Putih Hitam Kelabu

Come clean on local council corruption charges, Guan Eng told

2009-04-21T18:25:00.003+08:00

Below is a well written report by Audrey Dermawan.

Come clean on local council corruption charges, Guan Eng told
By Audrey Dermawan

GEORGE TOWN, Tues:
The Penang Government has been urged to come clean and explain an allegation made by the chief minister's aide that high ranking officials in local councils here were involved in graft.

Penang Gerakan vice youth chief H'ng Khoon Leng said the state government could not continue keeping mum over the issue as it involved the good name of the councils.

He said the allegation made by Lim Guan Eng's chief of staff, Ooi Chuan Aun, was serious and warranted an immediate follow-up." Ooi has been reported to have said that he has information of several high-ranking officers in the local councils being involved in corrupt practices." It is only right for the state government to follow-up on the allegation in a transparent manner to get to the bottom of the issue," he said.

H'ng added that the state government must also ensure those involved in corrupt practices are dealt with accordingly.Ooi was quoted in a Chinese daily on Mar 29 claiming several high-ranking officers in the local councils had allegedly resorted to corrupt practices.

H'ng said if the issue was not cleared up, people would have a negative perception of the local councils." It has been nearly a month since the report came out. When is the state government going to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission? More importantly, why is the state government not being accountable on this matter? he asked.

H'ng said if Ooi failed to prove his allegation, then Lim should apologise to all high-ranking officers in the local councils for allowing his chief of staff to make such a slanderous allegation.

Where the "BOLA"?

2009-03-23T02:23:00.010+08:00

The below sms is what I think of Lim Guan Eng administration of Penang.

Guan Eng tiada “BOLA”. Gagal tangani pelbagai masalah Fairus bawah tadbirannya.Kini tolak semua kpd PKR. Hampir semua Exco tidur. Guan Eng tak tau malu.

Many Penangites think that Gerakan have no “BOLA” when dealing with UMNO. But is DAP under Lim Guan Eng any different with PKR and PAS? Signs are showing that eventually it will be more worst.

Guan Eng pushed the explanation for Fairus resignation to PKR. Fairus as Deputy Chief Minister I reports to Guan Eng not PKR or Anwar.

Guan Eng must explained to Penangites why Fairus is resigning not PKR? Is he resigning because of poor performance, alleged graft, further studies, political conflicts, ....?

How can Anwar approved Fairus leave? Is Anwar the Chief Minister?

Fairus had failed miserable as a executive councillor and more importantly as Deputy Chief Minister I – the second man in Penang government. Guan Eng should had asked him to pack his bag months ago instead Guan Eng do not know Fairus was resigning until Fairus faxed him the resignation letter!

On another matter, Lim Guan Eng must be accountable for Fairus incompetancy.

All the executive councillors are half asleep except for Phee Boon Poh. Without Phee holding the fort, there are nothing to shout about for Lim Guan Eng.

As the CEO of Penang he had been wasting time on cheap publicities and not managing his team of excos. Fairus, Ramasamy, Kon Yeow, Danny Law and most of the others are under-performing. Is it the exco team or the team leader that is the problem?

How long a probationary period does this replacement CEO need 2 years, 3 year or 10 years?

Most get a probationary period of 3 to 6 months. Penangites are doing Guan Eng a disfavour by allowing a longer probationary period. Many are still saying that this is a new government. If Guan Eng is not capable to lead a government, he should reliquished his position and let another capable PR leader to take over!

DCM I Fairus sms to reporters:

"Saya memang tidak melakukan apa-apa kesalahan. Dalam sikit masa akan saya maklumkan. Cuma yang penting yakinlah bahawa saya sama sekali tidak bersalah."

Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, Fairus to go abroad

2009-03-21T18:12:00.005+08:00

When there are controversies, going abroad seem to be the in-things nowadays.

It was reported that Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, Mohamad Fairus is planning to go abroad for further studies. He had submitted his resignation as DCM I and EXCO today.

Mohamad Fairus will soon join the other celebrities such as Balasubramaniam, V. Arumugum, Elizabeth Wong, and Helmi Malek.

Incommunicado is the keyword for the Supreme Leader.

I wonder who is paying for his further studies!

Fairus should also resign as the state assemblyman for Penanti.

The sms on 19 Mac 2009 that started the media frenzy on Fairus resignation:

"YB Fairus TKM1 Pulau Pinang akan meninggalkan pejabatnya pada hari esok atas arahan DSAI (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). Pegawai-pegawai beliau sedang sibuk mengemas dokumen di pejabat. Kemungkinan besar beliau akan mengosongkan kerusi DUN Penanti kerana salah guna kuasa dan rasuah. Dr Mansor difahamkan akan menggantikan tempat beliau sebagai ADUN Penanti dan TKM. Fairus mempunyai BMW 5 series dan Mercedes yang dibeli cash atas namanya. Pegawai SPRM baru sahaja datang pejabat beliau kelmarin."

YBs scorecard: 54.35%, 57.10%, 64.73%

2009-03-19T08:27:00.007+08:00

Tanjong DAP elected representatives received poor marks from voters in their constituencies.

Voters rated the assemblymen on various criteria such as problems solving ability, state assembly performance, people interaction, sensitivity towards problems, etc.

Komtar assemblyman and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, YB Ng Wei Aik obtained 54.35%.

Pengkalan Kota assemblyman, YB Lau Keng Ee obtained 57.10%.

Padang Kota assemblyman, senior EXCO and also Tanjong member of parliament, YB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow obtained 64.73%. YB Tuan Chow is also Penang DAP chairman.

These low scores at the height of the current DAP popularity reflects the poor performance of nearly all Pakatan Rakyat YBs in Penang except a handful.

The 57.10% obtained by YB Lau is actually flattering. Tanjong Gerakan Youth received frequent complaints about his unavailability and unability to solve problems.

YB Ng Wei Aik score of 54.35% is not a surprise - from day 1 as a political secretary he had been stepping on a lot of toes.

YB Tuan Chow is a three terms parlimentarian (Tanjong is DAP stronghold) with an undistinguished performance in Parliment. This imported protege of Lim Kit Siang was given a senior executive councillor seat that probably gave him the additional 10 percentage points. It could also be because his poor performance is camouflaged by his nice personality.

P.S. It is an excellent idea of the 3 YBs to do their own job appraisals - they really need it!!!

Procrastination or threat?

2009-03-17T08:32:00.006+08:00

Rapid Penang intention to bring in 200 buses in batches from May 2009 was a well known plan since mid 2008.

Seven letters had been sent to the state government since July 2008 without any response.

In desperation, Rapid Penang brought out this issue to the media last month. It was only after this that the publicity craze Penang government started to react.

Rapid Penang chief advised that if no new sites to house the additional buses are approved, Rapid Penang is forced to divert these buses to RapidKL. This is not a surprise, as in 2007 before obtaining RapidPenang own buses, the BN Penang government attempted to divert 50 new buses from RapidKL.

DAP Penang government procrastination is the cause of this problem. Now, it is claiming that Rapid Penang is threatening the Penang government when it voiced its concern that the 200 buses may have to be diverted to RapidKL. Penang lost is KL gain.

