Suara Sri Andalas

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• Kabinet Tolak CCRIS Pada Peminjam PTPTN
• AES: Pemimpin BN Tidak faham Penderitaan Rakyat
• Power Tariff Increase Will Hurt Consumers
• Rundingan Air Menuju Peringkat Akhir, Selangor Sedia Bentang Cadangan Ambil-alih Industri
• Ops Cantas Bukti Malaysia Tidak Perlukan Akta Darurat
• Naik Tarif Eletrik: Hadiah BN Selepas PRU13 – Zuraidah
• Majoriti Peminjam PTPTN Dari Keluarga Pendapatan Rendah
• Alasan Lapuk Untuk Naikkan Tarif Elektrik
• Kenyataan Media: Mansuhkan PTPTN, Bukan Senaraikan Peminjam Di Dalam CCRIS
• PKR Persoal Ketelusan Meter Elektrik Baru, Lancar Petisyen Desak Kerajaan

Kabinet Tolak CCRIS Pada Peminjam PTPTN Posted: 20 Aug 2013 09:27 PM PDT Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) tidak akan akan meneruskan cadangan untuk menyenaraikan peminjam di bawah Sistem Maklumat Rujukan Kredit Pusat (CCRIS). Menurut Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin, perkara itu baru diputuskan kabinet dalam mesyuaratnya sebentar tadi. Sumber: MalaysiaKini

AES: Pemimpin BN Tidak faham Penderitaan Rakyat Posted: 20 Aug 2013 09:15 PM PDT SHAH ALAM, 21 OGOS – Rayuan rakyat agar kerajaan memansuhkan penggunaaan kamera Sistem Penguatkuasaan Automatic (AES) di ketepikan apabila Mesyuarat Majlis Ekonomi dan kajian maklum balas mengenai AES yang di pengerusikan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak hari ini memutuskan ia di kekalkan. Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena, Dato' Mahfuz Omar berkata, ternyata kini Kerajaan Barisan Nasional begitu angkuh tanpa memikirkan penderitaan rakyat serta memperlihatkan wajah sebenar mereka selepas Pilihanraya Umum 13. Walhal, sebelum PRU-13, rakyat di lunakkan dengan pelbagai keprihatinan terhadap sara hidup yang di hadapi rakyat. "Hakikatnya inilah belang mereka dengan menekan kehidupan masyarakat dan rakyat dengan pelbagai peningkatan kos sara hidup," ujar Mahfuz ketika di hubungi Tvselangor. Beliau yang turut dukacita dengan pengumuman ini turut berkata, AES sekali lagi menjadi alat untuk memerah poket rakyat dalam menyelasaikan masalah ketidakcekapan pengurusan kewangan dan perolehan kewangan Negara. "Saya amat sedih, rakyat tertipu dengan mainan politik kerajaan BN ini sebelum PRU13. Ketidakcekapan pengurusan dan perolehan kewangan Negara oleh mereka, yang menjadi mangsa adalah rakyat," katanya. Sementara itu, Ahli  Parlimen Bayan Baru Sim Tze Tzin berkata, beliau terkejut apabila di maklumkan AES dikekalkan sedangkan bantahan penggunaan sistem AES banyak di usulkan pelbagai pihak. "Kita tidak pertikaikan AES adalah untuk mengurangkan kemalangan dan untuk rakyat lebih berhati-hati di jalan raya. Tapi yang menjadi tanda tanya dan pertikaian, saman tersebut harus menjadi milik kerajaan dan bukan di swastakan," katanya kepada TVSelangor. Tambah beliau, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) akan terus membantah penggunaan AES ini agar rakyat tidak akan terus di tekan oleh kerajaan BN. "Terbukti selepas PRU13, semua yang rakyat tidak suka dan bantah, kembali dilaksanakan. PR akan teruskan bantahan ini," ujar Sim. Sumber: Selangorku

Power Tariff Increase Will Hurt Consumers Posted: 20 Aug 2013 09:00 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: A tariff hike by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) will burden consumers who are already pressured due to price increase on other daily essential goods, said Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam's (CASSA) honorary secretary, Jacob George. "It will definitely have a major impact on Malaysian families. Even now, many cannot cope with the high cost of living and are paying utility bills with credit cards. "And utility bills are not something to be paid using credit cards," said an irate George. Yesterday, TNB president Azman Mohd said the utility company is looking at increasing power tariff, but stressed that it would not burden consumers. "Domestic users who consume less than 200 kWh would not see any increase in their electricity bill," Azman was reported saying by New Straits Times. George said that Malaysians could not afford any more increase of price in goods or services as they are already burdened by debt. "The question that we should ask, are Malaysian consumers in a position to pay higher bills? This is not an economic question but a moral one," he said. George also accused the government of being selective in monitoring prices, and said that utility prices should also be classified controlled items. "Why only monitor prices of goods when utility prices should also be monitored? "It's vulgar to increase the prices of goods at this juncture as not only the hardcore poor will suffer but also the middle class," George said. On Azman's statement, George said that TNB has no reason to increase electricity tariff while its top executives are earning fat salaries. "If TNB is running at a loss, or when we see the signs of retrenchments, then we could justify tariff increase. "But right now, TNB's top executives are taking home handsome salaries at the expense of suffering consumers," said George. Supporting George's stand, Muslim Consumer Association chief Nadzim Johan said TNB should be efficient in its work and not burden consumers if it wants to remain the sole power supplier of the nation. "If TNB is not good in managing its tariff, then we should bring in other power suppliers. Only when there is competition, TNB will improve its services," he said. Nadzim added that TNB should look into alternative energy if fuel cost is too expensive, instead of continually increasing tariff. "They should not squeeze the consumers anymore," he said. Meanwhile, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA) chief executive officer Paul Selvaraj defended TNB, saying that those paying less than RM70 monthly will not be burdened by the hike proposed. "The exact mechanics are not yet set by TNB but we believe it is only for the high end users and not for the lower end users," he said. Selvaraj also agreed that TNB should look into alternative energy but added it was too expensive to explore at the moment. "Petroleum and other prices of goods have increased all over the world; which has led TNB into looking at an increase," he said. Source: FreeMalaysiaToday

Rundingan Air Menuju Peringkat Akhir, Selangor Sedia Bentang Cadangan Ambil-alih Industri Posted: 20 Aug 2013 08:30 PM PDT SHAH ALAM 21 OGOS : Kerajaan Negeri bersedia membentangkan draf cadangan pengambilalihan syarikat konsesi di negeri ini pada bila-bila masa sebagai langkah melaksanakan penstrukturan industri air di negeri itu. Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim berkata, pihaknya mengalu-alukan perbincangan dengan Persekutuan mengenai perkara itu seperti yang dipersetujui sebelum ini. "Kita sekarang sedang menanti peringkat akhir perbincangan ini untuk membentangkan draf cadangan masing-masing dan berharap ia dapat disegerakan demi untuk kepentingan rakyat yang tertekan dengan masalah air. "Perlaksanaannya itu nanti juga perlulah holistik dan memberi kepentingan kepada semua pihak dan bukan keuntungan pihak tertentu sahaja," katanya. Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditanya mengenai kenyataan Menteri Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili yang memberitahu masalah pembekalan air bersih di Selangor, Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya dijangka dapat diselesaikan dalam tempoh tiga bulan. Bagaimanapun Maximus berkata, isu itu dapat menemui jalan penyelesaian dalam masa terdekat sekiranya Kerajaan Persekutuan dan kerajaan Negeri Selangor mencapai persetujuan dalam pelbagai perkara dan saling bertolak ansur. Sebelum ini, Kerajaan Negeri melalui anak syarikatnya Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) membuat tawaran bernilai RM9.65 bilion untuk mengambil alih empat syarikat konsesi air. Empat syarikat konsesi itu antaranya Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd, Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd dan Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor (Splash). Sumber: Selangorku

