Harris to Jeffrey -Don't be a chicken

Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh described the conditions - including an international televised audience among others - imposed by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan before agreeing to debate on the issue of "Kuala Lumpur colonising Sabah" as his way of chickening out.

"There is no legal standing needed, it is a normal open public debate between two persons. It is the people who will make their own conclusion after listening to both sides.

"There is no legal authority required for a debate, maybe not even police permit. Therefore, Dr Jeffrey in demanding this and that is a mockery of present day civilisation," said Harris in a statement, Monday.

Dr Jeffrey had said that he (Harris) has no locus standi to debate with him on the issue unless he was appointed by the Federal or State government to do so.

Harris said the challenge thrown by Dr Jeffrey to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman for a public debate on the claim is a very serious matter.

"Therefore, since it is unlikely that the State Government will get involved, I offered myself, instead, to correct any wrong perception.

In the absence of correct and accurate information, which keeps the public guessing with wrong facts, such wrong facts will lead to wrong decisions.

"Over the years and more so recently, there were many allegations and accusations against the Federal Government, including the issuance of identity cards to the illegals.

"Nevertheless, the allegation made by Dr Jeffrey that Sabah is being colonised is the turning point in the history of Sabah in the Federation of Malaysia. This is a United Nation's case. If it is true," he said.

Harris said Sabah is part and parcel of Malaysia, hence it is also part and parcel of the Federal Government.
Sabah has 25 members of Parliament, three senators and has been allocated almost all the time three Federal Minister posts.

He said that based on the parliamentary democracy system, any decision taken by the Federal Government is collective, and it also included the participation of Sabah and Sabahans.

"Surely over these years if any action taken by the Federal Government is contrary to the Constitution and laws made by Parliament, Sabah representatives would have opposed and drawn the attention of the State Government and Sabahans.

"However, all this while not a single Sabah representative in the Federal Government has revealed anything that shows the Federal Government is colonising Sabah.

"It has been over 40 years É everything looks normal and so far so good," he said. But, out of the blue, Harris said Dr Jeffrey claimed that all these while Sabah was being colonised by the Federal Government.
"This is something new and a very serious allegation.

Therefore, and as such, it is important to go to the bottom of the allegation by way of public debate in the interests of Sabahans," he said.

Other conditions and issues raised by Dr Jeffrey were not worth responding, he said, adding it was suffice to say that to solve any problem or issue these days, it cannot be done by just simply dreaming.

"It appears that on his own admission, Dr Jeffrey wanted the international bodies or communities to be involved in the proposed debate, It shows that he adamantly refused to accept the existence of Malaysia as a sovereign and independent country ruled by parliamentary democracy, which is chosen every five years by the people. It is ruled by the majority and it is for the people," he said.

Harris said the proposed debate is an open public debate and anyone can attend including foreigners.
Hopefully, he said the television stations would be attracted to televise the debate live from Kota Kinabalu.
Of course, the public would have the last say as to whether Dr Jeffrey's allegations and accusations have any substance or not, he said.

Harris hoped Dr Jeffrey would forego his "unimaginable conditions and accept the open debate for the benefit of Sabahans."

Sarawak catat kadar miskin tegar bandar tertinggi - Menteri

Seramai 13,125 penduduk kawasan bandar di seluruh negara berada dalam kelompok miskin tegar dengan Sarawak dan Sabah mencatatkan angka tertinggi.

Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan dan Kesejahteraan Bandar, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin berkata, berdasarkan pecahan,Sarawak mencatatkan bilangan miskin tegar bandar sebanyak 4,682 orang manakala Sabah 2,760 orang.

Beliau bagaimanapun berkata, statistik itu hanya berdasarkan status kemiskinan bandar yang berdaftar dalam pangkalan data e-Kasih setakat 14 Mei tahun ini bagi menentukan kadar kemiskinan bandar.

"Hakikatnya, daripada apa yang diperoleh menerusi pendaftaran e-Kasih, Sarawak mencatatkan jumlah miskin tegar bandar teramai," katanya dalam sebuah majlis di Dewan Suarah Miri, pada 25 Mei lalu.

Nong Chik yang juga Timbalan Pengerusi Umno Wilayah Persekutuan bagaimanapun memberitahu rakyat agar jangan menyalahkan dasar kerajaan berhubung statistik itu.

