KeADILan stand on Hudud & Qisas

It is clear that DAP is against Hudud & Qisas implementation, while PAS is for its implementation.

What is still unclear is Keadilan real stand!!! Anwar Ibrahim is totally silent on this. It is not a surprise, as he is a “playsafe” supreme leader – always avoiding controversy issues.

Anwar was on the forefront on the IJN issue which is a safe issue to fight for; when there is a controversy issue he is usually missing in action.

Lim Guan Eng said that he will contact Anwar Ibrahim on this hudud implementation issue. EXPECT NO REPLY or some mumbo-jumbo statements.

Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim in trying to explain KeAdilan stand was actually beating around the bush or obscuring the answer. It was mere political expediency to minimize the harm done by Husam Musa statement.

(PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa’s had made a statement that Pakatan Rakyat would have introduced hudud laws if they had formed the Government on Sept 16, 2008.)

The questions is - Do Keadilan support Hudud and Qisas – YES or NO?

Eventually Pakatan Rakyat hopes that this issue will be "sweep under the carpet".

P.S. Gerakan stand is clear NO HUDUD, the status quo shall not be changed.

Electrified Double-Tracking Project (TransASIAN railway)

The EDTP is an project for the rakyat, it is a project for the future. Lim Guan Eng should prevent further delay!!!

The following are parts of a press comference held today:-

1. PGRM State Youth view with great concern the public rows over the Electrified Double-Tracking Project (EDTP) between Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Gamuda Bhd.

2. At a Transparency International talk in Kuala Lumpur on 11th September 2008, titled Reinventing Penang State Administration; and at 4th Asia Economic Summit in Hong Kong on 9th December 2008; Lim Guan Eng talk about the mechanism of a public-private partnership or PPP model of a win-win formula.

3. Yet, The Penang State Government took a reactive stand on the land acquisition problems for EDTP and an offensive stand against Gamuda. This is against what he had proposed himself in term of a mechanism of public-private partnership (PPP).

4. Such public rows do not augur well for Penang especially after the Kings of Tennis debacle. The debacle had scared away Events Management companies from bringing major events to Penang. Now, these public rows, if not nip in the bud, may scare away major corporations. Lim Guan Eng enjoy claiming credit to getting this and that investment, yet, he is clearly scaring away investors.

5. Threatening, boycotting and also accusing a private company as “not reliable” or playing the fool with Penang State Govt will not resolve the problem.

6. Lim Guan Eng said that he will only want to deal with reliable investment partners. What is the definition for a reliable investment partners? Is it company that keep quiet when there is clearly a problem or a company that will kowtow to him?

7. Lim Guan Eng said compensation by Gamuda is not enough, and had requested for higher compensation in August 2008. According to him, there was no reply from Gamuda. Hence, the state government did not do the gazetting. What did the government do for the past five months? Waiting for the problem to resolve itself! Be Proactive!!!

8. Lim Guan Eng should understand that whether the compensation is reasonable or not reasonable is not determine by the government or Gamuda. It’s the valuation and the legal processes that will determine the amount of compensation.

9. If the state government will not gazette the land involved, it is near impossible to do the actual and best valuation? Therefore there will be no end.

10. Where is the PPP mechanism? The public rows with Gamuda can be resolved through proper negotiation, valuation and legal processes with all concern parties. The Penang State government should establish a new timeline with Gamuda to enable the original completion target date of January 2013 to be met.

11. It may help, if Lim Guan Eng can go to Perak,Kedah or Perlis to study why there are no major problems there for the land acquisition.

12. The EDTP is a important social and economic catalyst for the future of Penang, Malaysia, Indo China and China. The Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng must realize this, and not sacrifice the future social and economic benefits of the rakyat for his own political agenda or ego, or Lim Guan Eng may have good intention, but this row will cause the Rakyat and those directly affected to suffer due to the uncertainty and the delay.


Brief Benefits Of The EDTP
1. This project is part of the TransAsian rail link from Beijing/Kunming to Singapore and with it completion will bring a host of social and economic benefit to the people in the whole region.
2. Upon completion of this EDTP, major stations on the railway line will received the benefits generated – social, business, tourism,cargo.
3. Upon completion of this EDTP,the improvement in speed, reliability and flexibility of railway transport will boost tremendously freight and passenger traffic. For example a Pen-KL trip will take only 3 hours.
4. Locally, the EDTP will elevate the constant traffic jams at the vicinity of railways gates.
5. The EDTP can be the backbone for future commuter services in the northern area, similar to the Klang Valley commuter services.
6. The EDTP will also increase the safety and security of the railway reserve area and prevent mishaps. Over-reliance on road transport is unsustainable, especially during congestion on expressways and festive seasons.

7. The EDTP will eventually be environmental friendly.

NO to IJN Privatization

The proposal to privatize the National Heart Institute (Institut Jantung Negara – IJN) to Sime Darby group should not be approved.

The National Heart Institute is the best in this region and had enabled the poor to affordable world class heart treatment.

Over-commercialization of the health service/sector is not beneficial to the rakyat.

The healthcare sector had become a lucrative industry; it is difficult to imagine that Sime Darby can ensure the “CURRENT” treatment rates are maintained.

Even if, Sime Darby commits to maintain a ‘regulated treatment rate” it will be still much more expensive and I suspect in the future they will push up the rate. The commitment will most probably be hollow promises or with "escape clauses".

The non-commercialization nature of IJN had enable the specialists and doctors to focus on enhancing the skills and to be the best in their profession; however, a ‘profit-oriented” healthcare organization will eventually dilute and disperse these; instead the focus will be more on $$$ and to be the best in term of $$$ for Sime Darby.

It is natural for Sime Darby, as a business entity, to target IJN for privatization; the government should put the welfare of the people ahead of privatization or commercialization.

Read also Leave IJN Alone by Marina Mahathir.

18-12-2008, The Edge Daily
Sime Darby confirms interest in IJN
by Lim Shie-Lynn


KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has confirmed its interest to buy a stake in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, which operates the National Heart Institute, or Institut Jantung Negara (IJN).

In response to a query by Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Sime Darby said: “The company has written to the government expressing an interest in acquiring a stake in IJN Holdings. The company is awaiting an official response from the government.”

Sime Darby also said its proposed investment would be subject to due diligence and approvals from the relevant authorities.

The Edge Financial Daily reported yesterday that the Ministry of Finance (MoF), which owns IJN via its 99.99% stake in IJN Holdings, had submitted a proposal to the cabinet for the privatisation of the hospital. However, that has been met with objections from the Ministry of Health.

Met at Parliament yesterday, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha declined to comment on the proposed IJN sale. Sources confirmed there had been talks between MoF and government-linked companies on the proposed divestment.

“No decision has been made yet,” a source said. It is understood that if Sime Darby takes over the hospital, the government will ensure that its treatment charges are regulated.

“As Sime may get to set up a private wing in the soon-to-be completed new wing in IJN, that private wing could be the cash-generating segment for IJN and Sime,” a source said.

Sime Darby has been eyeing IJN as the latter had gained recognition as the leading heart centre in the region with the number of referrals for complicated and demanding cases on the rise, sources said.

“The other part of the IJN appeal is the consistent number of patients it received because all cardio patients from government hospitals in the country are referred to IJN. As such, IJN has a captive market which has kept its bottom line high,” one of the sources said.

Nevertheless, an industry source said IJN’s monopoly over the government cardio patients referrals would gradually cease as there were plans to set up hospitals with heart centres in the country.

“There would be fewer government patients sent to IJN. The cardio patients would be sent to these hospitals instead. The Serdang Hospital and Kuching Hospital are ready to receive cardio referrals.

“There are plans for more peripheral hospitals and heart centres in Alor Star, Johor Bahru, Kuantan and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sabah,” the source said.

Still, Sime Darby would be able to leverage on IJN’s reputation as the leading centre for cardiac care in the region, OSK Research said in a note.

“If IJN’s privatisation were to take place, Sime Darby will be able to leverage on IJN’s strong brand and reputation, which will make it easier for Sime Darby to further grow its healthcare business.

