Saturday, May 31, 2008

Any State Government (BN Ruled) Wants Better Perks?

Just tell the world that DSAI & Co. have come and solicited for your en masse crossing over from BN to Pakatan Rakyat. You'll get this,

PM announces benefits for Sabah
The Star Online 31st May 2008
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced a series of changes sought by Sabahans.They included measures for poverty eradication, a high-powered Cabinet committee to tackle the illegal immigrants, abolishment of the Department of Federal Development Sabah (JPPS) and an additional development grant of RM1bil.Other goodies were a Petronas downstream petro-chemical plant for Sabah and a 300MW gas fuelled power plant as well as an additional RM400,000 allocation for each state constituency.


It is not that Sabahans do not deserved this. It is just that the timing of it all.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Not pressured...

...by anyone to do so, he said.

BESUT, May 30 ─ Former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said he stepped down as state Umno liaison committee chairman voluntarily and that he was not pressured by anyone. Idris, who is Jertih state assemblyman, said he made his decision to ensure that Umno remained strong in Terengganu. Read more Idris says he quit post on own accord

Different story altogether way up north. Someone in Perlis is getting in somebody's hair!

"Why I should resign?. I am also an Umno division head," he said, adding that he was still the State Umno chairman and had no problems with the post. Read more Shahidan should quit party post, says MB’s aide

I wonder whether any of this will have significant impact in the coming UMNO's branch and divisional posts election and the party's election itself come December. Hey, who am I kidding? This is the current UMNO we are talking about. Going by the records, it's either "no contest at all" or "a free for all". My guess? Battle royale is in the offing.

Ezam Not Constesting-lah!

Pulak dah...



..ayoo, semalam this (above) was the story-lah and The Malaysian Insider even quoted the BERNAMA about it. Now, I read this.

Ezam nafi mahu tanding Ketua Pemuda
30/05/2008 4:10pm

Utusan Online (Terkini)
KUALA LUMPUR 30 Mei – Bekas Ketua Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Mohamad Ezam Mohd. Noor menafikan laporan bahawa beliau sedia bertanding jawatan Ketua Pemuda UMNO pada pemilihan parti Disember ini.
Tegasnya, beliau bukan sahaja tidak mahu terbabit dalam perebutan jawatan itu malah tidak mempunyai perancangan untuk bertanding sebarang jawatan dalam UMNO.
Menurut Mohamad Ezam, penjelasan itu dibuat ekoran kekeliruan yang timbul berhubung laporan akhbar mengenai hasratnya untuk bertanding jawatan Ketua Pemuda pada pemilihan akan datang.
"Saya ingin menyatakan saya tidak mempunyai sebarang perancangan untuk bertanding jawatan tersebut atau mana-mana jawatan dalam UMNO.
"Fokus saya sekarang adalah semata-mata untuk membantu kepimpinan dalam agenda perubahan dan pembaharuan dalam parti dan kerajaan,’’ katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.
Kenyataan berkenaan dikeluarkan ekoran laporan agensi berita Bernama semalam bahawa beliau sedia bertanding jawatan Ketua Pemuda jika ia mampu membina dan mengangkat martabat Melayu.
Menurut Mohamad Ezam, pada masa ini, beliau tidak mahu hilang fokus iaitu untuk membantu membawa pembaharuan dalam kerajaan dan parti.


If that is the case, I'd say "Syabas!". Ezam said he is focusing to assists the leadership and the agenda of reforms in UMNO and the government. That's about it. "Who says I want position?"
Confused? Not you alone, apparently so did this blogger here. Do not lose your marbles over this bro!

Bukalah Hatimu...

Bukalah Hatimu

Mereka bawa perang di kaca TV,
Secara 'live' melalui satelit
Yang untung broker teknologi,
Yang kita hanya dapat kemeja-T

CNN bawa berita beruang luka,
CIAkah yang menembaknya
Amerika sibuk mencaturi dunia
Beban sengsara hutang bertambah Di dunia ketiga
Dunia ketiga

Bicara tentang penghapusan Marga,
Marga mana yang harus dihapuskan
Arya semit, Negroid, Mongoloid,
Siapakah kita di sisi Tuhan
Salahkan Zionis Atau Freemason,
Salahkan Nazi Dan Klu Klux Klan
Salahkan orangtua,
Salahkan sejarah
Salahkan semuanya tapi dirimu
Bukalah hatimu
Pada kebenaran
Buka hatimu Pada kebenaran

Haruskah kita diperdayakan,
Dalam permainan dalang tua
Bukalah hatimu pada kebenaran,
Kerna kebenaran ada di dalam

Haruskah kita sama menyertai skim kehancuran ini
Bukalah hatimu pada kebenaran
Kerna kebenaran ada di dalam
Mudah sangat menyalahkan orang
Bila diri ditimpa malang
Bukalah hatimu pada kebenaran
Kerna kebenaran ada di dalam

Yo! berapa kali Abang M. Nasir nak bilang, nak ulang
Kalau nak tahu cerita, mesti tahu tajuknya
Kalau tak faham, bertanya
Jangan hentam keromo nanti takut-takut salah tarik
Nak tarik ular lidi tertarik naga
Hitam campur putih memang kelabu

Lagu & Lirik: M. Nasir
Album: Canggung Mendonan
View live performance here

Join Britain's Royal Marines Commando, anyone?


Malaysia protests British naval recruitment video of terrorist speaking Malay
The Associated Press
Published: May 30, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia:

The British government retracted a naval recruitment advertisement after Malaysia complained that the video clip portrayed an ethnic Malay man as a terrorist, officials said Friday.
The British Defense Ministry withdrew the advertisement from the Royal Marines Web site and British cinemas Wednesday, a British High Commission official in Kuala Lumpur said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.
The 40-second clip showed a man on a beach firing a machine gun into the air and shouting in the Malay language: "I'm the most evil man in the world. Come fight with me. I will kill you all." He appeared to be ethnic Malay or Indonesian.
"As soon as we became aware that the video has caused some offense, we withdrew the video," the British official said.

Read more International Herald Tribune's report here

The video ends with "It's a state of mind. You may already have it!" ......Encore!!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Ezam on why he's joining UMNO

Ezam: I'm ready to lead Umno Youth...
Updated!
(The Malaysian Insider)

Ezam today declared he's ready to contest the Umno Youth chief post if his leadership could help raise the status of the Malays. What's holding back is that being new, Umno might not allow him to make such a big move. "I have to discuss first with the leadership and with friends. If the post is for party and national interests and in the interest of the Malays, I will seriously consider," he told Bernama.

Well that's that. Predictable. End of story.
Let me tell you another story altogether. Here goes.
Assalamualaikum.... May I come in?

Waalaikumsalam... Yes, come in... come in, make yourself at home... Have a sit!

Thank you... mmmm, Excuse me, where's the master bedroom?

Why, sir?

I feel like taking a nap there, you don't mind do you? No, in fact I want to sleep in that room of yours and make it my own. Can I? Unless off course if you object to it. But I do feel I can make a difference to this home of yours if you permit me to do so. Hey, I may even raise your status, that declining status of yours, in the eyes of society if I stay in that room of yours.

Mmmmm... mmmm ..hhmmmm

Tell you what, I know I am new to you. You may not even know me that well. Let me discuss this with your elders and some of my friends. They shall then decide whether it is for your best interests or not that I should be sleeping and occupying your room. If they do think so, well I have no other alternatives but to seriously consider moving in with you and sleep in that bedroom of yours from now on.

errrr, but..but, sir....

