MAZA Letak Jawatan

PETALING JAYA: Dr. Mohd. Asri Zainul Abidin menjelaskan beliau mengambil keputusan untuk melepaskan jawatan sebagai Mufti Perlis sebagai tanda protes kepada kerajaan negeri.

"Saya berhenti sebagai tanda protes kepada kerajaan negeri," katanya ketika dihubungi mStar Online hari ini.

Ditanya sama ada pengunduran tersebut disebabkan kekecewaan beliau terhadap kerajaan negeri, Asri berkata, beliau telah menegur dan menyampaikan apa yang perlu diperkatakannya.

"Terpulang kepada mereka untuk menerimanya atau tidak. Yang penting saya telah suarakan pandangan saya," katanya.

Dengan keputusan itu, menurut anak kelahiran Bukit Mertajam Pulau Pinang ini perkhidmatan beliau sebagai mufti akan tamat penghujung bulan ini dan akan kembali bertugas sebagai pensyarah di Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Sepatutnya kontrak beliau hanya tamat tahun depan.

"Saya telah menghantar surat kepada USM dan akan kembali bertugas pada 1 November depan," katanya.

Sebelum ini, Asri pernah menjadi pensyarah Pengajian Islam di universiti tersebut.

Beliau pernah menerima Anugerah Tokoh Maal Hijrah 1427 peringkat negeri Perlis ketika menjadi tenaga pengajar di universiti tersebut.

Asri dikenali sebagai tokoh agama yang berani dengan sikap lantangnya menegur beberapa isu termasuk penggunaan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), peralihan kuasa dalam Umno, mubahalah isu liwat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, sambutan Hari Pahlawan di Tugu Peringatan Negara dan pengharaman penyanyi kontroversi Faizal Tahir.

Ketika ditanya mengenai perancangan masa depannya selepas tidak lagi menjadi mufti, Asri berkata:

"Saya akan ke luar negara, Insya-Allah Disember depan. Mungkin Allah memberikan saya peluang yang lebih baik selepas ini, siapa tahu," katanya.

Menurut Asri, beliau secara lantang menegur sesuatu perkara membuktikan bahawa mufti perlu menyatakan kebenaran tanpa rasa takut dan bimbang kedudukannya terancam.

"Saya telah buktikan apa yang saya cakap bukan untuk meraih populariti dan punya kepentingan tertentu.

"Kenapa perlu takut dan bimbang kita akan kehilangan jawatan hanya kerana kita mengatakan sesuatu yang benar," katanya.

Tambahnya, beliau telah membuktikannya apabila telah menjadi mufti selama dua tahun tanpa dipecat kerana menegur sesuatu perkara.

Asri dilantik sebagai Mufti Perlis pada 1 November 2006 menggantikan Datuk Alim Panglima Mat Jahaya Hussin yang bersara wajib.

Ditanya adakah beliau tahu siapa calon yang akan menggantikannya, Asri berkata:

"Maaf saya tidak boleh beritahu siapa orangnya. Calonnya sudah ada.

"Saya akan bawa dia menemui Raja Perlis untuk mencadangkan. Terpulang kepada budi bicara baginda untuk membuat keputusan," katanya.

-mSTAR Online

Perak mungkin 'rampas' tapak kem tahanan ISA

Kerajaan negeri Perak mungkin mengambil langkah perundangan tidak lama lagi untuk mengambil balik tapak Kem Tahanan (Kemta) di Kamunting yang menempatkan tahanan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA).

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin mungkin diminta mengambil balik tanah milik kerajaan negeri itu yang menempatkan Kemta tersebut dan sekaligus memaksa kerajaan pusat di Putrajaya memindahkannya ke tempat lain.

Ahli Exco kerajaan Perak, A Sivanesan berkata, beliau akan mengemukakan cadangan tersebut dalam mesyuarat exco supaya kerajaan negeri mengambil balik tapak yang menempatkan Kemta sejak kira-kira 40 tahun lalu.

Ia dijadikan tapak pusat tahanan tersebut sewaktu pentadbiran kerajaan BN, sebelum Akta Pengambilan Tanah dikuatkuasakan.

Perak jatuh ke tangan Pakatan Rakyat dalam pilihanraya umum Mac lalu. Selama ini, ketiga-tiga parti komponen Pakatan - PKR, PAS dan DAP - mengecam ISA yang memboleh seseorang itu ditahan tanpa bicara.

Sivanesan berkata, memandangkan Pakatan mengecam ISA, maka adalah munasabah jika kerajaan negeri mahu Kemta itu dikeluarkan dari negeri tersebut.

"Jika Barisan Nasional mahu menyimpan kem tesebut sebagai harta karunnya, maka pindahkanlah kem tesebut ke kawasan dalam bidang kuasanya di Johor atau Pahang, supaya Kemta jauh dari pandangan kami.

"Saya pasti semua rakyat Malaysia yang cintakan kebebasan, terutama pemimpin dan penyokong Pakatan di seluruh negara, pastinya menyokong cadangan tersebut," katanya.

Menurut Sivanesan, kerajaan negeri boleh, melalui undang-undang, mengambil balik tapak tersebut dan meruntuhkan Kemta, untuk membina rumah, hospital dan sekolah di situ.

Dengan itu, katanya, kerajaan negeri Perak dan Pakatan boleh membuktikan yang mereka tidak mahu ada kena mengena dengan penguatkuasan undang-undang tersebut.

Baca berita penuh

Hari-Hari Akhir Seorang Dolah

Di alkesahkan maka orang-orang kampung pun berkumpulah untuk melihat dan melangok. Maka gendang pun di palu dan canang di pukul. Ada yang mencangkung ada yang berdiri melihat gelagat segala peri.

Ketua cawangan naik proton
Ketua bahagian naik wira
Kontrektor kelas f naik honda
Putera datang naik tongkang
Puteri datang membawa kangkang
Para yb naik mercedes
Menteri datang takut muflis
Datang berkumpul bukan menangis
Dolah berundur amatlah trajis

Mereka datang berkumpul untuk melihat muka Dolah kali terakhir sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia, sebagai Presiden United Malays National Organisation dan sebagai Pengerusi Barisan Nasional.

Mari mendengar surah saya tentang apa yang berlalu lima tahun dahulu.

Ketika Mahathir Muhamad meletakan jawatan, saya masih berada di kem tahanan Kamunting. Berita tangisan Mahathir saya sambut dengan ketawa terbahak-bahak. Gambar Mahathir menangis di Perhimpunan Agung itu amat lucu sekali. Sampai sekarang saya tidak dapat melupakan kasut Rafidah yang terpatah kerana hendak mengejar dan mencium lutut Mahathir. Semenjak hari itu Dolah telah mula memasang badan sebagai Perdana Menteri

Pada malam saya hendak di hantar ke Kamunting ( June 2001) – surat arahan tahanan – telah di tanda tangani oleh Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kerana ketika itu dia menjawat Menteri Dalam Negeri. Pernah wartawan bertanya kepada Abdullah tentang 10 Reformis yang di tahan di bawah ISA. Dolah telah menjawab “…saya tidak tahu….”

Di Kamunting, apabila saya mendengar ‘ saya tidak tahu’ dari Dolah Badawi maka terlintas juga di kepala saya mungkin si Mamat ini seorang jantan politik yang licik. Dapat mengelak soalan dari para wartawan.

Apabila saya dibebaskan dua tahun kemudian saya telah mementaskan teater Tok Sloo dan Bilik Sulit. Bilik Sulit ialah tentang Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri/ISA. Manakala Tok Sloo adalah teater komidi. Dua buah drama ini telah dibawa keliling Semenanjung untuk dipertontonkan kecuali di Perlis.

