Dari Proton ke Ploton(updated)...

Proton Holdings Bhd (Proton) telah lama mencari rakan kongsi dari syarikat negara asing bagi meneruskan perniagaan ketika kedudukan kewangannya mencatatkan kerugian setiap tahun.

Berita Proton untuk mencari rakan niaga sebenarnya bukan rahsia lagi kepada sesiapa yang sentiasa mengikut perkemba-ngan urus niaganya. Namun sehingga hari ini, masih belum ada perjanjian hitam putih dimeterai antara syarikat pengeluar kereta nasional kita ini dengan mana-mana syarikat.

Bagaimanapun, laporan terbaru daripada kebanyakan portal berita dari China menyebut, syarikat pengeluar kereta terbesar dari negara mereka, iaitu Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. (Geely) difahamkan berpeluang cerah untuk memiliki Proton, selain beberapa syarikat asing turut mengadakan perbincangan kerjasama sebelum ini, antaranya Renault, PSA dan Suzuki.   

Media sosial China ini yang memetik sumber dalaman Proton memberitahu, Proton hanya akan mengumumkan secara rasmi nama syarikat rakan kongsi terbarunya pada April depan. Namun, difahamkan Geely telah menjadi pilihan Proton, sekali gus menyaksikan kereta nasional kita bakal diambil alih syarikat dari negara komunis itu.

Spekulasi pembelian Geely ke atas Proton turut diyakinkan pelabur China apabila harga saham Geely di bursa saham China naik sembilan peratus ketika dibuka pada hari pertama selepas cuti panjang Tahun Baharu Cina, minggu lalu.

Geely adalah sebuah perusahaan automotif swasta pertama dan terbesar di China, berpusat di Taizhou, Zhejiang. Pada 2009, Geely membuat kejutan dengan membeli Volvo dari Ford Motors pada harga USD1.3 bilion (RM5.7 bilion).

Kereta Geely dikatakan menjadi jenama kereta paling laris di China beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, lebih-lebih lagi setelah mengadakan kerjasama dengan Volvo. Pada tahun lalu, jumlah pengeluaran kereta Geely dan Volvo telah mencecah sejuta unit.

Sekiranya Geely berjaya membeli 51 peratus pega-ngan saham Proton dan mengambil alih kilang pemasangan di Tanjung Malim, Perak, tidak mustahil usaha sama ini turut membuahkan hasil seperti mana kejayaan bersama dengan Volvo.

Kemasukan Geely ke dalam industri pembuatan kereta negara kita juga dipercayai mempunyai perancangannya tersendiri. Ini kerana, syarikat ini bakal menjadikan Malaysia sebagai pusat utama pembuatan dan penjualan kereta keluarannya di rantau Asia Tenggara.

Dengan memiliki Proton, Geely akan memindahkan lokasi operasi pengeluarannya dari Zhejiang ke Tanjung Malim sebelum memasarkan ke Asia Tenggara. Sebagai 'balasan', Geely akan membantu Malaysia mengeksport jenama kereta Proton untuk dijual di China.

Mungkin inilah satu-satunya jalan yang terpaksa dipilih oleh Proton ketika sudah menjadi 'nyawa-nyawa ikan' ketika ini!

Sebelum ini, ada ura-ura menyatakan wakil Geely akan berunding dengan Proton di Malaysia Ogos tahun ini. Namun, pihak Geely dan Proton tidak memberikan sebarang maklumat rasmi mengenainya.

Kedudukan kewangan Proton dilihat semakin tenat apabila pada April tahun lalu, kerajaan mengumumkan kelulusan pinjaman mudah berjumlah RM1.5 bilion kepada syarikat GLC ini.

Antara syaratnya ialah Proton harus mendapatkan rakan kongsi terkemuka yang akan membantu dalam aktiviti penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D) supaya mampu bersaing di peringkat antarabangsa.

Selain laporan berita dari China, media-media tempatan di negara kita turut tidak ketinggalan melaporkan bahawa Geely mempunyai kelebihan memiliki Proton, berbanding dengan syarikat-syarikat lain.

"Sebagai bukti, bagi membuat persediaan bekerjasama dengan rakan kongsi baharu, Proton melakukan rombakan jawatan ke atas pegawai pengurusan tertinggi apabila Ketua Pegawai Teknikal (CTO), Abdul Rashid Musa dilantik sebagai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Proton Edar Sdn Bhd awal bulan ini," lapor sebuah akhbar Inggeris tempatan, baru-baru ini.

Proton dilaporkan mengalami kerugian berjumlah RM1.4 bilion (atau 72 sen sesaham) pada tahun kewangan ketiga 2016 sehingga mempengaruhi rugi bersih yang dialami oleh DRB-Hicom Berhad (DRB-Hicom) berjumlah RM821.3 juta.

Bagi tahun kewangan berakhir Mac 2016, DRB-Hicom merekodkan rugi bersih berjumlah RM991.90 juta, juga disebabkan prestasi Proton yang lemah.

Gomen takdak masalah nak juai Proton...
Story kat SINI dan SINI   

Ketika berita Proton bakal dibeli oleh syarikat pengeluar kereta China tersebar secara meluas, kerajaan masih belum bersedia memberikan jawapan secara jelas.

Menteri Kewangan II, Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani kelmarin mengakui, pada masa ini terdapat tiga hingga empat syarikat dari negara asing telah menyatakan minat mereka untuk menjadi rakan kongsi Proton, namun Kementerian Kewangan masih belum membuat keputusan muktamad mengenainya.

Kata Johari, sekiranya Proton mempunyai ranca-ngan mengembangkan perniagaannya ke pasaran luar negara, ia perlu mencari rakan pelabur asing yang sesuai.

Bagi rakyat Malaysia, ia tidaklah begitu mengejutkan Proton menjadi milik China satu hari nanti, memandangkan hubungan perdagangan antara Malaysia dengan China semakin meningkat sejak akhir-akhir ini,

Dari segi dunia perniagaan, daripada terus menanggung kerugian ratusan juta ringgi setiap tahun, adalah lebih baik dijual kepada orang lain sahaja.