Ops Cantas Bukti Malaysia Tidak Perlukan Akta Darurat Posted: 20 Aug 2013 02:15 AM PDT SHAH ALAM, 20 OGOS : Hasil operasi perintis Ops Cantas Khas yang dilancarkan PDRM baru-baru ini membuktikan polis mempunyai kepakaran dan kemampuan untuk memerangi jenayah secara agresif tanpa perlu Akta Darurat (EO). Ketua Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat (AMK) Selangor, Azmizam Zaman Huri berkata rakyat sebenarnya sedar potensi sebenar PDRM jika badan itu ada kemahuan. "Undang-undang dan akta sedia ada sudah cukup untuk tangani masalah jenayah. Apa yang perlu hanya ketegasan dan sentiasa menjalankan kerja mencegah jenayah," tegas Azmizam. Pihak berkuasa juga dinasihatkan agar tidak menjalankan operasi perang jenayah secara bermusim. Pandangan AMK Selangor selaras dengan pendirian Bekas Ketua Hakim Negara, Tun Zaki Azmi yang berkata tahanan tanpa bicara seperti EO adalah jalan pintas bagi polis yang mahu mengelakkan kerumitan pembuktian yang dituntut Akta Pencegahan Jenayah (PCA). PCA menuntut polis mengemukakan tertuduh ke hadapan majistret untuk didakwa dalam masa 24 jam. Manakala Akta Darurat membolehkan polis menahan seseorang sehingga 60 hari tanpa perbicaraan. Kesemua yang ditahan dibawah Ops Cantas Khas disiasat dibawah PCA. "Bayangkan baru 4 hari Ops Cantas dilaksanakan, Polis Kontinjen Selangor berjaya berkas 211 penjenayah. Saya kira kalau ia dilakukan berpanjangan bukan sahaja mampu mengekang malah mampu mengatasi kegiatan jenayah ini dari terus menjadi-jadi," tambahnya. Kementerian Dalam Negeri sebelum ini mengundang kritikan dari pelbagai pihak ekoran kejadian jenayah berat dan pembunuhan yang berleluasa. Kerajaan Persekutuan beralasan EO yang dimansuhkan perlu diganti bagi mengekang penjenayah bermaharajalela. "Tidak perlu mengembalikan Akta Darurat. Dikhuatiri ia akan disalahguna dengan menahan aktivis politik yang tidak sebulu dengan kerajaan seperti Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri," tegas Azmizam. Sebelum EO dimansuhkan, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Abu Bakar ketika menjadi Timbalan KPN berkata individu-individu yang terlibat dalam kegiatan subversif terhadap pemerintah boleh ditahan dibawah akta itu. Kenyataan itu menyusuli penangkapan enam individu termasuk Ahli Parlimen Sungai Siput Dr S Jeyakumar Devaraj kerana menyokong himpunan aman Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih & Adil (Bersih) 2.0 pada 3 Julai 2011. Sumber: Selangorku

Naik Tarif Eletrik: Hadiah BN Selepas PRU13 – Zuraidah Posted: 20 Aug 2013 01:45 AM PDT SHAH ALAM, 20 OGOS – Kenaikan kadar tarif elektrik baharu yang sering dinafikan pada sidang dewan rakyat lalu ternyata bohong dan menipu rakyat, kata Ahli Parlimen Ampang, Zuraida Kamaruddin. Beliau berkata, sekiranya Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) dan kerajaan meneruskan cadangan pelarasan tarif  elektrik baharu ini, ia merupakan hadiah BN kepada rakyat setelah memenangai Pilihanraya Umum 13 (PRU13) lalu. Menurutnya, pelbagai lagi kenaikan harga barang dan perkhidmatan akan berlaku selepas ini sejurus kenaikan tarif elektrik baharu dan keadaan ini membebankan rakyat. "Perkara ini di bangkitkan dalam sidang parlimen yang lalu, tetapi dinafikan yang akhirnya kita dapat lihat sekarang cadangan kenaikan tarif elektrik ini bakal di laksanakan. Tarif naik dan dikatakan tidak membebankan itu adalah menipu. Apa sahaja yang meningkat, akan membebankan rakyat. Gaji tak naik, kos sara hidup tinggi, semestinya harga barang juga akan naik selepas naiknya tarif elektrik," katanya ketika dihubungi TVSelangor. Tambah beliau,rakyat perlu lebih bijak di masa akan datang untuk menilai sendiri perkara sebegini. Jelas beliau walaupun dikatakan kenaikan tarif elektrik ini memberi kesan minimum kepada pengguna domestik,tetapi dengan kos sara hidup rakyat yang semakin meningkat, tiada jaminan kenaikan ini tidak membebankan pengguna. "Inilah hadiah BN selepas pilihanraya dan mereka juga harus berhati-hati dalam memenangi hati rakyat tapi dalam masa sama di berikan satu bebanan untuk jangka masa panjang di mana rakyatlah yang terpaksa memikulnya tanpa dibantu mereka (Kerajaan)," ujar Zuraida. Sumber: Selangorku

Majoriti Peminjam PTPTN Dari Keluarga Pendapatan Rendah Posted: 20 Aug 2013 01:00 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Ogos: Majoriti peminjam Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Negara (PTPTN) dari keluarga berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana, kata Pengarah Komunikasi KEADILAN, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. Nik NazmiKatanya, dasar liberal dan korporat diamalkan PTPTN membebankan generasi muda yang berhadapan masalah kadar gaji rendah berbanding harga rumah dan kereta yang tinggi. "Mereka berdepan dengan pelbagai hutang berpanjangan. "Seperti dilaporkan Bank Negara, kadar muflis meningkat tahun demi tahun," kata Nik Nazmi dalam kenyataan. Justeru, menyenarai peminjam PTPTN di bawah Sistem Maklumat Rujukan Kredit Pusat (CCRIS) menyebabkan peminjam terkesan akibat beban ppinjaman sedai ada yang lain. "Golongan terbesar yang menjadi mangsa ialah generasi muda," ujar Nik Nazmi. Katanya, pemberian diskaun bagi melangsaikan hutang PTPTN dalam belanjawan 2013 tidak adil kerana hanya memberi kelebihan kepada mereka yang mempunyai kedudukan kewangan yang baik. ptptnAdun Seri Setia itu menjelaskan, pengenalan PTPTN punca kemunculan IPTS tanpa kawalan yang hanya menjadi kilang-kilang ijazah. Manakala CCRIS hanya membuktikan dasar pendidikan sebagai komoditi oleh Umno BN. "Kita harus menyedari bahawa pendidikan adalah hak asas seorang insan. "Penyelesaian sebenar isu ini hanya satu, iaitu mansuh PTPTN. "Berikan pendidikan percuma sebagai pelaburan untuk masa depan anak-anak kita," tegasnya. Sumber: KeadilanDaily