Tok Sloo memecahkan perut saya sendiri. Saya menulis watak Tok Sloo berdasarkan watak Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan orang-orang disekelilingnya. Dolah pada ketika teater ini ditulis baru sahaja menjadi Perdana Menteri. Scomi – syarikat milik Kamaluddin anaknya - masih belum heboh dan masih belum glamour lagi. Penjenayah bom nuklear A.B. Tahir belum menjadi hiasan muka depan majalah Times. Khairy Jamaluddin baru selesai bersunat politik kerana dapat kahwin dengan Nori. Kak Endon masih hidup. Kalimullah masih belum kaya raya. Moonsoon Cup dan Jackie Chan belum pernah sampai ke Seberang Takir.

Selesai pementasan keliling di Semenanjung saya telah bertemu dengan seorang kawan lama saya – Cik Gu Hashim dari Perlis. Kami bersembang di sebuah warong pokok ketapang di hadapan pejabat MalaysiaKini Bangsar Utama. Sambil ketawa sambil kami berlabun tentang siasah semasa.

Akhirnya sampai kepada watak Tok Sloo. Kami ketawa berdekah-dekah. Akhirnya kawan saya ini memberi satu nasihat “… kamu janganlah lawan Dolah Badawi ini…..kalau kamu tulis keras sangat tetang dia… macam kamu lawan orang cacat…..” Inilah kata-kata yang membuatkan saya terbarai ketawa hingga ke hari ini.

Bila saya duduk bersendirian di hadapan komputer dan ingin menulis sesuatu tentang Abdullah Badawi maka saya teringat pesanan kawan saya itu. Apabila saya perhatikan gerak dan tingkah laku politik Dolah maka saya cukup yakin bahawa susuk yang bernama Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ini adalah ‘orang cacat’ dari segi pemahaman politik.

Akhirnya saya menarik diri dari me‘lampoon’ Dolah. Saya rasakan cukup tidak adil jika saya terus menulis tentang manusia ‘cacat’ ini. Saya rasa macam saya bergaduh dengan kanak-kanak.

Dari awal lagi saya telah menulis bahawa Abdullah Badawi ini adalah Perdana Menteri ‘fluke/accidental’ – atau PM yang tidak tersengaja. Dolah Badawi tidak memiliki ciri dan pola-pola yang boleh dinobatkan sebagai pemimpin negara. Dolah di jadikan Perdana Menteri hasil perancangan licik Mahathir Muhamad.

Mahathir Muhamad tidak salah pilih, dia sengaja memilih ‘si cacat’ ini agar dia sendiri akan menjadi Pak Dalang dibelakang tabir. Hanya satu silap Mahathir, dia kurang sedar ada ramai dalang-dalang lain – Khairy, Kamaludin, Kak Endon dan Kalimullah - yang telah juga bersiap sedia untuk menjadi Pak Dalang kepada si Dolah.

Pada tahun pertama Dolah sebagai PM, cerita mula tersebar bagaimana Dolah ini suka tidur ketika bekerja atau dalam mesyuarat. Pada awalnya saya rasa ini hanyalah kempen ‘hitam’ oleh musuh-musuh Dolah dalam United Malays National Organisation. Tetapi apabila gambar demi gambar mula muncul memperlihatkan ‘Dolah Tidur’ maka saya yakin ‘kecacatan’ Dolah ini tidak mungkin dapat di perbaiki.

Teman-teman sekolah saya yang menjadi ahli perniagaan mula bercerita betapa Dolah tidak memilki keupayaan untuk mendengar taklimat projek-projek yang cuba dibangunkan. Dolah tidak memiliki daya fikir yang lampan dan luas. Saya juga difahamkan si Dolah ini tidak membaca dan tidak memiliki daya fikir yang dapat melihat dengan jauh dan dengan terperinci.

Pilihanraya 2004 Dolah telah di beri mandat besar tetapi Dolah kurang arif untuk memahami makna mandat itu. Semua perancangan yang di rancangnya tinggal terbengkalai setengah jalan. Dolah mengajukan Islam Hadari, tetapi saya juga was was apakah Dolah sendiri memahami konsep yang diajukan itu.

Para kroni, anak dan menantu Dolah makin naik tocang. Mereka membedal dan membelasah apa sahaja dana negara yang boleh mereka sebat. Dolah sebenarnya tidak memahami satu pun teori ekonomi, jauh sekali untuk mehazam pergolakan politik global.

Dolah bukan seorang insan yang jahat, ganas dan licik seperti Mahathir Muhamad. Dolah tidak memiliki sifat membunuh seteru politiknya. Dolah ini seorang yang warak dan berperangai baik. Dolah seorang ritualis agama. Kalau di kampung saya di Jelebu Dolah ini akan dilantik sebagai Tok Siak. Sekali sekala kalau Tok Imam masjid demam mungkin dia akan dibenarkan mengepalai sembahyang.

Dalam adat Perpatih di Jelebu Dolah ini tidak akan duduk di anjung rumah bersama kepala adat. Dia akan duduk di tepi pintu untuk mengangkat dulang dan cawan. Kalau di penanggah di kampung saya Dolah ini akan menjadi pengacau beras di kawah ketika kenduri kendara - tidak lebih dari itu.

Akhirnya Dolah betul-betul menjadi watak Tok Sloo. Ada kesedihan juga dalam hati saya apabila Dolah berundur. Saya sedih dan kasihan melihat Dolah yang ‘cacat’ di tibai Muhyidin yang menjadi barua Mahathir Muhamad. Dolah terkapai-kapai hilang nafas. Penasihat politik Dolah hanyalah budak yang baru bersunat politik – tidak dapat melakukan apa-apa selain dari meminta tanda tangan akhir dari Dolah untuk projek-projek skim cepat kaya.

Apakah agaknuya yang akan kita ingati tentang Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sepuluh tahun dari hari ini?

Mungkin kita akan teringat tentang Dolah yang suka tidur. Atau Dolah bapak mentua Kj. Atau Dolah yang cuba membuka ruang demokrasi di Malaysia tetapi telah di gagalkan oleh Mahafiraun kerana Mahafiraun telah menyediakan budak suruhannya yang akan bersumpah bersetia agar tidak di hantar ke Mongolia untuk menjadi duta.

Hari-hari akhir seorang dolah sampai
Kamal datang dengan scomi
Kj datang dengan nori
Kali datang dengan air asia
Jean datang dengan kain tudung baru
A.b. tahir datang memakai topeng
Saat akhir akan berlalu
Mereka bersedih dan terharu
Dolah terlupa memakai celana dan sepatu
Lalu dinobat dolah sebagai bapa kemaluan terbaru

Maka demikianlah berakhir kesah Tok Sloo
Untuk tauladan dan sempadan
Dari anak kepada cucu dari cicit pada menantu
Untuk ingat-ingatan kawan dan seteru

-Tukar Tiub

Pecahan rumah ibadat mengikut agama di Selangor

1. Islam - 1,366

2. Buddha - 1,015

3. Hindu - 810

4. Kristian - 27

4.8 juta penduduk Selangor

- 2.5 juta terdiri daripada orang Islam, ada 358 masjid dan (kira-kira) 1,000 surau

- Cina (1.3 juta) ada tokong 1,015

- orang India 647,000 ada kuil 810

-kristian kira-kira 50,000 ada gereja 27 buah

info dari : Perwira bin Osman

Bik Mama: RM7,000,000,00 = 14 Jam Tangan

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Okt (Hrkh) - Benarkah Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor menghabiskan sebanyak RM7 juta untuk membeli 14 buah jam tangan di Hong Kong?

Penulis blog, Syed Azidi Aziz atau Sheih telah menimbulkan persoalan tersebut menerusi posting terbaru beliau di blognya di [sini].

