Lim: Let Zahrain burn bridges if he wants

Mr Lim don't talk so lan si lah ! One day your bridge will also be burnt and don't come back crying like Wee Ka Siong !

By Clara Chooi

IPOH, Jan 31 – Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pic) finally broke his silence today over the spat between him and Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim, saying the PKR Bayan Baru MP could choose to “burn bridges if he wants to”.

Zahrain had called Lim a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”, inviting brickbats from his party and allies DAP who said the former Penang PKR chief is “politically-frustrated”. Ya Politically frustrated with dictators like you , what have you got to say to the deaths of the six Chung Ling students ? that the fault lies with the Federal Govt ? since the Education Ministry is reponsible for the school ?

“But what we would like to know is whether there are any other Penang leaders who wish to support Zahrain on this ... let us wait and see, “ Lim told reporters here after initially dismissing the issue.

He added that “everything that needs to be said has already been said” and that he did not need to comment further on the issue. Mr Lim , there's nothing at all for you to say , because they are all true and there's nothing that you can rebutt , refute that what was said is simply not true .

“You know this was something that just came out of the blue. However, we know the reasons behind it. Ya we Penangites also know the real reasons behind all these .So don't how seow us !

“I feel that since we have already addressed those real reasons behind this, it is best that we just wait for further developments. Let us wait for him to respond and for PKR to decide,” he said.

The simmering feud between Lim and Zahrain began last year over the post of the Deputy Chief Minister I, which was reserved for PKR in the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government.

Anwar picked Dr Mansor Othman for the post after the latter won the Penanti by-election and also named him to replace Zahrain as state PKR chief. What has the naming of Dr Mansor Othman got to do with the issue , don't you think that Zahrain knows that he cannot be a Deputy CM since he is not a elected State Assemblyman and a MP cannot become a Deputy CM ? Don't try to twist and bullshit people who don't know .

DAP said Lim’s decision to have another tender exercise for the management of the state-owned Bukit Jambul Golf and Country Club also riled Zahrain, who had endorsed a RM2 company that is allegedly run by his son.

Matters came to a head this week when Zahrain criticised Lim as unfit to be chief minister, leading to speculation he was also walking out of his party to rejoin Umno.

Zahrain has denied the speculation, saying that his open criticism of Lim was merely a reminder to Pakatan Rakyat leaders of its original resolve to push for reform.

The PKR supreme council, along with leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today convened a meeting to discuss Zahrain’s outburst and decided to haul him up before the party disciplinary board.

Meanwhile, Lim also admitted today that since the furore erupted in the media, he had not been in touch with the Bayan Baru MP but insisted that even if the defection rumours were true, the Penang government would not be affected. Ya everything also don't know when Fairuz resigned as Deputy CM , you also don't know even though you are his boss . Wa tak tau , tanya Anwar !

He also blamed the Barisan Nasional for creating speculation and media tales that the pact was fraying. What comes round , comes round , now its your turn .

“One swallow does not make a summer. Of course, the media will try to create a sense of crisis and that is what the BN wants to achieve.”

Lim added that the Penang government was not in crisis and confidently noted that “all the PR assemblymen stand together”.

He pointed out that Zahrain was an MP and not an assemblyman.

“To show my confidence in my colleagues, I will, in fact, be making a short trade mission tomorrow to Korea,” said Lim. “This has been planned some time ago and I will proceed with it.” Ya taking another yieldless , pointless , wasting of public funds holiday trip . As usual your wife on board accompanying free trip holiday .

Powerful corporate interests penetrate Penang local councils

From Anil Netto .

Just got a text message from an unhappy political scientist friend, who forwarded to me an sms that he had sent to a DAP rep in Penang:

People not happy with councillors appoint & list. old wine in new bottle. expect you guys to deliver your promises during election.

Also received another email from a concerned Penangite. Interesting that he also describes it as “old wine in new bottle”:

now that the MPPP & MPSP councillors lists are out, I’m sure many of us are NOT happy — personally I think it is just old wine in new bottle, especially treating the political appointments as consolation for those left out in the election and also having the ADUNs doubling up as councillors as well.

isn’t it time the civil society rise up once again to make our displeasure and disappontment heard by the new state gov, to let them know loud and clear that this is a very bad move by them, and to remind them their promises during the run-up to the last GE?

There is a certain degree of dissatisfaction on the ground on this issue of appointments of councillors – although many are prepared to give the DAP-PKR a bit more time to get their act together and work towards local democracy. But that patience could wear thin if no progress is made in this direction – and the honeymoon period could end sooner than we think.

There can be no compromise on this issue. The Pakatan leaders have to get cracking and give us a quick timeline or roadmap of their path towards local council elections. After all, it was a major campaign pledge in Penang. And the longer it is delayed, the more disenchantment will brew among those who voted for PR.

We don’t want to be stuck with the same system of rewarding party loyalists by appointing them to local councils. That’s the BN style, and people expect the Pakatan to be different and to restore local democracy – pronto. They have to start finding ways and means of overcoming the legal hurdles and move in that direction quickly.

When the DAP mentioned that 10 NGO representatives would be included in the two municipals, many thought this would be a hugely significant interim step towards broader elected representation. Few thought that the term “NGOs” would encompass representatives from the various Chambers of Commerces.

Many were therefore taken aback when they realised that the corporate/business reps would outnumber the traditional “civil society” types. Out of the seven “NGO” reps actually appointed to the councils on the island and on the mainland, five represent corporate interests. In the Seberang Perai council, all three “NGO” reps are from commerce and industry: the Chinese and Indian Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers. Over on the island, the Malay and Chinese Chambers of Commerce have a rep each.

These Chamber reps represent powerful business and corporate interests and not the interests of the ordinary person on the street. One single rep from a Chamber of Commerce carries the weight of not just a single company but a whole battalion of business and corporate interests.

Many of the battles that the local councils will have to engage in are likely to pit them against corporate interests (including property developers) infringing on the rights of ordinary people or degrading the environment. Local councillors will also have to grapple with promoting accountability in the awarding of contracts and alienation of state land and gauge whether these deals would really be in the people’s interest. How can they do this easily when they have vested interests within their own ranks? Wouldn’t this give rise to cases of conflict of interest?

We have already witnessed the terrible degradation of the environment and the land scams in Penang – largely as a result of those with vested business interests cosying up to ruling politicians.

Now that these business reps have penetrated the councils, whose interests will they uphold during council meetings – corporate interests or the people’s interests? No prizes for guessing.

If they can include so many corporate reps, where are the reps from consumer groups, trade unions, community organisations, residents associations and senior citizens? What about those championing the cause of workers?

That said, I am pleased to see Lim Kah Cheng and Prof Francis Loh – the only non-party, non-business reps – among the ranks of the councillors. I’m sure they will want to push through some meaningful reforms, and I wish them well.