Alasan Lapuk Untuk Naikkan Tarif Elektrik Posted: 20 Aug 2013 12:30 AM PDT Dewan Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan mendesak kerajaan Malaysia agar tidak menaikkan sebarang kadar tarif elektrik buat masa ini. Kenaikan kos bahan api menjadi alasan utama kepada semakan dan kenaikan tarif elektrik. Walaupun Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) memberikan keyakinan bahawa ia tidak akan membebankan pengguna, namun alasan tersebut sudah lapuk dan seolah-olah ingin melepas diri. Alasan presiden TNB bahawa pengguna dengan penggunaan bulanan di bawah 200kWj tidak terjejas merupakan alasan yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Rakyat di Malaysia bukan hanya pengguna elektrik secara domestik sahaja. Negara Malaysia yang merupakan sebuah negara yang membangun yang mempunyai kilang-kilang perindustrian yang banyak sudah tentu merupakan pengguna elektrik yang besar. Apabila kadar tarif elektrik naik, secara sifirnya, sudah tentulah kos perindustrian menjadi meningkat. Dan kesannya tentulah kepada rakyat Malaysia kerana harga barang menjadi naik. Inilah yang merunsingkan rakyat Malaysia. Bagilah alasan apa pun, yang pasti kesannya adalah kepada rakyat. Rakyat yang terpaksa menanggung bebannya. Di balik 'menampung kos operasi' Siapakah yang mendapat keuntungan dari kenaikan tarif elektrik ini? Sudah pastilah cukong-cukong pengeluar tenaga bebas (IPP) yang dapat mengaut keuntungan berlipat kali ganda. Rakyat Malaysia masih lagi di dalam kegembiraan menyambut Aidilfitri. Amat malang sekali apabila kegembiraan ini tercalar dengan kenaikan kadar tarif elektrik yang pastinya akan menambahkan lagi batu bebanan yang digalas penduduk Malaysia kini. Kerajaan Malaysia perlulah menyemak semula perjanjian dengan IPP ini. Perjanjian berat sebelah ini sesungguhnya tidak menguntungkan rakyat mahupun di pihak kerajaan. Malah, ia memberikan hasil yang semakin lumayan kepada pemilik-pemilik IPP ini. Sampai bilakah kerajaan harus membela cukong-cukong ini yang diibaratkan sebagai lintah darat ini? Mengapakah kerajaan seolah-olah takut untuk menamatkan perjanjian berat sebelah ini? DPPWP melihat ini sebagai satu lagi hadiah buat kerajaan Umno/BN kepada semua rakyat Malaysia selepas kemenangan dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13. Tidak hairanlah jika selepas ini, terdapat banyak lagi kenaikan demi kenaikan di sebalik nama 'menampung kos operasi'. Slogan rakyat didahulukan semakin tidak mendapat tempat lagi di hati rakyat apabila rakyat terpaksa mendahulukan semua kepentingan pemimpin Umno/BN. Maka, apa lagi yang boleh diharapkan daripada Umno/BN! Sumber: Malaysiakini

Kenyataan Media: Mansuhkan PTPTN, Bukan Senaraikan Peminjam Di Dalam CCRIS Posted: 19 Aug 2013 01:30 PM PDT KEADILAN menganggap pengumuman Menteri Pendidikan II Idris Jusoh untuk menyenaraikan peminjam PTPTN yang ingkar di bawah Sistem Maklumat Rujukan Kredit Pusat (CCRIS) sebagai satu lagi kegagalan kerajaan UMNO-BN untuk mempertahankan pendidikan sebagai hak asasi rakyat. Dasar PTPTN yang disertakan dengan liberalisasi dan pengkorporatan pendidikan tinggi Malaysia menjadi sebahagian daripada beban yang dihadapi generasi muda di negara ini selain kadar upah dan gaji yang rendah serta harga rumah dan kereta yang tinggi. Kesannya, mereka berhadapan dengan pelbagai hutang yang berpanjangan. Menurut Bank Negara, kadar hutang isirumah telah meningkat 12 peratus setiap tahun pada lima tahun kebelakangan ini. Kadar muflis juga terus meningkat dari tahun ke tahun, dan antara golongan utama yang menjadi mangsa ialah golongan muda.demo-hapus-ptptn. Harus diingat, kebanyakan mahasiswa yang menggunakan kemudahan PTPTN merupakan mereka yang berasal daripada keluarga berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana rendah. Sekiranya keluarga mereka mampu, sudah tentu mereka tidak meminjam dana PTPTN. KEADILAN dan Pakatan tidak mempertikaikan keperluan peminjam yang mampu dan berpendapatan baik untuk membayar semula hutang PTPTN. Namun yang dipertikaikan ialah nasib majoriti peminjam yang terpaksa bergelut dengan kos sara hidup yang tinggi dan berasal daripada keluarga biasa. Atas sebab itu dasar pemberian diskaun bagi mereka yang menyelesaikan keseluruhan hutang PTPTN secara sekaligus yang dibuat di dalam belanjawan 2013 tidak adil memandangkan yang untung adalah mereka yang mempunyai kedudukan kewangan yang baik! Kesannya, pendidikan tidak lagi dapat menjadi pemangkin mobiliti sosial bagi membolehkan rakyat dari keluarga berpendapatan rendah mendapat peluang kehidupan yang lebih baik, sebaliknya melebarkan jurang antara golongan kaya dan miskin di negara kita. Ironisnya ketika mahasiswa biasa khususnya yang berpendapatan rendah dikejar dan dihambat bagi mengutip hutang ini, kerajaan UMNO-Barisan Nasional tidak mengambil apa-apa tindakan tegas mengatasi kedudukan Malaysia sebagai negara yang mencatat aliran wang haram ketiga tertinggi di dunia antara 2001-2010 (lebih dari RM800 bilion). Rasuah, ketirisan dan hutang-hutang kroni makin berkembang. Lebih malang lagi, pengenalan PTPTN telah menggalakkan pertumbuhan IPTS tanpa kawalan. Tidak dinafikan wujud IPTS bermutu tetapi lebih banyak lagi IPTS yang kurang berkualiti termasuk kilang-kilang ijazah! Lebih malang lagi, motif keuntungan telah melambungkan yuran pengajian. Pada tahun 1997 ketika PTPTN diperkenalkan, pinjaman sebanyak RM212 juta disalurkan kepada mahasiswa IPTA, dan RM7 juta untuk mahasiswa IPTS. Namun pada tahun 2012, mahasiswa IPTA menerima RM2.6 bilion manakala mahasiswa IPTS RM6.1 bilion! Kita harus menyedari bahawa pendidikan adalah hak asas seorang insan. Dasar terbaru ini membuktikan bahawa UMNO-Barisan Nasional terus ingin menjadikan pendidikan ini satu komoditi dan keistimewaan untuk mereka yang berkemampuan. Penyelesaian sebenar isu ini hanyalah satu – memansuhkan PTPTN dan memberikan pendidikan percuma sebagai pelaburan untuk masa depan anak-anak kita. NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD PENGARAH KOMUNIKASI PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT

