Royalti minyak: Umno jadikan rakyat Terengganu merana

Perlu diingat tidak kurang RM1 bilion Terengganu sepatutnya memperolehi royalti minyak setahun memandangkan kenaikan mendadak harga minyak dunia, lebih USD100 setong sekarang.

Suhaimi Taib, HARAKAH

Nampaknya Kerajaan Pusat di bawah Barisan Nasional (BN) melancarkan perang terhadap kerajaannya sendiri di Terengganu apabila tidak berhasrat untuk mengembalikan semula wang royalti peroleum dan gas sebagaimana perjanjian kerajaan itu dengan Petronas pada 22 Mac 1975 yang sepatutnya diterima secara tunai sebanyak lima peratus setahun.

Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi semalam dilaporkan menafikan dakwaan Menteri Besar Terengganu bahawa wang royalti minyak yang disalurkan melalui kaedah "wang ehsan" tidak banyak membantu rakyat negeri itu kerana projek-projek pembangunan ditentukan di peringkat pusat.

"Ada satu kaedah yang telah kita buat dengan kewujudan wang ehsan ini, dan ini sebenarnya membantu rakyat negeri Terengganu selama ini," kata Abdullah di sidang media selepas menyampaikan ucap utama pada Dialog Integriti Asean 2008 hari semalam.

Beliau diminta mengulas kenyataan Dato' Ahmad Said semalam bahawa sejak wang ehsan diperkenalkan pada 2000, semua projek yang dilaksanakan tidak merujuk kerajaan negeri dan tidak mengambil kira keperluan rakyat.

Perlu diingat tidak kurang RM1 bilion Terengganu sepatutnya memperolehi royalti minyak setahun memandangkan kenaikan mendadak harga minyak dunia, lebih USD100 setong sekarang.

Persoalannya apa yang dimeteraikan antara kerajaan negeri Terengganu dan Petronas itu adalah perjanjian untuk mengeluarkan lima peratus wang royalti minyak kepada negeri itu dan wang itu pula diserahkan kepada kerajaan tersebut diurus tadbir dan dimasukkan dalam Wang Disatukan sekaligus menjadi hak kerajaan dan rakyat negeri secara undang-undang.

Dengan tindakan tersebut Perdana Menteri tidak mengiktiraf lagi perjanjian tersebut walaupun beliau tidak mengatakan perjanjian itu batal. Tetapi dengan tindak tanduknya yang serupa dengan bekas perdana menteri lalu, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad seolah-olah perjanjian itu terbatal dengan sendirinya.

Dengan kerajaan sendiri pun, Abdullah masih tidak terbuka dan mengiktiraf perjanjian pemberian royalti petroleum dan gas untuk negeri Terengganu sedangkan di negeri lain seperi Sabah dan Sarawak, perjanjian itu masih berjalan seperti dahulu tanpa gangguan .

Malah difahamkan kedua-dua negeri berkenaan akan menerima lima peratus lagi royalti petroleum dan gas tidak lama lagi.

Apakah beliau berdendam dengan Ahmad atau dengan pihak lain di Terengganu, tidaklah diketahui.

Apakah Abdullah mahu melihat demonstrasi besar-besaran rakyat berlaku di Terengganu, menuntut royalti petroleum dan gas di kembalikan kepada kerajaan Terengganu? Rasanya tidak sukar ia dibuat jika ada penggeraknya apa lagi jika disokong kerajaan negeri sendiri.

Pokoknya kerajaan di bawah Dato' Ahmad dan rakyat Terengganu tidak boleh menerima keputusan Kerajaan Pusat yang masih enggan menyerahkan semula wang royalti itu.

Apa yang dinyatakan oleh Abdullah hanya satu alasan yang dibuat-buat untuk membolehkan tindakannya tidak mengembalikan wang rakyat itu.

Apa motif sebenarnya tindakan Abdulah di sebalik keenggannya menyerah wang itu? Mungkin umum boleh membaca dan membuat andaian. Pertama projek yang dilaksanakan dengan menggunakan wang tersebut masih belum selesai spenuhnya.

Ini termasuk Taman Tamadun Islam (TTI) di Pulau Wan Man, Kuala Terengganu bernilai kira-kira RM300 juta, Monsoon Cup yang perbelanjaan sebanyak kira-kira RM300 juta lagi. Ia mempunyai kontrak selama lapan tahun mulai 2005.

Selain itu projek Tamadun Ilmu dan Masjid Hadhari masing-masing di Besut bernilai beratus-ratus juta ringgit, semuanya menerima peruntukan dari wang tersebut yang kini bertukar menjadi Dana Khas (sebelum ini di pangil Wang Ehsan).

Kedua, orang yang bekerja keras mendokong projek berkenaan, Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh, sekarang tidak lagi menajdi menteri besar. Idris adalah orang Abdullah manakala Ahmad menteri besar yang diperkenan oleh istana dan rakyat.

Justeru kesinambungannya tidak ada. Lagi pun jika wang itu dikembalikan sebagai royalti, dipercayai Abdullah dan kroninya tidak dapat lagi menggunakan wang itu untuk meneruskan projek yang dirancang dengan bebas tanpa sebarang auditan sebagaimana dilaporkan Ketua Audit Negara baru-baru ini.

Tidak diaudit bererti penyalahgunaan wang berkenaan tidak akan terdedah kepada umum dengan mudah. Justeru, kroni dan keluarga Abdullah yang dipercayai terbabit dengan projek raksaksa di Terengganu itu begitu mudah mendapat habuan tanpa memperdulikan samada ia bertentangan dengan peraturan atau tidak.

Dipercayai inilah untungnya bagi Abdullah dan anak menantunya, Khairy Jamaluddin dan kroni mereka Patrick Lim mengekalkan Terenganu tidak menerima wang royalti petroleum.

Sekarang siapa yang mahu dipersalahkan? Umno Terengganu di bawah Idris Jusoh sebagai Pengerusi Perhubunganya perlu dipersalahkan. Merekalah dikatakan menjadi punca royalti petroleum bertukar menjadi Dana Khas.

Inilah akibatnya apabila keangkuhan dan dendam kesumat bertakhta dalam politik negara. Kepentingan jangka panjang untuk rakyat terengganu diketepikan begitu sahaja kerana dendam itu dan permusuhan Umno terhadap kerajaan PAS Terengganu sedikit masa lalu.

Sekarang siapa yang susah? Rakyat dan Kerajaan Terengganu di bawah Dato' Ahmad yang susah.

Penulis amat tersinggung dengan tindakan politik tidak berperikemanusiaan ini.

BPR kepada Suruhanjaya, sekadar 'gincu' untuk politik Abdullah

(Harakah) - Cadangan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk menjadikan Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) sebagai sebuah suruhanjaya bebas dianggap pelbagai pihak sekadar bersifat 'kosmetik' bagi mencantikkan wajah politik beliau yang semakin buruk berikutan kekalahan teruk BN dalam pilihan raya umum lalu.

Keputusan pilihan raya itu juga membuktikan bahawa segala idea, janji dan dasar yang pernah diuar-uarkan Abdullah pada empat tahun sudah tidak dapat diterima lagi malah dianggap sebagai retorik politik semata-mata khususnya yang membabitkan isu-isu rasuah.

Buktikan dengan pelaksanaan

Mengulas lanjut isu terbabit Bendahari PAS Pusat, Dr Hatta Ramli berkata badan itu tidak perlu diberi 'imej' baru jika pelaksanaannya masih berada ditakuk lama dan tidak mendatang sebarang impak maksima dalam kesungguhan kerajaan untuk memanteras gejala rasuah dalam negara khususnya yang melibatkan pemimpin politik atau tokoh yang berpengaruh.

Beliau menjelaskan contoh badan yang dikatakan bebas seperti Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) yang dilihat bersikap dan bersifat menyelebelahi kerajaan dalam banyak hal dan mendiskriminasikan parti pembangkang terutama membabitkan pilihan raya.

"Kita tidak mahu BPR nanti dilihat bersikap seperti SPR yang diragui kewibawaannya walaupun ianya badan bebas, yang akhirnya mengundang kemarahan rakyat sehingga turun ke jalan raya menyatakan rasa tidak puas hati.

"Buktikan dengan pelaksanaan bukan sekadar berkata-kata ataupun mengubah wajah menjadi cantik tetapi sikap dan peribadi masih buruk," katanya ketika dihubungi Harakahdaily.

Beliau yang juga merupakan Ahli Parlimen Kuala Krai mahu kes-kes yang pernah menimbulkan keraguan rakyat seperti 18 kes rasuah berprofil tinggi yang pernah didedahkan oleh Dato' Seri Rais Yatim diambil tindakan segera sebagai langkah awal untuk membuktikan Abdullah serius mahu menangani masalah terbabit.

"Jika tidak kita akan lihat, cadangan ini sekadar untuk memulihkan imej Abdullah yang buruk di kalangan rakyat dan di mata dunia," katanya.

Tidak mendatangkan impak maksima

Sementara itu bagi Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat, Mahfuz Omar sangsi dengan cadangan Abdullah itu kerana banyak aspek penting yang perlu diubah di dalam BPR seperti bebas daripada pengaruh eksekutif dan tugas pendakwaan masih seperti sediakala menjadikan badan itu tidak bebas sepenuhnya.

Contoh ketara katanya ialah Abdullah masih lagi bertanggungjawab penuh ke atas BPR walaupun ianya dijadikan badan bebas termasuk mengemukakan laporan kepadanya setelah dimajukan kepada Parlimen.

Begitu juga dengan pendakwaan kes rasuah yang masih lagi berada di dalam bidang kuasa Peguam Negara yang dilihat tidak mendatang sebarang impak maksima ke atas usaha untuk memerangi rasuah.

"Ini umpama gincu baru nak 'mencantikkan' wajah politik Pak Lah. Pelaksanaan masih sama cuma diberi nafas baru sahaja.

"Dan cadangan ini merupakan 'nafas baru' bagi perasuah-perasuah negara yang akan lebih dilindungi daripada didakwa atau dikenakan sebarang tindakan," katanya ketika dihubungi pagi tadi.

Selain itu idea untuk menambahkan pegawai sejumlah 5,000 itu akan merugikan dana rakyat kerana tidak berperanan sebaiknya memandangkan kata Mahfuz secara sinis kes-kes yang dikendalikan oleh BPR khususnya membabitkan pemimpin politik dan tokoh terkenal akan ditutp begitu sahaja.