Sebelum ini, Ketua Umum KEADILAN, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menegaskan amalan rasuah yang membelenggu pentadbiran Datuk Seri Najib Razak menjadi faktor besar mengapa sukarnya kemiskinan dibasmi di negara ini.

Anwar memberi contoh bagaimana projek membina istana negara dengan kos awal RM400 juta kini melonjak RM1 bilion di mana RM600 juta itu melonjak kerana untuk diagih kepada kroni Umno.

Sebagai balasan, kroni Umno akan menyalurkan semula beberapa ratus juta dari RM600 juta itu kepada tabung Umno untuk kegunaan parti itu dalam pilihanraya.

Hakikatnya, RM600 juta itu sepatutnya disalur untuk keperluan lain untuk manfaat rakyat terbanyak.

Sebab itu Anwar menegaskan perlunya rejim BN ini ditukar kerana Pakatan Rakyat menawarkan pentadbiran telus dan amanah sebagaimana dibuktikan di negeri ditadbirnya termasuk Pulau Pinang dan Selangor yang dipuji Laporan Ketua Audit Negara.

Manakala Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman dan Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud sehingga kini lepas bebas walaupun terbukti terlibat dalam rasuah.

Pimpinan Umno kata saya berketurunan Cina - Anwar

JOHOR BAHRU - Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menegaskan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) sudah memutuskan supaya Perdana Menteri adalah seorang Melayu dan beragama Islam.

Menurutnya, pihaknya mempercayai isu dan dasar yang sudah diputuskan itu adalah adil kepada semua dan menyifatkan kenyataan Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh untuk memperjuangkan seorang bukan Melayu menyandang jawatan Perdana Menteri sebagai berlunaskan semangat Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

“PR memang memutuskan dengan cukup jelas supaya Perdana Menteri harus seorang Melayu yang beragama Islam untuk PRU akan datang. Isu dan dasar ini kita percaya ia adil kepada semua.

“Saya tidak pertikai suara semangat Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Malah DAP telah umumkan bahawa pada PRU akan datang, seandainya PR menang, Anwar Ibrahim akan ditonjolkan sebagai Perdana Menteri.

"Saya Melayu Muslim, melainkan beberapa orang Umno yang menganggap saya Cina,” katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditemui di Pulai Springs Resort 25 Mei 2012.

Beliau mengulas kenyataan Karpal yang diputar belit media Umno bertujuan melaga-lagakan pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat dan menimbulkan sentimen perkauman dengan tujuan agar Umno mendapat keuntungan politik.

Bekas Pengarah JSJ Polis terajui Bersih 4.0

TAIPING - Bekas Pengarah Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Polis Bukit Aman, Datuk Fauzi Shaari dengan rasminya menyertai PAS.

Borang keahlian diserahkan kepada Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang pada Majlis Pengisytiharan Perdana Bekas Pegawai Tertinggi Polis Sertai PAS di Taman Kota Wira, Ulu Sepetang di sini.

Hadir sama pada majlis itu, Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu; Ketua Penerangan KEADILAN, Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty dan Pesuruhjaya PAS Perak, Abu Bakar Hussain.

Penyerahan borang keahlian disaksikan kira-kira 5,000 penyokong Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Dalam ucapannya, beliau menjelaskan bahawa tujuan menyertai PAS bukan berniat untuk menjadi calon atau mempunyai kepentingan tertentu, tetapi sekadar mahu membantu usaha ke arah kerja-kerja Islam yang dibawa Pas.

Katanya, kehadiran beliau pada majlis itu juga sebagai pengenalan kepada penyokong dan masyarakat sebelum bergiat aktif selepas ini.

Beliau turut menjelaskan, penyertaan dalam PAS itu dibuat selepas yakin dirinya tidak terlibat dalam sebarang kes jenayah semasa berada dalam pasukan polis.

Fauzi yang berasal dari Pantai Besar, Batu Kurau, Perak menambah, beliau selepas ini akan membantu PR khususnya Pas melalui ceramah-ceramah yang dianjurkan.

"Bukanlah bila saya masuk Pas bukan semuanya tak betul. Mana yang boleh tegur, kena tegurlah," katanya.


