Parliament skirts questions on Tajudin Ramli settlement

By S Pathmawathy | 2:16PM Mar 13, 12
Malaysiakini

Four questions related to the out-of-court settlement between former Malaysia Airlines chairperson Tajudin Ramli and government-linked corporations (GLCs) were rejected by the Dewan Rakyat today on grounds that these are sub judice.

The questions were turned down on the reasoning that the matter could have an implication on other ongoing legal battles in the Court of Appeal and pending cases in the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

tajudin ramli 1The questions were submitted by DAP MPs Lim Guan Eng (Bagan), Lim Lip Eng (Segambut), Jeff Ooi (Jelutong) and Tony Pua (Petaling Jaya Utara), and were interrelated to the government's instructions in ordering the GLCs to end the long-drawn battle.

"These questions are important… we want to know the rationale and benefit to the rakyat by settling out of court the multi-million ringgit that Tajudin was ordered to pay by the High Court," Guan Eng told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Last month, Tajudin came to a settlement with Pengurusan Danaharta Bhd (Danaharta) putting an end to a six-year dispute over millions of ringgit that Tajudin owed to the national asset management firm.

A settlement shrouded in secrecy

Guan Eng's questions also demanded that the government reveals the claims before the court involving the two parties and losses incurred by Danaharta and MAS.

Meanwhile, Lip Eng called on the prime minister to explain in detail the savings or the losses to the government as a result of the out-of-court settlement.

The opposition, anti-graft watchdog Transparency International Malaysia and minority shareholders have hit out at the deal for being shrouded in secrecy.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on Dec 7, 2009, ordered Tajudin to pay RM589.14 million plus two percent interest a year to Danaharta, which manages Tajudin's unpaid loans, backdated to Jan 1, 2006. The same court had earlier dismissed Tajudin's RM13.46 billion counter-claim.

However, Tajudin withdrew his lawsuit against Danaharta as well as numerous other litigants, including Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Naluri Corporation, Celcom (M) Bhd, Atlan Holding Bhd and CIMB Group.

Tajudin's settlement resulted from a directive issued by the government in August last year, "advising" all related GLCs, including MAS, to drop their suits against him.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, 13 March 2012, 7:33 pm and is filed under Corruption, Financial Scandals, Parliament. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0.  

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RM500 buys… — Lucius Goon

MARCH 13 — It is not surprising that PM Najib Razak says that the government will give cash to Malaysians if revenue goes up. He has found out that his disbursement of RM500 has been a success. Nothing it seems keeps Malaysians happy than some lucre in the pocket.

Najib knows this and if it means emptying the coffers to win the election he will do it. The PM a great believer in deal-making knows that RM500 will...

• persuade many Malaysians to have amnesia and forget the catalogue of flip-flops and mistakes from Najib who has inherited mantle of flip-flop king from Abdullah Badawi.
• make Malaysians forget about the string of corruption issues and dodgy deals from the development of land near Martrade (Naza TTDI) to the rm9 billion patrol boats to the super sweetheart West Coast Highway deal (60 year toll concession) to the RM2.2 billion Kidex highway.
• help Malaysians forget about how the power and might of the state was brought to bear on ordinary citizens who were marching for clean elections.
• lull Malaysians into complacency that they forget that Indonesians, Bangladeshis and other foreigners are being "allowed" to vote.
• convince Malaysians that Najib is a decent chap, despite allegations that the powerful and connected and people from his inner circle are making much hay while the sun shines. Forget about the RM24 million ring and the shopping trips.
• get Malaysians to focus on material wellbeing instead of focusing on fighting evil and injustice.
• persuade Malaysians that the government is really prihatin and has the welfare of Malaysians at heart, instead of asking why the national debt has reached unheard of levels and pondering about a government which has to buy its way to power.
• hope that Malaysians forget that everything about this government is about announcements and launches and where consultants are paid mega bucks to recycle ideas as Government Transformation.

Yes, the government hopes that the occasional RM500 will be like a drug to Malaysians and they want us hooked for life.

* Lucius Goon reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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RE: ARE YOU A WEATHERCOCK, PETE?‏

Dear Yang Mulia Raja Petra Kamarudin,

I know I do not have the right, neither the privilege to ask you to post this reply as the website belongs to you, and it is entirely at your own discretion whether you want to oblige, or just conveniently turn a deaf ear.

What I want to say now is, there appears to be a gross misunderstanding here between you me the gutless, choontoiless Jeffrey Ong.

I was not complaining about the RM20 registration fee, which as you said is no big deal. I can miss a meal or two to be among my fellow Malaysians and you, that is not the problem. The problem is FEAR, you are right. The Rakyat fear the long arms of the Government and the occasional warnings from the mouth of Rais Yatim that they would do this or that, and Hishamuddin Tun Hussein has yet to announce the contents of the Act to replace the ISA. What more, even the IGP could be involved with nefarious activities, as revealed by you. What is there to prevent him from sending some thugs to bash us up, or finish us altogether?

Yang Mulia, you are blessed with good fortune and hailed from Royalty, but not every Malaysian enjoys that status, so FEAR sticks in their mind that once put behind bars, they cannot, like you upon release, take flight with their family members in tow to join you in Manchester, UK, reside there till the tide turns. They are not "freedom fighters", only mere wage-earners, and if they are imprisoned or in prison, who is going to feed those hungry mouths at home?

Having seen the amounts, hundreds of thousands you had to pay to set up this website, and some more to pay to switch blog from Joomla to Wordpress, etc., etc., we are sure you do not depend on the registration fees to keep and maintain it, and operate it for that many years already.

May I venture to say that your past business sense and acumen should also tell you that the more popular your blog is, the more advertisements you will attract to augment your income and help defray administration costs. Therefore, in order to gain popularity and recognition of the reading public, more comments should be encouraged, though those frivolous and crude uncouth ones can be eliminated t! hrough screening process of your Admin. The Star newspaper would long have wound up had it not been for the heavy volumes of adverts to become the leading English daily.

Please do not take too hard on yourself and whack me like hell to kingdom come for asking you to just "open up the window and let the sunshine in". You are at full liberty to deny me or anybody that request for the site belongs to you and only you. I am just suffering from a dearth of home news and only hoping get to feel the pulse of Malaysia by reading the numerous comments by Malaysians. If the comments become scarce, because of registration requirement, people like Jocelyn Tan (pro-Govt) and Jaswant Kaur (pro-Opposition) will not be challenged for their remarks and opinions by both sides of the political divide. So the reports will be lop-sided.

You were right in saying that fear factor has even prevented many voters to exercise their rights, thinking that "the government may find out whom you vote for", but on the other hand, if you "open up your window" as I pleaded, the voters too could feel the changing groundswell and brave the challenge to vote according to their conscience with the clarion calls from those who comment over the last few days before the GE13. Then, let's say, because of this move by MT, the Opposition wins the next GE, and who then will try to find out whom you vote for. If any, they will thank the brave voters for making their dream to Putrajaya come true.

The Malaysians have "choontois", big ones too, I believe, but they cannot afford to risk losing the choontois when the odds are stacked steeply against them.

Finally, spare some thoughts for the senior citizens who possess vast experience and knowledge about our country, but they do not own credit cards to facilitate the payment of registration fee, or they find the registration process too tedious, so we leave them out in the cold, w! ith thei r mouths full of things they want to share, but unable to do so.

Today, I am happy to note that the number of comments to your bashing me in this exchange have swelled to a respectable high of nearly 30. That's the way, aha aha, I like it.

Since I got bashed by you and some who commented, I hope you will post this letter after which, I will shut my gap, and forever hold my peace!

"THOSE WHO BRING SUNSHINE INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS CANNOT KEEP IT FROM THEMSELVES!"

Salam, Minta Ampun, Yang Mulia.

Jeffrey Ong

 

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Malaysia's new definition for 'resignation' and 'sacrifice'

Ask any Human Resource personnel worthy of his/her salt, and you will be told that resignation can only be effected while your contract of appointment/service is still in force. If you are 'resigning' on the last date of your contract of appointment expiration, the act is not deemed a resignation but non-renewal of contract and/or termination of appointment.

J. D. Lovrenciear

Attention all ye philosophers and theorists, worldwide. Oxford and Webster also please take note: Malaysia has provided a new definition for 'resignation' and 'sacrifice'.

In the wake of the 'cowgate' allegation-cum-denials that is sweeping the nation, the BN politicians have also made another world record. Oxford and Webster dictionaries should be most interested too.