Sheih yang baru-baru ini ditahan di bawah Akta Hasutan selama empat hari turut memaklumkan bahawa jam-jam tersebut dibeli untuk dihadiahkan kepada beberapa individu di beberapa kementerian.

Namun begitu Sheih enggan mendedahkan nama pemberi maklumat tersebut dengan merujuk kepada wartawan di barat yang sanggup dipenjara daripada mendedahkan nama pemberi maklumat.

Persoalan yang ditimbulkan oleh Sheih ini merupakan siri pendedahan terbaru beliau sejak dibebaskan pada 20 September lalu.

Beberapa hari sebelum menjelang Aidilfitri beliau turut mendedahkan bagaimana Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi telah menggunakan kedudukan beliau selaku Menteri Pertahanan untuk menambahkan kekayaan anak beliau Kamaluddin.

Pada hari raya kedua pula, Sheih mendedahkan Abdullah telah menerima RM200 juta daripada Rosmah. Wang tersebut merupakan sebahagian daripada komisen pembelian kapal selam yang turut dikaitkan dengan kematian Altantuya.

Gangguan Bekalan Air Di PJ Dan KL

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Okt (Bernama) -- Beberapa kawasan di Petaling Jaya dan Kuala Lumpur akan mengalami gangguan bekalan air pada 14 Oktober ini ekoran kerja-kerja pengalihan paip oleh Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas).

Pengurus Besar Komunikasi Korporat dan Hal Ehwal Awam Syabas, Abdul Halem Mat Som dalam satu kenyataan berkata gangguan itu akan bermula dari pukul 8 malam hingga 8 pagi keesokan harinya disebabkan kerja pengalihan paip di jalan susur jambatan lot 673, Jalan SS20/27 Petaling Jaya.

"Kawasan yang terlibat ialah PJ North, Universiti Malaya, Penchala, SEApark, SS1 dan SS2, SS20,SS21 dan SS22, Seksyen 11,12,13,14,16,17,17A,19,20,21 dan 22, Jalan Semangat, Phileo Damansara, Hotel Eastin dan Paramount," katanya.

Beliau berkata bagi Kuala Lumpur kawasan yang terlibat adalah Bukit Damansara.

Syabas menasihatkan pengguna agar menyimpan bekalan air secukupnya serta menggunakan air secara berhemah sepanjang tempoh gangguan tersebut.

Pengguna boleh menghubungi Pusat Perkhidmatan Pelanggan Syabas (Puspel)menerusi talian bebas tol 1-800-88-5252 atau melalui khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) dengan menaip PUSPEL, jarak, taipkan aduan atau pertanyaan dan hantar ke 39222 untuk maklumat lanjut.

Maklumat mengenai gangguan juga boleh disemak di laman web rasmi Syabas di www.syabas.com.my.

DSAI: Saya Masih Ada "Nombor"

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said today he still has enough support to topple the government and is deliberating over how to carry out his delayed plan to seize power.

Anwar dismissed a looming leadership transition in the ruling coalition, saying it would fail to win popular support and would do nothing to reform an administration mired in corruption.

Anwar said last month more than 31 lawmakers from the Barisan Nasional coalition were willing to switch sides and called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to agree to negotiations on a handover of power.

Abdullah has refused and Anwar has since said pulling off the first change of government in the country's half-century history was a difficult task that could take some time.

"I am pleased by the general enthusiasm expressed by Malaysians who want to see change and rid this country of racism and corruption," Anwar said Tuesday.

Despite the delay in his plans, the 31 lawmakers "have given me their support and they have not reneged on their support," he said.

Pakatan Holds Meeting Tonight

Anwar said leaders of the three parties in the opposition alliance were meeting tonight to explore their options.

An official from Anwar's PKR party said the strategies included seeking an audience with Malaysia's king, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, to claim a mandate to rule.

Parliament resumes next Monday and the defecting lawmakers could physically cross the floor to show a change in allegiance.

And although the premier can under the constitution block any attempt to mount a vote of no confidence, opposition lawmakers can propose an ordinary motion criticising Abdullah, the official said.

Abdullah, who led the coalition to its worst-ever performance in elections this year, is expected to announce either tomorrow or on Thursday whether he will stand aside next March in favour of his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.

"I don't believe that Najib will be able to garner support or credibility, or manage the economy and rid the country of corruption," Anwar said.

"We are talking about a corrupt and rotten system, we are talking about a mismanaged system under Abdullah and I believe it is going to be worse under Najib."

Minor Victory In Court

Anwar is battling a sodomy charge which he says is politically motivated

He has been accused of sodomising a 23-year-old former aide - the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago after he was sacked as deputy prime minister.

The opposition leader had a small victory in court today when a judge fended off a government attempt to move the case to the High Court.

Anwar, who has said he fears the government could fix the trial if it is heard in the higher court, questioned the motivation of attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, whom he is suing in connection with his earlier conviction.

"I am concerned only about the issue of fair trial. I am finding it difficult to understand why the attorney-general is so desperate, fighting tooth and nail to get the case out of this court," he said.

The Sessions Court will continue until tomorrow to hear arguments from both sides over the transfer of the case.

Perak may 'seize' ISA detention camp site

The Perak government may soon take legal steps to rid the state of the Kamunting Detention Camp (Kemta by its Malay acronym), the infamous symbol of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Mentri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin (right) may be asked to reacquire state land that has been alienated for the camp and force federal authorities in Putrajaya to relocate it elsewhere.

Perak executive councillor A Sivanesan, who loathes the cruelty of the ISA, said he will soon table a proposal at the state executive council to reclaim the land, where the camp has been sited for some 40 years.

The land was alienated for the centre by the previous BN state government before the implementation of the Land Acquisition Act.

The state fell to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition in the March general election. All three component parties - PKR, DAP and PAS - have long condemned the draconian ISA which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

Sivanesan said that since Pakatan “is dead set against the inhumane law”, it was only logical that the state government should want the camp out of an area under its juridiction.

“If Barisan Nasional (BN) wants to keep the camp as its treasure, by all means it can relocate it to its own fiefdom in Johor or Pahang. At least Kemta will be out of our sight,” he said.

“I’m sure all sensible and freedom-loving Malaysians, especially Pakatan leaders and supporters, across the country will welcome his proposal.”

He pointed out that the current government could legally reacquire the land and demolish Kemta, and build houses, hospitals or schools on the site.

The Perak government and Pakatan can thereby prove that they do not want to be part of implementation of the law, he said.

Support From MCA, GERAKAN?

Sivanesan expressed confidence that his proposal will be supported even by BN component parties MCA and Gerakan, as both have been critical of the ISA.

He took a swipe at MIC president S Samy Vellu (right) for suddenly appearing to champion the Hindraf cause, after his frequent jibes against the movement prior to the general election.

“If Samy Vellu and other MIC leaders are sincere and honest about securing the release of the detained Hindraf 5, they should support the move to get Kemta out of Perak,” Sivanesan said.

“Even a murder accused is investigated before being charged and allowed to claim trial and is entitled to legal representation in a court of law. But under the ISA, a person is denied all these basic rights.”

A lawyer by training, Sivanesan had been briefly involved in representing Hindraf supporters who had been charged with manslaughter in the aftermath of the mammoth Nov 25 rally in Kuala Lumpur.

When contacted, Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran welcomed Sivanesan’s proposal, saying that he hoped the Perak government would succeed.

“The land can be utilised for housing projects for the lower income group. Pakatan can create history by showing strong political will to get rid of Kemta,” he added.

Although the ISA was introduced to curb communist and terrorist activities, critics have said that the BN government has regularly abused it curtail dissent by political rivals, civil movements and more recently, bloggers and a journalist.