The exact words of State Local Government & Traffic Management Committee Chairman YB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow was that Rapid Penang was holding the state to ransom when all it does is facilitate the public transport service.

The DAP Penang government had viewed Rapid Penang as BN entity that is against it. The truth is Rapid Penang had been professional managed and involved the DAP penang government in all its public activities and programs.

Surveys on the public transportation in Penang shows that after the introduction of Rapid Penang by the BN government, dissatisfaction on public transportation had reduced drastically.

Yet on 21/7/2008, Penang State Government had announced the operational restoration of Syarikat Bas Pulau Pinang to provide competition to Rapid Penang in order to increase the quality of public transport system. Was it really to improve quality or to have Pakatan Raykat or DAP controlled bus company? As usual, until today it is not yet implemented - talk first, do later when criticize.

Fish rot from the head down

2009-03-16T14:48:00.008+08:00

The opinion of Sharanjit Singh from NST titled, "What your beef?" bring out to the open the truth about Lim Guan Eng administration.

Recently, I wrote a post about wifi and his interference with press freedom. Read http://hklpenang.blogspot.com/2009/01/wirelesspenang-lack-of-sincerity.html

The preferential treaments for certain businesses & media and the "victimizations" of certain businesses & media that do not kowtow to him and his political secretary are open secrets.

Divide and rule the media is practised by the Chief Minister office. Press conferences or press releases are given to selected media based of the issues or topics.

Fish rot from the head down. Many idolized Lim Guan Eng like a saint or god, thinking he can do no wrong. While PKR will bring future troubles to the Penang government, in the longer term the nucleus of the cancer cell is actually Lim Guan Eng.

Declaration of Assets

2009-03-16T02:10:00.006+08:00

The Selangor government had already published their EXCOs assets declaration on its official website. It was based on a Federal government format (Borang JPA).

Lim Guan Eng said that Penang will follows Selangor example on the assets declaration.

Khalid Ibrahim assets' declaration is meaningless. Asset-wise he is poorer that many people - NO HOUSE, NO PROPERTIES, NO SHARES, NO CASH, NO CARS, NO FIXED DEPOSITS, NOTHING.

If this is the standard of declaration that will be practised, declaring almost nothing except remuneration, it is better not to waste time.

I also can filled the assets declaration for Lim Guan Eng to sign, hah...hah...hah...

P.S. Lim Guan Eng must thanks Khalid Ibrahim for finding this Federal's Civil Service form for him as he had seached high & low thru the year for such a format.

Big CAT park in Relau

2009-03-16T00:22:00.007+08:00

Bernama reported that Penang DAP government plans to open a tiger park at Relau Community Park with the aim of attracting more tourists to the state.

Lim Guan Eng said that the lush greenery of the 100-acre Relau Community Park will be a good place for Malaysia's first tiger park.

I would be surprised if environmentalists & the local community will consent to this tiger park. It will also be a threat to the existing durian farms in surrounding areas.

Luckily, he did also said that the ecotourism project would only be implemented after considering views from non-governmental organisations (NGO) and the local community.

He said this was in line with the state government's Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) principle of implementing projects transparently and fairly by listening to views from others.

LGE obsession with "CAT" bordered on some form of mental illness - will it cloud his judgement - I am no psychologist ...

Tiger is one of the biggest CAT mammal. The free inner city transportation is now called CAT (Central Area Transit). Penang's career assistance service is also called CAT (Career Assistance & Training).

I guess there will be many more CATs to come...hah...hah...hah...

P.S: Jangan marah-marah. Accidently, saw the about picture -
posted for all of us to laugh - both sides of the political divides.

Special Benefits For Senior Citizens of Penang

2009-03-15T22:54:00.009+08:00

On March 7 2009, during the 1st anniversary celebration of DAP government rule in Penang, Lim Guan Eng promise to provide special benefits to Penang Senior Citizens. The only details provided at that time were the conditions for application.

The initial conditions to apply for these benefit are:-

Age 60 & above

The senior citizens were born or residents of Penang

A valid registered voter of Penang

LGE style is talk first, do homework later. He is now figuring what the Penang government want to give.

Condition (3) reflect the inner consciousness of the Penang DAP government especially its leader – Lim Guan Eng. Directly linking votes with welfare benefits???

Does it care about the people or is it just another attempt to “buy future votes” again?

P.S. On 15 March 2009, Penang DAP government briefed reporters that the tentative planned benefits are RM2500 monetary gift/award & RM1000 burial benefit.

The People's Opposition

2009-03-15T19:02:00.003+08:00

Whether on blogs or MSM, Penang Gerakan Youth consistent critisms of Penang DAP government are viewed negatively by a segment of its population.

The inability to recognize that in a vibrant democratic state there exist the people's government and the people's opposition.

Without an effective opposition, the people will suffer.

Recently, the Penang DAP government proposed to provide special benefit for senior citizens. Yet, many people do not realize that immediately after GE12, it abolished the issuance of senior citizen identification cards. These cards enable senior citizens to enjoy 50% fee discount on Rapid Penang buses.

Sdra Oh Tong Keong and myself fought against this abolishment and won. Currently, there are about 10,000 senior citizens that enjoyed this benefit.

If we had remained silent and used this as an election “bullet”, we will probably scored positive marks. But, we will actually failed the people especially the senior citizens. There are other similar examples.

DAP Penang as an opposition before GE12 was a near total failure. Yet this failure, had contributed to their success. Without strong checks and balances, the previous BN government was too complacent. Many are still in dreamland.

The irony is that with Penang Gerakan Youth proving to be a strong opposition, the Penang DAP government may eventually finds its bearing and performed to expectation.

From another perspective, the strong Penang Gerakan Youth opposition is a form of government-in-waiting or shadow cabinet. In contrast, DAP Penang when in opposition was weak, therefore, it was a weak government-in-waiting; now after one year in government they are still fumbling. Luckily, they have an imported publicist from Malacca to cover up their weaknesses.

Whatever it is, Penang Gerakan Youth must draw strength fron the satisfaction as an effective opposition as the struggle for the people mandate is a never-ending journey.

Unorthodox Mini Budget

2009-03-11T19:27:00.003+08:00

Most economic analysts were surprised by the RM60 billions Mini Budget announced on 10th march 2009.

Rumours before the tabling of the mini budget was that in was about RM10 billions. I was worried that it was true.

Thank god. It was totally incorrect. If it was true, Najib should "balik kampung tanam jagung". At least, there are some hopes in this future PM!

Najid said it was unorthodox. My opinion is it was just slightly unorthodox - it was a "B" rating budget - not outstanding, just sufficient.

An unorthodox effort would be something like this. The RM200 Millions (should be at least RM1 billion) for tourism, should be allocated directly to Malaysians above the age of 21 for local tour packages(with safeguards against abuses). The multiplier effects and stimulus created will be speedy & tremendous!!! This is unorthodox!!!

Now, efficient & effective implementation, monitoring & review of both stimulus budgets are paramount in ensuring success.

