Pakatan Rakyat Buzz & Blog

Protesting students warn of bigger uprising

GOMBAK: Some 40 students from various universities staged a protest within the International Islamic University (UIA) grounds tonight, condemning persecution against vocal academician Professor Abdul Aziz Bari.

Gathering at about 8pm in front of the UIA mosque, the students lighted up candles and held up papers printed Mahasiswa tuntut kebebasan akademik (students seek academic freedom) and Bebaskan university daripada cengkaman politik (free university from political stranglehold).

However, the university administration confronted the students when they attempted to march to the hall where Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was officiating at the Piala Perdana Menteri debate competition.

After negotiating for some 15 minutes, they were finally allowed to march a shorter distance in silence towards the hall, but were stopped from going near it.

The students then exited the campus compound and continued their protest at the university gates, this time shouting: Hidup mahasiswa. Hidup ilmu. Hancur kezaliman! (Long live the students, long live knowledge, down with cruelty!)

Speaking to reporters later, the spokesperson for the group, Muhammad Zaki Sukery, who is also the deputy president of Malaysian University Student Solidarity Movement (SMM), said the protest was held not only for Aziz.

This is not just for the professor. Malaysia needs to be more open to freedom of knowledge, said Zaki, a former student of the lecturer.

Lifting his suspension is not enough; there is still the police investigation; his laptop was even seized. He is still under pressure. We have now asked Prime Minister (Najib Tun Razak) to intervene. Whatever Aziz did was within his rights and jurisdiction as a! n academ ic; he should not be undergoing this, he said.

Two objectives

It was understood that UIA student representative council president Mohd Ikbal Abdul Wahab handed over a memorandum to Hishammuddin at 8.30pm.

We understand that Ikbal has handed the memorandum and the minister has promised to give it to the prime minister, said SMM chairman Ahmad Syukri Abdul Razab.

Syukri said that the memorandum contained two objectives: urging the nations leaders to allow freedom to academicians and students; and urging that investigation on Aziz be dropped without conditions.

No time limit is given. But we warn our nations leaders that they shouldnt wait until we call the rakyat to rise up to protest with us in bigger numbers.

We wont hesitate and we already have the support of electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0, said Syukri, who urged the authorities to reply soon.

Speaking to FMT, one student, who wished to be known only as Yuyuluna, said the government, and UIA were being unfair.

Aziz Bari does not belong to UIA; he belongs to those who love knowledge. When he talks about the truth, and happens to side with the oppositions stance, it is unfair that they bring him down just because they felt that theyve been slapped, she said.

What about the professor who said that Malaysia was never colonised? He is a disgrace and he is the one who should be suspended. Aziz was just giving his comments. He has even criticised the opposition before, added the 22-year-old Malay literature student.

No peace of mind

Another student, who declined to give her name, said: Everybody has the right to voice his opinions and not be punished for it, especially an academic like the professor.

Last week, Aziz was suspended from the university because of his comments in an article that appeared in Malaysiakini on Oct 12, saying that the Sedition Act 1948 does not criminalise anyone for making comments on a rulers decree.

The constitutional expert made the statement after ruler of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, absolved the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) of any fault in the latters raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in August.

For his views, the university suspended him and served him with a show-cause letter. The suspension was lifted last night ahead of a visit by Najib to the university today.

Najib cancelled his visit today to attend the funeral of Saudi crown prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.

Last Friday, hundreds of university students held a rally in UIA in support of Aziz. They accused UIA of violating academic freedom, being tyrannical and attempting to please political forces.

Colleagues and lecturers from other universities have also backed Aziz.

The university has since lifted the suspension pending an investigation. Aziz has said the lifting of the suspension was meaningless as the damage has already been done.

He said that the police investigation and the action of his university had affected his peace of mind and ability to teach.

RM80m wasted on projects for the police force

PETALING JAYA: The government had to bear the cost of more than RM80 million for development projects for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), which were either stalled or cancelled outright.

According to the 2010 Auditor-Generals Report, a total of 44 PDRM projects were stalled and 11 were stopped due to several reasons including cost increases and sudden changes in the projects scope.

On May 30, 2008, the finance ministry approved 129 projects at a cost of RM9.24 billion. In line with that, PBLT (Pembinaan BLT Sdn Bhd) had issued letters of intent to appoint consultants, said the report.

However, on Oct 28, 2008, the finance ministry had limited the project costs to only RM8 billion and only 74 projects would be implemented.

Due to this change in project plans, PBLT and the government have to bear the fees of consultants totalling RM80 million for 44 projects which were stalled and RM171,672 for 11 projects which were cancelled, said the report.

PBLT, established in July 2005, is a special purpose vehicle under the Finance Ministry Inc to undertake development projects for PDRM. These projects quarters, police stations, headquarters and police camps are fast-tracked via a build, lease, and transfer concept.

The report said that as of May 2011, PBLT has paid RM59.26 million to the contractors (for the change in plans). However, it added said that PBLT had taken appropriate actions in lessening the costs of the stalled projects.

The report also noted that for projects implemented via direct tender, there were cases where the contract costs, recommended by the finance ministry, were higher than the costs recommended by the PBLTs cost negotiations committee.

The auditors ! found se ven such projects out of nine where this had occurred.

The report also cited cases where the finance ministry had increased the original finalised costs. One project was the Sabah IPK Package 1 where the original price was RM166.29 million and was hiked to RM174 million, said the report.

Another was the Kem PGA Simpang Renggam (from RM45 million to RM53 million) and Maktab Teknik Bakri, Muar, Johor (from RM145 million to RM160million).

The report said the explanation from the ministry was that the hike in costs was due to requests from the contractor who cited the increase in prices of fuel, steel and other materials.

Among others, the report also pointed out several other weaknesses in the implementation and planning of the projects:

18 out of 20 project underwent time overrun;
extension of time certificates were approved late;
final certificate of employment for contractors not prepared; and
Delay in the signing of agreements.