The clock is ticking for the Pakatan Rakyat state and local government. True, the people tolerated the BN’s nonsense (appointments of party loyalists to local councils) for decades. But the PR pledged to restore local government elections – and so they have a much shorter time frame to prove that they can do just that. They have to show they are working fast – and not wait until just before the next general election to make the appropriate noises.

Give the councils back to the people – not to corporate interests and not to political appointees.

Did Chow Kon Yeow screw up the local council appointments?

Did Chow Kon Yeow screw up the local council appointments?

I was reading a post (Powerful corporate interests penetrate Penang local councils) over at Anilnetto's blog on the appointment of the councillors for the local councils here and it reminded me of this whole ugly issue.

Initially, I was very reluctant to blog about it coz it seemed like a can of inedible worms that I do not feel like dealing with...however, the way the exco in charge, Chow Kon Yeow, reportedly reacted to all the negativity and criticisms made me change my mind.

He had reportedly said that all this criticisms about the choice of councillors are undermining the state government's efforts. It seemed that all these criticisms (mainly in the Chinese dailies) meant that (according to Kon Yeow) they (the Chinese dailies) are putting undue pressure on the newstate government and are not providing the 'support' the state government needs at this early stage.

Furthermore, he compared the current system to the BN system and wondered why nobody complained about the BN's system which does not open up for NGOs at all.

Err...YB Chow Kon Yeow...are you high on drugs or were you just daft or plain stupid?

Weren't you the one to promise 10 councillors post to the NGOs but now there are only 7? And by NGOs, shouldn't you be thinking about a variety of NGOs and not just the business ones? Also, why the secrecy in the selection process?

So, is it so wrong for the public to demand for explanations when you did not fulfill your promises? Is it wrong for the public to demand for 'transparency and accountability', the very things the Pakatan Rakyat has always been harping on?

The people voted for Pakatan Rakyat for a reason and that is to see good and major changes. Not some half-hearted attempt!

Sure, you may say it is only for this term and that you had to rush through the selection process. These are just lame excuses that nobody could swallow.

Just think, your first chance to shine and you blew it, you think the people are just going to let this go?

Just admit that you screwed up this time and you won't do it again and perhaps, the people will be a tad more forgiving. They may even let this go. But no, you had to go on and on about how there are now 7 from NGOs as compared to none previously.

You see, Penangites aren't all that demanding and unforgiving. We aren't all that stupid too. We know how BN run things, you don't have to point that out repeatedly. What we want now is to know how you, the Pakatan Rakyat government, plan to run things.

A promise is a promise. Regardless of whether it is short of 3 or even 1 from the originally promised number of 10, it is still a promise. And didn't DAP always say that it will keep its promises made to the rakyat?

It has only been a month plus since you took over the helm and Pakatan Rakyat is still very green. Why don't you just come clean about how you selected the councillors and letthe public be the judge of whether you did this in the interest of the people and council or in the interest of the party?

For isn't transparency and accountability the two main words you, the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, have been preaching? Where is it now whencriticisms and demands for explanations appear?

So, YB Chow Kon Yeow, I hope you have credible answers instead of the lame excuses you gave. It is the only way for you to redeem the respect you lost in this whole debacle.

Kit Siang: Pakatan is bleeding

By NG CHENG YEE

Bleeding ! let it bleed faster ! maybe call for a PKRCI - Pakatan
Kerangkabut Royal Commission of Inquiry ! how about it Mr Lim ?

newsdesk@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Rakyat disciplinary committee must meet to restore public confidence in the discipline, commitment, cohesion and unity of the loose coalition, said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

The subject of holding a Pakatan disciplinary committee had been on the agenda of its leadership council since last year, he said.

The internal haemorrhaging, he stressed, must end particularly when Umno and Barisan Nasional were intensifying their political offensive.

“This will be the challenge of the Pakatan leadership council when it meets tomorrow,” he said in his blog yesterday.

His latest posting on the issue came close on the heels of the latest attack against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng by former PKR state chief Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim. Zahrain, who is also Bayan Baru MP, had called Guan Eng who is DAP secretary-general and Lim’s son a dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded leader who was unfit to lead the state.

Lim said Pakatan had won a renewal of public confidence and trust with the successful holding of its national convention in Shah Alam on Dec 19, last year.

“It had also demonstrated greater responsibility and maturity as compared to Umno and Barisan in the response to the “Allah” controversy.

“However, in a matter of days, these hard-won gains for Pakatan were largely undone not by the acts of our political adversaries but by the deeds of Pakatan standard-bearers,” he said.

He said as a result, there was now a new round of public questioning as to whether Pakatan could be trusted with the great responsibility of federal power in the next general election.

Penang DAP chief hits out at MP

By CHRISTINA CHIN

sgchris@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang DAP-PKR tiff is catching fire with Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow describing Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim as being politically frustrated.

He said there was no doubt that the PKR Bayan Baru MP was unhappy over his removal as state party chairman and was now attempting to break up the Pakatan Rakyat coalition here.

Chow said he had been informed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng that Zahrain was frustrated as he (Lim) had refused to endorse the MP’s decision to award tender for the privatised management of the Bukit Jambul Golf Club to a RM2 company.

“Zahrain may want to personally burn his bridges with us but he shouldn’t allow his political frustrations to break up Pakatan Rakyat in Penang,” he told a press conference at the party’s headquarters here yesterday.

On Zahrain calling Lim a communist-minded dictator and chauvinist, he said it was a baseless, racially-motivated lie “Even Umno and Barisan Nasional never labelled Lim a communist when he was detained under the ISA in 1987,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman, who is the state PKR chairman, earlier said the party’s central committee would meet today to discuss Zahrain’s outburst.

He said the party would announce the outcome of the meeting – whether action will be taken against Zahrain or otherwise – on Tuesday.

MR CHOW WHAT ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES ? IS IT NOT TRUE ?

Mr Chow are you saying , what Zahrain is not true ? all the facts brought up by him not true ? Common lah my kong seow wah ! Can you tell me these issues listed below true or not true !

What about the fast tracking the construction of the much-opposed $ 50 million Penang International Convention Centre (PICC) in Relau, Is this not true ?

Lim's hypocrisy of 'advocating' press freedom on one hand, while banning certain media groups and reporters from his functions. Barring of NST and Utusan from covering his press conference ? Is this not true ?

Kampung Buah Pala and Kampung Melayu Tanjung Tokong incidents. Not only failures , bullshitted the people there with their empty promises and tried to shift the blame to the previous BN govt ? Is this not true ?

Lim was against holding local council elections in Penang for fear of losing control over municipalities, despite being a central figure in DAP's 'third vote' campaign. Is this not true ?

Penangites were also growing restless with Lim's statements blaming the previous BN administration for everything. Is this not true ?

