2 - TUN DAIM ZAINUDDIN (synopsis of a forth-coming book)

Saturday, March 15, 2008
TUN DAIM ZAINUDDIN (synopsis of a forth-coming book)


(Someone emailed this piece to me) Posted by fudzail at 6:12 PM


Books have been written about Tun Daim Zainuddin, but not many people know who the real Daim is. He is famous for being taciturn. Everyone knows that Daim is the silent type; so silent, in fact, that the victims of his scheming and conniving have fallen like ten pins without ever knowing what hit them.
He has, on the quiet, made a career of shooting poison darts, laying booby traps. and knifing friend or foe in the back. His hand is never seen, but his mark is everywhere. Truth to tell, he has been at the root of many national crises, but his name has never been smudged, thanks to the wealth he wields and his bond of friendship with Dr. Mahathir.


Most members of Umno's new generation are aware that Daim is an acquisitive millionaire and a macho man with a taste of young women, but they concede him these weaknesses because they see in him a clean and competent Economic Adviser to the Government.


But the generation of Harun Idris, Musa Hitam and Manan Othman to name just a few of the old hands - they are the ones to ask in order to discover who the real Daim is. It was Datuk Harun who plucked Daim up from the depths of failure in the salt business. Daim's wife, Mahani and Harun's wife, Salmah were good friends and an influential pair in the early 1970s.


It was wife power that moved Harun to give Daim 160 acres of prime Kampung Pandan land. And thus Syarikat Maluri was born.There is no use speculating over how much Daim paid Harun. After all, the two were fast friends. For the gory details, just ask Low Kiok Bow or Thamby Chik. They can relate how Daim cheated a land broker and greased Selangor state executive councillor and Mahathir's brother-in-law, Ahmad Razali for that piece of land.


Of course, Daim still had to pay for the land. In those days, it was not easy to borrow from a bank. Hence, he was forced to corrupt Bank Bumiputra. Lorraine Osman and Rais Saniman know how much he spent. Manan Othman can no doubt confirm the figure, he was so close to Daim that they tried to share a girl friend, with Manan often borrowing the bedroom at Daim's office in Taman Maluri.


Daim's elevation as Senator and, subsequently, Minister of Finance, was part of Mahathir's strategic plan. Mahathir's choice should surprise no one, after all the two were intimate friends from the same kampung in Seberang Perak, Alor Setar. Upon becoming Prime Minister on 16 July, 1981, the first thing on Mahathir's mind was how to sideline his archenemy, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
Daim told everyone he had no interest in politics, but all the while he was confident of getting the Finance Minister's job after a stint with the Senate. A few months after joining the Senate, Daim became Chairman of Fleet, which owned the New Straits Times. In 1984, he finally got his dream job and became the third most important man in the Federal Cabinet, after the Prime Minister and his deputy.


Musa Hitam, the Deputy Prime Minister, was at first oblivious of the closet ties between Mahathir and Daim. Innocently, he expressed to Mahathir his disquiet over Daim's wheeling and dealing, particularly his award of projects and contracts to his own associates and cronies. It must have baffled him when his complaints fell on deaf ears although he was Deputy Prime Minister, he has no say when it came to economic matters, particularly privatisation and the assignment (to supporters) of economic projects.


How disappointed Musa must have been to find that Daim could not care less about his effort to help his supporters secure some projects or contracts. Daim succeeded in making millionaires of such cronies of Wan Azmi, Halim Saad, Tajuddin Ramli, Samsuddin Hassan, Razali Rahman and Tan Sri Basir, but Musa in the end was cast off as a poor ex-DPM. Musa once complained to Mahathir that Daim had stolen a number of supporters' project proposals, but again Mahathir ignored him.


These were the first acts in the eventual breakup of the Mahathir-Musa partnership. As the interests of Mahathir and Razaleigh bloated, Musa got squeezed out.Many Umno members assume that Razaleigh is Musa's number one enemy. In fact, the reason for the 1986 split in Umno must fall on Daim. It was he who drove Musa to the edge until he had no choice but to resign.


Again, Daim's man of few words demeanour to his advantage. Few knew of his behind-the-scenes role in that Umno rupture not many more know it today. On really should not wonder why Musa called a truce Razaleigh and the two decided to collaborate in the 1987 fight, the one that eventually caused Umno to be outlawed.


At that time, Daim was almost invincible, what support coming from such strongmen as Sanusi Junid and Anwar Ibrahim. The comradeship of the three was rock solid, and the Musa-Razaleigh camp could do nothing except to make a joke of it by giving them the nicknames AIDS.


The formation of the new Umno, Daim and Mahathir had first to get rid of the Lord President, Tun Salleh Abas. Again, Daim was the chief plotter in the sacking of the pious and respected Tun Salleh, and his replacement with Tun Hamid Omar, a playboy and chronic gambler, but Mahathir's and Daim's schoolmate. The appointment of Tun Hamid Omar triggered the collapse of the integrity and the independence of the judiciary.


Finance Minister, Daim persuaded Mahathir to give the Economic Planning Unit and Treasury full power in implementing the privatisation policy. Hence, it was no longer necessary to call for tenders for government projects. Instead, the projects were awarded directly to favoured companies. And so began the era of wealth accumulation by and his cohorts. The United Engineering Company, bought for RM2, changed into a multi-million- ringgit corporation.


As Finance Minister, Daim practically ordered banks to lend to companies that he himself owned. And no Daim crony every complained of difficulty in securing bank credit. Indeed, bankers lived in fear of Daim. Having appointed Wan Azmi and Basir to head Malayan Banking and Bank Bumiputra, he would give any project to any of his cronies because funding was not an issue.


If those physical projects were not enough, Daim also took every opportunity to take wealth from the share market as well. Every time the Treasury approved a company for listing on the stock exchange, Daim cronies received their lien's shares. That was how in Southern Bank, Resort World, Sports Toto, Berjaya, Tanjong and scores of other blue chip firms landed with Daim and Company.


Once, when share values were high, Daim boasted among friends that his visible wealth alone totalled RM65 billion. To shut the mouth of Barisan Nasional leaders, Daim gave lucrative projects to Samy Vellu and Ling Liong Sik so that their children could be big-shot in batches.


Daim managed to fool Umno members into believing that Mahathir would not let him go although he had asked to be relieved of his Cabinet post on a number of occasions. With Musa and Razaleigh out of the picture, Daim could grab as much wealth as he wanted without even Mahathir stopping him.


Besides, he was Umno's treasurer and he could make it look as if the companies he controlled were those in which the party had a stake.Daim's avarice damaged not only his own image as finance minister, but also Mahathir's and Malaysia's reputation with the international community. It is said that he used to demand exorbitant fees for himself in negotiating contracts involving foreign suppliers.


The chairmen of Japan's two biggest banks - the Bank of Tokyo and Sanwa Bank - once complained to Mahathir that his Finance Minister demanded commissions that were too high when negotiating yen loans. Margaret Thatcher, too, has complained about Daim's role as a commissioned agent. He had - or still has - accounts in Zurich, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Caymen Island, Channel Island and Virgin Island. Indeed, instead of keeping his billions in Malaysia, he has stashed them overseas.


With his immense wealth and far-reaching influence, Daim eventually became a burden that Mahathir could no longer bear. In every deal he made, there was something in it for himself. It was not beneath him even to conspire with Lee Kuan Yew to snatch KTM land in Singapore. The Malaysian Cabinet had no knowledge of this. But this issue of Malaysia being cheated by Lee Kuan Yew and Daim is far from over.


Mahathir eventually realised that he had to end Daim's lordship over the Finance Ministry. And so he told him to quit. Mahathir worried that if Daim continued as Finance Minister, complaints would come not only from Vincent Tan, Ananda Krishnan, Arumugam and other members of the Malaysian business elite, but also from foreign leaders. Signs of a Daim-related scandal were ominous and it could break anytime in Japan or Britain, therefore, Daim had to go.


Daim's resignation was planned such that it would not appear as if he had been sacked. Indeed, it does not make sense why a powerful Finance Minister, rich and in control of so many public companies, would suddenly quit simply because he had lost interest in the job. The truth is that he was ordered to resign.


Observers will recall that Mahathir's first comment on the so-called reaction was, "He has asked several times for permission to resign, and I have finally allowed it. I hope Daim would not leave the country after resigning". That statement was pregnant with meaning. Mahathir knew Daim was sulking. So did Anwar and Sanusi. Mahathir retained Daim as Umno Treasurer for a good reason, he wanted to ensure the safety of Umno money, a lot of which was under Daim's control.


But Daim who holds so many of Mahathir's secrets, is only a sly one. After resigning, he ran off to live in his San Francisco residence. He told the Malaysian public he wanted to study at Harvard, but in fact he wanted to leave Malaysia.


Mahathir, who was familiar with Daim's antics, pleaded with him to come back, saying he need him to advise on economic matters. Daim returned and announced that Mahathir had named him Economic Adviser to the Government. Rafidah asked Mahathir to confirm this, but all she got was silence.
Daim was never formally appointed as Economic Adviser, a post which Tun Raja Mohar once held. The appointment is the prerogative of the Public Services Department. Daim gave himself the job. To keep Daim happy, Mahathir allowed him to open an office at the Economic Planning Unit, and this strengthened the public perception that he was still in control as far as economic affairs were concerned.


When he was to told to resign as Finance Minister, Daim asked Mahathir to appoint Anwar Ibrahim to the job. Obviously, he thought this would help to ensure that his skeletons would remain closeted. He warned Mahathir of the peril that Rafidah would be to both of them: the secrets they shared would be uncovered. Daim also persuaded Mahathir to appoint Mustapha Mohammad as Anwar's deputy because these two could be depended on to fill up the holes he had left gaping. Anwar is nobody's fool, but he sacrificed his idealism to protect his towkay.


As far as we know, no Finance Minster in this world has retired a billionaire, except Daim. In the book Daim yang Diam: Sebuah Biographi (Daim the Silent: A Biography), Daim explains his retirement: "I am happy in retirement. It was too heavy a responsibility. In truth, I love the business world. Business is in my blood. I love to make money. I know how to do it. I can do it just by sitting in this chair. On a lucky day, I can make millions."


Friend of Soros

According to an internal bank analysis, collaborated by the corporate community, and from Daim crony Amin Shah, Daim's wealth, in ringgit and foreign currencies kept overseas currently amounts to RM20 billion.

With so much money at his disposal, Daim can manipulate the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. He showed his hand in 1991, just to prove how much influence he wielded. After selling off his stocks, he made a statement to the effect that the market would crash. And crash it did. As we can all recall, even Mahathir could not help but make a wry remark when Daim boasted that he invested in KLSE only for pocket money.


But to his good friend, Daim said he could turn in profit on RM90 million a day when the market was up. When the market plummeted in October 1991 Daim bought back his share on the cheap. When the market turned bullish again 1995 and 1996, Daim made billions of ringgit it. This, then, is what the work of an economic adviser amounts to.


So it turns out that Soros is not the only big time market manipulator and currency dealer. Daim met Soros twice in London when the ringgit was being hotly traded. Anyway, when the ringgit fell below RM4 to the US dollar, Mahathir asked Daim for help and, according to a source in Singapore, he lost RM1 billion trying to prop up the Malaysian currency. To lose that much in currency trading, imagine how much money he had at his disposal.


The falls in currency and share values put Mahathir in a feverish panic. He knew his policies and his own belligerent attitude were partly to blame. Seeing Mahathir in such a frenzied state, Daim recommended that he declare a state of emergency to enable him to restore the economy and at the same time, bury the corpses that were beginning to stink.


We hail the Chief Secretary to the Government and the Solicitor-General for opposing the move. If Daim's plan had been followed, Mahathir would turn dictator and the Malaysian economy would be utterly ruined. Having failed to declare an emergency, Mahathir set up the National Economic Action Council, headed by Daim, with the Economic Planning Unit as its Secretariat.


The original plan was to give the NEAC complete autonomy, but the Cabinet ministers opposed this for fear that they would lose any vestige of power they had left. Eventually, the council became merely an advisory body, with the Cabinet having final say on its recommendations.


The establishment of the council was a wedge between Anwar and Daim. Thus, two old friends who had together stood behind Mahathir against Musa were now turned against each other. All of the council's recommendations were rejected by the Cabinet and Bank Negara. Daim openly assailed Bank Negara for dismissing his proposals, such as those relating to interest rates and credit control. We salute the Bank Negara Governor for maintaining a prudent monetary policy in the face of Daim's bullying and insults. Unlike Daim and his cohorts, Bank Negara's officials are not self-serving. Daim's appointment to the NEAC was a major national mistake.