"Apa guna tambah pegawai apabila para pegawai tidak ada kes untuk didakwa dan tugas penyiasatan yang mereka lakukan selama ini menjadi sia-sia kerana tidak ada sebarang tindakan yang bakal diambil,"tambahnya.

Dalam pada itu Mahfuz juga mahu Abdullah sendiri memulihkan kredibiliti dan integiritinya terlebih dahulu kerana pernah dikaitkan dengan isu rasuah sebelum ini.

Antaranya yang membabitkan isu Oil For Food, ECM Libra yang melibatkan menantu beliau Khairy Jamaludin, pembelian rumah di Australia, pemberian Kapal Layar oleh saudagar terkemuka dan tender-tender kerajaan yang melibatkan syarikat anak beliau Kamaludin, kata Mahfuz.

"Bersihkan dulu imej dia sebelum mahu memperbetulkan orang lain barulah rakyat yakin dan akan meberi sokongan," katanya yang juga merupakan Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena.

BUKU BARU dari Hishamuddin Rais

KEGANASAN, PENIPUAN & INTERNET
Hegemoni media daulah pecah

Dapat dibeli di semua kedai buku minggu ini:

1) MPH
2) Kinokuniya
3) Borders
4) Time
5) Coop Book Store
6) Popular BOOK Store
7) RiceCooker Annex Central Market

Buku akan di lancarkan dan dijual di Bau Bau Cafe Annexe Central Market

Pada 1 May 2008

Aturcara majlis:

8.30 pm – Pelancaran Buku

8.45 pm - Jamuan

9.00 pm – Party muzik/bands

Semua dijemput hadir,

Hishamuddin Rais

ACA to be fully independent

Press Statement Issued by the President of MCA, YB Dato Seri Ong Ka Ting

Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting as the President of MCA says that the party welcomes the move by the Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi to make the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) fully independent and answerable to the Parliament.

“We wish to see the performance of the ACA strengthened and a new political will being forged to ensure the independence of the ACA is truly upheld. We want the rakyat to understand that the BN government is serious about tackling corruption in the country, both in the public and private sectors. Accountability must also be all encompassing to include the integrity of the entire system and respect for the moral values of our society.”

“It is through the collective responsibility of the Parliament that decisions can be made, without fear or favour over the cases.”

Federal Constitution enshrines equality for every Malaysian

Press Statement Issued by the MCA Publicity Dept

Reference is made to the counter statements by various individuals implying that the MCA President’s earlier statements made on behalf of the party in response to the remarks by the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan, Tengku Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra were seditious.

MCA wishes to clarify that we recognise the special position of the Malays as stated in Article 153 and in no way wishes to challenge that position as stated under the Federal Constitution. In fact, it is the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard BOTH the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak AND the legitimate interests of all other communities.

We also wish to emphasise and reiterate that all Malaysians - Malays and non-Malays alike – enjoy same and equal fundamental rights and liberties as enshrined under Part II of the Federal Constitution.

For that reason, while recognising the special “position” of the Malays under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, MCA wishes to stress that all Malaysians enjoy equal “rights” under the Federal Constitution.

It follows that no one race should feel superior or inferior in this country. It is on this basis that our President’s earlier statement was issued.

Judicial reckoning

In an amendment bulldozed through by the then Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration’s two-thirds strong majority in parliament in 1988, the judicial power conferred upon by the Constitution was taken from the hall of justice.

Commentary by Thomas Soon, THE EDGE

Two decades and a peaceful revolution of sorts later, the process of bringing back equilibrium to the balance of power among the three arms of government has begun.

The voice of the people in the last general election may indirectly go down in history as the single most influential factor that leads to the restoration of the independence of the judiciary.

While Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Barisan Nasional may have lost four states and failed to win back Kelantan, it has not lost its power mandated by the people to govern the country.

Whatever Abdullah’s motives may be, political or otherwise, the Umno president and BN chairman is now using that mandate to deliver monumental change in our political system.

His administration has begun the process of rejuvenation of the judiciary — a cornerstone of the Constitution — via the proposed setting up of a Judicial Appointments Commission.

The commission, it is hoped, will aid the prime minister in appointing judges in a credible and transparent manner, thereby leading to a judiciary that will be seen to be imbued with integrity and respect for the rule of law and natural justice.

While Abdullah has taken the courageous first step towards reconciling the executive arm with the judiciary, it, however, cannot be the be-all and end-all of measures to bring back trust among the people and the international investors.

Section 121(1) of the Constitution of Malaysia binding the courts to executive and legislative actions will have to be returned to its original version for the entire system of government to regain the trust of the people.

There are no two ways about it. The original Section 121(1) declared that the “judicial power of the Federation” shall be vested in the courts.

In an amendment bulldozed through by the then Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration’s two-thirds strong majority in parliament in 1988, the judicial power conferred upon by the Constitution was taken from the hall of justice.

Instead, the judiciary was granted only such judicial powers that parliament allows it — effectively relegating it to being part of the civil service that was subservient to the government of the day.

Effectively, given its control of parliament, the balance of power among the three branches of government — executive, legislature and judiciary — tilted to the executive arm.

Since then, the democratic equilibrium was lost and has not been regained since. From that moment, on matters ranging from sports to healthcare, an Act that gives the final decision to federal ministers could not be questioned in court.

Theoretically, government officials could act with impunity, unchallenged. Remember the days when Malaysia was tagged with such phrases as “dictatorship”?

How could this have been allowed to happen, many may wonder. Where were the judges when all this happened? The then Lord President Tun Salleh Abbas tried to prevent it.

In the power tussle between the executive and the judiciary, six prominent judges, including Salleh, were sacked. The Opposition’s voice was drowned out in parliament. The Bar Council was no match against the executive will.

Many had griped at the Mahathir administration’s firm grip on the mainstream media, which was, and continues to be, owned by ruling parties, but dissenting voices were effectively undermined.

As honourable as the restoration of the pride and integrity of the sacked judges is, it is equally vital that the country’s democratic foundation — the separation of powers — be restored to its rightful place in the Constitution.

Some may argue that the judges themselves were to be blamed for not standing resolute and the fact that the judiciary never as a single unit challenged the constitutional amendments suggested perhaps it lacked depth.

The judiciary was cowed into subservience and new faces, apparently amid minority dissenting voices, were more than happy to play second fiddle to the executive.

Subsequently, the culture of patronage, so dominant in our political parties, crept into the judiciary.

Some may also argue that the judiciary’s integrity and inherent right to question executive and legislative measures was never lost in the first place, but save for minority dissenting voices, it has not been able to shake off the executive shackle.

A new era is dawning upon us. De facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has expressed the need for separation of powers, and Chief Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad has likewise reaffirmed it, calling judges to be strong enough to resist any attempt to interfere with their independence.

Abdullah has spoken of the need to revitalise the judiciary, which “must be fortified to be an institution that serves the democratic principle of separation of powers”.

Blame it on dictatorial rule, patronage, the media or general apathy and lack of awareness of the public, for what was — but the judiciary now has a chance to redeem itself and to find its rightful place in the Constitution.

We may be on the way to maturing into a civil society, but Section 121(1) has to be amended, no question of perception.

The executive, legislature and judiciary will lock horns again in the future, to be sure, and again, it will have to be the people, directly or indirectly, who will have to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done.

Mid-Term Review of the 9th Malaysia Plan Open Forum

24th April 2008, Wawasan Open University, Kuala Lumpur

The 9^th Malaysia Plan was launched in Parliament in March 2006, the five-year developmental plan that charts strategies and implementation programmes for Malaysia for the period of 2006 – 2010. Two and a half years later, Malaysia stands right at the mid-point of this 5 year plan. The Mid-Term Review document will be tabled to the Cabinet at the end of April, and presented to Parliament officially in June.

The Centre for Public Policy Studies, together with Wawasan Open University, will jointly organize the “Mid-Term Review of the 9^th Malaysia Plan Open Forum”, as we believe it is important to examine how far we have come in achieving the goals set out in the 9^th Malaysia Plan. Whilst the 9MP contains 5 strategic thrusts, this forum will focus in particular on three areas that have recently emerged as pressing issues to examine, especially in light of the results of the 12^th General Elections. We will examine strengthening institutional and implementation capacities, especially transparency and accountability issues, economic competitiveness, and addressing socio-economic inequalities: trends in income inequality and distribution.

The forum will be a convening platform for key experts and people involved in the execution of various aspects of the 9^th Malaysia Plan to reflect and review development, successes and failures up to this point. We welcome civil society, the private sector, Government officials, policy makers, academicians, researchers and political party members to join us in what we hope will be a constructive and fast-moving discussion on Malaysia’s developmental progress, and where the country is headed towards.

REGISTER HERE

It's go, go, go with Teresa

Sometimes the residents refuse to deal with my staff and expect to see me personally to solve their problems.

By THO XIN YI, THE STAR

MY ADUN: Kinrara

Full name: Teresa Kok Suh Sim (DAP)
Age: 44
Marital status: Single
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur
Education: Universiti Sains Malaysia (Bachelor of Communications), Universiti Malaya (BA in political science, Master in Philosophy)
Party positions: DAP national publicity secretary, Wanita DAP national secretary
Government position: Selangor Senior State Executive Councillor in charge of Trade, Industries and Investments
Constituency: Kinrara (under the Puchong parliamentary constituency in Selangor). She is also the MP for Seputeh in Kuala Lumpur
Contact details: teresakok@yahoo.com.myThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Service Centres:L-02-01, Pusat Perniagaan Kinrara,PSN Kinrara Sek 3, Taman Kinrara,47100 Puchong.
Tel No: 03-8070 3807 Fax No: 03- 8076 9821
28-3A, 4th Floor, Sri Desa Entrepreneurs Park, Jalan 116/B, Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel No: 03-7983 6768 Fax No: 03- 7983 7576

Teresa Kok is an enthusiastic, energetic and enterprising lady, always on the go and working from dawn till late at night almost every day.

“I wake up at about 7am, and start working at about 8am.

“By the time I call it a day and go home, it's usually past 11.30pm,” she said.

Teresa has a driver to take her from one place to another, so she could catch some rest in the car. But most of the time, she is reading letters or newspapers and making arrangements for appointments on her mobile phone.

“It's very taxing and many people don't understand the situation,” she said, citing the demanding residents as an example.

No stopping this lady: Despite her busy schedule, Kok still has time for a walk.

“Sometimes the residents refuse to deal with my staff and expect to see me personally to solve their problems.

