Kuasa dan wang bukan kuasa atau wang

Pergolakan yang berlaku dalam sebuah pertubuhan politik yang sebegitu lama berkuasa di negara ini bukanlah sesuatu yang baru. Yang membezakan antara pergolakan dua atau tiga puluh tahun lepas dengan yang berlaku sejak awal tahun 1980-an bukan kerana dasar parti atau prinsip seseorang pemimpin tetapi berkisar pada soal kuasa dan kedudukan.

Kuasa menjadi rebutan kerana melalui kuasalah mereka boleh mengumpul kekayaan. Lihat saja perubahan hidup yang begitu mendadak yang dialami oleh seorang mantan penjaga pintu lintasan kereta api di Klang, Selangor yang mampu mendirikan sebuah 'istana' hasil daripada kuasa yang diperolehi melalui sistem politik.

Ramai 'orang kaya baru' yang dilahirkn oleh sistem politik UMNO bukan berasal daripada keluarga kaya atau memiliki ijazah dan kelayakan profesional yang membolehkan mereka berkedudukan mewah. Ramai yang tidakpun memiliki sijil kelulusan menengah atas tetapi berkat kuasa yang diperolehi melalui sistem politik, mereka mampu hidup mewah.

Kemewahan hidup yang dijamin oleh kuasa politik membuatkan mereka yang mengejarnya sanggup berbuat apa saja untuk mendapatkannya termasuk 'membunuh' kerjaya politik lawan atau seteru dalam parti sendiri.

Bagi mereka yang ada wang, iaitu yang kaya hasil kejayaan dalam dunia perniagaan atau berkat mewarisi harta ibu bapa, kemewahan hidup sahaja tidak mencukupi tanpa kuasa politik. Oleh itu, mereka mendekati dunia politik dan menggunakan kekayaan untuk berkuasa. Bagi mereka, wang boleh beli kuasa kerana orang politik yang tiada wang tetapi ada suara, memerlukan wang untuk menaiki tangga kejayaan. Pendek kata, engkau tolong aku, aku bantu engkau. Sama-sama untung atau orang sering berkata "a win-win situation".

Inilah yang telah, sedang dan akan terus berlaku dalam parti politik yang paling lama berkuasa, UMNO. Pemimpin mengekalkan kuasa melalui pengaruh wang ringgit dan wang ringgit digunakan untuk mendapatkan kuasa. Ramai pemimpin dan ahli UMNO yang akan cepat membantah dan menafikannya. Semua akan memperlihatkan wajah 'baik dan bersih' kerana mereka tidak mengamalkan politik wang atau rasuah politik. Hanya seorang sahaja pemimpin besar UMNO yang terlibat dalam rasuah politik, iaitu mantan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan dan MB Negri Sembilan paling lama, Tan Sri Isa Samad. Yang lainnya bersih belaka.

Oleh itu, apabila berlaku krisis atau pergolakan dalam UMNO, ia sebenarnya berkisar kepada soal kuasa, pengaruh dan kedudukan seseorang itu. Apa yang sedang berlaku di Perlis Indera Kayangan juga kerana persoalan yang sama. Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim bukan sahaja memiliki kuasa dan pengaruh, tetapi dia juga seorang jutawan 'padi dan beras'.

Dalam politik, kuasa dan wang menjadi hambatan bukan kuasa atau wang, tetapi kedua-duanya sekali.

Perang dah meletus di Perlis

Pada 1 November lepas, saya menulis mengenai 'pergolakan' yang dihadapi oleh UMNO Perlis dan apa yang diperkatakan itu dahpun terbuka, peperangan dah meletus.

Orang yang mengisytihar perang bukan calang-calang orang, bukan bertaraf pemimpin bahagian tetapi bertaraf Setiausaha Agung UMNO, Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, orang kanan presiden parti merangkap Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad (Badawi).

Tanpa berselindung, tanpa berkiasan atau berlapik-lapik, Radzi terang-terangan mahukan Menteri Besar yang juga Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Perlis, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim 'undur'.

Itulah saja caranya untuk menyelamatkan Perlis. Tiada tolak ansur.

Shahidan adalah punca pergolakan dan sengketa yang menghantui negeri paling kecil di Malaysia yang hanya mempunyai tiga bahagian UMNO itu. Walaupun tiga, mereka tidak sepakat, sering bertegang leher dan kecil-memperkecil satu sama lain.

Ada pemimpin yang dikatakan berkuasa besar dan bertindak 'mengatasi' kuasa yang lebih tinggi seperti dalam perlantikan mufti yang dibawa masuk dari luar Perlis sedangkan negeri yang dikenali sebagai Indera Kayangan itu tidak kurang dengan ulama dan ilmuwan Islamnya sendiri.

Apa yang diperkatakan oleh Radzi atas sifatnya sebagai Setiausaha Agung dan bukan ketua UMNO Bahagian Kangar, sudah pasti mendapat sokongan ketua UMNO Bahagian Padang Besar Datuk Zahidi Zainal Abidin dan mantan ketua bahagian itu yang juga menteri pusat, Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid dan Ahli Parlimen Arau Datuk Seri Syed Radzlan Putra Jamalullail.

Dalam menghadapi pilihan raya yang bakal diadakan tidak lama lagi, UMNO Perlis tidak mampu dan tidak boleh dihantui krisis dan perlu bersiap sedia dalam satu suasana tanpa Shahidan Kassim mahupun adiknya Ismail Kassim dan juga tanpa Azmi Khalid dan Syed Radzlan.

Yang perlu berundur bukan Shahidan seorang. Ramai lagi termasuk sebilangan besar Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri.

Dalam pada itu, PAS harus bersiap sedia untuk berperanan lebih besar andai kata rakyat (pengundi) di Perlis mahukan demikian.

No more of these...

XMAS GREETINGS

Wishing all my Christian friends and blog visitors Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Let us pray and hope that the years ahead will see peace and harmony on Earth.

Selamat Menyambut Aidil-Adha

Kepada semua umat Islam yang melayari dan sudi singgah sejenak ke halaman catatan maya alam sesawang ini, saya ucapkan Selamat Menyambut Aidil-Adha. Fahami dan hayatilah erti sebenar korban.

The Reid Commission

Lord Reid (left) Sir Ivor jennings (right)


Justice Abdul Hamid of Pakistan


Sir William McKell (Australia) and B. Malik of India

Hindraf is suing the British Government for the 'sufferings' of Indians (Malaysian ciizens)and partly put the blame on the Reid Commission for not providing constitutional protection to the Indian community in the then Federation of Malaya and now Malaysia. Following are background information on the Reid Commission taken from a special publication of the then Straits Times in conjuncion wih Federation of Malaya's independence in August, 1957.

In March 1956, an independent commission to draw up a constitution for a fully self-governing and independent Malaya was set up. The chairman of this body was Lord Reid, a disinguished British judge.


Other members of the Commission:- Sir Ivor Jennings (United Kingdom); Sir William McKell (Australia); Mr. B. Malik (India) and Justice Abdul Hamid (Pakistan).

The Reid Commission produced its report in February 1957. It recommended "a federal form of constitution for the whole country as a single, self-governing unit within the Commonwealth based on parliamentary democray."


"In recommending the form which the necessary political and administrative changes should take," the report said, "we have borne in mind that the new provisions must be both practicable in exising circumstances and fair to all sections of the community."


Though unanimous agreement was too much to expect, it was universally agreed that the commission had taken a statesmanlike, sympathetic and well-balanced view of the problems of Malaya's plural society. Provisions was made for a strong central government, and for these additional main objectives:



A measure of autonomy for the States and Settlements.

The safeguarding of the position and prestige of Their Highnesses as constitutional Rulers of their respective States.

A constituional Paramount Ruler (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) for the Federation, to be chosen from among the Rulers.

A common nationality for the whole of the Federation.

The safeguarding of the special position of the Malays and the legitimate interests of other communities.



A great achievement during the hearings of the Reid Commission had been the presentaion of a joint memorandum by the triple Alliance. This reconciliation of the different, and to some extent conflicting, views of UMNO (United Malays Naional Organization), the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC), would have been impossible in the political climate of Malaya only a few years before.


It was a gesture of Malayan unity before a Malayan nation had been born.


The Reid report adopted a number of the Alliance proposals, and also some of those made by the Rulers' Conference, but added others of its own. After the report appeared, UMNO took the position that where the Reid was beyond the Alliance memorandum the latter should stand, because the Alliance proposals had been agreed upon as the farthest to which each of the three main communities could go in give-and-take negotiations.