The Three Bounced Checks

2009-03-11T18:30:00.005+08:00

Penang Gerakan Youth chief, Sdra Oh Tong Keong said that DAP Penang under Lim Guan Eng had written 3 bounced checks.

Bounced Check No 1: Failure to hold local government elections in Penang.

Bounced check No 2: Failure to abolish weekend parking fees.

Bounced Check No 3: Failure to implement declaration of properties & assets of the Chief Minister and Excos (should also include Chief-of-staff and Pol. Sec).

If, Bank Negara is the regulator of Malaysian politicians, Lim Guan Eng would had his account closed.

P.S. LGE & DAP Penang had bounced more that 3 checks.

Guan Eng's vision For Penang ( or is it blurred/AIDS vision)

2009-03-10T03:39:00.002+08:00

After one year leading the Penang government, not 100 days; Lim Guan Eng must have GREAT VISION for Penang.

LGE said BN have AIDS (Acquired Intellectual Ideals, Ideas and Imagination Deficit syndrome).

Read Guan Eng's Vision For Penang on his own website to see whether he have AIDS (hah...hah...hah)

I could not believe it - his Q & A with Star newspaper on his 100 days was still his VISION FOR PENANG.

"Reading" is believing. Click here(as at 10th March 2009).

Tree of Democracy For DAP Penang

2009-03-09T01:27:00.001+08:00

DAP Penang promised during GE12 that if it formed Penang government, it will plant 1,000,000 trees. Until today, this promise seem to be forgotten.

I have an idea for DAP Penang. DAP Penang can take saplings of the world first TREE OF DEMOCRACY from Ipoh. Using modern technology, new saplings can be churned out to meet the 1,000,000 trees target before GE13.

The first sapling to be planted in Penang should be planted at a strategic location. Then, it can be turned into a tourist attraction or better still if the Supreme Leader decreed it as a place for pilgrimage to Pakatan Rakyat members.

This will help boost tourism to Penang as DAP Penang government is totally without any idea (as at March 2009).

P.S. Also to help Pakatan Rakyat coalition leadership which still seem clueless on the use of a single symbol for election, why not use a "TREE", somewhat like the logo above(by artist Cari Buziak), which is a symbol for tree of life.

Gerakan's CHILL strategy to weather severe economic winter

2009-03-07T00:03:00.004+08:00

NST Online, 6 March 2009

Gerakan has come out with an "anecdote" in the form of a memorandum on how the nation can weather the economic downturn using the "CHILL" strategy.

Its president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the government needs to adopt the strategy encompassing capital, housing, incentives, implementation, labour and land to mitigate the pressures and challenges posed by the worst global economic malaise in decades.

The document has been handed to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently for his perusal, he told a media conference.

"We need to take measures to counter the severe economic winter. If we don't, we will not survive. If we survive this winter, then we can enjoy the spring that will follow any winter," Koh said, describing that the world was entering a severe economic winter.

Koh said the CHILL strategy is to be incorporated into the second stimulus package to be tabled by Najib in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

P.S. Chill is also a type of music, listen to the music below to CHILL OUT

LGE's Historical Achievement For Penang & Country

2009-03-06T21:22:00.003+08:00

LGE boasted in an interview that his policy of giving away RM100 water rebate is a historical achievement for Penang and country!!!

LGE claimed that this water rebate had help 170,000 poor and needy families in Penang. Most of these families are deemed poor as they lived in lower and middle cost flats. All was given automatic water rebates.

The actual fact is most of these families do not fall into the poor or needy category. There are even some that drive Mercedes, BMW & four wheels drive. Many houses in the lower and middle cost flats are rented to foreign workers, they also enjoy automatic water rebates.

This policy of generalizing the poor is a very incompetent and “lazy” way of identifying the poor.

It is actually a populist move to buy future votes.

Of course, LGE will get away with it, as it is inadvisable to over complain about it publicly – who dare to take away this small “ang pow” or “duit kopi”.

P.S. I donated away my RM100 water rebate, don't need this “duit kopi”. The local DAP YB in my area lived in a LMC flat, I wonder what he did with his RM100.

Lim Guan Eng Hiding Under Azalina Skirt

2009-03-06T13:54:00.012+08:00

Under Sinar Harian newspaper report titled, “Saya bertindak atas aduan menteri”, Penang Chief Minister told reporters that based on Tourism Minister complaint about the level of cleanliness, safety and horses on the beach he had directed the demolition of 80 stalls at Batu Ferringhi.

LGE is trying to hide his vindictive nature, and what better place to hide that under Tourism Minister, Azalina Othman's skirt or baju kurung. I do not know where he hides himself, when she wear pants.

Also, if that was his reason, he might as well demolish nearly all stalls in Penang.

Penang DAP leaders have cracko minds, not long ago, Chow Kon Yeow stated that in order to eliminate illegal parking fee collections, the municipal council will extend parking fee collection to midnight. Why push the problem of illegal parking fee collectors to the rakyat, now at certain areas the rakyat have to pay for the additional parking fees.

Another DAP leader, Danny Law actually promises to abolish weekend parking fees in Penang. I guess he must also find somewhere to hide!!!

Read also, the original story about demolishing the 80 stalls.

Phase IV & high-end R & D niche

2009-03-04T02:01:00.006+08:00

Star online reported that high-end research and development (R&D) and designing work related to chip making and read and write heads for hard disks are migrating to Penang at a time when multinational corporations (MNCs) are slashing jobs worldwide amidst a global recession.

The vision of Koh Tsu Koon to create a niche for high-end R & D in Penang is showing results.

The early establishment of Phase IV at the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone as a high technology zone is bearing more fruits at the right time – possibly Penang worst economic crisis. This high tech niche vision is not just limited to Phase IV.

Altera, Motorola High Technology Center and the other high tech companies in Penang will help mitigate the dire consequences of this current economic crisis.

Yet, this will not be sufficient to avert the crisis – much more need to be done. Many non-high tech plants and supporting industries are having a tough time surviving.

It is for Lim Guan Eng to show his capability as a Chief minister to lead Penang out of this crisis and not give mere excuses. When there is no vision, no plan and no action; the people will suffer.

P.S. 15,000 Sony employees in Malaysia had been “certified safe” from retrenchment (The Star, 2 March 2009, Pg N3). Sony's first plant was in the Perai Industrial Zone, it was originally called Toyo Audio (M) Sdn Bhd. It was from this plant, that Sony Malaysia had grown to what it is today. Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Masahiko Horie said, “ Sony Malaysia is one of Sony Corp's top branches in the world in term of HRD, on-the-job training, and also product variety and quality”. I had the benefit of working in Toyo Audio, and totally agreed with Ambassador Horie remark.

Tussle over hardcore poor

2009-03-03T00:34:00.008+08:00

The DAP Penang government (YB Phee Boon Poh) is fighting with MCA-appointed assistant welfare officers (CARI project) over poverty aid applicants.

If, there are an abundant of poverty aid applicants especially the hardcore poors in Penang, they will not need to fight over them.

Just last Friday, our service center successfully assisted a senior citizen to obtain monthly monetary support from the Welfare Dept. I told the senior citizen that the best thank you is recommending more poor people!!!