'Resignation' can now be also defined as leaving your appointed job on the last day of your contract of service expiration.

Holly mackerel! Ask any Human Resource personnel worthy of his/her salt, and you will be told that resignation can only be effected while your contract of appointment/service is still in force. If you are 'resigning' on the last date of your contract of appointment expiration, the act is not deemed a resignation but non-renewal of contract and/or termination of appointment.

All these while, throughout the world of employment, 'resignation' would refer to quitting your job while your contract of appointment is still valid and active. And, upon the expiration of one's contract, there is no resignation that can be effected – only termination or renewal of contract of employment/service.

When a 'resignation' and 'termination of contract' coincide on the same date, it tantamounts to discrepancy.

The other contribution to the global community by Malaysian politicians is the political definition of 'sacrifice'. Both the PM and the DPM have been reported to have described the 'resignation' of a cabinet minister as a 'sacrifice'.

When Rabindranath Tagore who is acclaimed worldwide as a social, political, religious, and aesthetic thinker, innovator in education and a champion of the 'One World' idea, wrote his theatrical Sacrifice, he dedicated it "to those heroes who bravely stood for peac! e when h uman sacrifice was claimed for the Goddess of War" ( Answers.com ).

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word 'sacrifice' as "forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim."

And the New Zealander Statesman, James Allen (1855 – 1942) said: He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would accomplish much must sacrifice much.

And the WordNet Dictionary defines 'sacrifice' as "the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform, etc."

And do not also forget that only weeks before the 'cowgate' saga-cum-resignation issue, someone within BN barricades stated 'return the money and all will be well'.

Whether from a philosophical perspective, or cultural and semantic angle, it is confusing why the PM and his Deputy were reported to have referred to a cabinet minister's resignation as a "sacrifice".

What is the sacrifice? And why sacrifice?

What about the police recommendations? What about the fact that the law took effect which saw charges being pressed in court?

In other words how can sacrifice embrace the intent and act of wrong doing?

Dear PM and DPM, whoever advised you to use the word "sacrifice" must be real bad teacher or a great con-sultant! Do you people not see a credibility issue-cum-obligation here? Why are you nailing the entire BN machinery down for the sake of one person? Or are there really more persons to be protected really?

Maybe those BN politicians (if any) who are fundamentally still operating honorably before their supporters (rakyat) and God, should advise their leaders.

Anyway, Oxford and Webster! , please do not forget to pay royalty to our politicians for giving the world a new dimension to the words 'resignation' and 'sacrifice' yeah. Thanks.

 

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"Majlis Pertunangan Anak PM Lebih Mahal dari Harga Rumah Saya"

Itulah perkara pertama yang terlintas dalam pemikiran Tulang Besi. Apabila angka RM408k dilayangkan kepada umum berkaitan dengan majlis pertunangan anak PM itu, Tulang Besi seperti tidak boleh percaya.

Dalam keadaan majoriti rakyat hidup dalam kesempitan, berebut2 pembayaran RM500 BRIM serta terpaksa mencatu makanan, PM sendiri boleh bermewah-mewah di dalam menyambut majlis pertungangan anak beliau.

Juga, sehingga hari ini tiada satu pun bukti dokumentasi yang membuktikan majlis tersebut TIDAK DIBAYAR oleh Pejabat Perdana Menteri (PMO). Yang ada hanyalah kenyataan2 umum menafikan majlis tersebut tidak dibayar oleh PMO namun tiada satu bukti yang dibawa keluar.

Sepatutnya dalam keadaan majoriti rakyat hidup dalam kesempitan, PM mesti mengorak langkah proaktif untuk hidup sederhana bersama-sama dengan rakyat. Itu tandanya PM adalah seorang yang berjiwa rakyat.

Tulang Besi merasakan khabar kos majlis PM ini sangat2 menyebak hati. Bayangkan ramai anak2 muda tidak boleh membeli rumah kerana pendapatan mereka terlampau rendah. Pihak bank pula menolak semua permohonan mereka kerana walaupun ada pinjaman 100% namun pendapatan rakyat terlampau rendah untuk layak mendapat pinjaman 100% itu.

Tak taulah kalau Najib menang besar kelak, apa lagi yang akan berlaku kepada rakyat Malaysia

Tulang Besi

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Taib’s son offers out-of-court settlement

Aidila Razak

Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, the son of the Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, today offered an out-of-court settlement to his ex-wife Shahnaz A Majid over her matrimonial claims.

This comes a day after the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court instructed Mahmud Abu Bekir, who is Cahaya Mata Sarawak deputy chairperson, to declare his assets.

"We have come to an agreement with the other party to make on offer within 14 days for all cases pending," Mahmud Abu Bekir's counsel Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar said.

Mahmud Abu Bekir, who is also represented by Saadiah Din, will make the offer within 14 days.

Justice Mohamad Abdullah postponed the hearing to May 23, pending the outcome of the settlement negotiations.

Mahmud Abu Bekir, seen smiling in court today, was married to Shahnaz for 19 years before the divorce was recorded on May 11, 2011.

They have a son, who was born in December 2003.

Shahnaz has claimed assets and mutaah (gifts) amounting to RM400 million in the divorce settlement.

Shahnaz, who is a sister of popular singer Sheila Majid, had yesterday tearfully testified on how Mahmud Abu Bekir had physically and emotionallyabused her during their marriage.

She was expected to take the stand again today to reveal the assets of Mahmud Abu Bekir and his family.

Justice Mohamad today also cancelled the show-cause order issued against Mahmud Abu Bekir, which had been applied for by Shahnaz's lawyer, as the trial is still continuing.

The order was applied to be imposed on Mahmud Abu Bekir for not coming to court despite being told to do so.

Acting for Shahnaz were Rafie Mohd Shafie and Akbardin Abdul Kadir
.

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BN MP defends cut for disabled PKR supporter

KUALA LUMPUR: A Sarawakian MP defended the cutting of government aid to disabled farmer Frusis Lebi over the latter's support of Pakatan Rakyat.

Sri Aman MP (PRS) Masir anak Kujat said that Frusis was earning enough to support himself, and therefore did not need government's help.

"Barisan Nasional has helped him (Lebi) from 30 years ago. Now he gets RM2,000 a month. According to welfare (guidelines), he should have gone past the poverty line."

"He can depend on himself. He has a van; a kereta sapu (taxi) to bring people around. He has become rich," Masir told the Dewan Rakyat.

He was responding to Bandar Kuching MP (DAP) Chong Chieng Jen, who criticised the Sarawak government for victimising Lebi.

FMT previously reported on an alleged letter by Sarawak State Assistant Minister of Agriculture (research and marketing) Mong Dagang, who asked the Departments of Agriculture and Welfare to stop Lebi's aid.

(The aid came in the form of a monthly welfare allowance, as well as fertiliser and seedling subsidies.)

Dagang allegedly gave the directive after Lebi – whose hands and feet are deformed – was found to have supported the opposition openly during the 2011 Sarawak state election. The farmer had also hoisted a PKR flag in front of his house.

Masir's words irked Chong, who vehemently attacked the PRS MP.

"This is all nonsense of the highest degree!" the DAP MP yelled.

He asked what the connection was between the cutting of Lebi's aid and his income. Chong then blasted Masir for saying that the aid came from the BN.

"He (Masir) said this money is from the BN. This money is from the people. Not from BN," he said.

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Al-Fatihah untuk Nurul Nadirah...

"Al-Fatihah untuk Nurul Nadirah. 

Negara ini bukannya yang paling selamat di Asia Tenggara sebagaimana yang didakwa," kata satu kenyataan dalam Twiiter mengenai kematian Nurul Nadirah.

Kenyataan ini dikeluarkan  ekoran kematian adik Nadirah selepas negara ini diistiharkan sebagai negara paling selamat di Asia Tenggara sebelum ini dan media kerajaan menjadikannya laporan muka depan mereka menjelang pilihan raya ini.
 
Hari ini, Dewan Muslimat PAS Pusat (DMPP) mengucapkan takziah yang sama kepada adik kecil ini dan mendakwa keselamatan kanak-kanak dan wanita di negara ini berada di tahap yang kritikal.
 
Ketuanya, Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof berkata, kes adik  Nurul Nadirah Abdullah yang disahkan mati dibunuh dan dibakar selepas hilang sejak 1 Mac lalu membuktikan Malaysia tidak selamat.