Tetapi harus diingat yang dijual bukan sahaja syarikat semata-mata, maruah negara pun turut terpalit! - sinarharian

RM 90 Juta melalui transaksi Affin Bank.

PAS wants to sue Husam 

over RM90m poser...

PAS has denied insinuations by Salor state assemblyperson Husam Musa that the party received money from Umno through a local bank.

Its deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said that this was slander and an extension of allegations first made by Sarawak Report.

"We will take legal action against (Husam), similar to what we did with Sarawak Report," he said, adding that the legal action would be taken soon.

During a Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) ceramah in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan recently, Husam had alluded that PAS had access to Umno-linked funds.

He also named a local bank where the money was allegedly deposited. 

Although he did not explicitly claim that Umno was funding PAS, he had raised this issue to highlight how two parties seem increasingly intertwined.

"So if there are elections tomorrow, we will withdraw (the funds). But that is they are with Umno. If they are not with Umno, then Umno will withdraw (the funds)," said Husam. 

Allegations that PAS received RM90 million from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak first surfaced on Sarawak Report last year.

PAS reacted by issuing a letter of demand against Sarawak Report in London. 

Meanwhile, Former PAS vice-president Husam Musa is unperturbed by threats of a lawsuit by the Islamic party, over his claims that RM90 million was channeled into the party via a local bank.

Indeed, he believe that dragging the matter to court and putting it under judicial and public scrutiny may be one way to prove that what he claimed is true.

"I stand by what I said in my speech in Selising, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan on Feb 6. Legal action may be one way to verify the truth of the matter," he said in a statement today.

Husam was responding to a statement by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man who categorically denied Husam's allegations.

Tuan Ibrahim, in a statement yesterday, also said that the party will sue Husam for making such allegations.

The PAS deputy president added that the matter was slander and a continuation of allegations made against the party by whistleblower website Sarawak Report.

Husam argued that Tuan Ibrahim may have made the statement without proper deliberation, as he may not be in the know over the matter.

"Maybe he is unaware of neither head nor tail of the issue at hand," said Husam, adding further that he is uncertain if Tuan Ibrahim was speaking on his own behalf or it was the consensus of the party leadership.

While he did not directly say that PAS has been bought over with cold hard cash, in his speech, Husam had alluded that in line with its close relationship with Umno, the Islamic party may even have shared access to certain funds made available by the Malay party via a local bank.

The matter of an RM90 million windfall for PAS after its now cosy relationship with Umno was first brought to light by Sarawak Report, though PAS vehemently denied such accusations and have vowed to sue the portal. 

To date, PAS have sent a letter of demand to Sarawak Report over the matter.- mk

Tuduh terima RM90 juta, PAS akan saman Husam

Diancam saman, Husam tak berganjak

Dr M temui Anwar...

Story kat SINI dan SINI   

Kedah mahu ambil semula Pulau Pinang

SPR dok tidoq lagi...

cheers.

Felda,Mara & Tabung Haji betoi2 kena main...

Nasib tiga institusi yang selama ini ditubuhkan bagi menjaga hak dan kepentingan orang Melayu iaitu Tabung Haji, Felda dan Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) dikhuatiri sedang dalam bahaya di bawah pentadbiran kerajaan UMNO – Barisan Nasional (BN).

Ini kerana ketiga-tiga institusi ini berdepan dengan dakwaan skandal dan penyelewengan akibat pengurusan dana yang diragui hanya menguntungkan pihak tertentu.

Sedangkan, institusi berkenaan sepatutnya memberi keutamaan kepada kepentingan seluruh kaum Melayu dan tidak dijadikan medium bagi mana-mana individu mengaut keuntungan peribadi.

Tabung Haji bukan mangsa fitnah

Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Rafizi Ramli berkata, dakwaan pecah amanah yang berlaku baru-baru ini melibatkan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) TH Heavy Engineering adalah satu bukti yang tidak patut dipandang sebelah mata.

Tertuduh, Nor Badli Munawir pada 26 Januari lalu dihadapkan ke mahkamah atas tuduhan melakukan penyelewengan melibatkan wang bernilai RM2.5 juta.

“Ini merupakan bukti bahawa Tabung Haji bukan mangsa fitnah politik tetapi memerlukan rombakan,” katanya dalam Sidang Meja Bulat Selamatkan Malaysia yang berlangsung semalam.

FWC rugi, tapi mampu tanggung anak bekas timbalan ketua pengarah

Menurut Rafizi, perkara sama juga berlaku kepada Felda apabila sebuah anak syarikatnya, Felda Wellness Corporation (FWC) didakwa membayar gaji dan kos sara hidup anak perempuan seorang bekas timbalan ketua pengarahnya di Australia.

Ia termasuk gaji AS$128,000, sebuah kereta syarikat dan penginapan di kondominium mewah, dakwa sebuah firma Australia, Gordagen Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd baru-baru ini.

Sedangkan, jelas Rafizi, FWC mengalami kerugian sebanyak RM155 juta dan berhutang sebanyak RM154 juta dalam dua tahun setengah operasinya mulai Julai 2013.

“Apa perasaan peneroka-peneroka apabila mereka tahu segelintir pegawai kanan Felda membelanjakan RM155 juta wang mereka dalam tempoh dua tahun setengah, termasuk untuk membiayai kehidupan selesa anak bekas Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Felda?” katanya.

Skandal pembelian asrama oleh MARA

Bagi MARA, Ahli Parlimen Pandan itu sejak tahun lalu mendedahkan skandal melibatkan pembelian dua asrama pelajar di Australia, iaitu Dudley House dan Swanston ST.

Menurutnya, sebuah syarikat milik ‘orang kuat’ UMNO, Thrushcross Land Holdings Ltd membeli dua bangunan itu dengan harga jauh lebih rendah, iaitu berjumlah AS$46.1 juta.