PKR Persoal Ketelusan Meter Elektrik Baru, Lancar Petisyen Desak Kerajaan Posted: 16 Aug 2013 02:00 AM PDT PKR hari ini mendesak kerajaan mendedahkan ketelusan meter elektrik baru yang mendapat banyak rungutan daripada pengguna sebagai punca kenaikan bil tinggi, di samping melancarkan petisyen untuk mendapatkan sokongan orang ramai bagi memberikan tekanan kepada kerajaan. Dalam sidang media hari ini, Jawatankuasa Khas PKR mengenai bil elektrik tinggi mendesak kerajaan mewujudkan sebuah badan bebas untuk menyiasat dan mengambil tindakan sewajarnya ke atas rungutan disuarakan pengguna. "Kami akan memberi tekanan kepada TNB dan Suruhanjaya Tenaga untuk bersetuju mewujudkan sebuah badan bebas bagi memeriksa meter elektrik. "Kami mahu kebenaran didedahkan, adakah meter digital yang baru rosak atau tepat?" soal Naib Presiden PKR, Datuk Chua Jui Meng yang juga salah seorang anggota dalam jawatankuasa khas PKR. Chua juga meragui ketelusan pembelian meter baru berkenaan, kualiti dan proses pemberian kontrak bekalan meter diragui sama ada telus atau sebaliknya. "Apakah piawaian yang dikenakan kepada syarikat ini yang membekalkan meter ini, apakah bentuk tendernya? "Mengapa kebanyakan kontrak bekalan meter ini semua bumiputera? Saya harap kerajaan dan Suruhanjaya Tenaga tampil beri penjelasan," katanya. Pengerusi Biro Pelaburan dan Perdagangan PKR, Wong Chen berkata kebanyakan aduan yang diterimanya adalah mengenai peningkatan kira-kira 15 peratus bil elektrik apabila menggunakan meter baru yang dipasang. "Aduan yang kami terima kebanyakan mengenai peningkatan 15 peratus sebaik menggunakan meter baru. "Adakah ini secara kebetulan? Ini menimbulkan banyak kecurigaan," kata Wong. Dalam pada itu, PKR hari ini juga melancarkan satu laman petisyen (http://www.checkyourtnbmeter.com/) bagi mengumpulkan aduan orang ramai yang boleh dilawati diwww.checkyourtnbmeter.comndan mensasarkan kira-kira 10 ribu petisyen sebelum mengadakan pertemuan dengan pihak bertanggungjawab. Jawatankuasa khas tersebut ditubuhkan pada Julai lalu bagi menyiasat isu peningkatan mendadak bil elektrik yang berpunca dari program pemasangan meter elektrik baru jenis digital oleh TNB. Jawatankuasa itu dianggotai Chua, Wong, Ahli Parlimen Wangsa Maju Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong dan Adun Sri Andalas Dr Xavier Jayakumar. Jawatankuasa berkenaan juga akan membawa lebih banyak isu dari semasa ke semasa, bagi memberi kefahaman kepada orang awam berkaitan penggunaan tenaga elektrik.- 16 Ogos, 2013.  Sumber: The Malaysian Insider

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N37 Batu Maung

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Posted: 19 Aug 2013 11:20 PM PDT     KENYATAAN MEDIA YB Dato' Haji Abdul Malik Kassim, Exco Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang. 20 OGOS 2013 KARNIVAL PENGGUNA BERSAMA USTAZ MUDA SEMPOI 24 – 25 OGOS 2013, DI PADANG KOTA LAMA 24 OGOS 2013 (SABTU) 10.00 pagi : Peniaga dan pemamer memasuki booth... 10.00 pagi – 11.00 malam : Cerapan Langit Oleh Pusat Falak. 2.00 ptg – 11.00 malam : Pameran dan Aktiviti Jualan 7.30 malam : Solat Maghrib Berjemaah- Imam Muda Asraf : Solat Hajat – Dr. Badrul Amin Bahrom 8.00 malam : Kuliah "Orang Muda Untuk Orang Muda" oleh Ustaz Hanif Haron. 8.30 malam : Solat Isyak Berjemaah : 'Battle Orang Muda' bersama Ustaz Syed Norhisyam dan Gitaris Syam Kamikaze. : Persembahan Imam Muda Asraf – Nyanyian lagu-lagu dari album terbaru beliau. : Persembahan Zikir Terapi oleh Ustaz Hafiz Hamidun. : Nyanyian oleh Mawi "Al-Jannah dan Kian." : Nyanyian lagu Sentuhan Qalbu oleh Ustaz Akhil Hayy. 11.20 malam : Semua Ustaz dan Artis berselawat bersama. 11.40 malam : Majlis Penutup dengan nyanyian nasyid beramai-ramai lagu 'Hamba-Mu" 25 OGOS 2013 (AHAD) 10.00 pagi – 3.00 petang : Pameran / Aktiviti Jualan 9.00 pagi – 11 pagi : Pertandingan Mewarna Kanak-kanak Sempena Hari Merdeka : Persembahan Hiasan Makanan Oleh Hotel di Pulau Pinang

