White ‘ang pow’ nothing to do with govt, says Najib

 

January 31, 2012

According to the prime minister, the incident can be used as a social experience.

KUALA LUMPUR: The use of white envelopes along with the customary “ang pow” red packets at Perkasa’s Chinese New Year gathering last Sunday has nothing to do with the government, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said leader of the NGO, Ibrahim Ali, is an independent member of parliament. Perkasa is a Malay right-wing group.

“As such, the while packet distributed at the Chinese New Year function should not be construed to be acceptance by the government,” Najib said in a posting on his Chinese-language “Ah Jib Gor” Facebook page.

“I think that as long as we can have a better understanding of Chinese culture and promote sensitivity to cultural taboos, such controversial events can be avoided.

“We all know that ‘ang pow’ means a red envelope, dominated by red rather than other colours,” he said, adding that the incident can be used as a social experience.

Yesterday, Perkasa was asked to apologise for insulting the Chinese community by using white envelopes as “ang pow” packets at its first Chinese New Year “open house”. White envelopes are reserved for funerals in Chinese custom.

Gerakan vice-president Mah Siew Keong had said that giving cash in white envelopes during Chinese New Year, which is meant to be a prosperous and joyful festival, showed that Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali is “greatly insensitive and insincere”.

MCA Youth secretary-general Chai Kim Sen had said that Perkasa’s action was disrespectful to Chinese culture and custom.

He said Ibrahim should act in the people’s interests and understand the multi-cultural society and the taboos and prohibitions of each ethnic group and religion.

Perkasa deputy president Abdul Rahman Bakar had explained that due to the large turnout at the open house at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru, the red “ang pow” packets ran out and white envelopes were used instead.- Bernama

Sarawak PKR: We’re better prepared than before

 

Joseph Tawie

January 30, 2012

The April 2011 state election was a massive learning curve for young Sarawak PKR,

and its three-seat win has helped chart its course for the coming parliamentary polls.

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR is a lot more confident going into the 13th general election than it was during last April’s state election.

The April polls had given it a massive hands-on experience. Since then, the party has been working the ground, identifying issues and collecting hard evidence to counter denials by Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s administration.

Said state PKR chairman Baru Bian: “We are better prepared this time than during the state election.

“We have been working for the past few months not only in the areas that have been allocated to us, but also in other areas controlled by DAP and PAS.

“We’ve been compiling all native customary rights (NCR) land cases, issues on SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy) and dams. These are matters which we will use in the coming election.”

In the last state election, PKR contested in 49 constituencies and managed to win three seats in Ba’ Kelalan, Krian and Batu Lintang. The three assemblymen are Bian, Ali Biju and See Chee How respectively.

While many within the Umno circles have dismissed PKR’s success in Sarawak as “miniscule”, others have said that it “showed that the opposition can win and that PKR had made inroads into Dayak grounds”, which was once considered the sacred turf of the Sarawak BN.

This time round Bian, a prominent land lawyer here, said the party will take a more realistic approach.

“We have identified issues. We have also identified our potential candidates and have submitted 10 names to Kuala Lumpur (PKR national headquarters),” he said.

Sarawak PKR is reportedly planning to contest in 12 constituencies. Sarawak has 31 parliamentary seats.

Not taking things for granted

Last October, a member of the state PKR election bureau, Baharuddin Mokshen, told FMT that the party has been working hard in seven constituencies.

While he declined to confirm the names of the constituencies, it was learnt from reliable sources that he was refering to Stampin, Baram, Layar, Julau, Selangau, Mambong and Saratok.

The report also said the party was eyeing five other seats in Mas Gading, Petrajaya, Batang Lupar, Kanowit and Kapit, but this was subject to negotiations with DAP.

Baharuddin had at the time said that the party had “learnt its lesson” from the last April state election and would not take things for granted.

“We have been going to the ground, especially on seven seats that we are going to contest to ensure everything is in place.

“We have talked to the key people who are to be involved in the election such as the counting and polling agents, the potential candidates and on our manpower and other election requirements.

“We have learnt our lesson from the state election,” said Baharuddin.

Chinese ‘will retaliate’ against Taib’s stunt

 

Joseph Tawie

January 31, 2012

Affronted Chinese members in SUPP likely to hold back their support for Taib Mahmud

in the parliamentary polls.

KUCHING: Taib Mahmud’s divide and rule politics with the Chinese community in Sarawak may well backfire on him in the coming parliamentary elections.

His noticeable, albeit unprecedented, absence from Sarawak United Peoples Party’s (SUPP) Chinese New Year open house last Monday has angered members who believe that as the Chief Minister of the state he should not take sides in SUPP’s internal strive.

Also absent were BN component party presidents William Mawan of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and James Masing from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

Both are Senior Ministers in Taib’s state cabinet along with SUPP’s former deputy secretary general Wong Soon Koh.

Thousands of Chinese from Serian, Siburan, Bau and, in and around Kuching were disappointed at Taib’s absence. They viewed it as an insult to both president and party.

Taib’s excuse for not attending the open house was his ‘age’ but that didn’t stop him for visiting the homes of prominent Chinese leader in Miri and Sibu with Wong and leaders of his group.

Speaking to FMT, Sarawak PKR vice-chairman See Chee How said that it was obvious that Taib was playing a “game” of trying to divide the community.

“It was so obvious right from the first day, he was playing that game. Probably he was trying to show that he was not happy with the federal government.

“But this is not the time to do it. It is not good to use festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year, Gawai Dayak, Hari Raya and Christmas to divide the people.

“These are the occasions that we should unite the people of various races,” said See, who is the Batu Lintang assemblyman.

Taib killing SUPP

He said that Taib’s stunt to further divide SUPP was actually him trying to kill-off SUPP at the end of the day.

“But in the process Taib may also lose support from the Chinese in areas controlled by PBB, SPDP and PRS, as leaders of these parties did not respect the Chinese during the Chinese New Year.

“They (the Chinese voters) will sure retaliate come parliamentary election,” he added.

SUPP is currently deeply divided. On one side is federal minister Peter Chin’s camp. Chin was elected last month, to lead a beleagured SUPP, in a contentious triennial delegates conference (TDC). On the other side is Wong.