Lim's government had failed to attract any notable foreign investments despite spending millions in public funds in frequent foreign trade missions. Is this not true ?

It's because Lim cannot take criticism when criticised with his planned tiger park project ? Is this not true ?

Lim government's CAT principles based on competency, accountability and transparency. What happened to the Kampong Buah Pala issue when the state allowed the transfer of ownership during his watch ? Is this not true ?

What about the dragon boat rowers tragedy ? That the state changed the venue to the open sea without consulting the various maritime agencies of its suitability resulting in the deaths of six students rowers? Is this not true ?

That the state has allowed illegal restaurants and huts to be built right up to the shore line of the sea in Batu Ferringhi without taking any actions to prevent and demolish those illegal restaurants and dwellings ? That Batu Ferringhi has today become a cowboy town where certain people are allowed to collect illegal parking fees without any action being taken ? Is this not true ?

That Tanjong Bungah folks have complained to the state on the development of high rise buildings on hill slopes and as of until today , nothing has been done , falling on deaf ears ? Is the state waiting for another tragedy to happen ? and start blaming that the approval was given by the previous govt ? Is this not true ?

Penang DAP warns Zahrain against breaking up Pakatan

PENANG, Jan 30 — The Penang DAP today warned PKR’s Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim (picture) from allowing his political frustrations and angst towards Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over a business deal to break up the state Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.

State DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow chastised Zahrain for labelling Lim as “a dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”, saying the Bayan Baru Mp sounded no different from political rivals Umno.

“Zahrain should not try to provoke sentiments and attempt to break up Pakatan Rakyat in Penang by claiming that PKR has no say in the administration of the PR state government,” the Tanjung MP said in a statement issued after speaking to reporters here.

Chow stressed that the state DAP and its lawmakers are fully behind the leadership of Lim, who is also party secretary-general, “against the irresponsible and vicious personal attacks by PKR MP for Bayan Baru Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim”.

Zahrain has had a simmering feud with Lim (picture) since the latter’s appointment as chief minister following the pact’s shock victory in Penang in toppling the Barisan Nasional (BN) state government in Election 2008.

Chow noted that even Umno and the ruling BN federal government had never labelled Lim as a communist when the latter was detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1987.

“How can Lim be a chauvinist when he went to jail and lost his parliamentary seat to defend a Malay girl who was detained even though she was a rape victim?” he asked, pointing out that Lim had initiated a hard-core poverty eradication programme in Penang, where 90 per cent came from one community, by ensuring that all families received at least RM 500 a month.

He also disputed Zahrain’s claims that Lim was a dictator for not accepting criticisms, noting that the former PKR Penang chairman had never criticised Lim in any PR joint meetings with the Penang state government.

“Decisions in the Pakatan Rakyat are made collectively in exco meetings,” Chow said.

He also rapped Zahrain for questioning why a third of Lim’s speech during the first Pakatan Rakyat National convention last Dec 19 was in Mandarin.

“Clearly Zahrain was absent as Lim had spoken 85 per cent in Bahasa Malaysia with the remainder 15 per cent in English and Mandarin.

“But even if one third of Lim’s speech had been in Mandarin, is it a crime to speak in one own’s mother tongue? This extremist approach befits a typical Penang Umno leader and not a PKR or Pakatan Rakyat leader,” Chow added, saying Zahrain appeared politically frustrated over his removal as Penang PKR chairman.

“Further, Lim had informed me of Zahrain frustrations with Lim for refusing to endorse Zahrain’s decision last year as Chairman of Island Golf Properties in awarding a tender for the privatised management of the Bukit Jambul Golf Club to a RM2 company.

“As Chairman of PDC, Lim had recommended that the Board of Directors over-rule the award of tender and called for a fresh re-tender.” Chow disclosed.

“The Board of Directors of PDC had accepted Lim’s recommendation that to give the tender of running the only golf club in Penang worth tens of millions of ringgit to a RM2 company would not comply with Penang’s CAT governance of Competency, Accountability and Transparency.

“Giving contracts to a RM 2 company would make a mockery of change that Penangnites voted for in the 2008 elections and make Penang Pakatan Rakyat no different from BN,” he added.

Chow said by holding firm to CAT, the Penang state government has been able to turn a projected deficit of RM35 million in 2008 budget to a record surplus of RM 88million.

“Penang is proud to be the first state to hold public open tenders of government projects and procurement contracts and also conducting it through the internet (e-tender).

“By sticking to CAT principles, Penang is the first state or federal government in Malaysia to gain praise from Transparency International,” he said.

Chow told off Zahrain, saying he may want to personally burn his bridges with DAP but the PKR man should not allow his political frustrations and Lim’s refusal to endorse his award of tender to a RM2 company to attempt to break up Pakatan Rakyat in Penang.

KPI failure pushing PKR MPs to jump ship

By G. Manimaran

PENANG, Jan 31 – Several PKR MPs from Penang, Selangor and Kedah are considering defecting to Barisan Nasional due to a failure to perform and the fear of being dropped from contesting in the next general elections, party officials told The Malaysian Insider.

Newly-minted PKR elections director Fuziah Salleh revealed the party has been assessing the performance and effectiveness of its elected representatives, sparking fear and pushing some of them to consider their future options.

One of them is believed to be disgruntled Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (pic) who has reportedly offered himself and others to BN.

Party sources said some of the others are from Selangor and Kedah.

“I am worried that they have assessed themselves and figured they might not make the cut again... But we are assessing them to reach the standards demanded by the voters,” she told The Malaysian Insider.

“What we want to do is to help them give better service to the people. But if they feel that they might not be picked again, they will consider other options,” the Kuantan MP said, adding the assessment of all elected representatives began a month ago.

She disclosed the assessment covered the performance of PKR MPs in parliament, accessibility to voters and effectiveness of their service centres.

PKR has 31 of Pakatan Rakyat’s 82 lawmakers in the Parliament apart from running the Selangor state government. Its ally PAS has 23 MPs and runs both Kedah and Kelantan while DAP has 28 MPs and controls Penang.

Penang PKR chairman Mansor Othman acknowledged yesterday that up to four party MPs, including his predecessor Zahrain, have indicated their “intention” to join BN and help it get the two-thirds parliamentary majority to enable it to pass constitutional amendments on its own.

Apart from Zahrain, the other Penang PKR MPs are Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Permatang Pauh), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) dan Mohd Yusmadi Yusoff (Balik Pulau). Efforts to get Zahrain’s comments have been futile.

Mansor refused to say who the other MPs are but it is understood that up to 10 could be involved, including federal lawmakers from Selangor and Kedah.

Fuziah also confirmed the possibility of defectors due to the assessment system but said the party had just wanted to improve their performance rather than point out their weaknesses, citing the case of Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah who left the party when Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim recommended he resign the seat.