“Some even scold me for not showing up during floods while my assistants, who are my representatives in Puchong had already gone in the downpour to look into the problem,” she said.

Teresa said although her busy schedule was very taxing, she tried to make it a point to do some regular exercise.

“I must go for a walk once a week. I feel that I get tired easily if I don't,” she said.

“Once, a business journalist wanted to talk to me over some Chinese investors issues. I said I could only see him at 11.30pm and when he showed up at my condominium, I had this urge to go for a walk. We ended up talking about the issues while walking for half an hour, and I did some stretches along the way,” she said.

StarMetro: Do you blog?

Teresa: Yes, my blog address is teresakok.com Lim Kit Siang started it first and his blog became very popular, and many of us followed suit.

StarMetro: How much time do you spend on the computer each day?

Teresa: I have less time to blog and update my Facebook now. I also don't have the time to reply the e-mails individualy. I have posted on my Facebook that I won’t be accessible for some time due to my busy schedule. While waiting for my turn to speak in the Parliament, I use the time to blog and reply e-mails.

StarMetro: Are you into movies?

Teresa: Yes and I enjoy award-winning movies, those that are highly recommended or highlighted as controversial in the press, and whatever that catches my attention.

StarMetro: Do you enjoy reading?

Teresa: I don't have time for reading now and what I read mostly now are executive summaries and reports.

StarMetro: Got a nickname?

Teresa: No, but I know my members call me Si Tau Po (Cantonese meaning “woman boss”) sometimes.

StarMetro: Why did you name your Facebook's FluffPet as Taufoo Pok?

Teresa: I was registering an e-mail account but all names were taken up. After a few attempts I was angry so I thought why not try some Chinese food? I tried Taufoo and bingo, it's available (laughs). Then when I was required to type a username, I thought of Taufoo Pok.

StarMetro: What languages do you speak?

Teresa: English, Malay, Cantonese, Mandarin and Hakka.

StarMetro: Name an idol whom you look up to and why.

Teresa: Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar. I admire her for her untiring struggle for the people, democracy and human rights.

StarMetro: What's your favourite food?

Teresa: Pork steamed with salted fish. I hardly have this dish now but it's very nice.

StarMetro: Favourite actor and actress? Why?

Teresa: Anthony Hopkins and Gong Li. Both of them act very well and Gong Li is very pretty.

StarMetro: You have a weakness for...

Teresa: Earrings. It's something you can change every day and it's noticeable.

Dr Mahathir: I’m ready to be probed

(The Star) - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is prepared to be investigated by a full and formal public inquiry if Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were to become the Prime Minister.

However, the former premier said he hoped that those who sit on the board of inquiry would be neutral, impartial and probably foreigners.

“He’s (Anwar’s) welcome to do that if he becomes the Prime Minister of Malaysia, but if he wins members of the ruling party to his side it is the present leader who should be blamed because he can’t even get the loyalty of his own members,” he said during a 30-minute interview on the BBC World News HARDtalk programme with Stephen Sackur.

He was asked to respond to Anwar’s statement that he would call for a full and public inquiry into Dr Mahathir’s misdeeds if Anwar were to become the Prime Minister.

Asked whether he was ready to express regret over what he did to Anwar now that he has retired for several years, Dr Mahathir said: “Why should I regret? He was arrested under the laws of the country. He was tried in the courts of the country. Sentenced by court. If he was not wrong, no matter what you think about our judiciary, I don’t think he would have been sent to prison.”

On Anwar saying that he would push politics that were not racially defined, Dr Mahathir said that it was opportunism for Anwar, who was now out of the government but never did anything when he was in the government.

Asked about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s conciliatory gesture of offering monetary compensation to judges who were suspended during the 1988 judicial crisis, he said: “Fine, but it’s a political strategy by a man who is very unpopular at the moment wanting to show that he’s going to do something right.”

“Nobody can say anything against him. Newspapers report about how great he is. His own supporters misled him into believing that if he holds elections before the end of his term, he would win a clean sweep. If you look at the record of his statements, he said he would win with zero opposition.”

On claims that his criticisms against Abdullah over the last few years had brought his successor down, he said: “I don’t see why I should not criticise wrongdoings by him.”

On why he picked Abdullah to replace him as Prime Minister, he said Abdullah was known as “Mr Clean”.

To a question about some of those with Umno blaming Dr Mahathir for tearing down the party, he said that sometimes it might be necessary to do so.

“I’m a doctor; if one leg is becoming gangrenous I remove it,” he said.

Samy Vellu Wannabe

There are reports that I raised only petty issues at the roundtable retreat held by FT ministry on 17-18/4/2008 at Hotel Istana. As a responsible Pakatan Rakyat MP for Segambut, I of course did more than that... (I am glad of all details, whether they seem to you to be relevant or not- Sherlock Holmes).

For the record, on the 1st day of the retreat I have reiterated all issues that were raised by my Pakatan Rakyat MPs before me. I have also raised issues such as when and how Jalan Segambut can be widened/upgraded to tackle the 24/7 traffic woes there, whether the hillside “Damansara21” project to build only 21 bungalows selling at more than 10 millions each is still safe to proceed, to be given the list of names of all key holders to all Segambut community halls which are owned and managed by DBKL but in control by BN people, whether City mayor is waging a war on Pakatan Rakyat MPs by conducting activities/programs under the names of respective Parliament constituency without even informing let alone inviting the rightfully elected MP there and yes, the double standard issue on hotel parking. I further criticized city mayor & FT minister in wasting tax payers’ money on having the retreat at 5-star Hotel Istana while there are available many unutilized DBKL big halls. I even disclosed the misery of a former BN MP in KL who couldn’t get help/cooperation from DBKL even while his term as a MP. And I was the first one to query city mayor and his gangs why the media were not allowed to cover the whole morning session.

As expected, all my issues raised have not been answered at time of writing this blog and yes, I got to pay RM10 for parking.

Unlike Samy Vellu wannabe Datuk M. Saravanan who disappeared at the retreat right after having 5-star hotel lunch only to show himself at the end of the afternoon session and the pompous Tengku Adnan who stormed off the venue shortly after his grand arrival at 2:30pm, FT Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique sat throughout the 9-hour meeting on the 1st day of the retreat.

I didn’t attend the 2nd day of the retreat because Adnan already said that the retreat was rubbish and also of threat by Saravanan not to hold the retreat anymore. They are part of the retreat organizer yet they don’t encourage the need of such forum, so why should I?

US firms' profits shrink as sales dwindle, costs of raw material soar

Companies are more pessimistic, and more plan to cut hiring and investment: Survey

WASHINGTON - THE combination of slower sales and soaring expenses for raw materials is taking a harsh toll on companies in the United States, an influential survey has shown.

For the first time since 2003, companies reporting falling profit margins outnumbered those with increases in the past three months, according to the National Association for Business Economics (Nabe).

Almost two-thirds said they paid more for raw materials in the first quarter, the most since 2004.

US companies also grew more pessimistic in the first quarter, as the intensifying credit crisis and slump in housing weakened sales, the survey found.

Six per cent of the firms said demand improved last quarter, down from 20 per cent in the previous three months and the fewest since the 2001 recession.

The report, which also shows more companies planned to slow hiring and investment this year, reinforces concern that the US economy is in, or may slide into, a recession.

'Companies have pulled in their horns,' said Mr Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America and point man for the business group.

'They are finding it hard to pass through higher materials costs, and profits are getting squeezed,' he added.

Almost 40 per cent of the businesses reported they were hurt by stricter borrowing rules compared with just over a quarter in the prior survey in January.

Seventy per cent of the firms said their annual forecast for the year had dimmed. The Nabe survey, taken between March 24 and April 8, included responses from 109 members of the business economists group.

While employment still increased, fewer companies planned to add workers in the next six months compared with the January survey, and more businesses planned to reduce staff, the report showed.

The outlook for investment also remains soft.

About 28 per cent of the firms planned to increase capital spending in the next 12 months, down from 40 per cent in the January survey.

A majority of firms said the government's fiscal stimulus program and the Fed's rate cuts would have no effect on their business, the survey showed.

Sixty-nine per cent of the survey respondents said the Fed's moves to reduce borrowing costs and improve access to credit have no influence, the report showed.

'This is a warning sign that we may not get the quick pickup that people are looking for in the second half,' Mr Simonson said.

Thirty per cent of those polled predicted the economy would contract in the first six months this year, up from one out of 10 in January.

BLOOMBERG NEWS

Oil prices hit new record above US$117

LONDON - CRUDE oil prices yesterday surged above US$117, setting a new record high, because of worries over supply disruptions from major producers and comments by Opec reiterating there is no need to raise output.

United States light crude hit a record high of US$117.40 a barrel. London Brent crude also struck its all-time peak of US$114.65.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) sees no need to raise oil production to counter high oil prices, said its president Chakib Khelil on Sunday, when asked by reporters whether the group would raise production.

Mr Khelil, who is also Algeria's Energy and Mines Minister, added that raising output would have no impact on prices as the market was well-supplied.

His remarks came amid concerns over supplies from Nigeria, Africa's largest oil exporter, and North Sea production because of an impending strike by workers at a refinery in Scotland.

A Nigerian rebel group said last Friday it had sabotaged a major oil pipeline operated by Royal Dutch Shell and vowed to step up attacks on oil installations.

Officials at Shell, which is currently pumping 400,000 barrels per day below capacity in the Opec nation because of sabotage and security concerns, confirmed a small amount of production had been shut in.

REUTERS

Rumblings of social unrest

WORLD FOOD CRISIS

During seven of the past eight years, grain consumption exceeded output. After seven years of drawing down stocks, world grain carryover stocks this year have fallen to 55 days of world consumption, the lowest on record.

By Lester R. Brown, THE STRAITS TIMES

A FAST-UNFOLDING food shortage is engulfing the entire world, driving food prices to record highs.

Over the past half-century, grain prices have spiked from time to time because of weather-related events - such as the 1972 Soviet crop failure that saw a doubling of world rice, wheat and corn prices.

Today's situation is entirely different. The current doubling of grain prices is trend- driven, the cumulative effect of some trends that are accelerating demand and others that are slowing supply.

The world has not seen anything quite like this before. In the face of rising food prices and spreading hunger, the social order is starting to break down in some countries. In several provinces in Thailand, for instance, rustlers steal rice by harvesting fields during the night. In response, the villagers have taken to guarding their ripe rice fields at night, armed with loaded shotguns.

In Pakistan, where flour prices have doubled, food insecurity is a national concern. Armed troops have been assigned to guard grain elevators and to accompany trucks that transport supplies.