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Anwar Ibrahim

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Fatwa of Shaikh Yusuf Qaradawi on the military coup in Egypt Posted: 20 Aug 2013 01:52 AM PDT The fatwa by Dr. Yusuf al-Qardawi, the president of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, regarding the obligation of supporting the elected president Muhammad Morsi and retaining the Constitution. A call to the Seesi faction and its supporters to withdraw in order to protect the Shariah and democracy. All praises are due to Allah and may He send His salutations on our Master and leader Muhammad Messenger of Allah and on his brethren amongst the Prophets and Messengers and on their families and companions and whoever followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment. This is a fatwa issued to the Egyptian people with all of its members, those who are pleased with Allah as their Lord, Islam as their religion, the Qur’an as the guide and Way, Muhammad as their Messenger, and who consider the Shariah— with its comprehensiveness, perfection, balance, and moderation — the reference whenever matters become confusing and difficulties become pronounced and people go left and right looking for answers. At that point no one can find anything better and more clear than the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger…. And whomsoever Allah does not grant light, then he will have no light at all. The summary of the fatwa endorsed by many scholars of Azhar and scholars of the Arab and Muslim world and scholars of International Union for Muslim Scholars which I am honored to preside over is as follows: The people of Egypt lived for thirty years—if not sixty—deprived of the right to elect their own president until Allah granted them for the first time a president that they chose themselves on their own accord, President Muhammad Morsi. They gave him their pledges and oaths of loyalty and obedience in hardship and ease, in matters they liked and disliked. All sectors of society including the civil and military sectors submitted to his rule, foremost amongst them being Abdul Fattah as-Seesi who was the Minister of Defense and Military Production under the Prime Minister Hisham Kandil. He too had taken a solemn oath before our very eyes to be obedient to President Morsi and continued to be such until we saw him change suddenly and transform himself from being a minister to becoming a supreme ruler, deposing the President and betraying his pledge of loyalty to him and aligning himself with a faction of the citizens against the rest of the countrymen, claiming that he was siding with the larger faction. But the faction led by Seesi and his cohorts have committed a mistake by taking this course of action from the perspectives of both the Constitution and the Shariah. From the constitutional perspective, any president elected democratically without dispute, must be allowed to complete his appointed term of four years as long as he is capable of carrying out his duties and is not afflicted with anything that would hinder him permanently from his job. If he has mistakes (that he personally has acknowledged) then it is upon the nation and its different political forces to correct his mistakes and advise him sincerely and be patient with him, but he remains the president for everyone. But for a group to depart from the obedience to the ruler, to grant themselves authority over the people, to depose the ruler, abrogate the constitution, and appoint another president and another constitution—such a course of action is completely null and void as they have tried to exercise power that the people did not authorize. In fact, they have broken their pact with Allah and with the people and nullified a great revolution that all the people had brought out together, which had established the democratic system that people had dreamt about for ages and sacrificed for its sake for years upon years until they finally reached it. Thus, the constitution and democratic system reject all of these unconstitutional actions that have taken place. And from the point of view of the Shariah (which the people want as their authority in a civil state, not a theocratic state)—it requires upon everyone who believes in it and refers to it to enact full obedience to the chosen ruler, to implement his commands, and accept his directives in all matters of life, as long as two conditions are met: First, that he does not command people to disobey Allah openly. This is established from many ahadith reported by Bukhari and Muslim and others: “Listen and obey even if an Abyssinian slave is appointed over you whose head is like a raisin” (reported by Anas ibn Malik) [Albalagh Note: i.e. even if he is a person of low social status and unattractive appearance] “Whoever sees something in his ruler that he dislikes, then he should be patient, because anyone who departs from the community even the length of a hand-span and dies in that state, will die the death of Jahiliyyah” (reported by Ibn Abbas) “Listening and obeying is a duty on every Muslim in matters that he likes and dislikes as long as he is not ordered to commit a sin. If he is commanded to commit a sin, then there is no obedience” (reported by Ibn Umar) “Obedience is only in matters of virtue” (reported by Ali) This all emphasizes what is referred to in the Quran where Allah talks about the pledge of loyalty by women, “and that they will not disobey you in what is right.” And there is not even one incident in which President Muhammad Morsi commanded a single citizen to openly disobey Allah. Rather what we see in the demonstrations and actions in Tahrir Square are all part of the good deeds of Muhammad Morsi. Secondly, he should not order his people with anything that will result in them leaving their religion and making them enter into open disbelief (kufr bawah), which is a state that carries no doubt regarding its being kufr. This is based on the hadith reported by Ubadah radi Allahu anhu, “The Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, took a pledge of obedience from us that we shall listen and obey in ease and hardship and when others are given preference over us and that we shall not vie for rule with the rulers.” He said, “Except if you see open disbelief (kufr bawah) regarding which you have clear evidence from Allah.” Thus, we discern with certainty that President Morsi did not order any act of disobedience, nor did he perpetrate any act of disbelief. Rather he is a man who fasts often and stands up at night in prayer, a man who is ardent in obedience to Allah. Thus, it is necessary that he remain the president and no one can claim any right to depose him. And Seesi’s claim that he undertook this action in the greater interest of the people to prevent them from being split into two does not justify his supporting one side over the other. Those people from whom the Seesi faction sought support do not represent the Egyptian people, but rather constitute a very small segment from it. Imam Dr. Ahmad Tayyib, president of the Council of Senior Scholars (I am one of them) did not consult us and we did not authorize him to speak on our behalf. He has erred in supporting the rebellion against the legitimate Shari’i ruler of the land and has gone against the consensus of the Ummah. He presented no evidence from the Qur'an or Sunnah in support of his position; rather all of the Qur'an and Sunnah supports the position of Muhammad Morsi. He (Ahmad Tayyib) violated the tradition of the scholars of the Muslim Ummah who do not sell their knowledge for anyone or anything. The gist of what he said is: (this is) taking the lesser evil. Who can ever say that deposing the Shari’i ruler, abrogating the constitution that was ratified by two thirds of the population, and plunging the nation into complete chaos is the lesser evil? Rather it is the greater evil regarding which the Book of Allah, the Hadith of the Messenger, and the sayings of the scholars had warned. If only Dr. Tayyib had dealt with Dr. Morsi as he did before with Hosni Mubarak. Why does he have double standards? This is a sabotage of the role of Azhar, which always stands with the people, not with the despotic ruler. As for Pope Tawadros, he was not appointed by the Coptics to talk on their behalf. In fact, amongst the Coptics were those who participated with the Freedom and Justice Party and other Islamic parties. And as for Elbaradei, he was not appointed by the National Salvation Front. He only has a handful of people with him and none of the opposing parties claim that he represents them. As for those who speak in the name of Hizbun Noor (al-Nour Party), it is a party that represents a small known minority of people. All of the Salafis, Islamic parties, nationalist parties, and respectable leaders are against this turn of events which may lead to dire consequences for the nation and human rights. I call upon the Seesi faction and its supporters with love and sincerity, I call upon all of the political forces in Egypt, upon my scholarly brethren throughout the world, and upon all those who seek freedom, dignity, and justice, to stand united to defend the truth and to restore President Morsi to his rightful position; to continue to advise him sincerely; to develop plans to find solutions and enact programs of action that will protect our freedom and democracy that we secured with our blood. It is necessary that we never renounce it. Indeed for thirty years, Hosni Mubarak, continued to spread corruption in the land, to humiliate the people, to usurp the wealth and transfer it outside, to hire thugs to protect his men, and so on, until he left the nation in a complete state of destruction for whoever came after him. Yet, despite all of this, the army never deposed him and left him to appoint it to take the charge after him. We can be patient with Hosni Mubarak for thirty years, and we cannot be patient with Muhammad Morsi for just one year? The defects are not in the democratic system, rather it is in those implementing it. The way to reform is to implement it, not to demolish it from its foundations. It is haram on Egypt to do this, to abandon its constitution, its elected leader, and the Shariah of its Lord. Nothing can come after this except Divine wrath and punishment. “Do not ever think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do…” I call out to all of the Egyptian people from the depths of my heart, whom I love and am ready to sacrifice for, and from whom I seek no reward or thanks, rather I seek the pleasure of Allah alone….I call out to the people in the plains and on the coast, in the villages and cities, in the deserts and countryside, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, officers and workers, Muslim and Christian, liberal and Islamist to stand together united on one platform to protect the fruits of the revolution… freedom, democracy, and liberation from every dictatorship. We must not abandon them for any despotic ruler, whether he is military or civil, for this is what happened to some nations that ended up losing their freedom and did not regain it until years later. There is no power or strength except with Allah. Oh Allah, guard Egypt, protect our people, and do not destroy us because of the actions of the foolish people amongst us. Ameen. Yusuf al-Qardawi President of International Union for Muslim Scholars

Rumah Terbuka Eidul Fitri KeADILan Melaka Bersama Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Posted: 19 Aug 2013 08:33 PM PDT TARIKH: 21 OGOS 2013 MASA: 8:30 MALAM LOKASI: TAMAN MERDEKA JAYA, BATU BERENDAM, MELAKA. TETAMU ISTIMEWA: DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

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Anwar Ibrahim

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• M’sia Cabinet drops TPP timeline
• Anwar meets Turkish PM Erdogan, joint-call to Indonesia’s SBY to play bigger role
• ‘BN’ really means “Bankrupt Nation”
• Anwar laughs at Dr M’s Umno and MAS comments while Najib SHIVERS
• Apa lagi Mahathir mahu?
• PKR claims state gov’t punishing its supporters