“The issue is the same ... they see it from their side,” she said.

It is understood that the PKR supreme council meeting this morning will discuss the issue of recalcitrant party leaders, including Zahrain who restarted a simmering feud with Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng this past week by calling him a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”.

Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin, who has broken a media gag over the ‘Allah’ issue when complaining about PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, has also supported Zahrain’s stand.

The Penang DAP has said Zahrain’s outburst was due to political frustration and anger over a business deal stopped by Lim.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has urged the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council meeting today to set up a disciplinary committee to deal with intransigent leaders, saying they were setting back the coalition’s hard-won gains since Election 2008.

I can already name five , off hand ! Wait for the show to start !

DAP guns for Zahrain over Guan Eng slur

PENANG, Jan 30 — The Penang DAP is baying for PKR Penang leader Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim’s blood and will reveal that personal issues are behind the Bayan Baru MP calling Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”.

Several top DAP leaders are today expected to detail the reasons behind Zahrain ratcheting his simmering feud with Lim, whose aides say has preferred to keep silent to preserve unity and stability within the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government.

Among the reasons are Lim’s (picture) decision last year for an open tender for the maintenance of the state-owned Bukit Jambul Golf and Country Club of which Zahrain is the president. It is learnt that the chief minister asked for an open tender after a RM2 company linked to Zahrain had sought the contract.

“Zahrain has provoked the DAP without just cause and some leaders will make public his motivations,” a senior DAP leader told The Malaysian Insider.

It is understood that Tanjong MP Chow Kon Yeow will call a press conference today over Zahrain’s outburst against Lim that was carried by The Star daily.

In the report, Zahrain (picture) who is the former state PKR chairman, said PR should not compromise with the leader who is from Malacca as Lim had failed to deliver its general election promises.

Zahrain said among the election promises that were not kept were the introduction of local council election and an open tender system.

“Lim may be reluctant to push for local council election because it will diminish his power if Penangites use that as an avenue to pass verdict on the state’s performance.

“He also promised an open tender system, but he has made the process worse by personally chairing the tender board,” he said, adding that there was better check and balance during Barisan Nasional’s rule.

Zahrain, who was once in Umno, also said when he criticised Lim for his dictatorial ways of managing the state, he was accused of being an Umno agent.

“I am certainly not an Umno agent. I just do not want to see PR going against its promises,” he said. “It is a shame for PR and its principles when projects are awarded based on who knows who.”

Lim has continued to remain silent on Zahrain’s attack, leaving Deputy Chief Minister and state PKR chief Dr Mansor Othman to comment on the matter yesterday.

“The words were uncalled for and I regret his statement. That is certainly not the way to address our fellow partners in PR,” he said and declined to elaborate further.

Christians have 'ulterior motive', says PKR's Zulkifli
Can you still vote for PKR ? my fellow Malaysian Christians ?

Rahmah Ghazali
Jan 29, 10

Vocal PKR parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin claims that he has proof that Christians have an ulterior motive behind their insistence on using the term Allah.

The Syariah lawyer turned politician also accused Christians of fanning the flames of religious discord with regards to this issue.

Quoting a verse from the Quran, he said: "The Jews and the Christians will never be with us (on the same path as Muslims)."

"Why should they insist on using the word 'Allah'? There must be something wrong," he told Malaysiakini during a no holds barred interview this morning.

As for the alleged 'ulterior motive', Zulikfli displayed a booklet titled 'Jalan kepada Allah' (the way to Allah), which he claimed was distributed in a national primary school in 2000.

While refusing to divulge more details on the school or those behind the booklet, he said the booklets were given to students together with sweets and balloons.

"So what is the purpose of this? In the booklet for instance, it says that 'Allah created the universe and everything in it', 'Allah created human beings including Adam and Eve'.

"Then it says, 'Adam and Eve were no longer loyal to Allah and were evicted from Eden'. To me, if this story is told to a Muslim boy, he will consider it perfect (from an Islamic point of view)," he said.

However, Zulkifli added, the booklet also mentioned that the "only way for human beings to be safe is to follow the guide of Allah's only son, Jesus."

"It says Jesus is Allah in human form… then the rest of the story elaborates on the role of Jesus and it no longer touches on Allah," he said.

“Ten years have passed since the booklets were distributed. For all you know, they have been doing this (distributing the booklets) to this date,” he added.

Support from non-Muslims

Despite coming under fire for his strong views pertaining to the Allah issue, the Bandar Baru Kulim MP claimed that he has received support from his non-Muslim friends.

"Since this issue erupted, I received a few emails and even calls from my non-Muslim friends saying that I have been consistent (with my principles on this).

"They expressed sadness over the controversy, saying that they could not understand what the fuss is all about," he said.

Last Tuesday, Zulkifli was slapped with a gag order by the PKR political bureau pending a disciplinary hearing over his decision to file a police report against PAS MP Khalid Samad after the latter called for the amendment of a Selangor religious enactment.

However, Zulkifli said that the gag order only concerned the police report and not the Allah issue.

The Allah controversy erupted following the Dec 31 Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling which allowed Catholic weekly magazine Herald to use the word 'Allah' in its Malay-language edition.

The court later granted the Home Ministry a stay of execution pending appeal.

Game over for Liow and gang

Jan 30, 10 11:51am

It appears that hopes for fresh polls in MCA are dashed now that the all-powerful central committee (CC) has decided not to have any.

It's game over for those who had harboured high hopes for this route to be taken to resolve the leadership crisis in the 61-year-old party.

Even though technically fresh polls still can be held if two thirds of the CC were to resign, the sentiment for this has somewhat been lost. It was very simple why the plan stalled: not many CC members were keen to relinquish their lofty positions.

Some party insiders held the view that all this while the faction headed by vice-president Liow Tiong Lai (centre in photo) knew that it would not have enough support to push for fresh polls but plodded on merely to give an impression that it had wide grassroots support.

The insiders observed that the first sign that Liow and 12 other CC members did not have the required support was when they decided to turn the MCA extraordinary general meeting (EGM) called by them on Nov 28 last year into a briefing session.

Liow's faction had declared it had more than 1,300 delegates, but a check by the party headquarters showed that only about 600 central delegates attended, very much short of the one-third of the delegates required to pass any resolution at an EGM of the party, the insiders said.

MCA has about 2,400 central delegates and one-third of them would mean about 800 delegates.

The second sign which showed that the group did not have the required numbers was when it agreed to the formation of the party's re-election committee headed by party deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek (right) to look at the possibility of having fresh polls.

"By agreeing to that, it means that you are actually showing the card that you don't have the numbers. If you have the numbers, you would not agree to it (the committee) and would just go ahead with the EGM to pave the way for fresh polls with the adoption of the specific resolution," one of them said.

One of the CC members, who declined to be identified, said that during yesterday's CC meeting, Liow kept arguing that the party should fix the date for fresh polls.