Going by press reports of its deliberations so far, the NEAC's sole preoccupation is with saving mega corporations from bankruptcy. No doubt, these are Daim-related companies. Daim has yet to show any concern over the rise in the price of chillies, or the leaps in fish prices or how the price of rice has boiled over. Neither has he talked about small businesses in their depth throes. Class F contractors going bankrupt or kampung road projects being abandoned.
In his dictionary, there are no entries for the small man's worries, nothing about low-cost houses, water cuts or study funds for the children of poor Malays. In fact, it contains only billion size figures. While the Malaysian economy is close to ruin, Daim remains a billionaire, living a life of glamour, jet setting with his new wife Naimah and the attractive Josephine, an Indian lass who helps him run one of his firms, the International Malaysian Bank.


We have merely given a sketch of who the real Daim is. A thorough account will soon be available in book form. We recommend the book to Umno members, especially those with big ambitions, because they will learn much from its fantastic but true tales of economic and political intrigues.


We denounce the likes of Vincent Tan and Tan Phek Khiing for land-grabbing, but perhaps we should ask the Menteri Besar of Johor and the Menteri Besar of Kedah how much land Daim has taken. Ask Sanusi how much Daim paid to the Kedah government for 12,000 acres in Sungai Petani and how much profit he made from them. For 12,000 acres, Osman Arof had to be sacrificed. The true story of the Daim-Sanusi conspiracy in Kedah will be exposed in the book.


Umno is at a crossroads and has to decide wisely where it is going. One road heads to glory, where stability and democratic practice will abide. The other leads to division, autocracy and ultimately, utter destruction. The call for reform, which used to be made only in whispers at small, secretive gatherings, is becoming louder.


Umno members, showing that they can no longer contain their restiveness and frustration, have begun to openly debate the need for change, even at party conventions. Can there be a clearer indication that they have reached their tether's end, that they can no longer stomach the leadership's undemocratic attitude and the prevalence - whether in the party or the government - of favouritism, cronyism, nepotism, graft and other misdeeds? Malay nationalism is dead and materialism and egoism are running amok.


We cannot depend on the Umno Supreme Council to initiate reform because few of the members have the guts to speak up. In fact, the council has lately been transformed into a monologue theatre. But of course even a monologue can flop without good supporting players - fools, clowns, jesters, attendants and the oh-so- important flatterers.
As far as these bit players are concerned, Umno's ideals and principles are not as important as their jobs. This keep-your-mouth- shut syndrome serves only to embolden the party leadership in its conceit, arrogance and haughtiness. A president has become a dictator. Woe are the Malays and Umno. What is to become of them? That is a question only Umno members can answer.
DAIM OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
Posted by fudzail at 6:12 PM
Labels: daim
3 comments:

Athlene said...

20 billion ringgit personal wealth.....isnt that our money?
6:38 PM
Chern Chuen said...

Can we verify the veracity? Can you show some solid evidence? We like get some confirmation.
7:28 PM
Lee said...

This shocking revelation is important to reach every Malaysian. Everyday we wake up to a bright sunny day only to be dimmed by the reality of what happened to our money. Malaysia badly needs a reform. We need true nationalists to lead the country and not opportunists.
7:43 PM

Yang disangka, yang tak disangka

Yang disangka, yang tak disangka

Posted by labisman
Sunday, 16 March 2008

Subky Abdul Latif

(HARAKAHDAILY): Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 sekali pun tidak menukar Kerajaan Pusat, tetapi ia telah mengajar Barisan Nasional (BN) yang berkuasa sejak tahun 1955.

Sejak sekian lama sebahagian dari rakyat Malaysia mahu menukar kerajaan dari BN kepada mana-mana parti politik yang lain, kerana banyak buruknya bagi satu-satu parti memerintah begitu lama, maka sekurang-kurangnya rakyat mahu menafikan majoriti dua pertiga kerajaan BN supaya ia tidak jadi kerajaan maharajalela.

Maka yang dihajati oleh rakyat bagi mewujudkan satu suasana demokrasi yang sihat, telah diperolehi melalui pilihan raya pada 8 Mac lalu.

Dengan segala kerenah dan putar belit SPR menjelang pilihan raya, rakyat tidak menyangka dapat menyekat BN mencapai majoriti dua pertiga, apa lagilah merampas empat lagi kerajaan negeri.

Tiga bulan lalu Tun Daim Zainuddin, bekas Menteri Kewangan mengingatkan ancaman yang BN mungkin hadapi di Pulau Pinang dan Selangor. Dan hingga menjelang pilihan raya, yang disangka jatuh dari BN ialah Pulau Pinang. Tetapi yang terjadi bukan sekadar Pulau Pinang jatuh kepada DAP, bahkan Kedah jatuh kepadaan kerajaan pimpinan PAS, Selangor kepada pimpinan KeADILan, Perak kepada kebarangkalian muafakat antara PAS, DAP dan KeADILan.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri menumpukan banyak masa untuk merampas Kelantan dan Perdana Menteri tidak berapa bergerak dari Pulau Pinang terutama di kawasannya di Kepala Batas.

Ada sindirian supaya Najib juga lebih baik menjaga Pulau Pinang dari mengganggu Kelantan, kerana takut yang dikejar tak dapat dan yang dikendong berciciran.

Tiga hari sebelum pilihan raya saya berada di Kelantan. Pandangan umum di Kelantan merasakan, keadaan adalah seperti menjelang pilihan raya tahun 1990. Cuma yang dibimbangkan ialah pengundi hantu yang hendak dibawa ke situ. Kalau hantu itu tidak ada, maka BN tidak akan berupaya mengambil Kelantan.

Yang disangka PAS akan mengulangi kejayaan tahun 1990 itu berlaku, dan yang tidak dijangka, pengundi luar atau pengundi hantu, dipercayai ada tetapi tidak cukup oleh peralihan pengundi dari BN kepada PAS adalah lebih besar.

Maka PAS dengan mudah mendapat 38 kerusi dan satu KeADILan. Tinggal enam saja untuk BN.

Ada sangkaan Terengganu boleh dikembalikan kepada PAS. Masalah dalam Umno dan keburukan pimpinan Idris Jusoh memungkinkannya. Orang Terengganu mahukan PAS berkuasa tetapi mahu Idris menang juga supaya dia jadi pembangkang.

Tetapi kalau benar undi hantu seperti yang sebelumnya menyerap, maka itu saja yang dapat mempertahankan Idris dan BN. Banyak bas sewa khas masuk dipercayai memuatkan pengundi hantu. Berlaku kekecohan penyokong PAS cuba menghalang hantu-hantu itu. Tetapi tiada apa yang dapat dibuat kerana polis lebih berkuasa.

Tiada yang dapat dibuat untuk mengubah Terangganu kerana hantu tadi cukup menghalang perubahan semula.

Sebagai yang diduga, Pulau Pinang telah diketahui jatuh kepada DAP sebelum masuk waktu Isyak. Dr. Koh Tsu Koon yang mengelakkan kekalahan di sebelah pulau lari ke kerusi Parlimen Batu Kawan di Seberang Perai, tidak berjaya menyelamatkan diri.

Lari dari pulau itu adalah tanda kerajaannya bakal kalah. Dia cuba mencari kedudukan di Pusat, tidak berjaya. Ia sudah disangka dari mula.

PAS Kedah berazam untuk menawan negeri itu sejak tahun 1969 lagi. Kiranya di masa kawasan Melayu masih banyak dulu PAS tidak mampu menguasai Kedah, maka bagaimana ia dapat ditawan di masa kawasan jelas Melayu bertambah kurang. Maka ia ibarat harap ada percaya tidak.

Tetapi menjelang Isyak PAS Kedah mengetahui ia dapat 16 tetapi tidak dapat membentuk kerajaan sendiri. Tetapi empat KeADILan dan satu DAP, menyebabkan PAS yang berhempas pulas menghadapi kerenah SPR berjaya mengetuai rakan-rakannya menumbangkan BN Kedah.

PAS juga menyumbang kepada kekalahan BN di Perak dan Selangor. Apa yang pembangkang tidak dapat buat di Perak dan Selangor tahun 1969 telah dapat dilakukan tahun ini.

Selangor yang diistiharkan negeri maju setahun lalu dapat dijatuhkan. Ia suatu yang tidak disangka oleh pembangkang, tetapi itulah yanag berlaku di Selangor dan Perak.

Punca kejatuhan BN bukan kerana emosi tetapi ia patut dikalahkan sejak lama. Sejak lebih 30 tahun lalu BN telah membiarkan korupsi berleluasa, hakisan demokrasi dalam semua perkara berlaku, tetapi penguasaannya yang begitu kuat sukar ia dijatuhkan.

BN dan Umno telah lama dilihat seperti kayu buruk. Ia telah menjadi seperti raja zalim zaman purba. Dan paling teruk adalah apabila ia mengenalkan Islam Hadhari yang bukan saja mengelirukan umat Islam tetapi adalah bertentangan dengan Islam.

Doa orang Islam ialah supaya Umno diberi pengajaran supaya umat tidak terus dikelirukan oleh Islam Hadhari. Tetapi orang Islam tidak berupaya untuk menghalang BN yang menguasai masjid, surau, Majlis Agama Islam dan imam serta institusi Islam.

Islam tidak muncul sebagai elemen yang menghalang kerajaan menguasai Islam, tetapi Allah datangkan perubahan sikap dari kalangan orang bukan Islam, membuka jalan kepada orang Islam membuat perubahan.

Yang tidak disangka PAS dapat memenang beberapa kerusi bukan saja di negeri-negeri yang BN kalah, tetapi PAS dapat memenangi kerusi di Negeri Sembilan dan Johor.

Kejatuhan BN itu bukan tidak disangka, cuma bila ia akan jatuh.- tajdid

Ulasan Anwar mengenai kempen ganas pro DEB

Ulasan Anwar mengenai kempen ganas pro DEB

Posted by labisman
Sunday, 16 March 2008, MT

Oleh Anwar Ibrahim

AGENDA Ekonomi Malaysia oleh KeADILan adalah komited untuk memperbaiki dan menaiktaraf golongan miskin dan terpinggir samada Melayu, Cina, India, Iban, Kadazan dan lain-lainnya.

Kami sentiasa menegaskan bahawa di bawah kepimpinan kami, kepentingan orang Melayu akan dipelihara dan kami kekal komited untuk membina sebuah sistem baru yang lebih adil, lebih saksama dan berperanan untuk memastikan tidak ada seorang pun yang ketinggalan di belakang tanpa mengira apa agama dan bangsa mereka.

Kami merancang untuk melaksanakan mekanisme-mekanisme baru untuk menyalurkan bantuan ekonomi kepada sejumlah besar peniaga-peniaga kecil dalam komuniti Melayu dan memastikan peluang pendidikan, skim kewangan mikro kredit, perkhidmatan sosial dan kebajikan serta pelbagai lagi bentuk bantuan ekonomi terbuka untuk masyarakat Melayu.

Saya percaya bahawa semua rakyat Malaysia termasuklah golongan Melayu mengalu-alukan mandat yang diperolehi KeADILan pada 8 Mac lepas dan mereka memandang ke hadapan untuk membentuk sebuah kerajaan yang lebih berakauntabiliti, memerangi rasuah dan melaksanakan janji-janji untuk memacu pertumbuhan ekonomi dan membasmi kemiskinan di dalam pelbagai sektor masyarakat.

Justeru saya turut terkesan dengan pelbagai usaha yang dilakukan oleh segelintir pihak untuk mengapi-apikan sentimen perkauman selepas Pilihanraya Umum 8 Mac yang lepas.

Kami mempunyai sebab untuk mempercayai bahawa kempen ganas ini dipeloporti segelintir Melayu korporat dan pimpinan Umno yang bersalah kerana menyalahguna dan menyelewengkan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) untuk memperkayakan kelompok dan kroni mereka menggunakan wang yang sepatutnya disalurkan kepada rakyat.

Hubaya-hubaya ini mempergunakan Umno dan media kawala kerajaan untuk menyemarakkan rasa takut di kalangan masyarakat Melayu dan mengalihkan tumpuan daripada kekalahan mereka dan kegagalan terbesar Umno dalan sejarah, kepada memberi tumpuan dan fokus kepada keperluan seluruh rakyat Malaysia termasuklah Melayu miskin dan tertindas.

