brought by a group of six people, three Pakatan assemblymen and three voters," he added, saying that both suits were virtually the same.

"They both take the position that the EC was wrong and that the three independents had in fact resigned, and by-elections should be held," said Ranjit who pointed out that the court allowed for challenges to be brought against the EC

"The court held that the EC and not the Speaker holds the power. But what the court did not say was that the EC's decision was correct. We can challenge the EC in the High Court. If we lose that, then all is gone. But if we win that, then they have to hold by-elections," said Ranjit.
"It does not mean that the decision of the EC cannot be challenged. Just because it is a decision of the EC, does it make that right. All government decisions can be challenged in court," he added.

Of 4% And 10%

Of 4% And 10%


Posted by admin
Friday, 10 April 2009 20:15

Bukit Gantang is basically a mixed constituency in which Chinese, Malay and Indian voters make up 27%, 63.5% and 9% of the electorate respectively, which is pretty close to the national racial structure. In view of this, the voting trends reflected in the Bukit Gantang by-election can definitely be used as a benchmark.

By LIM MUN FAH/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily

If the figures quoted from their analysis have been accurate, the 4% fall and 10% surge will invariably be taken very seriously by all the ruling and opposition parties in this country.

The figures are taken seriously for the simple reason that the Bukit Gantang by-election is no ordinary by-election.

Putting aside the effects of BN's takeover of Perak administration and the swearing-in of the new prime minister, the racial make-up in Bukit Gantang alone has protruded its highly representative significance.

Bukit Gantang is basically a mixed constituency in which Chinese, Malay and Indian voters make up 27%, 63.5% and 9% of the electorate respectively, which is pretty close to the national racial structure.

In view of this, the voting trends reflected in the Bukit Gantang by-election can definitely be used as a benchmark.

Pakatan Rakyat has retained Bukit Gantang, and in the midst of celebration, the opposition pact must not overlook the fact that it has lost 4% of Malay and Indian votes.

This 4% may look immaterial, but given the fact that Malay and Indian voters make up over 70% of the electorate, this 4% could therefore have very critical effects.

If this 4% could be extended across the entire nation, and going up, then the pendulum may swing to the other side in the next general elections, allowing BN, in particular UMNO, to become the eventual victor.

But on the other hand, the sharp increase of 10% Chinese votes could very likely mean a dead end for BN, in particular Chinese-based component parties within the ruling coalition.

Of course, the prerequisite will be for Pakatan to hold fast to its Malay and Indian support, and not to allow the ballots from these two major communities to continue flowing back to BN.

10% is a shocking number. If what happened in Bukit Gantang could be extend beyond the constituency, it is not hard to imagine that MCA and Gerakan Rakyat will suffer even more crushing defeats in the coming general elections than what they experienced in March 2008.

If--I say if--MCA, Gerakan and MIC all tumble in the coming elections, it will be hard for us to imagine how BN--the political alliance that has dominated the country's politics for half a century--will be headed to.

4%, may mean Pakatan could only stare at the federal administration and yet unable to touch it.
10%, could mean the total collapse of the BN government.As a matter of fact, the future political developments in this country are always that delicate and unfathomable!

Bernama's PM - “DATUK SERI NAIF TON RASA.”

GOVERNMENT MEDIA CONDEMNS NAJIB!
Filed under: ARTICLE (LATEST) 10/04/2009, jokes and quotes — sjsandteam @ 03:18 Tags: GOVERNMENT MEDIA CONDEMNS NAJIB!
PLEASE CLICK BELOW TO SEE FOR YOURSELF… THE BIGGEST NEWS AGENCY IN MALAYSIA NAMED BERNAMA MAKES FUN OF NAJIB. NAJIB’S NAME WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE “DATUK SERI NAJIB TUN RAZAK” IS PURPOSELY SPELT AS “DATUK SERI NAIF TON RASA.” PLEASE VIEW IT QUICKLY AS BERNAMA IS FAMOUS FOR BRINGING DOWN THEIR ARTICLES, OR CORRECTING IT IMMEDIATELY. IN ANY CASE WE HAVE SAVED IT FOR OUR FUTURE USE. YOU MAY THINK THIS IS A SPELLING ERROR, BUT HOW CAN IT BE MADE AT THREE DIFFERENT PARTS TO ONE NAME. BERNAMA HAS ACCEPTED A CHALLENGE BY NAJIB TO CRITICIZE HIM OPENLY! THIS IS BERNAMA’S FIRST CRITICISM OF NAJIB BY MAKING FUN OF HIM. PLEASE VIEW THE SECOND LAST LINE OF THE ARTICLE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT BERNAMA HAD ALREADY AMMENDED THE TEXT, JUST A SHORT WHILE AGO (AROUND 12.45 PM). THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO SEE A SCREENSHOT CAPTURED BY SUSAN LOONE, PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE USING THE URL HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD UNDER THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW. (COMMENT NUMBER 5). ALTERNATIVELY YOU MAY GO TO PEMUDASARAWAK’S COMMENT NUMBER 13. http://pemudasarawak.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/najib-jadi-naif-menurut-laporan-bernama/