The Chinese accepted the Malay view, and, because it involved a real sacrifice, this was perhaps an even more striking gesture of goodwill, compromise and Malayan unity than the original agreement reached within the Alliance.

The Reid report was referred to a working committee of the Federation Government and the Rulers to hammer out such contentious matters as remained, particularly the commission's recommendation that the Straits-born communities of Penang and Malacca, should retain their dual status as Federal citizens, and citizens of the United Kingdom and the Colonies. This the Constitution permits, but only on the basis of undivided loyalty to Malaya. This dual citizenship dies with the present (1957) generation.

From the first, however, there was unanimous agreement on certain other main recommendations : notably the widening of the Malayan citizenship law so as to enlarge the Federal electorate (bringing in many more Chinese, Indians and others); and also on the position of Islam as the state religion, with freedom of worship for all other religions.

The diary of a proud Raja Cholan Indian/Hindu

VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE! NEGATIVITY BEGETS CONFRONTATION. These are the words of Blogger-cum-lawyer Jeyapalan T.S. Mahesan, a third generation Malaysian of the Raja Cholan Heritage.

In his blog entry entitled: Hindraf, Hindraf, Hindraf! he wrote: "Not a tear will I shed, Not a drop of blood will I cause split!

"I was born in this bumi/land. I am anak buah Malaysia! Have I been marginalised? No! I am a Hindu and have been & been to many Temples my Land!

"I have been not given a place in University? No! Three times I have been enrolled! Bachelor of Arts (Literature & Drama in Bahasa & English, with Sanskrit & Tamil Literature as minors) - graduated with Honours - Universiti Malaya 1977. Further Certificate in Legal Practice (The CLP), Universiti Malaya in 1986. Masters in Law (LLM) in 2000, University Malaya (I withdrew for personal reasons)."

Jeyapalan was educated at the Methodist Boys School, Kuala Lumpur (Standard 1 to Form 6! and was offered a place in the elite Royal Military College (RMC) in 1969, but his father did not give permission because he believed that it is his destiny to be a man of the Laws not to carry weapons!

"Was I never offered a Scholarship? Was too, many, but was/am very independant and refused!

"Am I anti Government! No! because The Executive is the fundamental triparte bastion of Malaysian Democracy! But I am always "quarelling" with Government, such that when I appear in a Government Department, things get down (for my people - Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Muruts, Eurasians, Peranakan etc).

"In my heart & soul, the rich tapestry of our cultures is so imbedded with our heritage that even when I am travelling along our roads, past padi fields, past plantations, I feel the sense of history & blessedness this Bumi emmanates!

Jeyapalan said there were many imbalances, many injustices, many faults - but that's human. All matters can be resolved by those who have the ability, by dialogue & "harrasment", until the authorities relent. Proper & clever use of the law and talking will overcome.

"If I one person, with a whole lot of friends (network) can achieve these, without street confrontation, and especially when I do not have the financial resources, so can other Indians (read HINDRAF)."

He said he is very proud of by Heritage (Raja Cholan Indian/Hindu) but he is Malaysian first!

"I am very proud to be a subject of MY KING (DYMM YANG DI PERTUAN AGONG) & I will never give allegience to a Sovereign of another Land!

"Talk, discuss, suggest, keep plugging, my friends: Uthayakumar & Manogaran, but please not the streets!"

http://jeyapalantsmahesan.blogspot.com

Malaysia is NOT Sri Lanka

A gentleman (I hope I am right) by the name of Sudhir Chadda wrote in India Daily that the situation (ill-treatment of ethnic Indians in Malaysia) is far graver than understood. He was responding to the so-called 'ill-treatment and ethnic cleansing' of Indians in Malaysia as claimed by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force).

"India faces another erupting 'Sri Lanka' in Malaysia. The problem in Sri Lanka is the manifestation of a majority ethnic community continuing centuries of human rights abuse and discrimination on a minority ethnic group. India as a country did little to support the Tamils that want justice. Now it is too late. The civil war in Sri Lanka is real," Chadda added.

He claimed that a similar situation "is arising in Malaysia."

"The Indian communities in Malaysia are abused for centuries. The human rights abuse goes well beyond a few cases. It is an attempt by the majority ethnic groups to literally exterminate the Indian ethnicity in Malaysia," Chadda wrote.

He said India must rise and tell the Malaysian authorities that human rights of Indian ethnic communities will not be tolerated.

"India should threaten militarily and economically. Fiscal, trade and diplomatic boycott is the first step.

"Indian Navy should be authorised to use all means including serious blockades to make the Malaysian authorities know that India will not tolerate ethnic abuse of Indians in Malaysia," he said.

Chadda added that "Malaysian authorities do not understand the slogan of decency. They do understand the tone of military threat. It is time India moves for the Indians. It is time India tells the world stop abusing Indians.

Now, who is this Chadda fellow trying to scare with military threats and naval blockades? Podah!

Well for his information, since he is misinformed and confused and hopefully not insane person, you cannot compare Malaysia with the situation in Sri Lanka. By claiming that 'a similar situation is arising in Malaysia' clearly indicates that you are 'nuts'.

Malaysians in general, Indian-Malaysians included, were fed up and annoyed with the wild accusations hurled by Hindraf especially on the ethnic cleansing.

There are Indian-Malaysian ministers, deputy-ministers, parliamentary secretaries, senior civil servants, senior military and police officers, senior judiciary officers, business tycoons, multi-millionaires and even billionaires, there are Tamil schools (which one cannot find in Singapore) and Hindu temples constructed legally in all Malaysian states.

In Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur you can see the tallest standing statue of the popular (especially in Tamil Nadu) Hindu God, Murugan, which you cannot find such a majestic statue in other non-Hindu countries outside India (Tamil Nadu).

As for calling on the Indian government to 'intervene' including with military threat, Chadda must be reminded that we are not living in the stone age or the era when powerful empires went on world conquest. The United States had done that and now they are suffering in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We are not talking about Indian nationals living or working in Malaysia. We are talking of Indian-Malaysians. They are not citizens of India. They are Malaysian citizens.

India has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of another country unless it is a security or economic threat to India. New Delhi should mind it's own business and refrain from meddling in another country's internal affairs. In the past, India had one way or the other interfered in their regional neighbours' internal affairs such as in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tibet and even China.

For the record, the majority of Indian-Malaysians are loyal, dedicated and good citizens of Malaysia. They had and continue to contribute to the economic and social developments of Malaysia. Hindraf, I believed, did not represent the majority but a minority voice of Malaysian Hindus, not even Malaysian Indians in general bearing in mind there are Tamil Muslims, Gujerati Hindus and Muslims, Punjabi Sikhs and Muslims and the Malayalee Hindus and Muslims.

The Malaysian poor

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Poverty is still or remains the major problem faced by Malaysians, irrespective of race or ethnic background. Lack of education, the key to all opportunities, is another problem although the administration is providing 'free' education.

Whether we like it or not, we still face some social problems because the poor make up most of the bottom 40 per cent.

Many Malay, Indian, Chinese and the Bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak have not been able to overcome the cycle of poverty. Things are not going to be rosy next year when prices of essential goods are going up and up. Blame it on crude oil.

Malays had high numbers of drug addictions while Indians and Chinese continues to face public employment blues and the question of just, equal and fair opportunities, as raised now and then by their community leaders.

Children of the poor - Malays, Indians, Chinese and other Bumiputeras dropped out of the educational system prematurely.

These are the problems of the Malaysian poor, not of the Malay, Indian or Chinese poor, but the Malaysian poor.

The Malaysian poor are suffering in silence and most of the time, forgotten. They could not afford to be in the big city to march to palaces or to foreign embassies to seek assistance or the attention of The White House or the occupant of No. 10 Downing Street, London or the Chief Minister of a foreign country to "intervene".

Any one care to walk with the Malaysian poor?

Hindraf sebenarnya mewakili siapa?

Perhimpunan tanpa kebenaran dan yang membelakangi perintah mahkamah anjuran apa yang disebut sebagai Hindraf atau Hindu Rights Action Force menimbulkan banyak persoalan yang perlu dihuraikan satu persatu.

Persoalan pokok - Hindraf mewakili siapa?

Jika para pemimpinnya mendakwa mereka mewakili masyarakat India yang menjadi mangsa perpindahan secara paksa untuk dijadikan pekerja (hamba) di Malaya oleh pihak Inggeris, maka dakwaan mereka adalah salah sama sekali.