Food riots are now becoming commonplace. In Egypt, the lines at bakeries that distribute state-subsidised bread are often the scene of fights. Morocco has jailed 34 food rioters. In Yemen, food riots have turned deadly, taking at least a dozen lives. In Cameroon, dozens of people have died in food riots and hundreds have been arrested.

Other countries with food riots include Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines and Senegal.

The doubling of world rice, wheat and corn prices has sharply reduced the availability of food aid, putting the 37 countries that depend on the UN World Food Programme (WFP) at risk. Last month, the WFP issued an urgent appeal for US$500 million (S$678 million) of additional funds.

Around the world, a politics of food scarcity is emerging. Most fundamentally, it involves the restriction of grain exports by countries that want to check the rise in their domestic food prices. Russia, Ukraine and Argentina are among the governments that are restricting wheat exports. Countries restricting rice exports include Cambodia, Egypt and Vietnam. These export curbs simply drive prices higher in the world market.

This chronically tight food supply is driven by the cumulative effect of several trends that are affecting both global demand and supply.

On the demand side, the trends include the continuing addition of 70 million people per year to the world's population, the desire of some four billion people to move up the food chain and consume more grain-intensive livestock products as well as the sharp acceleration in the use of grain to produce ethanol for cars in the United States.

Since 2005, this last source of demand has raised the annual growth in world grain consumption from 20 million tonnes to 50 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, on the supply side, there is little new land to be brought under the plough unless it comes from clearing tropical rainforests in the Amazon and Congo basins and in Indonesia, or from clearing land in the Brazilian cerrado, a savannah-like region south of the Amazon rainforest.

Unfortunately, this has heavy environmental costs: the release of sequestered carbon, the loss of plant and animal species as well as increased rainfall runoff and soil erosion. And in scores of countries, prime cropland is being lost to industrial and residential construction and to the paving of land for roads, highways and parking lots.

New sources of irrigation water are even more scarce than new land to plough. During the last half of the 20th century, the world's irrigated area nearly tripled, expanding from 94 million ha in 1950 to 276 million ha in 2000. In the years since, there has been little, if any, growth. So irrigated area per person is shrinking by 1 per cent a year.

Meanwhile, the backlog of agricultural technology that can be used to raise cropland productivity is dwindling. Between 1950 and 1990 the world's farmers raised grainland productivity by 2.1 per cent a year. But from 1990 until 2007 this growth rate slowed to 1.2 per cent a year. And the rising price of oil is boosting the costs of both food production and transport while at the same time making it more profitable to convert grain into fuel for cars.

Beyond this, climate change presents new risks. Crop-withering heatwaves, more-destructive storms and the melting of the Asian mountain glaciers that sustain the dry-season flow of that region's major rivers are combining to make harvest expansion more difficult.

In the past, the negative effect of unusual weather events was always temporary; within a year or two things would return to normal. But with the climate in flux, there is no norm to return to.

The collective effect of these trends makes it more and more difficult for farmers to keep pace with the growth in demand.

During seven of the past eight years, grain consumption exceeded output. After seven years of drawing down stocks, world grain carryover stocks this year have fallen to 55 days of world consumption, the lowest on record.

The result is a new era of tightening food supplies, rising food prices and political instability. With grain stocks at an all-time low, the world is only one poor harvest away from total chaos in world grain markets.

Business-as-usual is no longer a viable option. Food security will deteriorate further unless leading countries can collectively mobilise to stabilise population, restrict the use of grain to produce automotive fuel, stabilise climate, stabilise water tables and aquifers, protect cropland and conserve soils.

Stabilising population is not simply a matter of providing reproductive health care and family planning services. It requires a worldwide effort to eradicate poverty.

Eliminating water shortages depends on a global attempt to raise water productivity similar to the effort launched a half-century ago to raise land productivity, an initiative that has nearly tripled the world grain yield per hectare. None of these goals can be achieved quickly, but progress towards all is essential to restoring a semblance of food security.

This troubling situation is unlike any the world has faced before. The challenge is not just to deal with a temporary rise in grain prices, as in the past, but rather to alter those trends whose cumulative effects collectively threaten the food security that is a hallmark of civilisation.

If food security cannot be restored quickly, social unrest and political instability will spread and the number of failing states will likely soar, threatening the very stability of civilisation itself.

The writer is president of the Earth Policy Institute.

World 'may face deepest recession in 30 years'

But govts can lessen the pain by acting swiftly to stabilise markets: Tony Tan

By Bryan Lee, Economics Correspondent, THE STRAITS TIMES

ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG

THE world could be facing its worst recession in three decades, but governments can lessen the effects of the downturn if they act decisively within the next three to four months.

The warning came from Dr Tony Tan, the deputy chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), who urged policymakers to take strong action to stabilise investment markets and sentiment amid the extreme uncertainty surrounding the global economy.

'We could be facing a recession which is longer, deeper and wider than any recession that we have encountered in the last 30 years,' he said yesterday.

'The next few years may well be among the most challenging years for GIC since our establishment in 1981.'

As for the GIC's recent investments in global banks UBS and Citigroup, Dr Tan said these long-term investments will 'give us good returns when markets stabilise and economic conditions return to more normal levels'.

The world economy and its financial markets are in turmoil, triggered by a mortgage crisis in the United States that is still unfolding.

The crisis of confidence has led central banks, especially the US Federal Reserve, to intervene in unprecedented ways to avert a seizure in the world's banking system.

Dr Tan told about 500 staff at the GIC's first annual staff conference: 'The prospects for the US economy and possibly even the world economy are fraught with considerable downside risks.'

He warned that financial markets will be 'extremely nervous and volatile over the next one to two years'.

But the pain can be reduced and shortened if policymakers around the world act swiftly, he said. By doing so, 'investment markets and sentiments can turn around sharply'.

The alternative is that market forces would be left to themselves to stabilise the US housing sector, which would be a 'considerably more painful and long-drawn process'.

Dr Tan said the GIC has been alert to the prospect of the current problems since last year and moved its portfolio to a more conservative posture by selling some shares and holding on to the cash.

Such a move, said Dr Tan, had not been taken for 'quite some time'. And it provided liquidity for the GIC's subsequent investments into UBS and Citigroup.

The GIC has beefed up its management structure over the past nine months. After creating four senior posts in July last year, the GIC set up three group-level committees to oversee operations, investments and risks across its three main units.

The management committee is helmed by managing director Lim Siong Guan and looks into organisational, business and personnel issues.

The investment committee is charged with developing and implementing asset allocation policies and investment strategies. Led by chief investment officer Ng Kok Song, it also does regular reviews of the risk and performance of the GIC's various investments.

Finally, the risk committee provides oversight and guidance for the GIC's risk management policies and practices. It is led by chief risk officer Sung Cheng Chih.

Mr Ng's and Dr Sung's appointments were two of the new posts created last July. The other appointments were for GIC's asset management arm. GIC managing director Lee Ek Tieng was made chairman of the subsidiary and Mr Quah Wee Ghee, president.

'This management structure enables GIC to have groupwide oversight on our operations, investments and risks,' said Dr Tan.

But it also gives sufficient autonomy to the GIC's investment subsidiaries - asset management, real estate and special investments - so that they can respond in a timely fashion to changes in investment circumstances, he added.

Abdullah tackles corruption, reforming anti-graft agency

Move to strengthen ACA follows criticism over its failure to nab the 'big fish'

By Carolyn Hong, THE STRAITS TIMES

PRIME Minister Abdullah Badawi yesterday unveiled measures to tackle corruption in an effort to boost his credentials as a reformer.

Aware that he has been severely criticised for failing to meet expectations of his much-trumpeted anti-graft campaign, the Prime Minister announced that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) would be restructured to become more transparent and effective.

It has been renamed the Malaysian Commission on Anti-Corruption and will now have an independent advisory board comprising prominent Malaysians to act as a watchdog. The board will look into cases of public interest.

A parliamentary committee will also be set up to scrutinise the commission's annual report, and can ask for clarification and explanations. There was no further details on members of the committee.

'Let there be no doubt that we are committed to renewing public trust in our country's national integrity system and institutions,' PM Abdullah said.

The new anti-graft body will also be beefed up with the addition of 5,000 officers to the current number of 2,000 in the next five years. Officers will also be better paid to attract talent. Legislation to protect informers will also be enacted, he said.

But falling short of the expectations of many Malaysians, the body appears to be less than a fully independent agency.

It still reports to the prime minister's office, not Parliament.

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said: 'There are now additional layers of accountability, but whether he will deliver a really independent agency is for time to tell.'

The anti-graft agency has been severely criticised for failing to nab the 'big fish' and bungling major cases.

No prominent personality has been convicted of graft although two, tycoon Tan Sri Eric Chia and former Cabinet minister Kasitah Gaddam, were hauled to court in 2004.

Datuk Seri Abdullah's attempt to renew his anti-graft drive will be tough as corruption is one of the biggest problems in his own Umno party.

Tackling corruption could be damaging to him, with the loss of crucial support at a time when his position in the party is already weak.

Even his pledge to get his Cabinet to make public declarations of their assets has sputtered to a halt.

Yesterday's announcement came in the aftermath of the March 8 polls which resulted in a severely weakened Barisan Nasional and the Prime Minister scrambling to reassert his authority over the governing coalition.

Last week, Datuk Seri Abdullah announced measures to restore public confidence in the judiciary. He has also taken steps to resolve disputes arising from religious conversion.

He has denied that the measures were taken in response to the electoral beating.

'My critics will say anything. If I had done it before, they would say I want votes. If I don't do it, they would say I have forgotten my promises,' he said yesterday.

He insisted the government had already scored successes in the fight against corruption.

The number of arrests had risen by 54 per cent over the last seven years, and the conviction rate was 78 per cent, a rise of 28 per cent in five years, he said.

New name, more staff

Anti-graft body renamed Malaysian Commission on Anti-Corruption.

An independent Corruption Prevention Advisory Board comprising prominent Malaysians will act as a watchdog. The board will look into cases of public interest.

A Parliamentary Committee on the Prevention of Corruption to be set up, to scrutinise the annual report of the anti-graft body.

Another 5,000 anti-corruption officers will be deployed, more than doubling the current strength of 2,000.

Introduction of whistle-blower legislation to protect informers.

