29 March 2008

Mahathir calls on Muslims worldwide to boycott Dutch products

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad called upon Muslims worldwide to boycott Dutch products in protest of a film released Monday on the Internet which criticised Islam’s holy book, the Quran.



He said such a boycottt could result in The Netherlands having to “close shop”, as Muslims made up the wealthiest portion of the world’s population and were also the biggest importers.


However, in order to be effective, all 1.3 billion Muslims in the world must unite in the boycott and put the interest of Islam and Muslims over that of individual needs.

“We must not be afraid of losing trade with them. If we do, then we won’t be thinking as Muslims, but more for our own self intersts,” he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Islamic Welfare Organisation’s (Perkim) 46th annual general meeting at a hotel here, today.

Dr Mahathir was referring to Fitna, a 15-minute film posted on a website on Thursday that highly criticised Islam, setting verses of the Quran against a background of violent images from terrorist attacks.

Dutch legislator Geert Wilders created the film, which also shows statements from radical clerics and cited verses from the Quran interspersed with images of the Sept 11 attack on the United States, the 2004 commuter train bombings in Spain and the murder later that year of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh on an Amsterdam street.

Earlier, Dr Mahathir had said the film was a result of misconceptions about Islam and there was also a “critical motive behind it”.

“They will continue to do this until we show to them Islam is a good religion, that we are not violent people, that we don’t tell lies to people...but this must be shown in practice by the Muslim community,” he said.

On the home front, Dr Mahathir who is also Perkim president, said it was very important for Perkim to give the right impression of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims alike so that there would be no misunderstanding on the religion, which could lead to fear, suspicion or hostility against Islam

Source NST Online


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28 March 2008

Pak Lah to face any challenge in Umno polls in December

Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says he is ready to face any challenge for the top post in the party elections in December.

Asked if he was ready to face a challenge from anyone for his post, Abdullah, who is Prime Minister, replied:

“Well, if they have the support and they want to challenge me, I have to face it. I will not run away.”

Abdullah, who chaired the Umno supreme council meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday, earlier announced that the Umno annual general assembly, which included the party elections, has been set for Dec 16 to 20.

Under the Umno constitution, the party can postpone its polls for up to 18 months from the due date, which means that Umno has up to March next year to hold elections.

The general assembly will also see elections for the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings.

Abdullah said that prior to the assembly, the Umno branches which held their elections last year would hold their meetings from July 17 to Aug 24 followed by the division meetings from Oct 9 to Nov 9.

He added that the party elections would follow existing procedures and rules.

There would be no changes to the system of nomination quota for party posts.

According to the party constitution, candidates who wish to contest for the president's post must obtain 30% of nominations, 20% nominations for the deputy president's post, 10% for the vice-president posts and 5% for the supreme council posts from the divisions to be eligible.

On Tuesday, the Cheras Umno division called for all top party posts, including those of president and deputy president, to be open for contest, and for the nomination quota to be abolished.

Asked if all party posts would be open for contest, Abdullah said:

“I don’t know, wait first. We have to see first. When there are candidates (for the posts), then we will know what will happen.”

A supreme council member who declined to be named said the members debated the election dates at the meeting, in view of some calls for the elections to be postponed.

On Tuesday, party information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said the elections might be postponed to next year as several division leaders wanted the polls to be deferred to avoid “havoc and disaster”.

The supreme council member said the mood at the meeting was that the grassroots felt that the elections should not be put off to next year.

“There were some views that the elections should be postponed, although they were the minority,” he said.

He said Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who presented the proposed election dates in his capacity as the party management committee chairman, told the meeting that postponing the elections would only be “postponing the problem”.

“He said that we might as well do it this year and after the elections, we can patch up,” the supreme council member said.

Supreme council member Datuk Shahrir Samad said that everyone who wanted to have his say on the party elections spoke.

“Everyone felt the elections should not be postponed. But it was not an issue that dominated the meeting.

“We discussed many other issues such as the Terengganu Mentri Besar issue and others,” he said.

Source The Star Online


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27 March 2008

Raja Petra and editors to pay RM7mil for libel

A High Court here has ordered blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the group chief editor and editor of PKR’s organ Suara Keadilan to pay a total of RM7mil to Universiti Utara Malaysia and its vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi for libel.  

High Court deputy registrar Priscilla Gengadaran made the order yesterday following a judgment in default she handed down on Feb 26 after the three had failed to file their defence within the required period. 

She ordered the damages to be paid to the plaintiffs for claiming that Dr Nordin was a plagiarist on the Malaysia Today website and in the 98th edition of Suara Keadilan in November 2006. 

Nordin and UUM had filed a lawsuit against Raja Petra, PKR, Suara Keadilan group chief editor and the editor. Only PKR had submitted its defence. 

Priscilla ordered Raja Petra to pay RM2mil to Dr Nordin and UUM respectively. She also ordered each of the editors to pay RM1mil and RM500,000 to Dr Nordin and UUM respectively. 

Dr Nordin told a press conference yesterday that the judgment showed that there was room for the public to take action against bloggers who made slanderous remarks. 

“Politicians and artistes who are the usual targets should take action to ensure bloggers do not make libellous statements,” he said. 

Dr Nordin said that if the defendants paid up, he would use the money for the benefit of UUM. 

Source The Star Online

 


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25 March 2008

Mampukah Kita Berdayasaing Di Abad Ke 21?

Abad Ke 19 menyaksikan sejarah peradaban manusia banyak berkisar tentang kemajuan yang telah dicapai di rantau Eropah. Revolusi Perindustrian juga telah berlaku di zaman itu dan menjurus terhadap penguasaan ekonomi berasaskan industri yang di monopoli oleh mereka. Manakala pada abad ke 20 sejarah lebih banyak tertumpu kepada negara Amerika Syarikat. Amerika yang mempunyai kekuatan ekonomi dan ketenteraan telah menjadi tumpuan pada zaman itu kerana penglibatanya dalam arena politik antarabangsa seperti ketika Perang Dunia Pertama dan Kedua, Perang Dingin, Perang Korea Utara dan Selatan, Perang, Perang Vietnam, Perang Teluk, Krisis Asia Barat dan lain lain. Malah penguasaan Amerika dalam budaya dunia juga amat jelas dengan wujudnya teknologi saluran media seperti Televisyen,Radio dan media cetak. Tetapi angin perubahan mula tertulis sejarah dunia dengan kebangkitan Asia yang mula dirasai pada penghujung abad ke 20.

Wujudnya kuasa ekonomi dan teknologi baru seperti Jepun dan yang terkini China, India dan tidak boleh dinafikan, Rusia. Manakala saingan yang sihat terus berlaku di Asia Tenggara. Menjurus ke arah itu, antara aspek penting untuk sesebuah negara itu terus kekal berdaya saing adalah melalui kekuatan tiga komponen utama berikut; Politik, Ekonomi dan Sosial.

Kesungguhan Kerajaan dalam menguatkan sistem politik sedia ada secara tidak langsung akan menjurus ke arah kestabilan dan kekuatan Ekonomi Negara dan objectifnya akan dilihat sebagai cara untuk mengelakan dari terjadinya krisis ekonomi dan krisis kewangan. Perkembangan di Argentina, Turki dan banyak lagi Negara-negara lain, baru-baru ini telah membuktikan yang krisis sebegini akan meninggikan kadar inflasi, kelemahan nilai tukaran wang asing dan pasaran kewangan Negara. Semua ketidakstabilan ini hanya akan menyebabkan kerisauan dan kurangnya galakan terhadap pelabur yang berpotensi dan akhirnya akan mengakibatkan tahap kehidupan rakyat terjejas.

Keamanan yang dapat dicapai oleh sesebuah kerajaan yang ideal akan akhirnya membuahkan kestabilan social itu sendiri. Perubahan dari sebuah kerajaan yang unilateral atau authoritarian kepada ekonomi terbuka atau ekonomi berasaskan pasaran semasa, perkembangan pesat dalam teknologi terbaru seperti di bidang kejuruteraan dan teknologi maklumat, pertambahan kesedaran tentang industry berasaskan pengetahuan dan integrasi ekonomi dunia melalui perniagaan dan pelaburan, mempunyai kesan yang besar dalam perubahan politik dan kerajaan sesebuah Negara itu.

Kestabilan dan kekuatan Politik adalah satu gambaran atau keupayaan sesebuah Kerajaan yang memerintah untuk bertahan dari tindakan-tindakan yang tidak mengikut perlembagaan seperti rusuhan, tindakan ketenteraan dan sebagainya. Manakala pilihanraya pula dilihat sebagai satu cara yang sihat untuk melakukan sesuatu perubahan dari segi politik. Rakyat Malaysia sudah menyatakan suara hati mereka melalui undi ketika pilihanraya yang baru sahaja kita lalui. Mungkin kerana kesedaran politik yang semakin matang atau hanya sekadar dipengaruhi oleh emosi? Kesedaran politik adalah merupakan proses pembelajaran setiap individu dalam pemahaman tentang pengaruh politik yang melibatkan kehidupan masing-masing secara amnya. Apa juga jawapanya, kerajaan yang berjaya dibentuk di peringkat negeri atau persekutuan perlu bermuhasabah, mencari jalan penyelesaian atas suara permasalahan rakyat dan seterusnya memajukan Negara dalam menghadapi rintangan yang mendatang.


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19 March 2008

Zaid Ibrahim ; Champion of Unpopular Causes

Zaid Ibrahim, a Kuala Lumpur lawyer, stepped up to help the disabled. His fight for democracy is a tougher battle.

