Merlimau rep. dies,15th by-election....

Merlimau state assemblyperson Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan passed away at 8.10pm today after suffering a heart attack on Thursday. This was confirmed by Jasin MP Ahmad Hamzah, who was among several BN leaders who were holding vigil at Putra Hospital, Malacca since this afternoon.

Mohamad Hidhir, 54, was placed on life support system after the heart attack at the hospital's intensive care unit. He was reported to have been warded at the hospital on Jan 13 for another heart attack. Mohamad Hidhir is the state cabinet member in charge of rural and agricultural development. Merlimau is one of five state seats under the Jasin constituency - the other four are Sungai Rambai, Serkam, Bemban and Rim.

Mohamad Hidhir's passing sets the stage for the 15th by-election - and the first in Malacca - since the 2008 general elections. Under the election laws, the Election Commission will have to call a by-election within 60 days.

'Good seat' for Pakatan

Malacca opposition leader Goh Leong San expressed his condolences to Mohamad Hidhir's family when contacted for comments on the by-election. He expects PAS to again contest for the state seat and considers Merlimau a potential seat for Pakatan Rakyat.

Mohamad Hidhir has been very active in the area but PAS has been continously engaging the constituents over the past few years. We too in DAP have been supporting PAS in their ceramah in the vicinity and have held dinner functions there. The next dinner function is on Jan 22, said Goh, who leads DAP in Malacca. He said that the by-election would provide a good opportunity for the locals to express their dissatisfaction over Mohd Ali's administration.

People are not feeling so good about the Ali Rustam! 's perfo rmance, even though Malacca has self-declared itself as a developed state. There are several issues like the Eye of Malacca and monorail problems, as well as flooding problems in Jasin, he said.

Merlimau is a Malay-majority seat with the community comprising 64.7 percent of the 10,500 voters, while 21 percent are Chinese and 14 percent Indians. In the 2008 general elections, Mohamad Hidhir beat PAS candidate Jasme Tompang with a majority of 2,154. In 2004, Mohamad Hidhir won the seat with a much higher majority of 5,087.

Adun Merlimau Datuk Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan meninggal dunia pada jam 8.10 malam ini di Hospital Pakar Putra, Melaka selepas mengalami serangan jantung semalam. Perkara itu disahkan Ahli parlimen Jasin Datuk Ahmad Hamzah.

Mohamad Hidhir yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Negeri Pembangunan Desa dan Pertanian negeri Melaka meninggal dunia di Hospital Pakar Putra, Melaka pada pukul 8.10 malam ini kerana serangan jantung.

Kematian Mohamad Hidhir dijangka bakal menyebabkan pilihan raya kecil ke-15 diadakan sejak pilihan raya umum 2008. Mohamad Hidhir dilaporkan dimasukkan ke hospital itu pada minggu lepas bagi menjalani pembedahan membersihkan arteri yang tersumbat pada 13 Jan lalu.

Dilaporkan, Mohamad Hidhir mengalami serangan jantung sebanyak tiga kali dalam tempoh lima hari lalu yang menyebabkan beliau berada dalam keadaan koma di hospital berkenaan hari ini.

al-fatihah

source:malaysiakini

Jihad jahiliah

I was very disturbed by the action of some people of unsound mind that hang a dead chicken on the grill door of Serdang DAP office in Sungai Chua Office where the Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching office is located. Together with the dead chicken, a poster was stuck to the signboard, with the warning: Ingat! Ini satu Peringatan Teo Nie Ching, Tentera Jihad (Take note! This is a reminder Teo Nie Ching, the Jihad Army). This is totally uncalled for an a sign of a coward army

The Arabic word jihad is a noun. The root of the word jihad is juhd which means effort. Another related word is ijtihad which means working hard or diligently. Jihad is simply mean putting the best efforts towards some form of struggle and resistance, to achieve a particular goal. In other words, jihad is the struggle against, or resistance to, something for the sake of a goal. Contrary to common belief, the word jihad does not necessarily imply any violent effort, let alone war and such instances of extreme violence. Similarly, jihad as a generic word can be used even when the sought goals are not Islamic, i.e. in non-religious contexts. Unfortunately many Malaysians associated the word Jihad with defending the religion. That is how shallow the thinking of some people.

The word Jahiliah means ignorance. Again this is an Arabic word which has strong association with people who are ignorant about the religion. It is a word that is strongly associated with pre Islamic Arabian world. I purposely combine the two words to reflect the people who were responsible in hanging the chicken. This phrase describes their mentality and actions appropriately. I believe they are upset because Teo continues to visit Surau and Mosque in her constituency and because she is becoming very popular among the Muslims in her constituency. Reality is that she goes to this ! surau an d mosque because she was invited.

This is the action of a coward. A brave man would bring the dead chicken and gave it to Neo. A man with balls would dare to show his face. Clearly the person who did this probably has loss his tentacles or the balls had retracted back into his abdomen. In the 21st century we still have plenty of people who do such things. I wonder there is any association with the Kepala Lembu group.

AMNO loves Ayam ?

‘Fowl play’: Dead bird threat for MP

from Free Malaysia Today » Nation by Teoh El Sen

PETALING JAYA: Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching was greeted by an act of “fowl play” this morning, when a blood-drenched chicken, with its throat slit, was left hanging outside her DAP branch office.

On the door was a note which read: “Ingat! Ini satu peringatan Teo Nie Ching. Tentera Jihad. (Remember! This is a reminder Teo Nie Ching. Jihad army).”

Teo, who considered this a death threat, later filed a report with the Kajang district police headquarters.

“I received a call from a branch member at about 8am, telling me about the note and the chicken found at the Sungai Chua office,” the DAP leader told FMT.

“I think this is a death threat to me, there was also blood on the office floor,” she added.

Teo also refused to speculate on who could be behind the threat, saying she would leave that to the police to investigate.

“I don’t want to guess or make any accusations,” she said.

Meanwhile, Teo’s police report stated that CCTV recordings from an adjacent shop showed two men placing the note and dead fowl at about 2am.

However, sources close to Teo said this could be related to an incident last August, where Teo was embroiled in a controversy following her visit to a mosque in Kajang to present aid to Muslims celebrating Hari Raya.

The MP had come under fire for not being properly attired.

Utusan Malaysia published a photograph of her delivering a speech in the prayer hall without covering her hair, and this courted criticism from Umno and Perkasa.

It was also alleged that Teo had committed another offence by delivering a tazkirah (sermon) during her visit, which the MP denied.

Teo was later issued a warning by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) not to repeat her mistake, and the DAP politician had also apologised to the Sultan.

Kok: DAP reps being targeted

Meanwhile, Teo’s party colleague Teresa Kok said the latest incident was the latest in a long string of cases where opposition elected representatives have received death threats.

Kok pointed out that previously other DAP leaders, including herself, have received death threats, with no action being taken by the police to catch the perpetrators.