“Sedangkan, syarikat itu dijual pada harga AS$65.4 juta kepada MARA Inc, beserta dengan dua asrama itu sekali.

“MARA Inc juga ambil alih hutang Thrushcross sebanyak AS$22.5 juta. Ini bermakna MARA Inc bukan saja beli dua asrama dengan harga lebih mahal, tapi ‘tolong’ bayar hutang yang digunakan Thrushcross untuk membeli dua asrama itu,” ujarnya.

Melalui pembelian tersebut, MARA didakwa mengalami kerugian mencecah AS$26.9 juta (RM81 juta), manakala ‘orang kuat’ UMNO pula memperoleh untung atas angin berjumlah AS$40.8 juta (RM122.4 juta).

“Saya khuatir penyelewengan dana MARA yang membawa kesan besar kepada pelajar Bumiputera ini didiamkan begitu sahaja dan dana yang diselewengkan tidak dirampas dari individu-individu terbabit. 

“Atas sebab inilah, Pakatan Harapan mesti bekerja lebih kuat. Kita kena pastikan rakyat yakin kita boleh bawa pembaharuan dan menjaga semua institusi itu jauh lebih baik dari kerajaan yang ada hari ini,” tegasnya. – Roketkini.com

Ku Nan, awak sapa?  

nak jadikan Langkawi WP...

Cadangan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor mahu mengembangkan Wilayah Persekutuan meliputi Pulau Pinang, Langkawi dan sebahagian Melaka disifatkan sebagai tidak masuk akal dan biadab. 

Ahli Parlimen Pkok Sena Datuk Mahfuz Omar berkata, ia juga adalah penghinaan terhadap sultan Kedah apabila memasukkan Langkawi dalam cadangan tersebut.

"Adalah sangat biadab dan suatu penghinaan terhadap Kebawah Duli Tuanku Sultan dan rakyat Kedah apabila "pembodek tegar PM Najib" memasukkan nama "Langkawi Permata Kedah" dalam cadangan untuk dijadikan Wilayah Persekutuan. 

"Walaupun hanya bersifat cadangan tetapi menunjukkan apa yang ada dalam kepala Setiausaha Agung Umno itu untuk mengambil "Langkawi Permata Kedah" daripada pemerintahan Sultan Kedah agar diletakkan di bawah jajahan takluk Kerajaan Persekutuan," katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Beliau juga mendakwa cadangan tersebut merupakan percubaan awal Umno mahu merampas kuasa pemerintahan Sultan Kedah ke atas Langkawi untuk dijadikan Wilayah Persekutuan Langkawi. 

Bahkan katanya, belum sampai sebulan sambutan perayaan Hari Keputeraan Tuanku Sultan Kedah, Umno sekali lagi selepas setahun yang lalu mengganggu tumpuan rakyat Kedah dan kemeriahan sambutan Hari Keputeraan Sultan Kedah.

"Rakyat Kedah masih ingat peristiwa setahun yang lalu apabila Umno mengheret Tuanku Sultan Kedah dalam percaturan politik untuk cengkaman kuasa politik Najib dan Umno dalam satu komplot 'rampasan kuasa' dengan menggulingkan Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir sebagai Menteri Besar. 

"Hari ini satu lagi percubaan awal untuk merampas Langkawi Permata Kedah dari pemerintahan Tuanku Sultan dan rakyat Kedah," tegasnya yang merupakan anak jati Kedah. 

Menurut Mahfuz lagi, Tengku Adnan sebagai Setiausaha Agung Umno cuba memecah belah kesatuan rakyat Kedah yang berpayung dibawah kedaulatan sultan.

"Ku Nan perlu sedar bahawa, Langkawi kini telah dikenali sebagai “Langkawi Permata Kedah” dan ia diisytihar oleh Kebawah Duli Tuanku Sultan Kedah sempena sambutan Jubli Emas Pemerintahan Kebawah Duli Tuanku Sultan pada bulan Ogos 2008. 

"Pengisytiharan tersebut sekaligus menjelaskan bahawa Langkawi adalah sebahagian dari Negeri Kedah Darul Aman yang selama ini pelancong luar negara akan mengenali Langkawi Malaysia bukannya Langkawi Kedah," jelasnya. 

Justeru tegasnya, rakyat Kedah sentiasa berdiri teguh bersama sultan dan tidak akan sama sekali menyerahkan walau seinci pun wilayah Kedah kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan. 

"Sebaiknya Parti Umno 'nyah' meninggalkan Kedah kepada rakyat Kedah dan jangan mengganggu keharmonian kami yang selesa dibawah pemerintahan Tuanku Sultan Kedah," katanya.- rakyat marhaen

A Referendum for Kuala Lumpur too?...

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has said that the notion to add a federal territory in Malaysia is simply a suggestion that “requires proposal, referendum and approval at national level.” It goes without saying that Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and even Putrajaya should then have been accorded the same level of decency when they were put under the government’s rule.

In addition to a referendum for Penangites, would Tengku Adnan also consider holding one for KLites? For a variety of reasons, residents of KL have long called Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) ability to govern into question.

For one, DBKL’s mismanagement has led to rampant corruption. Just last year, the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigated DBKL project management executive director who was eventually charged with 18 counts of corruption, including accepting bribes and assets estimated at RM4.4 million.

Secondly, DBKL is incompetent in developing KL in a sustainable manner. Throughout the years, DBKL has permitted developers such as Amona Group and IJM Land to encroach upon Bukit Gasing, one of Kuala Lumpur’s last remaining green lungs.

On the contrary, residents who have surfaced their concerns – the risk of landslides, overcrowding, traffic congestion to DBKL are often dismissed for profit-making purposes, at the expense of KL’s environmental sustainability.

Thirdly, DBKL has failed to provide KL’s low-income residents a decent standard of living. Low sanitation and maintenance standards, in addition to illegal leasing are among the foremost problems of PPR housing in KL, while DBKL itself is also struggling with mounting levels of unpaid rent.