Among personalities who have been detained are Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim; DAP leaders Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, the late P Patto and Lim Guan Eng; former Utusan Malaysia editor-in-chief the late A Samad Ismail; trade unionist the late V David; and political critic Chandra Muzaffar.

Five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders - P Uthayakumar, T Vasanthakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau - and Malaysia Today webmaster Raja Petra Kamarudin are currently being held in Kamunting, in Taiping.

Kemta is said to hold some 80 detainees now, some having been there for nearly eight years.

Ku Li's reforms: Direct elections for Umno president, single BN party

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah plans to turn the Barisan Nasional coalition into a single political party with direct membership and an elected leader if he wins the Umno presidency.

As part of a slew of radical reforms he plans to introduce to BN and Umno, the 71-year-old leader also wants future Umno presidents to be directly elected.

"I am suggesting that BN becomes a multiracial party open to all. Umno members can, for example, be direct members of BN," he told The Malaysian Insider in an interview.

"As soon as I become Umno president I will propose this."

Tengku Razaleigh said he would announce at a later date the details of how he planned to turn BN into a single political party, and explain how such a proposal would affect the interest of all component members.

All he would say now was that, under his proposal, BN members would elect their leaders directly.

Tengku Razaleigh has been the only person so far to have offered himself as a candidate for the Umno presidency. He is likely to take on Datuk Seri Najib Razak if Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi decides not to defend the post.

Asked about the kind of reforms he hopes to bring to Umno, Tengku Razaleigh said there should be direct elections at all levels of leadership, including that of the presidency.

"We have three million over members. If we give them the right to elect leaders at various levels we can get rid of money politics," he said.

"There is a need to democratise Umno. Power should be given back to members instead of being concentrated at the top."

He said that "when the masses are beholden to the leadership, we will not move forward."

As a further step to democratise Umno, Tengku Razaleigh said he would also introduce a proposal to allow members from each division to directly select candidates for the general elections.

He also wants to introduce some form of term limit in the party. "Maybe the president of Umno should be allowed to hold the post for eight or nine years at most."

Explaining the reasons behind the radical reforms he was suggesting, the Umno veteran said it was because he sees "Umno heading down."

"I do not think Umno can survive the next elections. People are simply going for material gains now for themselves and their supporters. People are becoming more corrupt.

"This is not the purpose of the party. It is for serving the people and it must be in tip-top condition to do that."

-TMI

Anwar says those who use ISA not fit to rule

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today he believes that Malays or Muslims who use cruel laws against Hindus are not qualified to rule the country.

He also accused the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia newspaper of twisting facts to spark off hatred of the Malays for Hindus.

The issue at hand, he said, was the use of the Internal Security Act, which Anwar described as a cruel law.

"We as Malays, as Muslims, if we show cruelty to Malays or to Hindus, such a Malay is not qualified to rule the country. You can take that down Utusan Malaysia," he told reporters today.

Anwar had been asked to comment on the move by representatives of the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) in presenting a memorandum calling for the release of those detained under the ISA to the Prime Minister at his Hari Raya open house last week.

"The issue is not any protest by Hindraf. The issue is the cruel ISA. Those detained under this cruel law must be released," said Anwar.

Asked what he thought about speculation that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would not defend his Umno presidency, he said he did not believe a government or an Umno led by Datuk Seri Najib Razak would be any better.

He said he did not believe that BN would be able to garner more support or credibility under Najib.

"We are talking about a system tainted by corruption. It is important that we continue to call for reform and change," he said.

-TMI

Ku Li says a unity government may be the way forward

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says he is considering an enlarged coalition to form a unity government if he wins the Umno presidency.

The Umno veteran says he sees himself as a leader who can bring together all the rival factions in Malaysian politics and forge a “safer road” for the country.

“I think I am quite acceptable to a lot of people. I can talk to all the various factions,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

He said he had brought up the matter of a unity government in meetings with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Over the next few weeks, he is expected to bring up the matter in discussions with Barisan Nasional leaders.

Tengku Razaleigh has offered himself as a candidate for the Umno presidency, and is likely to take on Datuk Seri Najib Razak if, as expected, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi does not defend his post.

But the Umno veteran faces heavy odds against him getting the required number of nominations needed to be officially allowed to be a candidate.

The Kelantan prince lost the last ever contest for the party presidency against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1987 by a wafer-thin margin.

Besides the idea of a unity government, he is offering up a number of reforms to Umno and BN if he gets elected this time.

The reforms include turning BN into a single, multiracial party and having direct elections for all Umno posts.

"I hope to offer pragmatic leadership to bring everyone together and to unite the people of all races," he said.

He said that former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein had also enlarged the ruling coalition, turning the Alliance into BN by absorbing parties like Gerakan.

"As he said then we should stop playing politics and concentrate on development," he said.

Tengku Razaleigh said it was clear to him that the Pakatan Rakyat parties received tremendous support in the March general election because of the arrogance and the abuse of power in government, most notably by Umno.

The Umno veteran said that the support for PR could well be a temporary phase, but Umno had done nothing since March 8 to try to regain lost ground.

He said the formation of a unity government with PR parties is something he is looking at.

"A unity government is a possibility. There is nothing wrong with it.

"We can find common ground to work together," he said.

-TMI

Dr M says Khairy will beat Mukhriz

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today hinted that Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin would employ undemocratic methods to ensure his victory for the highest position in the Youth wing in March.

Dr Mahathir, in his latest blog posting, was commenting on the complaint by Khairy that he was prevented from meeting Umno Youth members while campaigning.

"I don't know whether people have heard about the thief who cried 'thief!'. Well the thief got away because people who are not very intelligent went chasing in the opposite direction. The highly educated thief then walked away with his booty," said Dr Mahathir.

"I would advise him not to be disheartened. There are so many other ways of influencing Pemuda than meeting them. I will not enumerate them as he will know how to use these other ways," said the former Prime Minister.

He added that Khairy, who became Umno Youth deputy chief in 2004 when he won uncontested, would easily defeat Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir during the party election.

Dr Mahathir blamed Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for Khairy's victory four years ago.

"Apart from Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein who gave other possible candidates a tongue lashing, telling them in no uncertain terms that they must not contest the position because it was reserved for the Prime Minister's son-in-law, others suspected of having ambitions to contest for the post received phone calls from family members of the PM and other influential supporters not to do anything to spoil the ambition of this first-time Umno member with absolutely no track record from winning uncontested," he added.

On Sunday, Khairy told reporters that he is contesting on his own merit and hoped that Umno Youth delegates would evaluate him based on his personal credibility and strength.

"I got down to the ground, I became director of the by-election machinery... I conducted programmes and various others things on my own initiative and this will not change whether Pak Lah or Datuk Seri Najib is the president. I will continue with my work as a leader of the young generation in Umno," said Khairy.

-TMI

Another BN component party threatens to quit

United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) threatens to quit Barisan Nasional unless the federal government takes serious efforts in resolving the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah acquiring Malaysian citizenship. [Malaysiakini, 6/10/08]

UPKO's threat to quit the coalition should be taken seriously by Badawi's regime when another Sabah party, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) had already pulled out of the Barisan Nasional coalition last month. The SAPP claimed that the ruling polical bloc has lost its spirit of "racial unity" and defiled by racial supremacist policies. SAPP, however chose to remain independent until they feel it was fit to rejoin the government.

UPKO's outburst came in response to SAPP MP of Sepanggar, Datuk Eric Majimbun's latest exposé of a deliberate attempt to alter Sabah's demography by the government. Majimbun discovered that the details of his surname and residential address were duplicated on another MyKAD belonging to an illegal immigrant from the Philippines.