http://sjsandteam.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/government-media-condemns-najib/

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From Chief Minister To Minister
-->
KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama)

-- Once the chief minister of Penang, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is now given the task of monitoring the performance of the Federal cabinet and government delivery system.

Dr Koh was appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister Department in-charge of Unity and Performance Management, making him an important minister to monitor the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the government.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when announcing his cabinet line-up Thursday, said he had introduced a comprehensive KPI system to gauge the performance and achievements of his cabinet members.

The prime minister said he would also be personally involved in assessing the performance of all the ministers every six months with the assistance of the minister in the Prime Minister's Department who is in charge of the unit to monitor the KPIs.

Its a tall order for Dr Koh, but also a privilege to be given such trust by the new Prime Minister to carry out such a task to ensure a public service delivery system that is value for money.

Speaking to reporters after being sworn in as a senator, Dr Koh who has more than a decade's experience of running one of the most developed states, said he would work hard to ensure the task would be carried out effectively.

"I feel humbled and honored to be given this trust by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Naif Ton Rasa to be in his team in promoting the One Malaysia concept to all.

"I appeal to my Cabinet colleagues, those in the administration and government agencies to help and guide me in achieving our common goals," he said.-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=403051

Reform, or face extinction

Reform, or face extinction

April 8, 2009

That is the only conclusion UMNO and BN can honestly take from the just concluded Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections.

And that people power has found a firm footing, has rooted well, and will not be easily blown away.

Read it any other way and UMNO and BN will pay dearly at the next GE, the Sarawak state elections and every other by-election that comes our way.

And by reform, I do not mean of the cosmetic kind.

Like giving us the MACC or the JAC!

Or freeing 13 ISA detainees just before polling day!

That’s an insult to the intelligence and common sense of the average Malaysian which, as may surprise many in UMNO and BN, ought not to be underestimated.
Can BN reform?

Yes, but not under its present leadership.

Najib and the current crop of UMNO leaders are too integral to the very problem that plagues BN.

As are the top leaders of all the component parties.

Samy, Tsu Khoon, the Ongs, Taib Mahmud.

They’re all the same.

Self-serving politicians, interested in holding on to power only to serve their own ends.

If ever BN had the interest of the people as their first and only port of call, that ceased a long time ago after Dr M took the helm.

The rot set in swiftly thereafter.

Dr M’s close brush with defeat in the 1986 UMNO elections brought out the worst in him, and it was that side of him that stayed with us for the rest of his tenure.

His ‘retain power at all costs’ philosophy cost us dearly.

Henceforth, to avoid another challenge to his authority, he promoted to high office those who were seen to be subservient and docile.

And more often than not, incompetent.

His own belated admission about his mistake in appointing Pak Lah as his successor bears testimony to this.

He crippled the judiciary, then appointed to high judicial office men and women who were pliant.
And in his time, he encouraged a culture that would create a pool of super-rich Malays, whose wealth was not generated from honest, hard work, but by the shuffling of papers and paper transactions.

The ‘get-rich-quick Malay’, the ‘I want money for nothing’ generation of Malays owes its birth and growth to Dr M.

Dr M allowed corruption to flourish.

Both in UMNO and the government.

This was his most powerful control tool.

This is Mahathirism.

And the current crop of UMNO and BN leaders have had Mahathirism for too long flowing through their veins to begin any process of internal reform necessary to render BN relevant to the needs and aspirations of the people.

Can BN reform?

Yes, but only if UMNO first reforms.

Can UMNO reform?

If UMNO and BN are to reform, the Najibs, the Samys, the Ongs and the Ksu Khoons must be driven from the seat of party power.