Tengku Adnan’s promise to provide affordable homes to Penangites by virtue of transferring Penang to the clutches of the federal government will prove to be nothing but an empty promise.
Before Tengku Adnan commences a referendum in Penang, consider also polling the residents of KL of the city’s performance under the federal territory jurisdiction.

Contrary to Tengku Adnan’s claim that a federal territory would prevent the oppression of citizens – Malay or not, for decades, residents of KL have only experienced poor city planning and development, coupled with the government’s negligence towards their welfare.

Ku Nan’s abysmal track record

Throughout his four years as the Federal Territories minister, Tengku Adnan has proposed and implemented many policies that have caused much public distress.

In 2013, Tengku Adnan proposed a hike in annual property assessment rates that ranged between 100 and 250 percent of the previous rates which elicited much public furor, before capping the rates between 10 and 25 percent their existing annual rates.

In 2014, he heartlessly banned soup kitchens within a 2km radius of KL city centre because “(soup kitchens) just encourages people to remain homeless and jobless”.

This year, his proposal to ban kapcais from KL also met with much dissatisfaction from KLites.

Keeping Ku Nan’s many hare-brained proposals in mind, we must take extra precaution when evaluating the merits of his suggestion that the state of Penang be left under his ministry’s jurisdiction.

Undemocratic model of governance

Over the years that the BN government reigned over KL in the guise of a federal territory, the rights of KLites have been plundered with impunity. Corruption depleted public coffers, while irresponsible planning lowered standards of living.

Through the 2013 general elections, nine out of 11 parliamentary constituencies in Kuala Lumpur were won by opposition lawmakers. Yet, the mayor of Kuala Lumpur is not only unelected, but also appointed by none other than our Federal Territories Minister and UMNO lawmaker, Tengku Adnan.

In addition, Kuala Lumpur does not even have its own state government. Despite having one of the largest budgets among all states and federal territories in Malaysia, the people of Kuala Lumpur have to surrender financial control to the whims and fancies of an Umno politician like Tengku Adnan.

Ironically, members of parliaments who were elected to represent the concerns of KLites have little say in decision-making, and are subjugated to the mayor, who in turn, reports to Tengku Adnan.

As such, the conversion of Penang from a state to a federal territory is just an excuse for the government to put opposition territory under BN’s malicious control. Now, Tengku Adnan is mustering the audacity to coerce the opposition into relinquishing its governance of Penang when 10 out of 13 parliamentary constituencies in the state have decidedly elected opposition lawmakers in the 2013 general elections.

Clearly, we must not allow BN’s undemocratic practices to oppress other regions in Malaysia.

Tengku Adnan’s proposal to categorise Penang as a federal territory, as opposed to retaining the northern region’s autonomy as a state is dubious at best – and authoritarian at worst. Politically motivated proposals as such flies in the face of public interest, and will only be implemented to fulfil the blind ambition of power-hungry BN politicians. - Nurul Izzah Anwar,mk

Felda settler woes give Malaysian opposition way in

Terkini pasai Jet dibeli dengan duit 1MDB...

Bila syarikat China ambil alih Proton nanti...

Happy Thaipusam...

cheers.

Lompat Zaid lompat...

Umum jarang peduli dengan kemasukan orang biasa-biasa ke dalam parti politik. Apatah lagi DAP. Bila peniaga gerai, buruh kasar, anak muda main gitar tepi sawah isi borang DAP; tidak ada sesiapa peduli pun mahu bertanya ‘Apa yang awak boleh sumbang kepada DAP?’ Kita pakat-pakat faham bahawa kemasukan itu sekadar untuk menyatakan sokongan. Tiada rencana panjang mahu memperoleh pengaruh dan kuasa.

Justeru tidak hairan apabila sosok seperti Datuk Zaid Ibrahim hari ini menghantar permohonannya untuk ikut bergabung dengan DAP, habis semuanya resah dan gelisah tentang apa tujuan sebenar bagi Zaid untuk menyertai parti tesebut.

Zaid sudah bertukar parti politik dari UMNO, ke Parti Keadilan Rakyat, kemudian meninggalkan parti itu untuk menubuhkan partinya sendiri yang dinamakan KITA, dan kemudian kini beralih menuju DAP. Lebih hairan lagi, beliau memilih DAP, ketimbang parti baru Tun Mahathir.

Sebagai mukadimah sembang-sembang kami sehari sebelum Zaid mengumumkan masuk DAP, beliau menegaskan bahawa beliau tidak meninggalkan UMNO.

“Itu jauh berbeza. Saya dipecat dari UMNO, disebabkan pendirian saya tentang ISA (Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri). Saya tidak keluar dari UMNO”

“Tapi ya, saya meninggalkan PKR,” ujarnya, sambil menambah bahawa hubungan beliau dengan Datuk Seri Anwar dan rakan-rakan parti tersebut masih baik seperti biasa.

Bagi beliau, menyertai DAP ertinya menyumbang kepada koalisi besar pembangkang dalam Pakatan Harapan menjelang Pilihanraya Umum ke-14 yang bakal tiba tidak berapa lama saja lagi.

“Saya pasti akan bercakap dengan orang Melayu bahawa DAP ialah sebuah parti yang bagus.

“Ia sebuah parti yang moden dan progresif. Saya akan pasti cuba untuk memujuk sokongan orang Melayu terhadap DAP. Mungkin sebahagian akan ikut menyertai parti,” katanya sambil menyaksikan persiapan untuk sidang media khasnya.

Sidang media yang sepatutnya berlangsung di sebuah kelab, akhirnya terpaksa dipindah ke kediaman beliau sekeluarga pada saat akhir. Zaid mengandaikan terdapat campur tangan UMNO dalam perpindahan tergesa-gesa itu lantaran ketakutan parti tersebut terhadap peningkatan sokongan Melayu kepada DAP.

