Newsbreaker: Husam lost (updated)

4:30 pm

Shieh of Kickdefella finally posted a response. He ask if it is a rejection of Nik Aiz and Kelantan PAS?

Husam reject his man's claim in Malaysiakini here earlier. He is being a gentlemen or politically correct but it does not hide the fact that Kelantan PAS did badly.

Hey friend, you sound like sulking. Take it easy. Wrap up and have a good sleep. Jaga your heart.

Hantu Laut here felt Husam's demand for the Prime Ministership to PAS sent shivers through Anwar's bad back. They are talking of being alternative of UMNO. PAS Youth demanded NEP to stay, setting aside Anwar's call, and invited response from MCA Youth.

Unker Kit very confused here, you know. But why the less than enthusiastic response?

3:40 pm

Malaysiakini reported Nasharuddin reiterating his message that the president did not reject any attempt to engage with other political parties and NGOs. He clarified engagement with UMNO does not mean cooperation. Read here.

Syed Akbar of OutSyed The Box is churning in his stomach with confusion. Which way folks? Read here.

Zubaidah Abu Bakar of NST is asking is PAS wanting to go alone? Read in Malaysia Today here.

12:45 pm

Malaysiakini reported Husam said members did not understand his message but believe the three Vice President share his view. Read here.

Husam rejected UMNO after the General Election 2008 result. Why did delegates rejected him? There are those who believed he could win in a straight fight. Read here. Nevertheless, why?

11:00 am

Nasharudin kekal; Salahuddin,Mahfuz dan Tuan Ibrahim menangi Naib Presiden

SHAH ALAM, 6 Jun (Hrkh) - Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pemilih Muktamar PAS ke-55, Dato' Mustafa Ali mengumumkan, Ustaz Nasharudin Mat Isa menang jawatan Timbalan Presiden PAS menewaskan, Dato' Husam Musa dan Mohamad Sabu.

Sementara, bagi jawatan Naib Presiden, Salahudin Ayub, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man dan Dato' Mahfuz Omar menewaskan dua lagi pencabar, Mujahid Yusof Rawa dan Nik Amar Nik Abdullah.

Di bawah ialah keputusan penuh pemilihan PAS sesi 2009/2011: See here.

10:30 am

6/6 PAS election: Incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa beat Husam Musa by 199 votes for deputy president's post (PAS)/STAR 10:29:42

Predicted by Garamanis here and hinted by Penarik Beca here.

Pening Pak Shiekh ...

We await from Husam's man, Kickdefella update here. Putrajaya already?

Lee Kuan Yew's Malaysian tour of duty

Malaysia Insider, the online newspaper of Kalimullah and Brendan Pereira reported of 'boss' Lee Kuan Yew's travel plan for his next week's visit to Malaysia.

LKY will be visiting political party and state leaders throughout the country. Strangely his extensive travel plan by-passed the radar of Malaysian blogs, except blog Politica here and MyKMU's discussion forum here.

If my understanding is correct, there should be clearance from Wisma Putra for his itenary. Why did Wisma Putra allowed? Or maybe it is not required?

More questions, what is the purpose of his tour of Malaysia? LKY is not someone who does thing without his own reasons. What are the true reasons and intentions of his visit? Anything insidious behind the stated intention to feel the pulse of the country?

During Tun Lah's administration, he improved relation with Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore. This improved relation is translated into the Iskandar Malaysia economic corridor that would be the much needed physical expansion for Singapore.

Is this unusual visit a signal of wider presence of Singapore into other states, particularly opposition controlled states? Penang state Government have been making regular trade trips to Singapore. It was recently announced that the Penang-Singapore flight route will be doubled from 40 odd flights a week.

The Malaysia Insider report below:

LKY visits Malaysia, not for nostalgia

The Malaysian Insider, June 4th, 2009

JUNE 3 — Lee Kuan Yew — the father of modern Singapore — will visit Malaysia next week, touring several states and meeting with a number of Malaysian leaders and senior journalists in what has been billed as a trip down memory lane.

But there is nothing nostalgic about the trip for the longest-serving Singapore prime minister, senior minister and now minister mentor. He has been at the helm of Singapore since 1959, brought Singapore to form Malaysia and cried when it had to go independent in 1965.


His week-long visit is packed with meetings from the start in Kuala Lumpur where he meets MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat on Monday.

A day later, he will meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, UMNO vice-presidents and Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. And some editors of major Malaysian media.

Kuan Yew then moves to Ipoh to meet Perak Ruler Sultan Azlan Shah and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir despite the political impasse in the silver state. His trip continues to Penang where he will pay a visit to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and other leaders of the DAP, an off-shoot of his People's Action Party (PAP) after Singapore left the federation in 1965.

The octogenarian will then cross the peninsula to the Malay heartland and meet Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and the Kelantan regent.

It will be his first face-to-face meeting with Nik Aziz, the PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan mentri besar for the past 19 years. It is a recognition by Singapore of the growing importance of the Islamist party in Malaysia.

Kuan Yew will also pay a courtesy call on Pahang's Sultan Ahmad Shah and the Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

Lightweight tourism for old times' sake it is not.

What is clear is that Kuan Yew wants to feel the pulse of the country that became Malaysia on his 40th birthday in 1963 and figure out if the political landscape will be altered drastically after the next general elections.

The unprecedented win by the opposition pact in Election 2008 where Islamists and secularists came together on a common platform to capture four more states and break Barisan Nasional's two-thirds parliamentary majority was clearly a shock to Singapore which has only known PAP rule since independence.

