The missing RM1mil for hardcore poor and 61 silk pieces for the first lady...

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has questioned Umno over a RM1.1 million allocation by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry for 22 hardcore poor families in the state.

Lim (left), who is DAP secretary-general, asked if each family had received the RM50,000 and where the money had gone.

He added that Penang Umno liaison chief Zainal Abidin Osman has yet to explain the whereabouts of the money.

“After three years, we want to ensure that the cash reaches the hands of the poor families but it is regretted that up till now, Zainal is unable to tell us where the money has gone and into whose hands,” said Lim in a statement.

“Why is it that only 22 families are being given this RM50,000 each and not other hardcore poor families?” he asked.

Lim then threw a challenge at Zainal (right) to list down the 22 families, asking if the money had gone into “the pockets of certain quarters”.

Lim was referring to Zainal’s remark in 2009 that the ministry, to which he is adviser, was willing to take over the problems of the state’s hardcore poor.

He said this when referring to the state government’s “failure” under Lim to eradicate hardcore poverty in Penang.

He added that the ministry will be handing out financial aid to the 22 families under the People’s Well-being Development Scheme (Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat).

Lim said state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh had written to Zainal in April 2009 to obtain information about the 22 families, but no reply had been forthcoming.

Phee had then lodged a police report in July of the same year asking the force to investigate the whereabouts of the RM1.1 million, he added.

Penang spent RM6 million on poor

Lim noted that from March 2009 to December last year, the Penang government had channeled out RM6.32 million to about 700 families every month.

This was in line with the Pakatan Rakyat’s plan to abolish poverty by 2015.

“This has helped wipe out hardcore poverty in Penang, the first state which has managed to do this,” Lim said.

“Currently, we have agreed to increase the amount of monthly income to a minimum of RM600 per family, meaning, we will top-up the income of those who receive less than the RM600,” he added.- malaysiakini

Ketika rakyat miskin tegar menanti2 peruntukan RM1 juta,bik mama 'belanja sakan' tempah 61 pasang pakaian dari Australia..

Sementara itu, sedang kerajaan Pulau Pinang tertanya2 ke mana perginya  peruntukan RM1 juta untuk rakyat miskin tegar di neghheri tersebut,seperti yang telah dijanjikan oleh keranjaan BN pusat, NGO mesra PKR, Jingga 13 hari ini menyerahkan beberapa urusan e-mel kepada Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sebagai "bukti" bahawa isteri Perdana Menteri Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor yang didakwa ‘berbelanja sakan’ membeli pakaian pereka eksklusif di Sydney, Australia.

Pertukaran e-mel itu dimuat-naikkan pada laman blog Frockwriter oleh wartawan fesyen Australia, Patty Huntington yang mendedahkan butiran tentang apa yang berlaku antara Huntington, pereka Carl Kapp dan ‘publicist’ beliau Holly Beer.

Rosmah dibidas kerana didakwa telah membelanjakan RM323,000 bagi membeli 61 helai pakaian daripada butik eksklusif Kapp semasa percutiannya Disember lalu di Australia.

Ketua Jingga 13 Fariz Musa berkata pertukaran dua e-mel antara Huntington dan Beer menceritakan bilangan pakaian yang dibeli dan nilainya.


"Kami telah bekalkan bukti tambahan ini untuk menunjukkan bahawa apa yang dinafikan (dakwaan pembelian) oleh Rosmah dan (Pengerusi Festival Fesyen Islam) Raja Rezza Shah bercanggah dengan kenyataan Kapp dan laporan daripada Huntington," kata Fariz.

Pada 26 Januari lalu, kumpulan itu membuat laporan kepada SPRM berhubung kolum yang ditulis oleh  Andrew Hornery mengenai Rosmah yang disiarkan di akhbar Sydney Morning Herald.

"Oleh kerana kita telah bekalkan bukti tambahan, kita gesa SPRM memandang serius isu ini dan menjalankan siasatan tanpa prejuds," kata Fariz.

Menurut beliau, SPRM juga perlu merakamkan kenyataan dari Hornery, Huntington, Kapp dan Little Hero.

Ulang tayang kisah shopping sakan FLOM boleh di baca di sini, sini, sini dan sini....

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Sharizat - "I will not resign"...

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said today that she would not bow down to pressure from any quarters to resign as Wanita Umno chief.

Shahrizat said it was nothing unusual for political leaders to face pressure and that this was all part and parcel of politics.

"If there are people who know the workings of Wanita Umno and are calling me to quit, it must be because they have their own agendas," she said when met at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport today.

She said the quit calls would not dampen her spirit but only make her stronger in continuing to serve society. As to her cabinet post, Shahrizat said she was leaving this to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to decide.


"I respect his (Najib's) leadership. So the decision whether I should remain in the cabinet or not is up to him.


Shahrizat also said she had no knowledge as to what Rafidah Aziz - former International Trade and Industry Minister and whom she succeeded as Wanita Umno chief - had to say about her. She said she deeply respected Rafidah and would continue with efforts to strengthen Wanita Umno to face the next general election.


Shahrizat who just returned from performing the umrah in Mecca, will be resuming her cabinet duties on Wednesday. She had taken three weeks leave following the national feedlot centre controversy.


The controversy arose after the auditor-general in his 2011 report stated that the centre had not met its scheduled targets since it started operations. The centre is managed by National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), which is owned by her husband Mohamad Salleh Ismail.


The government had provided a RM250 million soft loan for the running of the centre, which was entrusted to help the country reduce beef imports.


Rafidah in an interview with the Malay Mail had alluded that political leaders faced with serious controversies should "know what to do."- Bernama

'Damn it, please move out!' - Rafidah tells Shahrizat

Even as her three-weak leave from the cabinet ends today, Women, Family and Community Development minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has found herself at the receiving end of another attack, this time by a familiar foe who she replaced.

Shahrizat's predecessor in Wanita UMNO, its former head Rafidah Aziz, launched a vitriolic attack on her, literally telling Shahrizat, who has been at the centre of the scandal involving the government-aided National Feedlot Corporation managed by her family members, to "move out".

Speaking to UMNO-linked daily Malay Mail, Rafidah did not mince her words when urging Shahrizat to resign, echoing a call by their former boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other UMNO leaders.