Saya menyeru kepada seluruh rakan warga Malaysia untuk menolak usaha desperado tajaan pimpinan dan ahli Umno untuk menyelamatkan harapan rakyat daripada dimanipulasi sebuah parti yang rosak yang menyemarakkan ketakutan rakyat dan berusaha memecahbelahkan rakyat negara ini.

Kita mesti kekal bersatu untuk menjunjung Harapan Baru untuk Malaysia - (KLPOS)
S

The beginning of a fair and equal society ?

The beginning of a fair and equal society ?

Malaysiakini reported today that the new Penanag Chief Minister , Lim Guan Eng, has appointed an Indian Malaysian as well as a Malay Malaysian to be Deputy Chief Minister. He has also pleaged to have open tender and do away with NEP in the state.

This is the first time an Indian Malaysian has been appointed as a Deputy Chief of a state, and I really welcome this development.

Malaysiakini reports:

Ramasamy, 58, a political scientist and former academician, said his appointment shows that the state government was sincere in wanting to represent all communities after being given a mandate in the polls.

“I hope other state governments will also follow suit to make all communities represented in their leadership,” he urged.

Mohd Fairus, a newcomer in politics as well, said he will look into issues which are of concern to the Malay community in the state, such as education.

I also come across an article from Wall Street Journal in which it is reported:

The governments in the five opposition-ruled states will “reduce race-based affirmative-action policies and begin to implement a more competitive merit-based system,” opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told reporters yesterday. He said the five states will try to ensure that the poor among all races receive benefits such as low-cost homes and education.

Dismantling the affirmative-action program — meant to benefit the majority Malays — was one of the main promises of the three-party opposition alliance that made massive gains in Saturday’s elections.

The opposition, guided by Mr. Anwar, won an unprecedented four state governments in addition to one that it already ruled. It also increased its haul in the 222-member Parliament from 19 to 82 seats. Until now, the ruling National Front coalition had never gone below a two-thirds majority since 1969, and had never lost control of more than two of Malaysia’s 13 states.

The result reflected widespread disaffection among the country’s ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities over social and racial inequalities, mainly stemming from the affirmative-action program known as the New Economic Policy. It was started in 1971 to help the Malays, following violent race riots in 1969 that were blamed on the wealth gap between poor Malays and wealthy Chinese. The NEP gives a host of privileges to Malays including preference in government contracts.

The Malaysian state of Penang, which was won by the opposition Democratic Action Party, fired the first salvo against the NEP, long considered an untouchable policy.

Lim Guan Eng, who was sworn in yesterday as the chief minister of the Chinese-dominated Penang, announced that state contracts will no longer be awarded based on NEP. Many state contracts are known to go to businesses with links to the ruling party.

I hope Penang coalition government can succeed in doing away the NEP and yet still be able to look after the interest and needs of all races. I hope it succeeds in eradicating the poverty levels of all races and prove to the Penang Malays that they are well taken care of even without the NEP.

This would then show to the Federal Government that abolition of NEP does not necessarily mean the marginalisation of our Malay brothers.

If Penang succeeds in doing so, then UMNO will have no excuse not to do away with the NEP in the Federal administration.

Ultimately, people of all races will benefit from this and a true Malaysian identity can then be forged.





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It is a good start for Mr. Lim Guan Eng to have ‘open tender’ and ‘2 deputy CMs’. In doing this, Guan Eng has set a benchmark for other states to follow.

It was a thoughtful move to appoint 2 deputy CMs that represent other communities in Penang. Such move is necessary to cushion the effect of shifting in mindset of Penangites in favour of ‘multi-racial’ politics, who I believe are still not able to accept 100% that a Chinese Malaysian Chief Minister could perform his duty equitably. (Due to race-based politics played by BN)

In time to come, I believe deputy CM will not be necessary when all of us can think like genuine ‘True Malaysians’.

*

By: A true Malaysian on March 12, 2008
at 5:43 pm

An Open Letter: Dear Pak Lah..

An Open Letter: Dear Pak Lah..

Posted by Raja Petra
Sunday, 16 March 2008,MT

Dear Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,

I refer to the article you wrote in the Star Newspaper dated March 13, 2008 (Thursday), and titled Malaysia Will Heal Her Divisions (N10).

The election process has indeed revealed a shocking result of what Malaysians generally perceive of the government. Being part of this 50 year old nation, I believe that it is time to move into a new level and realize that what is planned decades ago is not applicable today. The era of globalization has indeed brought major changes to the lives of the people around the world as news comes into the tip of our hands through the internet.

Having said that, Malaysia is moving rapidly with this era, where people are being united, not only locally, but in the global perspective with the convenient access to the mass media, we are moving into a new culture where everyone adapts into one single environment.

I am grateful for the dedications you made; however fail to see how this division came about at the moment. What this country needs is a leader who will not look beyond differences pertaining to race or whether a certain party should have special rights or not. We Malaysians should all in all celebrate diversity and striving for unity to accomplish our vision.

We often talk about how we live in harmony, and how we respect one another. Although I am grateful that there was no blood bath, but let’s face it, that there are always grudges and stereotypes in our minds that will keep us from mixing with one another. I am indeed grateful that there was only one racial riot in the past 50 years, of which is and will always be at the back of our mind.

I do understand and perceive the debate effects of election which would cause divisions but unless the opposition and the government will first learn to work together, Malaysia will not progress in the coming years. The nation looks up at any political leaders from the government or opposition party) to show a good example. Leaders lead followers. If leaders are not united themselves, how would you expect your followers to follow?

The nation is not discontent, neither are we happy with the election results. What we want is our voice to be heard, and a fair play of opportunities in this country. We ought to realize that bringing our country and communities together is not just your work alone the responsibility is shared by the nation as a whole.

Democracy is not about voicing a protest. Democracy is about having the right to be part of what shapes Malaysia, and for that, leaders have to listen to the suggestions, and the dissatisfaction of the people.

I hope to bring a fresh perspective from a younger generation who believes in youth empowerment. I quote US Senator Barack Obama, “Unity is the great need of the hour - the great need of this hour. Not because it sounds pleasant or because it makes us feel good, but because it's the only way we can overcome the essential deficit that exists in this country.”

The world we live in is terrorized by the differences we have in race, culture and language. When we fear differences, we reject the opportunity to learn and extend our horizon. In this era of globalization, we need to know that the world doesn't just revolve around ourselves. We cannot afford to narrow our mind to what is going on just within the community, but to explore every possibility of extending our network in the local and global arena.

When people start to develop their curiosity among one another, accept differences, take initiatives to learn and celebrate diversity, they will learn to adapt and accept a new and better way of life- of love towards one another. That's essence of PEACE. When peace is attained with true unity, the power of cultural integration will carry new values in our lives which will change our perspectives and bring great influences our behavior.

The election results were not based on your determination to grow the Malaysian economy. It goes beyond the political, economical aspects of the country for what we chase is the maturity level of our nation.

You have my respects as a prominent leader in Malaysia, as I believe that every leader has his/her own personality, strength and weakness, thus his own mindset on how to run the country. Perhaps in this era of globalization, what used to be different parties standing up for their own racial rights will not work anymore? We are moving from the higher ends of the cultural context scale towards the lower ends in this era. Malaysia is overlooking the racial issues into a true unity where one gives into another for the benefit of all.

Of course, in every election campaign, there will be tight competitions, especially between the government and the opposition parties. However, we have to realize that our focus is now on developing our nature, of which, we will all have to work together striving for Vision 2020.

Democracy is about a leader listening to his/her followers. If you said that you have heard the voice of the citizens then please hear me out. I may not be a wise and experienced 60 year old lady; I may not be a leader for any political party. However, I would stand as a 20 year old university student at who sees the importance of intercultural understanding in attaining the true unity for the development of the country.

Thank you for listening.
God bless Malaysia.

Jessica Kan
Student
Bachelor of Communications (Corporate Communications)

A Malaysian Economic Agenda

Anwar slams gov't for stoking racial tension

Mar 16, 08 1:06pm, Malaysiakini.
'This vicious campaign is being orchestrated by a small number of very wealthy Malays and Umno leaders who are themselves guilty of squandering and abusing the NEP.' more

........................................


PKR stands firm - No to NEP

Mar 15, 08 8:12pm, Malaysiakini.
PKR today reiterated that it wants to scrap the New Economic Policy (NEP) despite drawing flak from Umno in the past few days.

Emphasis on poor Malays
Umno abused NEP


..................................


A Malaysian Economic Agenda

Posted by Raja Petra
Sunday, 16 March 2008,MT

We plan to implement new mechanisms to channel economic aid to the vast numbers of petty traders and small businessmen in Malay communities and ensure that educational opportunities, microcredit financing schemes, social and welfare services and other forms of economic relief are made available to the Malays.

A MALAYSIAN ECONOMIC AGENDA

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia - KeADILan’s Malaysian Economic Agenda is committed to the upliftment and betterment of the poor and marginalized Malays, Chinese and Indians, Ibans and Kadazans. We have always stated that under our leadership the interests of the Malays will be protected and we remain committed to building a new system that is more just, more equitable and that ensures no one is left behind irrespective of race or religion.

We plan to implement new mechanisms to channel economic aid to the vast numbers of petty traders and small businessmen in Malay communities and ensure that educational opportunities, microcredit financing schemes, social and welfare services and other forms of economic relief are made available to the Malays.

I believe all Malaysians including the Malays are pleased with the mandate that was given to KeADILan on March 8th and they look forward to a government that is more accountable, fights corruption and delivers on its promises to promote economic growth and reduce poverty in all segments of society.

I am therefore deeply concerned with the attempt being made by certain elements to stoke the flames of racial hatred in the aftermath of the March 8th Malaysian elections. We have reason to believe that this vicious campaign is being orchestrated by a small number of very wealthy Malays and UMNO leaders who are themselves guilty of squandering and abusing the NEP to enrich themselves and their cronies at the expense of the general public. These people are now using the UMNO and government controlled media to incite fears among the Malays and deflect attention away from their electoral defeat and from UMNO’s historic failures to address the needs of all Malaysians including the poor and marginalised Malays.

I ask my fellow Malaysians to reject the desperate attempts by some UMNO members to salvage the remnants of a broken party by pandering to people’s fears and sowing divisions and disunity among the people of our nation.

We must remain united in support of a New Dawn for Malaysia.

ANWAR IBRAHIM



Agenda Ekonomi Malaysia

Agenda Ekonomi Malaysia oleh KeADILan adalah komited untuk memperbaiki dan menaiktaraf golongan miskin dan terpinggir samada Melayu, Cina, India, Iban, Kadazan dan lain-lainnya. Kami sentiasa menegaskan bahawa di bawah kepimpinan kami, kepentingan orang Melayu akan dipelihara dan kami kekal komited untuk membina sebuah sistem baru yang lebih adil, lebih saksama dan berperanan untuk memastikan tidak ada seorang pun yang ketinggalan di belakang tanpa mengira apa agama dan bangsa mereka.

Kami merancang untuk melaksanakan mekanisme-mekanisme baru untuk menyalurkan bantuan ekonomi kepada sejumlah besar peniaga-peniaga kecil dalam komuniti Melayu dan memastikan peluang pendidikan, skim kewangan mikro kredit, perkhidmatan sosial dan kebajikan serta pelbagai lagi bentuk bantuan ekonomi terbuka untuk masyarakat Melayu.

Saya percaya bahawa semua rakyat Malaysia termasuklah golongan Melayu mengalu-alukan mandat yang diperolehi KeADILan pada 8 Mac lepas dan mereka memandang ke hadapan untuk membentuk sebuah kerajaan yang lebih berakauntabiliti, memerangi rasuah dan melaksanakan janji-janji untuk memacu pertumbuhan ekonomi dan membasmi kemiskinan di dalam pelbagai sektor masyarakat.

Justeru saya turut terkesan dengan pelbagai usaha yang dilakukan oleh segelintir pihak untuk mengapi-apikan sentimen perkauman selepas Pilihanraya Umum 8 Mac yang lepas. Kami mempunyai sebab untuk mempercayai bahawa kempen ganas ini dipeloporti segelinti Melayu korporat dan pimpinan Umno yang bersalah kerana menyalahguna dan menyelewengkan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) untuk memperkayakan kelompok dan kroni mereka menggunakan wang yang sepatutnya disalurkan kepada rakyat.