Wong was groomed to succeeded former president George Chan who had stepped down following the party’s dismal performance in last April’s state elections. SUPP lost 13 of the 19 seats it contested.

But in the 11th hour Chin announced his interest in the presidency. It is said that Chin had the blessing of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to contest for the top post in SUPP.

A bitter dispute ensued with Wong and his team lodging reports with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) over irregularities by Chin’s supporters in branch level polls.

Wong and team then boycotted the TDC, forfeiting their right to contest in the party’s presidential polls. They are of the view that both the TDC and the elections were illegal.

So when Najib officiated at the TDC, Taib was nowhere to be seen.

No sign of retiring

His absence prompted many political observers to think that Taib was deliberately trying to embarrass Najib and SUPP leaders.

Taib could have several reasons for not attending the SUPP’s TDC.

One of them could be the numerous allegations of corruption and abuse of power against Taib by several quarters which want Najib to take action.

The other reason could be that Najib is said to have been trying to put pressure on Taib to step down as he (Taib) could be the reason why the Chinese would vote against BN in the coming parliamentary election as they did in the state election.

Taib had promised Najib to quit as Chief Minister soon after the state election. But until today, nothing is heard of Taib’s stepping down.

Crooked courts give ‘native’ titles to foreigners

 

Luke Rintod

January 31, 2012

Chief Judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum says that

under the common law, Native Customary Rights (NCR) pre-existed any statutes

and land laws.

KOTA KINABALU: Corruption and abuse of power in the Sabah Native Courts is so bad that even Chinese nationals from Hong Kong and Taiwan have managed to become “natives” in the state, according to Chief Judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum.

“There are citizens from Hong Kong and Taiwan who have been given the status of native (anak negeri). Judges of the Native Courts gave them the ‘Sijil Anak Negeri’. There are cases, it is a fact.

“Sorry to those Native Courts,” he revealed in his keynote address at a symposium on Sabah Native Rights: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward held at Universiti Malaysia Sabah yesterday.

In the audience were several native court judges.

Malanjum said some rich non-natives married native girls and used the native spouse to buy native title lands that should only pass among natives.

“They married the native, but the real owner (of the native title) is a non-native,” he said.

Malanjum called on Sabah leaders, especially native leaders, to reflect on the problems plaguing natives.

‘NCR pre-existed any land laws’

He said more can be done by the state government to protect the rights of the natives.

“One thing the authority can consider is to establish a Land Tribunal to hear land-related cases and not throw to courts every land-related case. The Court relies on evidence as in Evidence Act and it is not easy to provide evidence in court on native customary lands.

“(However) a tribunal does not strictly follow the Evidence Act, perhaps the government should consider establishing a tribunal,” Malanjum said citing as an example the Waitangi Tribunal in New Zealand.

The senior judge made it clear that his talk should not be construed as a view from the bench but from him as an ordinary citizen and leader of Pusaka (Pusat Sumber Adat dan Mediasi Anak Negeri Sabah) which he founded with a group of lawyers and which co-organised the two-day symposium with UMS’ School of Social Science.

Malanjum said Pusaka was founded to document the traditional customary laws or “adat” of the various indigenous societies of Sabah, handed down from their forebears and which had become the basis of their culture.

He also pointed out that under the common law, Native Customary Rights (NCR) pre-existed any statutes and land laws.

“The accepted court pronouncement is that native do not own land but is part and parcel of the land,” he said.

Malanjum also explained that while Section 5 of Sabah Land Ordinance stipulated that “the whole land of Sabah belongs to the government”, the court’s position when it comes to dispute between native land owner and the authority is guided by the principle that “the government is in a fiduciary position to protect the interest of the natives.”

“Whenever the court deliberates on cases that potentially will erode NCR, the court shall weigh the ‘adverse effect’ on the natives…,” he said explaining how the laws of the country, as in other countries like Canada and South Africa, are set to respect and protect native rights.

Korupsi di Malaysia canggih, kata Anwar

 

Muda Mohd. Noor

January 31, 2012

Ketidak kelihatan korupsi itu kerana Malaysia bekas jajahan Inggeris.

JAKARTA: Ketua pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mendakwa korupsi di Malaysia lebih canggih tetapi tidak kelihatan.

Beliau membandingkan dengan Indonesia yang menurutnya berlaku secara terang-terangan.

“(Di Malaysia) tahap korupsi itu tinggi tapi tidak kelihatan, itu hebatnya kita,” kata pemimpin pembangkang itu Malaysia itu dalam pidato kebudayaan dengan tema ‘Kepemimpinan dalam Dinamika Perubahan Ekonomi Politik’ di Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Cikini, Jakarta Pusat, semalam.

Menurut Anwar, ketidak kelihatan korupsi itu kerana Malaysia bekas jajahan Inggeris.

“Inggeris ini tahapnya hebat,” tambah Anwar seperti dilapur detiknews.com.

Di Indonesia, kata beliau korupsi dipengaruhi oleh penjajahnya Belanda.

Belanda dikenal sebagai negara yang keras sehingga korupsi Indonesia tidak lagi terlihat seperti di Malaysia.

‘Atas meja, bawah meja’

“(Di Indonesia) di atas meja di bawah meja jalan,” ujar Anwar yang menyebabkan hadirin tertawa.

Anwar mendakwa, cara korupsi di Indonesia itu tidak dapat diterapkan di Malaysia.

“Sebab, hal itu akan dianggap sesuatu yang curang, tidak beradab, serta dianggap pengkhianatan.

“Tapi kalau disimpan masuk ke akaun di London atau di Switzeland itu ada kecanggihan caranya,” kata beliau.

Anwar bagaimanapun, menegaskan korupsi sangat tidak bermoral.

Menurutnya, mengkritik pemerintah bukan lagi sesuatu yang cukup dalam membanteras korupsi, melainkan ketegasan pemimpinlah yang menentukan.

“Maka kita ambil keputusan, kita menentukan bahawa pemimpin itu harus lebih tegas,” tambah Anwar.

BN ‘buying’ the people

 

Jeswan Kaur

 January 31, 2012

                  

Abusing the 1Malaysia tagline to suit its agenda, BN has decided to engage in money politics way ahead of the looming 13th general election.