“Sime Darby’s interest in taking over IJN is in line with the group’s mission to strengthen its private healthcare business through its newly established division, Sime Darby Healthcare.

“This jives with our view that there are enormous opportunities in Malaysia’s private healthcare sector, driven by strong demand due to the country’s growing ageing population, longer life expectancy and rising affluence,” it said. Since IJN’s establishment, it has treated over a million patients.

Sime closed 20 sen higher at RM5.50 yesterday.

New Penang Bridge Traffic Dispersion System

The DAP government had failed again.

The implementation failure of the new Penang Bridge Traffic dispersion system shows that the present DAP government do not analyse problem(s) in depth.

It is also surprising that no one advise LGE that his suggestion to have traffic policemen and other staff manning the flow of vehicles coming from more than 10 toll booths into the 2 lanes bridge will definitely failed.

LGE's idea worsen the situation - he was suggesting the creation of a new bottleneck immediately after the toll booths.

The previous BN and this DAP government both failed to understand the problem. Both failed to understand bottlenecks and the principle to solve them.

The design of the second bridge reflect this lack of understanding too!

They should read a novel by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, & Jeff Cox titled The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement, easier than reading a Management Science or Operation Research book.

I-Dance, PENANG STATE STREET DANCE COMPETITION

The I-Dance Competition is going to be held for the second time this year after the success of the Penang Street Dance Competition in 2007. In 2007, the competition did not attract any major controversy. Even the "So You Think You Can Dance' nation-wide competition do not have such a controversy, Muhamad Haslam "Alam" the winner, is now a youth celebrity and a role model.

However, this year Penang PAS youth, DAP partner in Pakatan Rakyat are against it. The situation worsen until Penang Pas Commisioner have to step in, yet PAS Youth is still adamant against it.

What is worrisome, is that to please PAS, the competition Rule 12 state that, “only same gender teams are allowed for Muslim participants. Non-muslim participants are also encouraged to have same gender teams.”

I am not a Muslim, whether the same gender teams for Muslim participants rule is suitable or not is for the Muslims to decide.

But, adding a statement that, “Non-muslim participants are also encouraged to have same gender teams” indicated the pressure PAS is putting on the DAP-led Penang state government.....



Star online,Thursday December 11, 2008
Street dancing contest to go on
By K.KASTURI DEWI

GEORGE TOWN: The I-Dance street dancing competition will go on but Muslim male and female participants are not allowed to mingle with each other. State Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi said yesterday she had agreed to the condition imposed by state PAS leaders after meeting them on Saturday.

“Our committee managed to convince the PAS leaders that the event is a healthy pastime to combat social ills and their fears that it would promote social problems among youngsters were baseless,” she said during a press conference at her office.

Ong said she also explained to them that the event was held at a public place and under the supervision of teachers, parents and dance instructors.

“Public decency is assured and we also highlighted the event’s objectives, such as introducing street dance to youths in Penang as a healthy pastime and to counter negative vices such as loafing, vandalism and illegal racing (mat rempit). It also helps to curb drug and alcohol abuse,’’ she added.

Ong was commenting on the protest by the state PAS Youth which wanted the competition to be cancelled.

Its chief Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin had urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to scrap the event in line with the latter’s administrative slogan of amar ma’ruf mahi mungkar (enjoining good and preventing wrongdoing).

Ong also said the event organisers would meet with the Consumers’ Association of Penang next week to explain that the event was a non-profit youth project and a non-commercial activity for school children.

The event, supported by the state youth and sports committee, will see the preliminary round held at the New World Park from 7pm to 10pm on Dec 20. The finals will be held at the Queensbay Mall on Dec 27 and a dance jamboree will be held at the New World Park on Dec 28.

Fort Cornwallis aka Fort Construction

The beauty and charm of Penang is not lost in the happy and smiling faces of these UK tourists.


Unfortunately...............

The ongoing renovation (see pix below) to further enhance the heritage area surrounding Fort Cornwalis was budgeted in 2007.

This renovation should have started earlier, instead starting it at the year end when it is the PEAK holiday season created an eyesore for the tourists and a drop of income for the hawkers at the nearby hawker centre.

The timing is way off, it shows a lack of implementation planning by the DAP state government and of course the MPPP.

The renovation and construction damaged the view of Esplanade and Fort Corwallis, instead of good lasting impression, most tourists will go home with poor memory of the Esplanade.

P.S. The hawker centre there have many good food stalls. My favorite stall is the Rojak - try it.

Coward, Eunuch or Puppet

Cannon without any balls - Meriam tanpa bebola

When the Gerakan led government created the Deputy Chief Minister position for the Malay community, DAP leaders took out their spears, arrows and guns to oppose it.

Gerakan do not believe in criticizing for the sake of opposing. Therefore, when DAP created the Deputy Chief Minister II for the Indian community, Gerakan discussed it within the party and decided not to oppose the creation of this new post as it may be beneficial to the Indian community.

Lim Guan Eng choose to maintain DCM 1 which they oppose and in addition, created DCM II.

It is Lim Guan Eng responsibilities to ensure that the persons entrusted to these Deputy Chief Minister positions perform to expectation. If not, Lim Guan Eng had failed in his duties.

Instead Lim Guan Eng had look down on his own appointments. For examples, in a recent trip to Taiwan, he assigned two DAP Executive Councilors(Phee Boon Poh & Chow Kon Yeow) to look after Perai and Penang island respectively in the event of a flooding crisis. He conveniently had forgotten his own Deputy Chief Ministers. Deputy Chief Ministers are senior positions, unless for Lim Guan Eng it is interpreted as a mere showcase.

In his many trips abroad - the latest Xiamen, his Deputy Chief Minister 1 was left out in the cold by Lim Guan Eng when he should had taken on additional responsibilities.

Pushing the issue on the possible replacement of Deputy Chief Minister I to PKR highlight the weakness of Penang state government that is led by Lim Guan Eng.

Is this the signs of a coward, a eunuch or a puppet? I apologize to the readers if this question and the above picture seem harsh, yet the purpose is to jolt Lim Guan Eng from his honeymoon or slumber – if not, Penangnites will suffer under his weak leadership.

‘Special position’ instead of ‘Ketuanan’

The Star, Monday December 1, 2008
Koh: Say ‘special position’ instead of ‘ketuanan’


GEORGE TOWN: Use the term “special position” instead of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy), Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon urged.

“The term ketuanan Melayu would give rise to a tuan and hamba (master and underling) situation so let’s use the proper term as provided for in the Federal Constitution.

“Article 153 safeguards the special position of the Malays and natives, the Rulers and Islam, as well as protects the legitimate interests of non-Malays,” he said after opening the party’s life member council meeting yesterday.

“We must understand the Federal Constitution, parliamentary democracy system and constitutional monarchy in totality. The needs of rakyat Malaysia must come first, especially in light of global challenges.”........


NST, 2008/12/01
Koh: Malay supremacy not in Constitution

GEORGE TOWN: The constitutional reference to the kedudukan istimewa (special position) of the Malays must be respected in the same way as the rights and interests of other races, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said yesterday.

He said the question of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) did not arise as it was not contained in the Federal Constitution.

Dr Koh said the right term to be used in relation to the special position of the Malays was kedudukan istimewa as contained in Article 153 and not ketuanan Melayu.

He said this when asked to comment on MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek's remark that the concept of Malay supremacy was no longer relevant.

Koh said ketuanan Melayu carried the connotation of a tuan (master) and hamba (slave) relationship.

"Article 153 of the Federal Constitution talks about the special position of the Malays, as well as the valid rights and interests of other races," he said, adding that it must be read in totality.


Utusan, 1/12/08
Tsu Koon: PULAU PINANG

30 Nov. – Istilah ketuanan Melayu di negara ini tidak sesuai digunakan kerana ia menggambarkan seolah-olah seperti hubungan ‘tuan dengan hamba’, kata Presiden Gerakan, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon.