Hubaya-hubaya ini mempergunakan Umno dan media kawala kerajaan untuk menyemarakkan rasa takut di kalangan masyarakat Melayu dan mengalihkan tumpuan daripada kekalahan mereka dan kegagalan terbesar Umno dalan sejarah, kepada memberi tumpuan dan fokus kepada keperluan seluruh rakyat Malaysia termasuklah Melayu miskin dan tertindas.

Saya menyeru kepada seluruh rakan warga Malaysia untuk menolak usaha desperado tajaan pimpinan dan ahli Umno untuk menyelamatkan harapan rakyat daripada dimanipulasi sebuah parti yang rosak yang menyemarakkan ketakutan rakyat dan berusaha memecahbelahkan rakyat negara ini.

Kita mesti kekal bersatu untuk menjunjung Harapan Baru buat Malaysia

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Agenda ekonomi PKR ganti DEB

Anwar slams gov't for stoking racial tension

Mar 16, 08 1:06pm, Malaysiakini.
'This vicious campaign is being orchestrated by a small number of very wealthy Malays and Umno leaders who are themselves guilty of squandering and abusing the NEP.' more


....................................


PKR stands firm - No to NEP

Mar 15, 08 8:12pm, Malaysiakini.
PKR today reiterated that it wants to scrap the New Economic Policy (NEP) despite drawing flak from Umno in the past few days.

Emphasis on poor Malays
Umno abused NEP


..................................

Agenda ekonomi PKR ganti DEB

Mar 15, 08 8:50pm

PKR bertegas menggantikan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang didakwanya hanya memanfaatkan elit politik tertentu dengan dasar ekonomi yang baru - Agenda Ekonomi Malaysia (AEM).

Walaupun terpaksa berdepan bantahan Umno, PKR berjanji akan meneruskan AEM yang mempunyai lima matlamat besar:

- melaksanakan kaedah pengagihan semula kekayaan secara adil, seimbang dan sama rata,
- memerangi rasuah, kronisme dan nepotisme,
- dasar afirmatif yang memihak kepada kumpulan miskin
- menyalurkan kekayaan negara untuk pendidikan, kesihatan dan perumahan yang lebih baik,
- meningkatkan daya saing ekonomi negara.

Timbalan presiden PKR Dr Syed Husin Ali berkata dasar-dasar AEM ini telah diperkenalkan beberapa tahun lalu lagi oleh penasihatnya Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, yang juga bekas menteri kewangan, melalui ucapan, artikel dan janjinya untuk pilihanraya umum 8 Mac lalu.

"(DEB) selama ini telah banyak disalahgunakan oleh segelintir pemimpin dan kroni dalam Umno dan BN bagi merompak kekayaan negara ini demi kekayaan mereka sendiri atas nama Melayu keseluruhannya," kata Dr Syed Husin dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

"Ia mendorong amalan pilih kasih yang bercanggahan dengan semangat keadilan dan sama rata untuk semua rakyat Malaysia, khususnya golongan miskin, terpinggir dan tidak bernasih baik dalam semua kaum."

Menurut Anwar, AEM yang menjadi tonggak janji-janji pilihanraya PKR boleh dilaksanakan di peringkat negeri untuk mengurangkan dasar-dasar afirmatif berasaskan kaum seumpama DEB dan sekali gus melaksanakan sistem berasaskan merit dan lebih berdaya saing.

"Ini akan meningkat segera pelaburan asing, menambahbaik perolehan cukai negeri dan mempromosikan keadilan dan kesamaan pendapatan," katanya dalam satu kenyataan awal minggu ini.

Beliau, yang juga bekas timbalan perdana menteri, menambah "kita akan menunaikan janji kita untuk melindungi masyarakat dari setiap kaum daripada terus terpinggir."

Anwar sering menjadi sasaran Umno berhubung isu hak-hak Melayu khususnya sejak pakatan PKR, DAP dan PAS berjaya menumbangkan empat lagi kerajaan negeri, selain berjaya mengekalkan Kelantan.

Beliau juga dijadikan sasaran kecaman Umno susulan kenyataan ketua menteri baru Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng, yang mendakwa negeri itu - yang kini ditadbir kerajaan campuran DAP-PKR - tidak akan melaksanakan lagi DEB yang membiakkan rasuah danpilih kasih.

Semalam penyokong Umno menganjurkan demonstrasi, satu di pulau mutiara itu dan satu lagi Selangor bagi membantah usaha menggantikan DEB.

Dr Syed Husin berkata, media yang dikawal kerajaan BN cuba memberikan gambaran bahawa PKR tidak mempunyai program untuk membasmi kemiskinan orang Melayu.

"Kami ingin menekankan bahawa satu dasar yang memberikan kelebihan kepada semua rakyat Malaysia yang miskin, terpinggir dan tidak bernasib baik tanpa mengira kaum akan memberi lebih manfaat kepada orang Melayu, kerana mereka paling ramai dalam golongan termiskin," tambahnya.

Sementara itu, kerajaan Pulau Pinang hari ini berjanji tidak akan melaksanakan sebarang dasar yang merugikan penduduk negeri itu, kata Lim.

Sambil menegaskan tiada pihak yang akan disisihkan, Lim berkata kerajaan pimpinannya akan mengagihkan kekayaan negeri kepada seluruh penduduk.

Ditanya mengenai isu dasar ekonomi kontroversi itu, Lim berkata: "DEB tidak ada isu langsung.

"Sekarang kita hanya nak buat tender terbuka. Kalau ini pun dianggap sebagai isu, apa yang boleh saya buat."

Malaysiakini.

DEB: Gerakan bantah demo Umno

DEB: Gerakan bantah demo Umno

Mar 15, 08 8:16pm
Berdemonstrasi untuk menyuarakan pandangan bukanlah kaedah yang wajar dan ia bertentangan dengan keputusan BN dan Perdana Menteri, kata pemangku presiden Gerakan, Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon.

Dalam satu kenyataannya hari ini, Koh berkata demonstrasi anjuran pemimpin dan penyokong Umno di Komtar semalam tidak bersesuaian dalam masyarakat majmuk.

Kira-kira 1,000 penyokong Umno menghadiri perhimpunan tersebut, yang ketuai antaranya oleh setiausaha perhubungan Umno negeri Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, selama satu jam.

Turut berucap di demonstrasi itu: bekas timbalan ketua menteri Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah, wakil rakyat Sungai Dua - Datuk Jasmin Mohamed, dan ketua bahagian Bukit Mertajam - Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir.

Mereka berkumpul di kaki bangunan Komtar sebagai membantah kenyataan ketua menteri baru Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng, yang ingin memansuhkan pelaksanaan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang telah membiakkan amalan rasuah dan pilih kasih.

Bersama beberapa sepanduk, kumpulan itu melaungkan slogan-slogan, antaranya "Jangan pinggirkan Melayu" dan "Jangan hapuskan DEB".

Koh berkata, walaupun demonstrasi itu hak semua individu untuk meluahkan perasaan tetapi ia haruslah dimanfaatkan dengan baik agar tidak meningkatkan lagi ketegangan atau konflik antara kaum.

"Kebebasan berhimpun harus digunakan dengan matang dan berkesan," katanya.

"Selain demonstrasi jalanan, menganjurkan forum dan seminar, menghantar memorandum dengan cadangan konkrit, disokongan dengan fakta dan perangkaan, menjadi pendekatan yang lebih berhasil ke arah menyelesaikan sesuatu isu, termasuk langkah-langkah memperbaiki status sosio-ekonomi sesuatu kumpulan atau masyarakat yang terpinggir.”

Malaysiakini.

Posted by tunku at 3:46:00 PM

Friday, March 14, 2008
Penang: FRU moves in to disperse protestors

PENANG: A big group of protesters, mostly Umno members and supporters, took to the streets around Komtar after Friday prayers to protest against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's remarks on the New Economic Policy.
Chanting “Hidup Melayu” (long-live the Malays) and “Allahuakbar” (God is great), the protesters marched towards Komtar in Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong at about 2.30pm.
They held banners with messages such as “Kami Penduduk Pulau Pinang Menyokong Penuh Kepimpinan Pak Lah” (We fully support Pak Lah’s leadership), “Anwar Ibrahim Pengkhianat Bangsa” (Anwar Ibrahim, traitor of the Malay race), “Tak akan Melayu Hilang di Pulau Pinang” (Malays will not be sidelined in Penang) and "Kepimpinan DAP dibantah oleh Melayu Pulau Pinang” (Penang Malays Protest Against the DAP-led goverment).
Among those who participated in the hour-long street protest were Penang Umno secretary and state opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, former deputy Chief Minister Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah, Kepala Batas Umno Youth deputy chief Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Bukit Mertajam Umno division chief Senator Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, Tanjung Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar and former Penanti assemblyman Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid.
The protest was held in response to Lim's statement that DAP and PKR would run the government "free from the New Economic Policy (NEP) that breeds cronyism, corruption and systemic inefficiency".
Speaking to reporters, Musa said the state Umno would hand over a four-point memorandum to Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas next week in protest of Guan Eng’s statement.
“We do not want to hand the memorandum to the Chief Minister as we believe he will not protect the rights of the Malays. We want Tun (Abdul Rahman) to advise him after we hand over the memorandum,” he said.
Ahmad Ibnihajar denied that the protest was led by the state Umno but claimed that the Malays had gathered in response to an SMS circulated on Friday.
He said the DAP-led government had not respected the rights of the Malays and that the Penang Malays “wanted them out”.
At 3.30pm, George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid advised the protesters to disperse, using a loud hailer but they continued to hang around the area.
Thirty minutes later, the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) on stand-by nearby was called in to disperse the protesters. Only then did they leave.
Roadblocks were put up along Jalan Tunku Kudin near the Penang Bridge to prevent protesters from neighbouring states from joining the protest.
Police had received a tip-off about the protest on Thursday afternoon. Acting state police chief Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said no untoward incidents were reported but two men were brought back for questioning.
"They were subsequently released after their statements were taken down. It was a relatively peaceful protest.
"Rumours of water cannons being used on protesters and bricks thrown into the shops in Komtar are all unfounded," he said.
Businesses such as jewellery shops and travel agencies located on the ground floor of the two nearby shopping complexes closed for business, but re-opened at 5pm.


Posted by tunku at 3:46:00 PM

2 comments:

firdaus said...

So it's has started. I remembered the same thing happening in Sabah 22 years back when PBS first came into power. DAP made a mistake announcing it will do away with the NEP. This will be reason enough to start trouble. Pity the Penang ppl.
March 14, 2008 4:53 PM
Anonymous said...

What are the police doing? They should have used the water cannon and tear gas to disperse these illegal demonstrators in the same way they did to the Bersih and Hindraf supporters. Or are the police of the view that UMNO demonstrator should be treated differently. MALU TERSANGAT!!!
March 15, 2008 11:55 AM

Abdullah Hj Ahmad masih keliru.

SANG KELEMBAI@zaharin mohd yasin

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Abdullah Hj Ahmad masih keliru.

PUTRAJAYA 12 Mac 2008

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini memberi amaran kepada Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng supaya tidak membuat kenyataan yang boleh mecetuskan ketegangan kaum.

Lim, selepas mengangkat sumpah jawatan sebagai Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang semalam, memberitahu pemberita bahawa kerajaan negeri pimpinan DAP itu tidak akan mengamalkan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB). Utusan Malaysia 13hb Mac 2008

Tidaklah diketahui bahawa memperkatakan DEB-Dasar Ekonomi Baru sudah menjadi perkara hasutan dalam Akta Hasutan, bila mana Saya Perdana Menteri Abdullah Hj Ahmad memberi amaran kepada Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang yang baru Lim Guan Eng akan tidak melaksanakan DEB dalam pentadbirannya.

Bila masanya DEB akan merujuk soal Melayu atau kepentingan adat istiadat Melayu atau pun Kedaulatan Raja Melayu. DEB hanya sekadar sebuah dasar atau garis panduan BN-Barisan Nasional bagi melaksanakan usaha-usaha supaya tidak berulang lagi apa yang dikatakan Peristiwa 13 Mei 1969 yang berpunca soal ekonomi yang melibatkan semua kaum, baik dia berketurunan Melayu, China atau India dan termasuk etnik dan peribumi Sabah dan Serawak.