M’sia Cabinet drops TPP timeline Posted: 18 Aug 2013 11:19 PM PDT The Malaysian Reserve Under pressure from the a larger coalition against the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the Malaysian Cabinet has decided to stick to several "red lines" and to drop any timeline for the signing of the disputed trade deal, a senior government official said last week in Kuala Lumpur. The campaign led by the Bantah TPPA coalition of nongovernment organisations and joined by the Malaysian Opposition's strong stance against what they call an attempt by the US to impose its brand of economic model of total free market in Malaysia has apparently paid-off. Despite major issues, including state-owned enterprises, labour and internat iona l property rights remaining unresolved, the Cabinet, at a special cabinet meeting on the major trade deal, decided that it should not be bound by a fixed timeline on the agreement. "The Cabinet has also agreed to two more cost-benefit analyses which will focus on the interests of small and medium enterprises, the Bumiputera business community as well as a comprehensive analysis of national interests," International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said last Friday. Under the TPP, Malaysia will become an integral part of the greater economic integration with the Asia-Pacific region. Though there will be access to products and services as well as purported bigger markets, the country will also be at risk of several negative impacts that will influence the economic security of the nation. On the other hand, Party Keadilaan Rakyat (PKR) said it feared the TPP was an attempt by the US to impose its brand of economic model of total free market, laissez-faire approach, deregulation and small government. "The glaring absence of China, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia in the TPP lends credence to this belief. It promotes primarily US economic, business and geopolitical interests," said PKR defacto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a statement. Bantah TPPA said, in a separate statement, it was satisfied the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak and his Cabinet's had unanimously given assurance last Friday that Malaysia's participation in the proposed TPP agreement in reinforcing Malaysia's position that the government will only agree to the TPP agreement, if its terms are most favourable to the country. "It should also be noted that Bantah — as a coalition that enjoys the support of more than 60 groups and 10 coalitions of groupings from a variety of backgrounds, membership and advocating a plethora of issues — will also hold the Cabinet to account for the above promises and assurances — as well as the other statements made in the past by representatives of Government over the TPP agreement," according to a statement signed by Blindspot/Bantah TPPA deputy chairman Azlan Awang. The coalition is concerned, moreover, that much of the promises and assurances remain just that — until it gets more information and sees that such "concerns" and "considerations" have been accepted by the other 11 member nations. Apart from Malaysia, the negotiations also involve Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam.

Anwar meets Turkish PM Erdogan, joint-call to Indonesia’s SBY to play bigger role Posted: 18 Aug 2013 11:00 PM PDT Malaysia-Chronicle Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim returned to Malaysia on Sunday after a high-level meeting in Turkey, where both he and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had urged Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take a bigger role in the Islamic world. “Our focus was on the atrocities against the masses in Egypt and Syria,” Anwar said on Twitter. “I proposed he called President SBY.” The meeting was held over the weekend and comes as Muslim nations around the world condemn the latest eruption of violence in Egypt. The Egyptian crisis is expected to escalate and the bloodbath to continue as chaos swept through the country last week, leaving nearly 900 dead in four days of unrest and threatening to stall a political transition. Even as Anwar flew into the region, the central al-Fateh mosque became the new battleground for unrest as military forces tried to stop supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi as they marched to Ramses Square in a self-declared “Friday of Anger.” The Arab Spring bogeyman in Malaysia Malaysia’s own government led by Prime Minister Najib Razak appears hesitant to wade into the complex Middle East conundrum for fear of stepping onto US toes. Additionally, the Najib administration has been politicizing the Arab Spring uprisings as a warning to the people here not to challenge the establishment, otherwise they claim chaos and anarchy would result in Malaysia as was being seen in Egypt. “It is shameful to remain silent with atrocities in Syria, Egypt, Palestine,” Anwar said, in a swipe at the Najib administration for its deafening silence. Malaysia, the next to break free from the shackles of a despotic regime? The 66-year-old Anwar is also close to Indonesia’s Susilo and had met up with him in June to discuss Malaysia’s controversial and fraud-tainted general elections. Malaysia has been ruled by Najib’s Umno-BN coalition since 1957 and there are unmistakable signs the people want change, although through peaceful means and not ala the Arab uprisings. The Arab uprising were people’s movements that began peacefully, fueled by a sense of gross injustice, but spun wildly out of control due to the refusal of the then existing regimes to give up power peacefully. Many international observers regard Malaysia as being among the next in line in the Muslim world to cast off the shackles of a despotic and corrupt regime, especially as an economic bubble created by unprecedented pump-priming threatens to burst due to sky-rocketing national debt, runaway property prices and unaffordable costs of living. In the May 5 general election, Awnar’s Pakatan Rakyat coalition won 51% of the popular vote (or the total votes cast) but lost control of the seats in Parliament due to massive gerrymandering and alleged vote-rigging. Another Indonesian leader, ex-Vice President Jusuf Kalla, was also recently approached by parties close to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to suss out a possible unity government with Anwar’s Pakatan Rakyat coalition. But that has fizzled out. Biggest Muslim population Indonesia, which has the largest population and economy in Southeast Asia, is finally emerging from devastating poverty after overthrowing the regime led by ex-president Suharto. The country, which also has the largest Muslim population in the world, prides itself for having fought for its democratic space. Despite a sometimes prickly relationship with the Malaysian government over issues such as the export of maids, Indonesia is nevertheless looked up to by many Malays in Malaysia as being more advanced especially in its democratic development and in its institutions, such as a free press. Meanwhile, Susilo has asked the Security Council of the United Nations to step up roles in addressing the deadly conflicts in Syria and Egypt. "The world may not do nothing and let the humanitarian crisis continues," Yudhoyono had said on his annual speech ahead of the anniversary of Indonesia’s Independent Day on Aug 17.