Dalam senario politik tanah air ujarnya, istilah tersebut boleh menimbulkan pelbagai tafsiran kepada semua pihak.

‘‘Kita perlu merujuk kepada Perlembagaan Malaysia di bawah Artikel 153 mengenai kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu serta kaum bumiputera Sabah dan Sarawak.

‘‘Ia turut menyatakan sekali hak-hak kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain mengikut peruntukan perkara ini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Mesyuarat Majlis Ahli Seumur Hidup Gerakan di sini hari ini. Ia dipengerusikan oleh Penasihat Gerakan, Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik.

Beliau mengulas kenyataan Timbalan Presiden MCA, Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek yang mendakwa ketuanan Melayu tidak relevan lagi hari ini serta disokong oleh Ketua Wanita MCA, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, kelmarin.

Sementara itu, Tsu Koon meminta semua pihak menjadikan Perlembagaan negara sebagai asas rujukan kerana segala perkara berkaitan dengan rakyat dan negara terkandung di dalamnya.

Katanya, kaum lain di negara ini sememangnya menghormati dan tidak menyangkal apa-apa yang terkandung dalam Perlembagaan negara itu.

‘‘Kita ikut apa yang terkandung di dalam Perlembagaan dan menerimanya sebagai dokumen rasmi yang diterima oleh semua pihak.

‘‘Sehubungan itu, lebih baik kita jangan guna perkataan ‘ketuanan Melayu’ kerana dikhuatiri ia mampu mencetuskan pertikaian. Tak perlulah kita gaduh-gaduh,” jelasnya.

Pada sidang akhbar yang sama, beliau menyuarakan pendapat agar isu tersebut tidak lagi digembar-gemburkan dan memberi tumpuan sepenuhnya kepada perkara lain terutamanya mengenai krisis ekonomi.

Beliau turut mengajak rakyat merujuk kepada Perlembagaan negara kerana di dalamnya terkandung semangat prinsip Rukun Negara dan peristilahan Perlembagaan yang tidak perlu dipertikaikan lagi.

‘‘Saya merayu kepada semua agar tidak mempertikaikan lagi mengenai perkara ini dan menumpukan sepenuhnya kepada isu-isu lain seperti bagaimana untuk memantapkan ekonomi negara.

‘‘Apa-apa pun, jika timbul sebarang permasalahan, kita rujuk sahaja kepada Rukun Negara serta Perlembagaan,” tambahnya.Istilah ketuanan Melayu tak sesuai

Ungkapan Ketuanan Melayu: Sesuai atau Tidak

Below is my opinion that was emailed to Utusan Malaysia on 29 November, 2008 regarding the issue of "Ketuanan Melayu".

Saya setuju dengan gesaan Presiden GPMS, Datuk Reezal Merican supaya semua pihak lebih rasional dalam isu penggunaan ungkapan "Ketuanan Melayu".

Ungkapan ini bertujuan untuk mengangkat mertabat dan darjat perjuangan orang Melayu tanpa memperhambakan kaum lain dalam proses pembangunan negara dan proses penggemilangan bangsa Melayu. Tujuan ini bukanlah sesuatu yang ganjil, setiap kaum atau bangsa turut mahu mengangkat mertabat dan darjat perjuangan mereka.

Yang menjadi punca perdebatan ialah perspektif yang berbeza di pihak yang lain terhadap konotasi dari ungkapan Ketuanan Melayu ini. Di pihak yang lain, mereka berpendapat ungkapan ini membawa konotasi hubungan tuan dengan hamba - kalau ada tuan kemungkinannya ada hamba.

Jika kita memahami tujuan ungkapan, adalah tidak sesuai bagi sebarang pihak untuk mengatakan ungkapan ini tidak relevan.

Tetapi, adakah ia sesuai dalam sebuah negara pelbagai kaum? Adalah sukar untuk menerangkan tujuan ungkapan ini kepada semua kaum yang lain supaya mereka tidak terasa akan diperhambakan. Perlukah kita menunggu peredaran masa supaya akhirnya ungkapan ini boleh diterima selepas bertahun-tahun memberi penerangan?

Misalnya, di laman web wikipedia yang terkenal di seluruh dunia “Ketuanan Melayu” telah diberi konotasi yang negatif dan takrifan yang kurang tepat.

Sepanjang pengetahuan saya, sebelum tahun 1980an ungkapan ini tidak wujud. Ungkapan ini adalah suatu ungkapan yang baru.

Adakah terdapat ungkapan lain yang tetap mempunyai tujuan yang sama tetapi tidak mempunyai konotasi negatif untuk kaum-kuam yang lain. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka boleh mengambil langkah proaktif untuk menangani isu hangat terhadap ungkapan ini dengan mencadangkan ungkapan lain.

Negara kita amnya sangat toleran, isu hangat ini perlu diselesai dengan semangat kenegaraan yang rasional

ACA Report Made Over Development In George Town World Heritage Site

I had made a report to the ACA, the Bernama report below essentially tells the story.

PENANG, Nov 27 (Bernama)

The Tanjong Division Gerakan Youth today lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) over what it claimed to be the Penang government's hasty approval of a high-rise project in the World Heritage Site buffer zone in George Town without the knowledge of Unesco's World Heritage Committee.

Its head, H'ng Khoon Leng, in his written report to the Penang ACA director Latifah Md Yatim, sought an investigation into whether there had been abuse of authority by certain quarters in the approval of the 23-storey condominium project of the Low Yat Group just days before George Town was declared a World Heritage Site, along with Melaka, in July.

He also expressed regret that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had indicated as reported according to his statement Wednesday that he was prepared to forgo three hotel projects approved earlier for the buffer zone if the condominium project, to be developed by Bintang Holdings, had to be cancelled.

H'ng said Lim said that "if the condominium project is not allowed, then all the other three projects should not be allowed either. It is all or nothing". (reported by NST, Pg 12 in a telephone interview with LGE)

The other three projects are the Rice Miller Boutique Hotel, the Boustead Royale Bintang Hotel and an extension of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, all of which were approved by the state planning committee early last year.

The Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry has given the Penang government one month from Nov 24 to review the projects in the George Town buffer zone in a move to prevent Unesco’s withdrawal of the city’s World Heritage Site status.

Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had said that he had asked the state government to do several things in the one month, including asking the contractors to ensure that the construction did not have any adverse impact on the site.

A buffer zone of a World Heritage Site is an area around the site which has been identified to protect the visual setting of the site. Development proposals within the buffer zone will be considered for their impact upon the site.

The award of the World Heritage Site status to George Town and Melaka is inter-linked such that any action in either city which results in the withdrawal of the status would automatically affect the other as well.-- BERNAMA

Multi Language Street Name Sign?

First and foremost, the actual aim of DAP is not to promote tourism thru various languages, it was originally a Chinese chauvinistic action by them.

In DAP pre-GE12 gimmick, they hope to win the support of Chinese Penangites by proposing Chinese road signboards. In July 2008, a group of Gerakan Youth members led by Dr Thor Teong Ghee did a tit-for-tat action to redicule DAP into fulfilling their "impossible" promise - putting up additional ONLY Chinese road signboard in Penang.

Luckily, the granting of the World Heritage status by UNESCO to Penang enable a WAY OUT for DAP, by subtlely twisting their originally chauvinistic promise of only Chinese signboard, they CHANGED their proposal into having street name signs in various languages to hide their real aim, intent and proposal. DAP is actually the "leopard that had changed it spots"(refer to today Star, Sat 22, 2008 to understand what I meant).

Eventually, I believe the implementation of the multi languages street name signs may be successful due to the fear of Gerakan Youth monitoring and pressure.

The notes below are taken from my press conference today on Multiple Language Road Signs (or Is It Dual Language Road Signs?)

• As expected the Penang Copycat government copied the previous dual language road sign standard of having English as the subsidiary or second language (see sample pix for Lorong Lumut, a side road off Acheen street). The copycat government solution to the “multiple” language road signs was to replace the smaller English road name positioning on heritage road sign with other language.