Much of that victory has been credited with a younger population and politicians who are savvier in connecting with them, using the Internet to overcome the mass and mainstream media controlled by the government. Much the same as in Singapore.

And since Election 2008, Singapore politicians have been wondering whether the strong showing by the Pakatan Rakyat is sustainable or whether UMNO will be able to recover lost ground and triumph in the next polls.

So what happens in Malaysia is very important for Singapore, which is sandwiched between two Asean giants Malaysia and Indonesia, and has been derisively called a little red dot by some Malaysian leaders.

And of utmost importance to Kuan Yew whose pessimism about Singapore survival after being asked to leave Malaysia fuelled his determination to turn the city-state without any natural resources into one of the most developed port and financial hubs in the world.

He is someone that Malaysia can learn from. The only thing is, Lee Kuan Yew is in Malaysia to learn, for his country's future.

Oh ...please Brendan, it is more than just that. Frankly, I am not surprised if he has plans to install a puppet regime. My ears are well on the ground. I am not guessing.

Deep Throat's lead for MACC on the stadium collapse

The roof of a stadium collapsed in Gong Badak, Terengganu. The uproar is naturally expected. Everyone will be upset when a one year old stadium collapsed.

Luckily, it didn't happened during the Sukma Games last year. One can't imagine if the Sultan was present at the royal box when it happened. There was an international endurance event held there last year or so with the presence of Arabs and our royalty too.

Alhamdulillah, no one died from the collapse. On the collapsed day, there was supposed to be an inter-varsity games but was cancelled. It could have an international disaster.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was angry and he felt the contractor for the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin stadium should be taken to task, if it was proof to be guilty of negligence.

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, whose under political pressure from the group aligned with the previous MB, was obliging to the reporters to drop hints. This is his opportunity for a political relief.

MACC came in fast to investigate. Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Mansor expressed his ministry's wilingness to cooperate. He gave assurance there would be transparency and nothing should be hidden.

A deep throat from Kuala Terengganu called last night. Deep throat is a contractor who initially had interest to bid for the project but decided not to bid. "Oghe cup doh, buang masa abe," he said.

Some of his information are fuzzy and may not tally with the news report. But he gave valuable leads and it should be useful for MACC.

It is the existence of occurance like in deep throat's information that makes distinguished former civil servant, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam up in arms with politicians. He cited the incident as another example of a waste of public funds and poor implementation of the tender process.

“Prima facie, the collapse could be due to poor structural design and construction," he was quoted by The Star. As Chairman of the Centre of Public Policy Studies, he demand a public enquiry.

There was no apologetic voices. The State Public Works Department deputy director Ghazali Hashim was reported in The Star saying the roof is still under warranty period.

This is the strange and dangerous part. They claim they have not issued any certificate for the roof. But, the stadium was used for the Sukma Games based on a recomendation from "a local consultant".

According to deep throat, the Exco member in charge of the state public infrastructure program under Idris Jusoh is Dato Wan Hisham.

He is brother to the losing BN candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election last year and former Deputy Minister of Internal Affair, Dato Wan Farid. Wan Hisham was also exco for tourism and the annual grand event, Monsoon Cup.

Deep throat said there was pressure from the MB on the state JKR to push the stadium to be ready in time for June 2008 Sukma Games.

That is understandable but did the state JKR relented to political pressure to the extent of compromising safety? If the hiring of "a local consultant" is any indication, state JKR did not dare to certify the stadium safety themselves then.

Who is the architect, contractor and consultants involved? Whose head are we going to chop? Or whose head is going to be saved?.

The information on the stadium in The Star report is as follows:

"The stadium is part of the modern Gong Badak sports complex, which was built at an initial cost of RM250mil but the amount surged by an additional RM50mil due to soaring prices of building materials.

The indoor stadium, which is also part of the complex, was built at a cost of RM160mil."

That is what's disclosed for the public, claimed deep throat. Among the community of Terengganu Contractor's, it is known that a Bumi-controlled PLC made a tender bid to build the stadium at RM130 million. The company is owned by a self-made Terengganu businessman and be referred as Company A.

But the project was awarded to a company and their consortium, which will be refered as Konsortium K. The Consortium was awarded at an inflated price.

Deep throat could not be specific about the inflated price but he mentioned it as either RM160 or RM190 million. Konsortium K subsequently hawked the project in Kuala Lumpur to sell at Company A's bid price of RM130 million and cashed in the balance.

Most complaining contractors during Pak Lah's administration spoke of the rampantness in the use of such modus operandi.

Deep throat further explained that the project came under the Wang Ehsan program for Terengganu and it is under the purview of the Prime Minister cum Minister of Finance office.

According to deep throat, there was an additional Variation Order (VO) of RM200 million in the picture. He is not clear whether it is for the whole sports complex or stadium alone. Logically, it is for the whole complex. The justification used for the VO is believed to be for the general election and the fast track nature of the project.

Deep throat left a clue for MACC. Follow the money trail into Emarcom and Gerbang Mercu. This could lead to an ambitous young man, brothers with 'wants', a youth with an ugly nickname and some big people.

Hope Dato Najib's administration take a stern and swift action to send the culprits to the slammer. This will show to the people he is dead serious about cleaning up corruption. The Terengganu people will appreciate his action for it shows he value their life.

Deep throat's info needs to be verified and the details are withheld. Nevertheless, the information should give lead for MACC to work on.

In the meanwhile, one is innocent until guilty.

---------------------------

MACC men begin probe

The Star, Wednesday June 3, 2009

KUALA TERENGGANU: Several Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers were seen photographing and interviewing witnesses at the site of the collapsed roof at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Stadium in Gong Badak.