‘BN’ really means “Bankrupt Nation” Posted: 18 Aug 2013 10:58 PM PDT Malaysia-Chronicle The writing is already on the wall and easily evident in daily life in Malaysia with every progressing day that the economy is beginning to spew and sputter and it should really be a matter of time before it begins to stall and go in a downward spiral. What Malaysians suspected and feared all along prior to the 13th GE became a stark reality when Fitch Rating's revision of the country's outlook was downgraded from "stable" to "negative" in late July 2013 that gave the clearest indication that international investors have run out of patience. In response to Fitch's downgrading, a visibly shaken Najib Tun Razak said early this month that the forthcoming Budget 2014 on Oct 25 will contain strategies to reduce Malaysia's fiscal deficit which currently stands at 53.9 per cent of GDP as at the First Quarter of this year. This is just a fraction below the 55 per cent level that is deemed prudent compared with 39.8 per cent just five years ago or in 2008. As a result, Najib has announced the setting up of a fiscal policy committee in a move to cut Malaysia's budget deficit to 3 per cent by 2015 for which the prime minister's advisers want details worked out in the coming months. But analysts contend that Malaysia's mounting debt burden is worrisome and difficult to reduce owing to much off-balance sheet nonsense and bad procurement practices by the government as often highlighted in the Auditor-General's report. A burgeoning debt burden In all levels of the strata of Malaysian society from households to corporates, the state and federal government, there is to be found and discovered much debt and the figures are escalating as spending is more than earnings due to the easy availability of credit and a great lack of financial discipline. But at the end of the day what happens is that debt has to be repaid, one way or another, and the higher the amount of your monthly pay cheque goes towards servicing debt, the less money people will have remaining to spend and save for the future. This is what that has led to the government introducing pump priming measures as a large number of households are finding it difficult to deal with the rising cost of living forcing the government to continue with its multi-billion ringgit subsidies and other handouts thus causing the debt of the federal government to soar even higher. In reality, it really is a vicious cycle. But the actual reason for this debt phenomenon is due to the fact that the BN government's corrupt ways in the mismanagement of public funds and projects have created a ripple effect of creating waves of debt to rise. This certainly doesn't augur well for the future of the nation. What is envisaged is an impending collapse of the financial system that will cause Malaysia to regress and degrade the Quality-of-Life unless serious bids and measures are made to eradicate corruption, mismanagement of funds and projects and the use of austerity drives. These are measures the BN government are loathe to use as it goes against the grain of their governance and will cause much hurt and suffering among the people whom the government envisages will cause them to lose further the popular vote. The debt crisis is set to deepen It doesn't take a genius to figure out simple math. For example Agensi Kaunselling Dan Pengurusan Kredit's (AKPK) records show that the number of cases of financially distressed individuals is on the rise lending credence to the fact of the mounting debt burden Malaysians bear. Household debt has been on the rise at a worrying pace since 2009. Since that year it was 70 per cent of GDP. But four years later it has risen to 83 per cent. According to Bank Negara Malaysia, household debt grew at an average annual rate of 12 per cent over the last five years. This has led to bankruptcy cases to go on the rise. In 2012, the number of insolvency cases rose 2.1 per cent to 19,575. The 2012 annual report by the legal affairs division of the Prime Minister's Department highlights that the majority of bankruptcy cases were due to car and home purchases at 27 per cent each while 17 per cent were due to personal loans. While AKPK contends that the younger generation is getting wiser in avoiding the pitfall of falling into debt, the numbers that are already bankrupt are a real cause of worry and concern and have already caused great misery for Malaysians. What about the future? With all that has been stated, it is really a matter of time the BN initials becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of "Bankrupt Nation." Malaysians should go on guard and be vigilant of any attempt at trying to hoodwink them of their hard earned wages. The reason for Malaysia's mounting debt burden is due to the inept and corrupt governance of BN. While BN hopes to be able to turn around the situation such a possibility is difficult to realize as the nation has gone too deeply into debt. The only cause of hope is to dismantle and remove the BN government through the use of a snap poll and for this the people of Malaysia must become wiser and learn to opt for the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat to save the nation from chaos and confusion. There is really no other way. The mounting debts of people has caused the rise in crime and made Malaysia an unsafe nation where there now exists a law and order situation. The only way to remedy the situation is to cause a change of government as the corrupt ways of BN has gone beyond control. While BN contends that corruption is really a "perception" from which Malaysians suffer and that all is fine and dandy, the hard, harsh realities of everyday life now to which Malaysians are waking up to with much regret for electing BN to federal power is beginning to hurt and cause much suffering and pain all round. This is not a time for BN to spew rhetoric and semantics on governance but really high time for Malaysians to rally around an alternative government that can heal the wounds of the nation and ease the great burden of debt that the people carry. The sooner Malaysians oust the BN government the faster can the people sigh with relieve and be set free of the tyranny and oppression of BN leaders who have failed to play by the rules of democracy and have instead created the governing elite in this country to hold sway over the rakyat. Malaysia's debt burden is not going to go away like a bad dream and only the doses of reality which PR can give can overcome the foolhardy ploys of BN that has led the nation into a debt crisis and set to sink the nation further into despair. Only a change of government can cause Malaysia to be saved from bedlam and anarchy now. If Malaysians do not pay heed to the warning signs they and their descendants will have to pay a heavy price to be stuck with BN.

Anwar laughs at Dr M’s Umno and MAS comments while Najib SHIVERS Posted: 18 Aug 2013 10:54 PM PDT Malaysia-Chronicle Two controversial comments from former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad have raised eyebrows, one pertaining to the privatization of national flag carrier MAS and the other, a scathing criticism of the leaders now running Malaysia’s ruling party – Umno. “Since when? Haha,” tweeted Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, soon after touching down in Malaysia after arriving from Istanbul where he had met up with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. Anwar was having a laugh at Mahathir’s expense as the latter had been the Umno president from 1981 to 2003. By convention, whoever is elected Umno president also gets appointed to be Malaysia’s prime minister, hence the enormous interest in the high-stakes topmost Umno post. Although, the Umno presidency has changed hands twice since Mahathir retired, it is clear the veteran leader was referring to current Umno president, Prime Minister Najib Razak. The 88-year-old Mahathir is also at odd with his immediate successor Abdullah Badawi, who took over in 2003 and was in turn succeeded by Najib in 2009 “The party itself is not the problem, the problem is the people who run it,” The Malaysian Insider had reported Mahathir as saying at his Hari Raya open house on Sunday. “If you do not know how to run something, then the best organised organisation will not help." Najib shudders Mahathir’s comments are being seen as a signal that he would not oppose any challenge to Najib’s position at the Umno election due to be held in October. A powerful influence in the Umno party, his remarks are bound to make Najib and his supporters even more worried. On Friday, Najib was forced to deny sending out feelers to Anwar for the purpose of forming a unity government with the Opposition. However, he has failed to convince and the rumor is now an even ‘hotter’ topic of conversation than before in the coffee-shops that dot the nation, and especially in Umno. “Najib made what we call a political denial on Friday but within his circle, we know that he is still interested in the plan. As for Mahathir, we no longer place much importance or political value on what he says,” an Umno source close to the Najib camp told Malaysia Chronicle. ‘Fascist’ Dr M longs for the ‘good old days’  Anwar has already rejected Najib’s overtures on the grounds that the offer did not include bringing DAP and PAS into the government. DAP and PAS are the other 2 partners in the Opposition coalition apart from Anwar’s PKR or People’s Justice Party. “Mahathir’s comments are consistent. He and his supporters are defending the Establishment, they never see any wrong in the existing infrastructure but always in the people who run it,” PKR vice president told Malaysia Chronicle. “Like all conservatives and Fascists, they mourn the loss of the ‘good’ old days when the leaders’ words are a command and despotism a signature trait to be admired.” Umno election and the season of madness Another comment that prompted rather rude replies that indeed Mahathir ’mudah lupa’ or forgets easily is his recommendation for national airline MAS to be privatized. “In the past, he privatized too and lost billions of ringgit,” Anwar slammed on Twitter. In 1994, Mahathir had agreed to sell a controlling stake in MAS allowing a crony of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin to buy a 32% stake from the central Bank Negara for RM1.8 billion. But the crony, Tajudin Ramli, ran MAS to the ground with enormous debt. Even so, he managed to persuade Mahathir and Daim to buy back the stake from him at twice the price then prevailing in the market. That deal created deep public anger especially within Umno ranks for Mahathir and Daim. That Tajudin could sell back his stake at RM8 per share in 2001 when the market value was only RM3.68 apiece stirred calls for reforms within Umno. Team Wawasan and the ‘New Malay’ It also bolstered the reform and anti-corruption platform used by Anwar and several other young Turks in Umno, who had called themselves the Team Wawasan, to gain power in their party. The charismatic Anwar was seen as a challenge to Mahathir, who sacked and threw him into jail in 1998 on manifestly trumped-up sodomy and corruption charges. Najib had been a strong ally of Anwar’s in 1994 but turned against him in 1998. It is interesting that the MAS deal has re-surfaced at the current time when Mahathir is believed to be again thinking of deposing the Umno president and replacing him with someone from his own camp. “This is the season of madness in Umno where everything goes. Those in power and those seeking power will go all out to get what they want and if they don’t, dirty linen is washed in public, poison-pen letters are circulated and all sorts of shenanigans and blackmail take place,” PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng, a former Cabinet minister told Malaysia Chronicle.