“DAP sentiasa konsisten melawan rasuah, dan itu sangat bagus,” tambahnya.

“Negara kita sedang berhadapan masalah rasuah. DAP lebih terkedepan dan sentiasa konsisten dalam penentangannya terhadap rasuah dan salah guna kuasa.”

Selama meninggalkan PKR dan kemudian menubuhkan parti sendiri, Zaid sentiasa diperlihatkan sebagai ahli politik yang tidak serius dan banyak main-main. Persepsi negatif itu dilanjutkan oleh UMNO dalam rangka membingkaikan Zaid sebagai watak jahat yang bertentangan dengan parti itu dan agendanya.

“Tetapi saya memang ahli politik yang serius. Saya bukan macam Tunku Aziz. Saya tidak memburukkan parti yang saya tinggalkan. Itu beza antara saya dengan Tunku Aziz.

“Sepatutnya orang menilai saya berasaskan prinsip yang saya pegang. Lihat kepada pendirian dan kepercayaan saya, bukan kerana saya meninggalkan PKR.”

Bagi beliau, tindakannya meninggalkan parti itu adalah perkara lampau, dan tidak ada masalah peribadi antara beliau dan pimpinan.

“Saya bertanding, tetapi tidak bermakna dia musuh saya,” katanya merujuk kepada Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Timbalan Presiden PKR yang pernah ditentangnya dalam pemilihan parti tersebut pada tahun 2010.

Baginya juga, kedudukan dan jawatan bukanlah perkara utama.

“Siapa yang meletakkan jawatan sebagai menteri dalam negara ini atas sebab prinsip? Hanya saya sahaja dalam sejarah negara ini. Jadi apa lagi yang mesti saya buktikan?”

Bagi beliau, propaganda UMNO telah berlanjutan untuk satu tempoh masa yang sangat panjang, dan ia memberi kesan kepada mentaliti politik orang Melayu. Mentaliti tersebut harus ditentang dengan berkomunikasi dengan mereka yang telah membina persepsi masing-masing tanpa sebarang asas.

“Kadang-kadang mereka mempunyai pendirian tentang satu-satu hal, tanpa tahu sebabnya atau kerana mereka sekadar diberitahu begitu.

“Menjadi tanggungjawab kita untuk bercakap dengan mereka, terutamanya untuk meyakinkan orang Melayu,” kata beliau, yang telah meninggalkan kerjaya guaman tujuh tahun lalu.

Bagi beliau yang kini beusia 65 tahun, parti masa depan untuk Malaysia ialah parti yang jujur dan bersih, pentadbirannya bertanggungjawab dan adil kepada semua. Ini prinsip asas urus tadbir yang baik.

“Apa yang dimainkan sekarang ialah politik ketakutan, dan atas sebab itu, kita mesti turun dan memujuk hati orang ramai.”

“Bukan baru sekarang saya mula untuk memujuk ketakutan orang Melayu (terhadap kaum dan agama), bukan hanya sebab saya masuk DAP.

“Saya sudah sebut benda ini selama bertahun-tahun. Politik ketakutan langsung tidak membantu orang Melayu,” tegasnya.

Baginya kedua-dua PAS dan UMNO, yang kini nampak bahagia bersama, sedang menggunakan idea-idea lapuk. PAS menggunakan tafsiran agamanya sendiri, untuk memupuk ketakutan.

“Mereka tidak ada perancangan ekonomi atau pendidikan. Mereka tidak peduli tentang kebajikan masyarakat. Parti yang semacam itu tidak berguna kepada orang ramai. Ia tidak akan membantu orang Melayu dalam jangka masa panjang.

“UMNO juga sama tak guna kerana amalan politik wang dan salahguna kuasa.

“Mereka mengaku pembela bangsa Melayu, tetapi bagaimana mahu membela bangsa jika merompak harta mereka?” soalnya tegas.

Kedua-dua parti katanya akan menjadi tidak relevan dalam beberapa masa lagi, dan menjadi tugasnya untuk menjelaskan pandangan dan pendapat alternatif bagi politik orang Melayu dan rakyat Malaysia.

Namun menurut Zaid, keadaan politik parti-parti pembangkang kini sedikit serabut, ekoran kegigihan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin untuk cuba mendekati PAS. Pun begitu beliau percaya bahawa Tun Mahathir mempunyai pendapat yang lebih kuat bahawa kita tidak boleh lagi mempercayai PAS, malah PAS sendiri pun tidak mahu kepada Tun M.

“Adalah lebih baik untuk kita mengetahui siapa sebenarnya kawan dan lawan dan mencari platform sepunya. Dengan PAS, kita akan mendapat masalah.”

Melihat kepada kedudukan parti baru Mahathir yang kian mengisi vakum kepimpinan Melayu, Zaid merasakan kemasukan beliau ke dalam DAP akan tambah memperkuatkan pengaruh politik pembangkang terhadap pengundi Melayu yang kian menolak UMNO.

“Saya boleh bekerjasama dengan para progresif dalam Bersatu dan Amanah, dan bersama-sama kita akan mampu mendapatkan undi Melayu.” – Roketkini.com

A 'Malay tsunami' in the making...

Petrol prices have gone up by 20 cents again while government hospitals have increased their charges. This means the general election is unlikely to be held in April, because the ruling coalition does not have sufficient time to create the "feel good" atmosphere within such a short period of time.

Besides, the Umno divisional and branch meetings will be held earlier than scheduled, and the government will need time to manage the Felda issue.

As such, if GE14 is to be held this year, it will very likely be in September, after the country celebrates its 60th anniversary of independence.

Another reason the GE will not be held in April is that Umno is still trying to consolidate its Malay vote bank as the party faces intimidation from both PAS and Bersatu.

After the thumping victory in the twin by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar last year, Umno seems to have found the formula of retaining its grip on the federal administration, i.e. by creating three-cornered fights with a little help from PAS that will give Umno more seats than what it won in 2013.