Four plainclothes officers, including state MACC director Ahmad Sabri Hussin, were spotted at the site between noon and 1pm.

Potential write-off: Several firemen inspecting a car which was damaged by the collapsed roof of the stadium yesterday. — Bernama

When approached, one officer said a probe had been initiated into the awarding and managing of the contract to a South Korean construction firm which was responsible for the work.

“We are probing whether there are elements of graft and mismanagement,” said the officer who requested anonymity.

He said the MACC would focus its probe on the awarding process of the contract.

Asked if politicians and senior government officials had been involved in the awarding of the contract, he said: “It’s still premature and I don’t want to elaborate on this.”

Some 60% of the stadium roof collapsed and the impact severely damaged other parts of the building.

Construction of the RM300mil stadium, which began in 2005, had hit a snag midway apparently due to technical glitches.

The contractor was to hand over the sports complex in April last year to the state government for Sukma, which was held from May 31 to June 6, but delivery was only made a month later.

In an immediate response, Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Mansor said his ministry would cooperate with the MACC and that it would be transparent, adding that it had nothing to hide.

“I am more concerned about our image being sullied abroad and I welcome MACC to investigate,” he said.

Batu Burok assemblyman Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi said the matter was of public interest and that the MACC should centre its probe on the involvement of “high-powered individuals”.

Meanwhile, some 5,000 athletes representing 20 higher learning institutions who were to converge at the stadium for a sports meet had to go to a different venue at the last minute.

The organiser’s spokesman Zakaria Ibrahim said the event would go ahead as planned.

* Updated: 3:15 PM

Buat apa sibuk hal pemilihan PAS?

Gambar dipetik dari blog Nobisha sini

Muktamar PAS akan bermula hari ini dengan Mesyuarat Pemuda PAS dan Dewan Muslimah di Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam. Manakala Mesyuarat induk bermula lusa pada Jun 5hb, 2009.

Tahun ini adalah tahun pemilihan bagi PAS. Berlainan dari tahun lepas yang dianggap sebagai pertandingan antara puak ulamak lawan puak profesyenal, pertandingan kali ini dipanggil pertembungan antara puak “Erdogan” dan “ulamak”. Oleh sebab, puak “Erdogan” dilihat sebagai puak pro-Anwar Ibrahim, maka orang-orang UMNO seolah-olah menyokong puak “ulamak.”

Puak “ulamak” dilihat sebagai sedia berbincang dengan UMNO untuk kepentingan bersama khususnya dalam perkara-perkara membabitkan negara, agama, dan tanpa disebut bangsa. Menurut Nasaruddin dalam temubual dengan The Star sini, ianya adalah menurut persetujuan parti dan telah diindors oleh Muktamar PAS tahun lepas.

Pada pemilihan dahulu, Nasaruddin mewakili kumpulan profesyenal dan juga rapat dengan Anwar Ibrahim. Kini dia mahu di”khenduri”kan oleh puak “Erdogan” kerana mengusahakan kerajaan campuran UMNO-PAS di negeri Perak dan Selangor. Kalau tidak dikacau Ahmad Awang di Perak, Nizar juga Menteri Besar dengan exco dibahagi dua.

Kumpulan “Erdogan” dianggap pro-Anwar kerana mereka lebih cenderung menguatkan formula Pakatan Rakyat. Sedikit sebanyak sebahagian besar kumpulan “Erdogan” adalah kumpulan yang dahulunya kumpulan “profesyenal.” Pertandingan ini juga dipanggil oleh spin doctor pihak “Erdogan” sebagai pertandingan antara kumpulan “pro-UMNO” dan “pro-Pakatan Rakyat”.

Kalau diingat kembali persaingan antara UMNO dan PAS dahulu, UMNO merendah-rendahkan kumpulan ulamak yang menguasai PAS dan seolah-olah menyokong kumpulan profesyenal. Sekarang lain kumpulan yang disokong. Sebenarnya orang UMNO bukan tahu sangat politik PAS kerana tidak pernah ambil berat politik dalaman PAS.

Maka, buat apa UMNO nak sibuk-sibuk sokong kumpulan ini dan itu. Jagalah hal sendiri yang perlu diperbetulkan.

Pemilihan

Ketua Pemuda PAS, YB Salahuddin Ayub akan berakhir peranan sebagai Ketua Pemuda PAS dan penggantinya Nasaruddin Tantawi sudah menang tanpa bertanding.

Rezeki Salahuddin nampaknya agak baik hingga dilaporkan Malaysiakini hampir pasti memenangi jawatan Naib Presiden. Bukan satu kewajipan untuk Ketua Pemuda PAS mendapat tempat otomatik sebagai Naib Presiden.

Dilaporkan bersama dalam laporan Malaysiakini, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yang merupakan dari fraksi ‘ulama’ juga nampaknya hampir pasti mendapat tempat. Dari jangkaan kawan-kawan dalam PAS, tempat kosong ke tiga akan dipenuhi oleh YB Mahfudz Omar. Semasa Mahfudz memegang jawatan Ketua Pemuda PAS, naibnya adalah Salahuddin.

Diperingkat Presiden, kita sudah ketahui YB Tuan Guru Dato Seri Hj Hadi Awang sudah menang tanpa bertanding. Ketua Dewan Ulama sudah dimenangi tanpa bertanding juga oleh Harun Taib.

Tumpuan orang ramai dan pemerhati politik adalah kepada jawatan Timbalan Presiden yang ditanding antara YB Nasaruddin Isa, YB Husam Musa dan Mat Sabu. Pada pandangan ramai, pertandingan ini adalah antara Nasa dan Husam dan bakal dimenangi oleh Husam.