Zaid Ibrahim knows all about fighting the odds. When he was 7 and growing up in rural Malaysia, his walk each way to school took an hour. As an outspoken member of Malaysia's long-ruling, United Malays National Organisation, he has run into trouble as he pushed for more human rights, judicial reform and greater democracy. So it came naturally for him to help the people facing perhaps the toughest odds in the country, the disabled.

Zaid, 57--a member of parliament and also the majority owner of Malaysia's largest law firm, the 140-lawyer Zaid Ibrahim & Co. in Kuala Lumpur--set up the Kelantan Foundation for the Disabled in 1998. Kelantan state is home to a high proportion of disabled people, he says, "9,000 officially, though I suspect it's closer to 13,000," and little was being done to help them. His law firm and political career were taking off and he was in a position to step in.

The foundation now has a full-time staff of nine and operates on $78,000 a year. It offers counseling, physiotherapy, transportation and home visits for its 2,400 clients suffering from Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, blindness and other disabilities. Family, friends and law clients supply most of the budget, and Zaid has hosted golf tournaments and film premieres to raise funds. In months when there's not enough money to meet the operating costs, Zaid covers the rest from his pocket.

The much-talked-about book is also raising awareness of the foundation. The introduction boldly draws parallels between his country and the disabled. "I am frequently moved to reflect on who is really disabled in our society and how. … In what ways might our thoughts and movements be confined?"

Zaid also has been a vocal critic of Malaysia's race-based political landscape, which has enshrined the divisions between the country's three main ethnic groups: the majority Malays, the Chinese and the Indians. "We have superficial unity," he says. "It has bred enmity. I think we need to start over." Talk like that has made Zaid an inspiration for Malaysians who wish to see the country transcend its ethnic divides.

Zaid grew up taking little for granted. Raised in a farm family outside Kota Bharu in the far northeast corner of the country, Zaid started skipping school around age 11 because he couldn't afford some of the fees. Hearing of this, the schoolmaster recommended him for a scholarship that came with a 15-ringgit monthly stipend, allowing him to continue on to secondary school. He studied law as an undergraduate and then qualified as a barrister-at-law in London.

Recently Forbes has recognized him as one of the Asia's philanthropy list. Forbes Asia has released its first Heroes of Philanthropy list in its March 10 issue business magazine in honour of some of Asia's most generous and interesting philanthropists.

The other three generous Malaysians are businessman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, 56, retired Sarawakian politician and businessman Leonard Linggi Tun Jugah, 67, and Hishamudin Ubaidulla, 52.


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PAS Will Only Implements Islamic Rules If The Non Muslim Allows

Pas MB: Ban on vices not ruled out in Kedah

Kedah Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has not ruled out a ban on the sale of hard liquor and gambling in the state but this would only happen if the Chinese community agreed to it.

If the Chinese think that gambling and drinking is fine then we will let it go on. If there are no restrictions from other religions, we’ll let it go on.

"But from how I see it, some of them don’t agree with gambling and drinking. "So if the Buddhists or Christians say it’s wrong, then we will wait and see if we want to act against gambling and the selling of liquor," he told Malaysiakini.

There is still an air of uncertainty whether the PAS-led state government would implement a ban against vices stated in the Muslim religion.

However, Azizan remains steadfast that there will be no drastic changes in Kedah and that the implementation of Islamic law would come into force only when the people fully understood the religion.

Meanwhile, Anak Bukit state assemblyperson Amirudddin Hamzah echoed Azizan’s stand and said any new policy will only be done with consultation from the people.

"(Policy changes) will not be forced upon the people suddenly. The MB has said that the existing policies will go on. There will not be any major changes.

"If there was, it would be done with consultation and education from the people," he said.
He said liquor shops and gambling licences will carry on and be allowed to open.
"We were also made known that gambling and drinking is prohibited in other religions. Should any policy changes on these matters arise we will not do it instantly, we’ll do it step by step," he added.

Open selling of pork

In another matter, various groups have called for pork to be sold openly in Sungai Petani. Currently in the town, pork is sold behind tinted screens and black plastic bags are used. This ruling was put in place under the previous Barisan Nasional government. According to them, parliamentarian Johari Abdul from PKR had promised in his election manifesto that pork will be sold openly. Azizan when quizzed on whether his government would reverse the ruling, said: "I don’t know. We have to wait and see. Right now we are focused on the development for the people."

Meanwhile, Amirudddin could not confirm if this has been discussed as he was presently in Kuala Lumpur. He said the Kedah state executive council will be holding a meeting tomorrow and is unclear if the issue of pork will arise.

PAS formed the new state government after winning 16 out of the 36 state seats available. They also won four from the 15 parliamentary seats in Kedah.

tunku : pas had shown their true colours.Where are the so called ISLAMIC RULES ? Where are the hudud that you promised the kampung people ? Now you are saying that if the people wants it all the vice activities will carry on. These people called themselves the true muslim and had labelled umno as infidels.Now is the chance for us to see who are infidels."cakap tak serupa bikin". Just look at how PKR did their campaign during the election, they promised al sort of things just to get votes.

Quoted from tunkuaisha


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18 March 2008

Malaysia Cabinet Line-Up

Below is the new Cabinet Line-Up announced by the Prime Minister at noon today which was carried live nationwide.

Prime Minister:Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak

Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department:
Minister: Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok
Minister: Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Minister: (Sen) Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim
Minister: (Sen) Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz
Minister: Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz

Deputy Ministers Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department:
Deputy Minister: Datuk Johari Baharum
Deputy Minister: (Sen) Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim
Deputy Minister: S.K. Devamany
Deputy Minister: Datuk Hasan Malek

Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry
Minister: Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputy: Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim

Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts & Heritage
Minister: Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal
Deputy: Teng Boon Soon

Ministry of Defence
Minister: Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak
Deputy: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop

Ministry of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs
Minister: Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad
Deputy: Jelaing Mersat

Ministry of Education
Minister: Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein
Deputy: Datuk Wee Ka Siong
Deputy: Datuk Razali Ismail

Ministry of Energy, Water & Communications
Minister: Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum

Ministry of Entrepreneur & Co-operative Development
Minister: Datuk Noh Omar
Deputy: Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah

Ministry of Federal Territories
Minister: Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique
Deputy: Datuk M. Saravanan

Ministry of Finance
Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Minister: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Deputy: Datuk Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah
Deputy: Datuk Kong Cho Ha

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister: Datuk Seri Rais Yatim
Deputy: Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar

Ministry of Health
Minister: Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy: Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad

Ministry of Higher Education
Minister: Datuk Khaled Nordin
Deputy: Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung
Deputy: Datuk Idris Haron

Ministry Housing & Local Government
Minister: Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
Deputy: Datuk Robert Lau
Deputy: Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

Ministry of Human Resources
Minister: Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam
Deputy: Datuk Noraini Ahmad

Ministry of Information
Minister: Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe

Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs
Minister: Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar
Deputy: Datuk Chor Chee Heung
Deputy: (Sen) Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh

Ministry of International Trade & Industry
Minister: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputy: Datuk Liew Vui Keong
Deputy: Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan

Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment
Minister: Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas
Deputy: Datuk Seri Panglima Abdul Ghapur Salleh

Ministry of Plantation Industries & Commodities
Minister: Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy: (Sen) A. Kohilan Pillay

Ministry of Rural & Regional Development
Minister: Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib
Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup
Deputy: Joseph Entulu Belaun

Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovations
Minister: Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy: Datuk Fadillah Yusof

Ministry of Tourism
Minister: Datuk Azalina Othman Said
Deputy: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib

Ministry of Transport
Minister: Datuk Ong Tee Keat
Deputy: Datuk Anifah Aman

Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development
Minister: Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen
Deputy: Senator Noriah Kasnon

Ministry of Works
Minister: Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed
Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

Ministry of Youth & Sports
Minister: Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Deputy: Wee Jeck Seng

Goodluck and may you all serve our country to the very best of it.


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17 March 2008

Pas' proposal for Islamic govt irks DAP veteran

Source New Straights Times

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP has expressed shock and anger over Pas' proposal to form an Islamic federal government.

DAP life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin said the party would not agree or co-operate with Pas should they insist on forming an Islamic government at the federal level."This is not part of our understanding. It will be no-go for the DAP if they do that.

We will surely not accept it."Their proposal has left a big question mark over our future co-operation," a visibly upset Dr Chen said while angrily pushing aside a newspaper article on the Pas proposal.Dr Chen, who was at the day-long DAP national leadership convention, said the party decided to co-operate with Pas because of its intention to convert Malaysia into a welfare state.

"But look at what they are saying now," he said when asked to comment on Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa's statement that Pas was confident it could soon set up an Islamic form of government at the federal level.Husam had said there was growing support among the Chinese and Indians for the party's political struggle.Dr Chen said the DAP would be discussing the matter soon.

"While I would like to leave this matter alone at this moment, I think the party will need to seek clarification on this."Right now, we do not know whether it is Husam's personal view or the party's."Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Sivarasa Rasia also expressed surprise at Husam's statement."I have looked at the latest manifesto of Pas and there is nothing stated about an Islamic government."


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Unable to pay medical bills, some just choose to die

Source from New Straits Times

INDIA is being projected as young, vibrant, incredible and resurgent, everything that is music to the ears. But it is not a healthy India.With 45 per cent of the population below 20 years and 54 per cent below 25, India takes pride in being a young nation. However, health indicators are poor.