The audit between May and Oct 2010 found that on the whole, the financial performance and management as well as corporate administration of PBLT have been satisfactory.

The report recommended that the finance ministry ensure that plans were well prepared before projects were carried out to avoid wasting public funds.

Jackson begged for sleep drip months before death

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson feared he would not be able to perform a series of comeback shows, and begged for something stronger than sleeping pills two months before his death, a court heard yesterday.

The testimony came as lawyers for Jacksons doctor Conrad Murray launched a desperate counterattack, after four weeks of prosecution witnesses heavily implicating the medic in the King of Pops 2009 death.

He spoke to me about this excitement and his fear about the tour, said Dr Allan Metzger, referring to the planned series of 50 This is It concerts at Londons O2 Arena.

His fear was that it was a big obligation, said Metzger, recalling how he had treated Jackson for insomnia and other health woes for years when he was summoned to the singers LA mansion on April 18, 2009.

The defence has tried to portray Jackson as a desperate drug addict who could have taken his own life by inadvertently giving himself an overdose of the anesthetic propofol on June 25, 2009.

Metzger said the 50-year-old singer begged him to prescribe something he could take intravenously to help him sleep. He used the word juice I dont think he mentioned the word of a specific sleep medication, said Metzger.

He did not believe any oral medicine would be helpful, he added, insisting that he never gave him any intravenous drugs.

Metzger was among the first witnesses to take the stand for Murrays defence, which faces an uphill task to get the medic off the hook after the prosecution rested its case yesterday.

The defence is expected to call some 15 witnesses in all, including medical experts, character witnesses and police, to rebut the charge against Murra! y, but r eports suggest the case could go to the jury by the end of the week.

Over the last four weeks prosecution witnesses have given a litany of evidence suggesting Murray, 58, administered a deadly cocktail of drugs to help the King of Pop sleep, and abandoned him at the vital moment.

The Grenada-born medic, who has sat grim-faced throughout proceedings, faces four years in jail if found guilty by a seven-man, five-woman jury at the long-awaited trial.

Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after Murray spent the night unsuccessfully trying to get him to sleep at the stars rented mansion in the plush Holmby Hills district of Los Angeles.

The forensic toxicology report two years ago also noted the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam was in the singers system. Another defense theory is that a fatal cocktail was produced when Jackson took some extra lorazepam.

After the defense launched its case Monday the court also saw grainy black and white footage from security cameras outside the Jackson mansion, as an LA Police Department surveillance expert was questioned before lunch.

The footage showed a convoy of vehicles bringing Jackson home at around 1:00 am on the day of his death, after his latest rehearsal for the ill-fated This Is It series of concerts at Londons O2 Arena.

One of the highlights at the five-week trial, which started on Sept 27, was a recording of an interview Murray gave police two days after Jacksons death.

In it the doctor recounted how he battled to help Jackson to sleep, from around 1am, with a series of IV infusions of sedatives before finally agreeing to give him 25mg of propofol at 10.40am.

He said he left the room for two minutes to go to the bathroom, and returned to find Jackson not breathing. A 911 call was placed at 12.20 pm. Jackson was eventually pronounced dead at the nearby UCLA Medical Center, at 2.26pm.

- AFP

Food for kindergartens stored in toilets, drawers

PETALING JAYA: A number of kindergartens in Kedah and Kelantan stored dry food in toilets, drawers and store rooms, according to the Auditor-Generals Report.

The report also noted that some of these items were found to have passed the expiry date, were exposed to insects and placed next to chemicals like paint.

The report also said a Kemas kindergarten in Kota Baru, Kelantan, was found to be serving its pre-schoolers a breakfast of popcorn, raisins and Milo instead of the layered cake and cereal on the pre-set menu.

The report stated the Community Developments Additional Food Plan showed that more than half the 143 kindergartens in the northern zone have deviated from the menu guidelines which were given to them in March 2010.

The Kemas menu consists of a light breakfast and a morning tea break of one main dish, fruits and a drink. A total of 79 kindergartens, however, either substituted the food items or failed to adhere to the pre-set recipes.

Instead of serving fried noodles or rice with meat and vegetable dishes, the children were given doughnuts, cucur udang or plain broth.

When there was fried noodle, the dish was devoid of ingredients while the nasi lemak was served without the full condiments and the white rice served only with a dry piece of sardine.

Imbalanced diet

The highest number of offenders were found in Kelantan where the menu distributed by the Kemas state office was found to be completely different from that distributed by the Kemas headquarters.

In response to these findings, Kemas explained that the menu and recipe guidelines at times did not reach each kindergarten.

Other reasons included t! he child rens refusal to eat the food on the menu as well as difficulty in obtaining the required raw ingredients like fish, chicken and vegetables.

Kemas added that the kindergartens often did not have time to prepare the pre-set meals, especially for breakfast.

The report, however, warned that the changes made to the menu would result in an imbalanced diet that lacked nutrition, which contradicted the Health Ministrys recommendations.

But it noted that after the audit, Kemas issued directive to all its state offices to follow the menu and recipe guidelines.

Syabas, stop playing water politics

FMT LETTER

From voter in Selangor, via e-mail

The statement that Syabas had issued some time ago bothers me. Syabas has warned Selangor that there will be a major water shortage by 2014 should the Langat Two dam project is not completed.

I have this uneasy feeling because another water-related body in Selangor, Luas, had issued a contradictory statement, saying that raw water supply in Selangor is sufficient and has not shown any sign of decrease or in danger of drying off.

Considering Luas is a body that is directly responsible for the supply of raw water in Selangor, I believe Syabas is attempting to pull wool over the peoples eye.

I believe that Syabas is up to no good and is trying to push the Selangor government to build the Langat Two dam project at any cost.