Walk The Talk

Time to walk, again! Now we can see who will walk the talk and who will just walk... away instead.

For more info on the events, read rocky's bru: Media Freedom's Walk the Talk, this Sunday

Sebab Idris Letak Jawatan II

Menarik apa yang diblogkan oleh Dato Rosol Wahid di dalam blognya berkaitan dengan pengunduran bekas MB Terengganu sebagai Pengerusi Perhubungan UMNO Negeri Terengganu.

Sebenarnya hal ini telah lama dibayangkan kepada saya. iaitu sejak keputusan MT yang mengiktiraf YAB Ahmad Said. Kerana dalam negeri dan parti tidak wajar wujud 2 nakhoda. Tiada guna kita memegang kuasa tetapi parti semakin sehari semakin lemah kerana kekuatan kita adalah kekuatan parti. Tanpa parti siapalah kita. Baca lagi di sini.

Tindakan mantan MB Terengganu ini patut dipuji, memandangkan sebagai contohnya, di Perlis, pemimpin yang memegang jawatan Ketua Perhubungan UMNO Negeri tersebut adalah bukan orang yang sama yang yang bergelar Menteri Besar. Itulah hakikatnya. Balik kepada catatan blog Dato Rosol, beliau mengakhiri catatan blognya dengan cetusan rasa Datuk Seri Idris sendiri, yang saya rasa patut dijadikan pedoman kepada semua pembesar-pembesar negara ini. Terutama kepada yang terlampau payah, tanpa sebarang sebab-musabab yang munasabah, untuk melepaskan kuasa bila mana masanya telah tiba. Kata beliau,

Sepatah kata DS Idris; 'Jika kuasa yang dipegang ini menjadikan Parti lemah, maka relakanlah pengunduran ini'...Salam perjuangan.
Dikemaskini!
Tetapi keghairahan sebegini janganlah pula selalu ditonjolkan. Tidak manis dipandang orang. Bersabarlah Datuk MB! Tidak akan lari gunung dikejar.... Baca T’ganu MB in the dark over Idris’ replacement

DSAI on Ezam's joining UMNO

Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the following in his blog "Harapan Baru Untuk Malaysia", with regard to Ezam's joining UMNO.




Keputusan Sdr Ezam

Sebelum ini banyak tekaan mengenai kemungkinan Sdr Ezam menyertai Umno. Dan ada kalangan pengunjung yang memohon reaksi saya.

Kini setelah sah penyertaan beliau bersama Umno maka ingin saya tegaskan bahawa beliau telah lama meninggalkan perjuangan KeADILan - sabelum Kongres dan jelas sebelum PRU12 lalu.

Justeru itu keputusan tersebut adalah hasrat peribadi beliau.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

With respect Dato' Seri, the issue is not so much about why he left Keadilan, it is more about why he chooses UMNO? The time in between the day he left Parti Keadilan Rakyat to the day he joined UMNO is irrelevant. Then again, the fact that he has left PKR and joining UMNO, instead of any other political parties, speaks volumes.
Updated!
Events unfolding here and here would not help either.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Sebab Idris Letak Jawatan

Terima SMS dari empunya diri berhubung sebab musabab perletakan jawatan beliau sebagai Pengerusi Perhubungan Negeri Terengganu.

Sebab berhenti:
1: Menghormati keputusan MT berhubung MB Terengganu terdahulu.
2: Menghormati kemahuan MB.
3: Menyelaraskan Politik & Pentadbiran negeri.


Semoga bertambah jernih kemelut politik yang membelenggu negeri Terengganu. Yang penting itu khidmat, bukannya pangkat...

Dia datang...

...dengan lenggang-lenggoknya, dia datang... KJ's new partner? How would PKR react to this now that it is official? Not about him leaving the party (old news some would say), but more on him joining UMNO. Apparently not everything is rosy over there in PKR's own backyard too. Chegubard has answered here on rumours linking him to Ezam's move. Anyone else? Meanwhile Paklah said, "Ezam has repented, maybe". Of what? Of allegation that he has "6 boxes loads of evidences against" UMNO? Or does he still in possession of those "boxes"? And if so, allegation against whom this time around? Which UMNO, UMNO post 2003 or UMNO pre-paklah era? With this move, if the allegation is true, will all these be swept under the carpet? Or was he playing poker then when he made the allegation? Most importantly, is UMNO still relevant, Mr. Ezam? It's getting interesting, really interesting. Read more The deed is done, Ezam rejoins Umno

Ezam serah borang keahlian sertai UMNO
Utusan Online (Terkini)
28/05/2008 4:32pm
KUALA LUMPUR 28 Mei - Bekas Ketua Angkatan Muda Keadilan, Ezam Mohd. Noor menyerahkan borang keahlian menyertai UMNO kepada Presiden, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Penyerahan borang itu disampaikan sendiri oleh Ezam kepada Abdullah yang juga Perdana Menteri di bangunan Parlimen, hari ini. - Utusan

Letter to my daughter

It is a privilege to receive a scholarship, not a right to receive one, says Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
"Not all high achievers will get the scholarships,'' he said, adding that the Government at the moment allocated only 2,000 students who excelled in their SPM, to be sent overseas.

Read more Privilege to receive a scholarship, says Nazri

Dear Hasya,

It is indeed a privilege.

Back in 1991, I managed to get it right with my STPM results and obtained a full scholarship from the Kuok Foundation (of Robert Kuok's fame). No loan, no bond and no debt whatsoever after completion of my law studies in UM.

I can safely say that what I have received was based purely on merits. Not many, during that time, obtained 74 points (out of 80, that's how it was calculated during my time) for STPM. I got 4As & 1 D, A’s for my Economics, Pengajian Am, History and Bahasa Malaysia and sadly a D (expectedly as I came from Science Stream when I sat for my SPM and know nothing about Costs & Management Accounting/Financial Accountings) for my Accounting paper.

My point is this; there are other avenues for you to be one of those privileged students still. I know that you would say why should I be put in this position when I have already excelled in my exams. Why can't the government rewards me with what I am entitled to, you would also ask. I know. But know this too. I did not depend on the government or the fact that I am Malay to complete my studies during my time, nor should you now.

Do not worry too much about this, kakak. Do your part first. Kakak, must excel and excel again. Let abah and mama do the worrying part (the "RM" part).

Failure to obtain scholarships does not mean that you shall not be able to complete your studies. After all, there are also study loans from the government and the private sectors. But please, do remember to pay it back. Your mama just got loads of instruction to issue Notices of Demand to those failing to payback their study loans.

Take care. Wassalam.

Yours forever,
Abah

Old News....







....wonder what's the poll result would be if it is conducted today. So many interesting polls could be conducted. Malaysians are one curious lot. The above polls were conducted by Gallup Poll prior to the recently concluded GE. Read more here.


(Source: Gallup Website).

Bukan Royalti Minyak

MB Terengganu, Datuk Ahmad Said menerangkan, senada dengan penerangan bekas MB terdahulu sebelum ini, berkaitan isu Piala Monsun. Beliau menafikan penggunaan royalti minyak di dalam penganjurannya. Utusan Malaysia hari ini melaporkan,

Menurutnya, peruntukan tersebut adalah daripada kerajaan Pusat yang disalurkan melalui Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kementerian Kewangan manakala kerajaan negeri pula hanya menyumbangkan RM4 juta setiap tahun.
Katanya, kesemua peruntukan itu bukan untuk pengurusan kejohanan berkenaan, sebaliknya digunakan untuk membina pelbagai infrastruktur termasuk kemudahan melabuh bot, hotel dan tempat meletak kereta di Pulau Duyong di sini.
"Kos pengurusan untuk penganjuran kejohanan itu tahun lepas, hanya melibatkan peruntukan sebanyak RM22.6 juta,'' katanya selepas melancarkan tujuh buku terbitan Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Melayu Terengganu (Maidam) di sini hari ini. Baca lagi Peruntukan RM300 juta Piala Monsun bukan wang royalti minyak

Jadi ke manakah wang royalti minyak itu sebenarnya? Kata MB Terengganu peruntukan RM 300 juta datang daripada kerajaan pusat. Di dalam parlimen, persoalan berkenaannya masih terus menjadi agenda perbahasan.