"Negara kita dalam keadaan tidak selamat. kes ini adalah sejarah yang menggerikan seperti yang pernah berlaku sebelum ini dan memang tak sepatutnya berlaku.

"Isu keselamatan kanak-kanak, wanita masih lagi berada di tahap kritikal. Kalau kerajaan mendakwa bahawa negara kita selamat, di mana?" kata beliau ketika ditemui di lobi Parlimen hari ini.

Sambil merakamkan ucapan takziah kepada keluarga mangsa, Ahli Parlimen itu berharap pembunuh kejam itu dibawa ke muka pengadilan.

"Muslimat amat bersimpati dengan ibu dan keluarga adik Nurul Nadhirah dan saya harap perkara ini tidak berlaku kepada keluarga yang lain.

"Saya harap penjenayah dihadapaihadapkan ke muka pengadilan agar menjadi iktibar kepada orang lain," katanya.

Nada empati yang sama turut dikongsi timbalannya, Dr. Siti Mariah Mahmud.

Ahli Parlimen Kota Raja itu mengingatkan ibu bapa agar tidak mengambil ringan keselamatan anak-anak sebaliknya perlu senti! asa berw aspada walaupun berada di kawasan rumah.

"Saya boleh merasakan empatinya. Ini menunjukkan keadaan selamat yang konon-kononnya ada sebenarnya kita tidak selamat.  Ibu bapa tidka boleh membuat andaian selamat.

"Ibu bapa jangan lupa, mungkin ini penjanayah bersiri dan akan melakukan kekejaman yang sama kepada kanak-kanak lain," katanya.

Polis semalam mengesahkan mayat rentung yang ditemui di sebuah ladang kelapa sawit di Nusa Damai, Pasir Gudang di Johor Baharu  8 Mac lalu adalah Nurul Nadhirah atau Dirang.

Nurul Nadhirah dilaporkan hilang pada 1 Mac lalu kira-kira 11 pagi ketika keluar untuk membeli mee segera dan telur di kedai runcit di kawasan flat kediamannya.-harakahdaily

 Nurul Nadirah's cold blooded murder...

The police have described the killing of Nurul Nadhirah Abdullah, 5, as a cold blooded murder and investigation papers are being prepared to bring the suspects to justice. Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said his deputy, Datuk Ismail Yatim was tasked with heading the preparation of the investigation papers to speed up prosecution.

"We are also awaiting several more reports from the Chemistry Department," he told reporters when visiting Nurul Nadhirah or Dirang's family at the Seri Delima flats, Bandar Seri Alam here today.

He said three of the four suspects arrested, including a woman, aged between 30 and 40, were tested positive for drugs, including metamphetamine and ice. Two of them have previous criminal records for drug offences and thefts, he added.

Mohd Mokhtar, who was accompanied by his wife, Datin Bibi Zakiah Meraslam, offered his condolences to Dirang's family and urged the public not to expose their children to danger an! d be war y of suspicious characters in their neighbourhood.

On a text message received by Nurul Nadhirah's mother, Roselyn Alan, 25, asking for RM30,000 for the safe return of her daughter yesterday, Mohd Mokhtar said the Kelantan police would trace the sender and take the suspect to Johor.

The DNA samples from the charred remains found at Nusa Damai oil palm plantation, Masai near here on Thursday have been confirmed as that of Nurul Nadirah.

The girl went missing after leaving her home to buy eggs and instant noodles at a sundry shop near her flats at 11am on March 1. Her remains were found about 9am in a 3.5 metre hole dug in the plantation, which was 3.5km from the flats through a short-cut.

Meanwhile, Roselyn said she will not forgive the person who murdered her daughter. She said she wants the killer to be punished accordingly.

"I don't know why anyone would want to do this to my daughter. She was still a child and didn't know a thing. No, I won't forgive the murderer; I want the perpetrator to go through what my daughter had gone through," Roselyn told reporters .

Roselyn said it was extremely painful for her upon receiving the calls from the police on Monday confirming the charred remains found at an oil palm plantation were those of her daughter, known affectionately as Dirang. She said she constantly asked herself why her daughter was subjected to such cruelty.

"I'm not rich, I don't have any money. I don't even have any enemy," she said, adding that she could not sleep nor eat since Dirang's disappearance. She added that she had tried to look for her daughter by driving around the town from morning until night.

She described Dirang as a good and jovial child and said that she was constantly reminded of her, particularly during the time when she prepares milk for her youngest child, two-month-old Ainul Suhada Abdullah.

She added that Dirang adored her younger sister and would kiss her and dress her with pink shirts.- theSun

al-! fatihah< /b>

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huh...no.4 ?.........sure ornot ??

"....Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is also the Finance minister, has nothing to show for his time in office, despite having taken over the top job in April 2009...."

That's running contradictory of all we hear in the news daily, right ?

Sigh...when are we going to wake up to the fact that enough is enough and we gotta have a say in this totally mismanaged country we love so much ? When are we going to say, "stop this corruption and and give us a clean government that has the tax-paying citizens upper-most in their list of "to-do" ?"

Just read about the hundreds and hundreds of misappropriation and embezzlement going on at every level of the government in our society on a daily basis. These mind-boggling figures that run into so many zeros, being siphoned out is your money, yours and my tax ringgits...happily being helped upon by a! n elite few. Most of us earn about 4 zeros...and only dream of hitting 5...but that too with sheer hard work and with a lot of shit in the process, but these people have it on a platter to squander.

If these monies were actually managed well and with good governance ( by rakyat-serving representatives ) we won't have such high rising costs in every commodity from your daily plate of rice to that bowl of noodles in our school canteens. We are also a petroleum producing country, but what do we get ??

Fish always rots from the head down, I know....so when the head starts to rot you cannot save the body....you just have to throw it away and get a fresh new fish, no ? The entire system of the government is in rot. What do we do ?

I'm surprised we're 4th most corrupted country....when we have always prided ourselves as No:1 ! Ask that old former premier....Tun Mahather. He started everything that we now are in.
Sheeesh !

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Malaysia's new definition for 'resignation' and 'sacrifice'

Ask any Human Resource personnel worthy of his/her salt, and you will be told that resignation can only be effected while your contract of appointment/service is still in force. If you are 'resigning' on the last date of your contract of appointment expiration, the act is not deemed a resignation but non-renewal of contract and/or termination of appointment.

J. D. Lovrenciear

Attention all ye philosophers and theorists, worldwide. Oxford and Webster also please take note: Malaysia has provided a new definition for 'resignation' and 'sacrifice'.

In the wake of the 'cowgate' allegation-cum-denials that is sweeping the nation, the BN politicians have also made another world record. Oxford and Webster dictionaries should be most interested too.

'Resignation' can now be also defined as leaving your appointed job on the last day of your contract of service expiration.

Holly mackerel! Ask any Human Resource personnel worthy of his/her salt, and you will be told that resignation can only be effected while your contract of appointment/service is still in force. If you are 'resigning' on the last date of your contract of appointment expiration, the act is not deemed a resignation but non-renewal of contract and/or termination of appointment.

All these while, throughout the world of employment, 'resignation' would refer to quitting your job while your contract of appointment is still valid and active. And, upon the expiration of one's contract, there is no resignation that can be effected – only termination or renewal of contract of employment/service.

When a 'resignation' and 'termination of contract' coincide on the same date, it tantamounts to discrepancy.

The other contribution to the global community by Malaysian politicians is the political definition of 'sacrifice'. Both the PM and the DPM have been reported to have described the 'resignation' of a cabinet minister as a 'sacrifice'.

When Rabindranath Tagore who is acclaimed worldwide as a social, political, religious, and aesthetic thinker, innovator in education and a champion of the 'One World' idea, wrote his theatrical Sacrifice, he dedicated it "to those heroes who bravely stood for peac! e when h uman sacrifice was claimed for the Goddess of War" ( Answers.com ).

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word 'sacrifice' as "forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim."

And the New Zealander Statesman, James Allen (1855 – 1942) said: He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would accomplish much must sacrifice much.

And the WordNet Dictionary defines 'sacrifice' as "the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform, etc."

And do not also forget that only weeks before the 'cowgate' saga-cum-resignation issue, someone within BN barricades stated 'return the money and all will be well'.

Whether from a philosophical perspective, or cultural and semantic angle, it is confusing why the PM and his Deputy were reported to have referred to a cabinet minister's resignation as a "sacrifice".