Hindraf tidak mewakili masyarakat India mahupun kaum Tamil. Hindraf sebenarnya mewakili penganut agama Hindu dan bukan semua kaum Tamil beragama Hindu dan kaum-kaum lain di India seperti Telegu, Malayalee, Gujarati dan Brahmin juga ramai yang beragama Hindu.

Perlu diingatkan bahawa ramai orang India yang beragama Islam telah dibawa masuk ke Malaya, terutama ke Pulau Pinang, oleh pihak Inggeris sebagai anggota tentera khususnya yang bergelar Sepoi dan Chulia. Sebilangan besar masyarakat India Muslim yang ada di Malaysia hari ini adalah anak-cucu mereka. Sudah tentu Hindraf tidak mewakili mereka dan merekapun tidak mahu diwakili oleh Hindraf dan sudah tentu tidak menyokong Hindraf atas dasar agama.

Selain masyarakat India Muslim, pihak Inggeris membawa masuk askar Punjabi yang majoritinya beragama Sikh untuk berkhidmat di Malaya. Ada juga orang Punjabi yang beragama Islam dan ada juga yang beragama Hindu. Selain berkhidmat sebagai anggota tentera dan polis, orang Punjabi juga terkenal sebagai penternak lembu susu dan sebagai pengawal keselamatan atau jaga, satu ketika dahulu. Ramai anak cucu mereka yang berjaya dalam kehidupan di Malaysia sebagai doktor, peguam dan ahli profesional lain. Mereka juga tidak diwakili oleh Hindraf atau menyokong Hindraf.

Jika mereka yang mendalangi Hindraf benar-benar jujur dan ikhlas untuk memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat atau warga Malaysia keturunan India, kenapa mengambil pendekatan keagamaan? Tidakkah mereka tahu bahawa bukan semua masyarakat India di Malaysia beragama Hindu? Atau mereka sengaja memainkan sentimen agama untuk memporak-perandakan kestabilan negara dan memburuk-burukkan nama Malaysia.

Ini jelas jika dilihat dari isi kandungan surat yang dikatakan dihantar oleh Hindraf kepada perdana menteri Britain yang antara lain melemparkan fitnah bahawa telah berlaku pemusnahan etnik (ke atas masyarakat India) di Malaysia. Mereka juga menuduh ianya dilakukan oleh 'gangster' atau pelampau Melayu yang beragama Islam. Mereka juga mendesak supaya Malaysia diheret ke Mahkamah Dunia untuk diadili.

Jelas sekali Hindraf cuba bermain dengan api perkauman dan keagamaan, sesuatu yang amat berbahaya bagi sebuah negara berbilang bangsa, budaya dan agama. Dalam hubungan ini, saya menyokong agar kerajaan mengambil tindakan sewajarnya ke atas mereka yang bertanggungjawab termasuk menggunakan undang-undang keselamatan dalam negeri. Kita tidak boleh membiarkan bara ditiup menjadi api.

Bayangkan apa akan terjadi sekiranya ada pihak lain mengadakan perhimpunan balas untuk mempertahankan agama Islam yang telah dikaitkan secara fitnah oleh surat yang dihantar kepada perdana menteri Britain itu.

Jangan bermain api. Fikir-fikirkanlah!

We were shown in bad light, says ZAM

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said Al-Jazeera's framing of events (in reference to the Nov 10 Bersih assembly and walk to Istana Negara to hand over its memorandum to the palace) portrayed Malaysia as an oppressive regime when "we are a progressive country that accepts and embraces democracy and modern values".

In a letter published by the New Straits Times daily today, Zainuddin said that "to make matters worse, it interviewed someone who is a card-carrying member of the opposition Democratic Action Party and misrepresented him as an independent journalist. (ZAM is referring to blogger Jeff Ooi, a long-serving Gerakan party activist, a component member of the ruling Barisan Nasional, who had recently crossed over to the DAP).

ZAM wrote the letter (reply) in reference to Tunku Abdul Aziz's comments entitled "Wrong to link the king to demo' (NST, Nov 18).

"I would like to state that we should consider ourselves fortunate that Al Jazeera presented us the opportunity to make known to it that we understand its role and goals. The interview during the Nov 10 illegal demonstration has exposed its perception of Malaysia and given the opportunity for me to correct its interpretation," he wrote.

ZAM claimed that the core of the problem with Al-Jazeera's reporting of the assembly organised by Bersih, was its lack of understanding of Malaysian history. (Peaceful demonstration were part of Malaysian history - eg to oppose Malayan Union and Communism and the visit of Condoleesa Rice where it was led by none other than Khairy Jamaluddin, the deputy Umno Youth leader and son-in-law of the Prime Minister)

"We were among the first in Asia to embrace free enterprise and free media, and a glance at our economic system would have shown that we had structured ourselves according to Western economic, financial and social precepts since independence.

"We are a free democracy and there is no need for it to present us as otherwise to the world, especially to Middle east viewers, which form the core of its audience."

On that background, ZAM thought it was clear that Al-Jazeera's reporting was 'provocative and questions from the anchor person were designed to force us to justify an illegal assembly'.

ZAM also claimed that he spoke clearly and directly, and while his presentation might not have been eloquent, it was something that needed to be said.

"I did not regret speaking to Al Jazeera. In fact, as the information minister, I felt that I had taken a golden opportunity to discharge my duty, by showing Malaysians that Al Jazeera was not the last word in fair and balanced reporting.

"But maybe those who are blinded by the image of Western democracy might not be able to see the true colours," ZAM concluded.

Please refer to New Straits Times (Nov 26) page 23 for the full text of ZAM's letter.

Kenapa pilih hari cuti untuk serah memo?

Perhimpunan dan perarakan yang dianjurkan oleh kumpulan yang dikenali sebagai Hindraf untuk menyerah satu memorandum kepada Suruhanjaya Tinggi United Kingdom di Kuala Lumpur menimbulkan sedikit syak dan wasangka.

Kumpulan itu berhak untuk menyerahkan memorandum kepada mana-mana pihak termasuk kepada perwakilan asing. Itu tidak perlu dipersoalkan. Mereka juga berhak untuk berkumpul dan berarak secara aman mengikut undang-undang negara, iaitu dengan memperolehi permit daripada pihak polis. Suka atau tidak, ini adalah undang-undang dan peraturan di negara ini, sama ada ia bertepatan dengan hak dan kebebasan adalah satu perkara lain.

Dalam barisan kepimpinan Hindraf terdapat beberapa orang peguam dan selaku pegawai mahkamah, mereka harus dan semestinya menghormati perintah mahkamah yang melarang perhimpunan itu. Perintah mahkamah mesti dipatuhi.

Hindraf telah mengemukakan tuntutan melalui proses undang-undang di United Kingdom untuk mendapatkan apa yang disebutnya sebagai ganti rugi kerana pihak berkuasa Inggeris telah membawa orang India ke Tanah Melayu sebagai buruh dan pekerja am. Pihak Inggeris dikatakan tidak memberi hak dan layanan sewajarnya kepada orang India, iaitu nenek moyang orang India-Malaysia yang ada sekarang. Butiran lanjut mengenai isu ini boleh diperolehi dari laman-laman sesawang tertentu dan media lain.

Tetapi, kenapa memilih hari cuti am, iaitu hari Ahad untuk berkumpul dan menyerah memorandum tersebut? Setahu saya, pejabat Suruhanjaya Tinggi United Kingdom dan pejabat-pejabat perwakilan asing di Kuala Lumpur ditutup pada hari cuti am. Jadi kepada siapa Hindraf nak serah memorandum itu? Ini yang menjadi persoalan.

Kita tidak boleh samakan apa yang dilakukan oleh sekumpulan NGO yang bergelar Bersih dengan apa yang dilakukan oleh Hindraf. Tindakan bersih ada hubung kaitnya dengan kerajaan atau sistem pentadbiran Malaysia manakala tindakan Hindraf tiada kaitan dengan kerajaan Malaysia tetapi dituju khusus kepada pentadbiran Inggeris di London. Apakah tidak memadai dengan tindakan undang-undang yang diambil di London sehingga memerlukan satu perhimpunan dan perarakan untuk menyerah satu memorandum di Kuala Lumpur pada hari pejabat Suruhanjaya Tinggi UK ditutup?

Memorandum itu, mengikut laporan, kemudiannya dihantar melalui faksimili. Jadi, apa perlunya perhimpunan ramai?