According to the state executive councillor in charge of water, Elizabeth Wong, the non-revenue water level in Selangor is close to 30% (source: http://www.selangorkini.com.my/my/berita/33848).

This indicates that the main problem with water supply in Selangor has to do with bad pipes and leakages. Instead of pushing the Selangor government to waste precious money on a project that is not proven to be effective, Sybas should use its resources to replace ageing pipes and solve longstanding leakages in its system.

Should leakages and wastage be reduced to 15% from the current 30%, I believe we can save RM9 billion on the Langat Two dam project.

Laporan Audit: Salahguna kuasa dan rasuah berterusan...

Di sebalik janji-janji perdana menteri dan presiden Umno Datuk Najib Razak untuk memerangi rasuah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa di dalam kerajaannya, melalui Program Transformasi Ekonomi dan sebagainya, jentera pentadbirannya masih dicacati pelbagai perbuatan yang dianggap menyalahi undang-undang, seperti penyalahgunaan kuasa, rasuah, penggelapan wang kerajaan dan sebagainya.

Ini dengan jelas telah menunjukkan bahawa Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) tidak memainkan peranan mereka dengan aktif di dalam memerangi gejala ini yang kian berterusan bahkan bertambah, sama seperti mengikut keturunan.

Hampir pada setiap tahun, apabila laporan yang dikemukakan oleh Ketua Audit Negara, maka terdedahlah pelbagai perbuatan yang jelas menunjukkan bahawa penyalahgunaan kuasa dan rasuah amat meluas sekali di dalam sektor awam.

Namum demikian, kerajaan BN yang di bawah pimpinan Najib telah gagal menunjukkan ketegasan mereka di dalam memerangi perbuatan yang tidak bermoral ini. Ini adalah kerana, jelas kontraktor-kontraktor Umno yang mempunyai pelbagai kepentingan di dalam berbagai-bagai bentuk saluran pembekalan kepada kerajaan turut terlibat sama di dalam memperluaskan perbuatan yang keji ini yang boleh juga dikatakan hampir pada setiap tahun, wang yang selalu kita bayar sebagai cukai pendapatan dihabiskan dengan begitu sahaja.

Oleh kerana itulah, para kontraktor-kontraktor dan pemimpin Umno menjadi semakin kaya raya, manakala masyarakat Melayu pada amnya terus hidup di dalam serba kemiskinan yang sungguh memeritkan bahkan masih ada banyak lagi orang-orang Melayu yang masih miskin melarat se! hingga t idak mampu membeli makanan, masih buta huruf, tidak mempunyai kediaman, kebuluran dan sebagainya.

Jadi adakah Umno ini benar-benar memperjuangkan hak-hak masyarakat Melayu seperti yang didakwanya selama ini? Dan jika sekiranya Umno benar-benar memperjuangkan nasib bangsa tersebut, kenapa pula masih terdapat sebahagian besar kaum tersebut hidup menderita dengan keadaan yang tak terhingga?

Telan berjuta-juta Ringgit

Kita tengoklah laporan audit yang dikeluarkan baru-baru ini yang menyatakan bahawa Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) telah membelanjakan lebih daripada RM5.66 juta untuk membeli 23 ekor kuda baka khas. Adalah difahamkan juga bahawa kuda-kuda berbaka yang dibeli oleh MSN itu kesemuanya telah dibayar melebihi harga pasaran.

Sementara dalam laporan audit yang seterusnya turut mendedahkan Jabatan Taman Laut Malaysia (JTLM) yang membelanjakan lebih daripada RM128,000, iaitu lebih 2,810 peratus di dalam pembelian pelbagai jenis peralatan kajian lautan yang langsungnya tidak membawa sebarang faedah kepada rakyat.

Selain daripada itu, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) yang dipertanggungjawabkan untuk membela nasib orang-orang Melayu dan kaum bumiputra yang lain telah membelanjakan lebih daripada RM54 juta untuk membeli pelbagai peralatan dan peralatan yang kebanyakannya langsung tidak mempunyai kaitan dengan usaha-unsaha jabatan tersebut untuk membantu masyarakat Melayu yang miskin dan daif.

Dan jika kita meneliti laporan audit tersebut seterusnya, kita akan dapati lebih banyak jabatan-jabatan kerajaan yang asyik berbelanja besar ke atas pembelian dan perolehan barangan, peralatan dan bahan-bahan yang langsung tidak membawa sebarang faedah kepada rakyat jelata.

GLC lagi rugi teruk

Dalam pada itu, banyak syarikat-syarikat berkaitan kerajaan atau lebih dikenali sebagai GLC turut mengalami kerugian yang berterusan dan ianya berlaku pada setiap tahun.

Antara yang mencatat kerugian yang besar adalah Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (RM21.4 juta), Indah Water Konsortium Bhd (RM33.4 juta), Aset Global Network Sdn Bhd (RM41.1 juta), Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (RM92.6 juta), manakala Prasarana Bhd (RM367.1 juta).

Kerugian yang berterusan oleh beberapa GLC yang besar ini telah menunjukkan bahawa kesemua syarikat-syarikat tersebut tidak belajar daripada kesilapan yang terdahulu dan tidak ada usaha yang menyeluruh daripada para pengurusan GLC ini untuk memperbetulkan keadaan yang semakin meruncing ini.

Hasilnya, wang rakyat dibazirkan dengan sewenang-wenangnya.

Rakyat akan terus diabai

Di dalam saat-saat yang memerlukan, kita tidak melihat SPRM bertindak tegas menyiasat kerugian yang dialami oleh banyak jabatan-jabatan kerajaan dan beberapa GLC ini.

Apa yang SPRM tahu, hanyalah membabitkan diri mereka di dalam kancah politik dengan hanya memerangi para pemimpin pembangkang dengan kononnya mereka ini telah melakukan rasuah. Yang benar-benar rasuah dan m! enyalahg unakan kuasa mereka di dalam kerajaan tidak pula diendahkan kerana mereka ini adalah ahli-ahli dan para pemimpin Umno.