That reform can only happen if, from the rank and file of these parties emerge a new generation, untainted by the corruption of the echelon and mid-level leadership and who are in politics not to serve their own ends but the best interest of the rakyat, and have the gumption to challenge the status quo.

Sadly, there does not appear to be such quality within the rank and file of UMNO.

http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/

Fools on the Hills

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Fools on the Hills

At this stage of my life, I do not suffer fools gladly.

When the by-election results were announced late last night with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) winning 2 out of 3 seats, the first thing that struck me quite honestly was those 14 independent candidates on the two bukits, who all lost their deposits ... what were they thinking?

Or do I smell rats here.

I was also probably the only non pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) blogger at a lunch meeting yesterday, where the quiet consensus was that BN would win 3-0.

These poor misguided youngsters will have to eat humble pie now.

And Muhyiddin has the gall to say that 'the feel-good factor' from Najib coming to power on Friday is still 'too new and has not sunk in.

'What 'feel good factor'?

The only people who must have felt good about it are the UMNO/BN ship of fools, a delusional former apa nama prime minister, and of course those impoverished dayaks in Batang Ai, who obviously now truly deserve the government they have got.

The writing is already on the wall and the word is: CHANGE.

And change we must, lest we become a Nation of Fools too.

http://cyusof.blogspot.com/

The Tales of the 2 mountains

The Tales of the 2 mountains

This is a different article from my last post, which was hastily written, even though the title may sound similar.

The results of the April 7th by elections are not unexpected. While the status quo was expected to remain, what was surprising was the increased margins of the winning sides, especially in the battles of the 2 ‘Bukit’s .

BN leaders have been telling the people and their grassroots that Malay votes have begun to return to UMNO, what with the charges of “derhaka” against the ousted MB of Perak Mohd Nizar being floated around and working up the feelings of the people on the ground.

Even though I do not have the breakdown of the voting streams yet and hence would not be able to tell how much of Malay votes have returned, common sense dictates that with the increased margin won by PAS and PKR respectively in Bukit Gantang and BUlit Selambau, it is unlikely that significant Malay votes have returned to BN.

This is despite the awesome BN by election machinery, the catchy rhetoric of the new Prime Minister, and the return to the fold of UMNO of a former Prime Minister who also campaigned on behalf of BN candidates in the 2 Bukits.

Why is it so?

Whereas during the time of the 12th General Election 13 months ago, people in West Malaysia simply wanted to teach BN a lesson for being arrogant and corrupt, this time around, they sent a message that they want to see changes which has not been forthcoming. The people are getting smarter, and unless they see real changes, they would not be so easily bought by the rhetoric which to them is more ‘hype’ than anything else.

It is also significant that despite the huge amount of money promised to the Chinese schools and temples, non Malays still voted the other way. This is because of the perception of the people that anything cannot be worse than the present. Before, when non Malays treated PAS as poison, now they have no qualms at all voting for this party, an unthinkable act just 2 years ago.. This shift in mindsets will be a big factor in the next general election, especially with a million young voters expected to join the voting fraternity.

UMNO, as the dominant component of BN, has to initiate real reform and must be seen as being sincere in reforming. The million dollar question is always whether the top leader have the will and can be strong enough to initiate a total overhaul of the whole party. Given the entrenched politics of patronage, it is indeed a tall order for any leader to change the party..

As to the components, the writing is very clear on the wall. In this by-election of Bukit Gantang, Gerakan had worked very hard , especially its wanita chief who had practically camped in the constituency even long before the nomination period. Its members from Perak had campaigned hard. It is noteworthy that one of the state constituencies under Bukit Gantang, Kuala Sepetang, was a former stronghold of Gerakan, and used to be won by Gerakan candidates before the 308 tsunami. This time around, despite the efforts, the party had failed to convince its former supporters to come back to support BN..

The same is the case for MIC in Bukit Selambau.

The result of Bukit Gantang is a clarion call to Gerakan that the voters in Gerakan’s former strongholds, as represented by Kuala Sepetang, will not vote for Gerakan in the next GE if Gerakan remains as part of the BN coalition, unless UMNO adopts real reform. This means that Gerakan fate is no longer its own to decide, and that the longer it takes the big brother to change, the worse would be for Gerakan to survive as a viable political entity.

The party needs to re-evaluate its position within BN and re-strategise, failing which it may face annihilation in the next General Election and go the way of the PPP.