Jelaskan penggunaan royalti minyak Terengganu
27/05/2008 2:16pm
KUALA LUMPUR 27 Mei – Kerajaan diminta menjelaskan secara terperinci perbelanjaan wang hasil royalti minyak kepada Terengganu bagi memastikan ia dibelanjakan secara adil.Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Machang) berkata, berdasarkan statistik, dari 2004 hingga 2008 sebanyak RM7.4 bilion hasil minyak disumbangkan kepada Terengganu.
Bagaimanapun beliau mendakwa, untuk tempoh empat tahun itu, negeri berkenaan hanya menerima RM5.2 bilion."Ke mana perbezaan sebanyak RM2.2 bilion ini? Kita perlukan penjelasan," katanya pada sesi perbahasan di Dewan Rakyat hari ini. Baca lagi di sini.

Harapan kita semoga persoalan ini tidak hanya tinggal persoalan. Kepada para pembesar negara, segeralah leraikan segala kekusutan, bentangkanlah jawapan. Takut-takut nanti, lagi lama berdiam diri, lagi teruk membinasakan diri.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Mcob's In Parliament





Several members of the FSV Publication Sub-Committee, through the good office of YB Dato' Sri Nazri Aziz, were invited to parliament on a recent Wednesday in May. We managed to meet all of them; from both sides of the aisle; except YBM Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who was not in Parliament on that particular Wednesday.

I managed to "sneak" a picture of some of them [upload herewith] and it was fascinating to observe the ease by which our parliamentarians interact among themselves [surely mcobs understand how is it when we meet, right ?]. Hence, this assures many of us there is no doubt that MCOBA will not just continue to being an apolitical entity but shall put in more efforts to strengthen our "silatul-rahim".
Read more here

Go Mcobs! Tak kiralah orang biru ke, orang hijau ke, orang biru tua ke, kita budak koleq kan....wink! Come on Koleq!

Lack Of Decorum

They are at it again.

Havoc in Dewan over 'unparliamentary word'
By LEE YUK PENG
KUALA LUMPUR: N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR - Padang Serai) created “havoc” in the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday when he walked up to the Speaker to explain a Tamil word to the latter by whispering to him during a shouting match which took place during Question Time.

Read more here

What's new? We heard of School of Blogging before. Now, I humbly suggest School Of Parliamentarian! What say you?

Kiri Salah Kanan Pun Salah

Presiden PAS, Tuan Guru Dato' Seri Abdul Hadi Awang menyifatkan konsep ketuanan bangsa Malaysia yang dikemukakan Timbalan Presiden Umno, Dato' Seri Najib Razak adalah strategi terdesak Umno tatkala parti itu semakin tidak diterima umum.
Bercakap kepada Harakah di Pejabat Pembangkang di Parlimen semalam, Presiden PAS berkata, konsep yang diperkenal Umno itu sebenarnya usaha terdesak untuk memenangi semula hati rakyat.
PAS melihat Umno gagal menjadi pembela kepada rakyat pelbagai bangsa, malah 'Ketuanan Melayu' yang diagungkan Umno sejak dahulu tidak mampu membela nasib bangsa Melayu sendiri.
Baca lagi di sini


Ketuanan Bangsa Malaysia salah, ketuanan melayu pun salah... Kiri salah, kanan pun salah... mana satu kalau macam ini? Kita ambil jalan tengah sahajalah. Siapa sebenarnya yang bermain politik di sini?

How to strengthen international confidence in the country's legal process? II

The Government plans to amend the law to expand the powers of legal aid officers as part of its efforts to expedite backlogged cases. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who is in charge of law, said that by expanding their powers, these officers could to settle the cases of those who could not afford to hire lawyers. He also said the Government plans to recruit more legal aid officers to help out those in need. Read more Dewan Rakyat: More power for legal aid officers.

Now, you are talking!

How to strengthen international confidence in the country's legal process? Employ more Malaysian to assists more Malaysian, that's how. Don't talk about strengthening international confidence just yet when you are yet to restore the confidence of your own people in the same.
Updated!
Oh! Poor Zaid, somebody (from BN) surely don't see him as a worthy minister. Read what happened in Parliament today, Umno MP Tajuddin's shock move to oust minister

Bananeira Ilha (Banana Island-Pulau Pisang)

There is no danger of losing Pulau Pisang to Singapore as Malaysia clearly has sovereignty over the island.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said that this was despite Singapore operating a lighthouse on the 154ha island.

He He said the ownership of the island was based on a treaty between Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar and the British in 1900, which clearly stated that Malaysia had sovereignty over the island. Read more here. (Source: The Star Online)


That's nice to hear. But how sure are you Mr. MB, for argument sake, that there won't be another letter after the treaty you mentioned was signed, from someone signing off with " I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant", writing to inform that a particular state government does not claim "ownership" of "Bananeira Ilha" (a direct translation of "Pulau Pisang" to English and later to Portuguese. While we are at it, let's ramble on. Why not change the name to portuguese? "Pendra Branca" did it for them. Look out! Here comes "Bananeira Ilha". Wink!) Maybe you would say there is no such letter but what if, hypothetically speaking that is, what if the other side suddenly produces the same in court, in case it does go to court?

After all have we not shown to the world recently that we have slight issues in " locating" important government letters, old letters (that may become important documentary evidence) especially.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Umno pupus tahun 2013 jika Abdullah masih PM - Sanusi Junid

Eksklusif dari Harakah Daily.

Umno pupus tahun 2013 jika Abdullah masih PM - Sanusi Junid
Azamin Amin
Mon May 26, 08
9:25:40 am MYT
Eksklusif KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Mei (Hrkh) -

Bekas Naib Presiden Umno, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid mendakwa bahawa Umno bakal pupus dan lenyap pada tahun 2013 sekiranya tampuk pemerintahan negara masih dipegang oleh Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Beliau menegaskan, kerana alasan itulah juga yang menyebabkan, bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed bertindak keluar daripada Umno.
"Tun Mahatir tidak mahu lihat Umno ini hapus. Kalau macam sekarang, habis pilihan raya kita tengok macam mana perlantikan menterinya, kita lihat bahasa-bahasa yang digunakan dan komentar-komentar mereka.
"Jika ianya berlanjutan, pada tahun 2013, Umno akan pupus," katanya kepada Harakah dalam wawancara eksklusif dengan beliau di kediamannya dekat sini petang semalam.


Baca lagi di sini.

How to strengthen international confidence in the country's legal process?

Malaysia may let foreign law firms operate here for the first time to strengthen international confidence in the country's legal process, the Minister in the Prime Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said today.
"If we want big, big foreign multinationals, big banks to come to our country, they normally would want to use the lawyers that would suit their needs," Zaid said.
"These are the realities that we have to accept." The minister dismissed concerns that the move would hurt Malaysian firms, saying foreign companies could handle more complicated fields such as maritime and aviation law, intellectual property and difficult banking matters.
"I'm concerned that in this global economy, how do we retain our best lawyers if we don't have international-standard law firms in our own country?