Bila bentara guru Abdullah Hj Ahmad yang bernama Musa Hitam dengan berani nya memperkatakan bahawa perlaksanaan WPI-Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar tidak melibatkan kepentingan orang Melayu yang bersesuaian dengan DEB, kenapa pula Abdullah Hj Ahmad tidak membuat kenyataan seperti yang dibuat untuknya kepada Lim Guan Eng. Hanya kerana Musa Hitam seorang penyokongnya atau kerana Lim Guan Eng seorang Cina? Apakah Abdullah Hj Ahmad menjerit setiap kali menutup perhimpunan agung UMNO dengan perkataan Hidup Melayu itu tidak perkauman? Apa pandangan seorang bukan Melayu terhadap seorang yang mendakwa seorang Perdana Menteri berbagai kaum.

Semua orang tahu bahawa DEB zaman Abdullah Hj Ahmad ialah merujuk kepentingan perniagaan anaknya Kamalludin Bin Ahmad yang membolot dan merompak di siang hari melalui syarikatnya Scommi. Perniagaan anak menantunya yang bernama Khairy Jamaludin Abu Bakar yang menghapuskan nama Bank Bumiputra dan Kalilimullah Meor Hassan yang pernah disahkan oleh SBM-Special Branch Malaysia sebagai seorang agen SIS-Singapore Intelligent Service yang menyapu bersih Avenue Berhad di mana Post Malaysia bernaung di bawahnya dalam konsep penswastaan. Belum termasuk lagi adiknya Ibrahim Hj Ahmad yang mengambil katering Mas dengan harga yang tinggi dan Katering Kementerian Pertahanan tanpa tender.

Ini memberi pengertian Dasar Ekonomi Baru tidak memberi makna kepada orang Melayu khasnya Melayu Pulau Pinang, di mana pernah ditulis kalau hendak kaya cepat pergilah mencari ibu-ibu tunggal walau pun bertaraf nenek di Kepala Batas kerana sudah pasti Abdulah Hj Ahmad akan memberi tender jutaan ringgit seperti yang diberikan kepada Syarif Udang yang kerja hanya mencium tangan Abdullah Hj Ahmad.

Abdullah Hj Ahmad memang diketahui umum banyak urusan negara ini di atur dan diputuskan oleh anak dan menantu. Itu sebab sehingga sekarang Abdullah Hj Ahmad tidak pernah menafikan bahawa surat-surat yang dihantar kepadanya kemungkinan juga surat-surat dalam fail merah yang berpangkah dan tertulis Rahsia Besar dibaca oleh anak dan menantu.

Tetapi yang tidak terelak untuk dinafikan ialah keputusan memberi tender-tender terutama dalam Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri banyak mengikut telunjuk dari Khairy Jamalludin. Itu sebab pembantu peribadi kepada menantu nya juga mempunyai banyak harta hasil daripada tumbuk rusuk yang dibagi oleh mereka yang berurus dengan boss-nya.

Setelah tidak mahu membaca kesemua kertas-kertas khasnya kertas kebinet maka banyak perkara dalam pentadbiran kerajaan “Invisible Government” tidak diketahui oleh Saya Perdana Menteri, Abdullah Hj Ahmad. Itu sebab kadang kala hanya untuk mengetahui keputusan untuk melantik seseorang sebagai Pengerusi badan berkanun sahaja yang dicadangkan oleh Menteri yang mana berkenaan memakan masa berbulan lamanya untuk mendapat semula keputusan Abdullah Hj Ahmad.

Satu tabiat Abdullah Hj Ahmad yang tidak diketahui orang ialah jarang datang ke pejabat sama ada di pejabat Perdana Menteri atau di Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri. Dia hanya nampak bekerja bila mana merasmikan atur cara rasminya atau setiap bulan dilihat menghadiri perhimpunan bulanan di Pejabat Perdana Menteri atau di Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, selain itu kakitangan di Perdana Putra memang mengakui jarang nampaknya dia berada dalam pejabatnya.

Maka keputusan rakyat menolaknya parti yang bernama UMNO dan Barisan Nasional, adalah satu keputusan yang mulia lagi berani bagi mengelakkan negara ini lagi jahanam kerana ditadbirkan oleh seorang Perdana Menteri yang pemalas, banyak tidur dari jaga. Sudahlah mempunyai sikap yang sedemikian, bodoh tetapi sombong, cerdiknya yang tak boleh di ikut, kebodohan tidak boleh di ajar.

Hari ini UMNO/Barisan Nasional kehilangan kuasa di lima negeri atau ayat penuh enam setengah kerana kehilangan banyak kerusi di Wilayah Persekutuan dan Negeri Sembilan hanya diperintah majoriti mudah. Dengan keputusan itu pun Abdullah Hj Ahmad masih tidak insaf. Dan sudah pasti baki pemerintahannya sebagai Saya Perdana Menteri dia akan memperalatkan UMNO/Barisan Nasional untuk mencari harta bertimbun-timbun seperti mana dengan sajak Mencari Damai Abadi termasuk hidup berfoya-foya kerana yang dikatakan tidak, itulah yang sebenarnya yang dilakukan.

Sang Kelembai: Rakyat mesti menghalalkan rasuah yang dilakukan oleh Abdullah Hj Ahmad jika dia meletakan jawatan dalam masa yang terdekat, biarlah dia hidup mewah dengan harta rompakan dari air mata rakyat di Australia dengan rumah, Jet dan kapal mewahnya dan isteri cantiknya. Kalau tidak kita tunggu empat tahun lagi, kita tumbangkan kerajaan BN dan minta diwujudkan Suruhanjaya Kerajaan Bersih untuk menyiasat penyelewengan yang dilakukan semenjak Oktober 2003 dan mendakwa sehingga dia menamatkan hidupnya dalam penjara.

Posted by SANG KELEMBAI@zaharin mohd yasin at 7:11 PM

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Memang dia selalu play with racial one, Umno selalu racist. Tak ingat pun pasal makan SUAP yang banyak
8:01 PM
Anonymous said...

Adik Abdullah Badawi, Ibrahim Badawi juga adalah pengerusi syarikat farmaseutikal Hovid Bhd. Dia beli saham dan jadi chairman Hovid setelah 8 bulan Dollah jadi PM. Sebenarnya id adalah proksi kepada Dollah dalam kes ini.

1,000 join pro-NEP protest in Penang

Anil Netto.

A friend of mine provides an eye-witness account and pictures of the pro-NEP demonstration around Komtar, Penang, this afternoon. (The Komtar tower houses the offices of the Penang state government offices and the Chief Minister.) The crowd, which included several Umno leaders and reps in the state, were protesting against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s declaration that the new DAP-led state government would discontinue New Economic Policy (NEP) policies.

Here is the eye-witness account:

At about 2.55pm, I was walking through Komtar and out from the third floor at the Maybank entrance. At first, I saw people lining the balcony railing looking down to three FRU trucks being loaded up with personnel. There was a strong police presence (though not intimidating), vehicles and personnel and a curious but not ruffled crowd.

When I asked, I was told the new chief minister was coming. A bit of a heavy welcome, I thought. So I followed the crowd and walked to Jalan Ria where I could both see and hear a large banner-waving crowd.

nepdemoblog

As I could not hear what they were chanting and could not decipher their banners, I can only describe what I saw and felt. Firstly, there was, at that time, no sense of tension either from the crowd or the marchers. The marchers at the front were young mainly male and evidently Muslim. Further back, the marchers were a mix of ages and sexes as well as ethnicities, though I would say they were probably all Muslim - Indian and Malay.

All seemed to be peaceful when I left the scene. Although there was a helicopter overhead, there didn’t seem to be any tear gas or water cannon truck lurking in the background, just FRU directing the march and guiding the traffic.

nepdemoblog3

One thing though - there was a slight awkwardness in the marchers… and unfamiliarity… as if they were not from Penang, at least not from the island. They looked a little out of their familiar territory - just an observation.

———-

Well, thankfully everything ended peacefully. Indeed, the FRU should be commended for acting with restraint in sharp contrast to the way their counterparts in KL handled the Hindraf protests.

Earlier, theSun quoted Chief Minister Guan Eng as saying:

“We believe in the freedom of speech and assembly as long as it is peaceful. Anybody who wants to protest, we have no qualms about it but please do it based on facts and not based on certain interests or to try and test the state government,” he said.

Speaking in a press conference after a meeting with 21 Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in his office in Komtar, Lim said the state government is a united front that should not be tested on their commitment to represent all Penangites.

“Don’t test us on our commitment towards establishing integrity and accountability and don’t test us on our commitment to listen to all the voices of Penangites,” he said.

“If they want to come and give their views, we are willing to listen but if they want to demonstrate, that is their right. I hope they won’t provoke sentiments that are not true,” he added.

He was commenting on a plan by certain groups to stage a protest in Komtar against the state government’s stand in not using the New Economic Policy (NEP) but an open tender system instead.

“We will not back down on the open tender system because the NEP is associated with corruption, cronyism and inefficiency,” Lim reiterated.

“We want an open tender system but they raised so much hue and cry. If they want to test us, they can go ahead and test us. We have the full exco support on this and we won’t back down on that,” he said.

Earlier, on his meeting with the 21 Muslim organisations, Lim again reiterated that the state government has no intention of sidelining any group or races.

“We are a state government for all and we listen to the voices of the people and we want to represent everyone in Penang,” he said.

He reassured Muslims that the state government emphasised on integrity and the status of Islam in the state will never be disputed.

“Please do not listen to any rumours about the state government wanting to tone down Azan (the call for prayers) or anything like that. In fact, this is the first time I’ve heard about such things,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini quotes Zaid Ibrahim, the former Umno MP for Kota Bharu as saying that Guan Eng should not have been too hasty:

“I find it very shocking to see today that DAP is being very arrogant too. First day in office - Lim Guan Eng (Penang chief minister) made this statement about NEP,” he said.

“This is not the time to stir everyone’s feelings. Our race relations are still fragile and those elected should just stop talking and get on with the job.”…

“A good leader should be able to say the good part of NEP, which is to help the marginalised group, should be continued. The NEP which helps selected individuals to enrich themselves will be stopped. That’s all he should have said, not provocative statements,” said Zaid.

“This is something which Guan Eng should be mindful of. TV3, the newspapers and the radio stations must also stop pitting the Malays against the non-Malays. It is so dangerous.

Interestingly enough, Penang Umno leaders have proposed to the federal government to withdraw funding for all mega-projects in Penang. Guan Eng has described the call as akin to cutting their nose to spite their face - and an act of revenge.

Actually, Umno’s call to end the Penang mega projects such as the Penang Outer Ring Road could be a blessing in disguise. Everyone knows that Penang is already terribly congested. A delay in the mega projects would give civil society groups and the new state government in Penang more time to look into more sustainable alternatives to improve public transport, preserve the environment, reduce traffic and create more green spaces and parks. Guan Eng should explore these alternatives rather than rely on mega projects that earn huge profits for a few privileged corporations.The state government must also implement development projects that truly empower and uplift the lives of marginalised communities - in other words, people-centred, holistic development - rather than put much hope on mega projects.

Here is an article I wrote for Aliran Monthly:

Is the BN’s economic model sustainable?

Is our current model of economic development sustainable in the long-run, wonders Anil Netto. What will happen when our oil wells dry up? What has been the environmental cost? These are issues that our political parties – both the BN and the Opposition - must address. Full article

Pakatan dengan BN: Mat Sabu akan cadang pecat

Pakatan dengan BN: Mat Sabu akan cadang pecat

Posted by Erin
Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT

(Harakah) - Naib Presiden PAS, Haji Mohamad Sabu akan mencadangkan mana-mana pihak yang berunding untuk mewujudkan pakatan pentadbiran dengan Barisan Nasional (BN) dipecat dari PAS.

"Ya, saya akan cadang," tegas beliau ketika ditanya adakah beliau akan mencadangkan pemecatan mana-mana ahli PAS yang berunding untuk mengadakan pakatan dengan BN.

Diminta mengulas penegasan seorang lagi Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Haji Husam Musa bahawa mana-mana pihak yang berunding untuk mengadakan pakatan dengan BN akan dipecat, beliau mengingatkan semua pihak supaya jangan melupai pengorbanan rakyat dalam perhimpunan aman Bersih 10 November lalu.