TIME WILL TELL

'There are now additional layers of accountability, but whether he will deliver a really independent agency is for time to tell.' - OPPOSITION LEADER LIM KIT SIANG on Datuk Seri Abdullah's efforts

Chow lashes out at reporters

(The Sun) - Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow today lashed out at reporters for not supporting the state government's decision to appoint seven municipal councillors from non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

"In the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) we appointed four representatives from NGOs, short of one and you (reporters) are pushing this issue so much," told reporters when questioned on the issue after the swearing-in of 24 MPPP municipal councillors.

Three NGO representatives, short of two, were appointed to the the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP).

"This type of pressure is not giving us any support in our decision to open up the municipal councillors' post to those other than party members," he said.

"For the past 50 years, the councillors were only for Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates and there were no complaints and now, we have introduced a newer and better system and there are so many complaints," he added.

He then explained that even though he had received a lot of applications from various NGOs, he had to rush through the selection process to get the councillors sworn in as soon as possible.

"Anyway, the term for this batch of councillors is only for eight months. So we should look forward and see what happens," he added.

He said he had kept the file containing applications from NGOs and he will look at it when the time comes for him to select new candidates for appointment as councillors.

Earlier, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had also said that having 10 NGO councillors was just an ideal target.

"We try to match this ideal nomination but we are not perfect. You must also remember that this is the first time that we have NGO councillors. There are seven NGO councillors as compared to zero for the past 50 years.

"So please don't question our sincerity and our commitment towards integrity," he said.

He pointed out that the seven NGO councillors would not have accepted the appointments if they did not have confidence in the state government.

"Just look at their performance first and what they can do," he said.

Of the 24 MPPP councillors sworn-in, 10 are from DAP, seven from PKR and one from PAS. The four NGO representatives are Lim Kah Cheng (Women Centre for Change), Francis Loh (Aliran secretary), Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kader (Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce) and Choong Khuat Seng (Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce).

8 MPs initiate caucus on freedom of expression and info

(The Sun) - Eight Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs are setting up a Caucus on Freedom of Expression and Information for the opening of the 12th Parliament session scheduled to be held from April 28 to May 27.

The eight are Charles Santiago (Klang), Dzeulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor). The other MPs are Tony Pua (Petaling Jaya Utara), Teo Nie Ching (Serdang), Chua Tian Chang (Batu), Bukit Liew Chin Tong (Bukit Bendera), Lim Lip Eng (Segambut) and Ooi Chuan Ann (Jelutong).

Santiago said: "We are in the process of getting more people to support this caucus when Parliament convenes. This will be an inter-party caucus which will involve PAS, DAP and PKR. We will also try to get Barisan Nasional (BN) members to join.

"The issues we intend to discuss in this caucus include the reform of media law, the freedom of information and equal access to the media for all."

Teo said DAP has also been working with NGOs to come up with a draft bill for the Freedom of Information Act.

"We hope the Official Secrets Act 1972 is repealed with the bill. The chances for this to be passed in Parliament is uncertain, but it is time for everyone to do more to protect the freedom of information as well as the press. The press obviously plays an important role and has a lot of influence."

On talk of the five PR states producing their own paper, Tian Chua said: "It is still being discussed and the format is still in the exploratory stage. It will merely provide a different voice."

"Every publication propagates certain ideas. In the atmosphere of a free media , and I am not talking about an entirely neutral media , what we need are different views."

On the non-renewal of Makkal Osai's printing and publications licencence, Santiago said the Home Ministry should openly discuss its concerns regarding the Tamil daily.

In a press conference today, Charles said the action against Makkal Osai is seen by the Indian community as punishment for voting for the opposition in the general election.

"Makkal Osai's permit should be renewed. If the ministry has any concerns, they should make them openly clear for further discussion and deliberation. Arbitrarily cancelling the permit is not acceptable," he said, adding that the daily's reporting has been fair and their efforts should not be undermined.

Guan Eng Perjelaskan Pelantikan Kah Choon Kepada Anggota DAP

(Bernama) -- Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng berkata beliau akan memberi penjelasan kepada anggota DAP mengenai pelantikan Datuk Lee Kah Choon sebagai Pengarah Perbadanan Pembangunan Pulau Pinang dan Pengerusi InvestPenang.

"Kami telahpun mengadakan rundingan. Sudah tentulah kami perlu memberi penjelasan," katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditanya sama ada anggota DAP mempunyai masalah dengan pelantikan Lee memandangkan beliau anggota parti Gerakan.

"Kami mahu mempunyai satu anjakan politik yang baru. Kerajaan mahu bersikap adil kepada semua," katanya selepas upacara angkat sumpah Anggota Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang di sini hari ini.

Lim yang juga Setiausaha Agung DAP, berkata kerajaan negeri gabungan DAP-Parti Keadilan Rakyat mengalu-alukan sesiapa sahaja yang mahu berkhidmat kepada rakyat secara ikhlas dan ia tidak mengambil kira soal kaum, agama atau latar belakang politik sebagai faktor untuk mereka dilantik.

"Kadang-kadang apabila kita melakukan sesuatu yang baru, kita akan dikritik. Saya bersedia menghadapinya. Saya rasa lebih baik untuk memanjangkan sempadan demokrasi di samping meningkatkan tahap kecekapan," katanya.

Lee adalah bekas Timbalan Setiausaha Agung Gerakan. Beliau melepaskan semua jawatannya dalam parti bulan lepas.

Pakatan Rakyat Cadang Tubuh Jawatankuasa Bebas Bersuara Dalam Parlimen

(Bernama) -- Lapan anggota Parlimen dalam gabungan yang digelar sebagai Pakatan Rakyat akan mencadangkan agar sebuah jawatankuasa khas kebebasan media ditubuhkan di peringkat Dewan Rakyat.

Pakatan itu merasakan sudah tiba masanya jawatankuasa berkenaan ditubuhkan terutama berikutan tindakan Kementerian Dalam Negeri tidak memperbaharui permit akhbar berbahasa Tamil Makkal Osai minggu lepas.

"Kami mahu sebuah Kaukus Kebebasan Maklumat dan Bersuara dalam sidang dewan yang akan berlangsung mulai 28 April depan," kata Anggota Parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Phua Liam Wee kepada pemberita di Pusat Khidmat Awam Parti Tindakan Demokratik DAP Cawangan Damansara di sini, hari ini.

Mereka juga mahu berjumpa Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar bagi mendapatkan penjelasan terperinci mengenai mengapa permit akhbar itu tidak diperbaharui.

"Kami cadangkan perjumpaan diadakan dalam tempoh dua minggu pertama sesi pertama Parlimen yang akan bermula minggu depan dan Yang Berhormat Menteri boleh memilih tarikh yang sesuai untuk perjumpaan itu," katanya.

Anggota-anggota Parlimen berkenaan turut mengalu-alukan kenyataan Syed Hamid semalam yang bercadang melonggarkan syarat permit penerbitan akhbar yang kini wajib diperbaharui setiap tahun.

Syed Hamid berkata cadangan itu akan dibentangkan di Parlimen tidak lama lagi.

Terima Kasih, Tapi Tak Payahlah, Kata Rais

(Bernama) -- "Terima kasih, tapi tak payahlah," kata ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim bila ditanya tentang kenyataan bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir dilaporkan berkata beliau tidak yakin terhadap Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak untuk mengambil alih jawatan perdana menteri, dan menyebut nama Rais, selain Naib Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin untuk bertanding jawatan itu.

Menteri Luar itu berkata, beliau mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Mahathir kerana mengeluarkan komen itu, tetapi beliau tidak berminat untuk menduduki jawatan tersebut.

"Di satu pihak saya berterima kasih kepada beliau (Mahathir)...di satu pihak lagi terima kasih sajalah...saya tidak boleh...maksud saya, saya tidak boleh melibatkan diri dalam cadangan seumpama itu...saya selesa dalam keadaan seperti sekarang...," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Ditanya sama ada beliau selesa dengan komen seumpama itu, Rais berkata tidak perlu bagi beliau menyatakan sama ada beliau selesa atau tidak.

"Tun Dr Mahathir pernah menjadi pemimpin kita dan beliau telah banyak berjasa, dan Perdana Menteri kita (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) sedang melakukan sebaiknya bagi membina negara.

"Oleh itu kita harus mengambil jalan tengah iaitu jangan timbulkan masalah," kata Rais yang melihat Najib sebagai calon terbaik untuk jawatan itu.

Rais Isnin lepas mengumumkan beliau tidak akan bertanding untuk sebarang jawatan dalam pemilihan Umno Disember depan, tetapi akan memainkan peranan dalam menyatu dan mengukuhkan parti.

Exit Plan Untuk Kebaikan

Dua catatan terakhir saya mengenai peralihan kuasa mendapat respon yang pelbagai. Apa yang saya cuba tulis ialah satu analisis senario politik semasa mengikut pandangan dan pemerhatian sebagai seorang Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO.

Tujuan saya ialah supaya pimpinan tertinggi UMNO dapat memikirkan secara positif isu pergelutan politik ini dan mengambil langkah-langkah proaktif. Sekurang-kurangnya bagaimana untuk mengelak perkara tersebut dari menjadi kenyataan.

Untuk melaksanakan peralihan kuasa, sama ada sekarang, akan datang atau pun tiada peralihan langsung, itu adalah hak YAB Perdana Menteri. Saya hanya merayu agar satu exit plan dikemukakan segera. Ini juga selari dengan pengakuan YAB Pak Lah sendiri kepada UMNO Johor untuk mengadakan peralihan kuasa.

Selain itu, ahli-ahli UMNO juga mempunyai kuasa dan hak menentukan kedudukan kepimpinan parti. Saya hanya berharap jika ada exit plan dikemukakan awal, maka tiada satu pertandingan yang terlalu sengit sehingga memecah belahkan parti akan berlaku dalam Perhimpunan Agung UMNO akan datang.

Jika ada pihak mengatakan ini merupakan satu desakan daripada saya terpulanglah kepada pemahaman masing-masing. Saya cuma menyampaikan suara akar umbi yang menyatakan pandangan mereka kepada saya. Saya fikir pandangan-pandangan ini amat relevan dan saya bertanggungjawab untuk menyampaikannya kepada kepimpinan parti dan negara.

Selain pandangan ahli UMNO yang lebih 3 juta orang, pandangan orang Melayu seramai 16 juta juga perlu diambil kira bagi memastikan UMNO terus relevan.

Sebab itu dalam catatan pertama saya mengenai peralihan kuasa (ini juga saya sebut dalam forum mykmu.net di Hotel Singgahsana), UMNO, BN dan Kerajaan harus datang dengan satu formula baru bagi memastikan ia terus relevan kepada orang Melayu, Cina dan India serta kaum-kaum lain di Malaysia.