Not surprisingly PM Najib announced in the Umno general assembly last December that the federal government was prepared to take over PAS president Hadi Awang's private bill RUU355 in a bid to secure the goodwill of PAS.

All things looked set until January 27 when Najib said after officiating the Umno Supreme Council meeting that the cooperation with PAS was only confined to Muslim and Islamic issues, and had not involved politics.

Najib also fell short of announcing whether Umno would take part in PAS' rally in support of RUU355 on Feb 18. Such an ambiguous stand has frustrated the Islamist party.

On Feb 1, PAS had a closed door meeting with Bersatu leaders over the cooperation between the two parties. PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim and his Bersatu counterpart Mukhriz Mahathir issued a joint statement after the meeting that the two parties had agreed to set up a joint technical committee to follow up on their political cooperation.

Apparently PAS is adopting a "please all" strategy. By working with Bersatu, it aims to warn Umno that if you are not serious about helping us amend RUU355, we'll go with your rivals!

While PAS has reached some consensus with Bersatu over the political cooperation to bog down BN, its leader Hadi Awang claimed they only met on Bersatu's invitation and no agreement on fighting BN together had been achieved.

Meanwhile, Hadi was absent from the ceremony to send off the humanitarian ship for the Rohingyas on Feb 3, saying he was in hospital for medical examination. Hadi's refusal to join Najib in the event might be meant to deliver a certain message, even though Najib was still heard chanting "Muslim solidarity" in his speech.

As a matter of fact, there is disagreement within PAS whether to work with Umno and help it retain the federal administration. While there are chances Umno will help PAS push through its hudud agenda, some in the party worry PAS could be washed out altogether in the election.

Analysis shows that the support of Umno in rural areas has declined to 40%, more than 30% for PAS and about 20% for Bersatu. A three-cornered fight will only benefit Umno at the expense of PAS. 

As such, there are some within PAS who feel that the party should instead take advantage of a weakened Umno to set its sights on Putrajaya. 

If PAS cannot even keep Kelantan, it will be powerless to implement hudud in the state even if RUU355 amendment gets the go.

In PAS, Hadi is seen as more pro-Najib while his deputy Tuan Ibrahim is on the other side. Will Umno give up Kelantan and Terengganu in exchange for PAS' consent to create three-cornered fights in the coming general election? 

And will all quarters within PAS come together and agree on such a tie-up with Umno? These are the two questions that will determine whether the two parties will eventually work together.

Both PKR and Bersatu will never risk giving up PAS. Although Bersatu can make steady inroads into the rural areas and Felda settlements alone, it still needs a hand from PAS.

In the meantime, DAP is making adjustments to its attitude on Islamic issues in order to make significant breakthroughs among the Malay voters.

To the opposition, the upcoming general election will see a "Malay tsunami". But, will the hushed reactions among the majority Malays now signal a calm before the storm? - mysinchew

Crossing Borders Illegally...

SAD HUMOUR

It's all about crossing the right border .... 

If You Cross The North Korean Border Illegally

You get 12 years Hard Labour.

If You Cross The Iranian Border Illegally

You Are Detained Indefinitely.

If You Cross The Afghan Border Illegally 

You Get Shot.

If You Cross The Saudi Arabian Border Illegally

You Will Be Jailed.

If You Cross The Chinese border Illegally

You May Never Be Heard Again.

If You Cross The Venezuelan Border Illegally

You Will Be Branded A Spy And Your Fate Will Be Sealed.

If You Cross The Cuban Border Illegally

You Will Be Thrown Into Political Prison To Rot.

If You Enter Britain Illegally

You Will be Arrested, Prosecuted And Deported

If you enter Iraq or Syria illegal

You will be beheaded.

If You Are a Muslim from any country ....

AND ILLEGALLY CROSS THE MALAYSIAN BORDER, YOU'LL GET ...

MyPR (Permanent Residence / Pemastautin Tetap)

A Driving License,

Voting Rights

Job Reservation,

Special Privilege to be Consider as Bumi,

Credit Cards,

Subsidized Rent Or A Loan To Buy A House,

Free Education,

Free Health Care,

and if you join UMNO, you can be a Menteri Besar or even Prime Minister! 

Oh Malaysia, what a great country!! - adapted from steadyaku47

Story kat SINI, SINI dan SINI  

cheers.

So...Zaid Ibrahim is a DAP member for now...

The Royal Selangor Club had already accepted RMx000 payment for the venue for Zaid Ibrahim to hold his event. So all their "public" statements about why they cancelled the event are pretty 'incriminating'.  Now the Selangor Club has to refund the RMx000. How do you explain that?

Anyway Zaid held the event at his house in KL this morning.  I was there. Here are some thoughts and some pictures.  

Zaid Ibrahim is the first ex UMNO, ex Cabinet Minister to join the DAP.  Zaid's entry into the DAP sends huge waves and huge signals not only through the Malay community but also through the DAP.  

YB Ariff Sabri, also ex UMNO is already the DAP's Member of Parliament for Raub.  It is not impossible for Malays to find common cause with the DAP. I think we will be seeing more of this in the future.

For the DAP it is an opportunity to show that 'No we are not Chinese chauvinists'.

In his speech, Tun Dr Mahathir also mentioned that the loudest spokesperson for the DAP's "Chinese chauvinism" was a man called Karpal Singh, who was not Chinese. Dr Mahathir said that many well known DAP leaders were non Chinese. V David, Mat Nor something, the Sta Maria brothers, Karpal Singh, Ariffin Omar, Ramasamy Palanisamy and a few others are/were not Chinese.  

Mr Lim Kit Siang gave a short speech. No doubt the DAP is a very strong and very steady political party. They are the second largest political party in terms of the number of Parliamentary seats. 

The DAP's great strength is that Mr Lim has never lost focus of what the DAP should achieve. 