“If you are a problem to the party and government, please move out! That’s it (for) everyone, whether it’s got to do with cows or anything (else). That’s the most matured way of dealing with your problems,” said Rafidah.

Rafidah also took issue with Shahrizat’s three week leave, which the latter said was to allow a probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency into claims that she and her family members misused RM200 million government cash for their cattle-rearing company.

“Why are you so hung up about the three-week decision (to take a break)? You’re missing the point!

“The point is: damn it, decide, don’t leave it (the decision to go) to the prime minister. Don’t leave the onus on the prime minister to decide for you,” said Rafidah, removing all brakes in her criticism of the person to whom she lost in an intense campaign to win the Wanita UMNO chief election in 2009.   

'AP and NFCorp not the same'

Besides Shahrizat's husband Mohamad Salleh Ismail, their children are also part of the top management of NFCorp. Sons Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh and Wan Shahinur Izran are executive director and chief executive officer respectively, while daughter Wan Izzanah Fatimah is director, all of whom had been accused of drawing fat monthly salaries against a backdrop of financial abuses.

According to Rafidah, the scandal has effectively taken Shahrizat off the list of prime minister Najib Razak's so-called “winnable candidates” to represent BN in the coming polls.

“Whoever is in the wrong, please do the needful. But do not use the same brush stroke to tarnish the government. That’s why I say if you’re a bother to the government, you are a liability to the government and to the party, (and should) make the decision to move away,” she added.

The former International Trade and Industry minister, who herself was once embroiled in the controversy surrounding the abuse of Approved Permit (APs), however was quick to squash any attempt to equate it with the NFCorp issue.

“There was no evidence and there was no link to any family member. You think I’m not a God-fearing woman and do all these things? It’s a sin, you know!” she exclaimed.

Meantime, whether or not Rafidah’s outburst is a signal of her return to helm the troubled Wanita UMNO movement, is something political analysts will be eagerly following.-harakahdaily

Shahrizat tidak akan tunduk kepada tekanan untuk letak jawatan

Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil menegaskan hari ini bahawa beliau tidak akan menunduk kepada mana-mana pihak yang menggesanya meletak jawatan, menurut laporan Bernama.

Shahrizat (gambar) berkata bahawa isu kontroversial NFC yang melibatkan suaminya Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail tidak akan melemahkan semangatnya untuk terus berkhidmat kepada masyarakat, malah akan menguatkan kebolehannya menghadapi cabaran.

“Saya anggapnya sebagai asam garam dalam politik, saya dah lama dalam arena politik, tidak ada mana-mana pemimpin yang tidak melalui pelbagai pancaroba,” kata Shahrizat, menurut Bernama.

Beliau turut berkata bahawa pihak yang membuat saranan untuknya meletak jawatan “pasti ada sejarahnya yang tersendiri”.

NFC merupakan projek “Lembah Daging” di Gemas, Negeri Sembilan yang bertujuan mengurangkan pergantungan Negara terhadap daging import melalui peningkatan pengeluaran daging tempatan.

Walau bagaimanapun, Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2010 telah mendapati bahawa NFC, yang diterajui Dr Mohamad Salleh, telah gagal memenuhi matlamat penubuhannya. Pihak pembangkang turut mendakwa bahawa wujudnya penyelewangan peruntukan kerajaan berjumlah RM250 juta yang disalurkan kepada NFC.- malaysian insider

cheers.

Skim kesihatan 1 Care, lagi taktik Najib bebankan rakyat...

Kemarahan umum meningkat terhadap cadangan "1 Care" skim penstrukturan semula sistem penjagaan kesihatan, pengkritik mendakwa ia memaksa  pekerja dan perniagaan untuk memberikan 10 peratus pendapatan bulanan mereka kepada agensi menguruskan dana kesihatan kerajaan.

Walaupun maklumat terperinci skim masih samar-samar dan pegawai-pegawai Kementerian Kesihatan menyifatkan masih "terlalu awal" untuk mengkritik, pengamal perubatan dan persatuan pengguna memboikot cadangan itu sejak Disember lalu bermula kempen "Tak Nak 1 Care", berharap Putrajaya mengkaji semula sebelum dikuatkuasa.

Menggelar diri mereka "Gabungan Membantah Penswastaan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan", kumpulan ini telah menggunakan media alternatif dengan menggunakan laman sosial Facebook, Twitter, blogs dan Youtube untuk menyebarkan maklumat tentang skim seterusbya mendapat sokongan orang ramai. 

Kumpulan ini antara lain telah membuka laman komuniti di Facebook yang dinamakan "#TakNak1Care", Twitter menggunakan akaun @taknak1care dan memuatnaik beberapa video klip di Youtube, menggesa rakyat menolak skim itu.

Usaha itu mendapat perhatian dengan cepat di Internet malah menarik perhatian Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan (Perubatan) Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, yang terlibat secara peribadi dalam perbincangan dengan kumpulan itu di laman Facebook.

The Malaysian Insider difahamkan skim "1 Care" dimodelkan selepas Perkhidmatan Kesihatan Kebangsaan United Kingdom (NHS), satu sistem pembiayaan penjagaan kesihatan dan telah ditekankan dalam Rancangan Malaysia ke-10 untuk Pelan Strategik Kementerian Kesihatan 2011 - 2015.

Difahamkan skim mempunyai lima fasa dan kini sudah memasuki fasa ketiga dan inisiatif penuh, perbincangan dengan doktor dan farmasi seluruh negara, akan dibentangkan kepada Kabinet pada Mac

Menurut anggota CHC, "1 Care" akan menggantikan sistem dua peringkat (awam dan swasta) penjagaan kesihatan dengan memiliki maklumat sulit hospital awan dan swasta, dengan harapan dapat memastikan ia lebih "saksama" kepada rakyat merentasi sosioekonomi.

Di bawa sistem dua peringkat, rakyat Malaysia boleh memilih rawatan di klinik swasta atau hospital dn pembayaran ditanggung sendiri atau melalui tuntutan insurans atau mendapatkan rawatan di klinik kerajaan atau hospital dan pembayaran di bawah kos minima, di bawah subsidi penjagaan kesihatan.

Melalui "1 Care", CHC berkata ia akan mewajibkan semua individu yang berpendapatan termasuk kakitangan kerajaan dan pesara, perniagaan dan menyumbang 10 peratus pendapatan mereka kepada agensi kerajaan, Skim Insurans Kesihatan Sosial (SHI) .