Mat Sabu dilihat sebagai tidak signifikan. Apa yang tidak diketahui ramai, Mat Sabu ini adalah pro-ulamak, dan anti-Anwar Ibrahim. Dialah yang pertama memberi gelaran Al Juburi kepada Anwar Ibrahim dan sampai sekarang masih percaya Anwar melakukan liwat.

Tetapi Mat Sabu pula tidak sokong sebarang kerjasama dengan UMNO. Dia mahu PAS dikuatkan agar rakyat akan ada pilihan antara BN pimpinan UMNO dan PR pimpinan PAS. Dengan demikian, Malaysia mempunyai sistem dua parti yang mana kerajaan boleh berubah-ubah antara dua pakatan parti.

Dalam pertandingan ini, Mat Sabu dilihat hanya memecahkan undi Nasaruddin kerana perwakilan-perwakilan PAS yang condong kepada ulamak akan berpecah tiga.

Perubahan

Sebenarnya PAS sudah banyak berubah dari zaman Haji Hadi mengeluarkan fatwa takfirkan UMNO.

Mereka bersedia berkompromi untuk mengenepikan tuntutan negara Islam buat sementara untuk membina pakatan pembangkang yang mantap. Penekanan mereka kini adalah kepada perkara universal yang ada persamaan dengan kumpulan kepentingan lain. Nampaknya ini telah menjadikan PAS lebih diterima oleh pengundi bukan Melayu.

Ini menyusahkan UMNO kerana formula nisbah pecahan kaum 60:40 untuk Melayu dan bukan Melayu yang menjadi kejayaan mereka kini bakal tidak menjadi lagi. Pengundi 40% bukan Melayu yang menyusahkan PAS untuk menang kini memberi kelebihan kepada mereka pula kerana undi Melayu sudah pecah empat – UMNO, PAS, PKR dan atas pagar.

Kalau difikirkan baik-baik, PAS sekarang adalah PAS yang dahulu dimahukan UMNO. Cuma UMNO agak kecewa apabila PAS yang diharapkan bersatu, apabila keadaan Melayu tersepit, enggan bergabung untuk menubuhkan kerajaan campuran di Selangor dan Perak. Usaha itu dihalang oleh kumpulan “Erdogan” dan individu tertentu dalam kumpulan “ulamak” yang berdendam. Ini yang menjadi retorik UMNO mengecam PAS sebagai tidak mahu bersatu demi bangsa dan agama.

Perlukah UMNO dan PAS bersatu? Kalau ditanya orang-orang lama didua-dua belah pihak, mereka sebelah sana tidak ikhlas dan berusaha secara senyap-senyap untuk mengembangkan pengaruh atau melemahkan (undermine) pihak mereka. Masaalah sebenarnya satu kapal tidak boleh ada dua pihak mahu jadi nakhoda.

Untuk UMNO dan PAS bersatu di bawah satu bendera, hampir mustahil untuk berlaku. Bukan kerana tidak mahu orang Melayu dan Islam bersatu, tetapi realiti politiknya tidak memungkinkan. Pertama, UMNO perlu kewujudan PAS dan mungkin satu hari, PAS memerlukan UMNO sebagai pengimbang dan peranan untuk “check and balance”.
Kedua, UMNO dan Pas sebenarnya mengejar kerusi yang sama.

Ikutkan mana ada bangsa dalam dunia yang bersatu hati, padat dan lengkap? Secara realistiknya, UMNO dan PAS perlu mempunyai satu haluan dalam hal-hal hak dan kepentingan strategik orang Melayu dan Islam.

Mereka perlu sama sepakat mempertahankan kedudukkan ugama Islam, hak istimewa kaum Bumiputera, kedudukkan raja-raja Melayu, tanah rizab Melayu, dan lain-lain perkara yang digelar perkara-perkara kontrak sosial. Jangan pula demi kuasa dan untuk menarik undi, kedua-dua pihak sanggup mengalah dan tolak ansur untuk lakukan apa saja yang dituntut hingga tidak menguntungkan kepentingan kaum dan ummah.

Stail dan penekanan mungkin berlainan dan laungan tidak sama lantang, tetapi hala tuju UMNO dan PAS harus mempunyai pertemuan untuk membentuk insan, masyarakat dan negara yang mana Islam diamalkan dengan acuan yang progresif dan insan Melayu yang dinamik dan glokal. Baca Paneh Miang sini.

Memang sepatutnya UMNO jangan jadi Pak Sibuk dalam hal ehwal dalaman PAS. Bagaimana pun mahu digembar gemburkan PAS oleh UMNO, fraksi-fraksi dalam PAS bukan satu masaalah seteruk dalam UMNO. Mereka boleh merapatkan barisan dan mengenepikan perbezaan falsafah politik peribadi untuk kepentingan parti.

Tidak seperti dalam UMNO yang mana ada fraksi-fraksinya begitu berbeza antara satu sama lain hingga sudah keluar suara dari penggiat dan pemimpin UMNO yang meyerupai falsafah dan agenda pembangkang.

Dengan demikian, UMNO yang perlu bersatu padu dan melakukan perubahan-perubahan yang bukan saja drastik tetapi segera. Jika tidak, BN mungkin hanya dapat mengekalkan kuasa pada PRU13 di Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Melaka dan Pahang. Fikir dan lakukan segera perubahan. Baca tulisan di MyKMU sini.

"Erdogan"

Jika demikian, wujudkah kumpulan “Erdogan”? Sebagai contoh, Husam Musa dan Khalid Samad dikatakan ahli kumpulan “Erdogan”.