Why the need to invite foreign legal firms when we have this, to name a few?

"We can make things happen for you" and "Trusted Business Advisor" are the taglines. Don't tell me that the legal firm above couldn't, borrowing your own words dear minister, "handle more complicated fields such as maritime and aviation law, intellectual property and difficult banking matters"? Looking at their website (go here), is this not, again permits me to borrow your words, an "international-standard law firm"? Or am I wrong?

Dear minister, I don't think that this is a solution "to strengthen international confidence in the country's legal process".

Do not deviate from the real issue at hand. The lingam-gate issue, remember? If memory serves me right, only the suruhanjaya concluded their findings, but the lingam-gate issues remain unsolved.

...talking NONsense....

...just when I was about to give them some face, I came across this Youtube video below. Visit Malaysiakita for more.



Putera oh Putera..... come on lah! Grow up!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Talking Sense

How far the statement will help Mukhriz and the others in UMNO that brave enough to visibly support his cause, nobody can say for sure. But there are glimpses of hope for them. Let us for now give the statements made below the benefit of the doubt and not view the same as just another one of UMNO's window dressing attempts. For now, at least. Shall we?

Menurut beliau, walaupun Ahli Parlimen Jerlun itu mendesak Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi supaya meletak jawatan, semua pihak tidak boleh mengambil jalan mudah dengan menghukum atau memecat Mukhriz. Beliau berkata, ini kerana UMNO mempunyai saluran Perlembagaan yang membolehkan setiap ahlinya memberikan pandangan terhadap pemimpinnya. Read more Nazri tidak setuju Mukhriz dikenakan tindakan.

At least there are people in UMNO that are sensible enough to say things that go against the current populist view of the party, like the one here. If only more would come forward and speak up. Be sensible and rational instead of keeping up with current UMNO trend that is to be "loyal", ala UMNO of course. Sensible enough, for example with regard to Mukhriz's case, to acknowledge the fact that there are provisions in UMNO Constitution that allows its members to air their opinion and such. Now Nazri Aziz and Muhyiddin have said their part. Anyone else?

Alif Mim Nun Wau

P. Ramlee & the gang in Pendekar Bujang Lapok. A masterpiece! Many thanks to OpEd who blogged this and Rocky's Bru for highlighting it. By the way Rocky will be featured in "Blog" TV1 weekly programme, read here.
‎و‎ ن ‎م ‎ا
=
sarkis

Updated!
Apparently P.Ramlee was a member of UMNO Jerai Division. Read Tangents: Restless Musings of A Malay Mind P. Ramlee, UMNO Member And Critic... Ah, The Good Old Days!. I didn't know that. Pendekar Bujang Lapok can criticize UMNO during their time. Nowadays, in UMNO, can you do that?

The Letter (Singapore's Pedra Branca II)


(Pic from ...in Deep Thots... . Emphasis made)


I know that ICJ’s decision is final but after reading the blog entry of “...in Deep Thots...” here, on hindsight I’m beginning to wonder myself.

Looking at the above letter, apart from the arguable content of the same and the context on which it was written, I wonder whether objections were properly made pertaining to the admissibility of the said letter as evidence. This is a very old letter. To admit this archaic letter as evidence is not that simple. The authenticity of the said documentary evidence must be proven. The party adducing the evidence must also be able to demonstrate the chain of custody from the original author to the present holder, among other things. Was the evidence properly tendered to the court?

To admit documentary evidence in court, as a general rule, the maker of the evidence must be called. Obviously, the maker (the writer of the letter) is no longer with us. As I said, the general rule in order to admit evidences in court, the maker must be called. In his absence, certain rules of evidence needed to be adhere to before the court can rule safely on the admission of the same. There are exceptions to the general rule but let's not dwell on this for now. If we do, this blog entry is going to be full of legal jargons and you would stop reading right about... now!

To keep matter short, permit me to say few more words on this. From my own experience in conducting trials, the Malaysian legal team would have vehemently objected to the admission of the letter and must have, for all intents and purposes, argued furiously to discredit the letter. Or have they really? For all Malaysian and their own sake, they must. They should have.

Then again, decision has been made and it is final. As our PM said, let us all accept decision with an open heart. It's a win-win decision he said. Sigh.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Magnanimous act

Now this is noble and generous in spirit. That's very big of him to be so forgiving. Certainly this will help his current declining rating among the people and in Pakatan Rakyat itself, if any.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh wants the Attorney-General (AG) to drop a charge against a college student who had posted a death threat on a PAS Youth website. Karpal Singh, who received the death threat, said this was because he had accepted an apology from the 19-year-old and the fact that he was still young."But the court process has to go on because my statement has been recorded. I only want the AG to drop the charge.

"His apology was sincere and I have accepted it,” he told a press conference at his office here today.

Read more NST Online Karpal wants death-threat charge dropped. "Image Boosting 101", a lesson for UMNO maybe?

The Terengganu Experience

The first series was a closed-door talk entitled “The Terengganu Experience” given by Terengganu Umno chief Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
At a press conference, Idris said the people had the impression that Terengganu had lost the recent general election.
“In fact, we won with more than a two-thirds majority. The impression people have is different and that is quite misleading,” he said when asked if he would step down as Terengganu Umno chief.
The only problem Terengganu faced was the issue of Mentri Besar, he added.
Idris, who was Terengganu Mentri Besar until he was replaced by Datuk Ahmad Said, said the people would be able to differentiate the Mentri Besar from the state Umno chief.
“Positions are not important. They are by appointment. If I am no longer relevant, I will leave,” he said.
“But the facts showed that under the previous leadership, Terengganu won in 2004 and 2008. Changes should not be made for the sake of changing,” he said.
(Source: The Star Online: 25th May 2008)

The above sounds practical enough. This should answer some of the issues raised currently in Terengganu, one of which is with regard to the position of UMNO Terengganu Chief. He was quoted saying this when attending Closed Door Talk held by Perak Puteri UMNO in Ipoh today.
Updated!
Hard-T also blogged about this, read Now Idris Jusoh talks. Read also Utusan Online
IPOH 24 Mei -
Bekas Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh hari ini menegaskan beliau tidak akan meletak jawatan sebagai Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Terengganu, walaupun tindakan tersebut boleh menyebabkan kebuntuan politik di negeri tersebut. Katanya, beliau menerima hakikat bahawa Datuk Ahmad Said selaku Menteri Besar Terengganu mempunyai para penyokongnya sendiri, tetapi beliau (Idris) juga mendapat sokongan besar ahli-ahli kerana berjaya memimpin UMNO Terengganu memenangi Pilihan Raya Umum 2004 dan 2008. Read more here.

I pity this people

Perak Umno Youth vice-chief Mohd Ali Mansor, who also attended the meeting, said Mukhriz was a “symbol of rudeness” and the party’s image could be jeopardise if action was not taken against him. Read more The Star Online news report Perak Youth leaders call for sacking of Mukhriz

Pity them. Apparently they feel the image of their party will be boosted if action is to be taken against Mukhriz.

"Democracy"? "Freedom of speech"? "Freedom of Political Expression"? ...Ring any bells brothers? Maybe he is only exercising his rights under the following provision of your party's constitution? Maybe? You guys tell me.