Recent research shows coronary artery disease (CAD), affecting nearly 90 per cent of heart patients, is hitting people as young as 30.

Vivek Gupta, the hospital's intervention cardiologist, says: "There is an alarming shift in the pattern. Out of 100 patients visiting New Delhi's Indrapratha Apollo Hospital, 70 per cent are 50-plus, 15 per cent are between 40 and 50 years and 10 per cent are below 30 years. Of the 10 per cent, between two and four per cent are 20-somethings."

In a paper titled "Coronary Artery Disease in Young Indians: The Missing Link" H.S. Rissam, S. Kishore and Naresh Trehan wrote: "The risk of CAD among Indians is three to four times higher than among white Americans, six times higher than Chinese and 20 times higher than Japanese.

Compared with the Western population, where the incidence of CAD in the young is up to five per cent, it is 12 to 16 per cent in Indians.""Working towards Wellness: An Indian Perspective" shows that the mortality rate among CAD patients in India is estimated at 30 per cent in the 35 to 64 age group. By comparison, the death rate due to cardiovascular diseases in the US is 12 per cent, 22 per cent in China and 25 per cent in Russia.

The main culprit, of course, is smoking. A study published by The Lancet in 2006 revealed that sixth-grade students in Delhi and Chennai used significantly more tobacco than eighth-grade students.

Causes among the young are sedentary lifestyles, stress, excessive competition, desk jobs, bad food habits and lack of sleep. Lack of social security drives them to push themselves harder, so they face a lot more stress than Western youth.

Lack of knowledge adds to the problem. Since none readily believes a young person may be having a heart condition, chances of delayed treatment are high.

The latest report of Global Hunger 2007 from the International Food Policy Research Institute says that 40 per cent of the world's underweight children below 5 live in India. More than half of all children with low birth weight are born in South Asia.

Eating after the male family members, "Mother India" is left to eat the leftovers. "The result is children of undernourished and anaemic mothers who have a higher risk of being born underweight," says the report.

India's public expenditure on health is only 20.7 per cent of the total, compared with Bangladesh's 25.2 per cent, Pakistan's 34.9 per cent and China's 33.7 per cent, says another study jointly conducted by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

With Rs165.3 billion (RM120 billion), a 15 per cent increase in the budget for 2008-2009 has been proposed for healthcare and to fight HIV/AIDS. But that would be just 1.1 per cent of gross domestic product.

Public expenditure on healthcare in Pakistan and Bangladesh is higher than in India because of two reasons. The economies of Pakistan and Bangladesh are emerging for development, and that is why their governments have been making higher healthcare allocations for their people to partake in global competition, the study says.

India is no longer fighting shy of its baby boom. Indeed, the growing population is taken as an asset. It is a far cry from the earlier attempts to enforce an incentive-driven two-child norm.
The result is numbers, with poor health quality. India's population may exceed China's sooner than the estimated year of 2030.

India today bears the burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Besides tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia and HIV/AIDS, hitherto neglected diseases like diabetes are likely to take endemic proportions.

It is expected that the country would have around 57.2 million diabetics by 2025. Add to them some diseases and ailments that have refused to go and have indeed, increased. Among them is blindness; India has the world's largest population of the blind.

P. Sainath in his book Everyone Loves a Good Drought notes that infrastructure of public health in India is rickety. Thousands of primary health centres in the rural pockets have not seen doctors for years.

Kalpana Jain, one of India's best-informed writers on health issues, has run a health e-letter for the past one year.

She says: "Only 17 per cent of the total healthcare in India is borne by the state; the remaining 83 per cent comes as out-of-pocket expenses by the people. The poor are at a severe disadvantage. In the absence of any savings, they slip deeper into debt. Healthcare costs remain the main reason for 35 per cent of the poor sliding down the poverty line."

India is blessed with different schools of medicine: Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani and Siddha. While paying lip-service to them, the government promotes mostly allopathy.

Medical tourism is the new injection that is fuelling the Indian economic boom, having earned US$333 million (RM1 billion) and growing at 30 per cent.

More and more hospitals are tying up with multinational chains and developing super-specialities, mostly in the urban areas. Good medical help is there for those who can pay.

These swanky hospitals are essentially health shops that provide no health education. There is no medical college attached to any of them, as is the case with the shabby, neglected, crowded, government-run hospitals. The medical-college-and-hospital concept is being passed over.

Admission to the government-run colleges and at universities is expensive. A seat is bought for upwards of Rs2 million. Little wonder, the medico wants to recover it fast. The villager is left to the mercy of quacks.

The Indian's lifespan is going up, but so are the diseases. Health insurance snaps at 58 or 60, just when it is needed the most.

Says Jain: "Some of the vulnerable groups such as the elderly find they have little choice in their growing years when faced with high healthcare costs. Doctors admit they find many elderly patients, especially women, stopping treatment once they learn that the cost of treatment would be way beyond them. Doctors suspect many of them just choose to die."


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Orang Melayu perlu bermuhasabah untuk bersaing

Dipetik Dari Utusan Malaysia

DASAR Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang diperkenalkan selepas peristiwa 13 Mei 1969 dengan hasrat untuk menyusun semula masyarakat dan menyeimbangkan pendapatan antara kaum adalah satu dasar yang sangat baik. Ia adil kepada semua.

Orang Melayu yang mempunyai pendapatan per kapita yang jauh lebih rendah daripada bangsa lain dibantu dengan pelbagai program terutamanya yang berkaitan dengan keusahawanan.
Kita harus mengakui bahawa keistimewaan yang diberi kepada orang Melayu sebenarnya bukanlah untuk selama-lamanya. Ia adalah satu ruang kepada orang Melayu meningkatkan kemampuannya untuk sama-sama mengusai ekonomi Malaysia. Selepas orang Melayu mampu berjalan sendiri maka tongkat itu akan dibuang.

Tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa keusahawanan adalah satu cara untuk mengubah taraf hidup sesuatu bangsa. Tidak ada orang yang jadi bilionair dengan makan gaji. Dengan itu pelbagai peluang diberikan kepada orang Melayu untuk menceburkan diri dalam bidang keusahawanan.
Tidak ada cacat celanya perancangan yang telah dibuat untuk membantu orang Melayu dalam menjadikan pengagihan kekayaan yang seimbang dengan bangsa lain.

Tetapi yang menjadi persoalan adalah bagaimanakah caranya orang Melayu mengambil peluang tersebut dalam mengubah taraf hidup mereka. Contohnya, Institut Kemahiran Mara yang ditubuhkan untuk melatih pelajar Melayu dan bumiputera dalam kemahiran teknikal telah melahirkan ramai guna tenaga terlatih dalam bidang teknikal seperti bidang automotif.

Tetapi berapa ramaikah yang mengambil peluang untuk membuka bengkel selepas memperoleh semua kemahiran tersebut.

Kebanyakannya mengambil jalan mudah bekerja makan gaji. Tidak mengapa untuk menimba pengalaman dengan bekerja tetapi sehingga sekarang kita boleh lihat dengan mata kepala sendiri berapa banyakkah bengkel kereta milik orang Melayu? Kita jawab sendiri.

Kontraktor-kontraktor Melayu terutama daripada kelas F yang mendapat tender-tender kerajaan masih ramai yang hanya mengali baba peluang yang diberi kepada mereka. Mereka tidak belajar sendiri cara untuk melakukan tugasan yang diberi dan mengambil jalan mudah 'menjual' tender itu kepada orang lain.

Kita tidak menafikan bahawa sesetengah daripada bangsa bukan Melayu sebenarnya tertanya-tanya sampai bilakah keistimewaan yang diberikan kepada peniaga-peniaga Melayu untuk mendapat tender kerajaan akan terus diberikan. Mereka merasakan bahawa peluang mereka selama ini tertutup dan sukar untuk menembusi tender-tender kerajaan kerana polisi ini.

Semua keistimewaan ini sepatutnya sudah membolehkan orang Melayu berdikari dan mula untuk memasuki persaingan yang lebih terbuka setelah hampir 40 tahun Dasar Ekonomi Baru dilaksanakan.

Sikap manja kebanyakan orang Melayu yang merasakan bahawa mereka sentiasa selamat menyebabkan mereka tidak mengambil peluang dengan bersungguh-sungguh dan percaya bahawa keistimewaan ini akan kekal selama-lamanya.

Peniaga-peniaga yang manja ini sebenarnya menjadi beban kepada pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu yang telah berusaha bersungguh-sungguh untuk menaikan taraf hidup bangsa Melayu. Dan akhirnya dengan berat hati mereka terpaksa mengakui bahawa DEB tidak berjaya mencapai sasarannya.

Sama seperti orang yang sedang sakit. Mereka harus kuat melawan penyakit yang mereka hadapi. Orang yang patah kaki kerana kemalangan akan diberikan tongkat selagi tulang mereka belum kuat. Selepas itu mereka perlu menjalani terapi untuk membolehkan mereka berjalan tanpa tongkat.

Kalau pesakit itu memanjakan dirinya dan tidak mahu melawan penyakit mereka mereka akan kekal bertongkat sampai bila-bila. Maka orang yang bertongkat sampai bila-bila boleh dikira sebagai orang kurang upaya (OKU). Adakah kita mahu menerima bangsa kita sebagai bangsa yang kurang upaya? Sudah pasti tidak.