Click here for more details on the controversy.

Majimbun's revelation was only the tip of the iceberg as the sinister plot to manipulate Sabah's demography in favour of the government has been taking place for more than 30 years. Sabah Parti Keadilan had speculated that at least 600,000 of the 1.7 million foreigners in Sabah currently possess a MyKAD and with it, Malaysian citizenship.

It was disclosed that Sabah's population have increased 285 per cent from 1970 to 2000.

With Malaysian citizenship being handed cheaply to countless illegal immigrants, "genuine" Malaysians like 78 year old, Yong Lee Hua from Penampang was robbed of her citizenship; literally. The elderly woman lost her MyKAD last year when her purse was stolen but upon application of a new MyKAD, she was instead issued a red identity card.

Red identity cards are only given to individuals of Permanent Resident (PR) status.

Yong was initially told by the National Registration De­­partment (NRD) that it was "normal" procedure for the department to issue her a PR identity card. When she returned with proof of citizenship documents including her passport and driver’s licence, an official told her there had been a mistake and requested her to apply for citizenship. Her bank accounts have been frozen since.

Yong Lee Hua, a bumiputra was not only stripped of her status as a native but also her Malaysian citizenship. Instead, she was asked by the NRD to reapply for citizenship - an appalling testament to the department's incompetence.

In Sabah, a person is accorded bumiputra status if either one of his/her parents is a native.

Stephen George was another Malaysian who was facing a similar predicament regarding his citizenship. Stephen was born in Brunei in 1956 but returned to Sabah in 1958. He has been applying for Malaysian citizenship since 1975 but to no avail. Upon his last check, he was told by the NRD that his application was with the police and the process might take another year.

UPKO President, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok issued a demand for a complete overhaul of Sabah's NRD. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar have been called to Sabah for a meeting behind closed doors with Sabah party leaders to address the issue of citizenship plaguing the state. Dompok also assured Sabahan's that his party will be at the forefront in tackling the issue until it is resolved by the government.

“The saddest part is that there are people who can walk into the country through the backdoor and still get their ICs (identity cards). I will take action and help, whatever it takes. I will bring it up to the Cabinet,” he said. [The Star, 6/10/08]

SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee also voiced his disgust over the matter and have demanded that the state NRD be brought under the jurisdiction of the Sabah state government.

“How can a genuine Sabahan Malaysian (referring to Yong Lee Hua) lose her citizenship so casually whereas other foreigners can become citizens so easily? These new citizens have become not only Malaysians but Sabahans with the right of abode and employment in Sabah. They have also acquired rights that surpass that of other Malaysians from the peninsula and Sarawak,” Yong told reporters. [The Star, 3/10/08]

The SAPP President also claimed that illegal immigrants over the decades have managed to attain Malaysian citizenship through dubious means. As a result, these "new citizens" were given bumiputra status and therefore could own native lands. However, he added that the fact of Malaysians losing their Malaysian citizenships without the due process of law was much more disturbing.

Hence, it is high time for Barisan Nasional government to awaken from its slumber and address the epidemical influx of phony citizens into the country. Irregardless of whether there was ever a malicious attempt to tamper with Sabah's demographic landscape, the government can no longer hide within its own shadows when the statistics and real-life testimonies of true Malaysians have corroborated that indeed, something equivocal has been going on under the noses of Malaysians.

-Stand Up for Malaysia

Pemuda PAS: Gambar Anwar bukan patung

kemaskini 3:32pm Pemuda PAS Selangor berpendapat replika gergasi imej Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Batu Caves tidak termasuk dalam kategori patung yang diharamkan dalam ajaran Islam.

"Dalam Islam, apa-apa pun, kalau berunsur pemujaan tidak boleh. Kedua, (kalau) berhala, tidak dipuja pun tidak boleh.

"Tetapi, (replika) itu hanyalah gambar besar untuk memperingati pemimpin. (Imej) itu bukan patung. Itu hanyalah gambar besar," kata ketua dewan itu Sallehen Mukhyi.

Mengulas kenyataan Naib Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam yang menyatakan replika gergasi itu menunjukkan PKR mendewa-dewakan pemimpinnya, Sallehen berkata:

"Yang beliau (Mohd Ali ) sensitif sangat kenapa? Meletak kalungan bunga di Tugu Peringatan Negara itu pun menyalahi akidah, (hukum) itu telah diputuskan oleh Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan, dan itu memang jelas berbentuk manusia, (perkara) itu beliau tidak sibuk pula.”

Mohd Ali semalam turut menimbulkan persoalan sama ada pembinaan replika itu diterima oleh PAS sebagai rakan dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Bercakap kepada Malaysiakini hari ini, Sallehen berkata, projek mendirikan gambar itu inisiatif penyokong Anwar sendiri dan oleh itu, sudah tentu kepimpinan tertinggi PAS tidak dimaklumkan.

"Malah saya rasa, Anwar sendiri pun tidak tahu (sebelum timbul kontroversi)," katanya.

Mengulas pandangan Mufti Perlis Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin semalam yang dilaporkan berkata, gambar besar itu "membawa unsur keberhalaan dan perlu dihapuskan dengan segera", Sallehen berkata:

"Boleh jadi mufti (Perlis) patut datang tengok sendiri (replika itu)."

Sementara itu penduduk setempat bersedia untuk merobohkannya jika kontroversi berlarutan berhubung penegakan replika gergasi itu, kata pengelola projek tersebut R Viriya.

"Saya tidak mahu isu ini menjadi besar. Kalau dikaitkan dengan isu perkauman, saya pun tidak mahu buat.

"Saya hanya mahu mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya kepada orang Melayu dan (lagi pun) Deepavali pun sudah dekat," katanya kepada Malaysiakini hari ini.

Deepavali akan disambut pada 27 Oktober.

Beliau mengulas kesediaan wakil rakyat PKR Batu Caves, Amiruddin Shari untuk menurunkan replika itu apabila permit kelulusannya yang dikeluarkan Majlis Perbandaran Selayang tamat tempohnya tidak lama lagi.

Viriya menambah, sebelum replika itu didirikan pada 28 September lalu, beliau pernah merujuk kepada rakan-rakannya yang berketurunan Melayu tetapi mereka menjelaskan "tidak salah" membina imej sedemikian.

Katanya lagi, beliau tidak mendapat sebarang aduan membantah daripada penduduk setempat dan hanya mengetahui kontroversi replika itu melalui media.

"Tiada teguran (daripada penduduk), hanya (pemimpin) Umno (di media) sahaja yang tegur," katanya.

Tambahnya, yang juga timbalan pengerusi persatuan penduduk Kampung Indian Settlement di Batu Caves, projek ini asalnya usaha sekumpulan penduduk di situ.

"Projek ini kita buat sendiri, ramai yang menyumbang. (Replika) ini bukan projek persatuan penduduk," kata Viriya.

-malaysiakini

TP - BRAVO...!!!

Sodomy trial transfer: No decision today

breaking news updated 1.02pm Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim will likely have to wait a little longer to find out if his sodomy trial will be transferred to a higher court.

This morning Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge SM Komathy Suppiah dismissed a preliminary objection raised by the prosecution that she had no choice but to transfer the case to a higher court.

She said that she had the jurisdiction to hear the defence team's objections against the transfer notice.

This was then followed by a submission by Anwar's lead lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah.

While much of the morning session today was taken up by arguments on technical matters between the defence team and the prosecution, Komathy nevertheless ruled that she would be hearing further submissions from Sulaiman after lunch on their objection to the transfer.

And tomorrow morning she would be hearing submissions from the prosecution as to why the matter should be transferred to the High Court.

A decision on the matter is only expected after that.