She said that in August 2010, MP for PJ Utara Tony Pua had received a bullet and a death threat note. Before that, in September 2009, an unknown person had left a threat on Kok’s blog.

In September 2008, a molotov cocktail was thrown into Kok’s family home together with a note that said they would set her family on fire.

“To date, the police have failed to nab the perpetrators of these death threats,” said the Seputeh MP in a statement today.

Kok, who is also the Kinrara state rep, said the scoundrels behind the latest incident “displayed their lack of human decency and most of all, their own incapacity or refusal to discuss issues of contention in a calm, civil and rational manner”.

She also urged the police to take all steps necessary to assure the safety and security of Teo, her family and her staff.

"I got nothing to do with Anwar, politicallt speaking. I am me ..."

But Botak M is Mamak 100% ?

Stepping out of Anwar’s shadow

from Free Malaysia Today » Nation by Stephanie Sta Maria

Being elected the youngest vice-president of PKR wasn’t part of a preordained plan. Neither was winning the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat.

In fact, Nurul Izzah Anwar used to duck the political spotlight until it was rudely thrust upon her in 1998. And even then there was no plan.

The then 18-year-old would have been forgiven had she wound up submerged by the waves of political pressure. Instead, the daughter of PKR de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim, not only stayed afloat but sailed through her baptism of fire to earn the moniker Puteri Reformasi.

Some call it destiny, others call it an obligation. Nurul herself simply calls it putting things into perspective. And it was a perspective that seared itself so deeply within her that she still speaks of it in befittingly hushed tones.

“A part of me changed forever that day,” she said softly. “It wasn’t just about my father’s sacking and eventual arrest but having everything I held sacred just crumbled before me. I felt the fragility of life.”

“It then dawned on me that it wasn’t about any single individual but about a movement and the need to be part of something you believe in. That was my earth-shattering moment. And that has made me the person I am today.”

The people who ushered her onto the “reformasi” path were those who were by her side during Anwar’s arrest. After enveloping her with support, they told her that she had to take up the fight, not just for her father but for the scores of other political prisoners. Nurul didn’t hesitate.

“If I didn’t do it then no one would know of our plight,” she said earnestly. “They wouldn’t know of the judicious arguments for my father’s release, about the other political prisoners and why the Internal Security Act is unacceptable. These messages need to be propagated.”

First hurdle

Nurul’s first hurdle was persuading her reluctant mother and PKR president, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to bestow her blessings upon her daughter’s new career. Then she turned to PAS, DAP, Abim (Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia) and even Suaram (Suara Rakyat Malaysia) to seek guidance in learning the ropes. A trait that perhaps further strengthened her tenacity was her disinterest in “what ifs”.

“I never thought about what I would have done if 1998 didn’t happen to me because it is an exercise in futility,” she reasoned.

Then with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, she added, “I’m very glad that 1998 did happen because I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to join Puteri Umno!”

Indeed, Nurul has come a long way from the young woman who once didn’t relish the political association that was packaged into her name. Her strong embrace of political activism therefore greatly astonished her. It also taught her the importance of owning an idea before bringing it into reality.

“There was a sense of obligation certainly,” she readily admitted. “But I also owned the idea of becoming a politician. If I felt forced into it, I would have led a very unhappy life and let down all my supporters.”

“So the process of owning this new life and identity has been a very important and invaluable one for me. It has been a very steep learning curve and I’m glad I stayed the course. But my husband was still surprised by my decision to contest for vice-president!”

Was vice-presidency really not part of a blueprint? Nurul sighed quietly. It was obviously a question that she has been asked too many times. She looked up and straight into the camera.

“No,” she said clearly. Then she smiled. “But now that I am, I have a plan.”

Laying the groundwork

The moment her vice-presidency was announced, Nurul hit the ground running. Before the first week was over, she found herself assigned to Negri Sembilan and Malacca where she was tasked with obtaining feedback from members on the party’s first direct elections.

Her other assignment was to lay out the groundwork that would help the party design programmes aimed at garnering support from the younger electorate. Nurul’s hands are also full at the Federal Territory level where she has commissioned a 100-day programme for Kuala Lumpur if Pakatan Rakyat were to take over the federal government.

“My plan is clear but I’ll need at least a month to assess the needs of the different states and the party before implementing them,” she said. “And I’ll be working closely with the secretariat because they too have planned many programmes.”

“The challenge here is to work cohesively. It’s not going to be an individual pursuit because that would never achieve the intended results.”

The project that is closest to her heart at this point of time, however, is the Democracy Rehabilitation Act, a bipartisan Bill which encompasses the six principal prerequisites for a thriving democracy.

A one-million signature campaign for a memorandum of the Act kicked off this month which will be subsequently submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Pakatan will also propose this Act to the ruling government to move during the next parliamentary sitting.

“We’ve used the word ‘rehabilitation’ as a sign of respect for what is enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” she explained. “We’re drafting the actual Bill but the petition has begun because we urgently need to revoke all emergency declarations.”

“We have to explain to the people that we are democratically poor as a nation. We’re still living under Emergency Rule! So I’m bringing this matter down to the grassroots and getting them to sign the petition.”

Ripe opportunity

The windows of opportunity in politics are usually small and fleeting, and Nurul is determined not to let this one shut on the opposition.

“We are facing such a ripe opportunity to introduce ideas which failed to gain traction in the past,” she emphasised. “Such issues have captured the attention of the electorate so we have to keep pushing forward.”

Like her professional conduct, Nurul’s six-month milestones are concise and to the point. The first is ensuring that the Act sees the light of day and is recognised by the different Pakatan leadership. The second is promoting Pakatan’s 100-day plan and Orange Book concept.

“We have to be on the offensive from hereon,” she said bluntly.

Nurul’s climb to the vice-presidency in a party led by her father has invariably stirred whispers of nepotism. Political observers have questioned whether her star is truly rising or whether her family is merely engaging in dynastic politics.

The broaching of this subject elicited another small sigh from her. Nurul’s dignified manner never allows for brash gestures. It is always a quiet sigh, a tilt of the head or a subtle narrowing of the eyes that convey the extent of her displeasure.

“There are three things that affect me and others when you link my post to a political dynasty,” she began. “The first is who I am. I can’t disassociate myself from my father. That’s part of me and I’m proud of it but it’s also about my abilities, the messages I send out and how I handle challenges.”

“Second is the issue of opportunity. Being the daughter of Anwar Ibrahim has opened many doors but also closed just as many. It is something that I have to be at ease with and try to harness for a greater good.”

“Third is responsibility,” she said. “If you are responsible and willing to go through the various tribulations that are associated with the opportunities available to you and still emerge victorious, then you would have earned the support.”

‘I love Lembah Pantai’

With that topic put to rest, the conversation turned to PKR’s future. The inevitable question arose: Should Anwar find himself behind bars again, would the party still be able to soldier on?