Mungkin keputusan pilihan raya yang telah diumumkan baru-baru ini akan menjadi satu wake-up call yang akan mengejutkan orang Melayu dari lamunan mereka. Suara-suara yang meminta supaya dikurangkan keistimewaan yang diberikan kepada orang Melayu dalam hal-hal berkaitan perniagaan sudah mula kedengaran.

Meritokrasi dalam pendidikan telah pun dilaksanakan. Mereka harus sedar bahawa satu masa nanti kita mungkin akan berhadapan dengan situasi persaingan terbuka dengan bangsa-bangsa lain di Malaysia iaitu meritokrasi dalam dunia perniagaan.

Anggaplah fenomena yang sedang berlaku ini sebagai ubat yang pahit. Seperti kata pepatah, manis gula itu racun, pahit ubat itu penawar. Sampai bilakah orang Melayu tidak mahu mengubah sikap dan berubah menjadi bangsa yang rajin dan bekerja keras? Kita tidak tahu sampai bilakah segala keistimewaan ini akan dapat bertahan. Jangan nanti di saat segala kelebihan ini hilang, di saat tongkat terlepas dari tangan, pada waktu itu orang Melayu masih belum bersedia. Maka kita akan tersungkur menyembah bumi. Semoga dijauhkan.


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Baru Guan Eng tahu!

Dipetik dari Utusan Malaysia

SEBELUM menjadi Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng merupakan antara orang yang paling tegas menentang beberapa dasar kerajaan.

Malah, beliau juga menentang keras sebarang usaha menghalang rakyat untuk mengadakan demonstrasi tetapi kini segalanya sudah berubah.

Guan Eng semakin terasa betapa beratnya menjadi 'kerajaan yang memerintah'. Justeru tidak hairanlah apabila beliau meminta semua pihak supaya menghormati keputusan rakyat memilih DAP memerintah Pulau Pinang.

Beliau juga mahu kerajaan negeri Pulau Mutiara di bawah kepimpinannya diberi peluang untuk menjalankan tugas dengan aman tanpa sebarang gangguan atau provokasi.

Persoalannya, kenapakah baru sekarang Guan Eng bercakap soal itu? Kenapakah baru sekarang Guan Eng menganggap demonstrasi hanya menyusahkan rakyat?

Tidakkah sebelum ini, beliau antara orang yang paling lantang mengkritik apa juga dasar kerajaan dan menganggap demonstrasi adalah amalan demokrasi.

Mungkin kini Guan Eng mulai sedar bahawa bercakap termasuklah mengkritik memanglah mudah tetapi apabila kita sendiri berada di kedudukan dikritik, ia sesuatu yang merimaskan.
Guan Eng harus terima hakikat inilah realiti politik. Beliau perlu bersabar untuk menerima segala provokasi yang dilakukan oleh lawan-lawan politiknya.

Ketika tidak berkuasa dulu, bukankah Guan Eng sentiasa memegang prinsip demokrasi iaitu kebebasan bersuara dan mengadakan demonstrasi.

Justeru kalau Guan Eng tidak mahu dianggap hanya pandai bercakap, beliau harus bersedia mengendalikan situasi sekarang.

Buktikan DAP bukanlah sebuah parti perkauman, buktikan bahawa semua kaum akan mendapat pembelaan sewajarnya di bawah parti itu di Pulau Pinang, biarpun sebelum ini dalam kempen-kempennya Guan Eng hanya memperjuangkan nasib satu kaum sahaja.

Apa yang penting Setiausaha Agung DAP itu harus membuktikan bahawa DAP adalah jauh lebih baik daripada Parti Gerakan yang sebelum ini memerintah Pulau Pinang.

Guan Eng tidak perlu merasa marah atau kecewa dengan 'gangguan-gangguan' yang diterimanya sekarang terutamanya melalui UMNO Pulau Pinang.

Ini kerana mereka hanya 'mengambil alih' tugas yang dilakukan Guan Eng dan DAP sebelum ini.


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PKR ajak UMNO P. Pinang bincang isu

Dipetik dari Utusan Malaysia

PULAU PINANG 16 Mac – Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) hari ini bersedia untuk bertemu dengan UMNO Pulau Pinang untuk berbincang mengenai Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) di negeri ini.

Pengerusi PKR negeri, Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim berkata, penjelasan berhubung isu DEB adalah penting bagi memastikan rakyat terutama orang Melayu tidak terkeliru mengenainya.
‘‘Duduk berbincang atau berdialog adalah lebih baik daripada mengadakan demonstrasi jalanan kerana kita tidak mahu rakyat keliru dengan isu ini.

‘‘Kita bukan hendak merampas hak orang Melayu tetapi ingin memastikan kepentingan seluruh rakyat terutama mereka yang miskin akan dipelihara,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Dua hari lalu, kira-kira 3,000 anggota pelbagai pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Melayu dan penyokong UMNO menyertai perhimpunan aman berhampiran Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) bagi membantah tindakan kerajaan negeri pimpinan DAP mahu menghapuskan pelaksanaan DEB di negeri ini.

Menurut Zahrain, pengumuman Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng untuk membebaskan pentadbiran negeri ini daripada DEB mungkin dilihat sebagai terburu-buru, namun ia dilakukan kerana beliau mahu mentadbir Pulau Pinang dengan telus dan bersih.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Bayan Baru mendakwa, DEB yang diperkenalkan lebih 30 tahun dahulu telah dicacatkan dengan penyalahgunaan kuasa, kronisme dan juga rasuah.

‘‘Ini bukan lagi isu Melayu terpinggir, tetapi ini adalah mengenai kepentingan seluruh rakyat terutama yang miskin tidak kira sama ada kaum Cina, India atau lain-lain kaum.

‘‘Membantu golongan tersebut adalah perkara utama kami selaras dengan manifesto PKR yang mengandungi Agenda Ekonomi Malaysia menjaga kepentingan semua kaum di negara ini dengan adil,” ujarnya.


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Khalid macam ‘kacang lupakan kulit’ – Mat Taib

Dipetik Dari Utusan Malaysia

SHAH ALAM 16 Mac – Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim disifatkan sebagai kacang lupakan kulit apabila mendakwa Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) gagal memberikan faedah kepada orang Melayu.

Ketua Penerangan UMNO, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd. Taib berkata, Abdul Khalid sendiri terlibat dalam melaksanakan dasar tersebut ketika beliau menjadi Ketua Eksekutif Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) dan Amanah Saham Nasional (ASN) suatu ketika dahulu.

Oleh itu katanya, dakwaan itu tidak berasas kerana DEB telah membuka banyak peluang kepada orang Melayu untuk berjaya setanding dengan kaum lain pada hari ini.

“Beliau (Abdul Khalid) mengatakan DEB tidak memberi faedah kepada orang Melayu, tetapi tidakkah dasar ini telah membawa perubahan kepada orang Melayu untuk keluar daripada putaran ganas kemiskinan melalui pendidikan, ekonomi dan sebagainya.

“Saya hairan bagaimana beliau boleh lupa dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan sedemikian kerana beliau adalah antara orang yang turut sama merancang dan melaksanakan pembangunan di bawah dasar ini.

“Saya khuatir beliau sudah lupa mengenai perkara itu atau kemungkinan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) telah menjadi alat kepada DAP atau pihak-pihak lain untuk kepentingan tertentu,” katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Semalam, Abdul Khalid dipetik sebagai berkata, DEB gagal memberikan faedah menyeluruh kepada semua kaum di negara termasuk orang Melayu.

Beliau yang juga Setiausaha Agung PKR berkata, dasar yang diperkenalkan oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) pada tahun 1971 dan diteruskan melalui Dasar Pembangunan Nasional (DPN) sekarang, tidak memberi kebaikan kepada semua rakyat, tidak telus dan hanya membeza-bezakan kaum.

Bagaimanapun, pandangan tersebut amat berbeza dengan sekutu mereka apabila Pesuruhjaya Pas Selangor, Datuk Dr. Hassan Ali dan Ketua Dewan Pemuda Pas Pusat, Salahuddin Ayub yang mengakui DEB perlu dikekalkan bagi memastikan ekuiti semua kaum termasuk orang Melayu dalam ekonomi tidak terpinggir.

Dalam pada itu, Muhammad turut mengingatkan supaya PKR tidak menganggap kemenangan mereka pada pilihan raya umum lalu di Selangor sebagai sokongan penuh rakyat terhadap parti itu.

Sebaliknya, sokongan tersebut adalah luahan rakyat yang tidak puas hati terhadap BN ekoran wujudnya masalah-masalah tertentu termasuk di peringkat dalaman BN.

"Kita akan memperbetulkan setiap kesilapan yang berlaku dalam BN dan kita yakin akan mendapat semula sokongan rakyat pada masa depan,’’ katanya.

Sungguhpun begitu, katanya, tumpuan BN terhadap rakyat masih lagi sama dan BN akan berusaha untuk memberikan yang terbaik untuk kemakmuran semua.


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13 March 2008

DAP Pulau MB Pas ; DAP Boycott PAS CM

Questions over MB post as state leaders defy Kit Siang

KUALA LUMPUR: The saga of who will head the coalition government in Perak has taken a dramatic turn, with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang ordering his party assemblyman to stay away from the swearing-in of the Mentri Besar – and they have chosen to defy him.

State DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming said the party’s elected representatives would be at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar for the ceremony to swear in PAS’ Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, scheduled at 4pm today.

Lim, in a statement yesterday, said the party did not agree to Nizar’s appointment and had decided on Sunday night that the post should either be held by its state chief Ngeh Koo Ham or state PKR treasurer Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi.