COMMENT

The much hyped-up Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) might just work wonders for the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional.

The recipients of this RM500 handout have been sold to BN’s so-called generosity. If reports from the mainstream media are anything to go by, those who have benefited from the handout are singing praises of BN and its leadership under Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

This one-off handout to those earning RM3,000 and below has been cleverly devised to win the rakyat’s hearts and is at best a brainwashing process better known as “Beli Rakyat 1Malaysia” (buying over the people).

Where BR1M is concerned, BN is confident that the RM2.6 billion allocated will do the trick in appeasing the 5.2 million eligible heads of households.

BN politicans who are desperately trying to remain in the good books of Najib are working overtime to instigate the rakyat to continue glorifying the federal government. They keep drumming into the people the myth that only BN can deliver and there is no reason why the rakyat should not vote for it come the 13th general election.

The truth reveals otherwise. The BR1M or 1Malaysia People’s Aid is without a doubt a gimmick deployed by BN to assure it remains a favourite among Malaysians. Abusing the 1Malaysia tagline to suit its agenda, BN has decided to engage in money politics way ahead of the looming 13th general election.

While the BN leaders can continue denying it as hard as they want, the fact remains that 1Malaysia and all things related to it are at best a ploy to hoodwink the people into believing BN cares and deserves to continue lording over this country.

For one, the timing of the BR1M is questionable – with the election around the corner, there is every reason to suspect the shenanigans being played by the BN. And the BR1M forms were given out at no cost and snapped up in no time.

With the hike in prices of goods and cost of living on the rise, the rakyat appreciates any support from the government to reduce their financial burden.

BN, however, is not interested in offloading the monetary woes of those in need of aid; instead, the BR1M is the government’s way of holding the people to ransom, of making them feel indebted to it, which is not what a sincere and compassionate government should resort to.

Yes, any money is better than none but is the stingy RM500 sufficient to work wonders in the lives of the needy rakyat?

Let us not forget that the lay person has to put up with a stifling bureaucracy and never-ending corruption from the public sector. The country’s drop in ranking in the recent international corruption index is proof that corruption is very much alive and kicking in Malaysia.

1Malaysia a propaganda, not philosophy

Prior to wooing the rakyat through BR1M, Najib dangled carrots on several occasions; there is the Klinik 1Malaysia, Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M), Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1M) and Kedai Ikan 1Malaysia, and goods and services offered at subsidised cost.

The latest attraction is the Sara 1Malaysia, an investment scheme managed by Permodalan Nasional Bhd and sister company Amanah Saham Nasional.

It helps those earning RM3,000 and below to invest and allow their money to grow in five years. The objective is to increase disposable income and encourage savings among the lower income group.

The rakyat is thankful for the various aid made available to them by the BN government. The issue here concerns the government’s agenda, which is to “buy” the people’s unconditional loyalty.

The many 1Malaysia schemes being championed by BN are also its way of raising the stakes after opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat introduced initiatives to assist the rakyat.

In Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng took steps to eradicate hardcore poverty and in Selangor, both Pakatan-administered states, efforts like the Mesra Usia Emas, Tawas and Jom Shopping were much welcomed.

Not about to end up as a sore loser, BN wasted no time in trying to emerge as the real champion of the people, struggling so hard to live up to its slogan of “People First, Performance Now”.

The worry here is that unlike Pakatan which funded its schemes through budget surpluses, BN’s massive budget deficits keep increasing and so are the national debts.

Resorting to the Employees Provident Fund and banks as its cash crops is in no way going to help BN win the rakyat’s trust.

Anymore handouts, BN?

It is said that the BR1M payments are being made in time for the general election. This means that BN is hoping the rakyat will remain loyal to it after the RM500 “bribe” it gave them and not bat an eyelid when casting their vote.

Is BN planning anymore handouts to excite the people? Or is it satisified and secure in the knowledge that the rakyat is committed to BN, having enjoyed a variety of cash handouts doled out by it?

Whatever the case, clearly, the various 1Malaysia schemes are all politically motivated and an act of despair.

If the government is sincere in helping the rakyat, it should not blow its own trumpet by using the mainstream media to seek glory.

Maybe BN subscribes to what Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor, had said: “The hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no fatherland, financiers are without patriotism and without decency, their sole object is gain.”

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

Hisham: BN doesn’t feel threatened by third force

January 30, 2012

The Umno vice-president says BN might even co-operate with it if the latter's

agenda is in line with the ruling government's.

 

KLUANG: Barisan Nasional (BN) does not feel threatened by the existence of the third force in the country’s politics and in fact, does not dismiss the possibility of cooperating with it if its agenda and intentions are in line witn the ruling government’s.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, who is also Umno vice-president, said the existence of the third force in the political landscape of a country was a phenomenon throughout the world.

“Maybe in future we can work with them if their motives and agenda are in line with nation-building and for the nation, people and religion,” he said after handing over houses built by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) to 56 flood victims, here, today.

He said the existence of the third, fourth or fifth force could happen in any country if the ruling government failed to fulfil the aspirations of the people.

Hishammuddin said Umno and BN needed to organise programmes that could bring them closer to the people and solve problems faced by them.

He said providing affordable homes to flood victims was one of the best examples of the government fulfilling such aspirations.

Asked on the statement by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang that he might not be contesting in the coming general election, Hishammuddin said it could just be a psychological game.

He said the question of whether Hadi would be contesting or not, was of no concern for Umno and BN.

“In Umno, what is important is fielding winnable candidates for the 13^th general election,” he added.-Bernama

BN kunci kejayaan kaum Cina

 

Oleh SOFIAN BAHAROM
sofian.baharom@utusan.com

KUALA LUMPUR 30 Jan. – Nikmat keamanan dan kestabilan negara di bawah pimpinan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) merupakan kunci utama kejayaan masyarakat Cina meraih kekayaan di negara ini.

Sehubungan itu, Pengerusi Penganut Dewa Teoh Kong Seng, Roger Hia Lim Koaa berkata, mereka harus menghargai segala nikmat kemakmuran yang dikecapi di bawah pimpinan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Berkat kestabilan dan keamanan yang berjaya dilaksanakan oleh kepimpinan BN, maka masyarakat Cina dan pelbagai kaum lain boleh hidup dalam keadaan makmur dan harmoni, sekali gus menjadi lubuk mencari rezeki serta meraih kekayaan tanpa sebarang halangan.