Apa lagi Mahathir mahu? Posted: 18 Aug 2013 10:52 PM PDT Malaysiakini If the third prime minister of Malaysia, Hussein Onn, had not nominated Mahathir Mohamad as his successor in 1981, the course of Malaysian history would have been very different. Mahathir may have left office after 22 years in power, but today, he pops up like those annoying advertisements which appear, without warning, on your computer screen. Mahathir's messages act in a similar way to some of those adverts; they can harm your computer with malware or other unwanted files, when they are "opened". Perhaps, we need a spam-blocker that will work on Mahathir. How will we ever learn from history, if we are prevented from examining what has gone badly wrong for this nation? Mahathir's policies continue to divide the nation, but many Malays are under the illusion that he is their saviour. Sadly, after 56 years of independence, it is mostly non-Malays who are more Malaysian than the Malays. Until we get a change in government, only one man can stop Mahathir's deleterious effects on the nation – Najib Abdul Razak – but he either won't or can't bring himself to perform this saintly task. Such is the hold that Mahathir has over Najib. Yesterday, Mahathir urged that MAS be privatised. His penchant for privatisation enables profitable companies to be annexed by his cronies or Umno Baru nominees. This practice has all but bankrupted the nation. It is ironic that the man who once said that "Melayu mudah lupa", should forget his role in handing the national airline carrier, on a golden platter to Tajudin Ramli. Few MAS employees will ever forget how the company's performance plummeted with Tajudin at its helm. Mahathir observed that Umno Baru had failed to tap into young, smart Malay professionals. He claimed that Umno Baru, unlike PAS, did not like, and possibly feared people who were smarter than its leaders. Again, Mahathir mudah lupa. He once isolated younger men in his cabinet, like Anwar Ibrahim and Musa Hitam, in an attempt to contain their political aspirations. When Mahathir was the education minister in the early 70s, he quelled student unrest with an iron fist. Did he forget that the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), which many associate with Umno Baru, stops young adults from their right to full political expression? Younger people find the opposition coalition more appealing and Umno Baru is aware of this. In GE13, voters at polling centres were separated into one queue for elderly people and another for young adults. EC officials ensured that the queues for the elderly moved relatively fast, whereas queues for the young moved with laborious slowness. In many instances, young voters, simply gave up and left despite staying in line for hours. Umno Baru reasoned that young people were more impatient and impetuous, and welcomed their absence. We are told that Najib is known as Bapak Transformasi (Father of Transformation). History will be the judge of his success at transforming both the nation, and his party, Umno Baru. Fears of greatest treachery Najib realises that the nation is ripe for change but he is tortured by the recalcitrance of his party members. Like them, he has only his own interests at heart, and not the interests of the rakyat who elected them to office. He has only himself to blame for the bad example he set, which strengthened the Umno Baru delegates' resolve against reform. Najib knows his enemies from outside the party, but he fears that the greatest treachery to befall him will come from within his own party. He knows that many within his own cabinet would not hesitate to stick a knife into his back. The new Home Minister Zahid Hamidi is openly defying Najib's authority and also that of his cousin, Hishamuddin Hussein, the former home minister. Recently, Zahid unearthed 260,000 hard-core criminals, whereas Hishammuddin had found none and even had the audacity to tell the rakyat that the increase in crime was just a perception. Zahid recently found 250,000 Shiite Muslims, when Hishammuddin did not even allude to them during his tenure as home minister. These are attempts to discredit Hishammuddin, and Najib, the cousin who put him there. These machinations are possibly designed to unseat Najib at the crux of his political career, the Umno Baru general assembly which will be held later this year. Earlier this month, Zahid warned that if the Sedition Act 1948 was abolished, four aspects of the federal constitution, namely the special rights of the Malays, the status of Malay rulers, the status of Islam as the federal religion and the status of Malay as the national language would be affected. Putting on a defiant tone, he advocated for the Act to be retained and said that he was unwilling to compromise on this issue. When Najib promised to repeal the Sedition Act, last year, was he using this as a carrot to trick the public into voting for Umno Baru in GE13? Did Najib have any intention of keeping this promise or was it just a ploy to get the voters to think that he was a reformist? Perhaps, Najib will use Zahid's interjection as a convenient excuse not to repeal the Sedition Act and so win back the support of the hardliners in Umno Baru. Unlike Zahid, Najib is facing the most important battle in his political life. Is Zahid's opposition to the abolition of the Act  a means to present himself as the true defender of the Malays and of Islam in Malaysia? All roads lead to Mahathir Zahid is not acting on his own and it is glaringly evident, that all roads lead to Mahathir. The former PM has been very vocal in the past few weeks and will continue until the Umno party conference. Mahahir will continue to instigate and foment dissent. His divisive policies are symbolic of his rule. When he left office in 2003, few outside of Umno Baru were moved when he wept as he made his resignation speech. His successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave us hope, but even he failed the rakyat miserably. Mahathir claims that Umno Baru is the only party that can save the Malays. This is another of his damned lies. In truth, Umno Baru has caused the downfall of the Malays; ordinary Malays have become beggars in their own land because of his policies, and the Umno Baru elite are just pimps living off everyone else. Today, time is running out for Malaysia, and if Najib does not act to defuse the racial and religious time-bomb set by Mahathir, it will cause untold damage to the country. Mahathir cares for nothing but the continuation of his legacy, through his son, Mukhriz. A leader who does not give a damn for the peace, prosperity and economic stability of the country, might as well be called the Father of Corruption. Apa lagi Mahathir mahu?

PKR claims state gov’t punishing its supporters Posted: 18 Aug 2013 10:49 PM PDT Malaysiakini Several supporters of Sarawak PKR in Baram have been "punished" for allegedly voting for the opposition in the general election,  the party claims. State PKR chairperson Baru Bian said their applications for the planting of high-yielding rubber through the Rubber Industry Smallholders’ Development Authority (Risda) had been withdrawn. “We received reports and complaints from several people in Baram that their applications for rubber were withdrawn on the basis that they are supporters of PKR,” he said. “This is contrary to the promise made by Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu, who is also the minister for the modernisation of agriculture. “He wants to see those in rural areas earning RM2,000 or more in four years’ time if they take part now in the planting of this high-yielding rubber. “We met Jabu during the last sitting of the state legislature and he promised us that he would help the rural people with regard to the eradication of poverty via this scheme,” Baru Bian said. He said Jabu must fulfil his promise to the people that rubber clones would be made available to the rural people in an effort to eradicate poverty. “This is a very serious matter, and we will not take it lightly,” he said. The PKR leader also expressed concern over the ruling made by Risda that it would only approve applications to plant rubber in NCR land after such land had been verified by the Land and Survey Department. “We are concerned as the Land and Survey Department is known to have a different definition from the decision of the Federal Court on what constitutes NCR land. “Such applications are certain to be rejected,” Baru Bian said, suggesting  that Risda, if it was serious, should ask the Tuai Rumah (longhouse chiefs) or community leaders to endorse that such land was NCR land and belonged to the applicant. Baru Bian has also heard complaints from rural people that their applications to plant oil palm had also met with obstacles as the Land and Survey Department did not want them to plant oil palm in NCR land, which it claimed is state land.

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