Tsu Koon accepts public debate with Guan Eng, with two conditions

PENANG, Aug 4 -- Provided two conditions are fulfilled, former Penang chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon will accept an open debate with his successor, Lim Guan Eng, on a land issue involving RM40 million.

The Gerakan acting president wants Lim to ensure a truly fair debate and to protect the interest of the state in a pending court hearing on the case.

"The condition is not an excuse to avoid or delay the debate but it is important because some of the points raised in the debate may jeopardise the state government's position in the court hearing," he said in the statement here Monday.

However, he said the chief minister's office and the state government's various departments must be declassified and made available to him to enable the debate to proceed fairly.

"I cannot remember the specific facts and dates related to the case although I can still recall roughly the basic aspects of this case," said Dr Koh, adding that such information was needed by both sides to prepare for arguments in the debate.

He said Lim must inform him and the public on the date fixed for the court hearing on the previous state government's appeal to reduce the amount claimed by the plaintiff in the case.

"The debate can only take place after the conclusion of the court hearing. Irrespective of who eventually wins the debate, the important thing is that both parties should try, by all means, to reduce the amount claimed from the state government," added Dr Koh.

For the record, both men faced each other in an open debate in the 1990s, at the Penang Chinese Town Hall when both were still youth chiefs of their respective parties.

-TMB

Sodomy II as an election campaign? No thank you, says Penang Umno

(UPDATE)SEBERANG JAYA, Aug 5 — What will Umno leaders do to prevent Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from returning to Parliament through the upcoming Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election?

Although to some of them, the Sodomy II allegations seem to be the likely answer, Penang Umno leaders are hesitant to admit whether they would play up the issue during the election campaign period.

Penang opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim, who is also the state Umno secretary, assured voters that he would not use the new sodomy allegations against Anwar for the Barisan Nasional election campaign.

"Personally I will not use the allegation while campaigning. But I cannot guarantee others would not use it. During the campaign, not only Umno members from Penang will be here," he told The Malaysian Insider.

He said the state BN would resort to a clean election campaign to ensure a fair victory for the federal ruling coalition.

He was confident of wresting the seat despite the odds of having to contest in Parti Keadilan Rakyat's stronghold.

PKR de facto leader Anwar was the MP since 1982 until he was sacked and jailed in 1998. His wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail took over a year later and held the seat until her resignation last week to make way for her husband to contest the by-election.

All signs point to Permatang Pauh.

"Let the court decide on the sodomy issue," said Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid.

He said Umno election machinery was prepared to face Anwar as the party had already expected Wan Azizah to vacate the seat.

Abdul Jalil, however, dare not predict the outcome of the by-election. "I leave it to God."

He was the BN candidate for the Penanti state seat under the Permatang Pauh constituency who lost to PKR's Mohd Fairus Khairudin, who is now Penang deputy chief minister.

"I have offered myself for the seat but even if I'm not selected to be the candidate, I'll work hard to ensure BN's victory. Let the leaders decide on candidates; I am a party worker and I will work hard," he added.

Another Permatang Pauh Umno leader, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah, who is among the 11 all-Umno opposition representatives in the 40-member state assembly, is confident that Anwar can be defeated.

"We have ways to convince the people to vote for BN. Voters have realised that the Pakatan Rakyat is only good with promises but have yet to deliver them," said the two-term Seberang Jaya state assemblyman.

He was also disappointed with Wan Azizah's resignation merely to allow her husband to contest, saying that there was no need for the by-election because "this is the time to serve the people".

He too agreed that the Sodomy II allegations should be separated from the by-election campaign and be left to the relevant authorities.

Despite the Umno leaders' assurance, some PKR leaders are not convinced as they are expecting a dirty election campaign.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they come up with doctored pictures of Datuk Seri Anwar," said Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin, who warned the opponent to play it clean because the by-election would be watched closely by many quarters.

He added that the by-election would be a chance for the government to prove that democratic principles are respected.