“Begitu juga dengan kecekapan kerajaan BN menarik pelaburan asing oleh menyebabkan segala peluang ekonomi dan peluang pekerjaan terbuka luas kepada rakyatnya untuk dimanfaatkan sebaik-baiknya. Jadi, yang mendapat habuannya ialah kita semua,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia semasa menghadiri Kempen Sayangi dan Mendoakan Kesejahteraan Perdana Menteri, di sini hari ini.

Roger berkata demikian ketika mengulas kenyataan Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang dalam perutusan Tahun Baru Cina baru-baru ini bahawa masyarakat Cina masih boleh meraih kekayaan walaupun kegagalan kepimpinan BN dan menyeru orang ramai agar tidak menghargai nikmat kemakmuran yang dikecapi di bawah kerajaan BN.

Kempen tersebut turut diisi dengan majlis pemberian sumbangan berupa katil, mesin basuh, lampin dan kerusi roda kepada badan-badan kebajikan sekitar Lembah Klang iaitu Rumah Kebajikan Care, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Wanita Ikhlas Selangor, Pertubuhan Belia Kristian (YMCA) Kuala Lumpur dan Rumah Orang Tua Ampang.

Turut hadir Naib Presiden Kelab Belia Graduan 1Malaysia, Gary Chan Pin Wah; Pengerusi Persatuan Penjaja dan Peniaga Kecil Bukit Bintang, James Leow dan Setiausaha BN Parlimen Bukit Bintang, Frankie Gan Joo Zin.

Sementara itu, Gary berkata, pihaknya menolak segala tindakan pihak-pihak tertentu yang cuba menghancurkan keharmonian di negara ini dan menyifatkan perhimpunan haram berunsur politik hanya menimbulkan pelbagai sentimen yang merugikan rakyat.

“Kami menyeru para graduan agar membalas segala jasa baik kerajaan yang memberikan kemudahan pendidikan termasuklah pinjaman melanjutkan pelajaran,” ujarnya.

Pengundi penentu kemenangan - Musa Hitam

 

JOHOR BAHRU 30 Jan. - Hanya pengundi yang akan menentukan sama ada calon daripada sesebuah parti politik itu merupakan calon yang boleh menang atau sebaliknya.

Bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tun Musa Hitam berkata, antara kriteria yang perlu ada bagi seseorang calon boleh menang ialah merangkumi kebolehan memenuhi keperluan rakyat dan parti politik yang diwakili mereka.

Menurutnya, semua parti politik perlu melakukan senarai semakan calon bagi memastikan mereka adalah yang terbaik sebelum meletakkan individu berkenaan sebagai calon pilihan raya.

"Apa pun pandangan parti terhadap calon yang bakal dipilih, satu perkara yang pasti adalah mereka tidak akan dapat mencari calon yang sempurna tetapi memadai sekiranya mereka mampu memenuhi kehendak rakyat dan parti," katanya selepas merasmikan Bangunan Galleria Seri Alam, dekat sini hari ini.

Turut hadir, Ketua Eksekutif Pihak Berkuasa Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (IRDA), Ismail Ibrahim; Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan UMLand, Pee Tong Lim dan Pengurus Besar Seri Alam Properties, Frankie Tan Kiat How.

Musa berkata, rakyat kini kebanyakannya berpelajaran tinggi serta berfikiran kritikal dan mengetahui setiap perkara yang berlaku bukan sahaja di dalam parti politik serta individu di dalamnya, malah keadaan politik semasa, strategi dan ideologi yang dibawa parti berkenaan.

Beliau berkata, pemilihan calon boleh menang juga perlu diperluaskan dan perlu disokong oleh rakyat dan pengundi di kawasan mereka.

"Individu yang dipilih sebagai calon harus memenuhi aspirasi dan mampu berkomunikasi dengan masyarakat di semua peringkat.

"Mereka juga harus memberikan perhatian kepada golongan kelas pertengahan yang terdiri daripada masyarakat berbilang bangsa bagi menjamin kemenangan pada pilihan raya akan datang," katanya.

 

BN perlukan lebih ramai calon profesional

 

KUALA LUMPUR 30 Jan. - Barisan Nasional (BN) perlu mempertimbangkan lebih ramai calon daripada golongan profesional untuk memastikan kemenangan pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU-13) nanti.

Geostrategis Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Dr. Azmi Hassan berkata, untuk tidak mengulangi kesilapan pilihan raya umum yang lalu, BN tidak boleh terlalu bergantung kepada calon yang mempunyai hierarki atau berjawatan tinggi di dalam parti.

Sebaliknya, beliau berkata, BN kini perlu mengimbangi kerusi-kerusi yang ada dengan calon golongan profesional yang bebas daripada kekangan parti.

"Kalau boleh biarlah calon itu seseorang yang berada di luar lingkungan parti, individu yang dipilih berdasarkan kewibawaan, potensi dan latar belakang profesional.

"Ini kerana golongan itu dilihat lebih bebas dalam tindakan mereka dan mampu memperjuangkan setiap isu dan masalah rakyat," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas kenyataan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin bahawa calon BN perlu memenuhi kehendak pengundi setempat dan bukan sekadar parti semata-mata bagi memastikan kemenangan pada PRU-13 nanti.

Azmi juga percaya langkah itu bertepatan dengan gesaan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak untuk meletakkan calon boleh menang pada PRU-13 nanti.

"Kalau kita lihat pendekatan meletakkan calon profesional yang tidak terlalu 'berpolitik' seperti yang dilakukan Pas, memang terbukti berjaya.

"Hakikatnya pengundi sekarang sudah pandai membezakan keupayaan dan potensi yang ada pada calon," katanya.

Sementara itu, Professor Politik dan Kerajaan Jabatan Pengajian, Kenegaraan dan Ketamadunan Fakulti Ekologi Manusia, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof. Dr. Jayum Jawan berkata, pemilihan calon perlu mengambil kira faktor sosial dan geografi setempat.