But other CC members countered by saying that the party could not fix a date for fresh polls because the proponents for the move did not have the required number of members to do so, he disclosed.

"The truth is that the party re-election committee said there were not enough numbers of CC members agreeing to resign to push for fresh polls," said another CC member.

Direct presidential elections

A third CC member, Eng Hiap Boon, said the push for fresh polls had waned and that Liow's group should accept the re-election committee's findings tabled at yesterday's meeting that there was not enough quorum to call for fresh polls.

"This is numbers game. If you don't have the numbers, you can't have it, that's all."

His view was shared by another CC member, Ti Lian Ker, who said fresh polls were a non-issue from now on because the proponents had not been able to muster enough support.

"The issue is now closed. We can't allow the party to stand still for most of the time for the pre-condition for fresh polls to be fulfilled. The party needs to move on," he said.

Another CC member, Chong Itt Chew, claimed that he noticed that there was also a "split" among the group of the 13 CC members who originally wanted fresh polls as some of them indicated that they wanted to withdraw their undated resignation letters addressed earlier to party secretary-general Wong Foon Meng.

He said that the split surfaced when a call by one of the CC members who had pressed for fresh polls to stage a walk out en masse at yesterday's CC meeting did not receive strong support as only three out of 13 in the faction left the meeting.

Party veteran Yap Pian Hon said he believed that there was a possibility that Liow may eventually come back and support the party's leadership after his failed attempt to push for fresh polls.

"I see how he has joined hands with the president (Ong Tee Keat) when the party held a dialogue with Huazong (Federation of Chinese Associations, Malaysia) yesterday. Both of them shook hands," he said.

Yap said Ong had all this while said that "his door is always open to Liow".

For most of the party leaders and political analysts, the most significant outcome from the CC meeting was not much about the party's decision not to hold fresh polls but the appointment of new national organising secretary Simon Lim, who is also political secretary to Transport Minister Ong (left), and Tee Siew Keong, Chua's former political secretary as deputy national
organising secretary.

"The message is very clear that Ong wants to push for direct presidential elections and make the neccesary changes to the party constitution. He put the people he trusted most to hold key positions to get this proposal implemented. We can expect that the party election next year is likely to be based on this new system," he said.

- Bernama

Someone posted this comment :

Anonymous said...

I was told that during the lunch break of the CC meeting.

1. Liow Tiong Lai, Wee and their gang sat together at one table. They just ate their lunch quietly with no talking between them.

2. OTK, CSL and the rest of the CC sat at different tables and kept as far away from these people like diseased and plague infected. Seemed there was an empty table between the two groups.

3. Chew Mei Fun ate her fried meehoon alone in the meeting room

j4otk. Can you put some light into these strange behaviors. It looks so funny.

Ok this my observation , before I comment , I hope Liow reads this message . Be a MAN , do not be lead by one stinking woman who keeps on pestering you to leave the CC meeting . You are a Minister and the CC is the highest body for you to discuss MCA matters rather being using the CC meeting to stage awalkout for no obvious reasons spurned on by one idiotic woman who subsequently left and walk out alone to eat her fried meehoon . Two others left the meeting later when the president also left for another function with the Chinese Guilds and Associations .

If you readers want to know the strange behaviours of these people and who is the woman I mentioned , read the high lights in blue and red in the above article . This explains for all the strange behaviours .

Trams for Penang ?

This blog supports Trams for Penang

Bus Rapid Transit Plan
Best for congested places

2010/01/30

THE tram-like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line could work in Penang -- but with modifications, Bus User Group (BUG) coordinator Ong Boon Keong said. Ong believed modifications were necessary as the state did not have many wide roads with big lanes.

"The salient point is to decongest the roads. My suggestion is to use this system for the most congested stretches in Penang."

Ong proposed that the line runs from Datuk Keramat to Air Itam, Jelutong, and from Greenlane to Tanjung Bungah and Jalan Burmah.

Another modification would be to implement the line in stages, not at one go.

"The relevant authorities can start with the stretch from Komtar to the state mosque. This will lower resistance by road users and at the same time maximise the opportunity to educate them on the system, thus winning their support for it."
Ong said BUG had made a representation on the BRT line to state Local Government and Traffic Management committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow more than a year ago.

"Chow initially agreed to it but was quiet about it later. I hope the state and Federal governments can work together to implement it."

Cops quiz DAP MP over 'seditious' remarks

Christine Chan
Jan 29, 10 12:28pm

The police today quizzed DAP parliamentarian M Manogaran with regards to his speech where he linked Umno to the attacks on places of worship and commented on Anwar's sodomy trial.

The Teluk Intan MP's statement was recorded at the Setapak district police headquarters this afternoon under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act.

Contacted later, Manogaran said he was informed that a police officer had filed a report against him in Teluk Intan over his remarks.

"The session took about one hour and I was asked 20 questions with regards to the contents of the speech," he added.

However, he stressed that he had exercised his right to remain silent during the session.

"I will only give my statement in court if I am charged," he said.

Manogaran claimed that he had asked the police officer for a recording of his speech but the officer did not have it.

Issues of national importance

His lawyer N Surendran claimed that his client's speech was not seditious, and that he had merely touched on issues of national importance.

"I believe that my client was making fair comments about Anwar's trial and Umno's possible involvement in the churches attack," he said.

The had delivered the speech at a ceramah in Teluk Intan on Jan 22, which was attended by several PKR leaders, including Anwar Ibrahim.

When will these DAP MPs ever learn not to start accusing someone without proof especially when the issue is very very sensitive and instead of trying to douse the fire , they are pouring kerosene and petrol into the fire . Same story as the Lim Guan Eng guy who made the statement that Teoh Beng Hock was murdered and insinuating that the MACC was responsible . I think they have all got that disease in them DAP ( Diseased Assemblyman and Parliamentarians )

Zahrain blames DAP for defection speculations

Athi Shankar
Jan 29, 10 2:03pm

Bayan Baru parliamentarian Zahrain Hashim blames the current defection speculations among PKR MPs on the party's submissiveness to DAP's political demands.

He said due to disgruntlement among PKR leaders and members, talks of defections have surfaced among party elected representatives.

Zahrain was rumoured to be leading a handful of PKR parliamentarians out of the party to become Barisan Nasional-friendly representatives.

He has neither denied nor confirmed the speculation.

Zahrain claims that the majority of PKR's elected representatives and members, especially from Penang, were frustrated with their party's subservient attitude to Pakatan Rakyat ally DAP.

Their anger, he alleges, was more towards DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The former Penang PKR chief is particularly annoyed with PKR's 'virtual surrender' to Lim and partly blamed it on a weak state party leadership

He said the current PKR representatives in the state Pakatan government were meekly giving in to DAP at the expense of party interests, rights and benefits.