'Court Has No Choice'

On Sept 24, Komathy had reserved her judgment after hearing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence team.

Then the prosecution had argued that the court "has no choice" but to allow the transfer as it has no power to reject the move. This position was nevertheless challenged by Anwar's legal team.

Anwar's lawyers had objected the transfer certificate as it was signed by attorney-general (AG) Abdul Gani Patail.

Their objection was on the basis that the AG should not have played any role in this case as he was being investigated following a complaint that he had tampered with evidence in Anwar's trials 10 years ago.

Anwar had claimed trial on Aug 7 when charged with sodomising his former aide, 23-year-old Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

If convicted, he could face a 20-year jail term. He is currently out on a RM20,000 personal bond.

The police presence at the Jalan Duta court complex this morning was nominal, unlike previous times when truckloads of federal reserve unit members were positioned and stringent checkpoints were set up.

Anwar arrived at the court room at about 9.50am, accompanied by his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

[Full report to follow]

Mahkamah tolak bantahan awal pendakwa

[DIKEMAS KINI] PETALING JAYA: Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur yang bersidang sejak pagi ini menolak bantahan awal pihak pendakwaan dalam isu permohonan memindahkan kes liwat Ketua Umum Pakatan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ke Mahkamah Tinggi.

Pihak Pendakwa mengemukakan bantahan awal bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk mendengar bantahan awal pihak pembelaan dalam soal permohonan memindahkan kes berkenaan ke Mahkamah Tinggi.

Bagaimanapun Hakim S. M. Komathy Suppiah berkata, beliau ada kuasa untuk mendengar bantahan awal dibangkitkan pihak pembela.

Kata beliau, Mahkamah Sesyen mempunyai budi bicara untuk memerintahkan pemindahan kes liwat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ke Mahkamah Tinggi untuk perbicaraan.

Hakim itu juga berkata bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen mempunyai bidang kuasa untuk menentukan kesahihan sijil yang ditandatangani oleh Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

Komathy membuat keputusan itu selepas pihak pembelaan membantah pemindahan itu, mempersoalkan kesahihan sijil yang ditandatangani oleh Abdul Gani yang sedang disiasat Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR).

Pihak pendakwaan berhujah bahawa Abdul Gani, selaku Peguam Negara, bertanggungjawab menandatangani sijil itu mengikut prosedur pentadbiran.

Anwar membuat laporan polis terhadap Abdul Gani atas dakwaan memalsukan keterangan dalam insiden "mata hitam" Anwar pada 1998.

Menurut pasukan pendakwaan, mahkamah perlu mengarahkan pihak pembelaan untuk membuat permohonan bertulis bagi membuat bantahan awal memindahkan kes ke Mahkamah Tinggi.

Mahkamah berehat sebentar kira-kira pukul 12 tengah hari di mana hakim menemui Ketua Bahagian Pendakwaan Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Mohd. Yusof Zainal Abiden dan ketua pasukan peguam Anwar, Sulaiman Abdullah di kamarnya.

Mahkamah bersidang semula 12.30 tengah hari.

Mahkamah Sesyen bersidang sejak pukul 10.05 pagi tadi bagi memutuskan sama ada perbicaraan kes liwat Anwar perlu dipindahkan ke Mahkamah Tinggi.

Terdahulu Anwar tiba di mahkamah kira-kira pukul 9.40 bersama isterinya, Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail dan peguam Sankara N. Nair.

Pada 24 September lalu, Hakim Komathy telah menangguhkan sidang sehingga hari ini untuk memutuskan keputusannya selepas menimbangkan hujah bantahan pihak pembelaan atas permohonan pendakwaan bagi memindahkan perbicaraan kes Anwar ke Mahkamah Tinggi, di bawah peruntukan Seksyen 418A Kanun Tatacara Jenayah.

Pihak pendakwaan yang diketuai Datuk Mohd. Yusof telah mengemukakan bantahan awal terhadap bantahan peguam bela.

Anwar, 61, mengaku tidak bersalah atas tuduhan meliwat Mohd Saiful pada 26 Jun 2008 antara jam 3.01 dan 4.30 petang di Unit 11-5-1, Desa Damansara Kondominium No. 99, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara.

Dakwaan terhadapnya dibuat mengikut Seksyen 377B Kanun Keseksaan dan jika disabitkan kesalahan membawa hukuman penjara maksimum 20 tahun dan boleh juga dikenakan denda.

Sementara itu, Sankara ketika dihubungi semalam berkata, apa jua keputusan yang ditentukan oleh phak mahkamah akan diterima secara terbuka.

"Semuanya bergantung kepada keputusan mahkamah esok (hari ini)," katanya.

Jelasnya, apa yang diharapakan adalah kes tersebut tidak dibawa ke Mahkamah Tinggi.

"Kami berharap kes ini dapat diselesaikan segera dan tidak perlu dibawa ke Mahkamah Tinggi," katanya.

Menurut Sankara, jika hakim menerima bantahan awal yang dikemukakan pihak pendakwa maka kes tersebut akan dibicarakan di Mahkamagh Tinggi.

Barisan peguam bela Anwar pula diketuai oleh Sulaiman Abdullah bersama R. Sivarasa, Sankara, Leela Jesuthasan, Edmund Bon, Saiful Idham Ramli, Amer Hamzah Arshad, Latheefa Koya serta Mohd. Radzlan Jalaludin.

Bicara DSAI Terkini: Pendakwa Mahu Fail Afidavit Peguam Negara

[Dikemasikini] Seperti yang sudah dijangkan, mereka akan mencuba sedaya upaya untuk memindahkan kes Anwar ke Mahkamah Tinggi. Sebentar tadi pihak pendakwaan telah memohon penangguhan sementara kes liwat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bagi membolehkan mereka memfailkan afidavit Peguam Negara, Ghani Patail berhubung hujah bantahan peguam bela terhadap permohonan untuk memindahkan kes itu ke mahkamah tinggi.

Hakim, S. M. Komathy Suppiah menangguhkan sidang sekejap untuk mendengar bantahan pihak peguam bela yang diketuai oleh peguam Sulaiman Abdullah.Terdahulu, Komathy membenarkan bantahan awal pembelaan. Prosiding kes Anwar itu sekarang berhenti rehat sekejap sejak pukul 11.25 pagi. Mahkamah akan bersambung semula pada jam 2.30 petang nanti untuk mendegar hujah daripada peguam Anwar tentang bantahan terhadap penglibatan Peguam Negara, Ghani Patail dalam kes ini.

Nampaknya kes kali ini nampak begitu rumit, dan sesungguhnya ia bakal menjadi satu pertarungan antara Anwar dan Pak Lah dalam usaha menentukan masa depan politik negara kita hari ini. Apapun, kekuatan Anwar kini sukar digugat kerana menampilkan barisan peguam yang terkenal, profesional, berwibawa dan berintegriti.

Justeru itu, kita tidak nampak bahawa kes ini akan memihak kepada mereka. Badan kehakiman negara harus diselematkan segera. Membicarakan kes yang banyak menimbulkan perseoalan dan kekeliruan fakta jelas sekali satu tindakan yang "mencabuli" hak-hak kebebasan manusia di dunia ini. Maka itu, kes ini bakal mencatatkan lagi satu sejarah tentang betapa rendahnya tahap perbicaraan dan mahkamah di Malaysia dimata masyarakt dunia.

-Pahang Daily

Mahkamah Sesyen Mempunyai Budi Bicara Untuk Perintah Kes Liwat Anwar Ibrahim Dipindah Ke Mahkamah Tinggi

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Okt (Bernama) -- Mahkamah Sesyen hari ini memutuskan yang ia mempunyai budi bicara untuk memerintahkan pemindahan kes liwat Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ke Mahkamah Tinggi untuk perbicaraan.