Jadi, adakah SPRM ini benar-benar profesional atau sebaliknya?

Oleh yang demikian, selagi BN dan Umno masih berkuasa, selagi itulah wang rakyat akan terus dipertaruhkan seperti suatu perjudian dengan tidak mengendahkan kerugian dan kehilangan wang.

Adakah rakyat memperoleh apa-apa faedah, hasil daripada pertaruhan tersebut?

source: Malaysia Chronicle

cheers.

No seats for M Ravi and Chegu Bard?

SEREMBAN: Popular PKR figures M Ravi and Badrul Hisham Shaharin are in danger of being left out of the election candidates list as punishment for their outspokenness.

FMT has learnt that Negri Sembilan PKR is ignoring the strength of the two politicians in their power bases as it engages in seat negotiations with PAS and DAP.

Ravi is the state assemblyman for Port Dickson and Badrul Hisham, better known as Chegu Bard, is widely seen as the most winnable candidate for the Rembau parliamentary seat. Both are known to be critical of state PKR chairman Kamarul Baharin Abbas.

A Telok Kemang PKR member said his partys negotiators seemed keen to let DAP contest in Port Dickson in exchange for the Rahang seat, which Kamarul Baharin is apparently interested in.

Its unlikely that Ravi will be given a chance to contest anywhere, he said. His relationship with Kamarul Baharin turned sour after the last party elections.

In the PKR elections last year, Ravi challenged Kamarul Baharin for the Telok Kemang PKR chiefs position and beat him convincingly.

I learnt that Kamarul Baharin himself will contest the Rahang state seat, the source said. So Ravi will not have any place where he can contest.

As for the Rembau seat, sources said PKR had decided to let PAS contest there in exchange for Jempol.

In the last election, Chegu Bard lost in Rembau to Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin, but he is still tremendously popular there. Many observers, including politicians from outside PKR, see him as the most winnable opposition candidate there.

Lack of political energy

Chegu Bard is known to be the one of the most vocal members of the PKR state leadership council in questioning decisions made by Kamarul Baharin and his allies.

Insiders say he has regularly criticised the partys state leadership for its lack of political energy.

Another likely victim of PKR internal politicking is Mohamad Rafie, deputy chief of the partys Seremban division. His strongest base is the Ampangan state seat, which is part of the Seremban parliamentary constituency. However, FMT has learnt that PKR is willing to let PAS contest there in exchange for Lenggeng.

The current assemblyman for Ampangan is PKRs Rashid Latif, who is not in good health and has indicated that he will not contest in the coming election.

Kamarul dislikes Mohamad because of rumours last year that he wanted to take over the state leadership, a member of Seremban PKR told FMT. But the rumours were false.

An official of Telok Kemang PKR, who requested anonymity, said party supremo Anwar Ibrahim and president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should intervene to ensure that Ravi, Chegu Bard and Mohamad remain on the list of election candidates.

Penghinaan UMNO Keatas Anggota Keselamatan Lebih Serius!!!

Beberapa hari lepas, Najib Tun Razak telah merapu. Di dalam "Perhimpunan Perdana Pesara dan Bekas Polis", Najib berkata:

Nak kata kepala tak betul dan bangang (bodoh), dia sudah dipilih menjadi pemimpin oleh partinya. Jadi apa muslihat dia? Orang sebegini yang sanggup menidakkan jasa serta pengorbanan para perajurit negara ialah pengkhianat dan dosa golongan seperti ini tidak layak untuk dimaafkan. Saya sudah membuat siasatan dan pihak polis sendiri mempunyai bukti kukuh Muhammad Indera seorang pengganas komunis. Dia sendiri mengaku kepada pihak polis yang dia merancang serangan ke atas Balai Polis Bukit Kepong dan turut bertanggungjawab membunuh beberapa anggota polis. Chin Peng (SU Agung Parti Komunis Malaya) sendiri dalam sebuah buku mengesahkan bahawa Mat Indera itu komunis. Jadi kenapa kita perlu mengangkat pemimpin sebegini,

Mengapa saya kata Najib merapu:

1.0 Mat Indera berkhidmat dalam Tentera Pembebasan Nasional Malaya. Bukan sebagai ahli Parti Komunis Malaya. Itu adalah fakta
2.0 Mat Sabu tak pernah kata Mat Indera tidak merancang serangan ke atas Rumah Pasong Bukit Kepong
3.0 Najib tak sebut Rumah Pasung Bukit Kepong itu mengibarkan bendera British, bukannya bendera Johor mahupun bendera Malaysia.
4.0 Kalau nak sebut pasal Komunis, tindakan UMNO menjalin hubungan mesra dengan Parti Komunis China adalah penghinaan yang lebih serius berbanding apa yang Mat Indera buat.
5.0 Parti Komunis China adalah bapak. Parti Komunis Malaya adalah anak. Mat Indera berhubung dengan "anak". UMNO menjalin hubungan dengan "bapak". Mana lebih teruk?
6.0 Najib pula tak sebut UMNO telah memberi permit kepada suara rasmi Parti Komunis China untuk disebar di Malaysia.

Najib jangan jadi munafik. Itu sahaja nasihat Tulang Besi pada beliau.

Tulang Besi

Sokong Kerajaan Selangor Audit SYABAS

KLIK IMEJ

TUlang Besi menyokong tindakan MB Selangor melantik dua firma audit untuk menyiasat kewangan SYABAS.

Tindakan SYABAS seminggu dua ini cukup-cukup melampau. Begitu beriye-iye SYABAS menyokong projek Langat 2 sehingga sanggup berbohong dan menipu.

SYABAS berkata sekiranya projek Langat 2 tidak siap, maka Selangor akan menghadapi krisis air pada 2014.