Nurul is known for standing her own ground and speaking her own mind even if it means taking a different stand from the top leadership. And here she pinpointed the problem of the top leadership: focusing on one man, namely the de facto leader.

“You need to be part of this movement because you believe in its ideals and struggles,” she urged.

“We should never expect one particular person to replace a de facto leader.”

“He (Anwar) exudes a strong influence over Pakatan and PKR but you want the ideals to live on and the fact that we have sufficient young leaders in the party to carry the message forward is so important. Right now all preparations are being made for us to improve our structure and the second-level leadership.”

Nurul may have risen in the party ranks but she hasn’t forgotten her first political appointment. The Lembah Pantai constituency remains just as precious to her as when she won her seat in 2008 and she is determined to defend it in the next general election.

“I love Lembah Pantai,” she declared. “I still take my responsibilities to my constituents very seriously. I sold my 13-year-old Alvarez acoustic guitar to a Lembah Pantai constituent!”

“That guitar was part of my youth and the last thing I really enjoyed before 1998 happened. But I wanted to contribute a part of me as a mark of acknowledgment of my constituents’ struggles.”

When teased about why she didn’t autograph it, she let out a self-deprecating laugh and exclaimed, “Come on! Only Mick Jagger is qualified to autograph guitars! Who is Nurul Izzah?”

That is a question that only time will tell. For now, all that can be said is that she is certainly more than just the daughter of Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar is scared of Zaid ?

Cheers—and a few jeers—for Kita

from Free Malaysia Today » Nation by K Pragalath

PETALING JAYA: Several civil society leaders and politicians have welcomed the emergence of Kita, the political party launched this morning by former PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim.

They are pleased to note that it has a secular character, is concerned with good governance and is apparently committed to fighting for the rights of those sections of Malaysian society perceived to be marginalised.

“I agree with the thesis that Malaysian politics is too focused on government instead of governance,” said KJ John, chairman of the Oriental Hearts & Minds Society Initiative.

“There is also a need for a new perception of a secular world view.”

John was also enthusiastic about the party’s logo, which shows two joined hands morphed into the map of Malaysia. He said it was a “smart move” to show inclusivity between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.

Francis Paul Siah, who heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS), also acknowledged the inclusiveness factor.

“It is the first political party that places importance on Sabah and Sarawak,” he said. “Any party that wishes to rule Malaysia must never leave out Sabah and Sarawak.”

He said Kita would create an impact in the East Malaysian states and pledged that MoCS would support it.

The Indian Justice Party, which is yet to be registered, also welcomed Malaysia’s newest political party.

Its protem president, P Jenapala, said his party, along with other small parties, “would join hands with Kita to create an impact soon”.

Rebel PKR leader N Gobalakrishnan also had kind words for Kita. “The party can make inroads; the people will receive it,” he said, adding that he was “worried, as a Pakatan Rakyat man”.

He expressed confidence that Malaysian Indians would welcome Zaid’s plans to create land development programmes similar to Felda and Felcra for the community.

People’s Progressive Party president M Kayveas, however, expressed doubts about Kita’s future, saying Zaid had shown a lack of commitment to principles by jumping from Umno to PKR and then leaving the opposition party to form another.

Kayveas, a former deputy minister, said he attended the launch in his capacity as a political analyst.

“He is still muddled up,” he said of Zaid.

“I think he is still stuck. He is not coming out of it. I expect Kita to come out of the present political cage that we currently are in but I see he is still stuck. He started off well, but you can see he is caught in the same net of ‘back to my race and my religion, your race your religion’.”

He said he doubted that the Election Commission would approve Kita’s logo.

Also read:

Kita launched, Zaid vows to be different

PAS: We always love women and gays ...

PAS denies ever banning women candidates

UPDATED @ 04:00:53 PM 20-01-2011

By Boo Su-Lyn

January 20, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — PAS has never banned its female members from contesting in elections, said party vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar today.

Mahfuz was responding to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who accused the Islamist party yesterday of manipulating Islam for reversing its alleged stand against fielding women candidates.

“Khadijah Sidek was our first female candidate, whom we fielded in the fifties,” Mahfuz (picture) told reporters today.

Khadijah became the first female PAS MP after winning the Dungun parliamentary seat in 1959.

Prior to that, the vocal politician was elected as Umno’s Kaum Ibu chief in 1954, before she was expelled from Umno two years later.

PAS has fielded Labis PAS Wanita chief Normala Sudirman to challenge Barisan Nasional (BN)’s Mohd Azahar Ibrahim in the upcoming Tenang by-election.

Today, Mahfuz expressed confidence that the 38-year-old former teacher would attract the female vote.

Women reportedly make up 53 per cent of the 14,753 voters in the Tenang state constituency.

“She is an educated young woman who is brave enough to quit the civil service to fight for the people,” said Mahfuz.

He also pointed out that PAS’s policies were women-friendly.

“PAS led the maternity-leave issue in Kelantan, after which the federal government followed suit,” said Mahfuz.

Kelantan was the first state to introduce a 60-day maternity leave for civil servants after PAS took control in 1990.

Last May, Kelantan Women, Family and Health Committee chairman Wan Ubaidah Wan Omar said maternity leave for the state’s civil servants would be extended to 90 days starting this year.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil also said last month that the public sector would enjoy a 90-day maternity leave policy effective this year.

Today, Mahfuz said PAS had introduced a five-day work week in Kelantan to enable women to spend more time with their family.

“We have also proven that PAS acknowledges the role of women in politics,” said Mahfuz.

He listed several PAS women leaders, such as Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’ Lo’ Ghazali, Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Selangor executive councillor Dr Halimah Ali, Kelantan executive councillor Wan Ubaidah and Kedah executive councillor Aishah Ghazali.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told the BN machinery yesterday to help recapture a majority of more than 5,000, which was previously achieved by the BN in the 2004 general election.

He said the Tenang by-election represented a test for the Johor BN and only by winning the seat with the large majority could it prove that Johor remained a bastion for the ruling coalition.

The Tenang state constituency, located in the parliamentary constituency of Labis, has 14,753 voters, including 7,014 Malays (47.54 per cent), 5,766 Chinese (39.08 per cent) and 1,780 Indians (12.07 per cent).

It was called following the death of incumbent Datuk Sulaiman Taha from Umno on December 17 and is the 14th by-election since Election 2008.

It is also the first by-election in Johor since the March 2008 general election.

Nomination has been set for January 22, while voting is on January 30.

Tenang is one of two state seats in the Labis parliamentary constituency held by MCA’s Chua Tee Yong.

Sulaiman, 59, won the seat against PAS’s Mohd Saim Siran with a majority of 2,492 votes in election 2008.

Najib is not good looking ...

Investors shun Malaysia as emerging market outlook cools

By Yow Hong Chieh
The Malaysian Insider
January 20, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — Global investors are continuing to avoid Malaysia as fund managers trim investments in emerging markets over concerns that China’s economy will slow this year.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a note this week that Malaysia remained a “big underweight” for investors in emerging markets, with its underweight rating increasing from 46 per cent in December to 55 per cent in the first month of 2011.