What is the sacrifice? And why sacrifice?

What about the police recommendations? What about the fact that the law took effect which saw charges being pressed in court?

In other words how can sacrifice embrace the intent and act of wrong doing?

Dear PM and DPM, whoever advised you to use the word "sacrifice" must be real bad teacher or a great con-sultant! Do you people not see a credibility issue-cum-obligation here? Why are you nailing the entire BN machinery down for the sake of one person? Or are there really more persons to be protected really?

Maybe those BN politicians (if any) who are fundamentally still operating honorably before their supporters (rakyat) and God, should advise their leaders.

Anyway, Oxford and Webster! , please do not forget to pay royalty to our politicians for giving the world a new dimension to the words 'resignation' and 'sacrifice' yeah. Thanks.

 

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Shahrizat dinasihat lepas Ketua Wanita Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita Pakatan Rakyat menasihati Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil melepaskan jawatan Ketua Wanita Umno ekoran tekanan yang diterima beliau membabitkan isu skandal RM250 juta Perbadanan Feedlot Kebangsaan (NFC).

Baru-baru ini Shahrizat mengumumkan untuk berundur sebagai Menteri Pembangunan Wanita,Keluarga dan Masyarakat selepas tempoh pelantikannya sebagai senator tamat 8 April ini.

Siti Zailah Yusof (PAS-Rantau Panjang) yang bersimpati dengan Shahrizat berkata, pelepasan jawatan itu disifatkan wajar memandangkan tekanan yang diterima beliau.

Katanya, tidak timbul soal pengorbanan memandangkan perkhidmatan Shahrizat sebagai ahli dewan negara telah tamat tempoh.

Dalam tekanan

"Beliau dinasihatkan untuk melepaskan jawatan sebagai ketua wanita Umno. Sebab beliau dalam tekanan dan pendedahan ini telah mendesak beliau," katanya dalam sidang media di lobi Parlimen hari ini.

Zuraida Kamarudin (PKR-Ampang) memberi 'kredit' kepada Shahrizat ekoran keberaniannya untuk melepaskan jawatan.

Ketua Wanita PKR itu turut mencabar menteri lelaki lain membuat perkara sama seperti Shahrizat.

"Saya beri kredit dari segi keberanian kepada Shahrizat dari menteri lelaki lain tidak berani meletak jawatan," katanya.

Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS-Kota Raja) pula mempersoalkan sikap berat sebelah ke atas pemimpin wanita, memandangkan tiada tekanan ke atas ahli parlimen lelaki untuk meletak jawatan.

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Dewan Rakyat tolak usul bincang skandal NFC...

Speaker Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia hari ini menolak usul bagi membincangkan kontroversi National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) atas alasan ia kini menjadi kes mahkamah.

Usul itu difailkan oleh Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang), di bawah Perintah Tetap 18 (1) Jumaat lalu.

Alasan yang diberikan adalah bahawa pengerusi eksekutif NFC Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail telah dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur, semalam, atas empat tuduhan berasingan melakukan pecah amanah membabitkan RM49.7 juta dan menggunakan harta syarikat itu tanpa kebenaran mesyuarat agung, tiga tahun lalu.

"Tetapi usul yang saya hendak bentangkan, tidak ada apa-apa kaitan dengan Salleh. Saya hanya ingin tahu mengenai peranan Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani dan Kementerian Kewangan berhubung perkara itu.

"Wakil-wakil daripada kementerian berkenaan menduduki lembaga pengarah syarikat (tetapi) hampir semua (wang yang dipnjamkan oleh kerajaan) digunakan untuk kegunaan peribadi. Kita mahu tahu bagaimana ini berlaku," kata Zuraida pada sidang media di lobi Parlimen, hari ini. 

Semalam, Mohamad Salleh, 64, didakwa di bawah Seksyen 409 Kanun Keseksaan kerana pecah amanah. Beliau dituduh menggunakan RM9,758,140 dana NFC untuk membeli dua unit Kondominium One Menerung, Bangsar bagi syarikat dimiliki keluarganya, National Meat & Livestock Corporation Sdn Bhd (NMLC) pada 1 dan 4 Dis, 2009.

Beliau juga menghadapi dua lagi pertuduhan mengikut Seksyen 132 Akta Syarikat kerana memindah RM40 juta dana syarikat itu kepada NMLC, dari 5 Mei hingga Nov 16, 2009.

"Perkara yang kita bangkitkan amat berbeza dan tiada kaitan dengan peletakan jawatan Menteri Wanita.

"Apa yang dipertikaikan ialah cara projek tersebut diluluskan kerana banyak persoalan yang wujud dan amat meragukan," kata Zuraida.

Noh Omar selaku menteri bertanggungjawab sebelum ini mengaku bahawa pinjaman kepada syarikat NFC tidak dibincangkan pada kabinet sebaliknya dibincangkan di bawah Jawatankuasa Projek-projek Berimpak Tinggi sahaja.- malaysiakini

Speaker rejects debate on NFC

Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has rejected an urgent motion to thrash out controversies surrounding the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) on grounds that the matter now rests with the court.

Zuraida Kamaruddin (left)(PKR-Ampang), who filed the motion under Standing Order 18(1) last Friday, said the reason given was that NFC chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail has claimed trial to two counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and two counts of violating the Companies Act.

"But my motion has nothing concerning Salleh. I asked about the role of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry and the Finance Ministry in the matter," she told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

"Representatives of the ministries were on the company's board of directors (but) almost everything (of the RM250 million government loan) went for personal use. We want to know how this happened."

Zuraida, who is PKR women's wing head, said she will pursue the issue and try raising questions during debate in the House.

She praised Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for opting to relinquish her ministerial post over the controversy.

Zuriada was flanked by PAS MPs Siti Mariah Mahmud (Kota Raja), Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof (Rantau Panjang) and PAS Muslimat informati! on chief Aiman Athirah Al-Jundi at the press conference.

"We have seen male ministers and MPs who are often at the centre of scandals, but who are not brave enough to resign ... Shahrizat's resignation is not a sacrifice but we credit her for her courage," said Siti Mariah.

Nonetheless, the MPs recommended that she should also quit as Wanita Umno head to focus on resolving the crisis into which her family has plunged because of the NFC.

In a related development, Petaling Jaya Utara DAP parliamentarian Tony Pua said the charges brought against Salleh are "far from complete".

Yesterday, Mohamad Salleh (right), had been charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code for CBT for using RM9,758,140 of NFC funds to purchase two condominium units at the One Menerung complex in Bangsar for the National Meat and Livestock Corporation (NMLC) on Dec 1 and Dec 4, 2009.

Salleh, 64, was also charged under the same section with transferring RM40 million of NFC funds to the NMLC between May 6 and Nov 16, 2009.

He further stands accused of using the funds without the approval of the NFC annual general meeting, an offence under Section 132 of the Companies Act 1965.
 

'Cast the net wider'

Pua, however, urged the Attorney-General's Chambers to book all directors who are said to be involved in other forms of abuse of the RM250 million government soft loan to the NFC.

"There are probably dozens of properties ... which were purchased with government funds, but which have been placed under the directors' names," he said.

Pua (left) was referring to opposition claims that Shahriz! at's hus band and children own properties in Gemas and Putrajaya and luxury condominiums in Singapore worth RM35 million.

"... it has already been made known that these directors also own in their personal capacity, other companies such as the NMLC, Real Food Company and Meatworks Corporation Sdn Bhd, which have yet to submit annual returns with audited accounts since 2007," he said.

"The failure to submit annual returns and other relevant documents to the Registrar of Companies is a gross breach of the Companies Act and is liable to five years' jail and/or RM30,000 fine."

The act of transferring the purchases to their names was "even more serious" as it can be considered a crime under CBT, he said.
Pua also said Wan Shahinur Izran's (left) disposal of assets in Straits Beverages Pte Ltd "to a mysterious Gold Index International Ltd", a company based in the British Virgin Islands, in December 2011, is another matter that needs to be addressed.

"This is despite the fact that funds derived from the RM250 million loan were used in setting up and operating the company. Such disposal of assets would be a clear breach of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001."

Yesterday, Umno's Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan had said the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) may reconsider its probe into NFC as the matter is before the court. Pua, a member of the  PAC, objected to this, saying the probe revolves around the role of the ministries that had awarded the project and granted the loan to the NFC.- malaysiakini

What's so prejudicial discussing the NFC scandal?