Apa tujuan sebenar Hindraf berbuat demikian? Apakah perlu dikerah sebegitu ramai masyarakat dari satu kaum dan satu agama untuk berbuat demikian di Kuala Lumpur? Kalau marahkan pihak Inggeris kenapa negara sendiri yang dijadikan mangsa? Bukankah para peniaga dan industri pelancongan seperti hotel dan sektor pengangkutan awam di Kuala Lumpur yang menanggung rugi atas perbuatan itu sedangkan mereka tiada kaitan dengan apa yang dituntut oleh Hindraf.

Ada perkara dan ada tindakan yang boleh disokong dan ada pula yang tidak. Hak dan kebebasan mutlak tidak wujud walau dimana sekalipun di dunia ini.

Happy Birthday Aimar

My grandson Aimar is four years young. He celebrated his birthday with his multi racial friends at a kid's club in Sri Hartamas on Saturday, Nov 24. I was touched to see young parents, Malays, Chinese and Indians, with their lovely children enjoying themselves as one big Malaysian family. It is my wish and hope that all of them will live in a peaceful coexistence in a truly free, united and prosperous Malaysia.

Another portion of Ampang forest to be cleared

Malaysian Assurance Alliance (MAA) is seeking approval to develop some 62.5 acres of forest running from Menara Mutiara in Taman Tun Abdul Razak to Jalan Ulu Klang. The proposed development includes 460 units of shop-offices and 149 bungalow lots.

The development is on the same ridge with the same unstable soil and rock that caused the collapses of the Highland Towers condominium in 1993 and the home of former Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Gen. (Ret) Tan Sri Ismail Omar in Taman Hillview in 2002.

The land on the proposed site, however, is even steeper with 70 percent having slopes higher than 20 degrees. According to the Selangor State Structure Plan, this land is 'high risk' (meaning prone to erosion and landslides) and according to Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ or Ampang Jaya Municipal Council), the local authority's structure plan, it is 'environmentally sensitive' and thus should not be developed.

The developer intends to cut down the trees, cut off the tops of hills, blast out large boulders (the developer's report shows 216,875 cubic metres of rock will be blasted), fill up the valleys with the cut earth, put up a number of large retaining walls (the highest 20 metres) in order to level the land and produce platform building lots. In 'environmentally sensitive' areas, this 'cut and fill' approach to preparing land for development and using 'blasting' to remove boulders, contravene both the Selangor State and MPAJ Structure Plans.

Although the Jabatan Alam Sekitar or the Department of Environment states that no development will be allowed in areas where there are existing bodies of water, it is clear that MAA plans would disrupt the flow of natural streams in the development area, undermining the stability of the soil. This can lead to serious landslides and was a factor in the Highland Towers tragedy.

On 8th February 2006, the MPAJ gave conditional approval for this project.

Legal Counsel representing a group of area residents who have been working over the past three years to ensure that any development on the above sites is consistent with the Selangor State and MPAJ Structure Plans, filed an appeal and on the 27th Dec 2006, the Appeal Board ruled that the MPAJ had to hold a new hearing . Two hearings were held - on 5th March 2007 and again on 26th Sept. 2007. In spite of engaging lawyers for the hearings, it appears that MPAJ may approve this latest application for development.

The topography of the lush green hills will be completely destroyed, along with the flora and fauna found in this habitat.

The authorities must be reminded that several previous landslides along the Ulu Klang hills occurred as a result of collapsing retaining walls. The most recent is the disaster at Kampung Bukit Pasir /Zooview in May 2006.

The authorities should not blame "Act of God" if rapid erosions resulting in floods and landslides causing injuries and even deaths to surrounding neighbourhoods, due to the development, if approved.

HELP SAVE THE HILLS AND THE ENVIRONMENT - MR KARAM SINGH WALIA.

ZAM on the way out?

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin's latest blunder, I was told, could be his last ministerial act, emotionally that is.

Zainuddin or ZAM to fellow journalists, is on leave in the United Kingdom. Sources said he was asked to go on leave by prime minister Abdullah Ahmad (Badawi) following his now famous reaction when interviewed on the phone by Al-Jazeera.

Although the next general elections (not erection, please) is speculated to be called before April 2008, it is understood that PM Abdullah will drop (some say sack) ZAM as information minister and as the ruling party's candidate for Merbok parliamentary constituency in Kedah.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs minister and former long-serving Parliamentary Secretary to the Information Ministry, Shapie Afdal, is holding the fort as acting information minister.

ZAM's blunder was brought to Abdullah's attention by his close friend and confidante who is now a controversial high-flying corporate figure.

If the above infomation is authentic, I believed that Malaysians in general and I for one will not cry!

ZAM or his ministerial aides are welcomed to contact me to clarify or deny this information.

BN facing uphill task in Penang

I was in Penang for a short visit to gather some information on the local political development. What caught me by surprise was a statement by a 70-year-old Malay from Kepala Batas, the constituency of prime minister Abdullah Ahmad (Badawi).

The man told me that more and more people in Kepala Batas are not happy with Abdullah for various reasons. To be fair to Abdullah, some of the reasons mentioned are out of his control such as the ever increasing cost of living, although many will argue that the government is responsible. It is debatable.

I asked him whether Abdullah can retain his seat in the coming general elections? He answered 'yes' but with a reduced majority. Will he vote for Abdullah? Without doubt he said 'no'.

Penangites that I talk to agreed that the Barisan Nasional (BN) will face an uphill task to be re-elected as the state government. A majority of Penang Malays are not happy with UMNO while the most of the Chinese that supported the BN in the 2004 elections, will swing to the opposition DAP.

Bread and butter issues and marginalisation of races are the main grouses.

Bekas anggota X-Factor temui ayah selepas 25 tahun

Bekas anggota kumpulan nyanyian X-Factor, Faizal Eshak, akhirnya menemui ayah kandungnya, Eshak Othman selepas berpisah selama 25 tahun.

Faizal terputus hubungan dengan ayah kandungnya ketika berusia lapan bulan berikutan perpisahan ibu dan ayahnya.

Atas naluri seorang anak yang ingin menemui dan menatap wajah ayah kandungnya, Faizal, yang kini bertugas dengan sebuah syarikat khidmat tempahan hotel antarabangsa di Kuala Lumpur, berusaha menjejaknya sebelum bulan Ramadan lepas.

Beliau mendapatkan bantuan sebuah jabatan kerajaan di Putrajaya yang berjaya memperolehi nama dan alamat dua orang saudaranya yang berlainan ibu di Pulau Pinang, iaitu salah seorang abangnya Wan Salmizan, 30, dan adik perempuannya, Salina, 24.

Selepas puas menjejaki ayahnya, akhirnya Faizal berjaya menghubunginya di Pulau Pinang.

Pada 18 November lalu (Ahad), Faizal menghubungi ayahnya yang kemudian menghubungi abangnya, Wan Salmizan untuk betemu muka di sebuah hotel antarabangsa di Persiaran Gurney tanpa memberitahu apa tujuannya. Wan Salmizan agak risau lalu menghubungi abangnya Wan Salman dan adiknya Wan Salmizi untuk sama-sama ke Hotel Evergreen Laurel seperti yang diminta oleh ayah mereka.

Apabila tiba di sana barulah mereka tahu tujuannya.

Faizal agak terperanjat mendapat tahu bahawa beliau mempunyai empat orang abang, empat orang kakak dan seorang adik perempuan yang berlainan ibu.

Keluarganya agak besar kerana ayahnya, Eshak, seorang mekanik yang kini menetap di Tasik Gelugor, Seberang Perai, berkahwin sebanyak empat kali. Pernikahan dengan isteri pertama ketika berusia 20 tahun dikurniai tiga orang anak, seorang lelaki dan dua orang perempuan; pernikahan kali kedua dikurniai lima orang anak iaiu tiga lelaki dan dua perempuan; pernikahan kali ketiga menghasilkan seorang anak lelaki iaitu Faizal manakala pernikahan kali keempat yang kekal hingga sekarang diberkati dengan seorang anak perempuan.

Faizal merakamkan rasa syukur dan gembira kerana bukan sahaja dapat bertemu wajah dengan ayah kandungnya tetapi dapat bertemu dengan empat orang abangnya, Abdul Wahab, Wan Salman, Wan Salmizan dan Wan Salmizi serta adik perempuannya Salina dan kakak-kakak ipar serta anak-anak saudaranya.

Dia berharap dan berdoa untuk bertemu empat orang kakaknya yang tidak pernah ditemui apatah lagi dikenali. Semoga niat baik seorang adik untuk bertemu kakaknya itu akan berhasil dengan izin Allah.

Unmaking of Malaysia - a best seller

I visited several book shops in Kuala Lumpur today hoping to purchase a few copies of the recently released book - Unmaking of Malaysia by Ahmad Mustapha Hassan - only to be told that 'stok dah habis ' or out of stock.