The fact is – there is an acute shortage of hardcore poor in Penang.

Why?

Because the Penang BN government under the leadership of Gerakan had done exceeding well in prospering the economic and in jobs creation for the past 40 years.

Many Penangites are still the first generation, migrating from all over the country to the Pearl of the Orient, to seek a living and eventually to make it their home. Whether we are first, second, third or whatever generations; most Penangites had generally enjoyed the good life.

It is easy to forget the past, as most of us had taken it for granted.....The DAP Penang government knows that one of the easier “achievement” they can use to hookwink Penangites are telling them that DAP had succesfully eradicated hardcore poor.

The fact is, there are not many hardcore poor families in Penang.

However, if the DAP Penang government failed to further create new jobs in Penang, the poor will become poorer, and then there will be an increase in hardcore poor.

Then, there is no necessity to fight over hardcore poor applications.

Tham Weng Fatt - The Lone Ranger

2009-03-02T03:29:00.007+08:00

Tham Weng Fatt the maverick & thorn in Penang DAP, was left out in the cold by his comrades in DAP. Tham Weng Fatt is the most well known local DAP leader in Penang.

It is not a surprise!!!

Even though, he is recovering well and is still doing his work as a councillor. His recent illness had presented an opportunity for his political enemies to finish him off.

It will not be that easy, he has the spirit of the Lone Ranger.

P.S: Many local NGOs will be crying fouls, the DAP Penang government had sliced the cake for itself and its political partners. The promise for bigger NGOs representation is conveniently forgotten.

Penang drops District Officers from local councils

Opalyn Mok

GEORGE TOWN (March 1, 2009) :

In a departure from convention, the State Government has dropped the five District Officers (DO) from sitting in the two local councils.

Traditionally, the DOs are ex-officio members of the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP).

The five DOs dropped are North-East District DO Azizi Zakaria and South West District DO Hasan Saad from the MPPP and Seberang Prai Utara (SPU) DO Mokhtar Mohd Jaip, Seberang Prai Tengah (SPT) DO Ruslan Yahaya and Seberang Prai Selatan (SPS) DO Jusni Ismail from the MPSP.

When contacted, local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said there was no need for the DOs to be full fledged councillors because as DOs, some council matters will also be referred to them.

"They don't even attend the full council meeting and whether they are full fledged councillors or not, they are also involved in certain council matters," he said.

Chow added that having the DOs as councillors was a duplication of duties since as DOs they already have an avenue to handle certain council matters such as those involve land matters.
"We do not need them as councillors as they do not serve in the sense of political representatives in the areas," he said, adding that it was not in the Local Government Act that DOs must be councillors.

The five DOs were among 12 local councillors who have been dropped and are being replaced with new faces for the duration of March 1 until Dec 31.

The State Executive Council had on Friday approved the appointment of 13 new councillors and re-appointment of 35 local councillors who were retained.

Besides Azizi and Hasan, the five other MPPP councillors who were dropped are Tham Weng Fatt (DAP), Chua Kheng Ee (PKR), Abdul Halim Salleh (PAS), Francis Loh Kok Wah (Non-Governmental Organisation), Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kader (NGO).

There are being replaced by Ong Ah Teong (DAP), Mohd Razali Haji Abdullah (PKR), Lim Boo Chang (PKR), Abdul Aziz Ismail (PAS), Asnah Hashim (PAS), Yasir Hafiz Munawar Ali (NGO) and Prof Mohd Zahry Shaikh Abdul Rahim.

The remaining 17 councillors were reappointed.

This means that in the MPPP, there will now be 10 councillors from DAP , eight from PKR, two from PAS and four from NGOs as compared to last year when there were 10 from DAP, seven from PKR, one from PAS, four from NGOs and two DOs.........

Tofu, Banana, & Cucumber

2009-03-02T00:27:00.008+08:00

According to Bernama report, Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin has been replaced as State Religious Affairs Committee chairman in a reshuffle of the State Exco recently.

His religious affairs portfolio was given to State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

Mohammad Fairus was retained as State Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development and Information and Community Relations Committee chairman.

Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim confirmed the reshuffle and said the reshuffle on Friday was a normal exercise aimed at providing the people with better service (hah ...hah...hah).

Recently, I wrote that Fairus was under-performing and that the DAP will be gunning for Shabudin Yahya (President of The Penang Islamic Council - Read DAP Hina Islam).

With a Japanese Tofu doing the job, it is no working. There are some bananas around, rightly so DAP Penang has choose a cucumber, hopefully it will be hard to crack the .......

Alas, cucumber will break easily too. Can't find any hammer, screw driver or pistol around?

P.S: No malice intended, LOL

Star Online, 25th Mar 2009

MALAYSIANS NOT SO HOT IN BEDROOM

KUALA LUMPUR: A surprisingly high number of Malaysians are not sexually satisfied, a survey by pharmaceutical company Pfizer has revealed........ “The Malaysian figure is higher than the overall Asia Pacific results where 57% of men and 64% of women reported being not very satisfied with sex,” said Dr Rosie King, who led the study in the Asia Pacific region from May to July 2008.

The level of erection hardness is measured in a scale of one to four using the Erection Hardness Score (EHS) developed by the European Association of Urology.

“Level one is like tofu where the male organ is large but not hard, level two is similar to a peeled banana where it’s not hard enough for penetration, level three is like an unpeeled banana where it’s hard enough for penetration but not completely, and level four is similar to a cucumber where it’s completely hard and fully rigid,” explained Dr King........

The Sacrificial Lamb - Danny Law

2009-02-27T01:17:00.008+08:00

After the King of Tennis debacle, Danny Law Heng Kiang, the Exco in-charge of Tourism is like a person afflicted with the leprosy disease. Lim Guan Eng, ever the populist, cleverly distanced himself from Danny Law.

If a popularity rating is conducted on all the Pakatan Rakyat YBs, Danny would received the worst rating. He was made the scapegoat for the King of Tennis debacle by his own leaders.

Lim Guan Eng, do not practise collective leadership & responsibilities - credit is his, failure are yours.

Now, Danny Law Heng Kiang is the sacrificial lamb. He was assigned to handle the potentially explosive local issue on the demolition of business premises in Batu Feringghi.

The state government is adamant(as at posting time) to demolish the business premises. Read about this DEMOLITION issue here.

The right person to handle this issue should be Chow Kon Yeow, which is in-charge of of local government. The local DAP assemblyman, Teh Yee Cheu is nowhere to be seen on this issue.

Penang Third Deputy Chief Minister

2009-02-27T00:38:00.008+08:00

Currently, Penang have two Deputy Chief Ministers, one Malay and one Indian. I am not surprise about the preliminary discussion on the possible appointment of a Chinese Deputy Chief Minister(DCM) for Penang. There are a few reasons for this:-

As a government that use populist strategies and tactics, by appointing a Chinese Deputy CM, DAP hopes that this move will be popular with the Chinese electorates. DAP knows how to play the racial card – one Indian DCM, one Malay DCM and one Chinese DCM.