State Exco member Abdul Malik Kassim, who also Batu Maung assemblyman, is also convinced the BN would exploit the sodomy allegations.

"I believe it is going to be used as they have no other issues. But we are not worried as we have more important issues to highlight," he said.

Both the PKR representatives are confident of their leader's victory but admit that they have to work harder to fend off an all-out BN political onslaught.

For local resident Marok Mastan, 35, he is confident of Anwar's victory. He too believes that the sodomy allegations would be the highlight of the BN's campaign.

"But I personally don't believe in these allegations," said the self-employed Permatang Pauh voter.

Another voter Raymond Lee, 43, is not interested at all in Sodomy II, claiming that he did not even read about it the newspapers or on the Internet.

"My only concern is the sluggish stock market. I don't know whether I will have enough for my retirement. I think some changes are necessary," he added.

He only offered a smile when asked who he would likely vote for.

-TMI

Anwar case: Police ‘won't act before DNA Bill is passed’

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is unlikely to be arrested until a new DNA Bill is passed in Parliament later this month, according to influential daily Nanyang Siang Pau on Sunday.

Speculation had been rife that Anwar would be arrested and charged with sodomy last week, after it was reported that police investigations were complete. But nothing has materialised.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the investigation papers were being handled by Solicitor-General Datuk Idrus Harun.

The cautious move not to arrest Anwar suggested that the police were treading carefully. Quoting unnamed sources, Nanyang said the police had gathered enough evidence, but still lacked the DNA sample.

The police could not be contacted on Sunday for comment.

Anwar, accused of sodomy by his 23-year-old former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan, has refused to give his DNA sample on fears that it could be manipulated.

Under current laws, the police cannot force anyone to give a blood sample. That will change once the DNA Identification Bill is passed. The Bill makes it illegal for anyone to refuse DNA testing in criminal cases.

It was initially expected to be tabled in December, but Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said last month that the ministry will try to table the Bill this month.

This resulted in the government having to deflect accusations that it was fast-tracking the Bill in order to nail Anwar. Officials said the police had wanted the Bill tabled since last year, as a DNA data bank would help solve cases.

Tian Chua, information chief of Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat, remains unconvinced of the Bill's urgency.

“I don't see why it's so urgent to push through this law. Even if the police has the law behind them, it's obvious they're rushing it to go after one man,” he told The Straits Times yesterday.

Nanyang also reported that the police will not move against Anwar while he is contesting the by-election in Permatang Pauh, so that they will not be accused of not allowing a fair contest.

However, the newspaper noted that if the former deputy premier is convicted of the charges after becoming an MP, he will lose his post.

-TMI

Samy Vellu Baru Perasan...

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Ogos (Bernama) -- Draf Pelan Struktur untuk membangunkan Kuala Lumpur sehingga 2020 mempunyai kecacatan dan perlu diperbaiki, kata Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

"Pelannya antara lain mencatat bahawa Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur hanya mempunyai kira-kira 160,000 masyarakat kaum India. Saya dapati ini agak aneh. Kami mempunyai kira-kira 80,000 pengundi berdaftar kaum India di Kuala Lumpur.

"Sekiranya satu keluarga mempunyai dua orang anak dan sekiranya kita darab dengan empat (termasuk dua ibu bapa), angkanya akan mencatat terdapat sebanyak 320,000 masyarakat India. Macam mana pula dengan masyarakat India yang tidak mendaftar sebagai pengundi.

"Oleh itu draf tersebut perlu diperbaiki sebelum ia menjadi polisi," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri taklimat draf tersebut oleh konsultan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) di ibu pejabat MIC di sini, Isnin.

"Kami telah mengkaji pelan drafnya dan kami akan mengemukakan pelan cadangan kami sendiri kepada Dewan Bandaraya. Antara isu yang dibangkitkan ialah mengenai penghijrahan setinggan ke flat kos murah, kemudahan di flat murah, kewujudan Sekolah Tamil dan nasib pemilik tanah," katanya.