Semua ini, sama ada cakap-cakap mengenai perubahan kepimpinan mahu pun perubahan pendekatan dalam kerajaan dan parti, adalah bertujuan mengukuhkan UMNO sebagai parti yang menjadi tunggak Barisan Nasional dan juga kepimpinan negara.

Temubual Mahathir-BBC: Mengapa saya mesti kesal?

(Bernama) - Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata beliau bukannya seorang anti barat, tapi akan terus bercakap mengenai pelbagai kesilapan yang dilakukan mereka terhadap orang ramai.

"Saya bukannya anti barat, (tapi) saya menentang perkara-perkara buruk yang dilakukan oleh negara-negara barat," katanya.

Beliau berkata orang barat, terutamanya British, menggelarkan orang Melayu dengan nama-nama yang negatif seperti malas serta tidak cekap, dan menjangka mereka (orang Melayu) akan menyukainya.

Beliau berkata oleh itu, orang barat juga perlu bersedia mendengar mengenai apa yang difikirkan oleh orang lain.

"Orang British memanggil kami Melayu malas, Melayu tidak cekap, tidak boleh dipercayai.

Kita tidak dapat berkata apa-apa mengenai anda, jadi bila saya berada dalam kedudukan untuk berkata mengenai apa yang fikirkan tentang anda, dan kemudiannya anda katakan anda tidak sukakannya.

Bila anda katakan kepada kami, anda jangka kami untuk menyukainya, kami tidak menyukainya tapi kami tidak ada cara untuk manjadikan suara kami didengari," katanya.

Dr Mahathir berkata demikian semasa ditemuramah dalam rancangan "Hard Talk" yang disiarkan oleh BBC di London hari Isnin. Beliau mengakui pernah mengatakan bahawa Anglo-Saxon Eropah adalah penyokong peperangan, perhambaan dan 'holocaust'.

"Ia benar... Saya berkata benar. Ini adalah karektor mereka dan saya akan terus berkata demikian," katanya.

Berhubung demokrasi, Dr Mahathir mempertahankan corak sistem yang diamalkan di Malaysia.

"Tidak semestinya sistem itu akan berjalan lancar bagi setiap orang, tapi jika ada pemimpin yang tidak baik, sistem demokrasi sekalipun akan gagal.

"Anda perlu ingat bahawa sebuah demokratiklah yang menjatuhkan bom atom yang membunuh lebih 200,000 orang," katanya.

Beliau berkata sekiranya dilihat kepada sejarah barat, mereka akan temui bahawa orang barat biasanya akan menampilkan pelbagai jenis ideologi.

"Mereka menggunakan ia untuk seketika dan kemudiannya mereka mendapati ia rosak. Mereka buangkannya dan mulakan yang lain. Satu hari, mereka akan melupakan demokrasi kerana di beberapa negara demokrasi biasanya akan berakhir dengan anarki, dan secara praktiknya kerajaan tidak wujud," katanya.

Dr Mahathir berkata demokrasi bukanlah satu sistem yang boleh disesuaikan dengan semua orang.

"Anda perlu ada sedikit persefahaman berhubung batasan demokrasi dalam usaha menjadikan ia boleh dilaksanakan," katanya. Dr Mahathir juga diminta mengulas mengenai keputusan pilihan raya umum baru-baru ini di mana parti memerintah kehilangan lima negeri kaya kepada gabungan pembangkang dikatakan akibat perbezaan kaum yang diperjuangkan oleh beliau semasa pentadbirannya.

"Saya tahu itu cuma andaian pengkritik asing tetapi hakikatanya dalam keputusan itu, ia diakibatkan oleh rasa tidak puas para penyokong parti memerintah dengan keputusan-keputusan sekarang," kata beliau.

Beliau juga mempertahankan Dasar Ekonomi Baru yang dikatakan penyebab kekalahan, dengan menyatakan ia adalah langkah perlu bagi membetulkan ketidakseimbangan yang wujud semasa penjajahan British.

Mengenai soal berhubung Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Mahathir berkata jika Anwar menjadi Perdana Menteri, beliau dialu-alukan untuk menjalankan siasatan penuh dan menyeluruh mengenai apa yang dipanggil salahlaku beliau (Dr Mahathir).

"Beliau dialu-alukan berbuat demikian, tetapi saya harap beliau mendapatkan orang yang neutral, yang tidak berat sebelah, mungkin orang luar kerana saya tidak mempercayai orang yang mereka letakkan menjaga orang yang mereka tidak suka," kata beliau.

Dr Mahathir juga ditanya sama ada beliau kesal dengan apa yang beliau lakukan terhadap Anwar.

"Mengapa saya mesti kesal, beliau ditangkap di bawah undang-undang negara, beliau dibicarakan dan dihukum oleh mahkamah, jika beliau tidak bersalah, saya tidak fikir tidak kira apa anda fikir mengenai kehakiman kami, saya tidak fikir beliau dihukum penjara," kata beliau.

Mengenai sistem kehakiman di Malaysia, Dr Mahathir dengan tegas menafikan beliau melantik hakim-hakim di Mahkamah Agung dan menyatakan beliau sentiasa percaya terhadap sistem itu.

"Saya tidak melantik hakim-hakim, hakim-hakim dilantik oleh Ketua Hakim Negara, dan tugas saya ialah untuk memeriksa sama ada mereka mempunyai sebarang rekod, dan selepas itu ia dipersembahkan kepada Agong yang kemudian melantik hakim-hakim," jelas beliau.

Mengenai langkah Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menawarkan bayaran ex-gratia kepada hakim-hakim yang dipecat semasa pentadbirannya beliau (Mahathir) menyifatkannya sebagai "tindakan politik".

"Ia tindakan politik, sesuatu bagi seseorang yang menjadi begitu tidak popular sekarang mahu menunjukkan beliau perlu melakukan sesuatu yang betul," kata Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir juga menuduh Abdullah menggunakan sistem dengan cara seteruk mungkin.

"Tidak ada orang boleh menyatakan sesuatu yang menentang beliau, beliau mempunyai surat khabar yang melaporkan sewajarnya mengenai diri beliau dan tentang betapa hebatnya beliau, dan beliau dikelirukan oleh penyokongnya sendiri untuk mempercayai yang beliau akan menang besar dalam pilihan raya baru-baru ini," kata beliau.

Ditanya mengapa beliau memilih Abdullah sebagai penggantinya, Dr Mahathir berkata, "Orang-orang ini, mereka bijak dalam menyembunyikan sifat sebenar, beliau dikenali sebagai Mr Clean dan saya fikir saya perlu melantik seseorang yang bersih menggantikan saya... walaupun beliau bukan seorang yang mempunyai undi terbanyak (sebagai naib presiden) dalam parti, tetapi saya fikir beliau lebih tua dan saya lantik beliau dengan memikirkan beliau tidak akan melakukan sesuatu yang salah".

Syok Juga Jenguk Blog Dua Bekas MB

SESEKALI syok juga apabila menjenguk ke blog orang politik (pure) seperti dua bekas MB Selangor Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo dan Muhmmad Mohd Taib. Kedua mereka mendahului ahli politik lain khususnya bekas MB dalam menyahut cabaran agar berblog.

Syabas diucapkan kepada mereka kerana berani membuka 'taman maya' (blog) sendiri. Bukan calang-calang orang juga berani berblog. Ada seorang bekas MB turut sama membuka blog tetapi tidak berani untuk mepamirkan gambarnya. Selepas beliau dibelasah teruk, khabarnya blog berkenaan teus ditutup!

Sebenarnya dalam riuh randah dunia blog ini, kesemua MB termasuk MB Kelantan juga patut ada blognya sendiri. Walaupun sudah banyak blog pronya, namun tidak puas hati kalau tidak dibukan blog sendiri. Kalau Nik Aziz ada blog sendiri barulah ada umppphhhh... orang boleh berintraksi langsung dengannya bukan saja berhubung dengan politik tetapi agama juga.

Begitu juga dengan bekas MB Terengganu Abdul Hadi Awang, patut ada blog sendiri yang aktif. Banyak yang hendak dicerita dan dikongsikan idea dengan Abdul Hadi. Kalau beliau buka blog sendiri tentulah berlambak soalan dan persoalan yang diajukan mengapa Terenganu boleh kalah dalam pilihan raya lalu.

Kenyataan beralasan

Sehingga kini belum ada bedah siasat atau kenyataan beralasan daripada pemimpin Pas Terengganu termasuk Abdul Hadi sendiri menjelaskan perkara itu. Nampaknya semua pemimpin Terengganu menikus dan tidak berani menjelaskan kenapa Terengganu gagal dirampas Pas?

Sikap ini sedikit sebanyak memberi tohmohan buruk kepada bekas MB itu kerana orang akan beranggapan kekalahan itu kerana kelemahan kepimpinannya. Walahal khabarnya kelahan Terengganu itu kerana rakyat sudah muak dengan pemimpin yang lebih tua daripada Abdul Hadi yang suka mengkontrol segala machinery di Terengganu.

Blog boleh ditafsirkan sebagai wadah baru untuk berkata-kata langsung dengan tuan blog dan penjenguknya. Blog boleh digunakan untuk memberi pandangan, menghentam orang dan juga meluahkan perasaan yang tersumbat dalam diri.

Orang yang degil patut dikritik menerusi blog! Apa lagi kalau orang politik wajar dikritik dalam blog. Kalau dicerita dengan baik jarang untuk diendahkan. Mungkin sebab sikap orang politik yang suka menghentam orang di pentas maka beliau juga perlu ditegur secara terbuka atas pentas dan ia cara itu lebih berkesan.

Kalau kita menghentam orang menerusi khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS), hanya pemilik telefon saja tahu apa kandungan. Tetapi kalau ditulis dalam blog, berjuta orang dapat mengetahuinya.
Manusia akan merasa puas apabila isi hatinya dapat dibaca dan diketahui oleh orang lain.

Sama ada baik atau buruk blog bergantung kepada manusia itu sendiri dan bagaimana ianya dimanfaatkan. Kalau dia boleh menggunakan ke arah baik, mengawal akal dan jiwanya, maka ia menjadi bahan maklumat yang berfaedah akan dapat pahla berganda pula.