The silver lining for BN is perhaps the win in Batang Ai, which shows that the strong wind that is blowing in Peninsular Malaysia has not reached East Malaysia. Nevertheless, this would not guarantee that come next election, the thinking of the people there may remain the same, especially if there is no reform from BN in general and UMNO in particular.

Perhaps as the first step of reform, BN should heed the voices of the people and seriously consider dissolving the Perak State Assembly so that a new State wide election can be called and let the people decide once and for all who should helm the government of Perak State.

http://hsudarren.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/the-tales-of-the-2-mountains/

The People Have Spoken

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The People Have Spoken

The results from Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau are but definite proof that more than a year after March 8, 2008, the people are still resolved to show their discontentment and complete unhappiness with the ways of the Barisan Nasional in general and UMNO in particular.

It is also conversely a display of strengthening support for Pakatan Rakyat, regardless of the apparent ideological and political differences in the allegiance of the 3 political parties of which it consists.
That the two by-elections are won by the Pakatan Rakyat with increased majority is of course a cause for concern for the BN and the newly minted Prime Minister, Najib Razak. Add in the fact that the whole might of the BN's election machineries - including government machineries - was at full steam to ensure a BN victory, the win by Pakatan Rakyat is conclusively a mega achievement in the true spirit of the proverbial David and Goliath fight.

The BN has done everything within its power to win these two by-elections. The whole cabinet could be seen campaigning tirelessly in the two areas. Hotshots from the Federal Capital converged the two areas and lighted the campaign trail. Amidst the cries of reforms from within UMNO and the euphoria of a new found "unity" - when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi held the hand of Mahathir Mohammad and Najib Razak at the closing ceremony of the recently concluded UMNO General Assembly - as well as the installation of Najib Razak as the nation's 6th Prime Minister, the campaign started and was conducted with such intensity that any independent observer would be hard pressed to think of a PR victory, let alone with an increased majority.

No stone was left unturned by the BN to woo the voters. Schools were visited by the Minister of Education. Rhetoric was aplenty - where Muhyiddin Yassin's call for the "slaughter" of Nizar for the latter's apparent treasonous behaviour towards the Sultan has to take the cake and its icing too - as well as name calling and the usual brow beating. (It was quite a disappointment though when the "Class F contract vending machine" which was used during the Kuala Trengganu by-election was nowhere to be seen this time). Concerts by scantily clad Chinese lady singers were even thrown by the BN at a fishing village attended by, non other than the defender of the Muslim faith, Zahid Hamidi who later famously proclaimed that the Chinese culture must be respected.

As the new Prime Minister, Najib Razak made a refreshing inaugural speech, releasing 13 ISA detainees and promising a comprehensive review of the ISA; singing the oft repeated unity, one Malaysia and fairness slogans as well as inviting all Malaysians to embark on a great journey with him. This was expected to make an impact on the voters.

The most startling show was of course reserved for the grand old man of UMNO, Mahathir Mohammad. After Najib Razak was installed as the PM, Mahathir MOhammad rejoined UMNO.

He then happily hit the campaign trail, campaigning for the party which he proclaimed as a "corrupt party" just about a week before. It was thought that Mahathir Mohammad would take the by-elections by storm and galvanise the voters to support the BN.

The Pakatan Rakyat, on the other hand, had to face obstacle after obstacle in their campaign.

Their rallies were invaded by the Federal Reserve Unit. Acid laced water was sprayed at the attendees. In Bukit Selambau, the police moved in without warning and even fired tear gas at the crowd attending a PR rally. When permits were given, unreasonable conditions were imposed. A certain dead Mongolian woman's name was even prohibited by the police from being mentioned by the PR in any of its rally. A person caught selling that particular woman's mask was arrested. And leading to the campaign, the Suara Keadilan and Harakah - the PKR's and PAS's respective publication - were suspended from publication for 3 months by the Home Ministry.

The state owned mass media were of course playing their old games of blowing the BN horn while puking at everything which the PR did. Interviews with the BN supporters who would laud the "development brought about" by the BN government were shown every day and night. The newspapers were full of praise for the BN and its leaders. Not a single teeny weeny good report was made about the PR. That is what they call "balanced and factual" reporting.

Despite it all, PR still won the two by-elections. What went wrong for the BN? If it needs more than 3 minutes for the BN or UMNO to find out what went wrong for them, then may I suggest that the party be dissolved forthwith.