Pak Lebai bernama TV3

Mutakhir ni, disebabkan aku tak tahu nak buat apa di rumah, maka jam 8 malam, aku pun layanlah Buletin Utama. Ada dua perkara yang membuatkan aku terkejut hingga hampir aku masuk UMNO apabila aku menonton rancangan sitcom ni.

Pertama - setiap slot dalam sitcom ni dah ada penaja tersendiri. Slot berita dalam negeri ditaja oleh Petronas (mestilah, nak bagitau yang Petronas ni milik negara). Berita luar negeri ditaja oleh Bank Islam (nak tunjukkan kerajaan Malaysia ni masih Islam dan peka kepada masalah saudara di Palestin). Sukan pula ditaja oleh LG (sebab sukan dah jadi hiburan di Malaysia ni).

Kedua - sejak akhir-akhir ni aku perasan, sitcom ni dah masukkan dakwah-dakwah Islamiah. Pada Israk Mikraj yang lalu, tiba-tiba sitcom ni bertukar kepada rancangan agama Hal Ehwal Islam. Aku ingatkan ada berita yang mengatakan haiwan syurga bernama bura' tu ditemui. Akan tetapi, menerangkan apakah itu Israk Mikraj. Kemudian, tadi, dilaporkan berita kemalangan motosikal dan statistiknya. Sempat lagi pemberita tu nasihatkan supaya penunggang motosikal memakai topi keledar dan jangan lupa baca doa naik kenderaan! Hahahaha sejak bila TV3 ni masuk Islam? Apa nama Islam kepada TV3 ni - Haji 'Ta' 'Va' Al-Salasa? Hahahaha

Hey, kalian jangan salah faham. Aku tidak menghina Islam di sini. Aku cuma terkejut, betul-betul aku tak sangka. Bagi aku, baguslah usaha TV3 ni nak berdakwah sampai dalam rancangan sitcom Buletin Utama pun nak berdakwah. Ini baru betul-betul sitcom! Tapi, apakah yang menggerakkan hati hitam TV3 ni kepada cahaya kudus? Adakah TV3 ni dah sampai ke Gunung Sinai bertemu Allah? Ataupun, TV3 ditegur oleh Amy Search dan Sheila Rusly?

Kalian jangan fikir TV3 dah pergi Haji 3 kali, dan umrah 109 kali lalu mereka tergerak hati nak sampaikan dakwah. Tidak... Ini bukan soalnya. Soalnya di sini ialah dakwah TV3 ni samalah dengannya sebagai propaganda politik UMNO. Perhatikan betul-betul ya. UMNO hari ini tidak lagi membicarakan soal Melayu. UMNO hari ini sudah mula membicarakan soal ummah (samalah tu dengannya Melayu/Islam). Ini semua adalah umpan untuk memancing pengundi PAS. UMNO tahu, PAS tidak akan layan jika memperkatakan tentang nasib Melayu. Lalu di sini, UMNO terus menukar umpannya - perpaduan ummah. Ini semua taktik UMNO untuk mendapatkan kembali tanah dan fail-fail mereka yang kini di tangan Pakatan Rakyat. UMNO hari ini tidak bermain isu Melayu ditindas Cina, tetapi isu Islam diancam kafir! Hahahaha lawak, lawak...

Kalian harus berhati-hati dengan permainan UMNO yang baru ni. Segala taktik dan lakonan mereka ni akan terus-menerus menyerang pemikiran pakcik dan makcik di Kampung Sungai Korok. Isu agama adalah isu sensitif yang tak boleh dipermainkan di Malaysia ni kerana termaktub dalam perlembagaan - agama rasmi Malaysia ialah Islam (padahal perlembagaan pertama di dunia - Piagam Madinah, langsung tidak meletakkan Islam sebagai agama rasmi). Jadi apabila Pak Lebai TV3 ni memutarkan ayat-ayat Quran dan Hadis, maka manusia Sikh Karpal Singh dan manusia Buddha Lim Guan Eng dan manusia Hindu Sivarasa takut untuk mempersoalkan tentang Islam. Jika mereka mempersoalkan tentang Islam, maka seluruh penganut Islam akan melenting! Inilah yang UMNO mahukan! UMNO ingin membuktikan bahawa hanya UMNO sahajalah parti Melayu yang dirahmati Allah! Jika UMNO dapat dapat bergabung dengan PAS, maka mereka bukan saja dirahmati, malah 'confirm' masuk syurga! Hahahahaha...