Pada majlis itu juga, Ketua Penerangan Pemuda Pas Negeri Perak yang menjadi pengerusi majlis, Akmal Kamaluddin secara berseloroh mahu Fauzi mengetuai Bersih 4.0 dan kemudiannnya disambut dengan tepukan gemuruh hadirin.

Zahida ada skandal lain selain Shafie?

Bekas pemandu peribadi aktres Zahida Rafik, Noor Azman Azemi berkata beliau sudah letih bersubahat dengan skandal melibatkan Zahida Rafik dan Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

Ini kerana katanya, sepanjang bekerja dengan mereka, kedua-dua individu itu sering bertemu di sebuah hotel berasingan dan beliau 'sudah tidak tahan lagi' untuk bersubahat dengan mereka.

Noor Azman berkata, sepanjang bekerja dengan kedua-dua individu itu, dalam tempoh tiga tahun Shafie yang juga Naib Presiden Umno didakwa membayar sejumlah wang besar dengan paling rendah antara RM100,000 hingga RM1 juta sebulan kepada Zahida.

Ditanya punca utama tercetusnya skandal artis dan pimpinan Umno itu, Noor Azman mendakwa kerana Zahida menjalin hubungan sulit dengan seorang jurulatih Jimnasium.

Beliau membuat pendedahan itu secara eksklusif dalam sidang media hari ini yang menarik puluhan wartawan dari pelbagai organisasi media termasuk laman hiburan dan media arus perdana.

Dengan pendedahan hari ini, ia sekaligus mengejutkan banyak pihak kerana sebelum ini artis itu hanya didakwa menerima RM1.5 juta dari Shafie yang juga Ahli Parlimen Semporna.

Noor Azman dalam sidang media yang turut dihadiri keluarganya bagaimanapun tidak menyatakan samada Zahida dan Shafie sudah berkahwin, namun mengakui diganggu individu tidak dikenali.

Turut hadir dalam sidang media itu Ahli Parlimen Ampang, Zuraida Kamarudin; ahli keluarga Noor Azman, Tengku Intan Tengku Abdul Hamid yang dikenali sebagai Dayangku Intan (ibu saudara); Rosman Yahil (bapa saudara) dan peguam yang mewakilinya, Lateefa Koya.

Nama Noor Azman mula menjadi perhatian selepas beliau membuat laporan polis 13 Mac lalu sebagai reaksi atas dakwaan beliau melarikan diri dengan wang Zahida sebanyak RM200,000.

Laporan polis itu didedah oleh Zuraida 18 April lalu, manakala Zahida dan Shafie sebelum ini menafikan dakwaan itu dan akan mengambil tindakan undang-undang.

Tumpuan ketika ini sudah tentunya menanti kenyataan Zahida dan Shafie. Manakala dari aspek politik Sabah dan kesannya kepada kedudukan Umno di negeri itu sudah tentu menarik untuk diperhatikan.

Sebagai rekod, Shafie sebelum ini pernah menuduh PAS sebagai Parti Ajaran Sesat dan enggan memohon maaf kepada parti Islam itu selain semasa menjadi Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna, beliau mempertahankan kenaikan harga minyak di negara ini.

STAR Sabah’s demand for exclusive right to contest against BN unfair to voters – PAS

KOTA KINABALU: State Reform Party (STAR) Sabah Chapter’s demand that they should be given exclusive right to contest against Barisan Nasional (BN) in Sabah and Sarawak in the coming election is unfair to the voters, said Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia.

Dewan committee member Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus said the two states are different from Peninsular Malaysia with state-oriented politics still considerably strong, especially in the rural areas.

Sabah, he added, is also different from Sarawak, as Umno is the most influential party in the State while there is no Umno in Sarawak.

However, he said deciding whether it is a national or state party that should be representing the whole of East Malaysia is just illogical.

“Who should be contesting should instead be based on the sentiments among the voters in a particular constituency,” he said when commenting on STAR Sabah chairman Satuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan’s latest call for Peninsular Malaysia-based political parties to focus their aim on wrestling parliamentary seats in the 11 states in the peninsula.

On Sunday Jeffrey reiterated that Pakatan Rakyat (PR), consisting of PAS, DAP and PKR, should leave it to Sabah and Sarawak parties to stand in all 58 parliamentary seats in East Malaysia, including one in Labuan.