FASAL 6 TANGGUNGJAWAB DAN HAK AHLI (Perlembagaan UMNO)
Fasal 6.2 Tiap-tiap ahli mempunyai hak-hak yang berikut:
6.2.1 Bercakap dan mengemukakan pendapat-pendapat dan mengundi di dalam mesyuarat-mesyuarat parti.
(Emphasis Added)

Political maturity indeed. Read also Nuraina A Samad's 3540 Jalan Sudin: What Will Umno Do To Mukhriz?. Maybe they can also take cue from their own VP here, read Utusan Online Bukan budaya UMNO kekang anggota beri pendapat.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Singapore's Pedra Branca

We got the Terumbu Karang.

Hooray!

Updated
See pic of our "terumbu(s)" here. What lost? We won what?! There's two terumbu(s) a.k.a batu(s), mind you! Yay! Who says we need the "crooked bridge", now that we have this two batu(s), no?

Final score:
International Court of Justice rules in 12-4 decision that Singapore has sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh. Malaysia gets consolation of Middle Rocks 15-1. Read ICJ Official Press released here.

Pulau Batu Putih milik Singapura.
23/05/2008 5:52pm
Utusan Online (Terkini)
THE HAGUE 23 Mei – Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) di sini hari ini memutuskan bahawa Pulau Batu Putih adalah milik Singapura.
Bagaimanapun, dalam penghakiman itu yang dibacakan oleh Hakim Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, ICJ memutuskan Terumbu Karang Tengah dimiliki oleh Malaysia.
Read more here.

There's a Malay saying "Menang sorak kampung tergadai". That has happened today. My sincere hope is that this will be the last and in future no more kampung of ours will "kena gadai".

Recycling Politician

Everyone is saying that they have the cred to be the one to lead. Many have said that. What about quality as opposed to quantity? That's the sticky part.

Yes, while the world around us evolved with new political personalities, Obama for the US, Medvedev for Russia, Ahmedinejad for Iran and many more, they instead seems to be stuck with recycled politician like the one here.

The Star Online
Former Umno Youth chief and ex-chief minister of Malacca Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik has offered himself as a vice-president candidate in the party’s election in December.
Abdul Rahim, who resigned from all his government and party posts in 1994 said he was ready to make a political come back, adding that the climate was right considering the that members were now clamouring for leadership change.
Read more here.

One more for the grand showdown this December. Wow! Aren't they spoilt for choice?

Offering Alternative

Asked if his move would provide PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take over the Government, Dr Mahathir said:

“I am offering an alternative which is less dangerous for Barisan. Instead of jumping to another party, I am telling them to form your own group which will be the determining force in Parliament.” Read more Dr M: I’m offering alternative for Barisan (Source: The Star Online)

Read this also (Source: The Malaysian Insider)

Sounds familiar with what I blogged here?

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Mengubati "Duri-duri dalam daging"

Kenapa TDM tinggalkan UMNO? Ada yang menyatakan ianya lebih bersifat peribadi ("out of contempt") daripada kepentingan UMNO/BN ataupun umum sendiri. Saya percaya, untuk TDM meninggalkan UMNO memerlukan sebab-musabab yang lebih besar daripada kepentingan peribadinya sendiri.

Pada pendapat saya, tindakan beliau adalah satu tindakan kalkulatif. Ia dilakukan untuk untuk bekas parti politik pimpinannya, UMNO dan BN itu sendiri. Keadaan politik yang tidak menentu di negara inilah yang memaksa beliau bertindak sedemikian.

TDM amat khuatir dan percaya bahawa kemungkinan berlaku satu peralihan kuasa kerajaan pusat sepertimana yang sedang diwar-warkan oleh DSAI. UMNO sudah tidak boleh lagi menjadi penghalang kepada apa yang akan berlaku ini. UMNO sendiri amat rapuh pada masa kini. Mungkin bagi TDM, hanya dengan keluar daripada UMNO dan menarik seberapa banyak Ahli Parlimen BN/UMNO yang sekarang berada di atas pagar (29, 30 atau 40 orang yang dinyatakan oleh DSAI selama ini) mengikuti jejak langkahnya, barulah kemungkinan beliau boleh menarik nafas lega.

TDM mungkin juga sudah tidak yakin bahawa apa-apa tindakan oleh pucuk pimpinan BN/UMNO boleh menyelesaikan masalah kumpulan yang sedia untuk melompat ini. Beliau juga tidak percaya bahawa keadaan sebenar yang sedang berlaku di dalam parti BN/UMNO adalah di dalam pengetahuan AAB, secara sedar atau tidak.

Beliau percaya bahawa hanya dengan memastikan golongan yang akan melompat ini mempunyai opsyen di dalam tindakan mereka. Bagi beliau, golongan ini perlu diberikan opsyen untuk berada di luar parti dan kembali ke BN/UMNO sepertimana yang dilakukan beliau. Hanya dengan ini akan dapat memastikan mereka ini tidak menyertai Pakatan Rakyat sepertimana yang di dalam percaturan DSAI dan PR. Kerana cinta beliau yang amat sangat kepada BN/UMNO inilah beliau telah bertindak untuk keluar.

TDM masih sayangkan UMNO dan BN. Bukannya beliau ini duri dalam daging UMNO, sebaliknya beliau sedang berusaha untuk mencari penawar untuk mengeluarkan 29, 30 atau 40 duri-duri dalam daging UMNO/BN itu sendiri. Harapan doktor pencen ini juga adalah beliau boleh di dalam pada masa yang sama mengubati hati duri-duri ini untuk menjadikan mereka sebahagian daripada daging tersebut semula apabila AAB tidak lagi memimpin parti dan negara.

Nyata apa yang TDM mahukan hasil daripada tindakannya, yang pada masa kini dikecam hebat oleh golongan pucuk pimpinan UMNO pada masa kini, hanyalah untuk BN/UMNO (melalui golongan yang keluar daripada UMNO ini yang bertindak sebagai agen Bebas pro-BN/UMNO) masih lagi mempunyai kuasa untuk tawar-menawar sekiranya berlaku proses peralihan kuasa, yang TDM percaya boleh berlaku bila-bila masa kini selagi pucuk pimpinan negara dan bekas parti politik beliau tidak ditukar kepada yang lain.

TDM bertindak sedemikian untuk menyelamatkan BN dan kerajaan BN. Bukannya beliau bertindak untuk melingkupkan mereka. Lagipun, "for argument sake", beliau hanya keluar UMNO dan bukannya BN. Beliau masih lagi memohon menyertai parti-parti komponen BN (yang tidak berteraskan ras) yang lain, bukan?

Doktor pencen ini bertindak sedemikian hanya bagi membolehkan usaha untuk mengubati berbagai jenis penyakit kronik yang merundung UMNO dan BN pada masa kini diteruskan. Itu sahaja. TDM, saya percaya, mahu memastikan peranan sebagai "kingmaker" masih lagi di tangan pihak-pihak yang sepatutnya.

Che Det sendiri telah membuat komen berkaitan isu beliau dilabelkan sebagai "duri dalam daging" ini. Baca Dr Mahathir Mohamad: "Duri dalam daging". Baca juga Rocky's Bru di sini mengenai "torn in a flash" di dalam Najib: I'll see Dr M .

Mungkinkah prosedur-prosedur klinikal dan surgeri untuk menyembuhkan penyakit BN/UMNO ini telahpun dimulakan? Kita hanya mampu berdoa untuk yang sebaiknya. BN mahupun PR, kedua-duanya ada baik dan buruknya.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

UMNO's Secret Weapon?