"They dare not stand up against Lim. PKR has compromised its original reformasi agenda to suit the whims and fancies of DAP's political game," he told Malaysiakini.

'PKR doesn't need DAP'

Zahrain believes that PKR could survive without DAP, being a multiracial party.

He called on PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim to review the party's ties with DAP before it was too late.

"If defections happen, it will be due to DAP's dominance over PKR," said Zahrain.

He also rubbished the Lim government's CAT principles based on competency, accountability and transparency. There's no CAT but got Tiger project - j4otk

Instead he claims Lim's motto of governance was "it must be my way or no way."
Must have been hearing Frank Sinatra's song all these while - j4otk

Zahrain says he is prepared to face the music for publicly criticising another Pakatan leader, calling Lim a "chauvinist running the state government like his own backyard."

He described the DAP secretary-general's style of governance as taking the island-state "backward rather than forward." Reverse gear or gostand balek ! j4otk

"Being a multi-racial party representing all communities, PKR has to take the rap for Lim's failures," Zahrain said.

Among the 'failures' Zahrain alluded to were the contentious Kampung Buah Pala and Kampung Melayu Tanjung Tokong incidents. Not only failures , bullshitted the people there with their empty promises and tried to shift the blame to the previous BN govt - j4otk

Penang 'better off' without Lim have to agree to that - j4otk

Zahrain also lambasted Lim for fast tracking the construction of the much-opposed Penang International Convention Centre (PICC) in Relau, which ironically sits in his constituency. by passing him , the MP for Bayan Baru - j4otk

He said Lim has also failed to practice political unity and power-sharing by sidelining PAS from the state administration.

Zahrain also alleged that Lim was against holding local council elections in Penang for fear of losing control over municipalities, despite being a central figure in DAP's 'third vote' campaign. Correct and true - j4otk

He said Penangites were also growing restless with Lim's statements blaming the previous BN administration for everything.Correct and true - j4otk

"He should stop complaining and start to look for money to carry out people-orientated programmes. Until today, he has not done anything worthy for Penangites," lamented Zahrain.

Since the much-hyped initial foreign investments in 2008, the PKR man said Lim's government had failed to attract any notable foreign investments despite spending millions in public funds in frequent foreign trade missions. Correct and true , includes the $50 million PICC - j4otk

He also slammed Lim's hypocrisy of 'advocating' press freedom on one hand, while banning certain media groups and reporters from his functions. Correct and 100% true , have mentioned it here before - j4otk

"It's because Lim cannot take criticism," he said. Correct and true , like the tiger park project which Lim mooted - j4otk

Zahrain also opined that Lim has failed to comprehend Penangite sentiments and aspirations as the latter was 'parachuted' in from Malacca; he believes that Penang should be led by a local-born chief minister. 101 percent agree ! People who voted for Betty Chew regret today , as she is in Penang most of the time and not in her kawasan in Malacca - j4otk

"Penang would be better off without Lim," he said. MCA to replace Lim ? hopefully - j4otk

Read also these : .More to Come on the DAP , PKR feud While I don't ...
. Zahrain: Lim is a dictatorYou only found it out no...

Wild boar meat better pork but the head aaargh !! some idiots have better ideas !

Pork better for sex than Viagra, says Argentine leader

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 28 — Argentina’s president recommended pork as an alternative to Viagra yesterday, saying she spent a satisfying weekend with her husband after eating barbecued pork.

“I’ve just been told something I didn’t know; that eating pork improves your sex life ... I’d say it’s a lot nicer to eat a bit of grilled pork than take Viagra,” President Cristina Fernandez (picture) said to leaders of the pig farming industry.

She said she recently ate pork and “things went very well that weekend, so it could well be true.”

Argentines are the world’s biggest per capita consumers of beef, but the government has sought to promote pork as an alternative in recent years due to rising steak prices and as a way to diversify the meat industry.

“Trying it doesn’t cost anything, so let’s give it a go,” Fernandez said in the televised speech. — Reuters

MCA draws up PKRAs,

community issues to be given

priority

By LEE YUK PENG

yukpeng@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Issues raised by Chinese community leaders are now part of MCA’s party key result areas (PKRAs), said president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

Also included in the PKRAs is input from Thursday’s meeting with representatives from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

“The Government has national key result areas (NKRAs); we have PKRAs where the party will give priority to these issues and problems.

United stand: (From left) Cheng, Liow, Ong and Pheng posing for photographers during the dialogue at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur

“The input, views and feedback will be compiled and listed in the PKRAs,” Ong said.

He made the announcement after a two-hour closed-door dialogue with Chinese community leaders at Wisma MCA yesterday.

Those present at the dialogue included party vice-presidents Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha and Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

Others included Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malay­sia president Tan Sri William Cheng and Malaysian Seven Major Clans Association secretary-general Chong Kuang Bak.

At the same press conference, Liow, who is also head of the MCA’s Chinese Guilds and Associations Consultative Bureau, said a joint secretariat would be set up to handle the issues, including following up on the matters either by raising it at Cabinet meetings or channelling them to government departments.

He said they supported the Government Transformation Pro­gramme (GTP) Roadmap launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Thursday.

The dialogue, Liow said, had also touched on ways to help the Chinese business community.

He also condemned the irresponsible act of throwing wild boar heads into mosque compounds, urging the police to nab the culprits as soon as possible.

Pheng said the issues raised during the dialogue covered various areas in education, economic, culture and others, adding that he was glad that Ong put them under PKRAs as it showed the MCA’s concern about the issues.

“The dialogue was significant but the time was too short. I wish we can have more such dialogues in the future,” he said.

Cheng said it was a good beginning to have such discussions and proposed that they be held regularly every three months.

“When we have more dialogues, we can cooperate in more fields,” he said, adding that the MCA and Chinese organisations were partners in the community.

I have lost words for this picture !! People can change very fast , one minute they will be whacking you , next minute no words from me ... just look at the picture ! Farthest left is William Cheng , next is you know who ......but its a good sign .

PM also pissed with the Blame Game of the Opposition

PM slams Pakatan for blame game over church attacks

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak lashed out today at Pakatan Rakyat for alleging that the arsonists involved in the Metro Tabernacle Church attack were Umno members.

Responding to a question from a reporter during a press conference after the Umno Supreme Council meeting, Najib appeared to be on the defensive as he dismissed the claims as merely another tactic by the opposition to win support.

“This point has already been answered by top Umno officials. This is what the opposition always does,” said Najib to a chorus of applause from Umno leaders present at the press conference.

The prime minister’s remarks comes amid accusations by some PR leaders claiming to have knowledge and evidence of Umno’s “hand” in the recent attack on the church which left its first floor completely gutted.

PKR vice-president Azmin Ali has claimed that at least four Umno members were involved in the arson attack on the Metro Tabernacle Church.