Lim Guan Eng is not a Penangites, appointing a local DAP YB as the Deputy CM will cover his weakness – he is out of touch with local issues and conditions. His strength is on national issues.

Having a Chinese Deputy CM that he can trust, will also enable him to focus more on the overall development of DAP nationwide. Have Chinese DCM can travel.

Lim Guan Eng thru his various actions, had unintentionally marginalized many of his DAP leaders – none are able to be outstanding except YB Phee Boon Poh (in charge of welfare). The appointment of a DAP DCM will minimize this situation.

DAP Penang have nearly no capable local leaders with the potential to be a Chief Minister. Many leaders are imported. A local protege to the chief ministership have to be prepared for their long term survival as a government.
Furthermore, the existing two Deputy Chief Ministers are under performing.

Whether, the third DCM position will materialize depend on DAP ability to convince its partners - KeADILan and PAS. I doubt they will agreed to this additional post.

DAP Government: Reduce Jobs in Penang

2009-02-26T00:31:00.009+08:00

Instead of creating more jobs in Penang. The Penang DAP government is doing the reverse - REDUCE JOBS.

Recently, the Chief Minister office(based on Sinar Harian report dated 24 Feb 2009) directed about 80 entrepreneurs to vacate their business premises within 4 days.

These businesses are the lifeline of the tourism industry in Batu Feringghi.

The premises affected were from Rasa Sayang Resort to Bayview Beach Resort Hotel, about 5 kms. Most of these businesses had been in operation for more than 20 years.

The locals of Batu Feringghi livelihood depend on tourism, most locals work in the resorts or at these various tourism related businesses.

At least 500 locals will lose their jobs or "periuk nasi (rice bowl)".

Remember victimization of non-Pakatan Rakyat supporters are priority NO. 1 for the DAP government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S.: The "tidak apa' attitude of Lim Guan Eng towards jobs creation & unemployment crisis in Penang is sinful. For example, many Intel workers expect LGE to discuss their predicaments and future with the senior execs of Intel US - it had yet to be done. Is it because DAP had trapped themselves with their 308 campaign of "Exchange Rice With Tapioca"?

Khalid, passing the buck again

2009-02-25T23:53:00.005+08:00

The Sultan of Selangor wisely declined to offer any guidance or advice for the spineless Menteri Besar of Selangor, Khalid Ibrahim on the position of Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong whose nude photographs were circulated recently. The Sultan stance is that he is above partisan politics.

Elizabeth Wong, 37, had offered to resign on Feb 17,2009 because of the pictures.

Khalid Ibrahim extended her leave and said that he will wait for the police to complete their investigation before deciding on her position. This type of spineless leadership on decision-making is expected. Will the buck stops here???

Read also my post on Khalid, another spineless leader.

P.S. The Sultan of Selangor wisely understand what had happened to the Sultan of Perak. When Pakatan Rakyat seek guidance and advice, the guidance and advice must be favourable to them. If not, even the Sultan will be drag into Pakatan Rakyat dirty politics.

Utusan Malaysia: DAP insult Islam (DAP hina Islam)?

2009-02-25T00:35:00.007+08:00

Utusan Malaysia headline on 24 February 2009 was “DAP hina Islam(DAP insult Islam)?”, this was based on the comment by the President of The Penang Islamic Council(MAIPP), Shabudin Yahaya.

Shabudin Yahya got his fact wrong when he thought Lim Guan Eng had formed Penang Inter-Religious Consultative Council, what was actually formed was a Penang Goodwill Religious Council.

Yet, it is not surprising that Shabudin got his fact wrong, the Penang government had intentionally bypassed him when forming the Goodwill Religious Council even though he is the President of the influential MAIPP.

Shabudin is coincidently also the BN YB for Permatang Berangan. Hah,hah, hah ...... Therefore, it was natural for the Penang Government that practise partisan politic in religion to conveniently overlook MAIPP.

After his comment on the DAP, probably Shahbudin should be looking over his shoulder more often. For the past six months, PAS in Penang especially PAS Tanjong Youth had consistently brought “longkang and parit plus sampah' issues in Wakaf areas to discredit him. Now, the DAP will also be out to get him.

Read also my earlier post - Goodwill Religious Council & Publicity King

P.S: Since 308, both KeADILan and PAS want to take control of The Penang Islamic Council (MAIPP) as its vast resources made MAIPP a very powerful and influential organization among the Muslims in Penang.

Raja V Sivakumar - Total immunity

2009-02-22T22:03:00.005+08:00

DAP leader Nga Kor Ming in a press statement said the Perak Speaker, V Sivakumar has absolute and total immunity from any civil or criminal action(Malaysiakini report, 22 Feb 2009).

The 9 rulers of our country and their family members do not have absolute and total immunity from all civil or criminal action since 1993.

Perak Speaker, V Sivakumar status based on the Pakatan Rakyat interpretation is higher that the Kings.

Nizar went against the Sultan of Perak, he confirmed that he had "MOHON DERHAKA(seek to betray)" during his audience with the Sultan.

It seem that for many Orang Besar Pakatan Rakyat Perak, they follow Raja V Sivakumar I from the Mahajahat Dynasty.

This is KETUANAN PAKATAN JAHAT.

The real murder threat (not fabricated)

2009-02-20T21:49:00.013+08:00

Photo from Kwong Wah Yit Poh

Karpal Singh received a real threatening letter enclosed with 2 live bullets at his home in Penang this morning.

It is not a surprise after his recent comments on the appointment of the Perak MB. He is a straight-talker, straight like a ruler, unlike a comrade of his which is crooked as a snake.

Recently, Pemuda Gerakan Tanjong asked the police to provide extra protection to LGE - it was a waste of time and effort (read post on Fabricating Tales).

Karpal Singh and all his family members need all the extra protection they can get from the police.

The threat message:
Cilaka, babi, anjing.
Jgn main2 dgn raja melayu.
Kalu tak syg anak bini jgn cr. pasal.
nanti lu satu Family gua bakar!!!
lu punya rumah semua gua tau!!
lu cabar Melayu mati lu satu family!

I do not agreed with Karpal Singh comments and his legal challenges on the Perak issue.

But, threat such as this is totally abhorrence. The police must use all resources to bring the criminal to justice - an example must be set.

Star Online, 2o Feb 2009, PRISCILLA DIELENBERG
Karpal gets two live bullets, death threat in mail

GEORGE TOWN: An envelope containing two live bullets and a death threat had been mailed to DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s home in Jalan Utama.

In his police report lodged at the Penang police headquarters this afternoon, Karpal Singh, a lawyer, said his clerk Ahad Hassan found the envelope sent from Perak in his postbox at his home about 8.15am on Thursday.

“I was in Kuala Lumpur yesterday when my clerk Puan Nazimah informed me on the phone about the envelope which was handed to her at about 9.45am at my legal firm in Green Hall here,” Karpal Singh told waiting pressmen at the police headquarters at 12.20pm.

“When opened, Nazimah found the envelope contained two live bullets and a hand-written letter.

I told her to keep the envelope and its contents in my office safe until I came to Penang Friday to lodge a police report for the police to launch a thorough investigation.”