"Kalau tak ada siapa nak berpakat dengan kita pun, terpulau seorang-seorang, kita akan terus buat kerja kita dan tidak akan berkerjasama dengan BN," tegas beliau.

Tidak ada mana-mana pihak pun, katanya, yang boleh mengkhianati mandat dan amanah yang diberikan oleh rakyat yang tidak mahu lagi menerima BN dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lalu.

"Rakyat marah terhadap BN yang mengkhianati amanah mereka. Mereka telah mengambil keputusan memilih pembangkang. Kepimpinan (Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) sekarang tinggal nyawa-nyawa ikan sahaja lagi.

"Jika ada mana-mana pihak yang berkerjasama dengan BN, ia bermakna memberi nyawa baru kepada kepimpinan Abdullah yang sudah hendak mati. Ia pengkhianatan besar kepada amanah rakyat," tegas beliau lagi.

Beliau mengingatkan semua pihak supaya tidak melupai pengkhinatan yang dilakukan oleh Umno dan BN terhadap orang-orang Melayu dan Islam.

"Jangan lupa kenyataan Abdullah yang menyatakan orang-orang Islam yang hendak menukar agama hendaklah dibenarkan berbuat demikian. Ia satu pengkhianatan dan penderhakaan yang jelas kepada Allah," tegasnya sambil mengecam propaganda yang menyatakan parti-parti Melayu hendaklah berkerjasama demi kepentingan Melayu Islam.

Umno juga, katanya, membunuh Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang mereka "megah sangat sebagai pembela Melayu" di Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI).

Beliau juga mengambil kesempatan mengucapkan tahniah kepada Ahli-Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Kelantan penggal 2004 hingga 2008 yang lalu.

"Ketika meraikan kemenangan di sana-sini, harap tidak terlepas pandang untuk mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada ADUN PAS di Kelantan penggal yang lalu yang telah terbukti kesetiaan mereka.

"Bukan sahaja tidak ada seorang pun yang melompat menyertai BN ketika kita mempunyai majoriti dua kerusi sahaja, malah ketika majoriti PAS tinggal satu kerusi sekalipun (selepas kekalahan dalam pilihan raya kecil Pengkalan Pasir), keimanan mereka kepada perjuangan Islam tetap dipertahankan walaupu kita tahu banyak tawaran dan umpanan yang cuba ditaburkan," kata beliau.

Mohamad Sabu menyeru semua pihak agar mencontohi keimanan yang dibuktikan oleh kesemua ADUN PAS di Kelantan penggal yang lalu.

"Mereka telah membuktikan kedudukan, wang ringgit dan apa jua tawaran tidak akan menggugat kesetiaan mereka kepada amanah yang diberikan oleh rakyat kepada mereka dalam pilihan raya 2004 yang lalu. Mereka tidak cari fasal dengan rakyat," katanya lagi.

Umno Pulau Pinang desak Mukhriz dipecat

Umno Pulau Pinang desak Mukhriz dipecat

Posted by Erin
Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT.

(Harakah) Umno Pulau Pinang hari ini mengutuk tindakan Exco Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Dato' Mukhriz Tun Mahathir dan mahukan beliau dipecat kerana mendesak Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi meletakkan jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri.

Setiausaha Badan Perhubungan Umno negeri, Dato' Azhar Ibrahim berkata, tindakan Mukhriz itu dilihat amat tidak wajar dan memaparkan pendirian pemimpin itu yang tidak tetap dan mahu Ketua Pemuda Umno Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein memecatnya.

Azhar berkata, Mukhriz telah mengeluarkan kenyataan berbeza semasa sidang akhbar di Butterworth dengan menyokong kepimpinan Perdana Menteri sebelum menghantar surat meminta Abdullah bertanggungjawab ke atas keputusan pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lalu dan menggesanya meletakkan jawatan.

"Adakah ini seorang pemimpin Pemuda yang bakal mewarisi pucuk kepimpinan negara. Anda perlu tegas, kalau satu pendirian cakap satu, jangan cakap sini lain, esok cakap lain. Ini tidak ada pendirian," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri perjumpaan tertutup pemimpin Umno negeri di sini, hari ini, seperti dilaporkan Bernama.

Azhar mendakwa Mukhriz mempunyai kepentingan peribadi dan mahu mengambil kesempatan kerana menghantar surat sedemikian dalam keadaan parti sedang menghadapi sedikit kesulitan selepas pilihan raya umum lalu.

Hari ini, Hishammuddin berkata sebarang tindakan yang akan dikenakan terhadap Mukhriz yang juga Anggota Parlimen Jerlun, akan dibuat selepas mesyuarat Exco Pemuda Umno tidak lama lagi, berdasarkan saluran yang sedia ada.

Di SHAH ALAM, Pemuda Umno Selangor menyifatkan tindakan Muhkriz sebagai perbuatan biadap dan menyerahkan kepada Hishammuddin untuk membuat keputusan.

Ketua Pemuda Umno Selangor Abdul Shukur Idrus berkata mereka menganggap tindakan Mukhriz itu adalah tindakannya sendiri dan tidak mewakili mana-mana pimpinan Pemuda.

"Kita berasa sedih dengan kepimpinan yang kita sokong (Mukhriz) dahulu membuat perkara seperti ini, biarlah kita buat keputusan di dalam parti dan tidak menjadi hero semasa kita tengah tersepit," katanya

Abdul Shukur yang juga Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri Kuang berkata Pemuda Umno Selangor memberikan sokongan penuh kepada Abdullah dan juga Timbalan Presiden parti Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.

KeADILan HAS CLEAR AND FIRM STAND ON NEP /PENDIRIAN KeADILan TERHADAP DEB JELAS DAN TEGAS

KeADILan HAS CLEAR AND FIRM STAND ON NEP /PENDIRIAN KeADILan TERHADAP DEB JELAS DAN TEGAS
Posted by Erin
Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT

--PRESS STATEMENT--

by Dr. Syed Husin Ali
Deputy President/Timbalan Presiden, KeADILan
March 15, 2008

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party) has a clear and firm stand on the New Economic Policy (NEP). As explained by the Ketua Umum of the Party, Anwar Ibrahim in his 20-page article as well as through his many public pronouncements and ceramah, and further reaffirmed in several Party documents, including the Election Manifesto, we intend to replace the NEP with the Malaysian Economic Agenda.

The NEP, after nearly 40 years is already anachronistic. It has been abused by a handful leaders and cronies in Umno-Bn to rob the country of its wealth to enrich themselves, in the name of the Malays as a whole. It has led to discriminatory practices that are against the spirit of justice and fairness for all Malaysians, particularly the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged groups of all races.

The Malaysian Economic Agenda aspires to:

(a) institute and implement fair, just and equitable redistribution of the wealth in the country;

(b) fight against and finally abolish the evil practices of corruption, cronyism and nepotism and ensure the award of contracts and projects are done in open and transparent manner;

(c) continue the policy of positive discrimination in favour of poor dan deprived Bumiputera while at the same time giving equal opportunities to poor and deprived non-Bumpiputera on the basis of need and not racial greed;

(d) utilise the wealthy resources of the country to provide better social facilities – especially education, health and housing – for the poor, irrespective of ethnic backgrounds; and

(e) generate pro-people development and strengthen the competitive capacity of Malaysia so that she can stand tall with all developed countries, starting with those in Asia.

Those leaders of Umno-Bn and the media they own that accuse Parti Keadilan Rakyat as having no stand on the NEP and on other ways of improving the lot of the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged Malays are deliberately indulging in lies to mislead the public. We wish to emphasise that a policy of positive discrimination in favour of all Malaysians who are poor, marginalized and disadvantaged will benefit the Malay rakyat more, because they form the big majority of this category of people.

--- Kenyataan Media ---

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan) mempunyai pendirian yang jelas dan tegas terhadap Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB). Seperti yang dijelaskan oleh Ketua Umum keADILan, Anwar Ibrahim dalam sebuah artikel 20 halaman dan diterangkannya melalui beberapa kenyataan serta ceramah umum, dan ditegaskan dalam beberapa dokumen Parti, termasuk Manifesto Pilihanraya, kami berhasrat untuk menggantikan DEB dengan Agenda Ekonomi Malaysia.

Selepas dilaksanakan hampir 40 tahun, DEB ternyata sudah ketinggalan zaman. Ia disalahgunakan oleh segelintir pemimpin Umno-Bn serta kroni-kroni mereka untuk merompak kekayaan negara bagi mengkayakan diri sendiri atas nama seluruh rakyat Melayu. Ia telah mengakibatkan amalan diskriminasi kaum, bertentangan dengan semangat memberi keadilan dan kesaksamaan kepada semua rakyat Malaysia, terutama sekali mereka dari golongan miskin, terpinggir dan terbiar dari semua kaum.

Agenda Ekonomi Malaysia berhasrat untuk:

(a) memperkenal dan melaksanakan dasar pembahagian kekayaan negara yang adil, seimbang serta saksama;

(b) memerangi dan akhirnya membenteras amalan jijik korupsi, kronisme serta nepotisme dan memastikan pemberian kontrak serta projek dilakukan secara terbuka dan telus;

(c) meneruskan dasar memberi pertolongan kepada golongan Bumiputera yang miskin serta terbiar tetapi pada masa yang sama memberi peluang yang sejajar kepada golongan bukan Bumiputra yang miskin, terpinggir serta terbiar, atas asas keperluan dan bukan kemakan kaum;

(d) menggunakan sumber kekayaan negara untuk menyediakan kemudahan sosial yang lebih baik – terutama pendidikan, kesihatan dan perumahan – untuk golongan miskin dan susah tanpa mengira latarbelakang kaum; dan

(e) menjana pembangunan yang menguntungkan rakya serta membina kapasiti bersaing supaya Malaysia dapat berdiri sama tinggi dengan semua negara maju, bermula dengan yang di Asia.

Pemimpin-pemimpin Umno-Bn dan media mereka kuasai yang menuduh kononnya Parti Keadilan Rakyat tidak mempunyai pendirian terhadap DEB dan cara-cara untuk mempertingkat taraf hidup orang Melayu yang miskin, terpinggir dan tercicir sebenarnya berdusta dan segaja cuba hendak menipu dan menyelewengkan perhatian rakyat. Kami menegaskan dasar memberi keutamaan untuk kebajikan golongan miskin, terpinggir akan lebih banyak memberikan keuntungan kepada rakyat Melayu, kerana merekalah yang merupakan majoriti paling ramai di dalam categori ini.

Silap besar berpura tiada apa terjadi - Kadir

Silap besar berpura tiada apa terjadi - Kadir

Posted by Erin
Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT

(Harakah) - Setelah pengundi berterus terang dengan Perdana Menteri dan BN pada 8 Mac lalu adalah satu kesilapan besar bagi sesiapa pun berpura-pura seolah-olah tiada apa yang terjadi, kata bekas Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan NSTP, Datuk A Kadir Jasin.

"Suka atau tidak, kita terpaksa berterus terang bahawa wujud tanda-tanda yang sangat jelas iaitu kedudukan (Datuk Seri) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebagai Perdana Menteri semakin tercabar," kata beliau dalam blognya, kadirjasin.blogspot.com .

Menurut beliau, antara cabaran kepada kedudukan Abdullah ialah suara lantang dan jelas dari dalam Umno sendiri meminta Perdana Menteri menerima tanggungjawab di atas prestasi buruk Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lalu

Selain itu, katanya, sudah ada bukti bertulis dalam bentuk surat Ahli Parlimen Jerlun merangkap Exco Pemuda Umno Malaysia, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, yang merayu Perdana Menteri meletakkan jawatan.

Pelbagai mesyuarat dan pertemuan tertutup yang membabitkan pembesar dan aktivis Umno yang merayu Perdana Menteri memikirkan kepentingan parti dan negara daripada kepentingan peribadi, katanya lagi.

"Penolakan oleh Raja Perlis terhadap pencalonan Shahidan Kassim sebagai Menteri Besar walaupun dia mendapat surat tauliah daripada Abdullah. Sebaliknya Istana melantik calon lain;

"Kelewatan Sultan Terengganu memperkenankan pelantikan semula Idris Jusoh sebagai Menteri Besar walaupun dia berjaya dengan cemerlang mempertahankan negeri itu daripada jatuh ke tangan pembangkang," kata Kadir ketika menyatakan cabaran-cabaran kepada Abdullah.