Kedua-dua mereka mempunyai pengelibatan lama dalam PAS. Mungkin Husam dilihat agak rapat dengan Anwar, tetapi dalam debat menentang Khairy, Husam nyatakan mahu tubuh negara Islam. Anwar tidak pernah mahu tubuhkan negara Islam dengan hukum hudud. Tanpa maklumat belakang tabir, Husam hanyalah aktivis dan ahli politik yang mengambil peluang "menggunakan" Anwar Ibrahim.

Manakala, Khalid Samad yang dituduh “Erdogan” oleh Dato Hasan Ali, Ketua Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor lebih lama dalam PAS dari Hasan Ali. Suatu masa dahulu, Hasan Ali ini adalah operatif Biro Tatanegara (BTN) semasa Anwar memegang jawatan TPM dan menguasai BTN melalui wakilnya, Dato Kamaruddin Kacha.

Tuduhan mengatakan kumpulan “Erdogan” menyokong Anwar sebagai individu pun kurang tepat. Mungkin bagi YB Dato Kamaruddin Jaafar yang bersama di MCKK, ABIM dan UMNO dengan Anwar. Tapi kurang tepat untuk yang lain.

Menurut seorang rakan saya dalam PAS, Anwar pernah memarahi Salahuddin, Mahfiz, Husam, Nasaruddin dan Saifuddin Nasution (PKR tetapi masa itu rapat dengan PAS) kerana menghadiri Majlis Ceramh Tun Dr Mahathir anjuran Malaysia Today bersama Kumpulan NGO-NGO di Taman Melawati pada Jun tahun 2006. Begitu marahnya Anwar hingga terkeluar kata-kata tak akan memafkan.

Bukan mahu mengenepikan isu “Erdogan” sama sekali kerana ianya sesuatu yang mencemaskan kalau difahami. Erdogan adalah pemimpin Islamik Turki. Negara Turki adalah negara Islam sekular yang mempunyai hubungan diplomatik dan sekutu rapat dengan Amerika Syarikat dan Israel.

Jika formula yang realistik adalah sama dengan yang serting disebut oleh Mat Sabu dan Dr Mahathir, UMNO dan PAS perlu dominan dalam pakatan parti masing-masing. Walaupun kelihatan berdiam dan tidak melawan kepada tuntutan-tuntutan parti-parti bukan Melayu, dalam dan luar BN, UMNO tetap dominan.

Masaalahnya PAS tidak pula dominan di dalam Pakatan Rakyat. Sebut negara Islam, DAP boleh melenting dan belasah PAS sesuka hati. Media perdana yang dikuasai bukan Islam boleh berikan liputan.

Ramai merasakan Anwar dan PKR serta sedikit sebanyak DAP tidak kuat organisasi tetapi bergantung keapda kekuatan jentera dan organisasi PAS. Tetapi agenda PAS tidak menguasai Pakatan Rakyat. Anwar pula yang menyerlah sebagai pemimpin PR dan bukan Haji Hadi yang bakal PM Malaysia jika PR memerintah. Nizar boleh dicucuk hidung untuk di heret sana sini oleh pemimpin-pemimpin DAP Perak, Ngeh dan Nga.

Pe'el UMNO?

Sejak berkembang kuasa politik, PAS pun sudah melihatkan pe’el sama dengan UMNO dengan pendedahan politikwang baru-baru ini, walau pun belum ketara sangat. Perkara ini harus dilihat dengan serius demi politik Melayu dan Islam.

Untuk hilang dalam mabuk kuasa ini mudah saja. Seorang bekas Pengarah PKK yang alim boleh menjadi perasuh dalam setahun dengan mula dirosak dengan hanya dirasuah bola golf percuma. Baca blog Cucu Selampit sini berkenaan kerosakkan yang sudah menular dalam PAS.

Satu legi teguran adalah tentang tempat Muktamar PAS diadakan. Kalau dilihat, semua parti-parti politik, mengadakan perhimpunan di kemudahan hotel atau bangunan kepunyaan sendiri. Tidak ada satu parti politik yang mengadakan Perhimpunan Tahunan di fasiliti kerajaan. Muktamar PAS tahun ini diadakan di Stadium Melawati dan tahun-tahun lepas di stadium di Ipoh dan Kuala Terengganu.

Baca juga komen Nobisa mengenai Branding & Repositioning PAS sini.

Sebagai penutup kata rencana yang mengupas politik Melayu masakini, selagi PAS belum dominan dalam Pakatan Rakyat dan tidak garenti memegang jawatan Perdana Menteri bila menang, bukankah baik kita teruskan UMNO saja yang memerintah?

Saja mengusik. Selamat bersidang, PAS.

Lim Kit Siang cuba fitnah MARA berhenti beri biasiswa

Pada waktu tengahhari, saya berjumpa seorang teman untuk makan tengahhari. Oleh kerana, kawan saya sudah makan, maka saya yang makan seorang. Banyak yang kami sembangkan, tetapi saya tersentak diberitahu khabar MARA membekukan biasiswa pelajar Institiut Pelajaran Tinggi (IPT).

Petang tadi, saya diberitahu mengenai penulisan blog terbaru YB Lim Kit Siang yang bertanya adakah MARA sudah kehabisan dana untuk memberi penuntut Melayu IPT biasiswa.

Blog LKS memang dalam bloglist untuk dipantau. Memang benar pun beliau menulis mengenai biasiswa MARA di sini.

Terus saya hantar SMS kepada beberapa orang dan YB yang ada kaitan dengan MARA dan hel ehwal pendidikan. Wakil rakyat hometown saya menafikan dan memberitahu Dato Seri Najib memberitahu Mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi UMNO bahawa RM500 juta telah diperuntukkan kepada MARA untuk biasiswa.