Padahal, mengikut kenyataan Lembaga Urusan Air Selangor, LUAS, bekalan air mentah di Selangor berada dalam keadaan normal dan tidak terjejas.

Soalnya sekarang, mengapa SYABAS sanggup menipu>

Adakah kerana SYABAS sudah kehabisan wang dan terpaksa bergantung kepada projek LAngat 2 untuk bekalan wang yang baru?

Apakah dgn gaji Pengerusi SYABAS sebanyak RM5 juta setahun, maka SYABAS boleh dikategorikan sebagai sebuah syarikat yang berhemah di dalam menjaga kewangan mereka?

Pada saya, adalah satu tindakan yang terbaik bagi kerajaan Negeri Selangor mengaudit SYABAS dan mendedahkan hasil audit kepada umum.

Sudah tiba masanya syarikat2 seperti SYABAS berhenti mengambil kesempatan ke atas rakyat Selangor.

Kalaulah Kerajaan Negeri diperintah UMNO, sudah tentu bil air kita naik melambung-lambung sekarang ini demi kepentingan kroni dan UMNOPUTRA dalam SYABAS.

Tulang Besi

MUHYIDDIN MEMANG TAK CERDIK

Anda bacalah sindiran dan hentaman rakyat kepada ketidakcerdikan Muhyiddin Yassin dalam isu tempelakan rambangnya terhadap anak Lim Guan Eng (LGE) yang semua orang dah tau itu semuanya fitnah. Dia kata dia baca banyak kenyataan dalam blog tetapi buat apa gatal punggung cari pasal? Dia tak faham bahasa Melayukah? Tak ada kelas langsung. Teruk bebenor Menteri Pelajaran dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia ni. Dah kena lanyak tuding jari kepada orang lain. Tak sedar yang dia tengah tegakkan benang basah. Sebegini sajakah mentaliti pemimpin tertinggi UMNO/APCO?
Aziz Kobok Ketemba
Tan Sri yang bijaksana, umur anda sudah 60-an, tak usahlah ikut perangai Khairy Jamaluddin yang mentah tu. Berpolitiklah cara gentleman, baru nampak intelektualnya, You bikin begini membawa martabat dirimu jadi rendah, hina, dan pengecut.
Tajudin Yaakob
Akhbar milik UMNO pun putar belit juga kata-kata keramat orang nombor 2 negara. Bengong punya akhbar.
Datok Sagor

Kalau dah melibatkan sekolah tu ..Menteri Pelajaran kena siasat la...apa guna jadi Menteri Pelajaran kalau benda semudah itu pun kena beritau....
alah nak report buat apa ..banyak lagi benda yang dilapor tak pernah ada siasatan pun...kes cincin dan beg tangan mengapa tiada siasatan dari pihak berwajib..kesian juga kat polis asyik terima report aja ...penat pegawai polis menaip aja...
Jafry Jaff

Yang memutar jadi berbelit-belit itu sebenarnya media proUmno.
Nain Arshavin

anak- anak pemimpin umno lagi teruk.....tengoklah anak Nazri....anak TPM....nak buat fitnah agak-agaklah kat LGE......
Pauzi Mohd

Lain kali kalau tak nak campur tangan janganlah cakap, walaupun semua orang tahu anda TPM. Lagi satu, siapakah yang putar belit tu?
-Malaysiakini-

Parti Islam Menang di Tunisia

Mengikut laporan AlJazeera English Online memetik sumber2 dari Parti AnNahda sendiri melaporkan:

The moderate Islamist party al-Nahda has claimed that it has won more than 30 per cent of seats in Tunisia's 217-member consitutent assembly, following the country's historic election.

"The first confirmed results show that al-Nahda has obtained first place nationally and in most districts," the party's campaign manager, Abelhamid Jlassi, said at a news conference, citing al-Nahda's own election observers' reports.

The party's claim came ahead of an announcement by the country's independent election commission, in which it was to offcially declare results for overseas seats.

Bagi Tulang Besi, ia membuktikan teori yang selama ini berlegar-legar di kalangan pejuang2 ISlam, yakni diktator2 yang dilantik dan disokong penjajah diperlukan untuk mengekang kemenangan Islam.

Sekiranya berlaku pilihanraya yang adiil, maka parti Islam sudah pasti akan menang dengan gemilang mengalahkan parti-parti sekular.

Sama seperti di Malaysia. PArti barua penjajah, yakni UMNO, diletak oleh penjajah bagi memastikan parti ISlam tidak boleh mengambil tampuk pemerintahan Malaysia.

Dan selama memerintah, UMNO telah menggunakan berbagai-bagai kaedah yang zalim dan menipu untuk kekal memerintah sert mengekalkan polisi penjajah yang anti Islam.

Tulang Besi

MARA tempat kawaq dan penyamun UMNO balun duit...

Di sebalik membelanjakan peruntukan RM54 juta untuk menyediakan kursus latihan bagi golongan miskin tegar, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) membelanjakan wang untuk mendapatkan peralatan tertentu - seratus peratus lebih tinggi berbanding harga pasaran.

NONE Laporan Audit 2010, yang dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat hari ini, menyatakan bahawa dana yang disediakan di bawah program rangsangan ekonomi kedua untuk membantu golongan miskin meningkatkan pendapatan mereka. Berikut beberapa barang yang dilaporkan dalam laporan berkenaan:

Ketuhar berharga RM1,200 berbanding harga pasaran RM419, untuk membuat roti dan pastri bagi kursus di Kelantan

Katil Boleh Lipat berharga RM500 berbanding harga pasaran RM100

Dapur gas dua pembakar pada harga RM200 setiap satu, dan bukannya RM59.90

Mesin gunting rambut yang dibekalkan pada harga RM250 setiap satu, dan bukannya RM79

Pengisar pada RM140 dan bukannya sebanyak RM60

Katil boleh lipat itu digunakan untuk kursus urutan secara tradisional bagi ibu selepas bersalin dan mesin gunting rambut digunakan untuk kursus menggunting rambut.
NONE Laporan tersebut mencatatkan bahawa sebahagian besar pembelian dibuat melalui rundingan teru! s, tidak melalui tender terbuka - dan tanpa kelulusan daripada Kementerian Kewangan.