Came across the following just now;

Nallakaruppan denied that Abdullah was a weak leader, and on his way out.
“To me, he is a good leader. That’s why I have come to support him. He’s my Prime Minister and I have to trust him and I have to love him,” he added.
Nallakaruppan, who was formerly with PKR, said he did not believe Anwar’s claims that he had enough Barisan Nasional MPs who wanted to crossover to topple the Barisan Federal government.
“All the time he bluffs me, so I take this as one of his lies,” said the 61-year-old businessman.
“Morning, his face is different, afternoon his face is again different and night it is different too.
"I don’t believe him and I don’t trust him.”


Read more The Star Online latest Nalla meets Abdullah and pledges support .

Is this what they had in mind for the upcoming face-off with DSAI & Co. come this September, 16 (latest dateline given by DSAI for PR to form a government) ...Oh! Come on... not this, please! Not him.... You guys can do better than this!

Updated!
Meanwhile, read here for the latest with regard to DSAI and his aim to topple the BN government latest before September (new dateline!), come what may. He has this to say;

"I do intend to topple the government, we have the numbers," Anwar told reporters in Singapore, claiming his coalition now called Pakatan Rakyat is ready for the job."I'm looking forward to early elections," Anwar added, hoping it would take place before September.

Is he playing poker with Paklah & Co.? You tell me.

Don't Stoop So Low

I read this in chedet's blog today Dr Mahathir Mohamad: "Letter" to Prime Minister of Israel .

What kind of a person would stoop this low just to get even? So much contempt. It's written all over the "letter". Is this not an act of desperation?

You can view the "letter" and read all about it here in Susan Loone's Blog.

Wishful Thinking

Response made by the Youth Chief on Mukhriz's statement yesterday. Hishamuddin was not happy and suggested that disciplinary action would be recommended.

Mukhriz pressuring the president to step down is nothing new. But what I cannot accept is that he set conditions for his membership. He said he would leave the party if the president did not resign by July," Hishammuddin told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

He said he was not empowered to impose disciplinary action on Mukhriz but would raise the matter to the management committee headed by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Read more here

From the look of it my wish for UMNO to let Mukhriz be is just going to be wishful thinking after all.

What about his dad wishes? Che det's wishful thinking? For now, the other son, did as what the dad wishes and so did a few thousand others. Read here for context. He went on to say this, "A tsunami starts with a ripple. I do not see how the crisis could be resolved by the present leadership. We need a new leader,” said Mokhzani when contacted Wednesday.

Another political tsunami is in the looming?

Or is it true that tsunami of 8th March ’08 tsunami has never really subsides. Sadly, some are still oblivious of the fact it seems. They walk and talk as if nothing is happening, as if all is well.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Mukhriz not quitting after all.

"I will not be quitting the party, I will not be resigning from my posts in Umno. I'm still a loyal servant of the party and I still assume the right to be the voice of constructive criticism in the party," announced Mukhriz.... Read more here.

The man will stay on after all. Full transcript of his speech here.

What about his call for the PM to resign? Will he be reprimanded yet again for such a bold statement? The ideal scenario would be for the party to let him be. No reprimand, no warning. Wishful thinking? Call it that if you may but UMNO needs the people to change their perception towards the party. It has becg9 A party that emphasis on humanistic values and concerns. It needs to become the people's party where the wishes of its grassroots prioritize over anything else. No need for it to re-invent itself. What it needs is just to return to basics. Be the people's party once more. What transpired currently, and how things will develop in the near future, will show the people what it is really made of. The people are watching. The world is watching.

Monday, May 19, 2008

He Quits II (They quit)

Updated!
No, this time is not about quitting post that one held like the stunt pulled by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker few days back. This time it is about one statesman (he even holds the political party membership no. 00000001, I know I read this somewhere) quitting the political party he headed for 22 years previously. A member holding Membership No. 00000002 also quits the party. Official blog statement from the man himself, read here.

From the mainstream media, read here and here.

His action is not without proviso though. He'll come back if and when the incumbent president is no more there. Read also this and this.

This veteran politician from Kedah also quits the party. And so did one senior politician. The senior politician from Gua Musang, Kelantan is not resigning. He supported the statesman action though. He said he will continue on to fight the incumbent. Read here and here.

For me, there's more to all this than meets the eye. In time we shall see.


(Sources: Dr Mahathir b Mohamad, The Star Online, NST Online, The Malaysian Insider, Rocky's Bru, The Scribe & The “thirteen million plus Ringgit” guy rambles….)

Hypothetically Speaking.

A Case Study (Nothing to do with any person or persons, dead or alive).

Say, I am a Public Prosecutor and I want to charge certain ex-premier of ABC state (bearing in mind his stellar records, for argument sake, as the Head of Executive) for corruption (misuse of power, maybe?) and/or sedition (I'll think of something, later lah) and/or violating certain Official Secrets Act provision and/or obstruction of justice and/or anything under the provisions of the Penal Code.

This is what I have for my case. Hypothetically speaking that is.

List of possible witness/co-accused:
1. Self confessed "I may have been drunk at the material time" Indian man, probably a solicitor and he was seen and heard talking to himself on a mobile phone. He was videotaped while at that. He admitted that he may be drunk too.
2. The maker of the said video tape is a Member of Parliament for rival political party/headed by political nemesis to the accused.
3. A businessman, a senior politician and two ex-chief justices that would vehemently denies any connection of wrongdoings between themselves.
4. Politicians and other parties with obvious interests with regard to the accused and/or co-accused and the outcome of the case itself.

Facts/Evidence surrounding this (hypothetical) case:
1. Videotape of one man (No. 1 of the above) speaking to his mobile, while appearing to have a conversation via his mobile.
2. No evidence whatsoever to proof that so and so was the one speaking on the other line except for that "I may have been drunk" solicitor's admission to the maker right after the videotaped tele-conversation.
3. The maker of the video tape keep telling the world that there are other parts of the tape, somewhere at a far away place, maybe lost forever, making the main evidence that I have may only be a part of the bigger picture.
4. The time taken for the tape to surface from the date that it was recorded. The maker of the evidence’s timing in revealing the videotape to the world. The reason behind the recording of the same and the likelihood that it may have been pre-planned.
5. Finding of a certain commission that may have been as follows, *"While noting that the group's ultimate aim could not be ascertained, given the limitation of the terms of reference, the commission said it was reasonable to suggest that it could not be anything but self-serving." Yes, the group’s ultimate aim could not be ascertained.
6. Circumstances surrounding at the time of the prosecution i.e. political motives of various interested parties (so happen that they may be the main witnesses to the case) and the resulting prejudicial effect to the case.
6. errrr, let's stop at that.

Is my case any good? Would I proceed with the prosecution?

Mmmmmm. Thank God this is only hypothetically speaking.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Dana Khas Terengganu ("Wang Ehsan") II

At least there is someone responding to the above issue from the government, someone from the state government to be precise.

Another YB Blogger Dato Hj Rosol b Wahid has this to say in his latest blog entry, "Royalti". The following is an excerpt of the said posting:

Namun begitu, kerajaan negeri juga tidak pernah diberi sebarang maklumat mengenai baki atau jumlah sebenar wang ehsan yang dibelanjakan untuk pelbagai pembangunan projek di negeri ini. Walaupun 80 peratus bajet kerajaan negeri adalah daripada wang ehsan ini, jumlah sebenar perbelanjaan di luar pengetahuan kita. Kenyataan perbelanjaan seperti yang diumumkan juga di luar pengetahuan kerajaan negeri. Pada 2004 sebanyak RM285 juta wang royalti dimasukkan ke dalam bajet, 2005 (RM1.14 bilion), 2006 (RM1.41 bilion), 2007 (RM1 bilion) dan 2008 (RM500 juta).