Full Story


DAP throws spanner in Perak govt plan

IPOH: The coalition government in Perak stood on the brink of collapse yesterday after the DAP protested against the appointment of a Pas candidate as menteri besar.
All 18 DAP state assemblymen were instructed by their party leaders to stay away from the swearing-in ceremony of state Pas liaison secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar at 4pm today.

It was announced earlier yesterday that Mohammad Nizar would be appointed menteri besar with two deputies, one of whom was the state DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham.

The second deputy was to be an Indian state assemblyman of Parti Keadilan Rakyat whose name will be announced today. PKR has seven state seats with Hutan Melintang assemblyman S. Kesavan being the only Indian.

Full Story


DAP pulau majlis angkat sumpah MB Perak hari ini


KUALA LUMPUR 12 Mac – Semua 18 Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) DAP di Perak diarahkan memulaukan majlis angkat sumpah pelantikan Menteri Besar baru di Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar esok sebagai membantah pelantikan wakil rakyat Pas sebagai Menteri Besar negeri itu.

Penasihat DAP Pusat, Lim Kit Siang berkata, tindakan tersebut diambil kerana pelantikan Ir. Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, 51, daripada Pas yang merupakan wakil rakyat parti ketiga dan terkecil dalam kerajaan campuran itu tidak mendapat mandat daripada Jawatankuasa Eksekutif Pusat (CEC) DAP.

“Keputusan melantik Mohammad Nizar sebagai Menteri Besar Perak mengejutkan dan membingungkan pemimpin, ahli-ahli dan penyokong DAP.

“Memandangkan pelantikan Mohammad Nizar sebagai Menteri Besar yang mewakili parti ketiga dan terkecil dalam kerajaan campuran itu tidak menerima mandat CEC, semua ADUN DAP Perak tidak akan menyertai majlis angkat sumpah yang dijadualkan esok,” kata Kit Siang dalam satu kenyataan di sini malam ini.

Hari ini, Sultan Azlan Shah melalui Pemangku Raja Perak, Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah telah memperkenankan pelantikan Mohammad Nizar sebagai Menteri Besar Perak yang ke-10. Beliau dijadualkan mengangkat sumpah pada pukul 4 petang esok.

Berita Penuh


DAP boikot MB Pas

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) dan Pas yang membentuk kerajaan campuran di Perak, mula goyah apabila semua 18 ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) DAP di negeri itu mahu memboikot majlis angkat sumpah jawatan Menteri Besar, petang ini.

Tindakan itu diambil berikutan keputusan Pemangku Sultan Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, semalam, yang memilih Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Pasir Panjang merangkap Setiausaha Perhubungan Pas negeri, Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, sebagai Menteri Besar Perak ke-10.
Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Perancangan Dasar dan Strategik DAP, Lim Kit Siang, berkata keputusan melantik Mohamad Nizar sebagai Menteri Besar mencetuskan kejutan dan kemarahan pimpinan, ahli serta penyokong DAP.

Beliau berkata, Jawatankuasa Eksekutif Pusat (CEC) DAP hanya memberi kelulusan bagi pembentukan sebuah kerajaan campuran parti pembangkang di Perak dengan diketuai DAP atau PKR.

Berita Penuh


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07 March 2008

Nallakarupan`s Confession on Who is Anwar Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- Datuk K.S.Nallakaruppan, a close friend of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for 30 years, today claimed that the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader is only interested in pursuing his own interest not the country''s. "He is a man for himself...he has no principles in politics... I have to tell the truth in the interest of the country and the future generations," he said.

Nalla, who is the president of the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), claimed that some of interviews given by Anwar to the foreign media when he was overseas were only meant to spoil the good image of Malaysia. "We don''t need this kind of person as our leader or as our prime minister," said Nalla who was once in the PKR. After the sacking of Anwar, Nalla was charged under the Internal Security Act for unlawful possession of 125 rounds of live Fiocchi 6.35mm ammunition which carries the death penalty.

The charge was later reduced and Nalla was sentenced to 42 months in jail, which was later reduced on appeal to one year. -- MORE ELECTION-NALLA (ANWAR) 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR Nalla said despite his sacrifices for the former deputy Prime Minister, Anwar''s family members never visited his family when he was in jail. Nalla said Anwar was capitalising on the current anger of some segment of the Malaysian Indian community to garner support in this general election. "I would like to urge the Indians to reject him," he said. -- BERNAMA


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06 March 2008

Nalla: Anwar only cares for himself

"His goal is to be Prime Minister, and he will do anything
to make this happen" -DATUK K.S. NALLAKARUPPAN


KUALA LUMPUR: He was Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s “closest friend” for almost 30 years and was better known as Anwar’s “tennis partner” when the former deputy prime minister made headlines in 1998.

He even “went to jail for a year for Anwar”, stood by his friend after that and gave in to Anwar’s wishes for him to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat in 2006.

But now, Datuk K.S. Nallakaruppan is going around campaigning for the Barisan Nasional telling the people that they should not be blinded by Anwar like he was.

“I thought he was a friend but he was a ‘friendly-user’. No one knows him as well as I do. I can say that he only cares about his own interests.

“His goal is to be Prime Minister, and he will do anything to make this happen,” said the former Magnum Corporation Bhd executive director, who added that he “wanted to save a friend”, only to be betrayed.

“I don’t hold a personal grudge against him. I just don’t want him to destroy our nation,” he added.

Nallakaruppan, 61, was charged with unlawful possession of live ammunition, which carried a death sentence, when police found live bullets in his home in the course of investigations into the book 50 Dalil Mengapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM in 1998.

The charge was amended and he pleaded guilty, but was acquitted and released on appeal in August 1999.

“I sacrificed my wife and two young children. Anwar’s wife did not even visit them when I was in jail. My lawyer asked him to help me and he said there was nothing he could do.

“Still, I believed in him,” said Nallakaruppan who returned from Australia when Anwar and wife PKR president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail urged him to join PKR in 2006 to take care of Indian affairs and recruit Indian members.

He said Anwar had suggested he contest the 2007 Ijok by-election but “quietly told Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (who became the PKR candidate) to set up his operations centre.”

He quit PKR after Anwar told him to withdraw from the contest for the party’s vice-presidency so that Azmin Ali could take up the post.

“He told me the next time he would field an Indian in Ijok but he has retained Khalid. I left PKR because I knew I couldn’t serve the Indian interest,” said Nallakaruppan who launched the Malaysian Indian United Party last November.

He said that when Anwar was still in power, he had told a crowd that he would “make sure the temple bells never rang again” following the Muslim- Hindu clash in Penang.

“I confronted him over his remark and he said I shouldn’t ask him anything,” he said.

Nallakaruppan said Anwar had not declared his support for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) but now used Hindraf to gain Indian votes.

“If he declares support for Hindraf he will lose the Malay votes. He does not care for the Indians,” he said.

Taken from The Star Online




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Anwar a man of many faces, says friend of 30 years

PETALING JAYA: Another loyalist of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday urged Malaysians not to be taken in by him.

Datuk K.S. Nallakarupan, Anwar's tennis partner and close friend of 30 years, described the former deputy prime minister as a man of many faces.


"He has a different face for an urban audience and another for the rural folk," Nalla, as he is better known, told reporters here yesterday.

Nalla's comments come a day after former PKR deputy president Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar broke a seven-year silence to warn that "if Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes the prime minister, it will be an unmitigated disaster for Malaysia".

Nalla echoed Chandra's comments, saying: "I know his story in and out. I know his character in and out. My advice to Malaysians is don't ever trust Anwar Ibrahim".
Recounting his relationship with Anwar, Nalla said he had been prepared to give his life for Anwar.

"I went to jail for a year for him. I suffered for him and faced the death sentence for him. I suffered business losses for him and look at how I was treated," said Nalla, who was then the Magnum Corporation Bhd public affairs director.

After Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Nalla was charged under the Internal Security Act for unlawful possession of 125 rounds of live Fiocchi 6.35mm ammunition, which carried the death penalty.

The charge was later reduced and Nalla was sentenced to 42 months in jail, which was later reduced on appeal to one year.

After his release, he was invited by PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife, and Anwar, to join the party.

"Anwar pestered me to join, so I gave in. He was a friend," he said. His job was to increase the Indian membership, which Nalla claims he did, signing up 10,000 Indians as members.

But, he claimed, people like Azmin Ali, the PKR vice-president, were unhappy about the increasing Indian membership and the effect it would have on the PKR leadership.

Nalla's problems with Anwar began in the run-up to the Ijok by-election last May.

"Anwar told me I could be a candidate. But I said I was not interested. I suggested Krishnasamy, one of our members, but Anwar did not commit himself."

Nalla said he then learnt from PKR members in Ijok that former party treasurer Tan Sri Khalid Ismail had "quietly" opened an operations room and had placed orders for posters.

"One day before nomination, they came to my house to tell me Khalid was the candidate. I told them I knew about it," he said.

Nalla said although he did not like the way Anwar made the decision to pick the candidate for Ijok, he soldiered on and campaigned for Khalid.

"After all, he was my friend," Nalla said.

But the straw that broke Nalla's back was when Anwar told him to withdraw from the contest for PKR vice-president after having initially giving him the green light to contest.

Nalla has since formed the Malaysian Indian United Party to fight for the Indians and is supporting Barisan Nasional.

Nalla also warned Malaysian Indians not to be fooled into thinking Anwar was fighting for them.