"Jadi sesiapa yang mampu bayar akan bayar, mana yang dikecualikan membayar seperti orang miskin dan sebagainya akan tetap mendapat faedah perubatan asas percuma yang ditawarkan di bawah skim itu. Pada asasnya mereka yang mampu akan bayar bagi mereka yang tidak boleh," kata anggota CHC.

Tetapi, selain sistem "perkhidmatan-sebelum-bayar" di bawah "1 Care", CHC juga mempersoalkan faedah penjagaan kesihatan yang terhad di bawah skim itu seperti jika seorang pesakit dirujuk kepada doktor pakar (GP); rawatan hanya enam kali sehari; rawatan hanya seorang pesakit setiap kali memberi perkhidmatan dan pembekal penjagaan kesihatan (PHCPs) dinilai di bawah Petunjuk Prestasi Utama (KPI) diberikan penalti.

"Dalam sistem ini, keuntungan PHCPs dengan mengiklan perkhidmatan SHI. Seperti semua insurans, SHI tidak meluluskan semua tuntutan. PHCPs mungkin dikenakan tindakan kerana memberi terlalu banyak perkhidmatan atau merujuk terlalu ramai pesakit ke hospital atau pakar.

"Doktor mungkin perlu kurangkan khidmat penjagaan kesihatan bagi mengelak penalti...tetapi anda tidak berhenti membayar atau bayar kurang ke SHI," dakwa kumpulan itu dalam video di Youtube.

Menjelaskan perkara ini, anggota CHC memberitahu The Malaysian Insider, "1 Care" memperuntukkan tuntutan maksimum RM360 setiap pesakit untuk GP dari SHI, dengan RM60 setiap kali rawatan.

"Dan dengan kuota-kuota KPI, GP akan cuba melengah-lengahkan dari merujuk terlalu ramai pesakit ke hospital. Sesiapa yang memerlukan rawatan segera, yang perlu ke hospital sendiri dan membayar sendiri," adu anggota itu.

 

Semasa cuba mengurangkan kebimbangan ke atas "1 Care" baru-baru ini, Dr Noor Hisham menjelaskan ia hanya "peringkat konsep" dan penstrukturan semula sistem penjagaan kesihatan negara amat diperlukan.

"Sekarang sektor awam akan membelanjakan RM16 bilion dan mendapatkan semula dua peratus. Sebaliknya kami tidak mahu membebankan rakyat tetapi melihat pelbagai pilihan dan model.

"Pada ketika ini tiada apa yang telah dipersetujui sehingga semuanya mendapat persetujuan orang ramai dan kami perlu mengkaji kos analisis. Bagaimanapun ada banyak andaian dan spekulasi dan imej buruk seperti kempen TAK NAK.

"Saya hairan dari mana mereka mendapatkan angka-angka itu tanpa disokong data substantif," katanya dalam satu respons.

Namun dakwaan CHC, ia dipercayai undang-undang baru "Akta 1 Care" dijadualkan untuk dibentangkan di Parlimen tidak lama lagi, kemungkinan pada awal Mac. CHC akan menemui pemberita untuk memberitahu mengenai perkara itu esok, disusuli Forum Awam Kesihatan Selangor-Kuala Lumpur pada 12 Februari.

The Malaysian Insider difahamkan forum itu akan dirasmikan Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim dan pegawai Kementerian Kesihatan. - Clara Chooi - malaysian insider

Desas desus cadangan Skim Penjagaan Kesihatan Nasional 1 Care yang bakal dilaksanakan kerajaan akan menyebabkan rakyat menanggung beban lebih parah, kata Naib Presiden KEADILAN, Datuk Seri Chua Jui Meng.

Ini kerana katanya, rakyat akan diminta menyumbang 10 peratus melalui potongan pendapatan mereka kepada agensi pengurus dana kesihatan yang dilantik oleh kerajaan, sekiranya skim itu menjadi kenyataan.

“Melalui skim 1Care kerajaan akan melantik satu badan yang akan menguruskan skim ini yang mempunyai kuasa pemutus menentukan kehendak rakyat,” katanya dihubungi Keadilandaily.com hari ini.

“Jangankan 10 peratus, satu peratus pun sudah cukup tinggi untuk rakyat dan ini tidak termasuk cukai GST yang bakal dikenakan pertengahan tahun ini.

“Rakyat di bawah pentadbiran Najib terus berdepan bebanan kos hidup yang tinggi kerana perlu membayar tol, minyak, bil elektrik dan air yang terus diswastakan,” tegasnya.

Berbanding dasar kesihatan sedia ada, katanya, rakyat bebas memilih samada hendak mendapatkan khidmat kesihatan dari klinik swasta atau hospital kerajaan.


“Sepatutnya kerajaan mengekalkan sistem sedia ada di mana rakyat miskin mendapat khidmat penjagaan kesihatan murah melalui hospital kerajaan manakala mereka yang memiliki sedikit kemampuan boleh ke klinik swasta sesuai dengan pendapatan mereka,” kata bekas Menteri Kesihatan ini.


Portal The Malaysian Insider hari ini melaporkan cadangan skim berkenaan, di mana rakyat yang memiliki peringkat pendapatan tertentu akan diwajibkan memberikan 10 peratus pendapatan bulanan mereka kepada agensi mengurus dana kesihatan negara.


Dilaporkan, pengamal perubatan dan persatuan pengguna memboikot cadangan itu sejak Disember tahun lalu, bermula dengan kempen ‘Tak Nak 1 Care’ dan menggesa kerajaan mengkaji semula cadangan berkenaan.


Pada 28 Mei 2010, Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, dilapor berkata, perdana menteri sangat teruja dengan cadangan itu, selepas beliau dimaklumkan mengenainya.


Mengulas lanjut, Jui Meng mendesak pentadbiran Najib menjelaskan skim berkenaan dengan memberikan butiran terperinci.


“Kita juga mendesak kerajaan mempelawa NGO, aktivis rakyat dan mereka yang pakar dalam bidang ini untuk berbincang sebelum apa-apa keputusan dibuat mengenainya,” tegas beliau. Keadilandaily

1Care marked by 'indecent haste'

A senior PKR leader has characterised as “indecent haste” the government’s healthcare proposal that is said to be set for promulgation amid criticism and anxiety from concerned professionals.
Dr Tan Kee Kwong, head of the party’s disciplinary panel and likely candidate for the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat in the Federal Territory, said:

“For a measure this huge and in a sector (healthcare) this important, the government’s approach is characterised by indecent haste and a lack of public consultation.