LKS telah menerbitkan e-mel yang diterima dari seorang pelajar Melayu yang tidak dinyatakan nama dan belajar di sebuah IPT Swasta (IPTS) tempatan yang juga tidak dinyatakan nama. Pelajar ini menyatakan dirinya layak untuk mendapatkan biasiswa MARA tetapi tidak mendapat respon yang segera dari MARA.

LKS terus mempersoalkan samada MARA menghadapi masaalah kewangan. Lantas beliau dengan caranya yang selalu gopoh dan provokatif, terus mempersoalkan bagaimana boleh berlaku skandal sedemikian?

Jarang-jarang dan kaddang-kaddang bagi LKS menunjukkan keprihatinan terhadap pelajaran dan ekonomi orang Melayu. Inikan pula biasiswa untuk pelajar Melayu. Saya tidak dapat meneka motif LKS tetapi masih tidak yakin dia ikhlas. Dia hanya berpolitik.

Perjuangannya sepanjang hayat adalah untuk 'sama rata, sama rasa' dan hanya meritokrasi. Kalau caranya meritokrasi, orang Melayu yang ketinggalan akan teruslah ketinggalan. Malaysian dalam pandangan matanya tidak diambilkira langsung penduduk asal negara ini. Dia menuntut persamaan antara kaum bukan untuk persamaan yang hakiki tetapi untuk kepentingan kaum Cina. Lainnya retorik politik.

Hairan dia begitu prihatin dengan urusan MARA. Padahal, kalau boleh, mahu ditutup MARA dan dihapuskan Akta MARA. Biar tak adalah lagi biasiswa MARA untuk orang Bumiputera dan Melayu.

Ikutkan kehendak LKS, Artikel 153 dihapuskan. Tak kira dia, Raja-Raja Melayu akan tolak jika Parlimen luluskan undang-undang itu. Entah dia sedar atau tidak, peruntukkan yang sama ada dalam Perlembagaan Singapura di bawah Artikel 152.

Kemungkin besar LKS hanya nak membesar-besarkan isu. Tidak hairan dia mahu menangguk air yang keruh. Dia mungkin hendak menggambarkan kerajaan UMNO tidak membela kaum Bumiputera dan Melayu lagi.

Akarumbi Melayu yang tidak faham sedang berasa agak resah dengan beberapa langkah Najib yang dilihat tolak ansur kepada tuntutan orang Cina. Biasiswa JPA untuk anak-anak Melayu dikurangkan (bukan dikekalkan) untuk menampung anak-anak bukan Bumiputera.

Tapi untuk kata pembekuan biasiswa bukan boleh main-main. Berdasarkan semangat artikel 153, sebarang pengurangan peruntukkan di bawah artikel 153 perlu mendapat perkenan Majlis Raja-Raja sebagai penjaga (guardian) kepada kaum Bumiputera.

Satu lagi keresahan kaum Bumiputera adalah penutupan MeCD. Pada saya, penutupan MeCD mungkin ada sebab tertentu dan ada pendekatan program baru yang ingin dibawa Najib. MeCD bukan pun membawa kesan luar biasa pada peningkatan keusahawanan Bumiputera tetapi hanya tambahan birokrasi kepada agensi-agensi yang ada.

Berbalik kepada e-mel anak Melayu kepada LKS, saya rasa banyak butiran mengenai masaalah anak Melayu yang menulis kepada LKS tidak diketahui. Mungkin ada sebab tertentu dia lambat mendapat kelulusan permohonan biasiswa. Adakah benar dia memenuhi kriteria yang ditetapkan MARA?

Kalau boleh menjadi sebab, sebab yang mungkin adalah sedikit kelambatan kerana perubahan Kementeriaan. Kalau mahu merungut pun, saya tahu anak orang kaya dan Melayu kelas menengah yang dah mampu pun banyak ambil peluang.

Namun saya tak yakin anak orang tak mampu diketepikan tanpa sebab.

Matthias on Najib and Pakatan Rakyat Economic Management (updated)

There was much talk today (Monday) on the blogosphere of Matthias Chang's remark of losing hope with PM Najib.

When I finally was able to read Matthias's article here, it was about the differences in statements between MoF II, BNM Governor, DG of EPU, and the PM on the state of the economy.

It figures. They were playing up an issue for a repeat of 2006. If the Johor Bridge cancellation broke the camel's back then, Najib's expressed willingness to build the third bridge instead of the planned bridge should have.

But I wonder why they did not play up Matthias article on the equally directionless Pakatan Rakyat state government two weeks earlier.

Will the camel eventually broke it's back? I only can say not this time. It's not because there is personal preference or pilih kasih for Najib over Abdullah. For the time being, I will shut my big mouth for fear of preceeding anything.

True.

It could be a serious matter when different Government officials express different views and at times, conflicting views. It confuses the public and business community. When confused, they do nothing. Thats not good for the economy.

But such differences is not unusual at major financial centres abroad. To play it down, one could use the excuse that it is a new openness and liberal expression of economic view.

Matthias Chang's frustation with Najib is understandable. He has been blasting Tun Abdullah for a long period of time out of his concern on the direction and management of the local economy.

His concern came out of his strong conviction that the global economy is heading for a meltdown. Many was sceptical and critical of him then, but now they should be "eating their shorts".

Matthias had given much hope and expected Dato Seri Najib to take charge and immediately undertake drastic actions to address the economy. But, Najib couldn't seem to cut short the bureaucrasy in process.