• Instead, we have the same street with various different signboards using different subsidiary language situated at different locations. For example, at Acheen Street, the street name with Arabic is at the Carnarvon St end, the Mandarin version is at the junction with Cannon St while the Tamil version is at the junction with Victoria St. Unfortunately, this is DAP level of capability and it took them many months cracking their heads to come up with their best solution.




• However, this is still a dual language road signs, it is not a multiple language road signs. It is nothing new. Dual language road signs exist in other states too.




• In order to have the other non-English subsidiary languages incorporated into this new road sign, it would have meant revising the guideline on road sign board. In revising, they should have also resize the board to enable some additional subsidiary languages to be used although with a smaller font size in respect to the font size of the National Language.




• Where is the original road sign with the English translation? For example, Lebuh Acheh is well-known as Acheen Street, it is missing from the new road sign. I search high and low for the English one, it had been removed. It shows a serious lack of incompetency, another sloppy job as the Asean Culture Centre and Kings of Tennis. Luckily, it is not yet an expensive cost.




• English should be on all the heritage road sign boards. English is one of the foremost international language.




• The peculiarities of the Penang heritage roads require special understanding and handling. The State government should ensure that this is not done half-heartedly and corrupt the localized names by over-simplifying this task. This issue started as a DAP political gimmick to get Chinese votes, Tanjong Youth hope that eventually good results will come out of this due to pressure from Gerakan Youth and others.




• The heritage road's historical information board (by PHT)also need to be improved. It is look like a temporary board and is not attractive. It is more effective in promoting and sharing the history of the heritage roads. However, content-wise it is a very good effort.




• Instead of only the relevant officers and YBs, half the Pakatan Rakyat Aduns attended yesterday GRAND OPENING CEREMONY of the “Lebuh Acheh” road signs. It is shameful that this is the best they can do and the best they can gloat about after nearly 9 months in power. There are many more important and urgent task ahead for the State Government especially maintaining and boosting the economic living of the rakyat. I hope they will not want to be called the ROAD SIGN GOVERNMENT (Kerajaan Jalanan) in the future.

Wireless@Penang - Lack of Political Will and Vision (Part 1)

The action of the Penang state government to bulldoze thru the Wireless@Penang shows a clear lack of political will and vision. Lim Guan Eng and co. had jumped in and join the wireless broadband bandwagon advocated by the Federal government.

Trying to be the leading state in Malaysia for the implementation of Wimax demostrates this lack of political will and vision - it had easily succumb to the pressure of the profiteers, etc.

This lack of political will and vision signify that the DAP government is no better that the BN government. In fact, it is weaker, while BN propose, the DAP or Pakatan Rakyat merely followed foolishly.

This government lack the ability to generate, to invent, to create and to formulate new ideas and policies.

It's political mandate will be short.....

P.S: I attended the Wireless@Penang forum, it was merely another "sandiwara". If the forum was genuine, then expert opponents to telcos and wifi should also be invited. It was a lame effort to hide the government unaccountability and lack of
transparency.

Big Bang Bomb - Kings of Tennis

On 11th of November 2008, I scheduled a press conference with the media on 12th November 2008 regarding the Kings of Tennis event. The purpose were to urge the Penang State Government to extend full support to the organizers and to urge Malaysians to come out and give this world class event its full support.

As a Penangnite (politics is secondary on this), I was concerned after reading the postings and comments in various blogs especially HC Foo's Tennis Blog and after reading an article regarding the lack of support from the Penang State Government in the Star.

Unfortunately, our original intention was not to be. It was already too late, instead it became a press conference solely to criticize the Penang State Government. The report in Sun newspaper in more accurate while Star reports of what I actually said was not accurate at all, however it is irrelevant now.

The main reason for criticizing the State Government was because its a norm to provide FULL support towards tourism event in the past. In the past, it was a usual practice to have meetings with all relevant government departments, NGOs, etc to ensure the success of tourism events. It was also a norm for the previous State Government to assist in the promotion and securing of sponsorship.

Anyway, now it became a political issue. Penang Gerakan Youth handed over a memorandum with the following questions to the political secretary of Lim Guan Eng, at the compound of the State Legislative Assembly this morning.

1. On Sunday, 9^th November 2008 as reported in the Star, the organizers complained that there was a lack of support from the DAP State Government. Did the DAP State Government gave an endorsement of full support to the organizer?

2. Was there any written contract or verbal contract between the DAP State Government and organizers?

3. Did the State Government confirms officially that Penang is willing to be the host state and if yes, when did the government confirmed its willingness to be a host state?

4. If the DAP State Government confirmed its participation as the host state and give its full endorsement, what steps and actions were taken by the DAP Penang State Government to ensure the success of this world class event?

5. Realizing the recent failure of the ASEAN Culture Centre event, why did the DAP State Government continue to took a lackadaisical attitude towards promotion of tourism events such as the Kings of Tennis?

6. What is the estimated cost to repair all the damages to the Esplanade field and when will the repairs be completed?

7. If MPPP failed to recover compensation from the organizers for the restoration of Esplanade field, will the DAP State Government provides the necessary fund to bail out from this debacle?

8. On what ground, the DAP Government waived the full RM2000000 bank guarantee needed for the organizers to set up structures at the Esplanade?

9. Why was the RM200000 rental for the usage of Esplanade field not paid? Did the State Government waive it?

10. According to the MPPP President, YDP Dato’ Zainal Rahim, as reported in various newspapers, he is baffled and said that MPPP never approved the use of Esplanade field and the construction of the tennis stadium. If so, who gave the approval and permission to use the Esplanade field and allow the construction of the tennis stadium?

11. What are the current criteria use by the DAP State Government to consider events for endorsement? In view of these shameful failures, will the DAP State Government established new guidelines and criteria to prevent such reoccurrences?

12. What remedial and corrective actions will the DAP State Governments take to restore the damage reputation of Penang as a venue to host international events caused by the failure of The ASEAN Culture Centre and the Kings of Tennis events?

Asean Culture Centre

Recently, Sdra Oh Tong Keong, Penang Gerakan Youth Chief raised various concerns regarding the poor management of the Asean Culture Centre (see Star report below).

However, there are other curiousities that boggle the mind, such as:-

Why did Matex deny that they are the organisor(in the Chinese press) when the banners proclaiming this event hanged around the island stated that they where the organisor?

The event was not promoted on their website.

If Matex is not the organisor, who is the actual organisor?

I have seen email promoting this event, it seem quite vague.

How much public fund was  wasted in organising the flopped event?  

Someone need to be held accountable...

Note:
 MATEX (MALAYSIA TOURISM EXECUTIVE SDN. BHD) formerly known as Truly Consultancy & Development (M) Sdn. Bhd, is a joint venture company with Pembangunan Pelancongan Nasional (PEMPENA), a subsidiary of Tourism Malaysia (Ministry of Tourism).

Tuesday October 28, 2008
Hire professionals


THE state government should consider getting professional event management companies to organise the Penang Pesta Expo to prevent the annual year-end event from becoming a flop.

Penang Gerakan Youth chief Oh Tong Keong said the state government needed to be sincere about making the Pesta expo a success by not doing the job half-heartedly and end up turning it into an embarrassment.

“The Pesta Asean Culture Centre expo, which is currently ongoing, is a failure. It is poorly managed and the number of international stalls have dwindled since it opened early this month.

“Only the Indonesian and Thai stalls remain while the others from Asean countries like the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia had folded,” he told a press conference at the Pesta expo site in Sungai Nibong yesterday.

It was reported recently that the newly-introduced expo, which opens daily from 3pm to 11pm, had suffered poor visitor turnout during the non-school holiday season.

State Tourism, Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang had cited poor publicity on the expo by event manager Malaysia Tourism Executive Sdn Bhd (MATEX) as one of the causes.

Oh said Law was pushing the responsibility to Matex, which was said to have told a Chinese daily that it was not the orga niser of the Asean Culture Centre expo.

“The Pesta expo has been in the local scene for about four decades and it would be ashamed to see it end up like this. We do not want it to be an embarrassment to Penangites,” he said.