PAS’s HarakahDaily website quoted Azmin as saying that he was collecting evidence to back up his claims and would release it soon.

The Gombak MP had claimed that at least four of the eight remanded over the Jan 8 attack are Umno members from the Gombak and Ampang divisions, adding he would reveal the full names, Mykad numbers and Umno membership numbers of those involved as soon as possible.

“The opposition has to always blame Umno. This is their modus operandi (MO),” said Najib today in response to the claims.

Three dispatch riders were charged in the Sessions Court today for the recent firebombing of the Metro Tabernacle Church, and could face up to 20 years in prison.

The three were brothers Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim, 24; Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim, 22; and another 23-year-old, Azuwan Shah Ahmad.

They were charged under Section 436 of the Penal Code, for the offence of “mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a building.”

All three claimed trial and the date of mention has been set for March 12.

A total of eight men had originally been detained in connection with the arson attack at the Metro Tabernacle Church here on Jan 8.

Besides the eight, police have also detained seven other men over the recent arson attempt at Taiping’s historic All Saints’ Church and the town’s Convent School.

The attacks are believed to be linked to the controversial “Allah” ruling that has riled many Muslims.

Four other men were also picked up for arson attempts on two mosques in Muar.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said this week he believed the attacks against churches, a temple and now mosques appeared to be aimed at sparking racial and religious strife.

Boar heads were reportedly found at two mosques near here, earlier this week, following the fire-bombing attacks and acts of vandalism against churches and a Sikh temple that had taken place in the wake of the “Allah” controversy.

These latest acts could be construed as attempts to escalate tensions and provoke unrest between Muslims and non-Muslims, as pigs are considered unhygienic in Islam and therefore their presence in the mosques were acts of desecration.

More to Come on the DAP , PKR feud

While I don't particularly fancy the Gerakan , but what they say here is the truth about DAP .

Remember the issue when Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin resigned as Deuty CM 1 and Guan Eng was caught unaware when asked by reporters in Singapore ? He replied , I don't know , Wa tak tau , tanya Anwar . Greatest joke , the CM of Penang didn't know his deputy resigned .
On the issue of Mohd Hashim, describing Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded” this is true , no one in Penang , even the Excos have no talking rights . Their mouths are sealed by Guan Eng , and only Guan Eng has the right to speak to the press , the others , their mouths are gagged . When you ask any Penang Exco on any issue , they'll say ask Guan Eng , same like the communists ideology only the leader can talk .

PKR, DAP feud nothing new, says Penang Gerakan

PENANG, Jan 29 — The simmering feud between DAP and PKR leaders in Penang has been existing since they took over the state from Barisan Nasional after the general election in 2008, said Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan.

He said the Pakatan coalition was a marriage of convenience to suit the purpose of their leaders and not of the party, let alone the people.

“They are showing their true colours now and there are signs that the coalition is cracking,” he said in a statement here today.

He was commenting on the outburst yesterday by Bayan Baru MP and former Penang PKR chairman Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim, describing Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”.

State opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim believes that Zahrain has tolerated Lim’s dictatorial ways for quite some time before making the statement to the media.

“I was informed that the PKR and PAS leaders had no authority to state their views during the state executive council meetings,” he told Bernama when contacted here today.

He said it was sad to know that PKR and PAS who represented the Malay community in the state had no authority and influence in the state government.

“It appears that the Penang government is a one-man government as others are not allowed to comment on Lim’s decisions,” he said.

However, state MCA deputy chairman Eng Hiap Boon said Zahrain’s outburst was just a show to earn PKR a bigger role in the DAP-led state and to show to the Malay community and voters that they were working.

Zahrain was today reported to have said that Pakatan should stop compromising with the leader who is from Malacca as Lim had failed to deliver its general election promises.

He said Lim did not like to be criticised and he was quick to label those who criticised him as Barisan Nasional agents.

This was not the first time that Zahrain had hit out at Lim. In April last year, he took Lim to task over the appointment of Deputy Chief Minister 1 and the resignation of Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as Penanti assemblyman. — Bernama

DAP Senator Tunku Aziz quick Apology

Aziz's super-quick apology and Wee's interest in Port Klang	Share
Friday, 29 January 2010 17:33
DAP vice-chairman Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz's super-quick apology to MCA Youth chief Dr Wee Ka Siong is perplexing. Just one phone call from Wee and the Senator changes his mind and apologises over his comments about Wee's links with the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ). Either Tunku Aziz had made a rash statement resulting in his apology or he has suddenly lost his nerves to pursue a matter of public interest to its end. Tunku Aziz should be reminded that he is now a Senator and therefore he must verify the basic accuracy of his statements. Likewise, he must also exercise more care and caution when making an apology so that the people are spared the confusion. On the PKFZ multi-billion-ringgit fiasco, Wee has repeatedly claimed that he had relinquished his share in consultancy firm Hijau Sekitar Sdn Bhd, after he was appointed deputy education minister. Hijau Sekitar, together with four other firms, was commissioned by Wijaya Baru Sdn Bhd to do a study on the need for port development in Port Klang. Wijaya Baru is the parent company of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, the turnkey contractor of the controversial PKFZ project. Wee has also repeatedly claimed that the survey had nothing to do with PKFZ. Isn't PKFZ part of Port Klang? Now, in his bid to clear doubts over his links with the PKFZ, Wee says he had declared his assets to the prime minister – twice to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and once to Najib Abdul Razak. That is well and good. But the main issue here is not about when he gave up his stake in Hijau Sekitar or whether he has declared his assets. The doubt is about Hijau Sekitar's links with Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, PKFZ's turnkey contractor. Wee has taken pains to explain repeatedly that Hijau Sekitar's survey had nothing to do with PKFZ. But Wee has amazingly avoided explaining why Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, through its wholly owned Wijaya Baru Sdn Bhd, engaged his firm to do a study on the need for port development in Port Klang. Isn't this the concern of the stakeholder, the Port Klang Authority? Bearing in mind that the PKFZ is part of Port Klang, what were Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd and Hijau Sekitar's interests in Port Klang at that point of time? PORT WATCHMAN Kuala Lumpur This is DAP lah ! One minute criticise , next minute can say sorry lah ! I thought only Samy Vellu does that , You scratch my back I scratch your back !

Latest update on MCA !

MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek said today that the party will not be holding a fresh elections as only 13 central committee members have offered to resign.

In order to dissolve the committee and pave way for a fresh polls, 21 CC members or two third have to resign.

Meanwhile, Chua also announced that the MCA annual general assembly, which was to be held in October, will now take place on March 7.

The meet was postponed when the faction led by vice-president Liow Tiong Lai demanded for a fresh polls to be held simultaneously with the AGM.

In a related development, former vice president Dr Fong Chan Onn, as expected, was appointed as the new disciplinary committee chairperson replacing Ng Chong Kiat who resigned following Chua's reinstatement as number two.