He ended his speech by saying "Lets Make Malaysia Great Again". - ostb

Meanwhile, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has been reminded by his new political allies not to be a “prima donna” or a “frog”.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he hoped Zaid will stay in DAP.

“I hope he will stay in DAP a little bit longer,” Dr Mahathir quipped when asked to say a few word following a press conference held at Zaid’s home in Tropicana Golf Resort to mark his entry into DAP Tuesday.

“The problem is that in this country, we have a race of frogs.

“These frogs, they like to hop here, hop there and when I try to catch one, they’ve already hopped somewhere else,” he added.

He said the culture of hopping from one party to another should be eradicated.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said that many had asked why Zaid was joining DAP and how long he will stay in the party.

“I have known Zaid for a long time and I know his political thinking, and he knows what is right and good for the nation.

“If there are any defects, it is that he will be a team player and not a prima donna,” he said, drawing laughter from all those present.

Lim said there was a lesson that could be learned from Zaid’s past, which is why he believes the former law minister will be a team player in DAP.

Earlier, Zaid said he is joining DAP to bring the party’s message of equality and justice to Malays who have been told that DAP is a chauvinistic Chinese party. 

In December 2010, he formed and led Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita). He quit as Kita leader two years later and has not been actively involved in party politics since.- thestar

DAP harap Zaid tak jadi primadona

Ku Nan, terangkan 'Melayu ditindas' 

kepada polis...

Satu laporan polis hari ini dibuat terhadap Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor meminta pihak polis menyiasat sama ada wujud unsur menghasut dalam kenyataannya sebelum ini.

Laporan oleh Setiausaha DAP Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Lim Lip Eng dibuat berikutan cadangan menteri tersebut yang mahu supaya Pulau Pinang dimasukkan ke dalam Wilayah Persekutuan untuk ‘membantu’ kaum Melayu yang kononnya ditindas.

Tohmahan jahat mendakwa kononnya kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang tidak mempedulikan kaum Melayu itu dibuat ketika Adnan atau lebih dikenali sebagai Kun Nan berucap dalam Majlis Khatam Al-Quran Wilayah Persekutuan 2017 Sabtu lalu seperti dilaporkan media.

Realitinya kata Lip Eng, dakwaan Setiausaha Agung UMNO itu langsung tidak berasas dan meminta kerajaan menjelaskan perkara tersebut.

“Tuduhan Ku Nan itu turut dilaporkan oleh portal rasmi kerajaan, Bernama.

“Jadi saya minta perdana menteri jelaskan kenyataan beliau. Adakah kenyataan Ku Nan itu bersifat peribadi atau mewakili Putrajaya?” katanya kepada pemberita di luar Ibu Pejabat Polis Dang Wangi sebentar tadi.

Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gelugor, Ramkarpal Singh Deo yang turut hadir berkata tuduhan Ku Nan itu amat serius dan boleh menimbulkan kekecohan di kalangan rakyat berbilang kaum di negara ini.

“Bagaimana seorang menteri seperti Ku Nan boleh buat kenyataan seperti itu? Tuduhan Ku Nan bahawa kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang tidak pedulikan orang Melayu amat dangkal dan tidak berasas.

“Beliau cuba merendah-rendahkan kredibiliti kerajaan negeri dengan kenyataan seumpama itu.

“Jadi, kita harap pihak polis akan menyiasat kenyataannya tanpa sebarang rasa takut atau kepentingan,” jelasnya. – Roketkini.com

Bukit Aman Told Royal S'gor Club 

To Cancel Venue...

The Royal Selangor Club has allegedly cancelled a booking by former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim, where it was speculated he would announce his decision to join DAP.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Zaid believes the decision was due to political pressure.

The former Umno lawmaker said he made the booking sometime last week, but was informed of the cancellation at about 6pm yesterday.

“We originally booked Royal Selangor Club and we have paid for it. Then yesterday, we got this call that they wouldn’t allow us the use of it because they have got instructions from somewhere,” he said.

He said the venue was booked for a press conference together with Parti Pribumi Bersatu (Bersatu) chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, but declined to comment on the topic of the press conference.

Zaid will be hosting the press conference at his Petaling Jaya residence instead. 

When contacted, Royal Selangor Club general manager/secretary Ramesh Menon said he is not in a position to comment.

Zaid is expected to announce his return to active politics by joining DAP.

Ostb :  A friend says that it cannot be the work of Bukit Aman or the Special Branch to get involved in dirty tricks like this. The friend says it is possible that someone called the Royal Selangor Club and pretended to be from Bukit Aman or Special Branch. 

The MOI's boys are capable of doing things like this, especially that Sup Kambing Kuala Kangsar fellow.

The news has been flying around for a few weeks now that Zaid Ibrahim plus one more former ex UMNO stalwart will be joining the DAP.   Zaid's "inauguration" is happening tomorrow.  The other 'stalwart' will have to rethink.

Zaid Ibrahim quit his job as a Cabinet Minister because he did not agree that the ISA should be used against Theresa Kok, DAP's MP for Seputeh. Also that female reporter from the Chinese media. This happened some years ago.

Zaid embodies the phrase 'I may not agree with what you say but I will defend with my life your right to say what you want to say'.  The phrase was written down by Evelyn Beatrice Hall who wrote a biography of the French thinker and philosopher Voltaire.  I fully subscribe to the same phrase as well.  Thats why people read my Blog.  

(Those of you who send really silly and/or time wasting comments which I delete, you can please go and set up your own Blog and write what you want. I will defend your right to say what you want - no matter how silly it is - in your own Blog.)

Knowing Zaid personally, I can say that Zaid's views and his thinking are far too advanced for UMNO, especially UMNO Kota Bharu where he was Division chief. 

What exactly is Zaid's thinking?  Well, for one example Zaid does believe in complete freedom of speech. That is why he quit from his Cabinet post after the ISA was used against Therea Kok and that Chinese reporter girl.  Obviously the UMNO boys under MOI cannot handle this. 