Satu lagi cabaran, menurut beliau, ialah perisytiharan kerajaan Pulau Pinang yang dipimpin oleh DAP untuk memansuhkan peruntukan-peruntukan tertentu Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB).

Hishammuddin gali kubur, KJ paling dibenci

Hishammuddin gali kubur, KJ paling dibenci

Posted by Erin
Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT

Tidak bertanggungjawab.

Itulah kecaman Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein terhadap Pengerusi Biro Antarabangsa dan Badan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) pergerakan itu, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
(Harakah) -

Mukhriz mengutus surat kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi meminta beliau berundur serta bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya terhadap keputusan pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lepas.

Ketika menuduh Mukhriz tidak bertanggungjawab, Hishammuddin sempat mengangkat dirinya sebagai "tidak akan lari daripada tanggungjawab selagi saya menjadi Ketua Pemuda dan amanah yang diletakkan di atas bahu saya akan dipikul dengan penuh azam".

Memang, dia tidak akan lari dari tanggungjawab menggali kubur politiknya bersama-sama Abdullah dan menantunya, Khairy Jamaluddin.

"Gali, galilah kubur politik engkau bersama-sama Khairy dan bapa mertuanya, Hishammuddin!" kata seorang rakan di dalam Umno yang ditemui tadi.

Selepas Allahyarham Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj dalam pilihan raya umum 1969 (Perikatan banyak kehilangan kerusi diwakili Melayu di samping kerusi-kerusi lain) dan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dalam pilihan raya umum 1999 (Barisan Nasional hanya mendapat 35 peratus undi Melayu), siapa boleh menafikan Khairy adalah orang yang paling dibenci oleh orang-orang Melayu? Bukan sahaja orang-orang Melayu, malah majoriti besar rakyat.

Apa yang didakwa kemenangannya di Rembau semakin dipertikaikan (selain gangsterisme yang didedahkan oleh Che' Gu Bard, bagaimana 957 undi untuk Parlimen Rembau hilang?). Jangankan orang lain, orang-orang Umno sendiri tidak percaya Khairy menang. Mereka menuduh beliau wakil postal (votes). Bukan wakil rakyat.

Selepas dibenci, Tunku dikasihi manakala Dr Mahathir pula dihormati. Ketika Tunku kembali ke sisi Tuhannya, beribu-ribu rakyat berebut-rebut untuk mengerjakan solat jenazah untuknya di Masjid Zahir, Alor Setar.

Pandangan-pandangan Dr Mahathir pula sehingga kini ditagih oleh rakyat. Kenyataan-kenyataannya dijadikan senjata untuk memerangi Abdullah dan Khairy serta juak-juak mereka dalam pilihan raya umum 8 Mac lalu.

Bagaimana dengan Khairy? Orang-orang Umno sendiri memeranginya sekarang. Kebencian mereka terhadap Khairy meluap-luap sehingga ke tahap menuntut bapa mertuanya berundur.

Pada masa yang sama, dalam usaha terdesak untuk mempertahankan kepimpinan Abdullah, mereka yang dituduh sebagai "barua-barua Khairy" mengadakan tunjuk perasaan di sana sini.

Mereka menggunakan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) sebagai slogan perang atau battle cry mereka.

Kalau bosan dua tiga hari ini, bolehlah bergelak ketawa dengan berita-berita seperti "3,000 bantah hapus DEB di P. Pinang" (Utusan Malaysia), "Bertam buat laporan polis berikutan kenyataan Guan Eng" (Bernama), "Peguam buat laporan polis terhadap Guan Eng" (Utusan Malaysia), "Pentadbiran baru kerajaan Selangor didakwa boneka DAP " (Utusan Malaysa), "DAP lupa fakta DEB � Samy Vellu" (Utusan Malaysa), "DEB: Umno demo bantah Guan Eng" (Malaysiakini), "Hapuskan DEB tindakan orang buta sejarah" (Bernama) "Tindakan DAP hapus DEB akan cetus ketegangan antara kaum, kata Khoo" (Bernama), "DEB: Guan Eng diselar" (Utusan Malaysia), "KM Pulau Pinang berdolak-dalik"(Utusan Malaysia) dan banyak lagi.

Tetapi yang paling kelakar ialah berita Utusan Malaysia bertajuk "Amaran kepada Guan Eng - Jangan buat kenyataan semarakkan ketegangan kaum � PM".

Kononnya!

Kenapa Abdullah tidak cakap mengenai ketegangan kaum ketika pentadbirannya membuang DEB? Dalam posting bertajuk "Bila Mahathir dan Razaleigh berkongsi pentas", Datuk A Kadir Jasin melaporkan:

Tengku Razaleigh dalam pidatonya yang kemas dan mantap menyesali tindakan-tindakan yang menyebabkan Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) seperti yang diilhamkan oleh Tun Abdul Razak gagal mencapai matlamatnya.

Beliau lebih kecewa kerana kini Umno dan pemerintahan yang dipeloporinya bukan sahaja tidak lagi komited kepada idealisme DEB, malah bulat-bulat menolak serta bertindak dengan cara yang mensabotaj keunggulan visi Tun Abdul Razak itu.

Dr Mahathir dan Tengku Razaleigh merujuk kepada konsep pokok Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (Iskandar Development Region) dan pewujudan dua zon bebas (Free Access Zone) sebagai contoh mutakhir penolakan DEB oleh pentadbiran sekarang.

Kedua pemimpin veteran itu bimbang aset negara, khasnya yang dipegang oleh Bumiputera, akan jatuh ke tangan orang asing dan tidak mungkin boleh ditebus kembali.

Dalam posting bertajuk "DEB sedang tenat atau sudah ditalkinkan" pula, Kadir melaporkan:

Beberapa saat sebelum khatib Masjid Negara membaca khutbah Jumaat 15 Jun memuji �pemimpin negara� kerana menaikkan gaji kakitangan awam, seorang eksekutif kanan sebuah bank berbisik kepada saya.

Katanya, di dalam suatu majlis anjuran Kelab Perniagaan Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Business Club), seorang pembesar negara yang sangat besar berkata Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) akan dihapuskan.

Mengikut cerita beliau yang disampaikan secara tergesa-gesa kerana khatib akan memulakan khutbah memuji pemerintah, seorang eksekutif asing bertanya kepada pembesar yang sangat besar itu apakah syarat pemilikan Bumiputera yang dikecualikan di Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (IDR) akan diperluaskan ke seluruh negara jika IDR berjaya.

Pembesar yang sangat besar itu, menurut eksekutif bank terbesar di Persekutuan Malaysia itu berkata: �Jawapan ringkasnya adalah ya.�

Untuk penjelasan lanjut mengenai penghapusan DEB di Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar itu, sila baca posting blogger Umno, The �thirteen million plus Ringgit� guy bertajuk "Musa calls NEP be revoked in South Johor?".

Sebab itulah seorang lagi blogger Umno, A Voice bertanya, entah di manakah Umno semasa Tun Musa Hitam dan Pak Lah mengakhirkan DEB di WPI?

Mempertahankan pemerintahan Abdullah, yang menurut Naib Presiden PAS, Haji Mohamad Sabu sudahpun nyawa-nyawa ikan, akan membawa kehancuran dan pemberontakan lebih besar. Bezanya, pemberontakan kali ini bukan dari rakyat umum tetapi dari ahli-ahli Umno sendiri.

Razaleigh move against Prime Minister?

Razaleigh move against Prime Minister?

Posted by kasee
Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT

Razaleigh seen as man who can rally Chinese, Malay ground

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 – Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has fired a broadside against Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi , writing a letter to all 193 party division chiefs calling for a special meeting to discuss the reverses suffered at the polls.

Ku Li, as Razaleigh is known in the party, is viewed by some of Abdullah’s critics as someone who can unite the party and reach out to Chinese and Indians.

His letter will add further pressure on Abdullah who is being blamed for Barisan Nasional’s lacklustre performance in Election 2008, and could cause a split in a party that is struggling to come to terms with the loss of 5 states.

His letter reached the division heads yesterday and was measured in its tone. The elder statesman of Umno said that the recent election results was not only surprising, but frightening.

He wrote: “In the first general election in 1955, Umno controlled two-thirds seats in Parliament. Today, we are a minority voice in Parliament. At the federal level, Umno is no longer a strong political power. I nearly shed tears thinking about this scenario.

“We should not point fingers at anyone and absolve ourselves. In fact, we should have not allowed the leadership to make the mistake before it happened.‘’

Ku Li urged party members to call a meeting on May 11 to discuss the election results and the future of Malays.
“I’m suggesting this date because it is the anniversary of (the founding of) Umno,” he wrote.

“We must find out why Chinese and Indian voters rejected MCA and MIC candidates. Why were incumbent Umno candidates defeated by PKR and PAS candidates? We must find out why… Otherwise at the next election, if we don’t change our policies, culture and morale in BN and Umno and change radically, BN and Umno will not rule again.

“PKR-DAP-PAS will form the federal government, the PM may be from PKR and the DPM may be from the DAP… Umno will not be able to represent the voice of Malays again, ‘’ he wrote.

His letter sketched the worst case scenario for Umno, appealing to the party’s sense of insecurity over its place in Malaysian politics.

His letter and move to get a special assembly organised will scuttle efforts by the Umno leadership to put off any meeting till the end of the year.

It will also spark a debate within the low reaches of Umno, where there is confusion over the election results. It is difficult for Abdullah to say no to a demand from the ground to be heard.

Razaleigh has challenged the top party leadership before. In 1987, he challenged Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the leadership and lost by 43 votes. He then formed a rival faction of Umno, splitting the party to form Semangat 46, which helped PAS to win control of Kelantan, Ku Li’s home state.- THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

TUN DAIM ZAINUDDIN (synopsis of a forth-coming book)

TUN DAIM ZAINUDDIN (synopsis of a forth-coming book)
Posted by labisman

Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT

Books have been written about Tun Daim Zainuddin, but not many people know who the real Daim is.

He is famous for being taciturn. Everyone knows that Daim is the silent type; so silent, in fact, that the victims of his scheming and conniving have fallen like ten pins without ever knowing what hit them. Daim

He has, on the quiet, made a career of shooting poison darts, laying booby traps. and knifing friend or foe in the back. His hand is never seen, but his mark is everywhere. Truth to tell, he has been at the root of many national crises, but his name has never been smudged, thanks to the wealth he wields and his bond of friendship with Dr. Mahathir.

Most members of Umno's new generation are aware that Daim is an acquisitive millionaire and a macho man with a taste of young women, but they concede him these weaknesses because they see in him a clean and competent Economic Adviser to the Government.

But the generation of Harun Idris, Musa Hitam and Manan Othman to name just a few of the old hands - they are the ones to ask in order to discover who the real Daim is. It was Datuk Harun who plucked Daim up from the depths of failure in the salt business. Daim's wife, Mahani and Harun's wife, Salmah were good friends and an influential pair in the early 1970s.

It was wife power that moved Harun to give Daim 160 acres of prime Kampung Pandan land. And thus Syarikat Maluri was born.There is no use speculating over how much Daim paid Harun. After all, the two were fast friends. For the gory details, just ask Low Kiok Bow or Thamby Chik. They can relate how Daim cheated a land broker and greased Selangor state executive councillor and Mahathir's brother-in-law, Ahmad Razali for that piece of land.

Of course, Daim still had to pay for the land. In those days, it was not easy to borrow from a bank. Hence, he was forced to corrupt Bank Bumiputra. Lorraine Osman and Rais Saniman know how much he spent. Manan Othman can no doubt confirm the figure, he was so close to Daim that they tried to share a girl friend, with Manan often borrowing the bedroom at Daim's office in Taman Maluri.

Daim's elevation as Senator and, subsequently, Minister of Finance, was part of Mahathir's strategic plan. Mahathir's choice should surprise no one, after all the two were intimate friends from the same kampung in Seberang Perak, Alor Setar. Upon becoming Prime Minister on 16 July, 1981, the first thing on Mahathir's mind was how to sideline his archenemy, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Daim told everyone he had no interest in politics, but all the while he was confident of getting the Finance Minister's job after a stint with the Senate. A few months after joining the Senate, Daim became Chairman of Fleet, which owned the New Straits Times. In 1984, he finally got his dream job and became the third most important man in the Federal Cabinet, after the Prime Minister and his deputy.