He hoped pulic funds were not used to organise the event in view of its failure.

Law had announced last week that the expo, scheduled for non-school holiday season, would be scrapped next year due to its poor showing now.

The expo, to be held until Oct 31, was introduced this year in addition to the one in December by the state government to fully utilise the pesta site.

LGE in Korea again?

Hooked on "hallyu"?

It's just another way of saying "Korean wave" and if it hasn't hit your hometown yet, wait.

Korean TV dramas have managed to rope in audiences from New York to Hawaii to Egypt and turn them into raving, loyal fans.

What's the attraction?

Much like American soap operas Korean TV dramas feature forbidden love, meddling relatives, and thieving business partners. The major difference is that plot lines end usually after 16 to 20 hour-long episodes no matter how popular they have become........(excerpt from Pop Culture - Korean Drama)


LGE in Korea again within six months!!!  

LGE and Co. could be loyal fans or they are on the verge of successfully getting Korean investments.   Which is true?  Fans or investments? Soon, he will have to answer in the State Assembly.


The Star, Friday October 31, 2008
Gerakan hits out at Penang govt’s S. Korea trade visit


GEORGE TOWN: The Pakatan Rakyat state government has come under fire for sending a 52-member trade delegation to South Korea during the global economic crisis.

Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan questioned the effectiveness of the trip, saying the state government could not even solve the financial crisis faced by the Football Association of Penang or hold a successful cultural expo at the Penang Pesta site.

“The Koreans are now busy rescuing their own companies; do you think they have time for us? (Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng should take care of his own backyard and ensure that everything is in order before leaving the country,” he added.

Huan pointed out that Lim had yet to reveal the outcome of his trip to South Korea in May.

“Now, he is going there again. Why must he bring his deputy (Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin) along with his wife (Betty Chew) and two DAP MPs (Jeff Ooi and Liew Chin Tong)?” Huan asked, adding that he had never followed former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon on trade missions when he was the Batu Kawan MP.

Lim is on a trade and investment promotion mission to Seoul until tomorrow.

He is scheduled to have business meetings with several South Korean companies and potential investors in various sectors like electronics, health care, education and travel as well as with the South Korean Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture.

The delegation includes Penang Development Corporation general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar, investPenang executive committee chairman Datuk Lee Kah Choon and three officials as well as private sector participants.

Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah questioned the need for such a big delegation, saying the largest entourage the previous state administration had ever handled was only 25 people.

“The DAP criticised the previous Barisan Nasional administration for allegedly not doing anything right but now they are keeping quiet when spending taxpayers’ money.

“What has happened to their much talked about Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) system? Has Guan Eng ever told the people that he travelled Business Class or First Class whenever he goes on official overseas trips?” he asked.

Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said the Pakatan state government should look after the existing investors and provide a conducive environment for them to stay on in light of the current world economic situation instead of wooing new ones.

SMJK Phor Tay: Mixing Partisan Politics with Buddhism

Yesterday when I read in the newspapers that Venerable Wei Wu - a revered Buddhist monk in Malaysia - had to answered allegations of impropriety by Lim Guan Eng's proxy, it dawn upon me the extreme politiking that Pakatan Rakyat politicians and cronies are willing to execute in order to control most if not all organisations in Penang.

It pains me to see a revered Buddhist monk having to defend himself against trump up allegations.

Lim Guan Eng who recently became the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Silver Jubilee Home of the Aged, through his proxy is trying to create chaos in the SMJK Phor Tay (a Buddhist Secondary school) board. This new SMJK Phor Tay is built on the Silver Jubilee Home's land on a 60 years lease.

Chaos is opportunity - an opportunity to seize control of Phor Tay and make it into another Han Chiang. Another great bastion for DAP.

In the worst case scenerio for the DAP, make the new SMJK Phor Tay building project a failure or saddled it with numerous problems and blame it on the previous government.

This is in stark contrast to Sdra Koh Tsu Koon who I remember requested members not to involved societies and organisations with partisan politics. I disagreed with him on this point except for charitable & religious societies and organisations.

What is the used of a political movement if it is not involved with the general societies and organisations. But, there most be a limit, the limit should for be charitable and religious societies and organisations.

Unfortunately, Lim Guan Eng, a non-Buddhist do not comprehend practising Buddhists psyche - WE DO NOT MIX PARTISAN POLITICS WITH RELIGION.  He should ask his father LKS to explain to him.

Ultimately, Lim Guan Eng probably want to be in control of Phor Tay directly or thru a proxy.

The battles to seize and control societies and organisations by the DAP have started in earnest...............

Read also Buddhism & Politics by Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera

Sri Mahakaliamman Temple Demolition

The recent demolition of the 19 years old Sri Mahakaliamman temple near Kampung Tasek Tambahan by officers from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council(MPAJ) on Sept 9 raised quite a number of questions.  Some of the questions are:-

1.  Was the promise not to demolish any place of worship by Pakatan Rakyat parties before and during the recent General Election just mere sweet talks and empty promises?

At least 10 notices of demolition to temples were issues by the MPAJ alone, what about the other councils?  Dear readers, you decide!!!

2.  Does Dr Xavier Jayakumar who is a Indian EXCO in the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government understand the paramount important of Hindu temples to the Hindus?

I doubt it, his attempt to trivialize this issue shows his lack of understanding of the Indian Hindu psyche.

3.  Is the one week suspension of the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council(MPAJ) Deputy President Hamid Hussain enough?

Definitely “NO” – he was already on leave and is enjoying his holiday in Langkawi.  

But, is he the person that should be hold responsible?

I don’t think so!!!

Someone higher up is covering his @#$$!!!

4.  Did the Kapar MP, S. Manikavasagam really intend to resign from his position as the Selangor PKR liaison deputy chairman or was it merely a "sandiwara"?

It is just SANDIWARA-lah.

S. Manikavasagam knows the sacredness of Hindu temples(at least he knows, unlike Xavier), it was a political gimmick to deflect mounting pressure on him and to score political points.

Today, he had retracted his threat of resigning as he is agreeable to the 1 week suspension of the Deputy President of MPAJ. This suspension is also just another sandiwara.

5.  Was there an attempt to cover up the demolition as a renovation soon after it was expose in the media?

Think.  

The Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin had said that the temple’s committee members had demolished the temple for renovation work, how can she said that when it was clearly a demolition?

Was there an attempt to cover up?

Who were involved in this attempt to misled the public?

Probably a report to the ACA is necessary to discover any element of wrongdoings. 

Descendents of The Dragon

I always consider myself a Malaysian first, yet most Malaysians whether they are Malay, Chinese, India, Kadazan, Iban , etc are proud of their heritage.

Today, a group of Islamic officers raided a kitchenware shop at Carnarvon Street to confiscate bowls, and plates that they deem to contained Islamic/Arabic/Jawi script surrounding Dragon print. These fire designs can also be found in Chinese temples whenever the dragon print , painting, etc adorned those temples.

The script is actually the fire motif/pattern that adorn the dragon print on the plate and bowls. These designs had existed for hundred of years in Chinese artwork. I wonder how after 50 years of independent that we still have people who do not understand the culture and heritage of other Malaysians.

The fire motif/pattern is a very common design that will usually accompany the dragon print. The Chinese considered themselves the descendent of the dragon, this attempt to confiscate those items are like asking the dragon to puff "water" instead of "fire". I am born in the year of the dragon, it really aggravate the insult.

I think there is a pressing need to have a few liaison officers of various religions attached to all Religious Departments to avoid such insulting actions from repeating again.

Only constructive comments welcomed.

Walk of Freedom For Tan Hoon Cheng

Last night (Friday, Sept 12, 2008) Sin Chew Daily senior reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng was detained under the Internal Security Act. It was a total surprise for nearly everyone.