Prosedur operasi standard tidak dibentangkan sebelum lembaga pengarah MARA meluluskannya, kata laporan itu.

Laporan itu juga memberi komen bahawa Giatmara perlu menyatakan prosedur operasi standard secara mendalam dan terperinci bagi program yang hendak dijalankan di seluruh negara.

Beli peralatan, bekalan eletrik tiada

Laporan itu turut mencatatkan pembelian beberapa peralatan untuk peserta kursus yang dibuat tanpa mengambil kira keperluan yang betul. Sebagai contoh, di Kapit, Sarawak, ketuhar dan mesin jahit disediakan tetapi tiada bekalan elektrik di pusat latihan tersebut.

NONE

Laporan itu juga mencatatkan beberapa peralatan termasuk pengadun dan pengisar yang dibeli di bawah tahap keupayaan sebenar untuk digunakan mengadun kek dan oleh itu, ia tidak boleh digunakan.

Giatmara juga membeli pengisar untuk mencampur makanan ikan dengan spesifikasi yang rendah dan peserta kursus boleh secara mudah mendapat makanan ikan di Perak.

Laporan Audit Negara mencadangkan Giatmata membuat penilaian sesuatu peralatan yang hendak dibeli mengikut kapasiti dan kesesuaian bagi mencapai hasratnya.

source:malaysiakini

Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA):

a. An oven at RM1,200 compared with the market price of RM419, for bakery courses in its Kelantan campus

b. Folding beds at RM500, against the market price of RM100

c.Two-burner gas cookers at RM200 each, rather than ! RM59.90/ each

d. Hair clippers supplied at RM250 each, instead of RM79

e.A blender at RM140 instead of RM60

Comments...

Tell the Truth - Najis adminstration is a joke of the century!! That coward deliberately tabled the AG's report late so that he will not get shot down by the Opposition in Parliament!! That good for nothing PM rather let the poor rot but let his cronies suck the blood out of the raayat!! If this is not outright plunder of the peoples money what is it?? The only solution is to vote these corrupted thieves out of govt so that Malaysia will be able to restore its integrity and pride once again!!

gunner - With the amount of RM54 millions spent, MARA wasted RM27M of the amount in a form of commissions, kickbacks, tips, bribes etc. Where is MACC now..

Lover Boy - Ini biasa lka, MACC also dah bosan dengar perkara ini. Apa nak bising bising , ini kerajaan Malaysia. Bila MB Selangor beli lembu untuk Korban, dia kena macam macam. Ini institusi Mara, semuanya okay sebab, BN punya kaki dapat komissen. Padan Muka rakyaat Malaysia undi BN lagi la!

anakpulau - Year in year out the same story! Pemimpin di atas pun makan, pemimpin pertengahan pun makan, pemimpin di bawah pun makan, semua cari makan. Tak malu dan tak merasa dosa makan duit rakyat. pui pui pui!!!

source:malaysiakini

Giatmara paid more than double for equipment

cheers.

Bergerak bersama UndiMsia!

Rencana ini pertama kali diterbitkan dalam kolum saya di Sinar Harian pada 24 Oktober 2011 di sini.

Politik longkang masih mendominasi polemik politik tanah air. Terbaru, anak seorang ahli politik dituduh melalui blog-blog lawannya bahawa dia terlibat dalam masalah gangguan seksual. Siap dengan gambar mangsa. Tetapi nampaknya perkara itu hanyalah tuduhan tidak berasas. Mangsa juga tidak ada kena-mengena dengan anak ahli politik tersebut.

Anak ahli politik tersebut masih belum cukup umur. Dia dihumban ke dalam kancah politik tanpa belas kasihan. Apa yang menyedihkan lagi, reaksi yang kita lihat daripada ahli politik lain. Mereka menghalalkan apa yang berlaku dengan alasan, perkara sama juga dilakukan oleh lawan mereka.

Terkejutkah kita dengan apa yang berlaku? Malang sekali, jawapannya tidak. Kita sudah terbiasa dengan gelagat ahli politik murahan daripada kedua-dua belah gabungan parti politik, yang tidak lebih daripada pecacai dan sanggup menggadaikan prinsip dan etika demi melepaskan das tembakan politik kepada lawan mereka.

Ya, politik itu kotor dan kadangkala keji. Kita semua tahu. Ahli politik sendiri mengakuinya. Namun sekian lama, kita disajikan dengan tanggapan bahawa walaupun politik itu keji dan kotor, politik sajalah jalan untuk seseorang itu cuba membawa perubahan yang bermakna. Banyak isu membelenggu negara ini sebenarnya. Isu-isu ini diselaputi dengan lendir politik kepartian. Terdapat juga hampas politik kepartian yang dijaja sebagai isu.

Malangnya, masyarakat masih memberi keutamaan kepada lendir dan hampas. Apa yang perlu kita lakukan adalah mengayak segala lendir dan hampas serta melihat kepada isu yang penting. Dalam bahasa Inggeris, isu-isu roti dan mentega. Memberi fokus semu! la kepad a isu-isu ini.

Inilah matlamat utama UndiMsia! Ia merupakan suatu pergerakan berteraskan aktivisme anak muda.

Pernahkah anda mendengar tentang UndiMsia!? Pergerakan terbaru yang lahir beberapa bulan lepas, sedang menganjakkan revolusi kecil yang bermula di Lembah Kelang.