The last book shop that I went to, Kinokuniya at KLCC, sold all its stock of 30 books and is awaiting new stock. The bookshop assistant told me that several customers were disappointed and asked why only 30 books were offered for sale. Yes, why only 30?

The book is being sought like 'pisang goreng panas' or like hot cakes and is definitely to be a best seller.

Here Datuk, there Datuk, everywhere Datuk

From February next year, another 'authority' will be bestowing datukships and what have you to title hungry Malaysians. I was told that lobbyists are hard at work to try to influence the powers that be on who should be awarded datukships. Among politicians and businessmen, the man to 'befriend' is none other than Federal Territory Minister Zulhasnan Rafique since the new authority is the Federal Territory (KL, Putrajaya and Labuan). It is not necessary since the Federal Government has been awarding medals and titles in conjunction with the official birthday of the Agong. Federal Territory is under the Federal Government and not a 'sovereign' state under the Federation.

It is simply not enought for the 13 states and the federal government awarding various medals and titles to 'deserving' Malaysians . Well, money is not a problem, I was told. Malaysia is a rich country. We can afford the investitature ceremonies and the various 'official birthday' celebrations where such awards are given.

While serving the government in 2003, I knew that the Cabinet had in November asked newly appointed prime minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad (Badawi) to convey the Federal Government's views on the award of medals and titles to the Conference of Rulers. The move was to enable the PM to give his opinion on the matter so that conferment of medals and titles would be more orderly, professional and respected in future. Did the PM convey the government's message to the Rulers? I don't know but I doubt it.

In that year (2003), the issue was hotly debated following reports that too many people have been receiving medals and titles, including datukships, and even claims of 'buying and selling' in certain states .

The then minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Rais Yatim even proposed that state governments impose conditions or criteria for bestowing awards and medals. He also proposed that the criteria be made public. So far, nothing.

Well, can you blame the hotel doorman from addressing you 'datuk'? A doorman told me that it is 'safe' to do so since he does not know the 'status' of the guess entering the hotel lobby. He said everyone will be happy to be called 'datuk' although on one occasion, he was ticked off for calling a Tan Sri just 'datuk'.

Pak Lah is a 'disappointment' says Ahmad Mustapha

The blogger with Ahmad Mustapha Hassan, then General Manager of Bernama. Pix recorded in 1980.



Former General Manager of Malaysia National News Agency (Bernama), Ahmad Mustapha Hassan strongly expressed his disappointment with the failed leadership of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad (Badawi) or Pak Lah.

Ahmad Mustapha said Pak Lah had failed in his 'mending mission'. Malaysia's leading on-line news portal, malaysiakini.com, quoted Ahmad Mustapha as saying that in his book The Unmaking of Malaysia, to be launched today by former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam.

Ahmad Mustapha, 71, had served as press secretary to two former prime ministers, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (then deputy prime minister). He told malaysiakini.com that Pak Lah had to embark on a mending mission as he inherited a country with a lopsided social and economic structure. Abdullah had reverted back to Tun Razak's aim of tackling rural poverty.

"He opted to go back to Razak's original version of eradicating poverty first." Ahmad Mustapha is Mahathir's nephew.

On Pak Lah's 'mending' mission, Ahmad Mustapha said "he started off well, with catchphrases like 'work with me' but no action had been taken. Okay, we sent someone to space but what is there?

"I also thought he would spend more time in the country, particularly in rural areas. But no, he spends more time overseas," he added.

On Dr Mahathir, Ahmad Mustapha said the former prime minister was an "aloof" person and a "man in a hurry." Mahathir had disregarded rules and regulations and broke away from the pattern set by his predecessors.

This is the Information Minister of Malaysia speaking...

The Information Ministry (Malaysia) is not happy with the live coverage of Saturday's peaceful gathering or procession (some described it as a protest) by some 40,000 Malaysians (multi-racial) organised by a non-governmental organization, BERSIH, and supported by several political (opposition) parties. The protest was called in support of BERSIH's intention to submit a memorandum to the Malaysian Supreme Ruler at Istana Negara (National Palace). Following is the transcript of the telephone interview that Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin, former journalist with a Malay language daily, gave to Al-Jazeera tv news network. The transcript is from idlethink.com.

"...I commend your journalists trying to project, to exaggerate more than what actually happened. That, that, that, that's it. We, we are not, the, the (unclear what he said) and I, I congratulate your journalists behaving like an actor, that, that's (unclear what he said)", Malaysia Minister of Information Zainuddin Maidin (ZAM) told Doha-based TV Network Al-Jazeera on Saturday, 10.11.07.

Al-Jazeera: As you say that, sir, we're watching scenes of protesters being sprayed by chemical-filled water ...

ZAM: Ya, I am watching, I hear, (unclear what he said) trying to do it everywhere but in Malaysia people are allowed, to, you know .......... Police have allowed the procession to go to the Istana Negara, you know, do police, first police, like, they handle them, they ...... them, they ..... the police don't, don't, don't fire anybody ...

Al-Jazeera: Our correspondent came back to the office, sir, with chemicals in his eyes!

ZAM: ...You, you, you, you are here with the idea, you are trying to project, what is your mjind, you think that we are Pakistan, we are Burma, we are Myanmar, everything you, you are thinking ...

Al-Jazeera: Well unfortunately when you refuse to let people protest, it does appear so ...

ZAM: ...Ya, ya, we are not like you, you have early perception, you come here, you want to project us like undemocratic country. This is a democratic country!

Al-Jazeera: So why can't people protest then, if it's a democratic country?

ZAM: Ya, people protest, people then ... first they protest, we are allowing protests, and they have demonstrated. But we just trying to disperse them and then later they, you know, disperse, but later our police compromise. They have compromised and allowed them to proceed to Istana Negara. Police, our police have succeeded in handling them gently, right? Why do you report that and you take the opposition, someone from opposition party you ask him to speak, you don't take from the government, right?

Al-Jazeera: Why did you not break up these protesters ...
ZAM: Pardon? Pardon? Pardon?
Al-Jazeera: Why did you not break up these protests more peacefully?
ZAM: I can't hear you. I can't hear you.
Al-Jazeera: Why did you not break up these protests more peacefully?
ZAM: No we, we are, we, this protest is illegal. We don't want, this, the, normally ...
Al-Jazeera: OK, so let me return to my former question. Why is this protest illegal?
ZAM: Ya it's illegal protest bacause...
Al-Jazeera: Why?

ZAM: We have the election in Malaysia. It's no, no point on having the protest, we are allowing to have every, an election every five years, never fail. We not our like, are not like Myanmar, not like other country. And, and you are helping this. You Al-Jazeera also is helping this, this forces, the, you know, these forces are are not (unclear what he said), who don't believe in (unclear what he said)...

Al-Jazeera: I don't ... many thanks for joining us.
ZAM: I don't, ya, you Jazeera, this is, is Al-Jazeera attitude. Right?

Well.. what can I say... that was Malaysia's Minister of Information speaking... please do not cry... Malaysia Boleh!

Menteri Penerangan mesti bersikap rasional bukan emosional

Sejak Malaysia mencapai kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos, 1957 hingga kini, tokoh-tokoh yang berkaliber dan kena pada masanya telah menerajui Kementerian Penerangan yang juga turut mempunyai beberapa nama sebelum dikekalkan sebagai Penerangan sahaja.

Mereka yang dilihat berjaya menerajui kementerian berkenaan termasuklah Almarhum Tan Sri Senu Abdul Rahman, Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim dan Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat. Nama mereka boleh dikatakan sinonim dengan kementerian yang diterajui.

Kebelakangan ini, sejak seorang mantan wartawan yang jelas 'bercelaru' apabila bertutur dalam bahasa Inggeris, dilantik menerajui Kementerian Penerangan, lain pula halnya.

Oh ya, Kementerian Penerangan yang ada sekarang sudahpun kehilangan taring apabila 'kuasanya' ke atas urusan kawal selia industri komunikasi (radio dan tv khususnya) diserahkan kepada sebuah kementerian lain dan sebuah agensi yang bertanggungjawab ke atas kemajuan industri perfileman, FINAS, juga dipindahkan. Yang ada hanyalah Jabatan Penyiaran, Jabatan Penerangan, Filem Negara, JASA dan Bernama.