At least 200 people gathered at the Penang Police HQ, off Penang Road to show full support for her. Most Penang-based reporters were there, more than 100 Gerakan leaders and members, some DAP YBs, Suaram members and a handful of MCA members. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was also there. Gerakan leaders that were there was Chia Kwang Chye, Teng Hock Nan, Teng Chang Yeow, Cheang Chee Gooi, and many others. Nearly all Penang Island Gerakan division youth chairmans were there to lend moral support to her.

Most political parties irrespective of political divide wanted her to be released immediately. Mr Chia Loong Thye a lawyer and also a Gerakan local leader provided assistance thru the Bar Council lawyer Mr Edmund Bon who is also the chairman of the Bar Council Human Rights Committee.

Gerakan leaders and other BN components leaders spare no effort to secure her immediate release. A petition for her release was initiated by Gerakan, this was followed by a Walk of Freedom from Gerakan HQ to Sin Chew Daily Penang Office.

See Adrian Lim's Flickr slidshow -
http://flickr.com/photos/adrianlim/sets/72157607259424990/show/

Sin Chew Daily senior reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was released this afternoon after being held for 16 hours under the ISA and is now back at home in Bukit Mertajam.

Verify SMS, Before Forwarding

These are notes from my facebook:

Part 1:
Last night, from about 9.45pm I received a barrage of SMSes from friends and relatives urging the boycotting of a major petrol station in Penang.

The SMS message was as followed:

STOP BUYING PETROL AT THE STATION NEXT TO , THAT STATION BELONGED TO AHMAD ISMAIL.

The above message was clearly pinpointing a well-known, well-established and well-patronised petrol station in Penang.

The owner of the said station was a friendly Chinese lady with a Malay husband.I have never meet her husband, only her elderly but alert mother. I could not believe such a friendly person could be linked to such an infamous person.

Immediately, I decided to drive to that petrol station to verify the accuracy of that sms. The message was totally malicious, Madam Marie's husband was Mr Hassan Farouke. Their business have no link to Ahmad Ismail, they do not know him except what that had been written in the newspaper.

I decided to type an SMS to all my friends and relatives to stop forwarding that message. I hope it will help. (later, a friend sms me to thank for sending out the counter sms, Mr Hassan was his friend in Penang Free School, Class of 1965)

But, damaged had already been done.

I suggested she report to the police and held a press conference to rectified the situation.

The lesson - since March 2008 there are so many inaccurate SMSes circulating - we most be responsible. Check the accuracy of the SMSes before forwarding.

Part 2:
The updated or corrected sms on boycotting another petrol station circulating today is also not true.

The owner, Mr Seraz Ahmad have been operating the petrol station for 16 years. He is an UMNO member but strongly do not support Ahmad Ismail actions.

I agreed with Zhiyi that SMS is a tool, we have to learn to use it for JUST & USEFUL causes.

16th September 2008, Hari Malaysia - Anas Zubedy

Let us agree that …

There are thirteen states, and only one Malaysia
There are many parties, but we are one nation
While we may differ, we are not enemies
We can be critical, but not offensive
We shall seek and embrace truth, and reject deceit
We shall not take sides based on partisan views

Because wrong is wrong and right is right, no matter who does it

Let us all oppose corruption, racism and bigotry
Unite for one future, free from sleaze, discrimination and poverty;
Multiplicity is God’s creation; let us replace race with Unity
Let us see Unity in diversity, and learn to love all, because
When we dislike the other, we dislike part of God’s design,
We are One
We may greet each other in different ways, what we are all trying to say is:
I am pleased to meet you, my brother, my sister Malaysians

For there are

Many lamps, One Light
Many hearts, One Spirit
Many prayers, One God
Many Colors, One Race.

Have a meaningful Hari Malaysia

***************

Marilah kita setuju bahawa …

Kita ada 13 negeri, tetapi satu Malaysia
Berbagai parti, satu negara
Walaupun kita berbeza, kita bukan musuh
Kita boleh mengkritik, bukan mencemar
Mari mencari kebenaran, dan menolak penipuan
Jangan sekali-kali berat sebelah pada mana-mana pihak

Kerana yang salah tetap salah dan yang benar tetap benar, tanpa mengira siapa

Mari kita menentang rasuah, perkauman dan prejudis
Bersatu demi masa depan, bebas dari penipuan, diskriminasi dan kemiskinan
Kepelbagaian itu ciptaan Tuhan; ayuh gantikan dengan Perpaduan
Perpaduan yang dalam kepelbagaian, cintakan semua kerana
Apabila kita bencikan yang lain, kita menghina ciptaan Tuhan

Cara kita berucap agak berbeza, namun apa yang ingin diluahkan adalah;
Saya gembira bertemu denganmu, saudaraku seMalaysia

Kerana

Berbagai pelita, hanya Satu Cahaya
Berbagai jiwa, Satu Azam
Berbagai doa, Satu Tuhan
Berbagai Warna, Satu Bangsa

Salam Hari Malaysia

Salam Sejahtera,
Anas Zubedy
http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com

Foreign Direct Investment Setback

NST Online » Letters
2008/09/03

PENANG INVESTORS: Explain this FDI setback
By : CALVIN SANKARAN, Bkt Mertajam

I AM deeply disappointed to read Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's admission on the loss of US$1 billion (RM3.3 billion) in foreign direct investment from Samsung and his attempt to link it to calls by Penang Umno politicians to the Federal Government to scrap the second Penang Bridge.

Lim, who would like us to believe his administration is run on his much-hyped principle of competency, accountability and transparency (CAT), displays none of the attributes he preaches.

I had earlier written that due to the incompetence and inexperience of the new Penang administration, Samsung had decided to locate its new test and assembly facility at Clark, Manila, instead of Batu Kawan, Penang ("Penang investment: Inexperience caused failure" -- NST, July 14).

I wrote this after receiving confirmation from sources in Clark Development Corporation that Samsung and the CDC had started negotiations to finalise the details of the project. I was also told that Samsung made its final decision on the site location in May.

This means that Lim, who visited Samsung at the end of May, would have known Samsung's decision then. Revealing this news only now and claiming he was not informed of the Korean company's decision is highly irresponsible.

However, this should come as no surprise. Since coming to power, Lim has consistently demonstrated the unfortunate habit of blaming others for failures while being quick to claim credit for success reaped through the efforts of the previous state government and the Federal Government.

It was also reported that Samsung is planning to invest up to US$2 billion in the Clark Special Economic Zone for this project.

This is not the first FDI Lim's administration has lost and, I am afraid, it won't be the last. Further, some existing investors in Penang have started to scale down or even close their operations completely.

Instead of acting on the real causes keeping investors away, Lim has elected to indulge in political one-upmanship by assigning the blame to his political opponents.

If Lim keeps to his current ways, I am afraid Penang's reign as one of the major global electronic manufacturing hubs will soon be over, with investors heading to Vietnam, India, the Philippines or Thailand.

Lim must take responsibility for this failure and also come clean on what actually transpired.

Penangites have the right to know why FDI of such magnitude could be lost in such a manner.

In keeping with his CAT principles, Lim owes Penangites a full and detailed explanation of this incident.

Sedition Act & Double Standard

On 30th August 2008, I led a team of Gerakan Tanjong Youth members to lodge a police report at the North-East District Police HQ at Petani Road on the alleged seditious speech made by an UMNO Division Chairman.

The alleged seditious speech was made during the Permatang Pauh by-election (based on Sin Chew Jit Poh newspaper report on 25th August 2008 and sinchew-i online news on 24th August 2008).

On 1st September, Lim Guan Eng's political secretary, Ng Wei Aik also lodged a near carbon copy police report on the same issue. If the Pakatan Rakyat want to be a copyCAT, it is their choice.

The point I want to highlight is the double standard or inconsistencies of the Pakatan Rakyat. PR want to abolish the Sedition Act but yet they are using this particular act. Ng Wei Aik said that since the act had not been abolished, he want it to be used on that UMNO politician. What a hypocrite party!!!

I am a supporter of the Sedition Act - it is necessary in our country. Of course, it must be used only when applicable.

I am curious what effective "law" can be used against politicians that use seditious words or statements. Can the PR readers on my blog advise?