And, Matthias's patience maybe failing him further when Najib appointed Tan Sri Amirsham Aziz as NEAC Chairman, a person he described as "do not inspire confidence when this banker was responsible for the acquisition of an Indonesian bank which turned out to be a multi-billion ringgit scandal!"

I agree totally.

Omar Ong, Syed Hamid and Amirsham is only the tip of the iceberg. The grapevine is buzzing with many upcoming new appointments of names that failed in their "assignment" and of questionable integrity and trustworthiness.

GLC under Amukh (Azman Mokhtar)'s leadership at Khazanah had in place KPIs. He has been promoting and presenting it at endless seminars of his GLC Transformation Plan and KPIs that he gained Najib's confidence to develop the Ministers' KPIs.

I do not wish to keep questioning loudly any more new appointments of the PM and DPM. The last I want is to be assigned the Cabinet's head hunter. But why are low KPIs renewed contracts and getting promotions? The last Najib would want to happen is for people and market to run amuck from lost in confidence.

However, Matthias is not one-sided in his criticism. In fact, that is similar with yours truly's stand. He questioned the Anwar-led Pakatan Rakyat's state governments, who he described as equally directionless in addressing up to the problems from the global economic meltdown.

This the opposition centered blogosphere conveniently failed to give him the attention. Matthias made those in his posting dated May 19th, 2009, which is 11 days before his much publicised posting today.

I share with him the issues raised. The article is reproduced below:

We Demand In No Uncertain Terms A Report Card From Leaders Of The Pakatan Rakyat - What Have You To Show To The Citizens of Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor After One Year In Power?

By Matthias Chang
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 14:25

We, at Future Fast-Forward have been very critical of the Barisan Nasional government and we make no apologies for our biting criticisms.

We do so because as the Federal Government, you set the standards by which others are judged. Should you fall below our legitimate expectations, it is inevitable that your failures will snowball and overwhelm the rest of the body politic.

This is an awesome responsibility.

You stepped on the plate and asked us to elect you to lead the nation, thereby asking us to put our faith in your leadership. The electorate has re-elected you to manage the country in accordance with the highest standards so that we may hold our heads high and be proud to be Malaysians.

However, we do not believe that our role is merely to criticise and not to demonstrate our appreciation when correct policies are being implemented.

We therefore applaud the Prime Minister and the leaders of the Barisan Nasional for heeding the sentiments of the rakyat in not falling into the trap of the political mischief-maker, Anwar Ibrahim by contesting the Penanti By-elections.

For too long, over a year after the General Elections in March 2008, we have witnessed gutter politics practiced by Anwar and his fascist band of bloggers and the incredible stupidity of the Barisan Nasional reacting to each and every provocation.

It is a welcome change of strategy that the Barisan Nasional has finally found the wisdom in rejecting the taunts and provocations of Anwar Ibrahim and his spin doctors.

For over a year, the focus was on the Barisan Nasional. They only have themselves to blame for being in the tight spot.

Pakatan Rakyat and Anwar Ibrahim got away with political murder and distracted the entire country from the urgent tasks at hand – to overcome the impact of the global financial crisis and lay a solid foundation to propel our country to achieve greater excellence in all fields of our national endeavour.

At long last, we can now focus on critical issues.

We have highlighted the various challenges in the financial and economic areas in numerous articles and we shall not repeat them here.

Every citizen who loves Malaysia must now make an objective analysis and evaluation of the two competing political forces – the Barisan Nasional and the Pakatan Rakyat.

Choice is important and before we make our choice, we must be level headed and examine every facet and angle of the policies and plans supposedly conceived and executed for the benefit of the rakyat by these political leaders.

If we make the wrong choice, we may plunge the country into chaos and at the minimum, ten to fifteen years of mediocrity, if not failure.

The Barisan Nasional has a report card of fifty years of governance.

In contrast, only PAS has some record of governance and then only in the state of Kelantan. DAP and Keadilan are novices and have yet to prove their mettle.

By all means, visit the blogs that are pro-opposition and that of their leaders, but please apply common sense when reading what they have to offer. They are all heavy on sound bites but what is most glaring:

is the total absence of coherent policies, practical measures and direction from the state governments which they are in control.

Notice also that these blogs do not tolerate any dissension from their perspective. They adopt a fascist mindset. Say anything contrary, and you will receive a heap of profanities. This is their standard operating procedure, one designed to intimidate and discourage rational debate.

Just pause and think and think hard.

If a man, whose only reputation is that of taking some photos allegedly of Dato Lingam and who had no prior experience in politics and or public administration, was recruited by Anwar’s PKR to contest in the General Elections, how can such a person contribute effectively to developing our country? The rest of Anwar’s political entourage is no better and does not inspire confidence.

Hence, Anwar’s diversionary tactics and distractions. Anwar is a master in manufacturing “political noise”, massive amount of noise to cover up his inadequacies and to prevent people from asking the right questions and focusing on critical issues.

We are now issuing a public challenge to Anwar and the leaders of the PR state governments.

Give us a report card on your achievements after one year in power!

Give us your blueprint for the states under your control, specifically your policies in ensuring the continued wellbeing of the rakyat suffering from the impact of the global financial tsunami.

Give us your strategies in making Malaysia the most dynamic country in ASEAN.

Give us specifics, not spin, in achieving a higher degree of national unity, as this is always a work-in-progress.

Take Notice:

If Anwar, Hadi, and Lim Kit Siang fail to respond within 48 hours from the date hereof, as it is their duty to do so, they must be exposed for what they are – political charlatans.

Finally, Anwar, I dare you to debate with me in public on the above issues. Let this be a No Holds Barred debate.