The writer threatened that Karpal Singh and his family would be harmed for showing disrespect to the Malay Rulers.

Karpal Singh said this was not the first time he had received such a threat, adding that the police had done nothing after he lodged a police report in Kuala Lumpur last May upon receiving a live bullet with a letter outside his office in Jalan Pudu Lama.

Fabricating tales

2009-02-20T14:56:00.006+08:00

Recently, the Tanjong Gerakan youth lodged a police report on the assassination threat on Lim Guan Eng based on what he himself told the Chinese presses.

After the police report that we had made, and realizing that the police had taken a serious attention to this report and will ask him for statements, Lim Guan Eng is singing a different tune.

Instead, Lim Guan Eng accuse Gerakan Youth for seeking cheap publicity, and said that it was mere rumours.

We checked with the reporters that were with him when he stated that there will be attempt to assassinate him, they confirmed he said that.

Luckily for him, those reporters did not switched on any audio recorder. It will be expose if they had done so.

Now, who is fabricating tales – all those reporters or Lim Guan Eng?

From Putih Hitam Kelabu

The answer should be extremely clear!!!

Take Credit & Push Blame

2009-02-20T13:41:00.014+08:00

From Putih Hitam Kelabu

Most people are disgusted with individuals who always claim credit for successes and push blame to others when there are failures.

Yet, the DAP leadership riding on their current popularity seem able to get away with it.

Today, a 30-tonne hydraulic crane toppled at Km3.3 of the Penang Bridge. It took about eight hours to clear and caused one of the worst traffic snarls on Penang island and mainland, many reported late for work, can not go to work or missed their flights.

State Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said the state government was ‘utterly disappointed and angry’ at UEM, the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) and Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd (PBSB) for failing to clear the toppled crane in the shortest time possible.

“We hold UEM and the federal agencies responsible for causing hundreds of businessmen, factory employees and flight passengers to be late and to miss their flights.

“If there is some action we can take against them, we would but there is nothing we can do,” he told a press conference at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s office in Komtar on Thursday.

When asked if the state had any back-up plan or traffic dispersal measures at hand in the event of future recurrence, Lim shook his head and said, “No”.

The DAP state government fail to realize that it have to share the blame, it must work together with the other parties involved in the widening of the Penang Bridge. Pushing the blame to others is not the solution.

If Lim Hock Seng is working in a American multinational, he would most probably be sacked. If he works in a Japanese multinational, he would be in "cold storage". Luckily, he is in the CAT government.

P.S: The Penang Bridge cameras that can be viewed thru the internet failed intermittently at the crucial time. SMS service for the Penang Bridge provide wrong information, for example stating that the bridge is jam when it was actually closed at certain hours yesterday. Lim Hock Seng should do his job instead pushing the blame.

Naib Presiden Gerakan Letak Jawatan Jika BN Terlibat

2009-02-20T13:10:00.005+08:00

From Putih Hitam Kelabu

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Feb (Bernama) -- Naib Presiden Gerakan Huan Cheng Guan sedia meletak jawatan jika pembangkang dapat membuktikan bahawa kepimpinan Barisan Nasional (BN) berada di belakang penyebaran gambar bogel anggota exco Selangor, Elizabeth Wong.

"Jika mereka (pembangkang) tidak dapat berbuat demikian, mereka kena meminta maaf kepada BN dan Malaysia kerana membuat dakwaan yang melucukan," katanya dalam satu kenyataan di bangunan Parlimen di sini hari ini.

Huan turut melahirkan simpatinya terhadap Elizabeth berhubung penyebaran gambar-gambar dirinya yang diambil tanpa persetujuannya dan berpendapat setiap orang termasuk ahli politik mempunyai hak privasi dan ini mesti dihormati sepanjang masa.

"Saya yakin BN tidak akan turun begitu rendah melibatkan diri dalam percubaan seperti itu untuk memusnahkan kehidupan umum dan peribadi seseorang individu." Adalah tidak adil bagi PR (Pakatan Rakyat) terus menyalahkan BN bila isu yang menjejas mereka timbul.

"Berasaskan laporan media baru-baru ini, polis sedang menyiasat bekas teman lelaki Elizabeth yang juga pegawai Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)."

Saya cadangkan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (penasihat PKR) memperkemas partinya bagi menghapuskan pengkhianat parti terlebih dulu sebelum memutuskan untuk menyalahkan BN," katanya.

Sementara itu, Elizabeth dalam satu kenyataan hari ini meminta media agar "tidak mengganggu keluarga, rakan dan dirinya."

Tolong jangan terus memalukan keluarga dan diri saya, supaya kami dapat menjalani hidup normal seperti rakyat biasa," kata beliau.

Komentar: Adakah Anwar Ibrahim atau si mulut celupar Teresa Kok berani menawarkan diri untuk letak sebarang jawatan mereka jika didapati tuduhan komplot BN tidak berasas.

Five Branches of Power

2009-02-19T17:52:00.009+08:00

From Putih Hitam Kelabu

Malaysia must now be the most democratic country in the world!!! (or the politically craziest)

In term of separation of power, we are aware of the Legislature(mades Law), the Executive(initiates and adminsters Law) and the Judiciary(applies Law).

Lately, two new or rising branches of power had emerged in our country.

These are the Monarchic power(The Law) and the Autocratic Speaker power(concoct Law).

Now, altogether we have a total of five branches, India & US are way off.

Hah, hah,hah........................................................................

P.S: Maybe in the future, our King will have to exercise his discretion in choosing a Prime Minister if no party/coalition have a majority.

Now, where's Hilmi?

2009-02-18T17:28:00.007+08:00

From H'ng Photo Collection

See above photo, among Hilmi facebook friends are Anwar Ibrahim and Tian Chua. Until January, Hilmi Malek was the special assistant of PKR parlimentarian for Petaling Jaya Selatan, YB Hee Loy Sian. Hilmi Malek is a PKR member.

PKR need to do a complete clean up instead of accusing its opponents.

Khalid, another spineless leader

2009-02-18T00:59:00.008+08:00

From Putih Hitam Kelabu

The offer to resign by Elizabeth Wong as a state assembywoman and an executive councillor had created a problem for the Menteri Besar of Selangor, Khalid Ibrahim. If she had resigned, Khalid Ibrahim would be relieved. Her offer to resign forced the Menteri Besar to deal with it.

Malaysiakini reported that the Selangor government will seek the views of state ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on how it should deal with the controversy surrounding executive councillor Elizabeth Wong.

Having not gut, the Menteri Besar of Selangor Khalid Ibrahim had seek an audience to brief and to ask for “royal guidance” from the Sultan of Selangor on the Elizabeth Wong nude photo issue.
The Elizabeth Wong nude photo issue is not a constitutional matter or crisis. There is no necessities to seek guidance from the Sultan.

He is taking the easy way out - passing the buck to the Sultan.

Khalid dare not made the decision whether to retain Elizabeth or not, either way he will be criticized.

If he accept her resignation, women leaders and NGOs, etc will criticize him. If he do not accept, the holy men(?) of PAS & UMNO will criticize him.

Khalid had picked up the spineless skill of his supreme leader.