Saya berharap saudara bloggers tidak perlu membuat sebarang spekulasi yang tidak betul dan menyalahkan 100% kepada YB Dato Seri Idris Jusoh sewaktu beliau menjadi Menteri Besar. Mengenai tuntutan YAB Dato Ahmad Said yang agar pengurusan wang royalti diuruskan oleh kerajaan negeri, saya tidak dapat memberi sebarang komen dan ia masih menjadi kes mahkamah. Saya turut bersetuju agar wang tersebut dapat diurus tadbir sendiri oleh kerajaan negeri demi masa depan & pembangunan akan datang di negeri Terengganu.

Read more here

What about the Federal government, the MoF to be precise? No comment?

Sale Price: RM 545 541.60


Read this in Malaysian Insider today. RM 545 541.60* a copy. The price you pay for judicial reform?

Latest on Lingam video report: Cabinet okays public release
Royal Commission Report on V.K. Lingam video to be made public and will be sold at RM 545. Cabinet also says Attorney-General will investigate Lingam, Tengku Adnan Mansor, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and others who were mentioned in the report.

Come on! Give it for free lah! Publish it in a website. Nothing seditious, I reckoned. Nevertheless for the story that matters with regard to the above read here. (Sources: The Malaysian Insider & NST Online)

Updated:-
New Price mentioned in the Star Online, read here, together with the news on police report lodged against several newspapers by the PM's Department. Sigh! What will they think of next?

Thursday, May 15, 2008

He Quits

He quits the posts he held in the party. That's commendable in view of the post he currently hold as the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat. And coming from him as an UMNO man, I see this as a positive sign for UMNO. Well, let's be fair. Credit must be given where credit is due.

Why some quarters are sensationalizing the news as if he has left UMNO is beyond me.

Pandikar Amin quits as Kota Marudu Umno div chief
By Muguntan Vanar


KOTA KINABALU: Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has tendered his resignation as Kota Marudu Umno division chief 'in the interest of neutrality' of his Dewan Rakyat Speaker's post.

Sources said that he sent his resignation letter to party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Thursday but it was not immediately known if the Prime Minister had accepted it.

It was learnt that he wanted to remain as an ordinary Umno member.

Read more here (Source: The Star Online)

Paklah should accept this resignation and give his full blessing on the move made by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker. Now, if and when that happens, shall be a step closer towards reforms, be it for UMNO or for the nation political scene itself.

Dana Khas Terengganu ("Wang Ehsan")

Lanjutan daripada berita yang disiarkan di dalam akhbar Sinar Harian;

Bukan dikawal kerajaan negeri

KUALA TERENGGANU -
(15hb Mei 2008)
Bekas Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh menjelaskan wang royalti minyak sebanyak RM7.3 bilion yang diberikan kepada Terengganu dari tahun 2004 hingga 2007 bukan diurus atau dikawal kerajaan negeri.

Malah kata Idris, beliau sendiri sebelum ini tidak mengetahui mengenai jumlah sebenar wang royalti Petronas seperti mana dinyatakan oleh Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Senator Datuk Amirsham Aziz dalam Persidangan Dewan Rakyat kelmarin. Dalam persidangan tersebut, Amirsham memberitahu sebanyak RM13.4 bilion wang royalti minyak Petronas diserahkan kepada Kerajaan Pusat manakala RM7.3 bilion di­berikan kepada Terengganu manakala Sabah dan Sarawak masing-masing RM1.2 bilion dan RM4.8 bilion.

Idris yang juga Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Negeri Terengganu berkata, kerajaan negeri ketika di bawah pimpinannya sebelum ini hanya dimaklumkan sebanyak RM1.3 bilion diberikan kepada Terengganu pada setiap tahun dalam tempoh tiga tahun tersebut. "Wang royalti petroleum itu diberikan dalam bentuk wang ehsan dan ia kemudiannya digunakan bagi tujuan pembangunan Terengganu serta pentadbiran kerajaan negeri,” ujarnya ketika dihubungi, di sini semalam.

Beliau berkata, kenyataan berkenaan (Amirsham dalam Persidangan Dewan Rakyat) seolah-olah menunjukkan pengurusan wang royalti minyak yang dibayar Petronas berada di bawah kawalan kerajaan negeri Terengganu. Baca lagi di sini.

berikut adalah penerangan lanjutan berkaitan dana khas terengganu (dahulunya dikenali sebagai wang ehsan):

Wang Ehsan adalah dibawah kawalan Kementerian Kewangan ("MOF"). Kerajaan Negeri tidak ada kawalan diatas perbelanjaan yg dibuat oleh MOF. Kerajaan Negeri juga tidak pernah diberi maklumat jumlah sebenar yang dibelanjakan & jumlah baki yang ada. Sayugia di ingatkan tuntutan supaya Wang Ehsan diserahkan kepada kerajaan negeri masih di mahkamah.

Walaupun 80% bajet kerajaan negeri adalah dari wang ehsan, jumlah sebenar perbelanjaan adalah diluar pengetahuan kerajaan negeri. Oleh yang demikian, kenyataan perbelanjaan wang ehsan berjumlah lebih daripada RM 7.3 Billion yang diumumkan baru-baru ini adalah diluar dari pengetahuan kerajaan negeri.
*Kedudukan Dana khas/ Wang Ehsan ke Bajet Negeri: (perincian angka boleh diperolehi dari Kewangan Negeri)

Cukup jelas? Sekiranya tidak, perangkaan boleh diperolehi daripada Pejabat Pegawai Kewangan Negeri, bukan? Bagaimana ia dibelanjakan? Sepertimana di dalam perbelanjaan negeri? Perangkaan terperinci adalah untuk tatapan umum. Kita yang melantik mereka. Pasti kerajaan negeri bersedia dengan perangkaannya. Dan sedemikian jugalah bagi kerajaan pusat. Mereka juga seharusnya sudah bersedia dengan perihal perbelanjaan ini secara terperinci. Tanyalah mereka baik mengenai dana khas atau wang ehsan atau wang royalti minyak, mereka semestinya hendaklah sentiasa bersedia untuk memperincikannya. Lebih baik bertanya daripada menghentam keromo tanpa usul periksa. Jangan nanti "nak tarik ular lidi, tertarik naga" bak kata sifu M. Nasir di dalam salah sebuah lagunya. Seperti yang saya katakan sebelum ini, kita yang melantik mereka. Rakyat adalah "boss"nya, kerajaan hanyalah pesuruh.
Bukankah kerajaan yang dipilih itu adalah "Kerajaan milik rakyat, oleh rakyat dan untuk rakyat" ("Government of the people, by the people and for the people").

Gambar Ihsan daripada Blog Tau Takpe di sini

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

How Is Terengganu These Days III

I have read this in rocky's bru blogsite and one link in particular created for that post. Now let's see. Shall we dissect facts from fictions?

Now, you decide whether the following are not mere fabrication of the mind:-
1. The MB (the former and the current one) have no control over Wang Ehsan, Ministry Of Finance does. State not being informed on how it's being spent & how much is spent. MOF got some explanation to do.
2: The cost of Taman Tamadun Islam is RM250m (not RM 800m).
3: The annual cost of running Monsoon Cup is RM20m. (not RM300m) Yearly, Federal Govt spend RM 6m, state government RM 1m and the rests (RM 13M) are from sponsors.
4: Terengganu was 2nd poorest in 2004 (when BN take over the state government from PAS). By 2007, It was the 4th poorest.
5: State BN returned to power with more than 2/3 majority in the last 12th General Election. Terengganu folks must be very happy with them.
6: Lots of Educational programmes by the previous state government. Monies were channeled there too.