First of all it shows that the people don't believe what the state owned or mainstream mass media are saying anymore. Everything they say is being disbelieved or at the very least taken with a huge cup of sodium chloride. The younger voters now are a sophisticated and educated lot. They scourge the internet for alternative news. It is, rightly or wrongly, set in their mind that whatever is being said by the mass media is a lie and conversely everything which is said on the internet is the truth. Can they be blame for that? If the BN thinks that elections could be won by massive propaganda, positive or negative, through the mass media, it is completely ignorant of reality. The people now laugh at all the so called news and "balanced reporting" by the mass media. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that mass propaganda undertaken by the BN spectacularly backfired!

Secondly, the people just do not believe all the cries and slogans for "reform" and "change". A case in point is the apparent differences between what the UMNO leadership is saying and what its grass root leaders were saying the UMNO Assembly. While Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak pledged and in fact pleaded for reforms and changes, the speeches from the delegates were talking about filling up the GLCs and Universities with UMNO people! They were talking about withdrawing scholarships from those students who dare oppose UMNO. They were talking about how UMNO should wantonly use its powers when the powers are still with it.

Viewed from that perspective, Najib Razak's release of the 13 ISA detainees and the promise of a comprehensive review of the ISA also backfired. While the true intention was doubted by the people, such move was also seen and perceived as a victory of sorts by the people. In their mind, that was the effect of the people's pressure on the government. In their mind, if the people would unite to pile on the pressure, perhaps more detainees would be released and the ISA abolished. And so, in their mind, they were saying, let pile on more pressure by voting for PR.

Thirdly, the BN should be mindful that we are all now living in the 21st century, a new millennium. Character assassination don't work anymore. Calling a person a traitor without basis don't work. Spreading nude pictures of a PR MP don't work. Opening up blogs to call really bad names against the opposition candidate don't work. The people want engagement. The people are now smart enough to desire an intellectual engagement. Calling name is so passe!

Fourthly, the people now want answers and they want them fast. And clear. Parochialism is a thing of the past. Even the Malays are not easily bought by Ketuanan Melayu anymore. The people look at real issues which are affecting or may affect them. The economy. The sharing of the economic pie. Education. Justice. Fairness. An across the board enforcement of the law as opposed to selective one. These are close to the people's heart nowadays.

If there is one thing which the people despise, and despise strongly at that, is hypocrisy. And this is the most important element. The advent of technology now makes it easy for the people to store data and facts and access the same within seconds. And it is just not kosher for politicians and leaders to say one thing and do completely the opposite and be found to have done completely the opposite.

In the two by-elections, the people came out, they saw and they conquered.

http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2009/04/people-have-spoken.html

Prayers for Altantuya: JUSTICE FOR ALTANTUYA

Prayers for Altantuya: JUSTICE FOR ALTANTUYA
'You were young, just in your 20s. You were supposed to have lived your life but you died by coming to Malaysia. Who shot you? Who placed the explosives on you? Who masterminded it all? Your young son has lost his mother's love...'

MCPXAnd so read the prayer for the late Altantunya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian national who became a household name in Malaysia under the most tragic of circumstances.

This afternoon, several PKR politicians held a short prayer session in conjunction with the Chinese 'Cheng Beng' ritual of commemorating the souls of the departed.

Perak PKR state representatives Tai Sing Ng (Kuala Sepetang) and Chang Lih Kang (Teja) performed the short prayer session which attracted a small crowd of curious onlookers by the roadside in Simpang, Taiping.

A photo of the slain woman was plastered on a wooden board and planted by the roadside and joss sticks were lit while the prayer was recited using a loudhailer.

The politicians prayed that her soul finds everlasting peace. Following this, offerings in the form of burning 'hell notes', paper mache shoes and clothes were made.

"There appears to be a lack of transparency in the probe on her murder. We are using this opportunity to remind everyone that a Mongolian woman was murdered in Malaysia and justice has yet to be served," Chang told reporters later.

It was an eerie experience for journalists as rain started to pour the minute the ceremony began, only to stop immediately once the payers were over. Supernatural forces aside, Taiping has the highest rainfall in the country.

Many would see this as a noble gesture on the part of the opposition politicians, who vehemently denied that it was a publicity stunt.

However, it would be difficult to deny that there was no political motives whatsoever given the fact that a by-election would take place in the neighbourhood next Tuesday.

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/20114/84/

Bersama dengan Imam Zahid