“Good healthcare is a citizen’s right which makes any measure impacting that right the concern of everyone. This would make the lack of consultation and transparency concerning the government’s contemplated measure a source of grave concern to the people.”

Tan said details about the government’s healthcare proposal, called 1Care, requiring
individuals to pay 10 percent of their annual income towards the scheme make the costs “onerous” especially when the payee is restricted to six visits a year to the doctor.

“Ten percent is not a small amount for an individual to fork out and when you are restricted to only six visits a year that makes things lopsided because no normal person wants to visit the doctor unless he or she is really sick.

“A person who is ill may be required to see the doctor several times a year. The restriction at six visits is arbitrary and may turn out to be gravely limiting.”

Tan, who was a deputy minister in the BN government as an elected MP for the Gerakan component of the ruling coalition, said that he had, intermittently, been part of the long drawn and discursive process in which a national healthcare proposal has germinated in the bowels of government.

Part of government study groups

He said he had been part of government study groups that have gone to many countries in the world to study various healthcare systems.

“The one that is now about to emanate from the government is said to involve a combination of the public and private sectors but the costs to the citizen and the proposed limitations on frequency of medical attention for the payee suggest the project is weighted in favour of the provider than the recipient.

“This would deprecate the right of citizens to healthcare and would tilt the emphasis in favour of profit to the provider,” commented Tan.

He envisaged that in its approach to healthcare, a Pakatan government would weigh the balance in favour of the recipient of healthcare rather than the provider.


“Details proposed by the ruling government that a certain percentage of the gross annual payment by individuals would go to a middleman managing the system are a recipe for bureaucratic bloat and profiteering,” said Tan.


He said the government should submit its proposals to broad consultation with the public and with healthcare professionals.


Tan remarked that initial details of the government’s proposed scheme have issued in a perversion of the Najib Razak administration’s vaunted slogan of ‘1Malaysia - People First, Performance Now’ into ‘1Care - Formulation First, Consultation Last’.- malaysiakini

Docs reject 1Care scheme, healthcare not a business

Healthcare is not a business to derive profits, medical practitioners and a non-governmental group have warned, and they want the government to review its proposed 1Care for 1Malaysia scheme.
The Citizens’ Healthcare Coalition (CHC), together with the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations, Malaysia (FPMPAM), denounced the health ministry’s initiative to implement this national insurance-based system to fund healthcare.


“1Care does not address existing problems and issues and it will be detrimental to the well-being of consumers.

“In this scheme of things - the outsourcing of services - they want to outsource healthcare as well,” CHC spokesperson Dr T Jayabalan (left) said at a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“They call it a social insurance scheme but there is nothing ‘social’ about it. If it concerns the people, why weren’t consumer groups invited for discussions on the matter?” Jayabalan asked.

In taking steps for the plan to be scrapped, CHC and FPMPAM are moving fast to inform their members about the 1Care scheme and for them to educate their patients, as well as conduct forums and dialogues in the various states of the country.

“For every attempt they have made, the rakyat and the relevant groups, such as consumer associations, have put the brakes... but this time, things are being done stealthily,” said Jayabalan, a veteran public health consultant.

Speculation is rife that initiatives are being taken to table a bill at the March sitting of parliament, to moot a national healthcare financing authority (NHFA) in the hope of  “ensuring healthcare is accessible to all Malaysians” across all socio-economic status.

CHC has generated an online campaign on Facebook and Twitter, asking Malaysians to reject 1Care, which will not only be expensive as every employed individual will have to contribute as much as 10 percent of his or her monthly income to the NHFA for basic healthcare, but will also be restrictive in the options offered to those requiring healthcare.

However, this is not the view of the government, which first proposed such a scheme under the Fourth Malaysia Plan (1981-1985), before reviving it as 1Care a couple of years ago.

According to a concept paper available on the CHC Facebook page, 1Care was mooted under the 10th Malaysia Plan as the health ministry’s 2011-2015 strategic plan, similar to Britain's National Healthcare Service (NHS).

Healthcare is welfare

Jayabalan said the government has already began rolling out 1Care with a plan to corporatise the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) when parliament sits in March. He said speculation was rife about the tabling of a Pharmacy Bill, “and this is where the separation starts... the tactic is to divide the people... it is the best way to push things through”.

 It is understood that the four-phase scheme has already been put into place, with the full scheme due to be presented to the cabinet by March, after the authorities engage with doctors and pharmacists nationwide.

“It’s just like every other past restructuring exercise, such as the corporatisation of the National Heart Institute (IJN) a couple of years ago. They promised efficiency, so there is no waiting time in IJN now? Those who can’t pay upfront have to wait for years,” Jayabalan said.       

“If the government is thinking about welfare - what’s welfare? It is not doling out from your pocket. Welfare is social in nature and it is the duty of the government to provide this service.”

FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow (right) said instead of revamping the entire healthcare structure, the government should just address the weaknesses, such as improving better access to healthcare.Chow said the government should emulate the example of Hong Kong, which encouraged public interaction when it proposed setting up a voluntary medical insurance scheme.

“This country is headed for disaster if it abandons the current system for 1Care,” Jayabalan added. - malaysiakini


 Public forum on govt’s plans next week

Sunday, 12 February 2012 (4.00pm–6.30pm)

Sunflower Room, Global Business & Convention Centre

No.8 Jalan 19/1, Section 19, 46300 Petaling Jaya

Organised by Citizens’ Healthcare Coalition.

Officiated by Selangor MB. Khalid Ibrahim. 

Speakers: Health ministry official, Selangor executive councillor for health Dr Xavier Jayakumar, private practitioner Dr. Ng Swee Choon, Penang consumer and health activist Dr. T Jayabalan. Moderator: lawyer Philip Koh Tong Ngee

cheers.

EPF funds used as BN pocket money, says PKR

PKR has bashed a move to use RM1.5 billion from the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) to help finance those unable to obtain bank loans to buy low-cost public housing units.

"Even banks are not prepared to give the loans. What is the EPF's investment panel doing?