Mungkin ada yang akan kata aku ni anti-Melayu dan ejen memporak-perandakan perpaduan di antara kaum. Tidak, aku tidak bermaksud untuk itu. Aku anti-perkauman! Habislah prinsip aku sebagai penganut kepercayaan Monotheis jika aku memecah-belahkan umat manusia. Tindakan UMNO mengislamkan TV3 itulah yang akan memporak-perandakan perpaduan. Percayalah. Kita, manusia di muka bumi bukanlah hamba kepada raja-raja, tetapi kita semua adalah hamba kepada Allah Ta'ala, Tuhan yang Maha Esa.

Tapi, kalau niat Haji TV3 ni betul, telus lagi integriti, tulus dan ikhlas kerana Allah Ta'ala, apa salahnya. Teruskanlah usaha murnimu itu.

-riang riang

Racial taunts spark protests by Indians in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: About 500 angry ethic-Indians on Monday staged a protest outside a school demanding action against a teacher who allegedly hurled racial slurs against students from the community in western Malaysia's Selangaon state.

According to the police report, a woman history teacher had allegedly called Indian students in a Class four and five 'Negro', 'black monkeys' and other derogatory names.

The crowd began gathering outside the Banting school's main entrance near here at noon and staged a protest for two hours.

The teacher had also allegedly said that the community members were stupid and prone to thievery, the Star daily reported on its website.

The alleged incidents took place on July 17 and 22 when the teacher had allegedly beaten up some Indians students.

A students also alleged in his report that the teacher had written the word 'keling pariah' on the board and lost her cool when the Indian students told her that they did not like being called names, it said.

Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George, who was among the protesters, said such abuse would only breed hatred and racial polarisation in schools.

"No one in his or her right frame of mind would have said these things. Given this, the best option would be for the teacher to be assigned to a desk job and not be allowed to be near youngsters anymore," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong said the schoolteacher might be sacked if the allegations proved true. "The allegations were serious as no one was allowed to insult others, especially in a school environment," said Wee, who was asked to comment.

The ministry was awaiting an official report before taking any action, he added.

-THE TIMES OF INDIA

Najib: Umno perlu letak Beruk di Permatang Pauh

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno perlu meletakkan calon pada pilihan raya kecil Permatang Pauh bagi memberi keadilan dan pilihan kepada pengundi kawasan itu untuk memilih wakil mereka, kata Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata walaupun tidak menafikan akan ada yang menang dan ada yang kalah, "kita mesti memaparkan pilihan kepada pengundi di Permatang Pauh."

Timbalan Presiden Umno itu berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menutup program sehari "Wanita Bersama Pemimpin" di sini hari ini.

Beliau ditanya mengenai cadangan dua pemimpin Umno supaya Barisan Nasional memboikot pilihan raya kecil itu yang diadakan berikutan anggota Parlimennya Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, yang juga Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) meletakkan jawatan pada 31 Julai lepas bagi memberi laluan kepada suaminya Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang merupakan penasihat parti itu bertanding.

Sebelum ini dua pemimpin Umno Tan Sri Annuar Musa dan Datuk Dr Abdul Latif Ahmad mencadangkan BN memboikot pilihan raya kecil itu kerana ia dianggap membazirkan wang, dan tindakan Anwar itu hanya strategi politik bagi mengelak daripada tuduhan liwat.