P.S. See my earlier post titled What Does Sedition Mean (Friday, May 16) which is Azmi Sharom thoughts on sedition, while the table is my compilation of sedition law in other countries.

Erti Kemerdekaan - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad

Dan jatuhnya hanya beberapa hari
lalu terbelenggu empat ratus tahun
suatu tempoh yang amat payah dan panjang
pengabdian dan kehilangan yakin diri
43 tahun kita berdiri menebus maruah
merdeka mentafsir diri sendiri dan bangga pada
apa yang ada
masih mahukah harga itu diperjudikan?

Kita tidak akan mempertaruhkan nasib itu
di tangan kita masih panas
keringat, tulang-belulang dan tenaga fikir
menghayun langkah membina wawasan
waspada harimau di matahari terbenam
tidak akan hilang belangnya
mengisytiharkan dirinya Yam Tuan Tunggal
Sejagat
dengan hukum rimba ganas
yang lemah longlai
yang gagah gergasi
akan meruntuhkan segala sempadan rimba
atas nama membina perkampungan dunia
mahukah kita biarkan
mereka menginjak-injak dan menghancurkan
taman
kecil permai ini?

Rimba tanpa sempadan
atas nama 'kebaikan' menyelinap menusuk
matafikir
hidupan dunia ketiga terpaku takjub dengan
slogan
'kasih alam
ketelusan hukum
keadilan timbangan
kesatuan warga dunia
kebebasan mutlak'
lalu beraraklah anak-anak bumi ini meraikan
kesatuan alam
dengan sorak sorai
'runtuhkan sempadan
runtuhkan sempadan
runtuhkan korupsi
runtuhkan kolusi'
dan di belakang mereka tidak melihat
bayang-bayang belenggu halimunan
yang lebih ganas daripada segala yang ganas
kita pun akan kehilangan harga dan erti diri
mengapa diundang mereka
dan mereka tiba-tiba berada di depan pintu rumah
kita?

Kita telah bangun dengan segala kepayahan
membuka belantara dan mempertahankan warisan
kita tafsir merdeka mengikut acuan sendiri
merdeka kita dengan fikiran
dunia sudah melihat kita
dunia sudah menghormati kita
timur dan selatan mengharapkan kita
mereka datang berbondong-bondong mencari di
bumi ini
perlindungan dan erti hidup
mengapa kita sendiri masih belum mahu melihat
dengan tangan masih terbelenggu ke belakang
dan hanya sesekali menjulangnya
mengikut rentak genderang dunia matahari
terbenam?
bijak pandai pernah berpesan:
'mereka yang tidak belajar dari sejarah mereka
akan didera
dengan mengulangi kesalahan-kesalahan mereka
berkali-kali'
sejarah mengajar kita betapa kukuh sesuatu
bangsa
akan tetap kecundang bila ditikam dari belakang
mengapa kita mula halalkan sejarah hitam
berulang?

Nasib kita genggam
dengan tangan sendiri dan segala kudrat kurniaan
kita jalin kekuatan sulaman kasih bangsa
kita didihkan dia dengan tradisi semangat juang
maruah bangsa kita julang ke mercu alam
kita bangunkan suatu tamadun cinta damai
di sini kita ajar anak-anak kita erti sayang
di sini kita tawarkan dunia menaja kemanusiaan
dan bukan alat peperangan
dunia belajar erti merdeka sejati
mempelajari dan menerima segala perbezaan
merdeka mentafsir hidup tanpa paksaan kuasa

Di sini kita yakin segalanya boleh
di sini kita yakin segalanya boleh
itulah erti kemerdekaan

Perjuangan ini mesti diteruskan.

Kisah Benar Di Sebalik Kontroversi Tanah

Who won the debate on the land controversy in Penang between Koh Tsu Koon & Lim Guan Eng?

The one telling the truth!!!

Look at the body language, it is difficult to hide when you lie.


View using Internet Explorer

CAT Government in Perak

In less than six months, the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak have shown its capability to Malaysians. They had applied the CAT principles.

Corruption , Abuse of power and Thieving

Read the article in Malaysiakini below:-

BPR tahan 2 exco k'jaan Perak
Aug 20, 08 12:19pm

Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) menahan enam orang, termasuk dua exco kerajaan Perak, kerana disyaki terlibat dalam perbuatan rasuah berkaitan satu projek perumahan di Seri Iskandar, Perak.

Lima daripada mereka ditahan jam 6 petang semalam. Mereka berusia antara 45 hingga 57 tahun.

Menurut kenyataan BPR, seorang daripada ahli exco itu ditahan jam 10.30 pagi ini.

Tiga suspek termasuk anggota exco itu ditahan sejurus mereka menerima suapan berjumlah lebih RM105,000 sebagai balasan untuk mempercepatkan proses permohonan projek perumahan bernilai RM180 juta.

Kenyataan itu juga berkata mereka juga disyaki terlibat dengan rasuah seks.

Selain dua exco kerajaan negeri itu, yang lainnya ialah seorang ahli Majlis Daerah Perak Tengah, seorang juruteknik Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak (PKNP) dan dua orang peniaga.

Sementara itu, mereka dibawa ke Mahkamah Sesyen Ipoh pagi ini untuk ditahan reman.

Seorang daripada mereka dipercayai bekas ahli dewan undangan negeri (Adun) PKR.

Lima daripada mereka ditahan reman selama tiga hari. Kesemua menutup muka ketika dibawa ke mahkamah.......

The Dangerous and Destructive KeADILan

16th August 2008 is a day I would not forget. I was tasked to bring 56 party flags and Barisan Nasional flags to the meeting point at SK Mengkuang, from there we will then proceed to the Permatang Pauh by-election nomination center at Tuanku Bainun Teachers' Training College.

About 120 meters from the Berapit exit on the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE) our bus cannot proceed anymore. The road ahead was near impassable.

As the leader of the group, I arranged the other 11 members to take all the flags and materials, 1/3 of the food and some cup types drinking waters. The rest was left behind.

The moment we start our walk toward SK Mengkuang, the hostilities started. A group of Chinese's KeADILan members in a luxury car started heckling us to go home.

The area was full of KeADILan members - We walk single file - across a hostile area - Anwars' heartland.

On exiting the expressway and turning right into the trunk road - the road was a sea of KeADILan members - at least 15000 of them. KeADILan had taken over the whole road. The map given to us indicating BN supporter route was useless.

From then on, the atmosphere was very tense - everyone of my group was intimidated continuously during the three km walk except two members that enjoyed photography (they were in casual).

None was spared even the 5 ladies in our team. One lady member which walk with a slight limb was badly harassed.

During the walk, KeADILan members furl their flags across our members face, insisted that we remove our party caps, asked us to wear Anwar mask, shouted harsh words, derogatory words and obscenities. Some even tailed us.

We stay cool, smile, and laugh our way out.

Some other BN members chose to made themselves incognito.

We continue at a steady pace except for a short pause where I requested one of our photographers to take some snapshots of a car surrounded by Keadilan members. Every car that managed to enter was inspected - Pakatan Rakyat cars easily pass through while BN car had an EXTREMELY horrible time.

We were the first to arrive at the nomination center gate as I decided to bypass the meeting point, instead we turned into a another mammoth KeADILan crowd. DAP was practically non-existent except handful. We cut across the crowd to reach BN allocated entrance.

The walk back was relatively easier - God be praised - two rounds of downpour managed to disperse the mammoth crowds which initially do not seem to want to disperse after the announcement of the election candidates. The first, disperse the bulk of the crowds, the second disperse the stubborn ones. Yet some gathers at the truck road below the BKE expressway to hurl abuse and to intimidate BN vehicles that passed through that road.

I decided to avoid that pass and exited through another exit point which have less concentration of KeADILan members.

Our bus driver also had a bad experience as some KeADILan youth supporters wanted to prise open his bus to use it as a shade from the rain, through my handphone I ask him to leave the area and returned when I called him.