An underweight call is a recommendation for investors to reduce their investments in a particular security, asset class or, in this case, country.

Malaysia slipped from 14th place in December to dead last this month among the 15 countries studied by the investment bank, despite the roll out of big ticket Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) projects and speculation that snap polls will be held later this year.

Topping the list was strongly overweight Russia, followed by Thailand, Brazil, Turkey, South Korea, China, Indonesia and Mexico. Other emerging market underweights were Poland, Taiwan, Colombia, India, South Africa and Chile.

Malaysia’s underweight call also comes at a time when fewer investors are looking to increase investments in emerging markets due to worries that China’s “eroding” economy will have a knock-on effect on the market in Asia.

In its January 2011 Fund Manager Survey, Merrill Lynch said while support for emerging markets remained high, the number of investors overweight on such markets was continuing to decline.

The investment bank reported only 43 per cent of fund managers surveyed said they were overweight on emerging markets, down from 56 per cent two months ago.

The proportion of investors wanting to increase investments in emerging market equities more than any other region similarly fell from 31 per cent in December to 20 per cent.

“These lower readings come as belief in China’s economic prospects has eroded,” Merrill Lynch said in a press statement yesterday.

A Reuters poll released yesterday showed that economists expect China’s economy to expand by 9.3 per cent this year, throttling back from double-digit growth in 2010.

Inflation in China was also tipped to quicken to 4.3 per cent, a “much faster build-up” of price pressures than predicted.

“Later this year, Asian policymakers are going to have to be much more aggressive to get inflation under control and the consequence of that will be weaker growth,” Nomura Chief Economist Asia Robert Subbaraman told Reuters.

“For Asia, the challenging part is how to deal with inflation at the time when there is still capital inflows to the region. The risk in Asia is policy is either too slow to respond or the micro — or piecemeal —measures that have been introduced… are going to lose their effectiveness overtime.”

Investors have so far greeted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s New Economic Model (NEM) with disinterest, owing to lack of detailed policies, timelines and the apparent rollback of ambitious Bumiputera quota reforms detailed in the first half of last year.

The bold recommendations set out in the first part of the NEM to boost competitiveness by reducing quotas appear to have been sidelined in the second part launched last month.

Observers attribute this to stiff resistance from Malay rights groups concerned that such moves will erode the community’s interests.

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Investor concern of cool-off in China has weighed on other emerging markets. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — Global investors are continuing to avoid Malaysia as fund managers trim investments in emerging markets over concerns that China’s economy will slow this year.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a note this week that Malaysia remained a “big underweight” for investors in emerging markets, with its underweight rating increasing from 46 per cent in December to 55 per cent in the first month of 2011.

An underweight call is a recommendation for investors to reduce their investments in a particular security, asset class or, in this case, country.

Malaysia slipped from 14th place in December to dead last this month among the 15 countries studied by the investment bank, despite the roll out of big ticket Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) projects and speculation that snap polls will be held later this year.

Topping the list was strongly overweight Russia, followed by Thailand, Brazil, Turkey, South Korea, China, Indonesia and Mexico. Other emerging market underweights were Poland, Taiwan, Colombia, India, South Africa and Chile.

Malaysia’s underweight call also comes at a time when fewer investors are looking to increase investments in emerging markets due to worries that China’s “eroding” economy will have a knock-on effect on the market in Asia.

Najib’s NEM has been hampered by a scarcity of details. — file picIn its January 2011 Fund Manager Survey, Merrill Lynch said while support for emerging markets remained high, the number of investors overweight on such markets was continuing to decline.

The investment bank reported only 43 per cent of fund managers surveyed said they were overweight on emerging markets, down from 56 per cent two months ago.

The proportion of investors wanting to increase investments in emerging market equities more than any other region similarly fell from 31 per cent in December to 20 per cent.

“These lower readings come as belief in China’s economic prospects has eroded,” Merrill Lynch said in a press statement yesterday.

A Reuters poll released yesterday showed that economists expect China’s economy to expand by 9.3 per cent this year, throttling back from double-digit growth in 2010.

Inflation in China was also tipped to quicken to 4.3 per cent, a “much faster build-up” of price pressures than predicted.

“Later this year, Asian policymakers are going to have to be much more aggressive to get inflation under control and the consequence of that will be weaker growth,” Nomura Chief Economist Asia Robert Subbaraman told Reuters.

“For Asia, the challenging part is how to deal with inflation at the time when there is still capital inflows to the region. The risk in Asia is policy is either too slow to respond or the micro — or piecemeal —measures that have been introduced… are going to lose their effectiveness overtime.”

Investors have so far greeted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s New Economic Model (NEM) with disinterest, owing to lack of detailed policies, timelines and the apparent rollback of ambitious Bumiputera quota reforms detailed in the first half of last year.

The bold recommendations set out in the first part of the NEM to boost competitiveness by reducing quotas appear to have been sidelined in the second part launched last month.

Observers attribute this to stiff resistance from Malay rights groups concerned that such moves will erode the community’s interests.

Mamak wanna establish Republic of Mamakistan

Coloniser-colonised thesis revisited

by Azly Rahman

Learning about the current Tunisian revolt, and remembering the work of Martin Luther King Jr, I have somewhat come to draw a parallel between analysis and hope, between reality and manifestation. From Albert Memmi to Martin Luther King Jr.

In the case of the Tunisian youth ‘chasing out’ their dictator of 23 years and their anger over the royal robbery of the monarch, I found an explanation in the 1965 classic by the Tunisian psychoanalyst and political-cultural theorist Albert Memmi in his seminal work, The Colonizer and the Colonized, in which he proposed that the only way to resolve the contradiction of the oppressor and the oppressed and put an end to the brutality of the dictator is through revolt.

One can find a similar theme in analysing the master-slave narrative in works such as Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth and Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

That is what is happening now in the streets of Tunis; the coloniser who was once a colonised mind has turned into a coloniser and now is deposed by the colonised. Revolt is the way to overcome the slow death of the masses via hegemony of developmentalism and the illusion of nationalism.

That was the path Algerians took in the Battle of Algiers within the context of The French-Algerian War, in which the colonised fought against the brutal French colonisers, ending in a few million deaths.

Obama’s election a symbolic victory of the enslaved

In the case of the United States, the colonised were the African-Americans who had a unique history of being forced into slavery by the colonisers, with the struggle for freedom culminating in the civil rights movement of King and Malcolm X, among others, and today, triumphantly culminating in a symbolic victory of the enslaved or the colonised in the person of Barack Obama as the first African-American president: a peaceful revolt American-styled, nonetheless.

King’s hope was realised, his dream came through beyond that of merely seeing white and black children walking together to school, holding hands.