Hakim S.M.Komathy Suppiah berkata Mahkamah Sesyen mempunyai bidang kuasa untuk menentukan kesahihan sijil yang ditandatangani oleh Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

Komathy membuat keputusan itu selepas pihak pembelaan membantah pemindahan itu, mempersoalkan kesahihan sijil yang ditandatangani oleh Abdul Gani yang sedang disiasat Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR).

Pihak pendakwaan berhujah bahawa Abdul Gani, selaku Peguam Negara, bertanggungjawab menandatangani sijil itu mengikut prosedur pentadbiran.

Anwar membuat laporan polis terhadap Abdul Gani atas dakwaan memalsukan keterangan dalam insiden "mata hitam" Anwar pada 1998.

Anwar, 60, dituduh meliwat bekas pembantunya, Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 23, di Unit 11-5-1, Kondominium Desa Damansara, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara antara 3.01 petang dan 4.30 petang pada 26 Jun.

Jika sabit kesalahan, penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) itu menghadapi hukuman penjara maksimum 20 tahun mengikut Seksyen 377B Kanun Keseksaan yang juga memperuntukkan hukuman sebatan tetapi hanya terpakai kepada seseorang yang berumur bawah 50 tahun.

Anwar dibebaskan dengan bon peribadi RM20,000 tanpa penjamin.

Tiada niat saman cuma mahu pembelaan

KUALA LUMPUR - "Saya bukan nak glamor atau tamakkan wang, cuma mahu penjelasan sewajarnya," demikian ujar Ahmad Khariri Al-Hadi Md. Yusop mengenai tindakannya tampil kepada media apabila mendakwa suratnya tidak dihantar ke destinasi yang sewajarnya.

Lagi pun, menurut Khariri, pihak Pos Malaysia Berhad berjanji mahu menyiasat punca kejadian sejak dari bulan Jun lagi dan sehingga kini dia tidak menerima sebarang jawapan.

"Saya hanya mahu penjelasan kerana sebelum ini ketika saya bertemu dengan pegawai di Pejabat Pos di Shah Alam dan mereka memberitahu surat-surat saya tidak mempunyai masalah berat.

"Saya cuba mendapatkan pegawai penyiasat yang terlibat tetapi masih tidak mempunyai jawapan oleh itu saya mengambil keputusan untuk tampil ke media," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini semalam.

Menurut Khariri, beliau tidak berhajat untuk mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap Pos Malaysia tetapi mahu mengetahui keputusan siasatan penuh dan menuntut ganti rugi tauladan sebagai pengguna perkhidmatan," katanya yang telah meletakkan setem bernilai 30 sen pada setiap suratnya.

Khariri yang merupakan seorang penderma hati semalam dilaporkan kecewa kerana kesemua surat permohonannya untuk menjadi penceramah di 150 buah sekolah didapati tidak sampai ke destinasi.

Sebaliknya beliau dimaklumkan bahawa kesemua surat itu didapati 'terdampar' di sebuah premis di Shah Alam

Berita Baik Yang Ditunggu-tunggu Dari PAS!

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Okt: Alhamdulillah. Akhirnya berita yang ditunggu-tunggu para ahli dan penyokong PAS telah tiba apabila para pimpinan PAS sepakat dalam menghadapi perkembangan semasa.

Ia dibayangkan melalui keputusan mesyuarat Lajnah Politik PAS Ahad, 5 Oktober lepas yang menyatukan hampir kesemua pandangan saf kepimpinan utama PAS.

Mesyuarat itu memutuskan PAS akan bekerjasama sepenuhnya dengan parti-parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat untuk berusaha sepenuhnya bagi membentuk kerajaan baru bagi menggantikan kerajaan BN yang ada.

Mesyuarat yang dipengerusikan oleh Presiden PAS itu memutuskan, PAS akan telibat sepenuhnya dengan usaha itu dan akan menghantar pemimpin paling kanan untuk semua mesyuarat dengan pemimpin Pakatan.

Kalau sebelum ini, mesyuarat Pakatan banyak diwakilkan kepada pemimpin junior dalam PAS, mesyuarat itu memutuskan semua mesyuarat selepas ini akan disertai oleh pemimpin paling senior dalam PAS.

Lima pemimpin yang terpilih adalah Presiden, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, timbalannya, Nasharudin Mat Isa, naib-naib presiden, Datuk Husam Musa dan Mohamad Sabu di samping Setiausaha Agung Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar.

Siasah dalam keluaran lalu membuat laporan utama tentang masalah perbezaan pendapat yang ketara dalam PAS dengan tajuk muka depannya "PAS: Selesaikan perbezaan segera".

Laporan itu memberikan amaran, jika pimpinan PAS tidak berbuat sesuatu, parti itu bakal menghadapi krisis dalam yang ketara.

Ia berkaitan dengan pembentukan kerajaan baru yang dipimpin Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Sebahagian pemimpin PAS setuju manakala sebahagian lagi ragu-ragu.

-SIASAH

Olimpik 2012: "Tandas di London tidak akan mengadap kiblat" Penganjur

LONDON: Para penganjur Sukan Olimpik London telah membentangkan beberapa syarat reka bentuk bagi prasarana sukan yang bakal diadakan pada 2012 itu.

Ini termasuk menetapkan agar tandas yang dibina di Taman Olimpik London tidak akan dibina menghadap Makkah.

Pihak Berkuasa Pembentangan Olimpik (ODA) mahukan reka bentuk dan rangka kerja pembinaan menghasilkan lokasi sesuai untuk semua golongan pelbagai kebudayaan, kepercayaan, usia dan mesra pengguna cacat untuk kejohanan Olimpik 2012 dan seterusnya.

Jurucakap ODA memberi jaminan 'tandas tidak akan dibina menghadap Makkah'.

Namun, bilangan tandas serupa itu belum disahkan.

Kemudahan membasuh khas disambung ke bilik solat juga dirancang dibina di taman berkenaan, yang bakal terletak di timur London.

ODA berharap ia akan menetapkan tanda aras baru Britain bagi ruang berkerusi roda dan tempat duduk selesa.

Laluan di arena sukan selalunya terlalu curam bagi pengguna kerusi roda dan bagi mengatasi masalah itu, laluan lebih landai dibina dengan keluasan lebih dan permukaan lebih licin.

Kemudahan tandas termasuk kawasan khas bagi membolehkan warga tua yang cacat menukar keperluan, termasuk kawasan bagi bayi juga akan dibina.

Tahun lalu, beribu-ribu paun sterling wang pembayar cukai digunakan bagi memastikan tandas di penjara Brixton di London tidak menghadap kiblat.

Pegawai penjara terpaksa mengalihkan tandas 90 darjah setelah para banduan Islam mengadu mereka terpaksa duduk senget di atas tandas kerana tidak mahu menghadap kiblat semasa membuang air.

-KLpos.com

Can Najib overcome Altantuya, NEP?

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak may feel a sense of

MCPX

deja vu as the high-profile sedition trial of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin begins, renewing nationwide attention on the murder of a beautiful Mongolian national two years ago.

He awaits a key decision by tomorrow from his boss Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that is expected to sweep him to power.

However, the spectre of Altantuya Shaariibuu could haunt his campaign to win the Umno presidency and, by convention, inherit the premiership by next March.

“It is a cloud over him,” Ramon Navaratnam, chairperson of the Asian Strategic Leadership Institute, told Malaysiakini.

“There is no doubt that he has the political acumen, the management and administration skills. But here we are dealing with perceptions - that there is no smoke without fire. So until the smoke (disappears), people will keep asking questions and there will be doubt.”