"He did not fight for the community while in government and he is not going to do so now," Nalla said.

He added that many others had become disillusioned with Anwar and had left the PKR, including secretary-general Anuar Tahir, supreme council member Saari Sungib, deputy president Abdul Rahman Osman and Youth head Ezam Mohd Nor.

Nalla urged the Indian community not to be taken in by Anwar's perceived support for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and its five detained leaders.

"He is merely using the issue to gain support from the Indian community.

"He is not a friend (of the community) but a friendly user," he said.

Referring to Chandra Muzaffar's comments on Monday that during the Kampung Jawa clash between Hindus and Indian Muslims in Penang more than 10 years ago when Anwar was deputy prime minister and had purportedly said that temple bells would not ring in the country if his dictum was not accepted by the Hindus, Nalla said: "I had heard about this from angry MIC members and demanded an explanation from him that very evening, and he said, 'if you are a friend don't ask anything'."

Nalla was a former MIC deputy Youth chief.

Nalla said anyone who regarded Anwar as a friend had better be prepared to be betrayed.

"If he was a good, decent man, he should be sitting as prime minister where Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is. But he is not. He is selfish and ungrateful."

Nalla said on hindsight, Dr Mahathir had judged Anwar correctly.

"What Dr Mahathir said about Anwar is true.

"Although I had to suffer on his (Dr Mahathir) instruction but at least he can now know that what he said about Anwar is true," said Nallakarupan.

His parting words to Malaysians: "Don't make him prime minister. He will destroy the country.

"I am doing this for the nation and the younger generation, not for one race but everyone."

Taken from New Straits Time Online


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Election 2008: Anwar's burden not nation's to bear

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (left) said in 1995 that BN
was respected worldwide.
Anwar also said that
Pas leaders like Datuk Seri Hadi Awang (centre)
had betrayed the Malays while Lim Kit Siang was
warned by Anwar against playing with fire.


YOU know what they say about politics, right? That it is the art of the possible; that there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies...

Therefore, it was not really surprising to see academic and reformist Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar, a once staunch political ally of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, breaking his silence with a castigating indictment of the man who was once his friend.

For seven years after he left the then Parti Keadilan Nasional of which he was deputy president to Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Chandra maintained silence, probably not wanting to be dragged into the murky world of political mudslinging.

He kept quiet in the 2004 general election, perhaps because Anwar was still in prison.

But on Monday, saying that he did not want Malaysians, especially non-Malays, to be deceived any more, he made this damning statement: "If Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes the prime minister, it will be an unmitigated disaster for Malaysia."
Chandra is not a politician. He is an academician, a scholar, a thinker - not a street-wise political brawler.

When he threw in his lot with Anwar Ibrahim and became deputy president of Keadilan, many of those who knew him were, in a way, a little disappointed; those who cared for him felt that by going into politics, he was compromising his objectivity.

But in 1998, Malaysia was in the eye of the storm caused by the Asian financial crisis; the sacking of Anwar, then deputy prime minister, and his black eye caused by a beating in jail raised the ire of many Malaysians. Emotions ran high and many heads were ruled by their hearts.

There were many others who were also shocked and infuriated by Anwar's beating but they put the blame where it belonged and did not condemn an entire administration for the actions of one hot-headed and irrational individual.

Those who want to judge Chandra, or the many other professionals and intellectuals whose immediate reaction was to join the so-called reformasi movement, should take heed of the situation and events of that period.

Those were different times and the many who reacted in anger have since gone separate ways, people like Anwar's lawyer, Zainur Zakaria, or his close friend, S. Nallakaruppan, or his political secretary and ex-Keadilan Youth head, Ezam Mohd Nor, or the loyal lieutenant, Chandra Muzaffar.

But Chandra's first public reproach of Anwar is perhaps a timely reminder that historical perspective is important, especially in Malaysia where people seem to forget easily.

Anwar, since his release from prison, has proclaimed himself as de facto leader of PKR and has actively campaigned for the loose opposition alliance which includes the theocratic Pas and the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party, the two oldest opposition parties in the country.

Before that, for 17 years, Anwar was in the highest ranks of Umno and the Barisan Nasional, and for 17 years, he asked Malaysians to give him their trust and believe in him. Many did.

Today, Anwar is again asking Malaysians to place their trust in him and the DAP and Pas.

But what did he say then? Perhaps the 1995 general election, the last one in which Anwar led the BN campaign, may be worth revisiting.

Almost 13 years ago, on April 21, 1995, while campaigning in Banting, Selangor, then deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had this to say: "The DAP, Pas and Parti Melayu Semangat 46 leaders are so power crazy that they are willing to manipulate the people for their political ends. Such leaders who could easily lie are only interested in power and have no regard for the well-being of the society and the country."

On the pledges by the DAP, Pas and the now defunct Semangat 46 to abolish taxes, Anwar, who was also finance minister, said on April 23, 1995: "If we abolish taxes, where are we going to get funds to carry out development projects like building schools and mosques? They can make promises but we have to ask ourselves whether they have the capacity to fulfil their promises."

Today, Anwar says the opposition pact will reduce the price of oil, which is heavily subsidised by the government, if they come to power.

On the Barisan Nasional, Anwar said on April 13, 1995: "People should use the government's remarkable track record as a yardstick to measure the efficiency of the BN in administering the nation.

"Unlike the opposition, which is fond of making empty pledges and promises, the country, under the BN, is respected worldwide. We should not become ungrateful citizens like the opposition."

On the 1995 opposition manifesto, Anwar said: "The opposition manifestos contain promises that cannot be fulfilled."

This time, the opposition manifestos promise goodies for Malaysians. The DAP wants to give RM6,000 to each family; Pas and PKR want to lower the price of oil and give money to single mothers, newlyweds, young aspiring businessmen and many others.

On Pas, now his strongest ally, and which was then led by Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, Anwar had this to say: "The people should reject Pas for it has failed to promote the welfare of Muslims in the country. The insincerity of Pas' struggle is evident from its co-operation with the DAP to deny the Malays their rights for a brighter future.

"Pas leaders claimed that they are fighting to uphold Islam and the integrity of the Malays in front of their supporters in Terengganu or Kelantan because these are Malay-majority states, but in Penang, they were willing to work with the DAP to betray the Malays."

Today, Pas is still propagating the same theme in the "green belt" states of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu and is working together with Anwar's PKR and the DAP in Penang. Hadi Awang is still president of Pas.

What were his views on the DAP and Pas in general?

Anwar had this message for voters in 1995: "The opposition parties are harping on racial sentiments to disrupt harmony. Pas and Semangat 46 are churning racial sentiments among the Malays while their ally, the DAP, in wooing Chinese votes, is attempting to create hatred against the government and the Malays.

"We should not allow ourselves to be made tools of the opposition parties."

And what about his current ally, the DAP's Lim Kit Siang?

"We will not tolerate the DAP, which harps on racial sentiments. I am warning Kit Siang not to play with fire because the Malays are not stupid and their patience has its limit.

"Unlike them (the then opposition alliance) the Barisan Nasional is consistent with its stand in helping all Malaysians."

What did he think about the opposition DAP-Pas-Semangat 46 pact?

"It's a threesome khalwat; a marriage of convenience. The parties do not have common objectives and each follows its own agenda."

Today, the difference is that Semangat 46 has been replaced by Anwar's PKR. The DAP and Pas are led by the same people who led them in 1995.

And did not the current BN chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi say a week or so ago that the DAP-PKR-Pas pact was a coalition of convenience because the three parties each had different dreams and ideologies?

In his 17 years in power, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stood for many things. Today, he has taken a different stance.

The BN, despite all its flaws, is still consistent.

So, do we throw out the baby with the bath water because Anwar Ibrahim now tells us that he was wrong all through those 17 years?

And why should a whole country bear the collective guilt for one black eye inflicted by one policeman who has already paid the price for his actions?

I sympathise with what happened to Anwar but I will not carry that burden of guilt. Neither should the country.

Taken from New Straits Times Online


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Abdullah: We don't want Anwar back

GEORGE TOWN: Barisan Nasional chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi slammed the doors shut on former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, saying Umno does not want him back.

"He is not important to me, he is not important to Umno and we don't want him," said Abdullah, speaking at a rally of more than 10,000 people in the Chinese-majority heartland of Rifle Range Flats in Air Hitam here.

Abdullah said he did not want to dwell too much on Anwar as the speaker preceding him, former Gerakan president Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, had spoken at length about Anwar's characteristics and qualities when the Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader was in BN for 17 years (see page 4).

"He (Anwar) wanted to come back but we said no. We have enough leaders in Umno and we do not need him.

"Now, he has to look for friends in DAP and Pas. They are just an alliance of convenience."
Abdullah has refrained from attacking Anwar despite Anwar's incessant attacks and allegations against him, his family, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his colleagues over the last two years.

Abdullah said it was clear from the experiences of those in the government and from statements made by Anwar's former allies in PKR that the PKR leader "says different things to different people for his own selfish gain".

"He is making promises because he knows he can never form a government.

"But we can and will deliver because we have a genuine partnership in BN," he told the cheering crowd.

Abdullah cautioned voters in Penang that the so-called opposition alliance was playing to racial sentiments and this could only be divisive.

"We want the people to be united so that we can, together, shoulder the responsibility of ensuring the country's progress," he said.

The prime minister said the opposition, in its campaign, goes to the Indian community and tells them that they should not support Umno because it will become a problem if the Malays are strong.