Untuk menjadi calon pilihan, katanya, individu itu perlu menepati kehendak masyarakat di bandar dan luar bandar yang sama sekali berbeza serta berkeupayaan menunaikan tuntutan rakyat.

'Memang dia dekat dengan Israel'

 

PUTRAJAYA 30 Jan. - Kenyataan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam temu bual dengan Wall Street Journal (WSJ) yang menyokong penuh usaha melindungi keselamatan Israel menunjukkan betapa 'dekatnya' hubungan ketua pembangkang itu dengan negara Yahudi itu.

Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr.Mahathir berkata, adalah tidak mungkin Anwar menunjukkan sebarang penentangan terhadap Israel memandangkan beliau mempunyai hubungan yang baik dan akrab dengan golongan Yahudi di barat.

''Anwar memang pun mirip kepada Israel kerana bila keluar dari penjara, dia pergi ke Munich, Jerman dan semasa di sana, dia ada perbincangan dengan (Paul) Wolfowitz selama tiga jam.

''Memang dia dekat dengan Israel kerana dia suka orang Barat puji dia agar ternampak sebagai orang yang moden, ikut trend tetapi sebaliknya kita ini dia anggap lapuk," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan syarahan bertajuk Pendekatan Malaysia Dalam Soal Kepimpinan Awam anjuran Razak School of Government di sini, hari ini.

Hadir sama Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Razak School Of Government Dr. Hamidin Abdul Hamid.

WSJ pada Khamis lalu mendedahkan sokongan ketua pembangkang tersebut kepada Israel apabila dipetik sebagai berkata: "Saya menyokong segala usaha untuk melindungi keselamatan negara Israel."

Bagaimanapun selepas dikecam pelbagai pihak, Anwar menuduh kenyataannya berhubung isu Israel dan Palestin sengaja diputar-belit oleh media tempatan bagi menggambarkan beliau mengkhianati aspirasi rakyat Palestin.

Dr. Mahathir yang kecewa dengan kenyataan tersebut berkata, ketua pembangkang itu amat pandai berkata-kata khususnya selepas menerima pelbagai kecaman berhubung kenyataannya itu.

''Dia pandai, nampak warak dan saya pun terperangkap kerana saya ingat dia betul-betul warak dan sebab itu saya mengalu-alukan kemasukan dia dalam UMNO kerana saya ingat dia akan bawa nilai-nilai Islam.

''Tetapi saya dapati dia masuk UMNO kerana kalau masuk Pas tidak mungkin jadi Perdana Menteri," katanya.

Sementara itu dalam syarahannya, Dr. Mahathir berkata, sehingga kini tidak ada satu sistem yang membolehkan rakyat memilih pemimpin yang mampu membawa pembangunan fizikal dan rohani secara berterusan.

''Ini kerana ada ketika ia tepat dan ada kalanya tidak. Ini ditambah pula dengan kepandaian seseorang pemimpin yang diketahui tidak cekap, menggunakan pelbagai kaedah untuk mempengaruhi keputusan majoriti rakyatnya," katanya.

Perhimpunan dan Perarakan Maulidur Rasul Ahad ini yang teramai di Miri

Posted on January 31, 2012, Tuesday

PERSIAPAN: (Dari kiri) Aziz, Ripin, Putit, Daud dan Shamshudin bercakap kepada media selepas mesyuarat sambutan Maulidur Rasul di MBM semalam.

MIRI: Perhimpunan dan Perarakan Maulidur Rasul Peringkat Negeri Sarawak pada hari Ahad ini (5 Februari) adalah yang teramai pernah dianjurkan di sini sejak lapan tahun lalu.

Menteri Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri (Hal Ehwal Islam) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman memberitahu, kali terakhir sambutan Maulidur Rasul Peringkat Negeri di sini ialah pada 2004 dan berharap sambutan tahun ini berjalan dengan lancar seperti yang telah dirancang.

“Sebanyak 132 kontinjen terlibat dalam perarakan tahun ini dengan anggaran seramai 7,700 peserta iaitu antara penyertaan terbesar dalam sambutan Maulidur Rasul yang pernah kami anjurkan.” jelasnya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada media selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat ahli-ahli jawatankuasa sambutan Maulidur Rasul Peringkat Negeri Sarawak di pejabat Majlis Bandaraya Miri (MBM) semalam.

Turut menyertai perarakan ialah Pemangku Yang di-Pertua Negeri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar dan isteri, Datin Amar Fatimah Mohd Iskandar.

Turut serta ialah Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud dan isteri Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib.

Perarakan dijadual bermula jam 9 pagi sejauh empat kilometer bermula dari pekarangan Stadium Miri.

“Sekiranya cuaca tidak mengizinkan, kami akan memindahkan lokasi aktiviti di Stadium Tertutup. Tetapi kita berdoa dan berharap agar cuaca baik pada hari itu kelak,” jelasnya.

Daud berkata, lima kontinjen yang mewakili kaum-kaum Bumiputera lain di sini termasuk dari Dewan Perniagaan dan Industri Cina (DPCI) Miri akan menghadiri perhimpunan ini.

Penyertaan kontinjen bukan Islam itu katanya menggambarkan perpaduan dan persefahaman antara pelbagai kaum di sini di bawah semangat 1Malaysia.

Kontinjen dibahagikan kepada kategori-kategori jabatan kerajaan/badan berkanun, swasta/institusi kewangan, masjid/surau, persatuan, institusi pengajian tinggi/pusat kemahiran, sekolah menengah, sekolah kebangsaan, tadika, kumpulan hadrah dan kategori khas – persatuan/kelab bukan Islam.

Sambutan Maulidur Rasul di sini bermula pada hari Sabtu (4 Februari) dengan penganjuran majlis zikir maulud dan ceramah agama di masjid At-Taqwa bermula jam 5.30 petang.