I am proposing that social scientists analyse the phenomena of the deposition of monarchs and dictators, using what I call “radical semiotics”; a method of deconstructionism that not only analyses the historical materiality of royal symbolism, but also the mythical origins of the need to colonise, and how these human figures of ruler-ship became enshrined in the mind of the colonised as the symbol of unquestioning loyalty, even in the post post-enlightenment age of cosmopolitan democracy and cybernetics.

Capitalism, exciting as an ideology to promote free spiritedness but uninteresting as a system that can curb human greed and the nurturing of the coloniser-colonised culture, works hand in hand with the symbolism and habitues of power.

In the case of the feudal lords, the church and other houses of worship might give the spiritual inspiration or the religious raison d’etre to legitimise and authorise the advancement and institutionalisation of greed.

Throughout history, monarchs who work hand in hand with aristocrats and powerful merchant houses provide not only the avenue for the rich to amass as much as they can through the ideology of guns-guts-glory, but also a soothing and serenading sermon for the poor to wait for the kingdom of god to come, and be poor and happy and believe in the divine rights of kings so that the kingdom can be stable enough for the poor to keep praying for the gratitude of being poor and for the rich to hand them charities.

Into the religious texts too are sometimes woven this ideology of being happy with the wealth of spirituality, with the poverty of materialism inscribed to legitimise the institutionalisation of capitalism.

As a response to this priestly-class influence of religion on the affairs of the homo economicus, we saw the birth of the liberation theology and the art of destroying symbolism; of iconoclasm.

The death of daulat. The death of the divine rights of kings. The realisation of the hidden dollar and dinar sign in every symbol of the royalty – ala the third eye of the Illuminati.

In essence, Albert Memmi’s thesis on the narrative of mental colonisation is now seen on the streets and we need a new understanding of semiotics to understand this world of perpetual revolutions.

AZLY RAHMAN, who was born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Bahru, holds a Columbia University (New York) doctorate in International Education Development and Masters’ degrees in the fields of Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 300 analyses on Malaysia. His teaching experience spans Malaysia and the United States, over a wide range of subjects from elementary to graduate education. He currently resides in the United States.

Reject racists, urges Guan Eng

By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider

The DAP’s Lim Guan Eng called on Malaysians today to reject the ideology of racial supremacy if they wished the nation to move forward and be on par with the rest of the world.

The party’s secretary-general said hate campaigns foment violence and breed hate, noting the racial debate has become more heated in the past three years.

In his Utusan Malaysia column today National Defence University lecturer Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah urged the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government to spend more on arming the country to prevent a Singapore takeover.

Ridhuan has repeatedly described the country’s southern neighbour as “ultra kiasu” — a colloquial term meaning overly competitive — and a threat to Malaysia’s Malay-Muslim sovereignty.

“Kita perlu ingat, pemimpin Pulau Pinang difahamkan selalu ke sana untuk mencari idea. Apakah mungkin nanti akan wujud Singapura kedua, ketiga dan sebagainya? (We must remember, Penang leaders are understood to be visiting there regularly for ideas. Will there be a second, third Singapore and so on one day?)” Ridhuan wrote.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, said there was no room for racists and extremists in a globally competitive world, and urged the silent majority to make a stand.

“We can never be superior by labelling others as an inferior race or worse,” he said in his Thaipusam message here.

READ MORE HERE.

NAJIB must not debate DSAI!

Why should our Prime Minister put himself remotely into a situation where he will be asked awkward questions that he must answer even when he cannot? Where he has to explain economic policies that he does not understand? Justify policies that he knows he can implement without public scrutiny?

By steadyaku47

I say, without fear or favour, that our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, should not accept DSAI challenge to debate him on matters of economic polices or for that matter on any issue whatsoever! This is just a cheap attempt by DSAI and Pakatan Rakyat to get some prime airtime on the television channels that the government controls! Our Prime Minister is entitled to have this prime time slot to himself–why share it with anybody! Datuk Seri Najib you control these medias, you decide on their license, you staff them with your people – so they better listen to what you say or else ask them to go look for another employer!

Why should our Prime Minister put himself remotely into a situation where he will be asked awkward questions that he must answer even when he cannot? Where he has to explain economic policies that he does not understand? Justify policies that he knows he can implement without public scrutiny?

If you debate DSAI how are you to explain the costs overruns of the various mega projects? It is nobody’s business what UMNO politicians makes from tenders, contracts and projects that are directly negotiated. After all these are all on a willing buyer (UMNO Politicians and their cronies) and willing seller (BN/UMNO government). And just because UMNO is on both sides of this equation we know that DSAI will seize on this insignificant reality and start accusing the government and UMNO of colluding on these matters. Datuk Seri Najib why open a can of worms?

Why should our Prime Minister allow himself to be embarrassed by past economic policies that have almost bankrupted the nation? And anyway the OSA covers most of these policies, including the IPP’s agreement and Highway Tolls – so how can our Prime Minister circumvent the OSA. He must keep these files confidential! And as far as Petronas is concern DSAI understands that it is only the Prime Minister that is privy to how much it earns and how it spends its income. That is the law and DSAI understand that you have to follow the rule of law in the country that you choose as your home!

What if DSAI wants to score cheap political points by asking our Prime Minister what is the progress of the PKFZ investigation? About Altantuya? About so many things that as our Prime Minister he cannot talk about because it is all sub judice or whatever sub lah…no I do not want my Prime Minister to be embarrassed!

Read more at: http://steadyaku-steadyaku-husseinhamid.blogspot.com/2011/01/najib-must-not-debate-dsai.html

Little Napoleons in the Selangor state civil service

Their goal : to leave the public with the impression that the present state government is wholly incompetent to manage the state and voting them in was a huge mistake.

By People's Parliament

Ah Seong ( at the kaunter pertanyaan at a Majlis Perbandaran in Selangor : Encik, saya nak check saya punya lesen niaga pasar malam sudah lulus, kah?

Little Napoleon attending at the counter : Nombor rujukan?

Ah Seong hands over the acknowledgment of receipt given to him when he handed in his application some three months ago.

Little Napoleon : Tunggu sekejap, saya check.

Little Napoleon disappears, leaving Ah Seong waiting at the counter, and returns about 15 minutes later.

Little Napoleon : Belum lagi. YB masih sedang check you punya permohonan.

Ah Seong : Ah, belum lagi? Check apa lagi? Dulu satu bulan sudah ok.

Little Napoleon : Dulu kerajaan lain, sekarang kerajaan lain, mah

Ah Seong : Dulu kerajaan lain, sekarang kerajaan lain, tapi lesen sama saja, mah. Apa susah mau kasi lesen?

Little Napoleon : Dulu punya kerajaan, kautim RM50 you punya lesen sudah lama keluar. Sekarang punya kerajaan, semua YB mahu check. Ini mahu check, itu mahu check. It hari you pilih ini kerajaan, bukan? Ah, sekarang you jangan komplen, lah!

Ah Seong : Tiu, dua-dua pun sama, tak boleh pakai

_______________________________________

This has been going on for some time now in Selangor.