Party president Ong Tee Keat's political secretary Simon Lim was appointed to the powerful post of organising secretary. He will be assisted by Chua's protege Tee Siew Kiong.

The duo's appointment is seen as a move to strengthen Ong and Chua's grip on the party.

If I were Law, I will resign

over boat tragedy, says Tan

This is the DAP , they would have have been calling for the resignation of the Chief Minister if the State was still under BN , but when it happens to be them , they will shift the blame to the BN Federal Govt . Spineless DAP , good for nothing except blame , blame , blame , same like Kampong Buah Pala issue .

GEORGE TOWN: Penang State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law should seek his own conscience in determining if he should resign over the Macallum Street Ghaut dragon boat tragedy.

State Wanita MCA chief Tan Cheng Liang (pic) said if she were Law, she would accept responsibility. “The sad part of our Malaysian political scenario is that we do not have a high level of accountability.

“We push off the responsibilities and keep giving excuses,” she told reporters when asked if Law should resign as the exco-in-charge.

Tan had earlier presented ang pow and Chinese New Year goodies to some 650 senior citizens at the Lee Shih Chong Soo Association yesterday.

On Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement that the state government would not launch its investigation into the dragon boat tragedy as schools were under federal jurisdiction, Tan said:

“Anything that is not to the state’s advantage, they would push the blame to the Federal Government.”

Zahrain: Lim is a dictator

You only found it out now ? Still not too late , we knew about it for a long time ...should ask Lee Lam Thye , Hu Sepang and the rest who all resigned from DAP because of him .

By SIRA HABIBU

sira@thestar.com.my

PENANG: Dissension within Pakatan Rakyat has spread and the simmering feud between DAP and PKR leaders broke into the open when Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim verbally attacked Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Describing the DAP secretary-general as a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”, Zahrain who is the former state PKR chairman, said Pakatan should stop compromising with the leader who is from Malacca as Lim had failed to deliver its general election promises.

Stressing that he was not attacking the DAP, Zahrain said Lim would become a liability to Pakatan in the state if he continued the way he was now.

“Lim does not like to be criticised. He is quick to label those who criticise him as Barisan Nasional agents,” he said. “Even his own party colleagues do not have a say the moment Lim makes up his mind.”

Zahrain said among the election promises that were not kept were the introduction of local council election and an open tender system.

“Lim may be reluctant to push for local council election because it will diminish his power if Penangites use that as an avenue to pass verdict on the state’s performance.

“He also promised an open tender system, but he has made the process worse by personally chairing the tender board,” he said, adding that there was better check and balance during Barisan’s rule.

He said when he criticised Lim for his dictatorial ways of managing the state, he was accused of being an Umno agent.

“I am certainly not an Umno agent. I just do not want to see Pakatan going against its promises,” he said. “It is a shame for Pakatan and its principles when projects are awarded based on who knows who.”

Zahrain said Lim was not suitable to be Penang Chief Minister because he was not a local and did not understand local sentiments.

“He has failed to bring in foreign investments despite travelling all over the world to attract investments,” he said.

“Voters are watching. Penangites are very particular about economic progress.”

Zahrain also questioned why a third of Lim’s speech during the Pakatan convention was in Mandarin.

“As a leader of the Pakatan, he should respect people of all races and speak in a language understood by all.”

The attack by Zahrain comes in the wake of the open defiance of Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin against party orders over the ‘Allah’ issue.

This led to a feud bet­ween Zulkifli and PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad when the former even lodged a police report against the PAS man.

Zulkifli even challenged his party disciplinary board which let him off with a slap on his wrist but this in turned angered PKR’s political bureau chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who had quit as an Umno member, minister and senator to join the party.

Zaid criticised the party for letting off Zulkifli lightly saying it was no more than a poor copy of Umno.

Has this got to do with the impending Sodomy 2 court case ?

Hisham says incidents meant to provoke clashes

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (picture) said the desecration of two mosques earlier today appeared to be aimed at sparking racial and religious strife.

“I ask everybody to evaluate the situation themselves and give us space to find the perpetrators because I suspect that the purpose of the action is meant to bring chaos to the country. They want clashes between people of different races and religions,” he said.

He asked the public to be patient as the authorities started probing the incidents which followed arson and vandalism attacks on churches in recent weeks.

Hishammuddin said that the police will not compromise on the attacks and promised those responsible for leaving pig heads at two mosques would be caught.

“I am very angry that this incident happened and I will never compromise as you could see with the actions taken against those involved in the church attacks.

“I have ordered the IGP to the mosque to monitor the situation. We will find them and ensure that they will be captured.

“I want everybody to be patient and not listen to any rumours,” he told reporters at the Home Ministry here.

He added that Malaysians are “peace loving people” and would not condone such acts.

Pig heads were reported to be found at two mosques near here this morning, just days after the fire-bombing attacks and acts of vandalism against churches and a Sikh temple had taken place in the wake of the “Allah” controversy.

The two mosques are the Masjid Jumhuriyah in Taman Dato Harun and the Al- Imam Tirmizi mosque at Taman Sri Sentosa.

These latest acts could be construed as attempts to escalate tensions and provoke unrest between Muslims and non-Muslims as pigs are considered unhygienic in Islam and therefore their presence in the mosques is an act of desecration.

Hishammuddin said that the mosque incidents appeared aimed at inciting racial sentiments.

“I hope the people will give us the time to do the investigation because we have shown that we will not compromise on this matter.

Action on church arsonists, even if from Umno

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today promised the government would prosecute the culprits behind the recent firebombing of a church here, even if they were Umno members.

“In fact I am urging the police to take action against the culprits, no matter who they are.”

PKR’s Azmin Ali claimed yesterday he had evidence to prove that some of those responsible for the attack on the Metro Tabernacle Church were Umno members.

Hishammuddin (picture) however dismissed suggestions that Umno was behind the attacks.

Special police team for boar heads

Police are appealing to witnesses to come forward. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 — Police have formed a special investigative team to probe yesterday’s incidents where boar heads were placed at two mosques in Petaling Jaya.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Wira Muhammad Sabtu Osman said the team has been directed to examine every detail related to the case.

“This case involves national security and harmony, and must be dealt with urgently,” he told reporters earlier today.

Beyond determining the motives to the incidents, Muhammad Sabtu added that efforts were ongoing to identify witnesses and clues.

“Those with information on the matter should come forward,” he said.

Yesterday, two boar heads and a pail filled with 30 RM1 notes were placed at the rear entrance to the compound of the Masjid Jumhuriyah in Taman Datuk Haron. Similar items were also found at the entrance to the Masjid Al Imam Al Tirmizi in Taman Sri Sentosa.

Malaysians are getting ‘famous’in Singapore. Hahaha