Najib berkata pandangan keduadua pemimpin itu hanya merupakan pandangan peribadi mereka dan Umno "akan buat pertimbangan dalam sedikit masa lagi mengenai hal ini."

Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) akan bermesyuarat Rabu ini untuk menetapkan tarikh penamaan calon dan pengundian pilihan raya kecil itu.

-mSTAR Online

TP - aku setuju sangat dengan Pak Najib C4 ni...aku syorkan supaya Pak Najib letak calon yang aku cadangkan ni kat Permatang Pauh untuk mewakili UMNO/BN...bagi aku kat Malaysia ni dah tak de calon lain dah yang layak mewakili UMNO/BN...ni kira muktamad la ni...terimalah...

UMNO Anjur EXPO Gaduh, Pukul & Rasuah.

(Dikemas kini) PETALING JAYA: Umno yang mengadakan mesyuarat tahunan peringkat cawangan sejak dua minggu lalu dicemari dengan siri pergaduhan dan gejala politik wang di seluruh negara ketika pengurusan parti berusaha untuk mengawal budaya kurang sihat daripada berleluasa.

Insiden terbaru melibatkan Bahagian Kota Tinggi di Johor, Bahagian Gopeng di Ipoh dan negeri Selangor melibatkan kawasan bekas Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo.

Presiden Umno dan Timbalan Presiden Umno turut memberi perhatian berhubung perkembangan tersebut.

Di KOTA TINGGI, polis menerima lima laporan mengenai kejadian pergaduhan dalam mesyuarat agung beberapa cawangan Umno dalam Bahagian Kota Tinggi.

Ketua Polis Daerah Kota Tinggi, Supt Osman Mohd Sebot yang mengesahkan tentang kejadian pergaduhan itu hari ini berkata, polis menyiasat satu daripada laporan itu mengikut Seksyen 323 Kanun Keseksaan kerana menyebabkan kecederaan dengan sengaja.

Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar yang juga Ketua Umno Bahagian itu dilaporkan oleh akhbar hari ini sebagai berkata, penjalanan mesyuarat cawangan kali ini adalah yang terburuk dan dibayangi dengan unsur-unsur "kemaruk kuasa."

Syed Hamid, yang telah mendapat 10 pencalonan, dijangka menghadapi saingan sengit dalam pemilihan kali ini daripada bekas naib ketua bahagian itu Daing A.Malik Daing A.Rahman yang telah mendapat 13 pencalonan setakat ini.

KOMEN PEMIMPIN UMNO SEMALAM & HARI INI.

• Anggota Majlis Tertinggi Umno, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar mendakwa pelbagai cara digunakan di dalam pertandingan sengit merebut jawatan di dalam parti pada masa ini, termasuk politik wang, makihamun dan ancaman.
  Syed Hamid, yang juga Menteri Dalam Negeri berkata, perkara-perkara negatif yang berlaku pada ketika ini diibaratkan seperti "penyakit barah" yang boleh menghancurkan Umno.
  
• Mengulas mengenai seorang calon Ketua Umno Seremban yang ditahan BPR kerana disyaki terbabit dalam sogokan wang untuk mengundinya pada mesyuarat cawangan, Timbalan Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata Umno akan mengkaji bentuk tindakan terhadap mereka yang didakwa oleh Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) berhubung sogokan wang kepada ahli pada mesyuarat cawangan parti itu yang sedang berlangsung sekarang.
  Kata beliau, selain penguatkuasaan undang-undang rasuah menerusi BPR, Umno menerusi Lembaga Disiplinnya juga akan menangani isu politik wang berkenaan.
  
• Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, perjalanan kempen itu akan dipantau ibu pejabat Umno.
  "Keputusan kita pada peringkat pengurusan ialah supaya perjalanan mesyuarat cawangan dan bahagian serta kempenkempen pemilihan nanti akan diawasi oleh ibu pejabat Umno.
  "Ibu pejabat Umno mempunyai pembantupembantu yang secukupnya untuk memberi perhatian kepada perkara ini khususnya kepada kegiatan yang boleh membawa kepada apa dianggap melanggar etika parti," katanya

DI IPOH, seorang anggota jawatankuasa (AJK) Umno Cawangan Pernas Charter Management (PCM) Bahagian Gopeng cedera di kedua-dua kaki akibat dipukul dengan kayu golf selepas seorang rakannya tidak berpuas hati berhubung pencalonan jawatan Timbalan Ketua Umno Bahagian itu semalam.

Mangsa, Abdullah Abdul Hamid, 44, yang menyertai Umno sejak 1985, menerima rawatan sebagai pesakit luar Hospital Permaisuri Bainun.

Abdullah berkata, selepas selesai mesyuarat, pukul 4.30 petang, beliau yang singgah di
Batu Gajah didatangi seorang lelaki yang tidak berpuas hati apabila abangnya yang juga setiausaha Umno Bahagian Gopeng tidak dicalonkan cawangan PCM untuk bertanding timbalan ketua Umon bahagian itu.

Lelaki itu yang juga AJK Umno cawangan Kampung Pisang itu naik berang lalu mengeluarkan sebatang kayu golf dari keretanya lalu memukul Abdullah, katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Sidang akhbar itu turut dihadiri Ketua Umno Cawangan PCM Hishamuddin Abdul Rahman.

Abdullah yang bekerja sebagai Eksekutif Tekun Nasional di sini kemudian berlari untuk menyelamatkan diri dan dibantu oleh orang ramai untuk mendapatkan rawatan di hospital Bainun sebelum membuat laporan di Balai Polis Batu Gajah.

Jurucakap Balai Polis Batu Gajah ketika dihubungi mengesahkan laporan yang dibuat oleh Abdullah.

Empat calon dijangka bertanding bagi merebut jawatan Ketua Umno bahagian itu selepas bekas ketuanya Datuk Seri Abdul Shamsuddin mengumumkan untuk melepaskan jawatan itu baru-baru ini.

Sementara itu, Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) hari ini mengesahkan ada menerima beberapa laporan berhubung kes rasuah dalam pemilihan cawangan dan bahagian Umno.

Ketua Pengarah BPR, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan berkata BPR sedang melakukan siasatan terhadap laporan itu.

"Kita ada terima laporan ...tapi tak banyaklah, sejumlah kecil saja. Kita sedang mengambil tindakan sewajarnya," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis perhimpunan bulanan Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai penahanan calon Ketua Umno Bahagian Seremban Mohd Nor Awang oleh BPR kerana disyaki memberi sogokan wang kepada seorang anggota Umno untuk mengundinya pada mesyuarat cawangan.

Ahmad Said menjelaskan definisi rasuah tidak berdasarkan kepada jumlahnya, asalkan ia dapat mempengaruhi keputusan pemilihan.

Beliau juga berkata, setiap aduan kepada BPR perlu disertakan dengan bukti dan fakta.

"Berikan kepada kami fakta yang benar dan kami akan ambil tindakan," katanya.

Ahmad Said berkata, BPR mendapat kerjasama yang baik daripada orang ramai dalam usaha membanteras rasuah.

"Anda dapat lihat sekarang ini kita menerima maklumat yang betul dan bernas daripada orang ramai dan ini menunjukkan satu perubahan baru... kita harap sokongan ini berterusan untuk samasama menentukan kesejahteraan rakyat Malaysia," katanya.

Di SUNGAI BESAR, Ketua Pemuda Umno Cawangan Belia 1, Mohd Zaki Sungib telah dipanggil memberikan keterangan kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) berhubung dakwaan berlaku amalan rasuah pada mesyuarat cawangan Umno Bahagian Sungai Besar baru-baru ini.

Mohd Zaki berkata, beliau mengambil masa kira-kira empat jam memberi keterangan di Ibu Pejabat BPR, Putrajaya bermula pukul 10 malam tadi.