“Local parties may be the better bet in certain rural areas where the voters still prefer them but national parties could do better against BN in the urban areas, as has been proven in past elections,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Ahmad Kerdee, who is also PAS national legal secretary and Sarawak legal advisor, said PR cannot stop Jeffrey from continuing to make such a statement and express his views, as there is no law prohibiting a person from announcing his opinion and intention to contest in an election.

However, he said the issue of who should contest and win should be decided by voters, and voters today are smart and well-informed to make the right decision.

According to the Batang Lupar PAS chief, most people in Sabah and Sarawak, especially the younger voters, no longer view people or parties from Peninsular Malaysia as outsiders.

Stressing that PAS is willing and prepared to contest anywhere in the country, he regretted that Jeffrey was trying to portray PAS and PR as outsiders and less eligible to represent the people in the two states as compared to local-based parties.

“We all need each other, the State Government needs the Federal Government and vise versa. So, we need to work with each other if we are to take over from BN.

“We cannot stop him from expressing his views but such a statement is uncalled for, and a narrow state-oriented politics is not the way forward,” he asserted.

He said while PR cannot stop STAR or the other smaller state-based parties from running for the election, it would be better if all quarters could realize and work together towards achieving their common goal of toppling the BN government.

“Three-corner fights, should STAR continue to insist on not cooperating with PR against BN, could have a negative effect to the opposition as a whole and would only benefit the BN.

“But it could also go the other way around and benefit PR, as although it is possible the opposition votes would be split between PR and STAR, it is also possible that the voters from BN may actually go to STAR, reducing the votes for the ruling party.

“At the end of the day, it is the voters who will decide, not the contesting parties,” he said, adding that a one-to-one fight against BN candidates is the ideal situation to maximise the winning chances of the opposition.

He also said that the political trend in urban areas in the country, including in Sabah and Sarawak, has changed with the younger voters beginning to appreciate the fact that a state party is no longer a must, but what is more important is that a party should be able to lead and govern the people effectively.

He said political parties are also demanded to have the ability of not only governing the State they rule, but also effectively represent the interest of the people from that particular state at the federal level.

In this regards, he urged the people of Sabah to support PAS and PR as the party and opposition coalition have proven their ability in many states they represent in Peninsular Malaysia.

Posted on May 9, 2012, Wednesday

Don’t fall for STAR Sabah’s promises – Keningau KEADILAN

Posted on May 9, 2012, Wednesday

KENINGAU: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KEADILAN) yesterday warned the people of Sabah not to fall for the promises and sweet talk being spread by the State Reforms Party (STAR).

What STAR intends to do can never be successful as proven by history, according to Keningau KEADILAN deputy chief Risham Mail.

He said if one were to examine closely what STAR is fighting for today, it is very similar to what Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) had fought for during its nine years in power in the 1980s and 1990s.

He said after years of fighting for all of its agenda as an opposition, PBS finally rejoined the Barisan Nasional (BN) while it had never achieved what it had been fighting for until today.

“Let’s assume that STAR manages to win in Sabah and forms its government, the situation will be similar to how PBS had won in Sabah 25 years ago, and we all know what happens in the end, PBS returned to the BN fold because they could not do anything on their own,” he said.

Risham said since STAR was formed in Sarawak and only beginning to spread its influence in Sabah, and without any significant foothold in Peninsular Malaysia, STAR had no steady foundation to become a government.

“And should it win, it will only for the glory of the candidates while the people will suffer.”

On the other hand, KEADILAN is a more established party that possesses a strong reputation across the country and even governing several major states in Malaysia, as well as properly organized and with very clear vision, he said.

According to Risham, the presence of STAR in the political scenario in Sabah will only result in splitting opposition supporters, especially in the interior areas.

“Whenever STAR Sabah chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan visits any parts of the state, the people will gather to hear him speak because the people like him to entertain them with his wits. This is nothing new.

“However, we all know where the people’s votes went to because in every election, Dr Jeffrey never won any seat in his career after he left PBS. Despite the big turnout of people in his gatherings, in fact not many want to vote for him (his party),” he said.

Risham added 58 members from BN in Kampung Mempikit Laut decided to join KEADILAN in support of the party’s cause as they had lost faith in the BN.

He said the new members submitted their membership forms to KEADILAN Liawan assistant co-ordinator Yapilin Nawawi at the village recently which was also attended by KEADILAN Keningau information chief Paul Gitang.