Raja Petra - or RPK as he is better known - is the editor of popular portal Malaysia Today. In an article posted in April entitled ‘Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell’, he allegedly implied that Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor were involved in her death. Both have repeatedly denied this.

Najib, 55, has also denied any sexual relationship with the 28-year-old interpreter. He has sworn his innocence on the Quran twice - during a closed-door Umno meeting and again in August at the height of the Permatang Pauh by-election tussle with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"Even though this is not an official oath on the Quran: Wallahi, Wabillahi, Watallahi, I never knew nor had anything to do with the Mongolian woman Altantuya," the New Straits Times had quoted Najib as having pledged at the Masjid Jamek Guar Perahu on Aug 22.

Not The Only One

But Najib is not the only one among the current crop of top leaders in Malaysia facing allegations of a sex scandal.

Arch-rival Anwar has been accused of sodomising his former personal aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan and is being prosecuted for committing unnatural sex. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge countering that it was trumped up by the Umno-led government and that Najib has played a lead role in the conspiracy to kill his political comeback.

The opposition icon, who has claimed that he can wrest control of the federal government, is expected to lead a vote of no confidence against Abdullah when Parliament reconvenes on Monday.

His Pakatan Rakyat alliance won 82 of the 222 parliamentary seats during national polls held in March. He needs at least another 31 seats to overturn the majority currently held by Barisan Nasional and has been trying to woo government backbenchers to his side.

If Anwar garners enough support to push through the vote, he would very likely head the new government. That would instantly scupper Najib’s hopes of becoming prime minister even if he wins the Umno presidency.

“I think there is still a lot of uncertainty. I think it is still possible for a change in government to take place. There are a couple of things that could however derail (Anwar), the implied use of the ISA against him and the sodomy charge,” said Jacob Ramsay, Southeast Asia political analyst for Singapore-based Control Risks Group.

Within Umno, Najib’s only competition for the No 1 post so far is Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is making his third attempt to be party president. But party watchers believe the real race has yet to begin and other candidates may later emerge to give Najib and Razaleigh a run for their money.

Abdullah has promised to reveal by tomorrow if he will defend his post. Pundits are already predicting the 68-year-old will call it a day, clearing the way for his deputy to declare his interest in the topmost post.

Najib’s supporters continue to worry that the RPK sedition trial and the inevitable airing of dirty laundry could dampen his chances of following in the footsteps of his father and second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein and Hussein Onn, his uncle and the third prime minister.

Political Pedigree

An economist by training, Najib was thrust onto the political stage at the age of 22 when his father died.

Abdul Razak has been revered in Umno for introducing the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1971, a social and economic restructuring plan that protects and benefits the Malays, although abuses in its implementation have sidelined many within the ethnic group as well as other races..

Ironically, Najib may have to be the one to dismantle the prized NEP. According to experts, the core reason for BN’s worst-ever performance in the 12th general election was due to voters’ frustration with the ruling coalition’s refusal to discard race-based, divide-and-rule politics.

Many political watchers believe that racial polarisation has increased over the years, due mainly to abuses in the implementation of the NEP and use of the ‘Malay supremacy’ plank to which Umno leaders have clung to maintain political dominance.

“It will not last, it will cause further disharmony. In 1969, 1970, they wanted to burn KL. What could they lose, they asked? But if they burn KL now, they would lose their own homes and assets. Nobody is going to gain, others will exert pressure, the world is watching,” Navaratnam said.

On May 13, 1969, racial riots broke out in Kuala Lumpur when Malays - fearing the rise of other races would be at their expense - clashed with Chinese and Indian Malaysians.

The bloodshed was sparked after the Umno-led Alliance (predecessor of BN) suffered heavy electoral losses to a multi-racial opposition. It was Najib’s father who led the calls for the country’s first premier Tunku Abdul Rahman to take responsibility and he duly resigned in 1970.

Meanwhile, fearful that history may repeat itself, BN component-parties - MCA, MIC and Gerakan - have called for change. Gerakan, the most vocal among the group, has even threatened to pull out if Umno - which still calls the shots - does not agree to share power.

The electoral backlash, which has ripped away chunks of Abdullah’s credibility and political standing, spurred Najib to say over the weekend: “If we don’t have the courage to change, then people will change us.”

Said Navaratnam: “His father was his great teacher. But he has to show he can rise above politicking at Umno and at the BN level. He has to lead and not be led. Do what is best for the country in the long term and not what is good for politics in the short term.”

4 Kali Masuk Lokap

harini aku berbual dengan seorang kawan yang hidupnya 4 kali masuk lokap.

1st time masuk lokap kira-kira umur belasan tahun , merempit.
masa mula-mula masuk, bodoh, excited.
hehe, sampai dalam lokap kena belasah secukup rasa dengan penghuni senior.

kali kedua masuk dah pandai. selamat sejahtera.
kali ketiga dan keempat pon tiada masalah.

peraturan pertama masuk lokap-lokap besar untuk first timer terutamanya di IPD.
ini kerana , di IPD sahaja mempunyai lokap-lokap yang penghuninya berbulan-bulan.

1. selit duit sepuluh ringgit celah punggung.
2. beri salam masuk tempat orang.
3. bertanya, siapa penghulu di lokap berkenaan.
4. beri duit yang di selit di celah punggung pada penghulu berkenaan.

nescaya, para penghuni lain akan fikir bahawa kita sudah biasa masuk lokap.
dan kita adalah "somebody" walaupun sebenarnya itu first time berada di dalam.
ini bagi mengelakkan di tendang mahupun di tujah di bahagian anal.

-lidah

Semua Ketua Cawangan Bakal Tanding Kerusi TP ameno

Ketua Umno Cawangan Kampung Ubai, Pekan, Mohammad Hanapi Salleh mengumumkan hasrat bertanding jawatan Naib Presiden pada pemilihan parti Mac tahun depan, sekiranya mendapat pencalonan.

Mohammad Hanapi, 53, yang memegang jawatan Ketua Umno cawangan itu sejak 32 tahun lepas berkata pertandingan dalam parti mencerminkan demokrasi masih hidup di dalam Umno dan ia merupakan satu perkembangan positif.

-DEPA KATA

TP - Ini sudah bagosss... makin ramai nak "berkhidmat" wakhakhakhakhakhakha... aku ingat nak list down berapa orang yang nak tanding... sampai tahap ni aku rasa tak larat pulak nak buat list sebab ramai sangat yang nak tanding...

Kena tukar format list pulak... apa kata kita list down sape yang tak nak tanding... wakhakhakha...

"Sedekah" seks: JAIP tubuh jawatankuasa siasatan esok

PETALING JAYA: Jabatan Agama Islam Perak (JAIP) akan mengadakan satu mesyuarat khas esok bagi membentuk satu jawatankuasa siasatan bagi menyiasat kes skandal seks yang melibatkan bekas Ahli Majlis Daerah Perak Tengah (MDPT), Zul Hassan.

Pengarahnya, Datuk Jamry Sury berkata pada mesyuarat esok pihaknya akan membincangkan cara terbaik bagi mewujudkan bidang tugas tertentu dalam menangani kes tersebut.

"Esok kita juga akan menentukan kaedah yang sesuai untuk kita mengumpulkan maklumat daripada sumber-sumber yang berkaitan," katanya kepada mStar Online.

Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas perkembangan terkini mengenai kes ahli Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) itu yang meminta JAIP menyiasat dan mengambil tindakan ke atas orang tertentu yang telah memfitnah, menghina dan menganiayanya kerana didakwa terlibat dalam skandal seks membabitkan wanita dari China.

Zul mencetuskan kontroversi apabila menyamakan habuan seks dengan sedekah setelah mendakwa dirinya diperangkap oleh Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR).

-mSTAR Online