While waiting for our bus to pick us up, I chatted with some Sabak Bernam UMNO youth which seem shocked and tired. When our bus arrived, I passed the balance assorted buns, all our mineral water and some Gerakan cap to themselves.

As I was writing this post, I heard a TV news report that a Berita Harian photographer was beaten up.

Now, every single one of us are totally convinced that KeADILan is a dangerous and destructive party. This party as the backbone of Pakatan Rakyat would make this coalition a "Pakatan Jahat" - they will destroy our country.

Unfortunately, many do not see the evil traits in them, they called this democracy.

Dr Mahathir knew that he must migrate if ever Anwar manage to seize control of our beloved nation - stability, peace and harmony will then be a memory.

P.S. Deputy Prime Minister, Najib and Home Minister, Syed Hamid painted a rosy picture of the nomination day. I guessed they had no choice in order not to scare future investors away.

Pilihanraya Permatang Pauh (Permatang Pauh By-election)

Kepada Pengundi-pengundi Permatang Pauh:

Pada pilihanraya ke-12 yang baru lalu, Barisan Nasional telah dikejutkan dengan kekalahan teruk di 11 kerusi parlimen di negeri Pulau Pinang. Barisan Nasional sekadar memenangi 2 kerusi Parlimen iaitu di Kepala Batas dan Tasek Glugor.

Tamparan hebat ini adalah suatu ISYARAT JELAS daripada rakyat untuk memperbetulkan kelemahan dan kecacatan kerajaan Barisan Nasional di masa dahulu.

Usaha-usaha pembetulan giat dilaksanakan oleh Kerajaan Barisan Nasional di peringkat persekutuan.

Malangnya, Pakatan Rakyat yang diterajui oleh Parti KeADILan mempunyai niat buruk untuk merampas tampuk pemerintahan negara.

Justeru itu, parti-parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat terutamanya KeAdilan dan DAP berusaha untuk menggendalakan usaha-usaha pembetulan itu. Sebaliknya, Pakatan Rakyat tidak memberi tumpuan penuh kepada pemerintahan negeri-negeri Pakatan Rakyat.

Rakyat di Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Selangor, Kedah dan Kelantan sudah mula menerima kepedihan dalam kehidupan harian mereka. Walhal pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat asyik mengatur pelbagai strategi untuk menjatuhkan Kerajaan Persekutuan Barisan Nasional yang terpilih oleh rakyat di bulan Mar lalu.

Kali ini janganlah beri undi kepada parti KeADILAN, sebaliknya

BERILAH ISYARAT JELAS KEPADA PAKATAN RAKYAT YANG TINDAK-TANDUK MEREKA ADALAH KETERLALUAN. RAKYAT MAHU PEMIMPIN YANG PENTINGKAN RAKYAT BUKAN GELOJOH KUASA

Untuk memudahkan para pengundi menolak KeADILAN untuk pilihanraya Permatang Pauh, di bawah adalah beberapa sebab:-

1. Kes seksual di luar tabii Anwar berkemungkinan besar akan mengambil masa panjang perbicaraan mahkamah. Anwar tidak mampu memberi tumpuan kepada kepentingan rakyat, sebaliknya Anwar perlu menghabiskan masanya dalam pembicaraan. Anwar sepatutnya tunggu sehingga kes seksual di luar tabii ini selesai sebelum meminta sebarang mandat daripada rakyat. Rakyat berhak untuk memilih seorang pemimpin yang jelas tidak dinodai, ini perlu diputuskan oleh Mahkamah.
2. Tindak-tanduk Pakatan Rakyat terutama Parti Keadilan menunjuk sikap gelogoh untuk merampas pemerintahan persekutuan melalui muslihat-muslihat busuk adalah sebenarnya untuk kepentingan peribadi bukan kerana mereka sayangkan rakyat.
3. Tindakan mencekik tukang foto suratkhabar, merosakkan kenderaan, melempar batu , melongdehkan seluar, protes jalanan haram dan yang tak terkawal semasa , sebelum dan sesudah pilihanraya adalah tanda-tanda permulaan fasa kemusnahan dan keganasan dalam negara jika Anwar diberi “lesen kemusnahan” melalui pilihanraya kecil ini.
4. Taktik dan strategi kotor Pakatan Rakyat tidak mengendahkan kepentingan rakyat - yang penting untuk Pakatan Rakyat - kuasa dan lebih banyak kuasa. Biarlah rakyat menderita di masa ekonomi buruk di dunia.
5. Memberi isyarat yang jelas yang rakyat sudah bosan ditipu kononnya harga minyak petrol boleh diturunkan dengan sewenang-wenangnya. Sebenarnya, harga minyak petrol terpaksa dinaikkan di hampir setaip negara.
6. Memberi isyarat yang jelas kepada Pakatan Rakyat yang tindakan asyik mengumpan ahli-ahli parlimen Barisan Nasional adalah sesuatu yang tidak beretika dan mengakibat suasana politik negara yang tidak tenteram.
7. Memberi isyarat yang jelas yang rakyat tahu sebahagian besar dari janji-janji manis yang dilaung-laungkan oleh Pakatan Rakyat hanya sekadar propaganda pembohongan. Kebanyakan janji-janji Pakatan Rakyat akan menjadikan negara kita papa kedana di masa depan dan membawa ke kancah kemusnahan. Tun Mahathir, lebih rela berhijrah ke negara asing dari melihat kemusnahan negara kita.
8. Anwar Ibrahim cuba menampilkan gaya kepimpinan yang berani, tetapi hakikatnya adalah sebaliknya. Tindakan menyuruh isterinya untuk melepaskan kerusi parlimen Permatang Pauh menunjukkan tindakan seorang penakut. Anwar hanya berani bertanding di kerusi yang paling selamat untuk KeADILan!!! Adakah masuk akal untuk meminta Presiden Parti KeADILan untuk mengundurkan diri!!! Ada banyak kawasan parlimen KeADILan lain yang Anwar boleh bertanding, tetapi sebenarnya dia takut kalah. Adakah kita mahu seorang pemimpin negara yang penakut?
9. Tindakan Anwar Ibrahim yang suka menggunakan negara-negara asing seperti Amerika Syarikat untuk menindas negara kita menunjukkan ia tidak layak menjadi seorang pemimpin Malaysia. Jika ia berjaya, Malaysia akan dijadikan boneka Amerika dan sekutu-sekutunya.
   

Saya akui kerajaan Barisan Nasional ada kelemahan dan cacat-celanya, tetapi ini semua sedang diperbaiki dan akan mengambil masa beberapa tahun.

Undi kepada Barisan Nasional perlu untuk memperkukuhkan mandat yang telah diterimanya dalam pilihanraya bulan March 2008 dan terus menggalakkan BN mempertingkatkan usaha-usaha memperbaiki pemerintahan negara.

Tidak mengundi KeADILan adalah cara yang paling tepat untuk meluahkan perasaan meluat terhadap sikap bongkak dan keterlaluan semenjak pilihanraya March 2008.


Undilah dengan bijak!!! Undilah Barisan Nasional!!!

Anwar: Give me a break?

In today's Star newspaper, Anwar was quoted as saying that he needs a break. He needs a break???

I think he is the main agitator of of the hellish situation our country in enduring now. Our country actually needs a break from all this nonsense and spend more effort on the constructive.

Anyway, I dedicate my favourite classic Dangdut song to Anwar to relax. I guess he can enjoy listening to it in the privacy of his various homes, offices or condominiums. Maybe, he can also dance to it, Anwar seem to be a natural dancer.



Pernah aku melihat musik di Taman Ria
Iramanya Melayu duhai sedap sekali (2X)

Sulingnya suling bambu
Gendangnya kulit lembu
Dangdut suara gendang rasa ingin berdendang (2X)

Terajana… Terajana
Ini lagunya… lagu India (2X)

Hai merdunya… hai merdunya
Merdu suara… oh penyanyinya
Serasi dengan… lincah gayanya

Karena asyiknya aku
hingga tak kusadari
Pinggul bergoyang-goyang rasa ingin berdendang (2X)