"Why is EPF money being used as BN's pocket money?" asked party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (right) at a press conference today.

At least four banks were brought in to help draft the financing agreement, Nurul Izzah said, and asked why EPF's funds were being used if commercial banks did not deem the scheme financially sound.

"We don't want a situation like the subprime mortgage crisis in the US, where borrowers could not service their loans, but with the EPF instead of banks (in trouble)," she said, adding that EPF funds were also used to finance the light rail transit (LRT) project.

"The government can't go vote-buying on a whim simply because elections are around the corner.

"You (the government) can help the Public Housing Project (PPR) community, but don't use EPF funds for that purpose," the MP for Lembah Pantai added.

On Monday, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had reportedly announced an "easy financing scheme" for 20,000 eligible PPR tenants and potential buyers who could not obtain bank loans.

DAP's publicity chief Tony Pua has also objected the move, saying that EPF's role is to ensure the financial security of the retirement funds of its contributors.


Both Pua and Nurul Izzah suggested turning to Bank Rakyat and Malaysia Building Society Bhd for the purpose instead.

Dana KWSP diguna bagi wang saku BN

PKR hari ini menyelar tindakan kerajaan untuk menggunakan RM1.5 bilion daripada dana Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) bagi membantu mereka yang gagal mendapatkan pinjaman bank bagi membiayai pembelian rumah awam kos rendah.

"Malah bank-bank juga tidak bersedia memberi pinjaman. Apakah yang dilakukan oleh panel pelaburan KWSP?

"Mengapa wang KWSP yang digunakan sebagai wang saku BN?" soal naib presiden PKR Nurul Izzah Anwar (kanan) pada sidang media hari ini.


Sekurang-kurangnya empat bank telah diminta membantu menggubal draf perjanjian pembiayaan, kata Nurul Izzah sambil menyoal mengapa dana KWSP digunakan jika bank komersial sendiri tidak menganggap skim itu sebagai berdaya maju.

"Kita tidak mahu situasi seperti krisis pajak gadai subprima di Amerika Syarikat, di mana peminjam tidak dapat membayar ansuran mereka, jadi KWSP bukan bank (dalam kesusahan)," katanya, sambil mengingatkan bahawa dana KWSP juga telah digunakan untuk membiayai projek transit aliran ringan (LRT).

"Kerajaan tidak boleh membeli undi sesuka hati semata-mata kerana pilihan raya semakin dekat.

"Awak (kerajaan) boleh membantu Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), tetapi jangan gunakan dana KWSP bagi maksud itu," kata Nurul Izzah yang juga ahli parlimen Lembah Pantai.
 
Isnin lalu, Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan dan Kesejahteraan Bandar, Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin dilapor mengumumkan "skim pembiayaan mudah" untuk 20,000 penyewa PPR yang layak dan bakal pembeli yang tidak layak mendapatkan pinjaman bank.

Ketua Penerangan DAP Tony Pua juga menyelar tindakan itu dengan mengatakan bahawa peranan KWSP adalah memastikan pencarum mempunyai simpanan yang mencukupi apabila mereka bersara kelak.

Kedua-dua mereka, Pua dan Nurul Izzah mencadangkan Bank Rakyat dan Malaysia Building Society Bhd mengambil-alih tanggungjawab itu.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

More exposes to 'greet' Shahrizat's return...

Embattled cabinet minister Shahrizat Jalil, who is scheduled to be back at work next week, is set to be 'greeted' with more exposes on misappropriation allegations involving her family, PKR says.

According to PKR chief of strategy Rafizi Ramli, the party will make more revelations on property bought by the women, family and community development minister's family next Wednesday.

However, it is not immediately clear if the purchases are linked to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), the family-owned company at the heart of the scandal.

"Shahrizat ( left) is returning this week, so maybe we'll greet her with something... We are pursuing more properties that could have been bought by the family. We should be able to nail one next week," Rafizi told Malaysiakini.

PKR has previously revealed that the family owns a luxury condominium worth about RM10 million in Singapore, but was unable to present evidence that NFC funds went towards this purchase.

The family has remained silent on the matter but had earlier admitted that they used part of the RM250 million government soft loan to buy two luxury condominium units in Kuala Lumpur under NFC's name.

NFC preparing media blitz

In a dialogue with NGOs last week, NFC chief executive officer Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh reiterated that the condominium units at One Menerung in Bangsar were investments bought at a time when the cattle-rearing project was temporarily halted for a viability study.

In an interview yesterday, Rafizi said that "more" of such exposes were in the pipeline because the anonymous tip-offs "keep coming".

He said the stream of information from anonymous sources also came at a time when NFC appeared to be "doing things behind the scenes".

Having somewhat written off the opposition supporters, Rafizi said, NFC was likely to be cleaning up its backyard in preparation for a media offensive.


"They are concerned about their own supporters, so I think they would want to make sure everything is in order so that they can start a new media campaign.

"To say, 'look, these are all lies and that in terms of company structure we are all accountable to the government, these are not private companies, etc'. It's not like they're lying idle," said Rafizi, a chartered accountant by training.

NFC recently engaged a public relations company to handle its media relations and has held at least two dialougue sessions with Malay-centric NGOs to explain its side of the story.

However, the NGOs have claimed that the sessions were on their own initiative.

Lagi pendedahan sambut kepulangan Shahrizat

PKR akan menyambut kepulangan Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil kembali bertugas dengan pendedahan terbaru berhubung dakwaan penyelewengan melibatkan keluarga menteri pembangunan wanita itu.
 
Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli berkata pendedahan tersebut, Rabu depan, adalah mengenai dakwaan pembelian hartanah oleh keluarga menteri tersebut.

Buat masa ini tidak dapat dipastikan sama ada dakwaan pembelian itu berkait dengan National Feedlot Corporation -- syarikat milik keluarga menteri berkenaan yang terjebak dalam skandal projek lembut Pusat Fidlot National.

"Shahrizat akan kembali minggu ini jadi mungkin kita akan sambut dia dengan sesuatu... Kita sedang mengesan lebih banyak hartanah yang mungkin telah dibeli oleh keluarga itu," kata Rafizi kepada Malaysiakini.


Tambahnya,PKRakan dapat mengesahkan salah satu
daripada perkara itu, minggu depan.

Shahrizat bercuti tiga minggu, berakhir minggu ini, untuk membantu siasatan berhubung dakwaan skandal itu.