Trouble is, no one in government saw it fit to report this to us.

Policy decisions with a view to improving the delivery system to the public are being frustrated by civil servant front liners who deal with the public.

These civil servants have, along the way, forgotten that they are to serve the rakyat, and not their political masters, UMNO.

Their goal : to leave the public with the impression that the present state government is wholly incompetent to manage the state and voting them in was a huge mistake.

Read more at: http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/little-napoleons-in-the-selangor-state-civil-service/

Argumentum ad Hominem

20 January, 2011 By Lingswaran Singh

A call to discuss constructively, instead of resorting to personal attacks.

Argumentum ad Hominem, a Latin phrase which means "an argument to the person". Being a loyar burok, I often find myself caught in various arguments with various types of people for various reasons. Quite so often I come across some people who tend to use forms of argumentum ad hominem or commonly known as a personal attack. They usually cook up a logical fallacy by attacking the character or circumstances of their opponent, which may come in forms of insult, questions of personal conduct, character, and motives. Generally it is done in the course of insulting or belittling ones opponent to invalidate the opponents argument instead of trying to disprove the truth of the statement or the soundness of the argument.

Allow me to demonstrate the logic of its operation.

A makes a claim, say the claim is X.

There is something objectionable about A, be it his/her conduct, character, or motives.

Therefore, claim X is suppose to be false/weak/groundless.

It is very common to find such arguments in the Malaysian courtrooms, the upper and lower houses of the Malaysian Parliament, political speeches, school debates, arguments between couples, and there is plenty of it here at LoyarBurok, especially at the comments section of interesting posts.

These arguments usually have got nothing to do with the truth or falsity of the opponents proposition. Apart from being guilty of mala fide it is also of no benefit and is very unprofessional in nature.

(Source: http://danielayad.files.wordpress.com)

Generally there are three types of ad hominem ad hominem abuse, ad hominem circumstantial, and ad hominem tu quoque.

Ad hominem abuse usually occurs when the counter argument is about the character or a personal quality of the opponent. Such an argument is designed to either humiliate or ridicule the opponent, as that would distract the opponent from the essence of the argument because the opponent may feel it necessary to defend themselves or simply too embarrassed and lose the whole argument.

Yes, very sneaky and evil indeed.

Now some examples of ad hominem abuse:

Martin: The proposed policy would encourage economic growth.

Bond: Nonsense! You flopped your economics in high school! / Yeah right! Where did you get your economics lessons from? Rina Cheah?

* Note that the statement/rhetoric by Bond has got nothing to do with the claim.

Ad hominem circumstantial occurs when one points out that the stance the opponent takes is due to the circumstances he/she is in. The fallacy claims that the only reason why one argues as he/she does is because of their circumstances.

Example of ad hominem circumstantial:

Lings: LoyarBurok is a revolutionary idea, it encompasses the essence of a free spirit!

Cantona: Of course-lah you say like that, youre writing for them mah!

Ad hominem tu quoque literally means "you too!" also known as the "hypocrisy" argument. In this form of attack, one argues that the opponent does not practice what he/she preaches.

Example of adhominem tu quoque:

Bush: The Malaysians are very ridiculous, they have preventive detention laws, how draconian!

Bond: Eh, you also same what! You got the Patriot Act!

Now this form of personal attack is somewhat a legal principle by itself. In equity there is a maxim which states that one may not go to the courts with unclean hands. The court would not grant the applicants request if he has done something ju! st as eq ually wrong towards the respondent. For example, say you cheated on your wife and she finds out and files for divorce, now if you can prove that she has also cheated on you then the court might just reject her application on the grounds of tu quoque!

This argument however was rejected before the International Criminal Tribunal (ICTY) for the former state of Yugoslavia in several cases when the accused tried to justify their act by insisting that the opposing side had committed similar crimes. However the ICTY held that the argument of tu quoque, is completely irrelevant by international humanitarian law standards. However, at the Nuremberg trial of Karl Donitz, tu quoque was accepted not as a defence to the crime itself, but as a defence only to the punishment.

In conclusion, argumentum ad hominem is generally something to be avoided in proper arguments.

Here at LoyarBurok (at least as I think), arguments should be beneficial, although I am guilty of personal attacks myself at times. However, I keep in mind not to resort to such arguments as it renders the whole point of the debate pointless and it is somewhat unethical.

I hope people at LoyarBurok, both readers and writers, would depart from argumentum ad hominem.

Let us all argue appropriately, for the benefit of all.

Lingswaran Singh has been a LoyarBurokker since he was 5. He speaks an open but disinterested language, dictated not by passion but that of humanity. Independence is his happiness. His country is the world, and his religion is to do good. He too is an emissary of Lord Bobo Barnabus, tasked to enlighten Malaysians through loyarburok.com, this awesome blawg leading the quest for world domination.

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This entry was posted on 20 January, 2011 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Why You Can, I Cannot?. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Speaker is God ?

Port Klang seat: 'Speaker can't be challenged in court' Constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari says it is only the speaker’s decision pertaining to the rules of the House that is not challengeable. The Selangor state assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim's decision to declare the Port Klang seat to be vacant is “absolute” and “may not be challenged in court”. However, constitutional expert from the International Islamic University, Abdul Aziz Bari, said that it is only the speaker's decision pertaining to the rules of the House that is not challengeable. Hence, the question of whether the vacancy of the seat may trigger a by-election is still looming since the speaker has no jurisdiction over the election process. NONE“Here we are dealing with the interpretation of the constitution where the power lies with court. But I think the Selangor speaker is in a stronger position as he merely ruled on the basis of the state constitution, just like in Kedah,” said Abdul Aziz in an email interview with Malaysiakini. Abdul Aziz was referring to a similar case in the Kota Siputeh state seat where the Kedah speaker had announced the seat to be vacant after the assemblyperson from Umno had missed two consecutive state assembly sittings in early 2009. While the High Court had rejected the Election Commission's application for a stay, ordering a by-election, the Appeal Court had later overturned the decision and granted an interim stay so that the EC can postpone issuing the writ to announce the date for the nomination and polling. And with that, Abdul Aziz reckoned that the EC would use the case as a precedent to challenge the speaker. “But legally this is inconsistent with Perak cases; especially those whereby the speaker's ruling was challenged, for example the decision of the speaker to declare the seats belonging to the turncoats as vacant,” he said. 'Inconsistency in courts when ruling on speakers' Insisting that the speaker should have the final say in the goings-on of the House, Abdul Aziz pointed to the inconsistency in the courts when it comes to the different speakers in various assemblies. “The legal issue here is the power of the speaker which brings issues like Apco in Parliament whereby (Permatang Pauh MP and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim) has been suspended. The problem here is the court has failed to be consistent and the law has become upside down as a result. “The law on the speaker is that his ruling concerning matters within the House - be it in Perak, Kedah, Dewan Rakyat and now in Selangor - it is final,” he said. NONEHe added that the only person to have the locus standi (legal standing before court) in the issue is the Port Klang assemblyperson himself. “The EC is just here to conduct elections. It has no other interests,” said Abdul Aziz. Teng had earlier declared the Port Klang state seat to be vacant as of Jan 16, saying that its representative Badrul Hisham Abdullah has been absent for six months since the last assembly sitting he attended on July 15 last year. Article 69 of the state constitution provides that if a member of the state legislature is absent without leave from the speaker for six months, then the seat is considered vacant. In the meantime, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told Malaysiakini that he has not received any notice from Teng and would have to pore through the documentation before deciding on anything.