I am not trying to defend anyone right now, but it seems that some of us have been on this joyride of anti-BN popular views for far too long. Wake up!

Instead, if you would listen carefully, there is lots of anti-PR sentiment going on right now in those 5 states recently conquered by PR. Not everyone is happy. Progress has been very slow. Too much politicking is going on instead. Again, please, please... wake up!!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Hallucinating or What?

Police reports have been lodged. Was RPK hallucinating? RPK himself told the world that he did not eat or drink during his time in Sg. Buloh Prison recently. No foods and drinks for couple of days. That's not good to the mind. Your mind can start playing tricks on you. Could that be the reason? For his own sake, he better not now that police reports have been lodged against him.

Or could it be dramas were staged during his stay there? What was the purpose then? Are we in session for Impeachment of Credibility proceeding in the Court of Public Opinion? I wonder.

Altantuya accused file police reports against Raja Petra
By CECIL FUNG
SHAH ALAM: The two policemen on trial for the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu denied that they threatened Malaysia Today editor
Raja Petra Kamarudin while he was held in Sg Buloh prison last week.
Unit Tindakan Khas operatives C/Insp Azilah Hadri and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar made their denial through their lawyers Monday just before the proceedings began on Day 109 of the murder trial.


Read more here

Sources: The Star Online

Truly Democratic or Just Another Drama?

YB Teng has added another twist to the DAP v Royal saga by going against his own chairman. He called his own chairman as someone that "lacked of Political Wisdom". The reaction to this, if any, from DAP head honchos and Mr. Chairman himself concerning the statement made would be very interesting indeed. For now, even YB Lim Kit Siang delined to comment.

It could be just another drama though, a ploy by DAP to distance themselves from the on going royalty versus government polemic that their chairman has got himself in.

Now, what Teng did was only exercising his rights to free speech. Whatever it is, we shall see how truly democratic this Democratic Action Party is. Will they allow such open critism to their own chairman? Even UMNO allows it, in its own way of course.

Truly democratic or just another drama?

The Star reports as follows:
Karpal lacked political wisdom, says DAP’s Teng
By LOONG MENG YEE


KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Karpal Singh has acted with a lack of political wisdom when he chose to publicly question the Perak Sultan over the royal jurisdiction of Islamic matters in the state.
“Karpal Singh may be right in law, but this is not merely a legal question, it involves politics. Therefore, I disagree with the approach taken to openly challenge the royal intervention,” said DAP central executive committee member and Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim.
Teng said he agreed, in terms of administration, that the Perak Mentri Besar had the authority over the transfer of state civil servants.


Read more here

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Understatement?

He said this, "Don't fear brave new journalism". That's Media Reform! We are now back on track. The mood is still there. Nice! The Star getting the scoop about the "Correct 3X" saga (from what I heard lah ....most of you guys already made up your mind on who was that on the other line, eh?) is nothing compared to what Rocky of Rocky's Bru blogged yesterday. Read this. That is an exclusive. Scoop of the day by my standard. Just look at the pic on that particular blog entry. The irony of it all.

Let's go back to the story at hand. I am truly "teruja"! Come on, this is SIL calling for press freedom... sounds too good to be true? Don't know whether to cry or to laugh? ....Who knows? The intention could be genuine.

"Everyone deserves a fresh start now and then", I once heard Bugsy Siegel said that in the movie "Bugsy".

Could it be just another window dressing exercise? ...there's a lot going on right now from that camp...mmmmm...We shall see. For now, let's give KJ the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he will walk the talk, who knows?

But then again...press freedom coming from our YB amidst current "sedition" chaos? ....hey! Where’s that salt? I may need a pinch ...just to be safe!


Updated
(For the benefit of one particular commenter in LK's blog)
Scoop - "An exclusive news story acquired by luck or initiative before a competitor."
Title/Post edited for the benefit of that particular commenter. Please don't get me started on definitions.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Seditiously Hilarious!

Don't point and click your mouse at that URL link. It could be seditious. How seditious are we, anyway? If we read the Sedition Act literally, most of us, during the run-up to the last General Election till now would be caught by it. I mean literally caught. Uttering words in coffee shops, at the bus stands, while waiting for our food during lunch hour and other instances, we have but not in infringement of the said act.

The wiki said this about the law of sedition in Malaysia. The act criminalises speech with "seditious tendency", including that which would "bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against" the government or engender "feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races". We have not but dwelled on those issues for the past 3 months or so. Don't deny this. By the look of it, Malaysian is one seditious lot. We are seditious then? No, we are not seditious. We are just concerned. We are concerned citizen. That's why we talk, discussed, and wrote about those issues. We are not politician, we are only Malaysian citizen.

Read the wiki, if you don't want to go through the act itself, about the law. The wiki has added further of the followings; The latter provision includes the questioning of certain portions of the Constitution of Malaysia, namely those pertaining to the Malaysian social contract, such as Article 153, which deals with special rights for the bumiputra (Malays and other indigenous peoples, who comprise over half the Malaysian population).

Now, what about the above? Most of us have certainly ventured into conversations and even writings with regard to that. The again, we discussed because we are concerned and we do not gain any political mileage when doing so. Not like politician. Most of our Member of Parliaments and politicians, Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional, would be liable for sedition in one way or another concerning discourse with regard to the above.
Seditiously hilarious? Watch all 3 parts.

Enough of the comics, now let's continue.
Under section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 it is further specified that anyone who "does or attempts to do, or makes any preparation to do, or conspires with any person to do" an act with seditious tendency, such as uttering seditious words, or printing, publishing or importing seditious literature, is guilty of sedition. It is also a crime to possess a seditious publication without a "lawful excuse". The act defines sedition itself as anything which "when applied or used in respect of any act, speech, words, publication or other thing qualifies the act, speech, words, publication or other thing as having a seditious tendency".

There you go, it is also a crime to possess a seditious publication without a lawful excuse. Now, my question is how many of us have bookmarked the Malaysia Today site as one of our favourites? Most of us do. How many of us have pointed and clicked our computer's mouse at the link of the seditious blog piece? Most of us did and still do.

Mere act of accessing the article would then fall under the criminal act of sedition, if we go word for word, in accordance to the act. By clicking the link and refreshing our internet browser we have but committed a crime under the act. Click! Hey! Presto, we are now in possession of the said seditious article, are we not? And that's a crime? That doesn't make sense, does it?

Therefore is the law archaic? The British have their reasons when they enacted this law way back in 1948. The law were there as to curb the rising of Malayan independence movement then. That reason does not exist anymore. The Brits are no more here.

When our forefathers successfully gained independent in 1957, they have drafted and passed the law to make the Federal Constitution as the supreme law. In it there is one particular clause, article 10 (1) of the FC to be specific. In that, the people right for freedom of speech has been engraved in stone. This new article of the constitution would then by law supersede the old law called Sedition Act 1948. To an extent, would the enforcement of the act would now mean that we are enforcing laws that are in ultra-vires of the constitution itself?

For what is worth, assuming RPK is really in the wrong, what he did is not a crime against the people, it's more personal. Libel and defamation suit should be instituted against RPK by the parties concerned instead of charging him and making it as a crime against the people. What the charge did is making him a celebrity and helping his course some more. One thing for sure, Pakatan Rakyat politicians certainly are harping on the issue and currently using the same to gain political mileage as against the BN government.

Last we heard the government was in the mood of reforms. Where have all those moods gone to?