PKR sebelum ini mendedahkan mengenai pembelian kondominium mewah bernilai kira-kira RM10 juta di Singapura namun tidak dapat mengesahkan bahawa dana NFC digunakan untuk membeli hartanah tersebut. Keluarga menteri itu setakat ini masih belum mengesahkan atau menafikan perkara itu.

Bagaimanapun, sebahagian daripada pinjaman RM250 juta untuk projek NFC disahkan telah diguna untuk membeli dua unit kondominium mewah atas nama NFC.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Provokasi kepala babi: Rakyat masih sehati...

Sementara parti pemerintah sibuk bersiap sedia untuk menghadapi pilihan raya akan datang, pelbagai insiden jijik berlaku untuk menguji slogan 1Malaysia yang dilaungkan Najib Razak.  Insiden terbaru, kepala babi ditinggalkan di Masjid Hidayat Sentul, dua hari selepas insiden yang sama di perkarangan Masjid Nurul Iman, Rawang (gambar bawah).

Sekali lagi, orang ramai pasti terkilan dengan kejadian provokasi tidak waras sebegini.  Tetapi, apakah kita masih lagi perlu terkejut?  Tidakkah rakyat berasa jemu dengan cubaan berulangkali untuk memecahkan perpaduan kita?

Sekiranya kejadian "kepala babi" ini terjadi 40 tahun lalu, kemungkinan besar huru-hara telahpun berlaku.  Malah, seandainya insiden ini terjadi sebelum 3 Mac 2008 pun, ketika isu-isu agama menjadi punca ketegangan - misalnya isu dialog antara agama (Interfaith Dialogue), perebutan jenazah, dan pertukaran agama yang agak meruncing waktu itu - belum tentu masyarakat Malaysia dapat menanganinya dengan kesabaran yang telah ditunjukkan dalam masa dua hari yang lepas.

Bagaimanapun, masyarakat Malaysia pasca-2008 sudah menunjukkan kematangan yang baru, di mana walaupun tempat beribadat disimbah cat merah, dibakar api, ataupun dihina dengan pelbagai cara jijik seperti menggunakan kepala binatang, rakyat Malaysia secara umumnya tidak menunjukkan reaksi yang melulu, melampau, atau terlalu beremosi. 

Sungguhpun begitu, pastinya kita bersedih kerana di sebalik kemajuan masyarakat dan hubungan etnik pada asasnya sejak 13 Mei 1969, masih ada unsur-unsur subversif yang ingin mencetuskan ketegangan etnik.  Kejadian terbaru ini bukan kali pertama vandalisme dilakukan ke atas tempat beribadat sama ada masjid, surau, gereja, atau kuil.  Malangnya, aksi-aksi sebegini tidak akan berhenti selagi politik negara terus didominasi elemen kaum dan agama.  

Tidak dinafikan, perkara kaum dan agama sukar dipisahkan daripada wacana kebangsaan.  Namun, pada masa politik perkauman yang sedang merosot diancam politik baru yang berasaskan keadilan sosial, saya percaya pergelutan ini akan menghasilkan peluang supaya perubahan boleh berlaku.

Walaupun aman dan damai pada hari biasa, keadaan hubungan etnik di Malaysia sukar diukur kerana sekiranya seseorang membaca akhbar Utusan Malaysia setiap pagi, seolah-olah ada sahaja pihak tidak bertanggungjawab yang ingin memporak-perandakan hubungan antara kaum.  

Sekiranya mendengar ugutan-ugutan PERKASA dan pertubuhan-pertubuhan satu kaum (1Kaum?) yang tumbuh seperti cendawan selepas hujan pasca-8 Mac 2008, seolah-olah wujud ancaman besar terhadap hak-hak Bumiputera.  Sekiranya melihat kembali tunjuk perasaan mengheret kepala lembu memprotes tapak sebuah kuil hindu pada tahun 2009 dan insiden-insiden vandalisme tempat beribadat sejak 2010 (termasuk 12 kejadian dalam bulan Januari 2010 sahaja), keadaan hubungan etnik di Malaysia nampaknya tidak boleh dibanggakan langsung.

Namun, adakah perkara-perkara yang disebut di atas membayangkan realiti hubungan etnik di Malaysia?  Ataupun adakah ia sebenarnya hanya berunsur acara pseudo untuk mengalih fokus orang ramai dan mempengaruhi pendapat umum?  Dalam konteks ini, apakah kempen 1Malaysia Najib bermakna ataupun juga sekadar retorik sahaja?
 
Amat sukar untuk rakyat biasa menerima 1Malaysia apabila penyokong terbesar propaganda Najib ialah Ibrahim Ali dan kumpulannya PERKASA yang terus gagal untuk menghormati masyarakat minoriti.  Untuk membuktikan beliau benar-benar mahukan pembaikan hubungan etnik, Najib harus segera menyeru supaya segala unsur provokasi diberhentikan.  Lebih penting lagi, beliau perlu mengajukan seruan ini bukan sahaja secara umum, tetapi spesifik kepada kumpulan-kumpulan yang telah memainkan peranan dalam mengapi-apikan sentimen perkauman dalam masa beberapa tahun lalu.  Tidak ada gunanya bercakap pasal ETP dan GTP apabila gagal memimpin dalam perkara seasas keharmonian hubungan antara kaum. 

Tentunya, ada juga mereka yang akan menuduh kemelut hubungan etnik kita sejak tahun 2008 adalah kesan langsung pemerkasaan barisan pembangkang.  Walaupun tidak logik, hujah ini akan diulangi lagi pada pilihan raya akan datang.  

Strategi UMNO di Selangor dan Pulau Pinang jelas menunjukkan tren bahawa mereka sedang merayu undi masyarakat Melayu dengan mencetuskan rasa takut di kalangan mereka.  Di Pulau Pinang khususnya, berpuluh-puluh protes sudah diadakan untuk menggambarkan Ketua Menteri Lim Guan Eng sebagai seorang yang meminggirkan masyarakat Melayu.  Di Selangor, isu agama pula digunakan.

Pakatan Rakyat bawa kucar-kacir, DAP mahu hilangkan hak Melayu, PKR mahu menghalalkan seks sejenis, dan PAS tidak lagi mempertahankan Islam.  Begitulah seruan yang akan digunakan Barisan Nasional.  