"When people in Umno hear this, they become angry and say they do not want to support the Indians," he said.

In a rare moment of anger, Abdullah said: "This is stupid politics. They want to destroy the MIC."

Abdullah said DAP claimed it was not a race-based party but the fact was it could not attract other races to support it except for the Chinese.

"And every time they use the race issue, MCA suffers because we in BN are committed to multi-racialism and power-sharing among the races."

He reminded voters in Penang that in 1990, using the same racial politics, DAP ensured that MCA and MIC lost all their seats, leaving Umno, with 12 seats, and Gerakan, with seven seats, forming the government.

"Remember this -- it was not Umno or the Malays who put the Chinese in a difficult position, it was DAP that did it because of its racial politics. I cannot accept this."

Abdullah said there were calls by some Umno members for an Umno man to be made the chief minister because of its majority.

"But we have an understanding in BN. Since Penang is a Chinese-majority state, it is only logical for a Chinese to become the chief minister. We stood by this agreement," he said.

"This is what a true partnership and alliance means. We are a genuine alliance. The fact that Umno did not take over the chief minister's post shows the party is not greedy."

"We are not chameleons," Abdullah said, referring to Keng Yaik's description of Anwar.

"We only say what we really mean."

Taken from New Straits Times Online


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05 March 2008

Dokumen Kempen Pilihanraya 2008

Sila Klik Pada Imej Untuk Muat Turun


















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Pak Lah buka cerita mengenai Anwar

KEPALA BATAS: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang selama ini berdiam diri berhubung kritikan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim terhadap kerajaan pimpinannya, semalam secara terbuka menyerang Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) itu yang disifatkan gemar berdolak-dalik dan menabur pelbagai janji tetapi tidak pernah dikotakannya.

Perdana Menteri berkata, Anwar sering mengkritik pentadbiran beliau dan Barisan Nasional (BN) sekarang, sedangkan ketika berada di dalam kerajaan dulu, tiada sebarang pembaharuan dilakukannya.

Dalam nada kecewa, Abdullah berkata, beliau terpaksa membuka cerita mengenai Anwar kerana tindakan bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri itu dianggapnya sebagai keterlaluan.

Perdana Menteri berkata, selama ini beliau berdiam diri apabila Anwar mengkritik kerajaan pimpinannya, tetapi kini sedia membalasnya supaya rakyat tidak terpengaruh dengan dakyah dan janji yang ditabur pemimpin pembangkang itu semata-mata untuk menarik sokongan pengundi pada pilihan raya umum Sabtu ini.

"Dia kata kita macam-macam, saya pun geram juga. Sesekali kena habaq (beritahu) juga sebab kita tidak mahu rakyat diperdaya dengan janji yang tidak boleh dilaksanakan.

"Dia (Anwar) hanya pandai berjanji, tetapi tidak buat (laksanakan), malah apa yang kita buat dia ronyeh (rosakkan)," katanya ketika melancarkan projek Pintar Interactive Teaching and Learning System (i-Pintar) di Sekolah Kebangsaan Hashim Awang di sini.

Hadir sama, isterinya, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah; Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein serta Ketua Pengarah Unit Penyelarasan dan Pelaksanaan Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Khalid Ramli.

Abdullah berkata, beliau akan menjawab segala tohmahan pembangkang, terutama Anwar sekiranya merasakan sesuai untuk berbuat demikian.

Perdana Menteri mendedahkan ketika Anwar memegang jawatan Menteri Pelajaran (1986-1991) dulu, beliau terbukti gagal melaksanakan tanggungjawabnya termasuk gagal menyelesaikan skim dua gaji guru setelah memperkenalkannya.

"Masa dia jadi Menteri Pendidikan apa dia buat. Kalau tak percaya tanya pada Hisham (Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein)," katanya.

Abdullah berkata, pada masa itu peluang kenaikan pangkat amat terhad menyebabkan guru bersara di tahap yang agak rendah dan jika ada guru yang dinaikkan pangkat, mereka tidak lagi mengajar sebaliknya terpaksa bertugas di jabatan atau pejabat pelajaran.

Perdana Menteri berkata, kini beliau gembira kerana pelbagai perancangan dilakukan untuk meningkatkan mutu perkhidmatan guru, seperti memperkenalkan jawatan guru pakar atau guru super dan peluang kenaikan pangkat sehingga ke jawatan JUSA D tanpa perlu meninggalkan tugas mengajar.

Pada sidang media selepas itu, Abdullah yang diminta mengulas kenyataan bekas Timbalan Presiden PKR Dr Chandra Muzaffar bahawa negara boleh hancur jika Anwar ditakdirkan menjadi pemimpin, berkata:

"(Perkara itu) boleh jadi, berasaskan kepada apa yang beliau (Anwar) biasa lakukan.

Apa yang Dr Chandra Muzaffar bagi tahu itu memang betul."

Kelmarin, Chandra yang pernah menjadi penyokong kuat Anwar, juga berkata Penasihat PKR itu umpama 'sesumpah' kerana sentiasa boleh berubah imej daripada seorang 'pejuang' ketika di universiti kepada nasionalis ketika bersama Umno.

Dipetik dari Berita Harian Online


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04 March 2008

Pas sedia guna kekerasan

KUALA LUMPUR: Pas semalam memberi amaran parti itu akan melakukan apa saja tindakan termasuk menggunakan kekerasan bagi menghalang apa yang didakwanya pengundi upahan atau pengundi hantu, pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12, Sabtu ini.

Setiausaha Akhbar Presiden Pas yang juga penyelaras Sekretariat Media Pilihan Raya di Ibu Pejabat Pas Pusat, Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir, mendakwa parti itu menerima maklumat mengenai perjalanan bas yang dikatakan akan membawa pengundi hantu dari seluruh negara termasuk dari beberapa universiti tempatan.

"Pas mengingatkan bahawa atas semangat mempertahankan demokrasi, Pas akan melakukan apa saja tindakan bagi menghalang pengundi hantu ini dibawa masuk ke Kelantan dan Terengganu.

"Petugas Pas telah diarah dan cukup bersedia untuk memastikan mereka tidak berjaya mengundi sebagai pengundi hantu," katanya pada sidang media di Ibu Pejabat Pas Pusat di sini.

Ditanya kemungkinan tindakan Pas itu boleh mencetuskan pergaduhan, Roslan Shahir berkata:

"Sebab itu, awal-awal kita memberitahu benda ini supaya insiden itu tidak berlaku. Tetapi kalau dah berlaku juga, khususnya di Kelantan dalam pada kita terdesak untuk mempertahankan kerajaan negeri kita, maka ada usaha tidak demokratik dan pincang ini, takkan kita nak berdiam diri.

"Kita pun tak boleh kawal ahli kita daripada bertindak. Tak tahulah apa kemungkinan akan berlaku, tetapi kalau terdesak maka kita tak ada pilihan lain. Bukan sebab kita nak bertindak ganas, tetapi sebab kita nak menjunjung demokrasi," katanya.

Dalam kenyataan yang dibacakan Roslan Shahir pada sidang media itu, Pas mendakwa Barisan Nasional (BN) merancang operasi rahsia untuk menawan Kelantan dengan menggunakan pengundi hantu.

Parti itu juga mendakwa mempunyai bukti dan bersedia mendedahkannya termasuk ke peringkat antarabangsa.

Dipetik dari Berita Harian Online


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If Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes the prime minister, it will be an unmitigated disaster for Malaysia.

(from left)Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim


ELECTION 2008: Chandra breaks silence on Anwar

PETALING JAYA: "If Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes the prime minister, it will be an unmitigated disaster for Malaysia."

That was the unhesitating reply of former Parti Keadilan Nasional deputy president Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar who broke his silence on his years as Anwar's trusted lieutenant when asked a question on the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat's de facto leader at a forum here yesterday.

Asked why he was breaking his silence now, Chandra said it appeared that people were being deceived by Anwar.

"It is something for which I am prepared to go on record now so that people will not be deceived," he said.

Chandra, an academician who founded the reform movement Aliran and has also previously been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was among many professionals and intellectuals who formed Keadilan because they were enraged with Anwar's sacking as deputy prime minister, his beating at the hands of then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Noor and his subsequent charge for sodomy.

He was deputy president to Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail from April 1999 until he quit over differences with the party in December 2005. He contested the 1999 general election as a Keadilan candidate but lost.

Since then, Chandra has refused to publicly state his reasons for leaving the party nor voice his differences with Anwar.

Yesterday, Chandra said that while Anwar was an engaging orator, he was now "speaking differently" from when he was in government.

Chandra said many non-Malays in the country were being gulled by Anwar's multi-ethnic stand.

"Today he is taking a totally different image and it is sad that quite a lot of non-Malays believe in this man. He is saying today that he wants to abolish the NEP (New Economic Policy) and that is music to their ears.

"We are so communal that we cannot evaluate a person objectively," said Chandra, who was one of five speakers at The Star-Asian Centre for Media Studies Public Forum on the 2008 general election held at Menara Star yesterday.

Chandra said when Anwar was education minister he had forced a change in the nomenclature from Bahasa Malaysia to Bahasa Melayu, which set back national integration.

"Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted the use of Bahasa Malaysia to bring all the communities together and he (Anwar) forced Bahasa Melayu upon the school system," he said.

The government reverted to use of the term Bahasa Malaysia last year.

"Anwar (when he was Education Minister) was also responsible for appointing non-Chinese administrators in Chinese schools, which led to a political crisis in 1987," Chandra said.