Menteri Penerangan yang ada sekarang sering kali beremosional apabila menghadapi sesuatu perkara yang agak serius. Sikap sedemikian memperlihatkan 'kematangannya' dalam menangani sesuatu isu. Apabila kita bersikap emosional, maka jawapan atau tindak balas kita akan menjadi tidak rasional. Perkara ini pernah dihadapi oleh para wartawan Malaysiakini dan yang terbaru oleh pihak stesen berita tv antarabangsa, Aljazeera.

Kerajaan Malaysia seharusnya berterima kasih kepada Aljazeera kerana memilih Kuala Lumpur sebagai pusat penyiarannya bagi kawasan Asia. Kehadiran Aljazeera sekurang-kurangnya menyelamatkan maruah kita setelah kita gagal memikat CNN, CNBC, BBC, Reuters dan AFP untuk menempatkan pejabat serantau mereka di sini dengan mengaitkan pembangunan Koridor Raya Multimedia. Mereka memilih Singapura walaupun negara itu dikatakan lebih ketat mengawal media.

Menteri Penerangan begitu emosional apabila memperkatakan soal 'tunjuk perasaan' seperti yang disiarkan oleh media 'rasmi' dalam satu temubual selepas perhimpunan agung UMNO termasuk mengungkit isu Baling dan bantahan pelajar semasa dipimpin oleh Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Tetapi, apa yang berlaku pada petang Sabtu bukanlan satu tunjuk perasaan dan perkara ini terbukti benar. Perhimpunan aman bukan tunjuk perasaan dan sikap agresif pihak tertentu telah menjadikan keadaan di sekitar kawasan Masjid Jamek KL kelam kabut. Ia bukan satu rusuhan seperti yang cuba digembar-gemburkan oleh pihak tertentu. Perjalanan mereka disekat, mereka disembur dengan gas pemedih mata dan tembakan air berkimia. Apakah ini perlu dilakukan?

Kita boleh menafikan hak rakyat Malaysia untuk mendapatkan gambaran sebenar melalui kawalan ke atas media tempatan, tetapi, kita tidak boleh menyekat seantero dunia daripada melihat apa yang sedang berlaku di Malaysia kerana kita berada dalam era Internet dan siaran berita melalui satelit.

Kita seharusnya bersikap rasional, bukan emosional.

Terkini: Kementerian Penerangan nak hantar surat teguran rasmi kepada Aljazeera kerana stesen tv antarabangsa itu didawaka membuat laporan berat sebelah mengenai perhimpunan Bersih Sabtu lalu.

Berat sebelah? Apakah jika laporan yang dibuat lebih tepat dan profesional daripada media tempatan yang jelas tidak memihak kepada 'pendirian pemerintah' dikira berat sebelah?

Aljazeera juga dituduh 'berkonspirasi' dengan pihak pembangkang dengan melaporkan sumber daripada penulis blog, Jeff Ooi, mantan ahli parti Gerakan yang baru-baru ini melompat masuk DAP. Hujah ini boleh diterima dan Aljazeera sepatutnya menemubual seorang dua penyokong kerajaan untuk lebih adil.

Mahu tidak mahu, kita harus menerima hakikat bahawa pihak polis tidak seharusnya bertindak seperti mana yang dilakukannya di sekitar Masjid Jamek KL. Tidak timbul soal keganasan atau ancaman terhadap ketenteraman awam memandangkan polis sudahpun mengadakan kawalan ketat di semua pintu masuk ke arah dataran Merdeka. Polis sememangnya ada menggunakan kekerasan dan ini diakui oleh pihak Majlis Peguam. Fakta ini tidak dilaporkan oleh media yang berkaitan parti pemerintah.

Kenyataan Pesuruhjaya Hak Asasi Manusia yang juga mantan setiausaha agung NUTP yang menyebut bahawa polis tidak menggunakan sebarang senjata dan kekerasan didapati tidak tepat. Dia (Siva) tidak berada di semua tempat untuk berkata demikian. Mungkin dihadapannya perkara itu tidak berlaku dan Siva menegaskan demikian tetapi tidak dilaporkan sedemikian.

Menteri Penerangan Zainuddin Maidin berkata Aljazeera sepatutnya berterima kasih kepada kerajaan Malaysia yang memberi tempat kepada agensi itu untuk beroperasi. Yang sepatutnya, kerajaan Malaysia harus berterima kasih kepada Aljazeera kerana memilih Kuala Lumpur dan dengan sendirinya memberi publisiti yang cukup meluas kepada Malaysia. ZAM harus sedar bahawa beberapa kota besar lain termasuk Hong Kong, Bangkok dan Jakarta telah memancing Aljazeera untuk membuka pejabat serantau di sana. Jika KL tidak mahu menerima kehadiran Aljazeera, saya pasti kota-kota raya tersebut akan menerimanya dengan tangan terbuka.

Sekali lagi saya perlu ingatkan, kita mesti bersikap rasional dan bukan emosional.

Grand-old-man of Penang dies

The late Datuk S.M. Aidid, centre, with the late Tan Sri Syed Abbas Alhabshee, right, welcoming former Chief Minister Of Penang the late Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee to inaugurate the annual meeting of the Malay Chamber of Commerce, Penang. The picture was taken in early 1960s.

ALFATIHAH.

Founder-member of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and former treasurer of the National Malay Chamber of Commerce (Malaya), Datuk Syed Murtadza bin Syed Mahdzar Aidid or better known as Datuk S.M. Aidid, returned to the Mercy of Allah, today at his residence in Gelugor, Penang. He was 105 years old.

Datuk S.M. Aidid is the father of businessman and former president of the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU), former chairman of the Penang Port Commission (PPC) and former leader of the Bukit Bendera UMNO division, Datuk Syed Mohamad Aidid, 59.

May the blessings of Allah be upon his soul. Ameen.

UMNO terus dengan dendangan irama yang sama

Sama ada ianya disebut sebagai perhimpunan agung atau persidangan perwakilan atau nama apa sekalipun, ia tetap menghidangkan pelbagai selera untuk mereka yang berkampung di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (akronim bahasa Inggerisnya PWTC) setiap kali ia diadakan.

Selain menjadi pentas untuk anggota perwakilan yang bernasib baik dipilih oleh badan perhubungan masing-masing untuk berucap dan menonjolkan kepintaran berpidato, berpantun atau berseloka dan sesekali berjenaka, ia juga merupakan pelantar bagi mereka yang duduk di atas pentas untuk mendekati ahli di akar umbi. Semuanya menunjukkan muka manis, muka alim dan muka bersih.

Pertemuan kali ini tidak sebegitu hebat dan hangat kerana tiada pemilihan di peringkat Majlis Tertingi (MT) dan tiadalah habuan atau sogokan untuk para perwakilan dalam usaha mereka yang ingin menang dan meraih sokongan atau undi. Rebutan untuk menjadi anggota perwakilan juga hampir tiada.

Setiap kali persidangan berakhir, maka presiden parti dan timbalannya akan memuji para perwakilan dengan kata-kata yang sedap didengar seperti 'mutu perbahsan amat baik' atau hujah-hujah yang diketengahkan 'cukup matang' dan sebegainya. Dalam erti kata lain, semuanya baik belaka, itulah keadaannya.

Isu-isu tidak berapa penting masih dibangkitkan walaupun peredaran kemajuan sarwajagat yang turut berlaku di bumi bertuah bernama Malaysia ini menjadikannya tidak penting. Masih ramai yang tidak memahami atau sengaja buat-buat tak tahu tentang ledakan era Internet dan kemunculan media bentuk baru. Ianya dijadikan sasaran kritikan dan hentaman termasuk oleh ketua Puteri yang belum tentu dapat diterima oleh sayap Wanita.

Penulis blog yang di 'cop' sebagai 'goblok' dan pendokong parti pembangkang turut menjadi mangsa serangan. Dalam dunia penulisan blog, bukan semuanya goblok atau menyokong pembangkang, ramai yang berpengalaman dan berakal fikiran baik dan tidak kurang yang menyokong UMNO termasuk menjadi ahlinya. Jadi, mereka yang suka menyerang penulis blog tidak seharusnya melonggokkan penulis blog atau perawi diari maya dalam satu kelompok yang dikira goblok. Janganlah terlalu mengharapkan pujian dan penulisan yang sedap dibaca tanpa mahu menerima kritikan, teguran dan hentaman yang boleh menyedarkan kita daripada halimunan dan khayalan duniawi. Memang ada penulis blog yang agak keterlaluan. Biasalah tu. Orang UMNO atau pemimpin kerajaan harus menggunakan pendekatan yang bijak dalam menangani 'masalah' dengan penulis blog, jika ia boleh dianggap atau dilihat sebagai masalah. Tidak ada masalah yang tidak boleh diatasi atau ditangani secara bijaksana. Perbezaan pendapat atau berlainan ideologi dan prinsip tidak bermakna satu permusuhan abadi. Tengkarah adalah sebahagian daripada kehidupan.