Antara program-program sampingan yang dianjurkan ialah pertandingan zikir marhaban (13 hingga 15 Januari), pertandingan nasyid/deklamasi puisi (27 hingga 29 Januari), Forum Ehwal Islam/ ceramah agama (28 Januari), pertandingan seni khat (28 Januari), pertandingan hadrah (28 Januari), pertandingan futsal (28/29 Januari), Seminar Pemantapan Integriti Perkhidmatan Awam (2 Februari), ekspo jualan dan pameran (3 hingga 5 Februari), Khemah Remaja Wanita (3 hingga 6 Februari), Seminar Undang-undang Keluarga Islam (8 Februari), Explore Masjid (11 Februari) dan Pertandingan Pengkisahan Sirah Rasul (14 dan 15 Mac).

Dalam pada itu, hadir sama semasa mesyuarat semalam ialah ADUN Lambir Ripin Lamat, Residen Miri Antonio Kahti Galis, Yang Dipertua Majlis Islam Sarawak Datu Putit Matzen, Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak Abang Shamshudin Abang Seruji dan Timbalan Residen Miri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf.

Tema sambutan tahun ini ialah Persefahaman Asas Perpaduan Ummah.

S’wak kurang taska berbanding tadika

Posted on January 31, 2012, Tuesday

KUCHING: Penyertaan kanak-kanak di taska seluruh negeri adalah tidak seimbang berbanding tadika.

Menteri Kebajikan, Wanita dan Pembangunan Keluarga Datuk Fatimah Abdullah berkata, hanya 2,069 atau 2.7 peratus kanak-kanak mengikuti taska dan 76,924 di tadika.

“Ini bermakna masih ada kira-kira 97.3 peratus kanak-kanak tidak mengikuti taska.

“Kemungkinan hal ini disebabnya kurang bilangan taska yang ditubuhkan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan Kursus Pendidik Permata Negara Siri 2 2012 di sini, semalam.

Menurutnya, kekurangan bilangan taska banyak berpunca daripada kerenah birokrasi proses pendaftaran yang dikatakan agak rumit dan mengambil masa lama.

Tambahnya, demi menggalakkan penubuhan taska, kerajaan menerusi Majlis Pembangunan Pendidikan Awal Kanak-kanak Sarawak (MPPAKS) mengambil langkah dengan mewujudkan pusat pendaftaran setempat taska di seluruh negeri.

“Pusat ini adalah hasil bengkel bersama semua agensi yang terlibat dalam pendaftaran taska swasta,” ujarnya.

Di Sarawak katanya, pendidikan awal kanak-kanak diberi penekanan serius dalam usaha kerajaan mengukuhkan pendidikan asas bagi membantu pembentukan sumber manusia yang dapat menyumbang kepada inisiatif menjadikan Sarawak negeri maju dan berpendapatan tinggi.

“Pada masa ini terdapat 3,031 tadika yang mendaftarkan seramai 76,924 kanak-kanak selain 102 taska berdaftar dengan bilangan 2,069 kanak-kanak.

“Selain itu, terdapat 14 pusat jagaan menyediakan kemudahan jagaan dan asuhan kepada 583 penghuni,” jelasnya.

Ketika bercakap kepada pemberita selepas itu beliau berkata, kesedaran ibu bapa terhadap kepentingan pendidikan awal kanak-kanak akan terus dipertingkatkan.

“Ini kerana ada ibu bapa beranggapan tak apalah tiada pendidikan awal kanak-kanak, ia tidak penting seperti pendidikan rendah, menengah dan institusi pengajian tinggi,” kata Fatimah.

Bumiputera masih penyokong kuat BN, kata Daud

by Steve Annuar. Posted on January 31, 2012, Tuesday

Ia boleh dilihat daripada kemenangan besar BN di kerusi-kerusi Bumiputera dalam PRN lalu

MIRI: Rakyat bumiputera di negeri ini masih menyokong kuat kepimpinan Barisan Nasional (BN) yang membolehkan parti memenangi kesemua 25 `kerusi Bumiputera’ dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU13) kelak.

Naib Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman memberitahu, sokongan kuat itu boleh dilihat daripada kemenangan besar BN di kerusi-kerusi Bumiputera dalam Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) yang lalu.

“Kerana sokongan yang kuat ini, kita yakin mampu menang semua kerusi Bumiputera.

“Kita telah tunjuk kekuatan ini semasa pilihan raya negeri yang lalu,” jelas Daud.

Beliau berkata demikian mengulas keyakinan Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) untuk memenangi beberapa kerusi Bumiputera dalam PRU.

Daud ditemui media selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat jawatankuasa Maulidur Rasul Peringkat Negeri Sarawak di Majlis Bandaraya Miri (MBM) semalam.

Kerusi Bumiputera yang dimaksudkan ialah kawasan majoriti pengundi terdiri daripada kaum Bumiputera termasuk kaum yang antaranya Melayu, Iban, Kedayan, Melanau, Orang Ulu dan Bidayuh.

Dua puluh lima kerusi yang dimaksudkan turut diwakili oleh 25 wakil rakyat Bumiputera daripada tiga parti komponen BN Sarawak iaitu PBB, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) dan Parti Demokratik Progresif Rakyat Sarawak (SPDP).

Daud berkata, PAS berhak meletakkan calon di mana-mana kerusi Bumiputera yang mereka anggap boleh menang.

“Setakat ini, saya tidak tahu kawasan mana PAS kata mereka boleh menang.

“Semua (parti) kata mereka yakin boleh menang. Hanya pilihan raya yang dapat menentukan (kemenangan),” jelasnya.

Jangan buat spekulasi saya kembali kepada kumpulan Chin, kata Lee

Posted on January 31, 2012, Tuesday

TERIMALAH: Lee mengedarkan buah limau mandarin kepada pemilik kedai di sekitar Morsjaya sempena sambutan Tahun Baharu Cina.

MIRI: Menteri Muda Perhubungan Datuk Lee Kim Shin meminta pihak tertentu agar tidak membuat sebarang spekulasi yang menyatakan bahawa beliau kembali kepada kumpulan Datuk Seri Peter Chin, yang juga Presiden Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP).

“Saya tidak pernah berubah pendirian, jadi hentikan membuat sebarang spekulasi mengenai perkara ini.

“Umum sedia maklum bahawa Jabatan Pendaftar Pertubuhan masih melakukan siasatan terhadap parti,” katanya kepada pemberita semasa ditemui di pejabat SUPP Cawangan Riam di Morsjaya semalam.