P.S. If someone managed to secretly take photos of Khalid Ibrahim or Khir Toyo nude in their bedrooms, does it mean that they also have to resign?

Elizabeth Wong is the victim!!!

2009-02-17T01:36:00.007+08:00

Khir Toyo should get a brain scan or see a psychologist for urging the immediate resignation of Elizabeth Wong after her nude photos were circulated – SHE IS THE VICTIM!!!

I wondered whether it is mere coincidence that constituencies with the word “Bukit” is jinxed – Bukit Gantang in Perak (MP die of heart attack), Bukit Selambau in Kedah(Adun resigned due to marital scandal) and now Bukit Lanjan in Selangor, the state seat of Elizabeth Wong.

In Penang, we have Bukit Glugor (MP is Karpal Singh), Bukit Bendera, Bukit Mertajam, Bukit Tengah and Bukit Tambun seats.....

Lim Guan Eng: Rancangan membunuhnya?

2009-02-16T21:00:00.010+08:00

Menurut laporan Harian Guang Ming, Kwong Wah Yit Poh, China Press & Harian Oriental bertarikh 16 Februari 2009, Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Tuan Lim Guan Eng telah dilaporkan membuat kenyataan bahawa terdapat rancangan untuk membunuhnya dengan matlamat untuk merampas tampuk pemerintahan kerajaan negeri. Tuan Lim Guan Eng telah dilaporkan berkata demikian selepas upacara agama Buddha di Kuil Kek Lok Si.

Sama ada kenyataan di atas benar atau tidak, kenyataan Ketua Menteri Tuan Lim Guan Eng ini amatlah serious. Ia boleh menimbul keresahan rakyat dan merosakkan keyakinan pelabur-pelabur. Ia juga boleh menjejaskan kestabilan politik, sosial dan ekonomi Pulau Pinang.

Laporan polis ini mengambil pendirian yang neutral. Tetapi, yang menghairankan, jika terdapat ancaman kepada nyawa Ketua Menteri Tuan Lim Guan Eng, mengapa beliau sendiri tidak membuat laporan polis. Sebaliknya, beliau membuat pengumuman melalui suratkhabar-suratkhabar. Adakah ini sekadar gimik politik?

Maklumat yang terkandung dalam laporan polis tersebut adalah seperti berikut:-

Pihak Pemuda Gerakan Parti Pulau Pinang, Bahagian Tanjong amat khuatir tentang komen pembunuhan yang diberi oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng baru-baru ini, dan memutus untuk membuat laporan polis supaya polis dapat menjalankan satu siasatan lengkap kepada komen tersebut dan memastikan keselamatan Ketua menteri sendiri dan mengekalkan keamanan di Pulau Pinang.

Jika pihak polis tidak menyiasat komen Ketua Menteri Lim Guan Eng dengan teliti, maka akan mengakibatkan keliruan dan ketakutan antara rakyat Pulau Pinang:

1.. Pihak polis adalah diminta supaya menambah lebih ramai kakitangan untuk melindungi keselamatan Ketua Menteri bagi memastikan bahawa keadaan di Pulau Pinang tidak terjejas.

2.. Pihak polis perlu menyiasat realiti bagi kejadian tersebut, untuk memastikan keselamatan negeri ini. Jikalau Lim Guan Eng sebagai pemimpin negeri yang berada dalam bahaya, orang awam akan lagi berasa bimbang dan panik.

3.. Ketua Menteri dan pihak polis perlu menjelaskan bahawa kenyataan tersebut adalah benar ataupun salah, supaya tidak menjadi rintangan kepada pelaburan asing di negeri ini dan memberi kesan buruk kepada sektor perindustrian dan perdagangan di Pulau Pinang terutama pelaburan asing dan pelancong antarabangsa yang akan datang.

4.. Ketua Menteri perlu berhati-hati dalam ucapan beliau dan tidak memberi sebarang kenyataan yang boleh merosakkan dan memburukkan kehidupan rakyat Pulau Pinang.

Laporan ini dikeluarkan oleh Pihak Pemuda Gerakan Parti Pulau Pinang, Bahagian Tanjong.

Hong Seng Estate : A Lesson on Backside

2009-02-14T11:53:00.016+08:00

Gerakan grassroot leaders and members need to think in a shrewd manner. If not Pakatan Rakyat which are full of cunning leaders will easily outwit them.

Recently, a building in Hong Seng Estate that was used by Gerakan for decades to provide medical service, community meetings, Barisan Nasional meetings, & other services to the local community was 'seized' by a few Keadilan local leaders.

The building was situated on a land that belong to a private landowner. The landowner had let Gerakan used it for free.

KeAdilan leaders stealthfully approach the landowner & manage to rent the land. Armed with the rental receipt, KeAdilan members removed the signage (BARISAN NASIONAL MEDICAL SERVICE CENTER) from the building with the intention of stopping Gerakan from using the place. A police report was lodged at the Pulau Tikus Police Station.

The Gerakan local leader told me that he considered the building a place for the local community & had even let Pakatan Rakyat members used the place for their meetings. Worst of all, outside gangsters are used to threaten him.

Gerakan had spend over RM20,000 in renovating and maintaining the building over the past few years.

The lesson to learn is Pakatan Rakyat is good at coming from the back - take care of the "backside", if not it will be screwed.

Read my post of 1 st April 2008, title "Find Your Own Center"

Ng Wei Aik, The Political Secretary

2009-02-13T16:47:00.007+08:00

From H'ng Photo Collection

Ng Wei Aik, Lim Guan Eng's political secretary & Adun for Komtar had received quite a number threatening letters.

The latest incident, was the cutting out of his eyes from a Chinese New Year banner near Komtar.

These are all unacceptable actions by vandals/perpetrators that must have a strong dislike for him.

Surprisingly, he seem to be the only one which incite some much hatred....

Happy Valentine Day & Political Rights

2009-02-13T14:43:00.014+08:00

From H'ng Photo Collection

Great ingenuity, thinking out of the box!

DAP's Valentine Day cum Voter Registration Day...........

If you are having your Valentine Day celebration in town, and have yet to register as a voter or want to change your voting address, please go to the following:

Atrium A, Ground Floor
Prangin Mall
14 Feb 2009
Registration hours: 10 am to 5 pm

Please take the opportunity, to bring along your love ones to register. Don't worry that it is organized by the DAP just remember to vote Gerakan (Barisan Nasional) during election.

HAPPY VALENTINE DAY!!!

Penang Goodwill Religious Council & Publicity King

2009-02-13T07:56:00.005+08:00

The Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) is unhappy over its exclusion from the Penang Goodwill Religious Council (PGRC).

It should not be unhappy!

MBA should consider itself lucky to be left out of (PGRC) as it's another publicity stunt by the Publicity King (Lim Guan Eng is named 'Publicity King' by some of the local reporters)

The real reason Malaysian Buddhist Association is left out from PGRC is because it's deem not bias towards the DAP. If the DAP government was sincere, it would had automatically invited MBA as it's one of the premier religious organization in Penang.

Lim Guan Eng which is a non-Buddhist do not understanding that Buddhists do not mix religion with partisan politics.