Bloggers to face sedition law, a prominent journalist is suspended

Asia Sentinel

Malaysia suffered two ominous blows to independent journalism last week, one with the announcement that the government is about to formulate a sedition law to cover bloggers, who are fast becoming some of the most independent news providers in Malaysia.

The second was the suspension of the National Union of Journalists President Hata Wahari from his job at the Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia, one of several newspapers controlled by the United Malays National Organization, the countrys biggest political party, for advocating an impartial press.

Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysias Home Affairs Minister, announced on Jan. 13 that the federal government will write guidelines to define online sedition, a move which critics say is an overt attempt at cyberspace censorship.

On a whole, officers from the home ministry, PMs department and the information ministry have agreed on the contents of the guidelines, Hishammuddin said in a prepared statement, adding that seditious items are expected to include malicious news, pornography, false information and other cyber crimes.

No one knows just what will be in the new law. We actually have no clue at this point, the government has not even had a public airing, there has been no consultation with the press itself, said Chuah Siew Eng, program officer for the Center for Independent Journalism in Kuala Lumpur. We can only rely on news reports. There is no freedom of information law that would force them to divulge what is in it.

What were seeing in Malaysia is part of a much longer-term trend, said Bob Dietz, Asia Program Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists. The country never really emerged from the Mahathir! years i n the same way, say, that Indonesia had from Suharto. As Internet activity has grown the people in power UMNO have had to distance themselves from Mahathirs promise not to interfere with online activity. Frankly, resorting to sedition charges to control press activity traditional or digital is a tactic we regularly see in other countries where the government is straining to stay in power.

Other critics were quick to point out that Malaysias existing sedition law, a holdover from British colonial Malaya in 1948, has already been used on bloggers. Chuah Siew Eng pointed out the government threatened sedition charges against bloggers who insulted the memory of the late Sultan of Johor. Last year, authorities also threatened sedition charges against Asia Sentinel for critical reporting on the country but never followed through.

However, many observers agree that a main target is Raja Petra Kamarudin, the irrepressible editor of the online publicationMalaysia Today, who fled the country ahead of charges of criminal libel and sedition for, among other things, suggesting incorrectly that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razaks wife Rosmah Mansour was present at the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. Two of Najibs bodyguards were convicted of the murder and, although one confessed that they were to be paid RM100,000 to kill the woman, no attempt was ever made to find out who was going to pay them.

I think there is no reason for such a law, said Tony Pua, an opposition Democratic Action Party Member of Parliament and prominent blogger, in a telephone interview. Existing laws are very easy to use, broad and nonspecific. The sedition act itself should be repealed or substantially reduced in terms of scope.!

T hat seems unlikely to happen. In particular, Malaysias growing legions of bloggers played a major role in the relative drubbing that the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition took in national elections in 2008, winning only 51.1 percent of the popular vote and running behind the three opposition parties on the mainland. It lost the three most urbanized and industrialized states Perak, Penang and Selangor but was saved partly by gerrymandered constituencies long-rigged in its favor, and partly by Sabah and Sarawak, which voted solidly for the status quo. For the first time since independence, the Barisan lost its two-thirds lock on the Dewan Rakyat, or parliament.

As to Hata, the Utusan Malaysia reporter, on Jan. 11, the Malay-language daily informed the veteran reporter that he would be suspended until the completion of an investigation into charges that he had tarnished the newspaper with statements he made to independent media last year calling for press freedom. He has criticised Utusan several times for publishing pro-Umno propaganda and blamed its editorial policy for the dwindling circulation of the UMNO flagship paper, which once boasted the highest daily circulation in Malaysia but has now fallen to sixth.

He faces eight counts of misconduct for issuing statements to news portals and is expected to face a disciplinary hearing on Jan. 17 and, say other reporters, is likely to be fired.

A 16-year veteran reporter with Utusan, Hata was elected president of the countrys National Union of Journalists in September. If he is sacked, he would be the third Utusan employee to lose his job because of his activity with the journalist union. Former NUJ president Yazid Othman and NUJ-Utusan Malaysia chairperson Amran Ah! mad were also dismissed earlier. If he loses in disciplinary hearing on Jan. 17, he will also be forced to give up the chairmanship of the nUH.

The letter informing Hata of his suspension was draconian at least. He was not only ordered to stay out of anyUtusan Melayu offices but stated that he was not allowed to leave his neighborhood and would have to be in areas that are reachable by the company at all times. He is also barred from bringing in outside counsel to the disciplinary hearing and must rely on the NUJ branch atUtusan Malaysia for assistance.

V Anbalagan, the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, told the online publication Malaysiakini that the directive to impose house arrest on Hata was utter nonsense.

I dont know whereUtusan derived their power from. Which law says it can do this?Utusan is not the police, nor is it the Attorney-Generals Chambers, he said.

He added that while he will be present at the dailys headquarters in Kuala Lumpur in an attempt to represent Hata, the NUJ will still adopt a wait-and-see approach until the decision from the inquiry is made.

We just want to go through due process. We want to fight the DI (domestic inquiry) first. We are not going to protest now, but we will wait for the outcome of the DI, said Anbalagan.

FollowingUtusans suspension of Hata, aFacebook group has sprung to his support for those who wish to register their objection to his treatment.

Filed under: Alternatives, corruption, Human rights, Politics Tagged: Anak Sarawak Bangsa Malaysia, Human rights, Malaysia Politics, Save Sarawak

BERNAMA BOHONG!!! ANWAR TIDAK PERNAH KATA TIDAK MAHU BERDEBAT

NOTA EDITOR: Berikut adalah kenyataan rasmi dari Anwar Ibrahim berkaitan dengan laporan terbaru BERNAMA yang mendakwa Anwar Ibrahim tidak mahu berdebat dengan Perdana Menteri Malaysia.

Kenyataan Media Untuk Edaran Segera: Debat Diteruskan,

Laporan Bernama Mengelirukan.
...
From:
Komunikasi KEADILAN

Saya memandang serius laporan Agensi Berita Nasional (Bernama) bahawa
saya tidak mahu berbahas secara terbuka dengan Dato' Seri Najib Razak.
Laporan tersebut kononnya memetik kenyataan saya di Alor Setar seusai
Majlis Wacana Maqasid Syariah di Kolej Insaniah Alor Setar petang tadi.