Lee mengulas laporan media tempatan kelmarin yang menyatakan beliau mungkin menyertai kumpulan Chin selepas beliau dilihat menghadiri majlis Tahun Baharu Cina di kediaman bekas Presiden SUPP Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan pada 21 Januari lalu.

“Tiada sebab saya tidak boleh menghadiri majlis itu di kediaman beliau (Dr Chan), lagipun beliau adalah bekas presiden dan sudah bersara daripada arena politik.

“Namun saya mahu tegaskan, kehadiran saya di situ tiada kaitan langsung dengan menyertai kumpulan Chin,” katanya.

Kelmarin, Chin yang juga Menteri Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air ketika ditanya mengenai spekulasi tersebut, enggan mengulas sebaliknya meminta media untuk bertanyakan perkara itu kepada Lee sendiri.

Lee yang juga pengerusi SUPP Cawangan Senadin merupakan antara ahli kumpulan Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh yang turut serta memboikot Perhimpunan Agung Tiga Tahun Sekali (TDC) pada 8 hingga 11 Disember tahun lepas.

“Sekarang kita serahkan kepada ROS untuk membuat keputusan. Saya tidak mahu mengulas lanjut kerana saya sendiri tidak menghadiri TDC tempoh hari,” katanya.

Terdahulu, Lee mewakli SUPP cawangan Riam turut mengagihkan buah limau mandarin kepada lebih 20 pemilik kedai di sekitar Morsjaya sempena Tahun Baharu Cina.

Bekas orang kuat PKR tubuh Kelab Penyokong UMNO

Posted on January 31, 2012, Tuesday

MIRI: Salah seorang bekas orang kuat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), kini sedang dalam usaha membantu menubuhkan Kelab Penyokong UMNO di sini, sebagai tanda sokongan kepada kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) yang diterajui oleh parti itu (UMNO).

Timbalan Ketua Pemuda Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) Jaya Ramba yang telah meletak jawatan secara rasmi dalam parti pembangkang itu pada 5 Januari lalu dalam satu kenyataannya memberitahu bahawa beliau kini masih belum menyokong mana-mana parti komponen BN di peringkat negeri.

Namun di peringkat pusat, Jaya memberitahu beliau telah dilantik menjadi wakil untuk menubuhkan Kelab Penyokong UMNO di Miri, berikutan sokongan yang semakin meningkat di kalangan masyarakat terutama pengundi terhadap parti itu di utara negeri ini.

“Walaupun berpihak kepada BN selepas keluar daripada Keadilan, namun buat masa ini saya masih belum bersedia untuk menyertai mana-mana parti komponen BN di peringkat negeri.

“Namun saya mengakui ada menerima tawaran daripada parti komponen BN namun belum mempertimbangkannya.

“Bagaimanapun buat masa ini saya telah dilantik menjadi wakil untuk menubuhkan Kelab Penyokong UMNO di sini. Pada masa ini kelab tersebut hanya ada di Kuching dan Miri yang dijangka ditubuhkan dalam masa terdekat,” katanya.

Bercakap kepada Utusan Borneo di sini semalam, beliau memberitahu, sudah mempunyai senarai 3,000 nama untuk menjadi ahli Kelab Penyokong UMNO Miri dan jumlah itu dijangka meningkat apabila kelab berkenaan dilancarkan dalam sedikit masa lagi.

Mengenai peletakan jawatannya dalam PKR, Jaya memberitahu, beliau telah hilang kepercayaan terhadap parti itu dan kepimpinannya.

Malah katanya, beliau amat kesal kerana parti itu dan pemimpinnya ‘sangat’ meragui kehadiran beliau dalam parti yang dipergunakan semata-mata sebagai agenda politik pihak-pihak tertentu memperolehi sokongan semata-mata bagi memenangi parti.

“Saya tidak mahu berjuang atas kepentingan seorang pemimpin yang bersalah. Saya tidak mahu berjuang dalam parti yang banyak mengucar-kacirkan ketenteraman negara dan saya tidak mahu menjadikan masyarakat berbilang kaum berpecah-belah,” tambah beliau.

Jaya memberitahu, beliau juga berhasrat untuk membongkar niat jahat dan mengungkaikan strategi kotor parti itu pada pilihan raya akan datang.

“Dengan ini juga saya sanggup membawa ratusan penyokong PKR menyertai parti pemerintah di Sarawak,” katanya.

‘Malaysia won’t go bankrupt’

Posted on January 31, 2012, Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, chairman of Asli Centre of Public Policy Studies, says it is misleading to conclude that Malaysia will go bankrupt based on the fact the government’s debt in relation to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio has been rising in the last few years.

“If nothing is done to control the rising debt, then the matter is serious but any responsible government will take measures as the current government is doing so to reduce the debt, the debt-to-GDP ratio as well as the budget deficit,” he told Bernama yesterday.

He was asked to comment on the claims by various quarters, including the Opposition, that Malaysia would be bankrupt by 2019 and that the people should not vote for the current ruling government in the next general election.

The claims were made on assumptions based on a recent revelation by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research that the ratio of government debt to GDP had been increasing each year. — Bernama

I’m still with the team — Lee

by Philip Kiew, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 31, 2012, Tuesday

CHINESE TRADITION: Lee presents mandarin oranges to one of the shop proprietors in Mosjaya Commercial Centre in conjunction with the Chinese
New Year celebration.

 

Datuk Lee Kim Shin

MIRI: Senadin rep quashes rumours he’s no longer in Wong Soon Koh’s camp.

“Stop all the speculations for I have never changed my stand,” Assistant Minister of Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin said yesterday when asked to comment on speculations that he had jumped ship to SUPP president Datuk Seri Peter Chin’s camp.

His response puts to rest all speculations which arose after he was spotted at former SUPP president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan’s Chinese New Year open house recently.

Chin, who is at loggerhead with SUPP Sibu chairman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh’s faction, was also there then.

Asked by reporters last Sunday, Chin declined to comment on the speculations. He said the question was best answered by Lee himself.

Lee, who is also Senadin assemblyman, said he was dismayed by the speculations which were untrue and blown out of proportion.