Khir Toyo dan Muhamadm Taib menerima hakikat dan keistimewa blog ini. Merek buka blog untuk berintraksi dengan umum bagi mendapat maklum balas. Muhmad yang kini menjadi pengerusi badan perhubungan Umno Selangor kali kedua tentu mengharapkan sesuatu yang baik dari blognya. Akan digunakan blog itu untuk mengawal dan menjaga prestasinya agar tidak tumbang sekali lagi.

Maklum balas

Khir pula yang melepaskan jawatan itu kepada Muhammad Taib membuka blog untuk mendapat maklum balas berhubung dengan masa depan dirinya dan masa yang ditinggalkan. Sayang sedikit Khir membuka blog selepas tidak menjadi MB. Sepatutnya beliau membuat blog semasa menjadi MB, dapatlah dicari penawar atau pandangan orang lain mengenai pentadbiran dan cara beliau berpolitik. Dikala itu kesilapan dan kelemahannya boleh diperbaiki.

Kita percaya teguran-teguran dalam blog lebih berkualiti dan berterus terang daripada pujian orang yang berada di keliling yang semuanya tukang nggek atau anggup untuk menyedapkan hati. Kerja menyedapkan hati ini selalunya berakhir dengan tragedi menyayatkan hati pula.

Seronok saya kata apabila menjenguk blog kedua mereka ini, (Khir dan Muhammad Taib) kerana nampaknya mereka menjadikan blog untuk bergasak sama sendiri. Khir nampaknya banyak melepaskan perasaan geramnya yang memberi kesan buruk kepada Umno menerusi blog.

Manakala Muhammad Taib pula cuba mempertahankannya. Sebagai gundik baru kepada presiden, Muhammad Taib perlu menunjukkan kerja kuat dan seorang yang setia yang akan bersedia bertunduk sujud sehingga muka rapat ke bumi.

Bagaimnana pun dalam menilai blog kedua mereka, yang ada sedikit polemik itu, Khir nampak ikhlas dan lebih berani berbanding Muhammad Taib dalam usaha memulihkan Umno. Khir tanpa berselindung mejelaskan apa yang buruk dalam Umno menyebabkan parti itu kalah. Kerana keberanian dan keikhlasan itu maka beliau kini dikecam oleh Umno termasuk Muhammad Taib. Khir mengeluarkan pandangan yang tidak popular bagi Umno.

Misalnya, (tanpa mengakui kesilapannya sendiri) Khir melemparkan masalah itu kepada Abdulah Ahmad Badawi. Pandangan dan huraian beliau mengenai kelemahan Abdullah menjelaskan Khir kurang senang dengan Abdullah. Apakah kurang senang itu selepas beliau kalah ataupun selepas beliau terpaksa melepaskan jawatan pengerusi perhubungan? Atau pun kerana terpengaruh dengan pandangan dan krtikan Dr Mahathir Mohamad ke atas Abdullah. Khir diketahui seorang yang telah termakan air ludah Dr Mahathir.

Serangan balas

Kesimpulannya kewujudan blog kedua bekas MB itu untuk masa kini adalah untuk melepas peluru masing-masing. Khir nampak berhati-hati untuk membuat serangan balas. Apa yang dapat dirasakan perbalahan kecil ini ialah kerana satu pihak ingin mempertahankan kedudukannya. Muhammad Taib walaupun kini selesa sebagai pengerusi perhubungan Umno tetapi beliau juga tetap merasakan terganggu.

Selagi Khir Toyo tidak dicampak jauh-jauh selama itulah Muhammad Taib tidak boleh lena tidur. Muhammad Taib sedari dia mengambil jawatan dari Khir Toyo menerusi pelan tersusun dan strategi yang licit. Kerana peralihan itu tidak ikhlas, maka Muhammad dikejar bayangan kesalahannya. Justeru beliau kena kodem dan sekat Khir secukupnya.

Dalam mengadapi realiti hidup Khir tidak perlu menangisi masa lalu. Beliau kena bangkit dan menyusun strategi bagaimana untuk kembali semua ke takhtanya hari ini selaku pengerusi Umno Sealngor. Beliau kena berbuat sesutau. Apa yang beliau perlu insaf bahawa fail hitam beliau di Selangor sedikit berbanding dengan fail hitam Muhammad Taib.

Walaupun keduanya ada kenangan dan nostalgia tersendiri di Australia namun kenangan yang dilalui Muhammad Taib tetap akan diingat dan disebut oleh rakyat Selangor!

Apa yang patut Khir perlu mendedahkan bagaimana peranan Muhammad Taib selama ini di Selangor. Ceritakan sejauh manakah bekas MB itu turut sama membangun dan memperkuatkan Umno Selangor dalam membantunya! Selama ini Khir lena dan asyik dengan kuasa sehingga tidak sempat memantau pergerakan Muhammad Taib.

Sejak lama dulu saya sudah mengira suatu hari Muhammad akan membuat membuat comeback. Beliau akan menguasai semua Umno Selangor. Kerana orang politik yang tulen cita-citanya tidak pernah padam. Dalam diam inilah Khir kena main kepada Muhammad seperti seekor belalang yang kini dibotolkan oleh Muhammad.

Namun masa masih ada.Perlu kalau Khir ketika duduk bersendirian bermain dengan laptop memikir semula bagaimana peralihan kuasa itu berlaku antara beliau dengan Muhammad Taib yang dalam izin dalam paksa itu. Cuba-cubalah menyusun strategi untuk merampasnya balik. Kalau Muhammad Taib boleh bangkit kembali apa kurangnya dengan Khir, mungkin anak Jawa lebih hebat daripada anak Banjar! Dan kebangkitan kedua lebih bererti bagi orang politik.

Cadangan tanpa pindaan tidak akan bermakna

Apa yang sama penting ialah media massa harus bebas dari kongkongan kerajaan kerana tanpa media yang bebas, agenda untuk melawan rasuah tidak akan berjaya hanya membebaskan BPR semata-matanya.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat menganggap cadangan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi supaya Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) menjadi sebuah badan bebas yang bertanggungjawab kepada Parlimen, dan bukan lagi di bawah Jabatan Perdana Menteri ini sepatutnya dilakukan pada empat tahun lalu ketika beliau diberi mandat oleh rakyat untuk menentang rasuah.

Malah pengumuman ini sudah pun terlambat sejak kempen anti rasuah dilancarkan oleh beliau sendiri pada empat tahun lalu dan ia tidak akan bermakna tanpa pindaan sebenar pada Akta Badan Pencegah Rasuah.

Memandangkan pelaksanaan cadangan ini membabitkan penggubalan Akta Badan Pencegah Rasuah, kami akan menunggu Perdana Menteri untuk membentangkan rang undang-undang untuk meminda akta tersebut dalam sesi parlimen terdekat.

Cadangan-cadangan baik yang lain seperti penambahan kakitangan BPR bagi mempertingkatkan keupayaan menentang rasuah dan membentuk akta untuk melindungi pemberi maklumat juga harus dimasukkan ke dalam rang undang-undang, dan bukan sekadar cadangan.

Walau bagaimanapun, kenyataan ini tetap melambangkan kejayaan parti pembangkang dan masyarakat sivil yang sentiasa desak untuk memerdekakan BPR yang seharusnya berfungsi secara bebas, khususnya dalam keadaan banyak kes penyelewengan berlaku di kalangan pentadbir dan pemimpin kerajaan.

Apa yang sama penting ialah media massa harus bebas dari kongkongan kerajaan kerana tanpa media yang bebas, agenda untuk melawan rasuah tidak akan berjaya hanya membebaskan BPR semata-matanya.

Presiden,
Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh,
Parti Keadilan Rakyat

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Sikap Umno macam Israel terhadap rakyat Palestin - Tuan Ibrahim

Basiron Abdul Wahab

TEMERLOH 21 April (Hrkh) - Penghianatan Umno terhadap PAS semakin terserlah di sebalik suara ajakan perpaduan Melayu.

Pesuruhjaya PAS Pahang, Dato' Tuan Ibrahim Tuan berkata, antara pengkhianatan pemimpin Umno ialah tidak mengiktiraf kemenangan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) PAS yang menang dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lalu.

Dalam pilihan raya umum ke-12 lalu PAS dan DAP menang empat kerusi Dun dan dua parlimen iaitu di Kuala Semantan dan Beserah (PAS), Tras dan Triang (DAP) serta Parlimen Kuantan dan Indera Mahkota (KeAdilan).

Katanya, pemimpin Umno menganggap kerusi Dun dan parlimen (yang dimenangi pembangkang) sebagai kosong tidak berwakil rakyat, sekali gus Adun yang menang itu dinafikan haknya sebagai wakil rakyat yang mewakili penduduk di kawasan terbabit.

Adun-adun berkenaan tidak dijemput menghadiri mesyuarat bersama jabatan kerajaan, tidak diberi peruntukan dan sebagainya.

"Ini menggambarkan betapa khianat dan biadapnya Umno terhadap rakyat yang memilih wakil mereka melalui pilihan raya yang sah," ujarnya ketika ditemui di pejabatnya.

Beliau yang pernah menjadi Adun Jengka (1999-2004) dan menghadpi perkara sama (tidak diiktiraf) membidas sikap dan tindakan Umno itu serta menyifatkanya sebagai tindakan tidak demokratik.

"Sepatutnya pemimpin Umno perlu belajar menghormati kuasa rakyat yang membuat keputusan dalam pilihan raya umum baru-baru ini. Rakyat telah memilih PAS sebagai wakil mereka, kerajaan Umno perlulah menghormatinya, Umno harus sedar kuasa rakyat, jangan sampai rakyat menunjukkan jalan keluar.

"Apa yang ditunjukkan selama ini seperti (membuli kerajaan Kelantan), menafikan hak Adun bukan BN, merampas royalti minyak dan sebagainya itu memang dibenci rakyat, mereka seharusnya tidak mengulangi perbuatan buruk di masa lalu itu," katanya.

Beliau berkata, usaha untuk mengajak PAS dalam apa yang disebut sebagai 'perpaduan Melayu' hanyalah retorik semata-mata selagi Umno terus mengamalkan dasar negatif terhadap Adun, ahli dan penyokong PAS.

Malah, cara Umno menangani isu perpaduan Melayu dilihat tidak jauh berbeza daripada dasar Israel terhadap rakyat Palestine, Israel mengajak Palestine berdamai tetapi pada masa sama terus melakukan pembunuhan terhadap rakyat Palestine setiap hari.

"Umno mengajak PAS berbincang soal perpaduan Melayu tetapi pada masa sama memboikot Adun PAS, tidak memberi peruntukan dan sebagainya, itukah cara Umno untuk berbaik-baik," kata beliau.