Seperti biasa, media elektronik dan media cetak membuka pejabat dan studio sementara di PWTC untuk memberi liputan sewajarnya. Ucapan presiden parti dilaporkan sebagai terbaik dan kena dengan sasarannya. Berita yang diliputi sudah semestinya elok-elok belaka kerana itulah gambaran yang perlu dotonjolkan. Itu adalah satu perkara yang biasa dalam dunia kewartawan di mana jua. Jadi tak perlulah kita membuat ulasan mengenai perkara ini.

Tidak kurang hebatnya setiap kali ahli UMNO berkumpul di PWTC ialah 'pasar raya segera' yang menghidangkan bermacam-macam jenis jualan dan juadah dari seluruh negara. Orang UMNO banyak duit dan ianya amat jelas semasa kita meninjau kerancakan urus niaga di pasar raya berkenaan. UMNO turut meraih keuntungan hasil daripada kutipan sewa 'tapak gerai' yang tidak juga murah! Peniaga untung, UMNOpun untung.

Kali ini, ada peniaga dari Sarawak yang menjual ikan terubuk. Nampaknya UMNO perlu memikirkan semula hasrat orang Sarawak yang tidak serasi dengan Tan Sri Taib Mahmud , Ketua Menteri paling lama bertahan, untuk membawa masuk UMNO ke bumi Kenyalang itu. Kan UMNO sebuah parti politik bersifat kebangsaan! Jika tak ke Sarawak maka tak nasional namanya. Mantan menteri kabinet dari Sarawak, Datuk Abang Abu Bakar mungkin dah patah semangat untuk membawa masuk UMNO ke sana, tetapi ramai orang Melayu/Melanau Sarawak yang bercita-cita untuk berbuat demikian. Mereka tidak perlu menunggu Taib Mahmud bersara untuk berbuat demikian kerana Malaysia mengamalkan kebebasan yang dijamin oleh demokrasi untuk berbuat demikian, itupun jika kepimpinan UMNO 'berani' memberi keizinan.

Pemerhati atau pengamat politik (yang semuanya pro-UMNO) seperti yang diwawancara atau dijadikan ahli panel perbincangan oleh stesen tv pro-kerajaan, turut memberi ulasan dan pandangan yang senada atau selari dengan kehendak semasa. Penerbit bijak memilih 'tokoh' untuk mendapatkan pandangan dan ulasan dan ia merupakan satu 'amalan yang lazim.' Kegoblokan tidak seharusnya berlaku. Perbincangan yang disiarkan oleh TV3 ada sedikit kelebihan kerana Kamaruzzaman Zainal, mantan setiausaha akhbar Pak Lah (semasa TPM) yang kini pengarah berita dan ehwal semasa Media Prima berjaya memikat Johan Jaafar selaku pengantara dan Anuar Zaini (mantan orang kanan Musa Hitam) dan Rosnah Majid (mantan wartawan Utusan Melayu dan ADUN Kedah) selaku ahli panel. Ulasan Anuar dan Rosnah jauh lebih baik daripada ahli-ahli panel yang ditonjolkan oleh RTM.

Akhir kata ... UMNO terus mara untuk rakyat Malaysia!

Wartawan veteran Azizah Dahlan meninggal dunia

ALFATIHAH.

(Terkini: Jenazah dibawa ke Masjid As-Syakirin, Subang Jaya (dekat Subang Parade) dan akan dikebumikan selepas solat Asar)

Wartawan veteran Azizah Dahlan (Sharifah Azizah) pulang ke Rahmatullah awal hari ini di Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Jenazah mantan wartawan Utusan Melayu itu akan disemadikan selepas solat Asar hari ini.

Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas roh almarhumah dan menempatkannya di kalangan umat-Nya yang beriman. Amin.

Daging khinzir "halal" di Singapura

TERKINI: Pihak pengurusan pasar raya NTUC Singapura menafikan yang ia ada memperagakan bahan atau produk berkenaan yang berlogo halal. NTUC menyatakan ia adalah satu perbuatan yang tidak bertanggungjawab oleh orang atau individu tertentu. Satu laporan polis telah dibuat berhubung perkara ini kerana NTUC memandang serius perkara tersebut.

Saya menyiarkan perkara ini sebagai satu ingatan bahawa soal halal dan haram tidak boleh dipermain-mainkan.

Foto ini cukup jelas menunjukkan betapa sijil halal disalahgunakan oleh pihak tertentu di Singapura.

Bungkusan daging khinzir (babi) yang diimport dari Australia oleh kumpulan pasar raya terbesar Singapura NTUC (National Trades Union Congress yang dikuasai oleh parti PAP) tanpa sembunyi memaparkan logo halal. Saya tidak tahu sama ada logo itu dikeluarkan atau diluluskan oleh Majlis Agama Islam Singapura atau digunakan tanpa kebenaran dan pengetahuan pihak yang berwajib itu. Inilah nasib yang menimpa umat Islam di Singapura.

Kepada umat Islam Malaysia, Indonesia mahupun Brunei yang sering berwisata ke Singapura, anda harus berhati-hati apabila membeli-belah dan jangan mudah terpedaya dengan logo sijil halal kerana benda yang haram boleh dihalalkan di Singapura.

Tun Fairuz to be next Penang Governor?

According to a reliable source, former Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim is to be appointed the next Yang Dipertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang.

As a Penangite, I do think that it is in the interest of the state to do so since his name was linked to alleged brokering of judges' appointments exposed in the Lingam Tape (Lingamgate) scandal.

The Governor is the representative of His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong as the Head of State.

Do we need to petition His Majesty not to appoint Tun Ahmad Fairuz as Penang's Head of State?

I was told that there are several prominent Penangites (Tun Ahmad Fairuz is a Kedahan) that can be considered for the ceremonial post such as senior lawyer Tan Sri Khalid Ahmad Sulaiman, Penang Malay Association president Datuk Seri Yusof Latif, retired Court of Appeal Judge Shaikh Daud Ismail and Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar.

New player in the gem industry

A new JV company between Sri Lankan businessman Mueen Saheed and his local partner Datuk S.A. Alhabshee - Billari Fine Jewellery - located at Level 4 Pavilion KL, Jalan Bukit Bintang, officially open for business Saturday, Nov 3.

UMNO Perlis .. meletus juga akhirnya

Ramai yang mengetahui bahawa sejak Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim dihantar pulang ke Perlis Indera Kayangan untuk diangkat sebagai Menteri Besar, telah berlaku 'peperangan' di kalangan para penyokong dalam tiga buah bahagian yang wujud, iaitu Padang Besar, Kangar dan Arau.

Di Padang Besar, perubahan sudahpun dilakukan dimana Datuk Azmi Khalid melepaskan jawatan ketua bahagian yang bakal dicabar itu kepada orang yang berkenaan. Di Kangar Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad masih menerajuinya manakala di Arau oleh Shahidan sendiri.

Perlis sebenarnya beruntung kerana ketiga-tiga tokoh politik mereka berjawatan penting dalam pentadbiran negeri dan persekutuan. Shahidan menjadi Menteri Besar, Azmi Khalid dan Radzi pula menteri persekutuan. Hanya MP Arau Datuk Seri Syed Razlan Jamalullail tidak diberi jawatan pentadbiran.

Ketiga-tiga Ahli Parlimen dikatakan tidak mempunyai banyak masalah antara satu sama lain tetapi mereka menghadapi 'masalah' dengan Shahidan dan ianya bukan satu rahsia.

Jika dilihat dari segi 'hubungan seranta' amat jelas yang Shahidan jauh mengatasi tiga pemimpin berkenaan dan rakyat Perlis, pada amnya, senang dengan cara dan gaya kepimpinan Shahidan. Dia senang mendekati rakyat dan agak 'pemurah'.

Gaya dan pendekatan yang diguna oleh Shahidan tidak berapa mampu ditandingi oleh Azmi Khalid, Radzi Sheikh Ahmad mahupun Syed Razlan. Shahidan memiliki 'kuasa' dan 'kekayaan' untuk melakukan sesuatu termasuk bermurah hati memberi bantuan kepada warga yang memerlukannya. Dia tidak lokek.