Pergerakan dipelopori rata-rata oleh anak-anak muda yang prihatin, dinamik dan bertenaga. UndiMsia! memberi penekanan kepada kuasa anak muda. Ini adalah suatu gerakan pendidikan bertujuan menggalakkan dan menambah lebih banyak penyertaan golongan muda Malaysia dalam proses demokrasi negara.

Untuk tahun pertama, UndiMsia! memberi tumpuan kepada tiga bidang utama. Pertama, hak sosioekonomi berkenaan dengan makanan dan perumahan. Kedua, hak sivil dan politik berkenaan dengan kebebasan bersuara. Ketiga, memahami belanjawan dan peruntukan mengenai pendidikan.

Cara mereka adalah dengan penubuhan Kumpulan Tindakan Belia, Youth Action Group (YAG) di setiap komuniti dan institusi. YAG bertujuan memperkasa anak-anak muda dalam penglibatan dan urusan mereka dengan wakil-wakil dan pemimpin-pemimpin komuniti untuk mengenal pasti isu-isu teras dalam kempen pilihan raya dan menapis lendir serta hampas retorik politik.

YAG juga akan memastikan pemimpin-pemimpin komuniti dapat memberikan golongan muda apa yang sewajarnya diberikan dan yang telah dijanjikan.

UndiMsia! telah memberikan landasan kepada golongan muda. Bagaikan si mengantuk yang disorong bantal, ia berjaya menarik sebegitu ramai! anak mu da yang sebelum ini dibelenggu kekecewaan kerana beranggapan, mereka tidak mempunyai landasan dan saluran untuk memberi sumbangan positif kepada negara. Mereka juga kecewa terhadap senario politik longkang tanah air. Mereka berfikiran bebas dan tidak enggan mendekati politik kepartian yang sempit.

Salah satu mantra UndiMsia! adalah untuk memupuskan ahli politik. Jika individu dan komuniti diberi pengupayaan dan diaktifkan, banyak perkara sebenarnya boleh dilakukan tanpa memerlukan campur tangan politik. Kebergantungan kita kepada mereka akan dikurangkan, pada masa sama kita akan menumpulkan pengaruh mereka dalam masyarakat.

Cukuplah kita menjadi pengulas kedai kopi. Cukuplah kita menjadi pengkritik siber. Bangkit daripada kerusi kedai kopi. Bangkit daripada menghadap skrin komputer. Bergeraklah bersama UndiMsia!

Penulis seorang peguam muda yang mengamalkan undang-undang sebagai rakan kongsi di sebuah firma guaman di Kuala Lumpur.

Prophets, Reformers and Movements

Without the slightest of doubt, everyone you speak to will want justice.. They will extol virtues of justice and make speeches of it. Justice is required in many aspects of the diverse human life but how many will fight for it? How many will fight against injustice when it does not affect them indirectly?

Allah says this:

O you who believe! Why say you that which you do not do? Grievously odious is it in the sight of God that you say that which you do not do.
(Quran: 61:2-3)

We are all good people, we like to believe. We often tell ourselves that we should try to live a non-controversial life, a safe life and therefore we do not want to meddle with things that do not directly concern us or our family. We even turn a blind eye to the injustice suffered by others on the pretext of: what can I alone do? Since everyone asks that question, nobody does anything! Some of us consider ourselves as believers and find it sufficient that we do the safe, minimum religious requirements while, Allah in strong terms commands the following:

And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression.
(Quran: 2:193)

It is a clear commandment, yet many would prefer to turn a blind eye with many excuses. Often too, we find ourselves groping in the dark to find out what is this justice all about? Some mistakenly think that it is all about law or fiqh. Others have pragmatic excuses I cannot risk my position, cannot risk my familys welfare, maybe one day when I am stable, there is no freedom of speech in this society, etc. Hence, most end up as arm-chair critics (that too with absolut! e anonym ity) and complainers.

I am afraid all these have been covered in the Quran such that there is no excuse that any believer can give no place to hide from God!

Prophet Moses was adopted by Pharoahs family. He grew up in the palace as an adopted son. His adopted brother became the new Pharoah (Quran: 28:7-9). Moses saw that the Egyptian people were oppressed by the Pharoah. The most pragmatic thing for Moses to do would probably be to safeguard his position in the palace status, wealth and influence. Probably, his friends will have advised him that the right and practical thing to do will be to remain in the palace. But he left the palace and returned to meet the Pharoah with the message to submit to God and therefore to establish justice. Moses was prepared to fight for justice and in that process forsook his place in the palace.

Ironically, in the quest for justice, family sentiments are never an excuse. Pharoahs wife for example was honest enough to admit and detest her husbands wrongdoings (Quran: 66:11). Today however, some women are under a misconception that it is virtuous to support the husband and even defend him when he commits grave injustice to others. Otherwise, how do you explain, for example, the wife who is blind to the husband who is providing for her way beyond his means?

Luths and Noahs wives are other examples of challenges from within when you are on a quest for justice (Quran: 66:10). The pragmatic thing to do, in modern terms, would be to appease your wife and turn a blind eye to injustices? I have actually heard many, many times in my life some people telling me that they cannot take part in a movement for a good cause because their wives do not like it or it takes their time away from their adoring wives! Any struggle calls for sacrifice.

Prophet Shuaib strikes me as an economic reformer who wanted his people to do business without cheating and profiteering (Quran: 7:85-93). He went around to meet the business community of his time passing the message! . Obviou sly he did not sit somewhere in an ivory tower keeping his hands clean, so to speak. He went down to the ground where life was going on. His quest for justice appeared to be in the economic domain. He was part of an economic cleansing movement if you like.

Prophet Abrahams history is another challenge to the notion of pragmatism versus adherence to the truth (Quran 26:70-104). He was turned away by his own father because he refused to worship idols made by the hands of men. He was rebuked by his own father for logically arguing with his father that the idols that his father worshipped cannot even help themselves. What is this message of serving one God that is so powerful? Human beings cannot live in a vacuum, if they do not serve the Creator; they end up serving other gods including their ego and lust. You have to read the entire struggle of Abraham in the Quran to understand what he struggled for. My understanding is that his struggle was a realistic struggle for living with justice. Allah proclaimed in the Quran that Abraham is a good role model to follow.