Saya tegaskan di sini, saya sedikitpun tidak berganjak dari kenyataan
sebelumnya serta hasrat yang terkandung dalam surat rasmi berniat
mempelawa YAB Perdana Menteri untuk berdebat secara terbuka demi
kepentingan rakyat Malaysia seluruhnya.

Saya berharap Agensi Berita Nasional (Bernama) agar menarik balik serta
membetulkan laporan bertarikh 19hb Januari 2011 yang berjudul "SAYA
TIDAK AJAK PERDANA MENTERI BERDEBAT, HANYA BERBINCANG" - ANWAR.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Dihantarkan kepada anda melalui / Delivered to you by:

BIRO KOMUNIKASI
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT
A-1-09, Merchant Square
No. 1, Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1
47410 Petaling Jaya

Pelabuhan Kelang: Peluang SPR Melacurkan Diri Mereka Sekali Lagi

NOTA EDITOR: Peluang keemasan untuk SPR melacurkan diri mereka kepada UMNO sekali lagi. Saya yakin SPR akan memastikan tiada pilihanraya kecil demi menjaga kepentingan UMNO dan Najib Tun Razak.

Sudahlah Najib tidak berani berdebat dengan Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaker isytihar kerusi Dun Pelabuhan Klang kosong
Hazayani Zakaria

SHAH ALAM, 19 Jan: Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor, Datuk Teng Chang Khim hari ini mengisytiharkan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (Dun) Pelabuhan Klang kosong.

Ianya berikutan kegagalan Adunnya, Badrul Hisham Abdullah hadir ke persidangan Dun dalam tempoh 6 bulan bermula 15 Julai 2010 hingga 15 Januari lalu.

Berikutan itu beliau mengisytiharkan kerusi itu kosong mengikut Fasal 69 Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Selangor.

Menurut Fasal 69, Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, jika seseorang Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri itu tidak hadir dalam masa 6 bulan, maka kerusi tersebut diisytiharkan kosong, kata Teng pada sidang media di Dewan Annex, dekat sini hari ini.

Menurut Teng juga, mengikut peruntukan dalam Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri, beliau berhak untuk mengisytiharkan status bagi kerusi Dun sebagai kosong sekiranya mana-mana Adun gagal menghadiri sidang Dun dalam tempoh ditetapkan.

Tafsiran saya bagi melihat pengiraan 6 bulan itu, adalah merujuk kepada Fasal 70 Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Selangor. Saya melihat memang niat Undang-undang negeri hendakkan supaya Dewan bersidang dalam masa 6 bulan, katanya.

Ditanya adakah kekosongan kerusi itu menandakan pilihan raya kecil bakal berlangsung, Teng menegaskan perkara itu di luar bidang kuasa beliau.

"Kerusi dah kosong, jadi beliau tidak lagi menjadi Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri dan kalau mengikut peruntukan dalam Undang-undang Tubuh makan piha! k Suruha njaya Pilihan raya dikehendaki untuk memanggil pilihan raya kecil.

"Itu di luar bidang kuasa saya. Bidang kuasa saya adalah apabila keadaan ini sudah menepati peruntukan dalam fasal 69 Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri, maka saya dikehendaki mengisytiharkan kerusi itu kosong," jelasnya.

Bagaimanapun katanya, kekosongan kerusi itu akan dimaklumakn kepada SPR dalam masa terdekat.

Badrul meninggalkan PKR pada Oktober 2009 dan memilih menjadi ADUN Bebas yang mesra BN tetapi kemudiannya menyertai Umno pada Mei tahun lalu.

Badrul Hisham memenangi kerusi Pelabuhan Klang pada pilihan raya umum 2008 di bawah tiket PKR dengan majoriti 4,407 undi.

N46 Pelabuhan Klang state seat declared vacant...

Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim announced today that the state assembly seat of Port Klang has fallen vacant with effect from Jan 16. Its representative Badrul Hisham Abdullah has been absent for six months since the last assembly sitting he attended on July 15 last year.

The decision was made under Articles 69 and 70(1) of the state constitution. There is no provision for an appeal. The announcement is likely to pave the way for the 15th by-election since the 2008 general election. Badrul, who had in 2009 quit PKR to turn Independent, was absent for all six days of the third assembly sitting from Nov 8 to 15, 2010 without permission.

"Badrul admitted his absence... in a letter which reached my office on Dec 10, seeking leave of absence as he was seeking traditional treatment in Pahang," Teng told a press conference in Shah Alam this afternoon.

"I replied on Dec 21 to say that his absence was unacceptable as he did not apply for leave before the sitting and did not give any concrete reason for his late application."

Badrul then replied on Jan 5 to apologise but did not state reasons for his late leave application. Article 69 of state constitution provides that if a member of the state legislature is absent without leave from the speaker for six months, then the seat is considered vacant.

Teng also said he has not informed the Election Commission (EC) about this, and that there is no time limit in which he has to do so. "The period in which the EC has to call for an election will only begin after the commission receives notice of the vacancy," he said. Badrul has yet to be informed of the matter. He did not answer the phone when an immediate attempt was mad! e to con tact him.

Meanwhile,The Election Commission has not received any official notification so far on a vacancy in the Selangor state legislative assembly seat for Port Klang. EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said speaker Teng Chang Khim should inform the EC before hand before declaring any vacancy in the state assembly seat.

"We will study and look at the law in the state of Selangor, as well as the federal constitution before making any decision whether a vacancy occurs or not," he told Bernama when contacted.

source:malaysiakini


Berita baik untunk pengundi2 Pelabuhan Klang,tunggulah kedatangan 'Santa Clause'Najib yang akan buat berbagai janji serta memberi 'ang pow'jutaan ringgit kepada pengundi Pelabuhan Klang. 'Santa Clause' Najib akan guna formula 'You help me,I help you'.

Speaker kata tak ada 'time frame' baginya memaklum kepada SPR. SPR pula kata Speaker seharusnya bagi tahu mereka. Speaker pandai,selagi dia tak bagi tahu SPR,SPR tak boleh bertindak. SPR pun kena tanya Putrajaya.

Dulu Badarul Hisham bergelar 'katak lompat', kini dah jadi 'mati katak'.....


To all Malaysian Indians "Selamat Hari Thaipusam"

cheers.

Kumpulan Video Revolusi TUnisia yang Menjatuhkan Diktator Zalim

Semoga video-video ini menjadi AMARAN KERAS kepada UMNO dan Kroni-kroni mereka. jangan ingat rakyat boleh terus dipermain dan diperolok-olok. Kesabaran rakyat ada hadnya. Seperti di Tunisia, walaupun beratus rakyat Tunisia terkorban, namun mereka tidak berhenti berusaha mengubah nasib mereka dengan menjatuhkan kerajaan diktator Ben Ali yang seiras UMNO dan Barisan Nasional.

Selamat menonton.