Ketidakserasian barisan kepimpinan di Perlis tidak dihebohkan dalam media tetapi menjadi pengetahuan umum di negeri yang tiada sumber kekayaan itu. Semuanya kelihatan baik dan tiada masalah. Itu adalah gambaran luaran sedangkan di dalam tidak begitu.

Ramai tentu masih ingat kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Shahidan pada tahun 2004, sebelum menghadapi pilihan raya umum, iaitu berkaitan apa yang disebutnya sebagai 'konspirasi berunsur fitnah' yang dilemparkan terhadapnya yang sedikit sebanyak menjejaskan kewibawaannya sebagai seorang Menteri Besar.

Shahidan berkata beliau bukan sahaja ditohmah oleh pihak pembangkang dalam ceramah-ceramah mereka tetapi oleh beberapa pemimpin UMNO negeri Perlis yang cuba menjatuhkannya. Shahidan telah menamakan beberapa orang pemimpin ketika itu antaranya Ammar Hasan, Azmi Suboh, Zainuddin Yom, Baharuddin Ahmad dan Bahari Ali.

Antara lain Shahidan dituduh telah berpakat dengan adiknya Ismail Kassim menggelapkan wang BERNAS, dan selaku MB telah menyalahgunakan wang perbendaharaan negeri Perlis semasa lawatan-lawatan ke luar negeri termasuk membawa bersama-sama keluarganya.

Menurut Shahidan sebahagian besar pemimpin UMNO di Perlis mempercayai tohmahan dan fitnah yang dilemparkan ke atas beliau dan ia amat merisaukannya kerana pada masa itu mereka menghadapi pilihan raya.

Letusan terbaru ialah tengkarah antara Shahidan dan Radzi berkaitan pekerja asing di Perlis. Nampaknya Radzi dah hilang sabar dan terpaksa 'melondehkan' apa yang perlu dilondehkan kepada umum. Isu pekerja asing di Perlis turut dijadikan modal politik oleh PAS.

Ulang tayang ceritera bangsawan Indera Kayangan menjelang pilihan raya kali ini lebih menarik kerana ia membabitkan secara terang-terangan dua orang ketua bahagian yang berpengaruh, sekurang-kurangnya di Perlis.

Kedudukan Shahidan yang dikatakan akan digugurkan pada pilihan raya bakal muncul membuatkan dia dijadikan sasaran serangan politik bukan sahaja oleh parti pembangkang tetapi dari dalam kalangan UMNO sendiri. Begitu juga dengan Radzi dan Azmi. Kedua-duanya dikatakan akan dibersarakan oleh Pak Lah. Mampukah Pak Lah berbuat demikian? Siapa pula yang akan diketengahkan sebagai pemimpin peringkat negeri?

Dalam pada itu, laman blog Peghelihla ada melaporkan kenyataan timbalan ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Perlis, Ustaz Ahmad Adnan Fadzil yang berkata bahawa Shahidan nampaknya macam dah hilang tumpuan (fokus) terhadap pentadbiran negeri.

"Kadang-kadang dia suka bangkitkan benda kecil seperti perkara remeh-temeh tentang agama sedangkan banyak lagi benda besar yang perlu diambil perhatian," kata Ustaz Ahmad Adnan.

Menteri Di JPM yang bertanggung jawab ke atas hal ehwal agama Islam, Datuk Abdullah Mohamad Zain juga menegur (tanpa menyebut nama) sikap pemimpin tertentu dan mufti yang membangkitkan perkara remeh-temeh berkaitan agama. Umum tahu teguran itu ditujukan kepada Shahidan dan Dr Asri Zainul Abidin, sarjana agama kelahiran Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang yang diangkatnya menjadi mufti kerajaan negeri Perlis.

Government rejects senior prosecutor's application for retirement

Attorney-General's Chambers prosecution head Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden's application to go on optional retirement has been turned down by the government. His services is still needed in the interest of the nation, a source told this blogger.

In September, after more than a month of speculation, at first by bloggers, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail confirmed that Yusof and deputy public prosecutor Salehuddin Saidin had sent in their applications for early retirement late August. Salehuddin's application was approved by the government.

Last month, Gani told the media that he has allowed their applications because "they want to move on to greener pastures" and it is not fair to stop their career
advancement elsewhere.

Gani said there were sufficient experienced staff in his office to fill the vacuum left by the two men.

Yusof, 52, was said to be joining the Securities Commission while Sallehuddin, 44, will go into private practice.

Salehuddin led the prosecution team in the Altantuya Shaaribuu murder trial in the earlier phase of the case. However, Gani replaced him in June by deputy public prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah.

Yusof will continue to head the prosecution team. What is AG Gani Patail's next move since he has someone in mind to head the prosecution team.

The rape of Penang's green lung

This is the 104 hectares land at Batu Gantong, Penang Island, one of the few remaining green lungs on the island. The land belongs to one of Malaysia's oldest turf club, the Penang Turf Club and on the same land is the state's first golf course, the Batu Gantong course.



Under the leadership of prime minister Abdullah Ahmad (Badawi), this green lung will be turned into a mega concrete jungle to be known as Penang Global City Centre costing more than 25 billion ringgit. The project will be carried out by Equine Capital Berhad associate company, Abad Naluri Sdn Bhd, the flagship company of the prime minister's close friend Patrick Lim a.k.a. Patrick Badawi.


The Batu Gantong land is reportedly valued at 200 ringgit per square foot. The turf club will be moved to Batu Kawan on the mainland where the value of the land is said to be 50 ringgit per square foot.

The Penang Government under chief minister Koh Tsu Koon has given an assurance that it will address all issues raised by the people and non-governmental organisations regarding the project.

He hinted that there may be some modifications to the project, although the people is not asking for modifications. Tsu Koon said the state government are just as concerned as everyone else about the issues raised. Can he go against the prime minister? Definitely not! Therefore, his assurances are of no value at all. It is simply a cheap political assurance.

The smiling faces of Eid (3)

The smiling faces of Eid (2)

The smiling faces of Eid (1)

After six years, no sign of witness protection law

The Malaysian government cannot yet provide an assurance of absolute immunity to the two whistle-blowers in the V.K. Lingam tape scandal, if they decide to come forward, Internet news portal Malaysiakini.com reported yesterday.

It quoted de-facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, well-known for his 'denials' and 'the media misquoted me' excuses, that the cabinet has yet to make any decision to accord such protection pending completion of the three-member (I would add powerless) panel's investigation.

Nazri had earlier told the press that he would ask the cabinet to give protection to the whistle-blowers. The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad (Badawi). In other words, Nazri failed to convince the cabinet. Too bad.

Last Sunday, Nazri said that there was a Witness Protection Act to protect informants, when such a law does not exist.

Well, the Malaysian cabinet is really very slow in making a decision on the witness protection programme.

Six years ago, to be exact 16 April, 2001 the then Prime Minister Datuk Seri (now Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the government "is considering" a new law to better protect witnesses of crimes. He said some witnesses were reported to have been threatened against testifying in court.

"In view of this, the Government feels a law should be in place to ensure witnesses are given adequate protection. The government is willing to consider such a proposal," Dr Mahathir said.

The then de-facto law minister Dr Rais Yatim was very eager to introduce the law to protect witnesses. However, in 2004 he was made Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister and the proposal was left to his successor Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (now Home Affairs Minister) and now to Nazri.

The proposed law, according to the then Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Mohamad Jamil Johari, was expected to be similar to that of the United States witness protection programme.

That was in 2001. Now we are nearing the end of 2007. where is the Witness Protection Act?

Angkasawan - tahniah untuk Tun Mahathir

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tersenyum selepas menonton pelancaran kapal angkasa Soyuz dari kamarnya di Institut Jantung Negara. Foto ini dikutip daripada blog anaknya, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir. Selamat Hari Raya Tun. Semoga cepat sembuh.





Angkasawan Malaysia yang pertama, Dr Sheikh M. Shukor selamat dilancarkan ke angkasa lepas kira-kira pukul 9.22 malam ini. Dr SMS dijadualkan berada di stesen angkasalepas antarabangsa (ISS) selama 10 hari untuk menjalankan uji kaji saintifik.

Semua stesen tv utama - RTM, Media Prima dan Astro menyiarkan peristiwa bersejarah itu secara langsung. Masing-masing mengucapkan tahniah kepada PM Pak Lah dan mereka yang berada di sebalik tabir projek Angkasawan.

Saya menonton melalui saluran 588 Astro. Malangnya tiada ucapan terima kasih disampaikan kepada mantan PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, orang yang mencetuskan akal untuk mewujudkan program tersebut. Nampaknya, media Malaysia mudah lupa!