“It was merely a social visit in the spirit of the Chinese New Year and Chinese tradition of courtesy and respect. It has nothing to do with politics. He (Dr Chan) was my former boss and ex-party president who has retired,” he told The Borneo Post after distributing mandarin oranges to shop proprietors at Mosjaya Commercial Centre during his Chinese New Year walkabout in Miri.

Lee had served as private secretary to Dr Chan, who used to be deputy chief minister. Dr Chan did not seek re-election during the party’s triennial delegates’ conference (TDC) last month following his defeat in Piasau to political novice Alan Ling of the DAP during the 10th state election in April last year.

After serving as Dr Chan’s private secretary, he was appointed a political secretary to the chief minister. He contested in Senadin in 1996 following a delineation exercise and won. He was eventually appointed an Assistant Minister in 2001.

Lee said he remained solidly behind Wong and his faction.

“My stand remained unwavering with Datuk Sri Wong Soh Koh’s group. We await the findings of the Registrar of Societies ( ROS) on complaints about irregularities in some branch elections leading to the TDC.”

Tagged the Wong-Lee group then, they were the first off the block to declare their intention to run for president and secretary-general respectively. In their group are four Bumiputera state assemblymen.

Things started turning ugly when Chin, who is also Miri MP and Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, later joined in the race.

Wong and group all boycotted the TDC, which was held from Dec 9-11 in Kuching and declared opened by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The reason cited was irregularities in the branch elections which had yet to be resolved.

As a result, Chin was elected as the new party president.

The ROS have since sent down officers to investigate the alleged irregularities, but thus far they have not announced their findings.

“As far as we are concerned, all the six of us are still head of the respective SUPP branches. We were never out of the party,” Lee said.

Sikap berdiam diri pemimpin Pas diselar

 

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jan. - Ahli Parlimen Kulim Bandar Baharu, Datuk Zulkifli Noordin menyelar sikap pemimpin tertinggi Pas yang sehingga kini berdiam diri meskipun Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dengan jelas menyatakan sokongan terhadap sebarang usaha bagi menjamin keselamatan negara Israel.

Beliau berkata, sikap Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang; Mursyidul Am, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat serta Naib Presiden, Datuk Mahfuz Omar dalam isu tersebut nyata berbeza berbanding pertengahan 90-an dahulu apabila Pas menentang keras kehadiran pasukan kriket remaja Israel.

"Kenapa sampai sekarang pemimpin Pas berdiam diri? Mana perginya Abdul Hadi dan Nik Abdul Aziz ketika Anwar menyatakan sokongan terhadap sebarang usaha untuk keselamatan negara Israel? Mana Mahfuz yang dahulu sanggup masuk penjara kerana prinsip menentang Israel? Apakah Pas setuju dengan Anwar?

"Bagi saya kalau Pas memilih untuk berdiam diri dalam isu ini, maknanya Pas yang mengangkat Anwar untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri jika pembangkang memerintah juga menyokong segala usaha untuk menjamin keselamatan negara Israel," katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian sebagai mengulas sikap berdiam diri pucuk pimpinan tertinggi Pas terhadap kenyataan kontroversi Anwar sedangkan sebelum ini parti tersebut lantang mengkritik kerajaan berhubung isu Apco Worldwide yang dikaitkan dengan negara Yahudi itu.

Sehingga kini, hanya Ketua Dewan Pemuda Pas Pusat, Nasrudin Hassan yang tampil mengeluar kenyataan secara umum menolak sebarang usaha untuk menyokong Israel apatah lagi untuk memberi perlindungan kepada golongan yang disifatkannya dilaknat oleh Allah.

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Zulkifli berkata, kenyataan terbaru Anwar adalah rentetan bukti amalan politik dua alam ketua pembangkang itu yang tidak pernah tetap pendirian jika berdepan khalayak berbeza dan ia dibuat bertujuan meraih kembali sokongan serta kepercayaan kumpulan pro-Yahudi di Barat.

"Rakyat perlu sedar hakikat ini. Anwar mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan kelompok individu yang pro-Yahudi. Hubungan beliau dengan Paul Wolfowitz (arkitek perang Iraq), William Cohen (bekas Setiausaha Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat) dan Al Gore telah sekian lama menjadi rahsia terbuka," katanya.

Kenapa tidak dakwa The Wall Street Journal silap?

 

PUTRAJAYA 29 Jan. - Kenyataan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam wawancara dengan The Wall Street Journal jelas menunjukkan penerimaan dan sokongan beliau terhadap segala tindakan kejam yang dilakukan oleh Israel terhadap rakyat Palestin selama ini.

Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman dalam satu kenyataan berkata, adalah jelas kenyataan tersebut bertujuan mendapatkan sokongan antarabangsa, khususnya masyarakat dan penyokong-penyokong negara Yahudi itu dalam usaha menghadapi pilihan raya.

Sebelum itu, beliau mengingatkan kembali tindakan Anwar di Dewan Rakyat pada Mac lalu yang menuduh konsep 1Malaysia ditiru daripada konsep rejim zionis di Israel. Tindakan ini telah menyebabkan kecaman daripada pemimpin-pemimpin Yahudi.

"Dengan kenyataan yang dibuat oleh beliau di The Wall Street Journal itu adalah jelas sekarang di mana letaknya prinsip dan pendirian Anwar Ibrahim mengenai isu Palestin dan saya yakin rakyat akan dapat membuat penilaian mereka sendiri.

"Kenyataan beliau yang menyokong penuh semua tindakan Israel bagi menjaga keselamatan negara itu adalah jelas, kecuali kalau beliau ingin mendakwa The Wall Street Journal melakukan kesilapan," katanya.

Sementara itu, Anifah menegaskan, kerajaan tidak pernah menyokong tindakan penindasan rakyat Palestin yang ditakrifkan Israel sebagai perlu bagi menjaga keselamatan negara tersebut.

"Malahan kita telah bersama-sama masyarakat antarabangsa mengecam dan mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya tindakan yang jelas melanggari perundangan antarabangsa.

"Kerajaan Malaysia berpendirian bahawa penyelesaian terbaik kepada konflik Palestin-Israel hanya boleh dicapai melalui perundingan bagi memastikan keamanan, keselamatan dan kestabilan serantau yang berkekalan," katanya.