The rules are simple.

We speak for half an hour.

We cross-examine each other without mercy for another half hour.

We let the rakyat decide the winner of the debate.

* Updated: 9:00 am 2/6/09

Dr Mansor jinx ended, but can PKR lucky streak continue?

Prior to March 2008 General Election, PKR had only one seat in Parliament. If it had not been Abdullah and Khairy's fault, among others, the tsunami would not have occurred and PKR would be, to borrow Khairy's word, buried into the pages of history.

Events turned out in their favour and they not only survived but obtained the highest number of seats in Parliament among the opposition parties. That good streak seem remained.

If it had been a baseball game, PKR candidate, Dr Mansor have got his 'strike three' out order. He won in his fourth attempt for public office and will be assigned the Malay allocated post of Deputy Chief Minister I (DCM 1) to replace Fairuz.

The claimed 'non-racial' Pakatan Rakyat arrangement for Penang is an Indian Speaker from PKR, Penang is for DAP Chief Minister, Malay DCM 1 from one of the Malay PKR Assemblymen, and Indian DAP DCM 2. (I stand to be corrected)

Many see Anwar managed to replace the earlier DCM 1 with someone from his inner circle. The problem is the process is not seamless. Was it reflected in the Penanti by-election result yesterday? Maybe it did, but blogger Anuar Mohd Nor here see the result only shows both side are well entrenched in their respective areas.

Saifuddin Nasution is aware that the politik wayang has reached it's toll. The public is tired with political psy game. Only Nizar is hoping it still work and trying hard to keep the momentum till 2013/14.

Whatever it is, UMNO needs to buck up and do a massive facelift. The voters may have reservation of PKR and Anwar, but they are not yet ready to return to UMNO. The same, even if he is found guilty for sodomy in July.

Hanging Issue

The perception is Fairuz was "fixed" from within PKR and no one can do any fixing without the bosses clearance. For instance, the "fixing" of Elizabeth Wong didn't work because Anwar was non-committal and divided between the pleasure of Wan Azizah and the demand of Azmin Ali.

There was a police report made against Fairuz by Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) for alleged corruption. In political speak, it is shooting your own feet. There have been murmurs on the ground against Fairuz's exuberant spending for luxury cars, indiscipline and the allegation of being on the take in that quarry deal.

However, the allegation is refuted by MACC and Anwar was without an excuse. It reflected irresponsibility on the part of PKR. Astro Awani described it as Hotel Demokrasi, where elected assemblymen could check in and out at will. Earlier it was Arumugam at Bukit Selambau, Kedah and now Fairux Khairuddin at Penanti, Penang.

PKR conjured up an excuse that Fairuiz is pursuing further education abroad. It's too ridiculous to believe. Why return to school in mid-term of public office? Fuziah Salleh could only give the excuse Fairuz can't take it any more to Dato Ruhanie's onslaught on Astro.

It was revealed later by Anwar himself that there was no such excuse and Fairuz was asked to resign.

A matter hanging is Fairuz demanded his name cleared within two weeks. That time has long passed. Will Fairuz resurface in the future?

In Malaysian politics, it always do. It is just like independent Aminah raising issue on PKR Dato Zaharain allegation that he trumped up 11 charegs against her to suspend her membership in Keadilan.

Analysis

Coming to the question of PKR performance yesterday, did it reflect anything other than Anuar Mohd Nor's conclusion that both sides are fortified in their own 'area'?

Expectedly Anwar Ibrahim claim the victory as peoples' mandate and support for PKR. Is it really so?

Read the subsequent analysis by refering to the simple tabulation below:


According to blogger Dr Novandri Hasan Basri here, it is the beginning of the end of PKR's good 'luck" from near termination before March 2008. Whilst, anonymous journo-blogger Mesin Taip Buruk here described the victory not worthy of being proud off.

A noteworthy observation is the almost 1,000 votes taken away by the Independent from PKR. Where would the 36% missing voters be, if Barisan Nasional had run? These are indications.

In Bukit Gantang, the Malay votes for Pakatan Rakyat showed a drop. As for opposition stronghold Bukit Selambau, one of the two high Indian population area in Kedah, it was due to the clear split in Malay votes.

A glimpse of PKR's internal view of the results in Penanti and other areas could be seen from Saifuddin Nasution's statement in Sinar Harian dated May 21st 2009. He said PKR is changing its campaign strategy from 'menyerang' (attacking) to 'menerang dan memujuk' (explanation and persuasion).

The half full interpretation is PKR is defending gained political ground. While the half empty interpretation is the politik wayang of PKR has reached it's toll.

Optimism?

The recession will be sinking in and it will be difficult to keep the peoples' attention on politics with their wallets lightening. The political perception game of endless blame on others will be over soon. The determinant will be the deliverables and it involves economics.

Before making any claim of optimism, BN has to win over the opposition stronghold Manek Urai.

If Najib could turn around the economy, the momentum of politik wayang will run it's course. UMNO and Barisan Nasional could come back but they have to not only be seen but actually swallow the bitter pills.

They have to undertake the necessary internal and external reform in UMNO. The public faces, from the national level to grassroot, that represent UMNO must 'behave' and able to articulate well in order improve public perception of UMNO.

There are many questionable characters within UMNO's Supreme Council but irrespective, there is no other choices but for a massive facelift. UMNO needs to regain voters confidence at the grassroot level. To regain public confidence, the voting public demands nothing less than the heads of many big names, involved in money politics, power abuses, and corrupt practices, be chopped.

The party grassroot need to reenergise with dedicated, sincere and working grassroot leaders and not the ever bickering warlords!