Firstly, thank you Zuraida Kamaruddin of PKR. If you had not applied for a motion to discuss the NFC scandal in Parliament, Shahrizat Jalil would not have been forced to resign from Cabinet and her husband would not have been charged with CBT. 

That one move by the PKR MP spooked Putrajaya into acting because they knew that the alternative was untenable: having an open debate in a Parliament on the role played by the then Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Abdullah Badawi in approving the RM250 million project and soft loan.

Whatever the Opposition MPs would have said in Parliament would have been covered by privilege and one can only surmise what they would have disclosed.

But Zuraida's motion sent Putrajaya into overdrive to find out a way in which the NFC could be kept out of Parliament. The best manner was to argue that the case was in the courts and any discussion would be sub judice.

But there is one major flaw with those in Malaysia who hide behind the concept of sub judice. It is meant for jury trials so that the 12 ordinary citizens will not be influenced by what is reported about a case in the public domain.

But as the eminent English judge Lord Denning once noted, if a professional judge is influenced by the chatter around him then he has no business being a judge.

In short, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's decision to disallow the debate on how RM250 million project was awarded and the main characters involved on the grounds of sub judice is rubbish. 

It is a self-serving move by the Speaker to protect his coalition from more searching questions on the scandal of the year.

It is the act of a government that appears anxious to put an artificial closure on this scandal. - Justice Seeker, Malaysian Insider.

cheers.

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RE: ARE YOU A WEATHERCOCK, PETE?‏

Dear Yang Mulia Raja Petra Kamarudin,

I know I do not have the right, neither the privilege to ask you to post this reply as the website belongs to you, and it is entirely at your own discretion whether you want to oblige, or just conveniently turn a deaf ear.

What I want to say now is, there appears to be a gross misunderstanding here between you me the gutless, choontoiless Jeffrey Ong.

I was not complaining about the RM20 registration fee, which as you said is no big deal. I can miss a meal or two to be among my fellow Malaysians and you, that is not the problem. The problem is FEAR, you are right. The Rakyat fear the long arms of the Government and the occasional warnings from the mouth of Rais Yatim that they would do this or that, and Hishamuddin Tun Hussein has yet to announce the contents of the Act to replace the ISA. What more, even the IGP could be involved with nefarious activities, as revealed by you. What is there to prevent him from sending some thugs to bash us up, or finish us altogether?

Yang Mulia, you are blessed with good fortune and hailed from Royalty, but not every Malaysian enjoys that status, so FEAR sticks in their mind that once put behind bars, they cannot, like you upon release, take flight with their family members in tow to join you in Manchester, UK, reside there till the tide turns. They are not "freedom fighters", only mere wage-earners, and if they are imprisoned or in prison, who is going to feed those hungry mouths at home?

Having seen the amounts, hundreds of thousands you had to pay to set up this website, and some more to pay to switch blog from Joomla to Wordpress, etc., etc., we are sure you do not depend on the registration fees to keep and maintain it, and operate it for that many years already.

May I venture to say that your past business sense and acumen should also tell you that the more popular your blog is, the more advertisements you will attract to augment your income and help defray administration costs. Therefore, in order to gain popularity and recognition of the reading public, more comments should be encouraged, though those frivolous and crude uncouth ones can be eliminated t! hrough screening process of your Admin. The Star newspaper would long have wound up had it not been for the heavy volumes of adverts to become the leading English daily.

Please do not take too hard on yourself and whack me like hell to kingdom come for asking you to just "open up the window and let the sunshine in". You are at full liberty to deny me or anybody that request for the site belongs to you and only you. I am just suffering from a dearth of home news and only hoping get to feel the pulse of Malaysia by reading the numerous comments by Malaysians. If the comments become scarce, because of registration requirement, people like Jocelyn Tan (pro-Govt) and Jaswant Kaur (pro-Opposition) will not be challenged for their remarks and opinions by both sides of the political divide. So the reports will be lop-sided.

You were right in saying that fear factor has even prevented many voters to exercise their rights, thinking that "the government may find out whom you vote for", but on the other hand, if you "open up your window" as I pleaded, the voters too could feel the changing groundswell and brave the challenge to vote according to their conscience with the clarion calls from those who comment over the last few days before the GE13. Then, let's say, because of this move by MT, the Opposition wins the next GE, and who then will try to find out whom you vote for. If any, they will thank the brave voters for making their dream to Putrajaya come true.

The Malaysians have "choontois", big ones too, I believe, but they cannot afford to risk losing the choontois when the odds are stacked steeply against them.

Finally, spare some thoughts for the senior citizens who possess vast experience and knowledge about our country, but they do not own credit cards to facilitate the payment of registration fee, or they find the registration process too tedious, so we leave them out in the cold, w! ith thei r mouths full of things they want to share, but unable to do so.

Today, I am happy to note that the number of comments to your bashing me in this exchange have swelled to a respectable high of nearly 30. That's the way, aha aha, I like it.

Since I got bashed by you and some who commented, I hope you will post this letter after which, I will shut my gap, and forever hold my peace!

"THOSE WHO BRING SUNSHINE INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS CANNOT KEEP IT FROM THEMSELVES!"

Salam, Minta Ampun, Yang Mulia.

Jeffrey Ong

 

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‘What happened to RM150m irrigation funds?’

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah opposition DAP has questioned the rationale behind the need to pump in more funds into improving Kota Belud's irrigation system when RM150 million was set aside for the project barely two years ago.

Party assistant secretary Junz Wong said while the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar's desire to transform Kota Belud into the rice bowl of Sabah was laudable, it is "only right" that Noh disclose how the government would spent the RM150 million to improve the irrigation system.

"What is the result with RM150 million spent to improve irrigation system and flood mitigation aimed at doubling the yield of paddy?

"If we don't see tangible results based on the already invested amount for better yields, then the ministries concerned should really look into the said project to rectify what actually went wrong.

"Spending more to implement more programmes would not make any sense unless we see results from previous efforts and rectify the problems," Wong said today.

Noh said recently that the government was confident the rice bowl programme in Kota Belud would be a success.

Sabah deputy chief minister Yahya Hussin also echoed the minister's views adding that there would be no problem doubling the rice output from the district if the basic infrastructure was in place.

'Engage stakeholders in Tambatuon'

But Wong however felt that while improving infrastructure was important, it was vital for the Barisan Nasional government to help farmers improve their farming skills and methods which were sorely lacking in the area.

"Some farmers may need guidance to raise their skills and knowledge of paddy farming in order to see better yield productions," he said.

He urged the government to set up a special institution to train the paddy farmers.

Wong, who is also the DAP youth chief here, reminded Yahya, who is also the state Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries, that the proposed construction of the Tambatuon Dam in Kota Belud, has been openly rejected by the people in the area.

He called for open consultations and dialogues with the stakeholders such as the affected villagers and environmentalists before implementing any major development project such as a dam.

"We must continue to embark on yield improvement strategy on existing acreage before considering other major options.

"We must step up the approach to ensure the paddy farmers are ready for significantly bigger investments," he said.

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Bekas Ketua Pemuda PAS dakwa Azizan tidak bantu sekolah agama

ALOR SETAR: Pentadbir sekolah agama persendirian di Kedah melabelkan pemimpin PAS negeri mungkir janji kerana tidak membantu sesen pun walaupun dijanjikan dalam pilihan raya umum 2008.

Sekolah agama berjumlah 12 buah itu meletakkan kesalahan tersebut kepada Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak.

Mereka mendakwa telah mengadakan pertemuan dua atau tiga kali dengan Menteri Besar, tetapi jawabannya hampa.

"Pertemuan pertama sebaik Azizan menjadi Menteri Besar, `dia kata mengapa datang awal sangat'.  Manakala dalam pertemuan kedua pula, Azizan kata, `sedang susun'.

"Tetapi sehingga sekarang lebih tiga tahun satu sen pun kami tidak dapat. Kami terguris hati dengan Azizan," kata bekas Ketua Pemuda PAS Kedah, Mohd Najib Fahmi Yahya.

Beliau kini menjadi Setiausaha Sekolah Agama Taufiqiah Khairiah Al-Halimiah atau lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Pondok Pak Ya di Batu 16 Padang Lumat  mempunyai 600 pelajar.

Menurut Mohd Najib. beliau antara pemimpin PAS Kedah yang merangka manifesto  PAS negeri bagi menghadapi pilihan raya umum 3008.