Pada sidang akhbar di pejabatnya di sini hari ini, beliau berkata, tiga lagi anggota Umno cawangan itu turut dipanggil memberikan keterangan.

"BPR memerlukan maklumat berikutan desas-desus berlaku sogokan wang dalam proses pencalonan semasa mesyuarat cawangan-cawangan yang bermula sejak 19 Julai lalu.

"Setahu saya, setakat ini tiada mana-mana pihak membuat laporan rasmi kepada BPR mengenai perkara ini," katanya.

Mohd Zaki, 39, yang merupakan seorang usahawan tani sebelum ini menyatakan hasrat bertanding jawatan Ketua Umno Bahagian Sungai Besar yang disandang bekas Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

Sehingga kini, beliau belum menerima sebarang pencalonan setelah lebih 30 daripada 107 cawangan Umno Bahagian Sungai Besar bermesyuarat. Sekurang-kurangnya 21 pencalonan diperlukan bagi melayakkan beliau untuk bertanding pada pemilihan peringkat bahagian Oktober ini.

Sementara itu, Dr. Mohamad Khir ketika dihubungi mengesahkan ada meminta BPR memantau perjalanan setiap mesyuarat cawangan di bahagian itu berikutan menerima aduan daripada beberapa ketua cawangan yang khuatir berlakunya politik wang.

-mSTAR Online

Pesta Rasuah Menjelang Perhimpunan Agung UMNO

PETALING JAYA: Gejala politik wang yang berlaku di kalangan ahli Umno sekitar pemilihan di peringkat cawangan menunjukkan segelintir ahli parti itu masih tidak belajar daripada kesilapan lalu.

Pemerhati politik, Profesor Dr. Chandra Muzaffar berkata, mereka yang masih mengamalkan politik wang untuk meraih undi supaya dipilih mewakili cawangan ini tidak mengambil iktibar daripada keputusan pilihan raya umum ke-12 pada 8 Mac lalu.

“Pilihan raya baru berlangsung lima bulan yang lalu dan keputusannya ternyata tidak menunjukkan kesan yang baik kepada Umno tetapi mereka masih lakukannya (politik wang) walaupun mereka sedar, ia adalah salah satu punca yang membawa kejatuhan parti,” katanya kepada mStar Online hari ini.

Chandra berkata, amalan politik wang dilihat sudah menjadi darah daging di kalangan ahli-ahli parti itu terutama menjelang sesuatu pemilihan.

“Mereka ini boleh diibaratkan seperti perokok dan penagih dadah... terlalu ketagih untuk melakukannya demi kuasa dan kalau sudah namanya ketagihan. Ia memang tidak dapat dipisahkan,” katanya.

Katanya lagi, amalan politik wang yang tidak berkesudahan ini tidak mustahil akan dimainkan oleh parti pembangkang termasuk Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) pada pilihan raya kecil Permatang Pauh akan datang.

Sementara itu, pensyarah sains politik Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Madya Dr. Ghazali Mahyuddin berkata, amalan politik wang dalam Umno bukanlah hal yang mudah untuk diselesaikan walaupun ada usaha untuk membasmi gejala itu daripada terus menular di kalangan ahli.

“Memang ada usaha untuk membasminya tetapi tidak menampakkan perubahan besar-besaran berlaku.

“Memang ada laporan dibuat (berhubung politik wang) tetapi ia baru sedikit. Mungkin ada banyak lagi yang tidak dilaporkan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, walaupun mereka tahu amalan itu salah tetapi enggan menghindarinya kerana ramai yang beranggapan jika mereka tidak melakukannya, harapan untuk menang pada pemilihan adalah tipis.

“Selain itu, mereka juga fikir kalau mereka tidak melakukannya, orang lain akan tetap lakukan. Justeru, mereka menganggap tidak salah jika mereka melakukannya,” katanya.