Dato' Tuan Ibarhim mengulas rintahan seorang ibu yang terpaksa mendapatkan tanda tangan Adun BN Mentakab, Chua Boon Leong bagi menyokong permohonan untuk mendapatkan bantuan Yayasan Pahang anaknya.

"Susahlah tanda tangan Adun Kuala Semantan tidak laku (tidak diiktiraf Yayasan Pahang), dia orang syaratkan mesti dapatkan tanda tangan Adun BN," keluh ibu tersebut.

Menurut Tuan Ibrahim, perkara itu sepatutnya tidak berlaku kerana kemenangan Adun Kuala Semantan adalah melalui proses pilihan raya yang sah.

"Rakyat sudah memilih Syed Hamid sebagai Adun kenapa pula Yayasan Pahang tidak iktiraf, ini adalah satu contoh keangkuhan pemimpin Umno dan sikap itulah yang dibenci oleh rakyat," ulasnya.

PAS, katanya menyokong setiap permohonan untuk mendapatkan bantuan itu diteliti oleh Adun tetapi kenapa mesti disyaratkan hanya Adun BN sahaja? soalnya. - mns

Batalkan sahaja Monsoon Cup

Suhaimi Taib

(HarakahDaily): Masih tidak terlewat untuk membicarakan isu Piala Monsun (Monsoon Cup) yang akan diteruskan dengan sedikit ubah suai sebagaimana dijelaskan oleh Exco Kerajaan Terengganu, Dato' Abdul Rahin Mohd Said baru-baru ini.

Kerajaan Terengganu di bawah pentadbiran Menteri Besar yang baru, Dato' Ahmad Said akan meneruskan kejohanan Piala Monsun tahun ini, tetapi dengan sedikit pengubahsuaian selaras dengan kehendak penduduk tempatan. Keputusan tersebut sekali gus menafikan dakwaan setengah pihak bahawa pimpinan baru kerajaan negeri akan membatalkan program tersebut kerana ia dikatakan membazir.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Belia dan Sukan negeri, Dato' Abdul Rahin berkata, kejohanan tersebut tetap diteruskan kerana ia merupakan acara antarabangsa.

Bagaimanapun jelasnya, kerajaan negeri memutuskan akan membuat beberapa pengubahsuaian terutama dari segi pengisian acara bagi memastikan kejohanan tersebut membabitkan semua pihak termasuk penduduk tempatan.

"Antara acara yang diteliti untuk dihidupkan sempena kejohanan Piala Monsun adalah lumba perahu tradisi dan lain-lain yang difikirkan sesuai," katanya semasa berucap di majlis perjumpaan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Dato' Ismail Sabri Yaakob bersama badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) melibatkan belia di Kuala Terengganu baru-baru ini.

Mengulas lanjut Abdul Rahin berkata, kerajaan negeri akan mendapatkan pandangan beberapa pihak dalam tempoh terdekat ini bagi mengadakan beberapa pengubahsuaian terhadap kejohanan Piala Monsun.

Katanya, pandangan mereka perlu diambil kira kerana sebagai sebuah kerajaan yang bertanggungjawab, pandangan akar umbi seharusnya didahulukan bagi memastikan setiap program dirancang benar-benar mendatangkan manfaat kepada rakyat.

Sebagai latar belakang sejarahnya, piala tersebut diraikan permulaannya dalam ulang tahun peristiwa rasmi ke-50 bagi Lawatan Perlawanan Sweden (Swedish Match Tour) dan merupakan acara di Malaysia bagi perlawanan pelayaran antara bangsa ternama.

Digelar �The Formula One of Sailing�, siri pelayaran profesional dibentuk pada 2000 bagi menyatukan regata saingan perlumbaan terbaik dunia disatukan di bawah satu naungan.

Lawatan Perlawanan Sweden terdiri daripada sembilan lokati terpilih khas di seluruh dunia. Sebagai siri pelayaran antarabangsa terkemuka di dunia, acara lawatan ini diakui sebagai regata yang mesti dihadiri dalam litar saingan perlumbaan.

Piala Monsun 2005 diadakan di Pulau Duyong, Terengganu, dari 29 November hingga 4 Disember 2005.

Piala Monson 2006 pula menawarkan hadiah wang tertinggi di dunia (RM1 juta) bagi acara perlumbaan dengan penaja Mr Richard Mille dari Richard Mille Watches.

Richard Mille juga akan menjadi penaja rasmi bagi acara ini ketika itu. Sementara Piala Monson 2006 di adakan di pulau yang sama, dari 29 November hingga 3 Disember 2006. Ia berlangsung ketika angin monsun bertiup di musim tengkujuh setiap hujung tahun.

Acara ini antara projek membazir Barisan Nasional (BN) mendapat bantahan banyak pihak khususnya rakyat negeri itu.

Sebanyak RM300 juta setahun dibelanjakan untuk Monsoon Cup dikendalikan oleh Patrick Lim, kroni Perdana Menteri Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Rakyat Terengganu hanya menyaksikan projek itu dilaksanakan termasuk penduduk Pulau Duyong tanpa ada apa-apa manfaat besar untuk mereka.

Sementara itu terbongkar kisah di sebalik projek membazir itu, Dato� Abu Bakar Chik, Timbalan Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu yang juga Pengerusi Institut Kajian Polisi Negeri (IKPNT) menyatakan bahawa pihak PAS Terengganu mempunyai maklumat tentang beberapa tata cara kewangan yang agak pelik berlaku di dalam pengurusan pembangunan Pulau Duyong dan Pulau Wan Man Kuala Terengganu.

"Antaranya adalah penglibatan Perbadanan Memajukan Iktisad Negeri Terengganu (PERMINT) sebagai badan penyaluran Wang Ehsan kepada projek-projek di Pulau Duyong dan Pulau Wan.

"Wang Royalti atau Wang Ehsan tidak masuk ke dalam akaun negeri, tetapi disalurkan terus melalui akaun PERMINT kepada projek-projek tersebut," kata Dato� Abu Bakar Chik baru-baru ini.

Patrick Badawi (meminjam gelaran oleh Tun Mahathir) akan terus memonopoli penganjuran Monsoon Cup untuk selama 8 tahun.

Ini merupakan perjanjian kontrak yang telah dimeterai Patrick Badawi dengan menteri besar lama, Dato' seri Idris Jusoh sebelum ini.

Oleh itu, dipercayai Monsoon Cup tidak boleh dihentikan kerana terikat dengan kontrak yang dirangka sebegitu rupa, yang sudah tentu telah mengambil kira kepentingan diri masing-masing dalam agenda rompakan duit rakyat.

Didakwa Patrick Lim mendapat kira-kira RM300 juta setahun untuk penganjuran Monsoon Cup dan tempohnya tamat sehingga 2012, dikira kontrak bermula tahun 2005.

Bayangkan berapa banyak wang akan diperolehi kroni Umno itu dari projek berkenaan?

Sebelum itu Bekas Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Infrastruktur, Kemudahan Awam dan Komunikasi Terengganu, Dato' Wan Hisham Wan Salleh, dilaporkan mendakwa Monsoon Cup mencetuskan penyebaran maklumat ke seluruh dunia kerana pertandingan perahu layar sembilan siri itu mendapat liputan antarabangsa sekali gus platform mudah mempromosi Terengganu ke persada dunia.

Liputan Monsoon Cup untuk Asia menerusi ESPN Star selain 13 saluran sukan stesen TV untuk siaran di United Kingdom, Eropah, Eropah barat dan timur, Belanda, Portugal, Asia Barat, Asia, negara Scandinavia, New Zealand, negara Latin dan Amerika Selatan, Afrika, Jepun, Amerika Syarikat dan Australia.

Namun, beliau berkata, impak lain dan yang tersirat di sebalik Monsoon Cup ialah penukaran pemikiran masyarakat tempatan yang selama ini menunggu kedatangan musim tengkujuh dengan resah.

Melalui musim hujan itu dengan kepayahan. Kemudian menjalani kehidupan selepas tengkujuh dengan beban.

"Monsoon Cup bukan setakat perlumbaan perahu, tetapi menukar persepsi musim tengkujuh yang masih boleh dimanfaatkan dengan pelbagai aktiviti yang boleh menjana ekonomi khususnya bidang pelancongan.

"Ia juga bukti sektor pelancongan tidak lagi bermusim di Terengganu. Monsoon Cup berjaya menukar persepsi bahawa musim tengkujuh bukan untuk berdiam diri di rumah.

"Kalau di negara sejuk, mereka memakai pakaian tebal ketika musim salji. Jadi di sini, kita menggunakan payung dan baju hujan ketika tengkujuh untuk meneruskan kegiatan seharian," katanya yang juga Pengerusi T-Best Events Sdn Bhd (T-Best), syarikat yang dikatakan menganjurkan Monsoon Cup.

Persoalannya apakah manfaat yang diperolehi oleh rakyat setempat dari penganjuran Monsoon Cup itu?

Apakah hasilnya kepada kerajan negeri diperolehi dari projek itu, hanya sekadar memperkenalkan Terengganu ke mata dunia. Berapakah pelaburan asing berjaya di tarik masuk ke negeri tersebut melalui Monsoon Cup?

Berapa juta pelancong asingkah datang ke Terengganu untuk menyaksikan pertandingan itu dan berapa bilionkah wang dihasilkan dari kedatangan pelancong berkenaan?

Berapakah jumlah penduduk setempat menjadi kaya dan membabitkan diri dalam projek monsoon cup itu?

Yang pasti beratus juta wang rakyat dihabiskan untuk permainan perahu layar di muara sungai yang tidak bercabaran itu.

Yang pastinya kroni Umno membolot kekayaan tidak terhingga dari Monsoon Cup. Rakyat setempat terus miskin dan terhimpit dengan masalah kemiskinan.

Kerajaan tidak ada masalah untuk membatalkan projek membazir itu demi semata-mata untuk menyelamatkan wang rakyat dibelanja kepada perkara yang tidak perlu apa lagi di saat dunia kini menghadapi krisis ekonomi dan makanan meruncing.

Seharusnya ia diberhentikan segara tanpa memikirkan bagaimana mahu mengubahsuainya lagi.

Tumpuan perlu diberikan kepada bagaimana melaksanakan projek untuk kebaikan rakyat termasuk bersedia menghadapi krisis kenaikan harga barang dan kekurangan makanan dunia yang impaknya lambat laun tertimpa juga ke atas kehidupan rakyat negeri tersebut. - mns