`Satu sen pun tidak dapat'

Katanya, dalam manifesto itu PAS negeri akan memberi bantuan kepada sekolah agama persendirian apabila menjadi kerajaan negeri.

"Kami berusaha bersungguh-sungguh supaya kerajaan PAS menggantikan Umno dan kerana itu kami semua gembira apabila menang dalam pilihan raya umum 2008.

"Kami sangka sudah tentu bantuan kepada sekolah agama lebih banyak dari yang diberikan sebanyak RM13,000 oleh Majlis Agama Islam Kedah (Maik) untuk membayar gaji guru sejak BN memerintah.

"Tetapi setelah PAS menang, satu sen pun kami tidak dapat, Azizan dalam akhbar memberitahu bantuan untuk sekolah agama di Kedah telah diberi tetapi sebenarnya tidak. Orang akan percaya kerana imej ustaz Azizan.

"Pihak sekolah saya pergi jumpa Azizan untuk meminta beliau melupuskan tunggakan air sebanyak RM38, 000 tetapi beliau minta saya jumpa Pusat.

"Kita pergi jumpa Azizan atas sifat beliau sebagai Menteri Besar dan bekas pengerusi sekolah ini. Kalau kerajaan Pusat boleh memansuhkan bil elektrik sekolah jenis Cina dan Tamil, mengapa kerajaan Kedah tidak boleh hapuskan bil air sekolah agama? ," tambah Mohd Najib

Menteri Umno bantu

Untuk sekian lama sekolah-sekolah merupakan kubu kuat PAS dan sokongan mereka membolehkan parti Islam itu memerintah Kedah dalam pilihan raya umum 2008 lalu.

Menurut Mohd Najib, dulu sekolah agama memang penyokong kuat PAS tetapi kini terbuka untuk menerima sesiapa sahaja termasuk Umno.

Beliau menambah, tidak pernah dalam sejarah 70 tahun ada pemimpin Umno  boleh masuk ke sekolah  kecuali mantan Perdan Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Kami terguris hati dengan Azizan kerana apa yang dijanji tidak dibuat. Kalau dapat bantuan RM300, 000 sudah cukup, berapa banyak sangat jumlah itu berbanding perbelanjaan kerajaan untuk benda lain.

"Sekarang kami terbuka, kami akan sokong mana-mana  pihak yang bantu sekolah kami. Umno sudah membantu sekolah agama persendirian.
"Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sudah memberi semula bantuan perkapita yang terhenti sejak Dr Mahathir kerana kononnya tempat melahirkan kader PAS.

"Menteri Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharum memberi bantuan kepada sekolah-sekolah agama persendirian ini antara RM30, 000 hingga RM50, 000 bergantung jumlah pelajar," katanya.

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Appeal filed against Ramasamy verdict

GEORGE TOWN: An appeal has been filed against the DAP decision to clear the party's deputy secretary-general, P Ramasamy, of all charges of breach of internal discipline.

State assemblymen RSN Rayer of Seri Delima and A Tanasekharan of Bagan Dalam submitted a joint appeal today against the not-guilty verdict that the party's disciplinary committee delivered yesterday.

"We have filed an appeal against the decision by the disciplinary board to clear Ramasamy from the charges of organising a disgraceful demonstration against Karpal Singh, and also the charges of breaching a gag order," the assemblymen said in a brief written statement to the press.

The party's central executive committee is expected to deliberate on the petition soon.

Ramasamy was charged with organising a demonstration against party chairman Karpal, Rayer and Tanasekharan before the Penang DAP convention last Dec 11.

The charge of breaching a gag order was related to a Dec 23 article in The Star.

Ramasamy has filed a RM10 million suit against the daily and the reporter who wrote the article, which he said was defamatory.

The disciplinary committee began its investigation after receiving complaints from Tanasekharan, Rayer and 31 other members. A three-member panel headed by Tan Kok Wai held an inquiry on the allegations at party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 16. Fifteen party members testified against Ramasamy.

In announcing the verdict yesterday, Tan, who is the MP for Cheras, said Ramasamy was not behind the demonstration against Karpal.

"The committee holds that Ramasamy did not commit any disciplinary wrongdoing," he said, adding that the demonstration was carried out by non-DAP members.

Several grassroots members have expressed shock over the verdict, saying it reflected badly on DAP's political standards.

"The decision showed double standard in the application of party discipline," one of them said. "Why would non-DAP members hold a demonstration against DAP leaders on behalf of Ramasamy? Does the disciplinary committee think we are stupid?"

They accused the disciplinary panel of allowing itself to be influenced by party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and his father, veteran party leader Kit Siang.

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PAS Selangor abai kerusi Melayu? — Ahmad Lutfi Othman

13 MAC — Khamis 1 Mac, saya, isteri dan wartawan Harakah Selangor, Saidah Hairan, ke Tanjong Karang dan kawasan sekitarnya, sehingga melewati kawasan Sungai Besar. Meskipun agak kerap ke sana menziarahi keluarga sebelah "orang rumah", namun kunjungan kali ini lebih kepada tinjauan rambang Harakah terhadap situasi politik Selangor, negeri yang menjadi idaman Najib Razak.

 Setiap kali melewati pekan Tanjong Karang, Sekinchan dan Sungai Panjang, ia  mengingatkan saya peristiwa lebih sepuluh tahun lalu, tentang pendedahan salahguna kuasa dan rasuah membabitkan bekas Menteri Besar Selangor, Dr Khir Toyo.

Bersama rakan-rakan yang pernah mengusahakan penerbitan tabloid politik tanpa permit, kami waktu itu mengutip maklumat dan menjejak bukti, termasuk untuk menyiapkan laporan kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (sekarang Suruhjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia).

Tidak cukup dengan itu, saya bersama Dinsman dan pengarah Nasir Jani turut merakamkan pengambaran video di sekitar Tanjong Karang — termasuk rumah sewa Khir di Sekinchan, jalan termahal merentasi bendang dan juga mencari reban ayam — bagi memperkukuhkan dakwaan kami bahawa Khir terbabit dengan pelbagai bentuk penyelewengan dan korupsi.

Seingat saya, Ketua Pembangkang Dun Selangor, Dr Hasan Ali, yang juga Adun Sungai Burong 1999-2004, terbabit sama. Beliau turut membuat aduan rasuah Khir di Ibu Pejabat BPR, di Putrajaya.

Kini, ketika banyak pihak ghairah berbicara (dan berteka-teki) dengan kecenderungan politik pengundi Melayu, bagi saya, kerusi-kerusi yang ditandingi PAS di empat kawasan Parlimen, iaitu Kuala Selangor, Tanjong Karang, Sungai Besar dan Sabak Bernam, perlu didekati dengan lebih rapat.

Selepas tsunami politik empat tahun lalu, ramai beranggapan pengaruh PAS masih tersekat di kawasan majoriti pengundi Melayu dan kampung-kampung tradisi tertentu. Justeru, saya kira Harakah sebagai lidah rasmi parti wajar menjadikan kerusi-kerusi seumpama itu, termasuk di Selangor, sebagai kawasan fokus.

Dalam Pilihan Raya Umum 2008, di kawasan berkenaan, PAS bertanding lima kerusi Dun: Jeram, Sungai Burong, Sungai Panjang, Sabak dan Sungai Air Tawar. Manakala bagi kerusi Parlimen, PAS diberi kepercayaan untuk menyaingi BN di Kuala Selangor, Tanjong Karang dan Sungai Besar.

Bagaimanapun PAS hanya menang di Kuala Selangor, melalui wakilnya, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, dengan majoriti 862 undi, tetapi tewas di semua kerusi lainnya.

"Kita perlu menunjukkan prestasi yang baik dalam PRU13 di lima kerusi Dun yang diserahkan kepada PAS itu," kata seorang aktivis PAS yang saya temui. "Selain memperkukuhkan kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat, kita juga dapat menangkis tohmahan bahawa PAS hanya menang dengan sokongan pengundi bukan Melayu."

Jadual 1 menunjukkan peratusan pengundi Melayu dan majoriti kemenangan calon BN untuk lima kerusi Dun berkenaan.

Pertemuan pertama diatur bersama Yang Dipertua PAS Tanjong Karang, Ustaz Mohamad Judi Sarjo di Pusat Khidmat Masyarakat Dun Sungai Burong.