READ MORE HERE

Musa Hitam, the Deputy Prime Minister, was at first oblivious of the closet ties between Mahathir and Daim. Innocently, he expressed to Mahathir his disquiet over Daim's wheeling and dealing, particularly his award of projects and contracts to his own associates and cronies. It must have baffled him when his complaints fell on deaf ears although he was Deputy Prime Minister, he has no say when it came to economic matters, particularly privatisation and the assignment (to supporters) of economic projects.


How disappointed Musa must have been to find that Daim could not care less about his effort to help his supporters secure some projects or contracts. Daim succeeded in making millionaires of such cronies of Wan Azmi, Halim Saad, Tajuddin Ramli, Samsuddin Hassan, Razali Rahman and Tan Sri Basir, but Musa in the end was cast off as a poor ex-DPM. Musa once complained to Mahathir that Daim had stolen a number of supporters' project proposals, but again Mahathir ignored him.


These were the first acts in the eventual breakup of the Mahathir-Musa partnership. As the interests of Mahathir and Razaleigh bloated, Musa got squeezed out.Many Umno members assume that Razaleigh is Musa's number one enemy. In fact, the reason for the 1986 split in Umno must fall on Daim. It was he who drove Musa to the edge until he had no choice but to resign.


Again, Daim's man of few words demeanour to his advantage. Few knew of his behind-the-scenes role in that Umno rupture not many more know it today. On really should not wonder why Musa called a truce Razaleigh and the two decided to collaborate in the 1987 fight, the one that eventually caused Umno to be outlawed.


At that time, Daim was almost invincible, what support coming from such strongmen as Sanusi Junid and Anwar Ibrahim. The comradeship of the three was rock solid, and the Musa-Razaleigh camp could do nothing except to make a joke of it by giving them the nicknames AIDS.


The formation of the new Umno, Daim and Mahathir had first to get rid of the Lord President, Tun Salleh Abas. Again, Daim was the chief plotter in the sacking of the pious and respected Tun Salleh, and his replacement with Tun Hamid Omar, a playboy and chronic gambler, but Mahathir's and Daim's schoolmate. The appointment of Tun Hamid Omar triggered the collapse of the integrity and the independence of the judiciary.


Finance Minister, Daim persuaded Mahathir to give the Economic Planning Unit and Treasury full power in implementing the privatisation policy. Hence, it was no longer necessary to call for tenders for government projects. Instead, the projects were awarded directly to favoured companies. And so began the era of wealth accumulation by and his cohorts. The United Engineering Company, bought for RM2, changed into a multi-million- ringgit corporation.


As Finance Minister, Daim practically ordered banks to lend to companies that he himself owned. And no Daim crony every complained of difficulty in securing bank credit. Indeed, bankers lived in fear of Daim. Having appointed Wan Azmi and Basir to head Malayan Banking and Bank Bumiputra, he would give any project to any of his cronies because funding was not an issue.


If those physical projects were not enough, Daim also took every opportunity to take wealth from the share market as well. Every time the Treasury approved a company for listing on the stock exchange, Daim cronies received their lien's shares. That was how in Southern Bank, Resort World, Sports Toto, Berjaya, Tanjong and scores of other blue chip firms landed with Daim and Company.


Once, when share values were high, Daim boasted among friends that his visible wealth alone totalled RM65 billion. To shut the mouth of Barisan Nasional leaders, Daim gave lucrative projects to Samy Vellu and Ling Liong Sik so that their children could be big-shot in batches.


Daim managed to fool Umno members into believing that Mahathir would not let him go although he had asked to be relieved of his Cabinet post on a number of occasions. With Musa and Razaleigh out of the picture, Daim could grab as much wealth as he wanted without even Mahathir stopping him.


Besides, he was Umno's treasurer and he could make it look as if the companies he controlled were those in which the party had a stake.Daim's avarice damaged not only his own image as finance minister, but also Mahathir's and Malaysia's reputation with the international community. It is said that he used to demand exorbitant fees for himself in negotiating contracts involving foreign suppliers.


The chairmen of Japan's two biggest banks - the Bank of Tokyo and Sanwa Bank - once complained to Mahathir that his Finance Minister demanded commissions that were too high when negotiating yen loans. Margaret Thatcher, too, has complained about Daim's role as a commissioned agent. He had - or still has - accounts in Zurich, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Caymen Island, Channel Island and Virgin Island. Indeed, instead of keeping his billions in Malaysia, he has stashed them overseas.


With his immense wealth and far-reaching influence, Daim eventually became a burden that Mahathir could no longer bear. In every deal he made, there was something in it for himself. It was not beneath him even to conspire with Lee Kuan Yew to snatch KTM land in Singapore. The Malaysian Cabinet had no knowledge of this. But this issue of Malaysia being cheated by Lee Kuan Yew and Daim is far from over.


Mahathir eventually realised that he had to end Daim's lordship over the Finance Ministry. And so he told him to quit. Mahathir worried that if Daim continued as Finance Minister, complaints would come not only from Vincent Tan, Ananda Krishnan, Arumugam and other members of the Malaysian business elite, but also from foreign leaders. Signs of a Daim-related scandal were ominous and it could break anytime in Japan or Britain, therefore, Daim had to go.


Daim's resignation was planned such that it would not appear as if he had been sacked. Indeed, it does not make sense why a powerful Finance Minister, rich and in control of so many public companies, would suddenly quit simply because he had lost interest in the job. The truth is that he was ordered to resign.


Observers will recall that Mahathir's first comment on the so-called reaction was, "He has asked several times for permission to resign, and I have finally allowed it. I hope Daim would not leave the country after resigning". That statement was pregnant with meaning. Mahathir knew Daim was sulking. So did Anwar and Sanusi. Mahathir retained Daim as Umno Treasurer for a good reason, he wanted to ensure the safety of Umno money, a lot of which was under Daim's control.


But Daim who holds so many of Mahathir's secrets, is only a sly one. After resigning, he ran off to live in his San Francisco residence. He told the Malaysian public he wanted to study at Harvard, but in fact he wanted to leave Malaysia.


Mahathir, who was familiar with Daim's antics, pleaded with him to come back, saying he need him to advise on economic matters. Daim returned and announced that Mahathir had named him Economic Adviser to the Government. Rafidah asked Mahathir to confirm this, but all she got was silence.
Daim was never formally appointed as Economic Adviser, a post which Tun Raja Mohar once held. The appointment is the prerogative of the Public Services Department. Daim gave himself the job. To keep Daim happy, Mahathir allowed him to open an office at the Economic Planning Unit, and this strengthened the public perception that he was still in control as far as economic affairs were concerned.


When he was to told to resign as Finance Minister, Daim asked Mahathir to appoint Anwar Ibrahim to the job. Obviously, he thought this would help to ensure that his skeletons would remain closeted. He warned Mahathir of the peril that Rafidah would be to both of them: the secrets they shared would be uncovered. Daim also persuaded Mahathir to appoint Mustapha Mohammad as Anwar's deputy because these two could be depended on to fill up the holes he had left gaping. Anwar is nobody's fool, but he sacrificed his idealism to protect his towkay.


As far as we know, no Finance Minster in this world has retired a billionaire, except Daim. In the book Daim yang Diam: Sebuah Biographi (Daim the Silent: A Biography), Daim explains his retirement: "I am happy in retirement. It was too heavy a responsibility. In truth, I love the business world. Business is in my blood. I love to make money. I know how to do it. I can do it just by sitting in this chair. On a lucky day, I can make millions."


Friend of Soros

According to an internal bank analysis, collaborated by the corporate community, and from Daim crony Amin Shah, Daim's wealth, in ringgit and foreign currencies kept overseas currently amounts to RM20 billion.

With so much money at his disposal, Daim can manipulate the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. He showed his hand in 1991, just to prove how much influence he wielded. After selling off his stocks, he made a statement to the effect that the market would crash. And crash it did. As we can all recall, even Mahathir could not help but make a wry remark when Daim boasted that he invested in KLSE only for pocket money.


But to his good friend, Daim said he could turn in profit on RM90 million a day when the market was up. When the market plummeted in October 1991 Daim bought back his share on the cheap. When the market turned bullish again 1995 and 1996, Daim made billions of ringgit it. This, then, is what the work of an economic adviser amounts to.


So it turns out that Soros is not the only big time market manipulator and currency dealer. Daim met Soros twice in London when the ringgit was being hotly traded. Anyway, when the ringgit fell below RM4 to the US dollar, Mahathir asked Daim for help and, according to a source in Singapore, he lost RM1 billion trying to prop up the Malaysian currency. To lose that much in currency trading, imagine how much money he had at his disposal.


The falls in currency and share values put Mahathir in a feverish panic. He knew his policies and his own belligerent attitude were partly to blame. Seeing Mahathir in such a frenzied state, Daim recommended that he declare a state of emergency to enable him to restore the economy and at the same time, bury the corpses that were beginning to stink.


We hail the Chief Secretary to the Government and the Solicitor-General for opposing the move. If Daim's plan had been followed, Mahathir would turn dictator and the Malaysian economy would be utterly ruined. Having failed to declare an emergency, Mahathir set up the National Economic Action Council, headed by Daim, with the Economic Planning Unit as its Secretariat.


The original plan was to give the NEAC complete autonomy, but the Cabinet ministers opposed this for fear that they would lose any vestige of power they had left. Eventually, the council became merely an advisory body, with the Cabinet having final say on its recommendations.


The establishment of the council was a wedge between Anwar and Daim. Thus, two old friends who had together stood behind Mahathir against Musa were now turned against each other. All of the council's recommendations were rejected by the Cabinet and Bank Negara. Daim openly assailed Bank Negara for dismissing his proposals, such as those relating to interest rates and credit control. We salute the Bank Negara Governor for maintaining a prudent monetary policy in the face of Daim's bullying and insults. Unlike Daim and his cohorts, Bank Negara's officials are not self-serving. Daim's appointment to the NEAC was a major national mistake.


Going by press reports of its deliberations so far, the NEAC's sole preoccupation is with saving mega corporations from bankruptcy. No doubt, these are Daim-related companies. Daim has yet to show any concern over the rise in the price of chillies, or the leaps in fish prices or how the price of rice has boiled over. Neither has he talked about small businesses in their depth throes. Class F contractors going bankrupt or kampung road projects being abandoned.
In his dictionary, there are no entries for the small man's worries, nothing about low-cost houses, water cuts or study funds for the children of poor Malays. In fact, it contains only billion size figures. While the Malaysian economy is close to ruin, Daim remains a billionaire, living a life of glamour, jet setting with his new wife Naimah and the attractive Josephine, an Indian lass who helps him run one of his firms, the International Malaysian Bank.


We have merely given a sketch of who the real Daim is. A thorough account will soon be available in book form. We recommend the book to Umno members, especially those with big ambitions, because they will learn much from its fantastic but true tales of economic and political intrigues.


We denounce the likes of Vincent Tan and Tan Phek Khiing for land-grabbing, but perhaps we should ask the Menteri Besar of Johor and the Menteri Besar of Kedah how much land Daim has taken. Ask Sanusi how much Daim paid to the Kedah government for 12,000 acres in Sungai Petani and how much profit he made from them. For 12,000 acres, Osman Arof had to be sacrificed. The true story of the Daim-Sanusi conspiracy in Kedah will be exposed in the book.


Umno is at a crossroads and has to decide wisely where it is going. One road heads to glory, where stability and democratic practice will abide. The other leads to division, autocracy and ultimately, utter destruction. The call for reform, which used to be made only in whispers at small, secretive gatherings, is becoming louder.


Umno members, showing that they can no longer contain their restiveness and frustration, have begun to openly debate the need for change, even at party conventions. Can there be a clearer indication that they have reached their tether's end, that they can no longer stomach the leadership's undemocratic attitude and the prevalence - whether in the party or the government - of favouritism, cronyism, nepotism, graft and other misdeeds? Malay nationalism is dead and materialism and egoism are running amok.


We cannot depend on the Umno Supreme Council to initiate reform because few of the members have the guts to speak up. In fact, the council has lately been transformed into a monologue theatre. But of course even a monologue can flop without good supporting players - fools, clowns, jesters, attendants and the oh-so- important flatterers.
As far as these bit players are concerned, Umno's ideals and principles are not as important as their jobs. This keep-your-mouth- shut syndrome serves only to embolden the party leadership in its conceit, arrogance and haughtiness. A president has become a dictator. Woe are the Malays and Umno. What is to become of them? That is a question only Umno members can answer.
DAIM OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
Posted by fudzail at 6:12 PM
Labels: daim