He said many people did not remember the role Anwar played in resolving the Kampung Jawa clash between the Hindus and Indian Muslims in Penang.

"He said he would make sure the temple bells would not ring in the country anymore if his dictum was not accepted," Chandra said.

Speaking about the future of Malaysia, Chandra said the most important quality of a leader in a multi-ethnic country was honesty and consistency.

"When a leader speaks on sensitive ethnic issues he must say the same thing to the non-Malays as he does to Malay audiences. You cannot play games because it is very dangerous," he said.

Chandra also said that although the Barisan Nasional was flawed, there was no other viable coalition in the country.

He recalled his "bitter experience" trying to form an opposition alliance called the Barisan Alternative comprising Pas, the DAP, Parti Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia, whereby his task was to form a Just Malaysia manifesto for the 1999 election.

"The BA did very well and it was one of the best performances by the opposition but after the election Pas decided to pursue an ultraconservative Islam in Terengganu and this made it difficult for us.

"The DAP emphasised an aggressive type of secularism which does not understand the role of religion in the country. A deep chasm developed and the opposition could not hold a middle ground and I don't think they can for many, many years," Chandra said.

Taken from The New Straight Times Online


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Opposition Dirtbag in Malaysia - PKR DAP & PAS


Edited Video of Pak Lah Being Booed

When i saw this clip on YouTube, the first word that cameout from my mouth was lame, yes lame old dirty tacktics of the opposition, but this time they are a bit smarter with technological ways of manupulating multimedia files. But these are the reason i found on the clips that show the person who edit this files, gotta pea size brain.

1-The boos sound clearly shows it was edited into the clips, sounds like it was done in a closed environment, such as in the studio of a talk show. Nowadays even schoolkids are able to do this kind of editing. I`ve attached here one example which took only a few minutes to do it;


Anwar Being Booed

2-The speech was covered by NTV7 on a scheduled monthly assembly of Prime Minister`s Office at Putrajaya which ment only for their own staff, officers and departmental bosses. No one dares not to behave as potrayed in this clip especially when attending this kinda official gathering, which also include the staff`s immediate bosses and their first boss, the Prime Minister himself.


Edited Video of Tun Mahathir

This is another classic case of manipulation done by the opposition. First of all the clips was cut to the extent viewers will perceive that Tun Mahathir is admitting he has framed DSAI. But if all of you observe carefully, Tun Mahathir was just being cynical and the audiences in the clips does understand it by giving a positive reponse to it. The response from the audiences would be the other way around if Tun Mahathir is really admitting.

Not only that, this clip would be the sole proof for the so called 'innocent' of DSAI because he would be using the same clip in the court of law himself. More or less CNN, BBC and all the Internationl News Agencies will spin out this issue like nobody business since this is one of the major "political setup" in Asia political scenario.

Last but not least some internet food for thoughts, please do not believe straight away anything that potrayed on the net, make use of your sanity wisely. Do lots of references, check and balance before come up to certain conclusion.


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03 March 2008

Devil in disguise

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- N. Periasamy, the independent candidate in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency, claimed today that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had asked him to withdraw from the contest for the seat in the March 8 general election.

Periasamy, who is involved in a three-cornered fight with Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah and incumbent Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil of the Barisan Nasional (BN), said Anwar telephoned him today asking him to pull out.

"Anwar said my presence will disrupt the opposition's aim to deny the BN the two-third majority. In fact, another PKR leader, N. Gobalakrishnan (candidate for Padang Serai parliamentary seat in Kedah), who is a friend of mine, also made a similar request," the former deputy chairman of the MIC Bukit Bintang Division told reporters.Periasamy said he had no intention withdrawing and would continue to campaign.

"Why should I withdraw or listen to him. I am an independent candidate. I am not attached to any party or association. Instead, he should ask Nurul Izzah to withdraw," he said.

Periasamy also said that despite Anwar supporting the claim of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) that the government was marginalising the Indian community in the country, the former deputy prime minister failed to come out with any plan to address the situation.

"During his ceramah (talk), he blamed the MIC. He never said anything to address it but claimed that he wanted to become the sixth prime minister of Malaysia," he added.

In the 2004 general election, Shahrizat, who is also Wanita Umno deputy chief, won the Lembah Pantai seat with a majority of 15,288 votes when she beat Sanusi Osman of PKR.

Comments;

This is just another act of desperation from DSAI, everybody knows he wont make it in this general election but due to the highlevel of nepotisime in PKR, the wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah in P44 Permatang Pauh and the daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar in P121 Lembah Pandai are willingly to make way for DSAI if they win this round. How do they make way for him, soon after this general election ended, we will be seing a by-election for either one of the constituency and during that time DSAI will be in for competition. And this is no more an untold stories


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Mukhriz Mahathir Pemimpin Berwawasan



Mukhriz Mahahthir anak kelima kepada mantan Perdana Menteri , YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad dan isteri YABhg Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Haji Mohamad Ali akan bertanding di kawasan Parlimen, Jerlun, Kedah.

Pemimpin yang peramah, berakhlak tinggi dan sangat disenangi rakyat ini akan turun ke padang dengan membawa satu mesej jelas kepada pengundi-pengundi iaitu ‘keikhlasan dan komitmen dalam berkhidmat’. Hakikatnya, ialah kebanyakkan pengundi-pengundi dan masyarakat umum mengenali Mukhriz sebagai seorang yang jujur dan rendah hati. Sifat Mukhriz yang terbuka ini adalah sebab mengapa beliau begitu popular.

Mukhriz, pemuda yang berkelulusan tinggi dan banyak berpengalaman. Beliau mendapat pindidikan awal di Maktab Rendah Sains MARA, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan dan seterusnya menuntut di Sophia University, Tokyo, Jepun dalam jurusan Pengurusan Perniagaan dan juga mendapat kelulusan Sarjana Muda dalam bidang Pemasaran dari Boston University, Massachusetts, Amerika Syarikat. Mukhriz telah menyalurkan segala ilmu yang dituntut dan pengalaman luar negara ini sebaik setibanya ke tanah air. Beliau tidak pernah lupa untuk menyumbang kembali kepada agama, bangsa dan negara.

Sebagai Pengerusi dan Ketua Eksekutif di OPCOM Holdings Bhd, iaitu syarikat pembekal prasarana jalur lebar, OPCOM telah sedikit sebanyak menyumbang kearah memperluaskan perkhidmatan internet ke kawasan luar bandar di seluruh negara dan secara langsung membantu usaha kerajaan merapatkan jurang digital antara orang bandar dan orang di desa.
Kini, melalui syarikatnya Bioven, beliau berkecimpung dalam memperkenalkan bioteknologi di Malaysia. Tetapi perniagaan ini bukanlah satu bisnes yang bermotifkan keuntungan semata-mata. Bioven kini di peringkat penyelidikan untuk mencari vaksin kanser antara yang pertama di dunia. Inilah sikap Mukhriz yang sentiasa didorong oleh keinginannya untuk menyumbang kepada masyarakat. Walaupun dalam dunia perniagaan yang kompetitif dan penuh dengan risiko, manfaat kepada rakyat Malaysia yang mempunyai kadar kanser yang tinggi adalah pendorong utama kepada Mukhriz.

Lebih lagi, selaku Presiden Persatuan Bekas Pelajar MRSM Malaysia atau ANSARA beliau telah mengetuai Misi Kemanusiaan ANSARA untuk Program Kemanusiaan Antarabangsa ke Ambon, Indonesia dan Baghdad, Iraq. ANSARA juga telah melaksanakan pelbagai program untuk membimbing, memupuk dan memajukan usahawan dan profesional Bumiputera, termasuk menganjurkan Kongres Profesional Muda Melayu pada tahun 2000 dan 2001. Selain itu, ANSARA juga menubuhkan Tabung Harapan Ihsan Pelajar untuk mengutip dana bagi tujuan membantu pelajar-pelajar yang tercicir dari arus perdana pendidikan.

Sebagai Penyelaras AMAN Malaysia pula, YBhg Dato’ Mukhriz telah mengetuai Misi Bantuan Kemanusiaan ke Acheh bagi membantu mangsa-mangsa Tsunami. Beliau juga telah menjadi Pengarah kepada Persidangan Antarabangsa Keamanan untuk Palestin malah turut menyertai rombongan YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir ke Palestin. Beliau juga mengetuai Misi Bantuan Kemanusian ke Kashmir, Pakistan bagi membantu mangsa gempa bumi di sana. Beliau juga adalah Ketua Misi Bantuan Kemanusian Aman Malaysia yang membantu mangsa perang di selatan Lubnan dan Ketua Misi Bantuan Kemanusiaan Taufan Sidr, Bangladesh. Terkini, beliau telah mengetuai Misi Bantuan Kemanusiaan Gaza, Palestin.

Kesemua usaha Mukhriz adalah berlandaskan keikhlasan dan kerja keras. Kebanyakkan orang tidak mengetahui bahawa beliau adalah satu-satunya anak watan Malaysia yang pernah menjejak kaki ke Palestin malah AMAN Malaysia juga telah dilantik berada di dalam Jawatankuasa Khas, Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) untuk Palestin sebagai Ahli Jawatankuasa Tetap.

Mukhriz Mahathir adalah calon yang terbaik bagi Jerlun dan Rakyat Malaysia secara umum. Mukhriz akan meneruskan usaha demi ‘Perjuangan Yang Belum Selesai’.


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