Abraham could very well have taken the safe path and taken over his fathers place as custodian of the temple. He did not. He started a movement to establish justice in his land. It was a long struggle as all movements are.

Unfortunately, today many Muslims insist that prophets cannot be followed as role models because they have mukjizat. It is sad that models shown by Allah in the Quran have been alleviated by some to a dubious religious status that seems beyond the reach of normal human beings.

Prophet Muhammad had to endure severe hardship, loss of wealth, positions, and the like simply in his quest for a better society based on Gods teachings. He had to go against the norms and accepted culture of the Arabs of his time. Would not the most pragmatic thing be to focus on his business and family and live happily ever after? But his call was greater than his love for this transient life. He was in a movement to establ! ish a ju st society.

He was persecuted simply because he invited people of his time to serve only one God and his causes included stopping the despicable practice of oppressing women in cruel ways (Quran: 81:8-9), freedom of faith (Quran: 10:99), quest for justice and fighting against oppression (Quran: 16:90; 2:193), responsibility to orphans (Quran: 4:22), charity and kindness to the poor and needy (Quran: 2:177), kindness to parents and neighbours (Quran: 4:36), etc. If you look into history, you will realise that these were radical movements often frowned on by the establishment of the time.

If anyone is sincerely looking for causes in life there are plenty in the Quran. It is a daily struggle and a never ending one. One cannot wait for safe circumstances because as the circumstances of the role models show, wherever there is injustice, there is no such thing as a safe time other than an excuse in our mind not to lift a finger.

Every single prophet that is mentioned in the Quran fought for something for their society. They mingled with the society they lived in. Todays religious people merely lecture at you. They do not get their hands soiled trying to make society a little better. They think upon themselves too pure and too exalted to come down to the grassroots, so to speak.

You can either cook up excuses or do something useful in your lives other than serving your own selfish needs.

You can educate yourself or others on issues affecting the society you live in. You can be part of a movement to help make society a better and just place for everyone. No true believer can turn a blind eye to the injustices or the weaknesses of his society.

I have tremendous love and respect for those who make time for the social work of sorts the environment, fight against women abuse, fight for a better justice system, better education, better medical care, against corruption, helping the homeless, SABM, UndiMsia! etc. May God give you all the ! strength , resources and courage, and protect you from those who wish to stop your efforts. To me, you are certainly following the ways of the prophets in that sense.

Peace.

NOTE: The above views are entirely my understanding and no one is required to agree with them. Kindly check with your own copy of the Quran and make up your own minds. If I have erred in my facts, kindly highlight them to me.

Parliamentary body to probe feedlot project

by Hazlan Zakaria
Malaysiakini
6:45PM Oct 24, 2011

The fate of a failed government-linked company and its RM250 million government soft loan that was made debate fodder by the Opposition in Parliament recently is in the sight of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

This matter has been made much of in Parliament. The PAC will look into National Feedlot Corporation, which is under the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries, its chairperson Azmi Khalid told reporters after chairing the financial oversight bodys maiden meeting for this session at Parliament House today.

The opposition raised red flags on the corporation, not just because of its non-performance but more so because of National Feedlots link to the son and husband of a federal minister.

The opposition MPs are claiming that the governments granting of RM250 million to the National Feedlot project presents a conflict in interest, if not direct competition, because of the family links with the cabinet minister.

The quarter of a billion Ringgit was from a RM1.2 billion national fund set up to ensure that Malaysia becomes self-sufficient in food and livestock production, the project supposed to ensure Malaysia becomes self-sufficient in beef production by this year, but as the opposition claimed, with nothing to show thus far.

However, despite the issue being raised repeated times in Parliament by the Opposition, the only replies from the government have been weak denials of any conflict of interest or any complicity.

This statement from the PAC is the first assurance of an investigation into the matter.

This entry was posted ! on Monda y, 24 October 2011, 11:32 pm and is filed under Auditor-General Report, Parliament. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.

AG Report - Tourism Ministry paid RM1,950 per pamphlets rack

The Tourism Ministry overpaid nearly RM270 million for advertisements when it chose to use direct bookings instead of open tenders, the Auditor-General reported today.

The report noted that in doing so, the ministry had also breached the Treasurys regulations as laid down in a circular in 2007.

The ministry also spent a whopping RM1.95 million to buy 1,000 racks RM1,950 per rack to hold its tourism pamphlets for the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign, the report said, again pointing out the move was done without the treasurys approval.

Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said the ministry must hold an open tender so the price offered will be more competitive, transparent and provide better value for money. In addition, this method would have avoided power abuse as well as created internal controls and good governance in booking advertisement space, he said in the report.

He noted further that if the ministry had held an open tender, its advertising spending would have cost RM75.38 million.

The Auditor-General said it was also unable to confirm the distribution of 22 of the 1,000 racks as the ministry could not supply the note of delivery as proof of claim, while another 127 racks were also not accounted for.

It noted the ministrys explanation that 622 racks had been distributed to hotels, 127 were expired by the contracted company, Leo Communications Sdn Bhd, due to financial complications and lack of storage space, and as many as 85 racks were locked in the companys storage hold.

Ambrin urged the ministry to plan its yearly budget with greater care and detail to support its overall operational spending.

This is so the advertising and promotional support activities planned can be implemented to increase the number of tourists to Malaysia and grow domestic tourism, he said in the report.

He noted there were a total of 24.58 million foreign tourists to Malaysia in December 2010, a slight increase from the projected 24 million target and 2009s 23.65 million visitors.

source:malaysia insider

cheers.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Social Political Buzz & Bulls