Beliau yang mudah diajak bersembang menekankan keyakinannya bahawa jentera parti akar umbi sudah bersedia berdepan misi getir menghadapi PRU13, khusus bagi memenangi kembali Dun Sungai Burong, sekali gus memberikan cabaran sengit kepada Noh Omar, Timbalan Pengerusi Umno Negeri dan menteri kabinet, di Parlimen Tanjong Karang.

Namun begitu, Ustaz Judi mengakui, ia bukan tugas mudah, apatah lagi untuk berdepan pelbagai taktik dan strategi licik BN, termasuk penggunaan politik wang. Noh sebagai ahli Parlimen dan pembantu Najib di Selangor pastinya akan memperalatkan apa sahaja untuk mempertahankan kerusinya.

Jika Noh tewas di kampung halaman sendiri, bermakna operasi tawan Selangor berkecai dengan begitu mudah. Justeru, Ustaz Judi mengakui tanggungjawab besarnya, terutama untuk menggembleng setiap potensi kekuatan PAS Kawasan. Saya perhatikan, semangatnya untuk mencipta sejarah cukup tinggi.

Semasa makan tengahari dengan Dr Mohd Yusof Abd Wahab di sebuah restoran berdekatan kliniknya, di pekan Tanjong Karang, bekas calon PAS yang pernah menentang Noh pada 1999 ini, turut menaruh keyakinan bahawa perubahan boleh dicatatkan pada PRU13.

Saya mengenali Dr Yusof lebih sepuluh tahun lalu; kes berkaitan rasuah Khir Toyo yang menemukan kami. Seperti lazimnya, beliau agak kritikal terhadap persiapan jentera parti. Dr Yusof membayangkan program Umno ada kalanya lebih rancak dan berterusan berbanding PAS.

"Umno bukan saja anjurkan karaoke dan acara sukan tetapi juga kuliah-kuliah agama. Kita harus lebih ke depan jika mahu member cabaran sengit. Apa pun, saya yakin, jika segalanya direncanakan dengan baik, terutama dengan sokongan pengundi muda yang lebih celik politik, kita boleh menang," ujarnya.

Hasrat saya untuk menemui Ustaz  Mohd Fadzlin  Taslimin, Yang Dipertua PAS Sungai Besar tidak kesampaian. Aturcara programnya hari itu agak padat sehingga jam 4 petang. Saya pula terpaksa berkejar pulang kerana ada temujanji lain sebelum Maghrib.

Ustaz Fadzlin hampir dapat menewaskan Khir Toyo pada pilihan raya 1999 di Dun Sungai Panjang, apabila hanya ketinggalan 165 undi. Bagaimanapun, pada PRU 2008, majoriti Khir, ketika itu MB Selangor, meningkat kepada 5,828 undi.

Di Markas PAS Sungai Besar, saya menemui orang kuat Ustaz Fadzlin, Setiausaha Kawasan, Samsuri Abdul Karim. Beliau yang kaya dengan pengalaman ternyata tidak memandang ringan cabaran Umno setempat meskipun Khir mungkin tidak dicalonkan lagi berikutan keputusan mahkamah baru-baru ini.

Timbalan Pesuruhjaya II PAS Negeri, Ustaz Sallehen Mukhyi, yang turut merancakkan perbualan kami, melontarkan pelbagai input menarik, khusus untuk menangani kawasan-kawasan luar bandar bermajoriti Melayu.

Sallehen juga saya kenali semasa era reformasi ketika beliau menjadi Adun dan Ketua Pemuda Negeri; seperti Dr Yusof, isu Khir Toyo tambah mendekatkan kami. Dalam PRU12, beliau hanya kalah 117 undi kepada calon BN di Dun Sabak, Warno Dogol.

Meskipun Umno Sabak Bernam berdepan problem dalaman dan dilihat sukar menampilkan calon berwibawa, Sallehen tetap merendah diri. "Kita mesti fikirkan pendekatan lebih baik untuk golongan muda. Saya kira kita ada masalah dalam hal ini," katanya.

Beliau mengakui pimpinan PAS perlu lebih menumpukan usaha di kawasan Melayu secara sistematik, dan bukan sekadar berpuas hati melancarkan program. "Tidak mudah menyusun aktiviti di kampung-kampung. Masyarakat juga tidak begitu terdedah dengan isu-isu mutakhir. Anak-anak muda juga satu cabaran besar," tambahnya.

Untuk kawasan luar bandar yang menjadi gelanggang aktivitinya, Sallehin kelihatan agak bimbang dengan tindakan agresif kerajaan BN yang menyalurkan pelbagai bantuan "one-off". Dan saya kira kerisauannya itu, berdasarkan faktor sosio-ekonomi di Sabak Bernam, adalah berasas. Namun tentulah segalanya ada jalan keluar, 'kan?

Sementara itu, dalam konteks keseluruhan Selangor, ada beberapa kerusi Dun yang dilihat berpotensi untuk dimenangi PAS, merujuk keputusan PRU12, seperti ditunjukkan dalam Jadual 2.

— harakahdaily.net

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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What’s so prejudicial discussing the NFC scandal? — Justice Seeker

MARCH 13 — Firstly, thank you Zuraida Kamaruddin of PKR. If you had not applied for a motion to discuss the NFC scandal in Parliament, Shahrizat Jalil would not have been forced to resign from Cabinet and her husband would not have been charged with CBT.

That one move by the PKR MP spooked Putrajaya into acting because they knew that the alternative was untenable: having an open debate in a Parliament on the role played by the then Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Abdullah Badawi in approving the RM250 million project and soft loan.

Whatever the Opposition MPs would have said in Parliament would have been covered by privilege and one can only surmise what they would have disclosed.

But Zuraida's motion sent Putrajaya into overdrive to find out a way in which the NFC could be kept out of Parliament. The best manner was to argue that the case was in the courts and any discussion would be sub judice.

But there is one major flaw with those in Malaysia who hide behind the concept of sub judice. It is meant for jury trials so that the 12 ordinary citizens will not be influenced by what is reported about a case in the public domain.

But as the eminent English judge Lord Denning once noted, if a professional judge is influenced by the chatter around him then he has no business being a judge.

In short, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's decision to disallow the debate on how RM250 million project was awarded and the main characters involved on the grounds of sub judice is rubbish. It is a self-serving move by the Speaker to protect his coalition from more searching questions on the scandal of the year.

It is the act of a government that appears anxious to put an artificial closure on this scandal.

* Justice Seeker reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

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Ada Keluarga Miskin yang Dihentikan Menerima Bantuan Zakat

ULASAN: Mulanya keluar berita keluarga2 Islam miskin terpaksa minta bantuan gereja untuk meneruskan hidup kerana ditolak permohonan mereka untuk bantuan zakat.

Selepas itu kita dengar seorang doktor telah mewaqafkan tanah dan rumah beliau untuk orang-orang miskin namun telah ditinggalkan terbiar oleh pihak berkuasa zakat.

Sekarang ni timbul pula cerita keluarga2 yang selama ini menerima bantuan zakat tetapi dihentikan.

Jelas kepada kita Pusat Zakat Selangor wajib diaudit oleh pihak ketiga serta laporan audit wajib dibentangkan kepada seluruh umat Islam di Selangor. Malahan, laporan audit tersebut wajib dibahaskan di Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor.

Kepada mereka yang terlibat dalam pentadbiran zakat di Selangor, ingin saya ingatkan bahawa wang kutipan zakat ini bukan milik bapak dan emak kamu. Ia milik Allah dan Allah SWT mewajibkan wang tersebut diagihkan kepada yang layak. Sekiranya pentadbiran zakat ini diseleweng, maka tunggulah bala bencana yang akan diturunkan oleh Allah SWT kepada semua orang Islam di Selangor.

Banjir di Lembah Jaya serta ribut taufan di Shah Alam baru-baru ini sepatutnya menjadi iktibar kepada umat Islam di Selangor supaya bertindak cepat berkaitan pentadbiran zakat di Selangor. Sebelum diturunkan Allah SWT lebih banyak bencana lagi selepas ini.

Tulang Besi mendapat banyak khabar2 yang tidak menyenangkan berkaitan dengan perbelanjaan wang zakat di Selangor. Ada kawan2 yang mendapat laporan dari syarikat2 audit yang dilantik oleh badan zakat di Selangor yang memberitahu secara lisan berkaitan! dengan perbelanjaan.