Sementara itu, pensyarah sains politik Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Faruk berkata, amalan politik wang di kalangan ahli Umno akan mencemarkan nama parti itu di mata rakyat.

“Walaupun dalam pilihan raya lalu, politik wang atau rasuah ini merupakan salah satu isu yang dimainkan pembangkang tetapi apa yang berlaku hari ini tidak menunjukkan yang Umno telah melalui proses perubahan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, amalan politik wang merupakan perkara biasa dalam parti lebih-lebih lagi parti pemerintah seperti Umno kerana mereka selalunya menjanjikan ganjaran berbentuk material kepada para pengundi.

“Berlainan dengan parti pembangkang, walaupun perebutan jawatan tetap berlaku, kebanyakan mereka menjanjikan ganjaran berbentuk ideologi, bukan material. Itu bezanya,” katanya.

-mSTAR Online

TP - anjing...kalau dah biase hidu taik...pegi la mana-mana pun...letak la dalam situasi macam mana pun, memang taik jugak yang akan dia carik...lepas PRU12 hari tu aku dengar ramai yang nak ubah UMNO, ramai yang nak perbetulkan UMNO...macam mana nak perbetul kalau sebelum nak perbetul tu hangpa dah buat bende tak betul? aku yang tak betul ke hangpa yang tak betul???...bagi aku la...UMNO memang bangsat...khak ptuih..!

Battle of Permatang Pauh begins...

SEBERANG PERAI (Aug 4, 2008) : A 25-year-old female press photographer was roughed up by some PKR officials while attempting to take pictures of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a ceramah here on last night.

Loh Hoay Hoon of Guang Ming Daily was punched, kicked and held by the neck in the event at the Seberang Jaya expo grounds here.

"I was bewildered and confused," Loh told theSun today.

"All I was doing was taking some shots of Anwar before he left the grounds. I don’t understand why they had attack me like this," she said, choking with tears and still visibly traumatised.

Loh received outpatient treatment at the Seberang Jaya Hospital later, before lodging a report at the Seberang Jaya police station at about 3.15am.

She was taken to the hospital again for an additional check-up late this afternoon.

Loh said afterr the ceramah had ended, she wanted a few shots of Anwar getting into his car.

However, an unidentified man, believed to be an Anwar bodyguard, stopped Loh and pushed her aside, she said.

"I told the man ‘saya hanya buat kerja saya’ (I'm just doing my work)," she said.

She remembered hearing something like "Jangan kacau, jangan buat susah di sini." (Don't disturb, don't cause trouble here.)

Then she found herself being hit and held by the neck by the man and several others, as she was leaving the grounds.

A few other PKR members then tried to hold back the man, apparently to restrain him.

A scuffle then broke out, as the group that attacked Loh and the one that helped her shoved each other and traded insults.

Loh said she was also hit on the back of her head by an unknown assailant.

She said she had had an untoward incident with the same man earlier this year, and had complained to PKR state secretary Abdul Malek Abul Kassim.

"Some reporters have also been pushed by the same individual."

Penang Media Club acting president Zuraida Abdul Rahman condemned the incident.

"All we want to do is just report what happens at a ceramah as it is."

Abdul Malek expressed regret over the behaviour of the official, adding that stern action would be taken by the party to prevent a recurrence.

He explained that security had to be beefed up as there were death threats made against Anwar.

Most party officials who act as guards were PKR members and not trained professionals, he added.

"We really appreciate the job done by members of the media in giving us coverage," he stressed

National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Norila Mohd Daud also condemned the Seberang Perai incident, saying that some members of PKR had become over-protective of Anwar and nobody knows "what is their reason or what is the stand of the party."

On July 15, during the televised debate between Anwar and Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, three photographers were roughed up by security personnel hired by AgendaDaily, the organiser of the debate.

Police reports were lodged, but there has been no response from the police.

TheEdge executive producer Othman Abu Bakar, whose photographer was one of those assaulted, said so far they had been questioned by police on what happened. He wants the police to look into the matter.

-TMB