Kadang-kadang, saya terfikir, susah juga untuk bergelut dengan lawan yang enggan bergusti secara adil.  Minta debat pasal skandal lembu, dia sembunyi dan bersorak pasal skandal seks.  Minta pulihkan pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan, dia bicara pasal buah dada.  Minta berhentikan projek Lynas di Gebeng, dia buat tak tahu.  Minta deklarasi aset menteri, dia pula pergi "shopping" di Australia.  Minta pilihanraya adil, dia dakwa Ambiga anti-Islam.  Sudahlah itu, lepas rakyat kecewa dan minta "Asalkan Bukan UMNO", dia datang menghayun batang kayu.

Begitulah cara UMNO menanggani kontroversi.  Tiap kali ada orang persoalkan sesuatu, timbulkan sahaja keadaan kurang tenteram.  Ugut sahaja kalau terus persoal akan terjadilah huru-hara dan pertumpahan darah.  Namun, dengan adanya media sosial yang secara relatif bebas dari kawalan langsung pemerintah BN, taktik-taktik kotor UMNO mendapat perhatian ramai melalui perbincangan yang lebih terbuka dan bebas.

Di medan Internet, idea baru yang hebat akan cepat mendapat sambutan hangat.  Sebaliknya, idea yang basi tidak mampu bersaing dari segi impaknya.  UMNO ketahui hakikat ini.  Mereka sedar tidak ada wacana logik yang boleh terus menghalalkan niatnya untuk terus berkuasa.  Oleh itu, "cybertrooper" dan "blogger" pro-UMNO tidak berdebat dasar dan pendekatan politik.  Fokus mereka?  Apa lagi kalau bukan skandal seks dan sentimen perkauman?

Rakyat perlu sedar, perpaduan dan kesefahaman kita lebih kuat dari apa-apa skandal dan provokasi yang dimainkan.  Mereka yang meletakkan kepala babi di pintu masjid tidak semestinya membenci agama atau orang Islam.  Tapi, yang pasti, mereka mahu supaya golongan Islam hilang rasa percaya terhadap perpaduannya dengan orang bukan-Islam.  Namun, saya yakin rakyat biasa di Rawang, Sentul dan di seluruh pelosok tanahair akan mengatasi kontroversi ini dengan penuh sabar dan tabah.

Syabas kepada wakil rakyat Rawang dan ahli EXCO negeri Selangor, kedua-duanya bukan-Islam, yang segera melawat Masjid Nurul Iman pada pagi kejadian.  Begitu juga wakil rakyat Batu Tian Chua yang hadir untuk mengecam tindakan provokasi tersebut.

Yang penting, mulakan usaha supaya rakyat setempat membina hubungan yang lebih erat untuk hilangkan apa-apa rasa syak wasangka.  Sekiranya gerakan rakyat mampu membina muafakat dari bawah, sekiranya fokus tidak lagi mudah dialih tiap kali provokasi dibuat, dan sekiranya kita bersatu, akan satu hari nanti kita bangga sebab kita benar-benar rakyat Malaysia. - Ng Eng Kiat

source:merdeka review

Mischief rearing its pig head at mosques

Aliran views with deep concern the mischievous and dastardly deed of throwing pig heads at mosques, the latest incident being at Masjid Al-Hidayah in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

This is the third incident this year following similar heinous criminal acts perpetrated in Johor and Rawang. These incidents give the impression that they are deliberately organised and co-ordinated. 

Such atrocious acts can be considered as sacrilegious as the desecration of a church. The intention is as clear as daylight – to stoke the flames of racial or religious tension. 

The perpetrators appear intent on creating unnecessary anxiety, suspicion and tension between Muslims and those of other faiths. They aim to create strife among the faithful of the various religious communities. A minority group of extremists are apparently behind this to promote hatred and anger among Malaysians with the intention of creating chaos and unrest. 

But their attempts will surely fail simply because the vast majority of Malaysians of every faith have condemned these senseless acts and refuse to be sucked into this diabolical web of hate. Such commendable restraint is a tribute to the maturity and solidarity of peace-loving Malaysians. 

Most Malaysians are guided by the teachings of their respective religions that abhor these acts of cowardice and hate crimes. Their tolerance and accommodation is something that will sustain us as a nation, and we will prevail in spite of the ill-will generated by these vicious villains. 

Right-thinking Malaysians will not fall for what seems to be politically-motivated bait that suggests political desperation of sorts on the part of the wrongdoers. Malaysians from all walks of life have exercised calm when faced with such ugly incidents. 

If anything, many have joined hands to condemn these hideous stunts.

We must declare in no uncertain terms to these ‘pig-headed’ culprits that concerned Malaysians are not easily swayed and taken in by such provocative gimmicks. Let’s all stand shoulder to shoulder in strength and solidarity to oppose these vicious elements and weed them out.

Dr Mustafa K Anuar
Honorary Secretary
2 February 2012

source:aliran

Wild boar head incidents: Aliran outraged

Isu Kepala Babi Di Lakukan Pihak yang Sama

Kepala babi ditemui di luar masjid di Sentul pula

Kepala babi ditemui di masjid di Rawang

cheers.

'Tak bayar cukai, tak boleh undi', pengundi hantu bayaq cukai kah...

Cadangan menghalang rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja di luar negara dan tidak membayar cukai daripada mengundi adalah tidak mengikut perlembagaan, kata kumpulan pendesak reformasi pilihan raya, BERSIH 2.0.

Dalam satu kenyataan media, jawatankuasa pemandu BERSIH 2.0 berkata cadangan SPR itu tidak mengambil kira peruntukan dalam perlembagaan persekutuan yang menyatakan dengan jelas bahawa setiap warganegara mempunyai hak untuk mengundi dalam mana-mana pilihan raya.

"Ramai rakyat yang menetap di dalam negara juga tidak membayar cukai juga ... Pesara juga ramai yang tidak membayar cukai pendapatan dan mereka yang berpendapatan kurang daripada RM2,500 juga tidak perlu membayar apa-apa cukai pendapatan.

"Adakah kita akan mengecualikan semua mereka sebagai pengundi juga?" petik kenyataan itu.

Menurut jawatankuasa pemandu itu Akta Cukai Pendapatan 1967 menetapkan bahawa pendapatan yang diperolehi daripada sumber-sumber di luar Malaysia adalah dikecualikan daripada cukai.