DAn, hairan seribu kali hairan apabila terdapat usaha yang gigih bagi menutup peluang rakyat Selangor untuk memeriksa akaun zakat serta rekod pentadbiran zakat di Selangor.

Kalau pentadbiran zakat tidak diaudit dengan secara terbuka, cerita2 seram seperti ini akan terus menerus keluar. Yang akan menderita adalah orang2 miskin yang beragama Islam.

KLIK IMEJ

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Savage State of Affairs

Found this poster in facebook in reaction to the horrendous murder of 5 year old Nurl Nadirah whose body was found burned and buried in a hole in an oil palm estate in the city of Johor Bahru.

Just days ago the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin came out singing praises of the reduction in crime rate and claiming that Malaysia is the safest country in South East Asia.

To claim that Malaysia is the Safest Country in South East Asia is quite unbelievable and its citizen will tell you this as just about anyone you meet in the cities of Malaysia will be able to relate to you recent crime happenings.

A flip of today's papers will show you the number of serious crimes and murders all in a day and yet these are only the serious crimes that made the news.

A drive through Malaysian residential area will show that the residence live in fear of crimes as most housing locations will have barricades erected with guards employed for their own security. the residents will tell you that these are just preventive measures and that even with guards and barricades the crimes of robberies and theft are still being reported.

Let's just see the crimes in today's the Star paper as reported;

1) the Murder of 5 year old Nurul is reported only on page 3 of the Star

2) the headline of the Star carried the news of the Criminal Breach of Trust of the National Feedlot Issue on the charges to the husband of umno Minister Shahrizat.

3) The Star carried on a side column on the same page 3 "Tragic List of young innocent victims of monsters".

4) Page 6 of th! e Star c arried the report of a Russian student who was a victim of some serial snatch thieves in George Town, she is believed to be the third victim in a week.

5) Page 8 "Double Murder Mystery" the murder of a man and his 23 year old daughter in Serdang, Kuala Lumpur.

6) Page 20 reports the seizure of 3.1 kg Syabu, a typeof drug carried by a 25 year old Malaysian woman caught in Butterworth.

7) Page 22 reports the conviction of a serial rapist in Kota Baru, Kelantan.

8) Page 23 carried the news of V.Nirmal a security firm operator gunned down in a Restaurant in Klang, Selangor.

9) Page 26 reports the conviction of a Man who was fined RM4000. for distributing Loan Shark namecards and vouchers.

10) Page 28 reports the murder of a Thai man found with his throat slashed in Jitra, Kedah.

11) Page 29, carried the news of a Georgian woman's drug case in the High Court of George Town.

So, Mr Deputy Prime Minister, Are you sure or not, that Malaysia is the Safest Country with the lowest crime rate in South East Asia?

Read the murder of 5 year old Nurul Nadirah HERE
Read the Tragic List of Young Innocent Victims HERE

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Let the court be the final arbiter

At long last a minister has decided to bring the curtain down on herself and quit her ministerial post in the wake of the damning "Cowgate" scandal. She did the right thing. It has become increasingly evident that her position had become untenable in the face of the unsavoury reports featuring her family members. She may not be involved in the messy business affair, but she was inevitably drawn into the morass willy-nilly. Her boss said she stepped down although there was no proof she had committed an offence. She packed her bag only when the writing was on the wall. Many in her party sang her praise and hoped that the dust will finally settle. All believe the muck will be buried for good.

But the story has not ended. She will still be in the limelight by virtue of her powerful position in her political party. She has not given up her reins as the women's chief. She will continue to hog the stage, especially with the country on the brink of an electoral battle. As long as she remains in the public eye, the country will not see the last of her. As long as she stays in the public mind, the controversy will also not go away: it will hang like the sword of Damocles over her. It is impossible that she can isolate herself from the gathering "storm" and stay an oasis of calm. She could have chosen to throw away her political mantle, but she preferred to keep it – and made herself fair game for harsh attacks when she is out on the hustings.

It is strange that her sacrifice was done in the interest of the party. The script does not seem right. She still holds a high post in the party and how is it possible to do good for your party with controversy shadowing her? But she will not vanish into political oblivion. By retaining a foothold in politics, she is assured of playing a visible role in the political life of the country. She may even stage a comeback if she scores excellent marks for her political work. Perhaps, a deal has been struck to ensure her "sacrifice" will be rewarded later. In politics, nothing is impossible. But a political party must not carry "dirty baggage" when it aspires to govern the country. Its image must be clean so that people will have trust and confidence in its ability to steer the state and its citizens to a better future.

All ministers must know when to take the bow if their ministerial responsibilities have been compromised by scandals of their own making or through the actions of their kin. They must never dig their heels in and fight back public opinion which has turned sour against them. It is difficult to put on a convincing act of political courage when the tide is against them. There is simply no protection for indefensible behaviour. Sooner or later, they will come to grief. It is better to come clean at an early stage than to let matters drag on until the whole situation blows up to nobody's benefit. In the court of public opinion, ministers accused of impropieties are always placed at a disadvantage. They become a liability to themselves and the country.

The "Cowgate" episode has not ended with the resignation of the minister. A man at the centre of the controversy will be facing trial and the country awaits for the real story to unfold. For many months, one side has been relentlessly uncovering the dirt on the cattle-breeding project while the guns on the other side have also kept up their barrage of riposte. Both camps were engaged in a "war of attrition" as they tried to sway public opinion. At times, it appears that those making the allegations were going overboard while those defending themselves looked credible in their rebuttal. While the "trench warfare" continued, the public were kept "entertained". Now, the guns must all fall silent. Let the court be the final arbiter.

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Sivarasa puzzled by Hisham's response...

PKR Subang MP R Sivarasa described Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussain's response to the Malaysiakini report of alleged crimes committed by attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail as a "classic case of an ostrich burying its head in the sand."

Last Sunday, Malaysiakini had detailed in an extensive report the alleged actions of Abdul Gani in a case involving the detention and later release of a suspected illegal gambling kingpin in Johor whose syndicate was said to have flourished with the alleged collusion of the former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan, who was then Johor chief police officer.

The web news portal claimed it had in its possession documents purporting to show that the AG's alleged deportment in the case was liable to charges of corruption, abuse of power and fabrication of evidence.

In a terse response to the Malaysiakini report, Home Minister Hishammuddin (right) was reported yesterday to have said: "Prove it, prove it."

Sivarasa, who will file an urgent motion in Parliament tomorrow to discuss the contents of the Malaysiakini

"It's typical of the minister's in-denial behaviour and most unbecoming of one purportedly educated in the law," said Sivarasa, who read law at Oxford on a Rhodes scholarship.

"A responsible response would have been to suggest that perhaps besides making allegations in a web news report, that a police report should be lodged," chided Sivarasa.

"Better still, that he had directed the police to lodge a report so ! that inv estigations could be launched as to whether the allegations were true.

"After all, the allegations on first blush were credible because Malaysiakini were saying they had the documentary evidence in the form of statutory declarations. Very rarely does it get as good as that," argued Sivarasa.

Re-open investigation into the case

The PKR legal eagle made the case for a re-opening of the investigation of five years ago into the controversy that was ignited by the detention of a 'Tengku Goh' for allegedly running an illegal gambling syndicate in Johore.

Sivarasa explained: "The expose by Malaysiakini shows that there are two conflicting versions - the version uncovered by Commercial Crimes Investigation Department led by Ramli Yusuff showing that Musa Hassan (right) while Johor CPO was in cahoots with Tengku Goh running gambling and money-lending syndicates.

"The other version supposedly uncovered by the then ACA said that the allegations against Tengku Goh were fabricated. This version led to six police officers supposedly making these false allegations being charged, but the court hearing the charges found them so flimsy it did not even call for their defence.

"And sitting in the middle of all this is the albatross of the AG Patail, who supposedly pulled the file from the CCID and passed it to the ACA.

"Surely, the minister must see the obvious point staring at us all - that an independent inquiry was urgently needed to unearth the truth.
!
"Sur ely he must see that the last thing a responsible minister must do is to ask journalists to provide him 'proof' before he takes action."
Sivarasa (left) said that journalists do not run investigation departments or courts - they unearth issues for ministers like him to act on.

"An inquiring public will next ask: Is Hishammuddin deliberately missing the point? What is his interest in covering up the matter?"

By filing an urgent motion in Parliament tomorrow on the matter, Sivarasa would be able to test whether the House's acoustics are receptive to the public's concerns.- malaysiakini

cheers.

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