The next big question is will Zaid stand as a DAP candidate in the coming General Elections? And where? The Press can ask him tomorrow.-  ostb 

Zaid dihalang adakan sidang media di Kelan Diraja Selangor

Adun PAS minta rakyat Pulau Pinang 

pertahan kerajaan Pakatan Harapan...

Walaupun kepimpinan Pas sering memburukkan pimpinan Pakatan Harapan yang menerajui kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Permatang Pasir, Datuk Mohd Salleh Man mengambil pendekatan sebaliknya. 

Adun Pas tunggal yang memenangi kerusi yang ditandingi parti itu sejak sekian lama di Pulau Pinang itu turut menyarankan rakyat negeri itu supaya memberi sokongan yang padu kepada kerajaan negeri Pakatan Harapan untuk terus menerajui negeri. 

"Saya menyeru semua rakyat Pulau Pinang supaya terus memberi sokongan kepada kerajaan negeri Pakatan Harapan. "Teruskan sokongan kepada kerajaan negeri dan tolak Umno dan BN yang telah terbukti sekian lama menzalimi rakyat. 

"Kita juga perlu beri kerjasama dan pastikan kuasa yang ada pada kerajaan negeri Pakatan Harapan terus dimenangi dalam pilihan raya umum yang akan datang," ketika berucap pada program sempena sambutan Tahun Baru Cina anjuran PKR Permatang Pauh semalam. 

Ucapan beliau disambut dengan tepukan gemuruh oleh lebih seribu hadirin yang membanjiri tapak pasar malam Ampang Jajar. Beliau juga berkata, walaupun beliau adalah Adun tunggal Pas yang memenangi kerusi dalam pilihan raya umum lalu, sokongan mesti diberikan kepada kerajaan negeri. 

Malah katanya, sejak menerajui pemerintahan banyak program kebajikan yang telah dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan negeri. Sehubungan itu ujarnya, kesemua empat kerusi Dun yang dimenangi oleh Pakatan Harapan di Permatang Pauh dalam pilihan raya umum yang lalu mesti dipertahankan agar tidak jatuh ke tangan BN menjelang pilihan raya umum yang akan datang. 

Hadir sama dalam program tersebut ialah Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Ahli Parlimen Nibong Tebal, Datuk Mansor Othman, Timbalan Ketua Menteri 1, Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, barisan exco serta kepimpinan Amanah, DAP dan Bersatu. - rakyat marhaen

MOI Must Pay More Than 

RM25,000 To Secure Felda Votes...

Last Friday nite we were at Jengka 8 in Pahang to attend a Pakatan Harapan ceramah organised by Bersatu. We reached Jengka after 7 pm and left after midnite.   It was a cool place and the drive through Pahang was fantastic as usual.   We drove through Jerantut, Krau, Temerloh, Chenor and the Karak Hiway.

Over the years I have many times driven through the rural areas of this beautiful country late at night or in the early hours of the morning. It is always serene and beautiful to drive through all our small towns when everything is quiet and shut down for the day.  Among my favorite routes for late night travel is the road from Kuala Kangsar to Gerik via Sauk and Lenggong.  Or from Ipoh to Gua Musang via Simpang Pulai and the Camerons.

There will always be at least one stray dog going about his rounds. And there will be that single restaurant or warong open at 2 am with one or two motorbikes and a few locals sitting quietly and having a meal or drinking tea. There will be all those old government buildings, private houses and shops built before Merdeka or thereabouts which add so much class to our environment. And all those kampong houses, even the modern ones, all tucked into their little portions of paradise which, with a little manicuring, will one day become priceless.

Back to the ceramah. The spot for the ceramah was an abandoned saw mill deep inside Jengka 8. As you can guess, all other venues were unavailable. The main speakers were Mukriz Mahathir, Dato Zaid Ibrahim, YB Ariff Sabri, Mazlan Aliman, Wan Mohd Shahrir and others. They are all ex-UMNO.

I was surprised at the turnout. Over 2000 people came to the ceramah. 

On the same night and at the same time, to sabotage our event, UMNO organised their own "pesta mempertahankan pencuri MOI" on the main road of Jengka 8. 

To distract the people they gave away free 30 I-Phones, 1 motorbike, 1000 tickets to a football match (Kelantan vs Kedah ??) and umrah packages. The free gifts alone would be worth about RM100,000.  (30 I-phones x RM2000 a piece = RM60,000 already). Yet over 2,500 people still attended the Bersatu ceramah.

In contrast to UMNO's splurging (using money donated by mysterious Saudi donors) the Bersatu ceramah in that abandoned sawmill cost about RM5000 only. 

Blogger Apanama and I spoke to some of the people there. They all seem aware of the 1MDB scandal. They all know that the MOI guy stole money. And listen to this folks, they all know that before the General Elections, Najib will be giving them a durian runtuh of RM25,000 to "buy" their votes.  They are all waiting for it - with big smiles on their faces. Will they vote for Najib this time? They put on big smiles on their faces.  

These folks are not dumb. They know what is going on. 

While the speakers were on stage I was watching the crowd very closely. As usual more than half were women. They appeared to take in the fact that all the speakers were ex UMNO. And the appearance of Dato Zaid Ibrahim (a last minute addition) alongside Mukhriz Mahathir and Ariff Sabri (a DAP MP from Raub) only added to their curiosity.  So many ex UMNO Ministers, YBs and ex Ketua Bahagian UMNO were now outside of UMNO.  There must be something terribly wrong with UMNO.

Then Mazlan Aliman the chief of the Anak Peneroka Felda gave his no holds barred, ringgit and sen, facts and figures speech about the present situation in Felda.  Aliman has already done his job. Its too late to stop Aliman from saying anything more or less. All the Felda folks already know what he has been highlighting. They have been robbed and they are being robbed. That is the cerita pendek. You dont have to tell them anymore. They already know. Its too late. - ostb

One super toy belonging to 1MDB seized...

cheers.