Justeru, BERSIH 2.0 berpendapat tindakan SPR yang tidak berperlembagaan adalah cubaan melucutkan hak mereka yang layak untuk mengundi.

Isnin lalu, pengerusi SPR Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof  berkata Amerika Syarikat mempunyai sistem yang sama yang hanya membenarkan warganya yang bekerja di luar negara dan membayar cukai untuk mengundi.

Katanya, hak mengundi hanya perlu diberikan kepada rakyat Malaysia yang menyumbang kepada negara dan pulang ke negara dari semasa ke semasa.

Bersih 2.0 slams EC's 'no tax, no vote' proposal

Election reforms pressure group Bersih 2.0 said the Election Commission’s (EC) proposal to bar non-tax paying Malaysian expatriates from voting was unconstitutional.

In a statement today, the Bersih 2.0 steering committee said the EC’s proposal ignored provisions in the federal constitution which clearly states that every citizen has the right to vote in any election.

“Many Malaysians who live in Malaysia do not pay tax as well... Many retirees do not pay income tax and those who earn less than RM2,500 do not pay any income tax.

“Are we going to exclude them as voters as well?” read the statement.

The steering committee also pointed to the Income Tax Act 1967, which stipulates that income derived from sources outside of Malaysia are exempted from income tax.

In view of these two legal arguments, Bersih 2.0 said that the EC was mounting an unconstitutional attempt to disenfranchise those eligible to vote.

EC keen on only ‘two-and-a-half proposals’

On Monday, EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof told said the United States had a similar system which only allowed its expatriates to vote should they be taxpayers. He explained that voting rights should only be accorded to Malaysians who contribute to the country and return home periodically.

These were among the EC’s proposals to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms. The EC is currently hammering out details for a set of reforms following the PSC’s preliminary report on possible electoral reforms. Abdul Aziz said the reforms should be ready by March.

The PSC was established by the Najib Abdul Razak administration soon after the Bersih 2.0 rally  in July last year. The PSC has been holding a series of public hearings throughout the country to source for feedback.

Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0 said that the EC has thus far only accepted “two and a half out of eight” of its demands, which it said was an indication of the commission’s lack of will.  Its steering committee said the EC must act independently and fulfil its constitutional duties to ensure free and fair elections if it truly intends to gain the confidence of all Malaysians.

“Bersih 2.0 reminds the EC that it is not answerable to any political master but to ALL citizens of Malaysia,” read the statement.

source:malaysiakini

“No Taxation without Representation” is different from 

“No Representation without Taxation”

The Election Commission (EC) has sparked outrage with the idea that Malaysians abroad can’t vote if they don’t pay taxes in Malaysia, in a rather perverse twist of the “No Taxation without Representation” revolt that brought United States of America its independence in 1776. 

Perhaps a lesson in English for the EC, “No Taxation without Representation” is different from “No Representation without Taxation” as the ideas come from opposing forces. 

The right to vote is a fundamental right for all citizens of an eligible age. It doesn’t matter if they don’t pay tax. If so, a lot of civil servants can’t vote and Barisan Nasional (BN) might be in the opposition bench already. 

Let’s get every eligible citizen to vote, not find ways to stop them from exercising that right. And for the record, the US allows all citizens to vote.- Jahabar Sadiq.

source:malaysian insider

cheers.

Mahathir worried that Pakatan will extend its gains...

Malaysia’s ruling National Front coalition should hold off calling elections to allow more time to win support from groups such as the country’s ethnic Chinese, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said.

Current leader Najib Razak may secure a simple majority in parliament without winning back the two-thirds control lost in 2008 if elections were held today, Mahathir, 86, said in an interview at his office today inKuala Lumpur. Najib would struggle to win back opposition-held states, he said.

“If you have the time, use the time to build up support,” Mahathir said. The coalition “can’t afford to lose support from any sector of the country. The current thinking is that the Chinese won’t vote for the government.”

Najib, who took over as prime minister mid-term in 2009, is bound by law to call an election by early 2013. He sparked speculation of an early vote when he said in December that preparations had begun for the contest after a budget that was unveiled in October boosted wages for civil servants and gave cash payments to low-income families.

Mahathir won five consecutive national elections as the prime minister of Southeast Asia’s third-biggest economy before stepping down in 2003. In 2008, the National Front lost a third of its seats in the worst showing since independence in 1957.

‘Moral Force’

Mahathir “is a moral force for a lot of Malays,” said Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “Even for non-Malays, they want to forget it nowadays, but in the early 1990s, most of them felt a certain pride that Mahathir gave to them.”

Before 2008, the worst showing for the National Front was in 1969, when candidates representing urban ethnic Chinese and rural Islamic opposition groups won more than a third of seats in Parliament. Ethnic Chinese victory marches prompted a backlash from Malay groups that led to emergency rule.

Najib’s father, Abdul Razak, took over as prime minister in 1970 and responded by creating an affirmative-action policy that gave Malays educational, housing and job preferences.

Mahathir downplayed the chance of an election victory for opposition groups led by Anwar Ibrahim, who was acquitted last month of sodomy charges he claimed were politically motivated. 

Anwar in a Nov. 3 interview predicted an election victory for his People’s Alliance in a “Malaysia Spring,” a reference to the toppling of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East known as the “Arab Spring.”

‘Never Cared’

“If you look at the Arab countries, it was clear that these authoritarian rulers never cared for the people, never created jobs,” he said. “Malaysia, on the other hand, upon gaining independence, spent most of its time trying to create jobs for its people.”

Anwar had been Mahathir’s deputy until he was fired when faced with similar allegations in 1998. He was sentenced to nine years in jail for sodomy and a separate corruption charge at that time, before being released in 2004 after Malaysia’s highest court overturned the sex conviction.

If Anwar’s opposition gains power, the country “would be turned upside down,” Mahathir said.- Barry Porter and Haslinda Amin

source:bloomberg.com

Dr M gives up on Najib: He won't get two-thirds, delay GE-13 till Chinese support returns

Dr M says Najib should delay polls

‘Umno warlords will not let Najib succeed’

Mahathir juga takut kalau Pakatan menang, apa akan jadi pada nasib dirinya kelak... mungkinkah habih rahsia 22 tahun pemerintahannya bakal dilondeh...

cheers.