During & after GE12, there are Christian churches and Taoist temples that openly supported the DAP, some temples are still flying the DAP flags. No Buddhist organisations or temples did that.

The DAP Penang government senior leaders which are essentially non-Buddhists, should recognize this different between Buddhist organizations and other religious organizations.

Death, Resignation & Squabble

2009-02-10T00:44:00.005+08:00

After losing Perak, nothing seem to go right for Pakatan Rakyat.

The past few days, news of the following:-

The death of the PAS MP for Bukit Gantang in Perak. Roslan Shaharum dies of heart attack.

The unexpected resignation of an Keadilan Exco and ADUN(Bulit Selambau) in Kedah amidst allegations linking him to a marriage scandal and that he insulted the 'sultan' by bringing his 'second' wife to attend state functions.

The serious arguments between Karpal with the other leaders of Pakatan Rakyat.

The winds have shifted slightly, with the RIGHT candidates for Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau and the RIGHT election strategies, it will be difficult, but Barisan Nasional can win both these by-elections.

P.S.: Some Pakatan Rakyat supporters are claiming the "Resurrection" of Perak PR and Nizar thru the death of Roslan Shaharum, must give credit to them - very
imaginative

Fire, Fire, Fire

2009-02-09T21:49:00.004+08:00

The DAP government should take pro-active action to start fire prevention and safety program in Penang World Heritage site.

The recent fires indicate its seriousness. The first fire, razed a few shoplots at Penang Road – the main road in Georgetown.

This was followed by a fire at Beach Street , shoplots cum homes were burnt down. Beach Street is the banking and wholesale district of Penang. Just behind the burnt buildings, situated the Khoo Kongsi, one of South East Asia's most beautiful clan house.

Then, another fire broke out at Campbell Street, days before the State Chinese New Year Open House was supposed to be held there. It was the first time, Campbell Street – the heritage retail district - was picked to be the venue for the State Open House by the DAP government. A block of double storey premises cum homes were burnt down, one person dies.

A few days ago, Chew Jetty, a heritage homes of the Hokkien caught fire. A few homes and store was destroyed. It happens less than 24 hours after the Grand Celebration of Jade Emperor (God of Heaven) attended by the Penang Government leaders that was held there.

King of Tennis & Thick Face & Korek

2009-02-09T20:54:00.006+08:00

Tonight (9 Feb 2009) is the Chap Goh Meh celebration. In Penang, the annual Chap Goh Meh celebration is held at the Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama).

Just received an sms from a friend with the following message, “When I see the tennis court at padang kota lama , it remind me how tick face our the current state govt , they stil dare 2 celebrate the chap goh meh at here....”

The King of Tennis fiasco have yet to conclude, Penang PGRM Youth is waiting for the Public Account Committee report to to be tabled at coming State Legislative Assembly meeting.

I doubt the Penang DAP government will come clean based on the initial information released by PAC.

Expect, the thick face LGE to try to cover up. He think he is good at "korek, korek, korek"(one of his favourite words); Pemuda PGRM also knows how to "korek".

Who SCREW UP in the Perak Frogging incident?

2009-02-05T20:13:00.009+08:00

Anwar Ibrahim will never admit he screwed up for losing the Perak government.

Ngeh & Nga both screwed up Perak DAP by their power arrogances.

Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin also screwed up by allowing leadership interference.

Lim Guan Eng screwed Hee Yit Foong up by his big mouth.

Hee Yit Foong then screwed Lim Guan Eng up by her slick pen.

P.S. Obama said, “I screwed up”, without a blink of any eye (He nominated and backed Daschle, the former Senate majority leader who ponied up $140000 in back taxes and interest). The ability to admit failures and mistakes is a sign of a sincere, honest and confidence leader. Our leaders need to learn to be responsible for their own mistakes and failures.

Stubborn Mohd Nizar ask to step down

2009-02-05T13:11:00.007+08:00

Based on the latest Bernama report(2.23 pm) the Perak Sultan had asked Mohd Nizar to step down immediately. If Nizar fails to do so, the post would be considered as vacant. The Sultan Office also will not allow the dissolution of the Perak State assembly.

However, a PKR source says Mohd Nizar had refused to do so (Malaysiakini report).

It is the leadership attitude of Pakatan Rakyat leaders - when situations are favourable to them, they are quick to take full advantage, when the situations are not favourable they are quick to find excuses.

I believe the stubborn Mohd Nizar will eventually step down - Pakatan Rakyat is looking for trouble by ignoring the sultan. This is tantamount to 'derhaka".

JKKKs and Victimization

2009-02-04T03:13:00.012+08:00

A JKKK under Pakatan Rakyat locked out 22 kindergarten children from attending their class in Kuala Sg. Pinang, Balik Pulau. This is not the first time the children was locked out. It's the third time.

Lim Guan Eng gave a few excuses, the top one was that the person-in-charge was late for work, hence did not unlock the gate.

Hah hah hah! Did some ghosts send the eviction order to the kindergarten?

Lim Guan Eng should “turun padang” and check his facts, victimizing childrens and senior citizens seem to be the specialty of the new JKKKs.

The JKKK in Kuala Sg. Pinang which is controlled by PKR should “learn” from the JKKK controlled by DAP, their victimization is more subtle.

An example,a recent strategy used by a DAP controlled JKKK is to increase the usage fee from RM50 to RM200 for the use of the community hall, the JKKK want to force the perceived non-PR supporters from using the hall for their karaoke singing session. If the mainly senior citizen users can afford it, the JKKK get more $$$. It is a win-win situation for the JKKK.

Keep up the great shameful works.

Correction: The usage fee for the community hall was increased from RM0 to RM150, instead of RM50 to RM150

Behrang and Changkat Jering Aduns – Did they resigned or forced to resigned?

2009-02-02T01:21:00.019+08:00

The defection of Bota BN state assemblyman to PKR had opened the Pandora box. Pakatan Rakyat thru PKR had inadvertently provoke a tic-for-tat reaction that it may regret.

The Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar said he had received two faxed letters stating that Jamaluddin Mat Radzi(PKR) and Mohd Osman Jailu(PKR) had resigned their posts as assemblymen of Behrang and Changkat Jering respectively.

Yet, based on latest statement by Behrang Adun(ex-Adun?) Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, PKR had used undated pledge of loyalty cum resignation letters to force their resignation as Aduns. He is challenging its validity. He was reported to have said that they are now independent Aduns (mStar online reported that Jamaluddin maintained that they are still PKR Aduns).

PKR is against anti-hopping law - PKR is for hopping - that is the way it want to strengthen PKR within the Perak Pakatan Rakyat coalition government and to seize the Federal Government. There is a possibility this will backfired.

Party hopping of Perak DAP & PKR Aduns to BN is very much possible and in process – its depend on UMNO, MCA, Gerakan & MIC to take advantage of the situation – there is nothing to lose.

P.S.
1. PKR had already implemented anti-hopping in the party in March 2008 with those undated pledge of loyalty cum resignation letters. It practise double standard, BN members can hop, PKR can't. Democracy ala PKR.
2. On current sentiments the possibilities of BN winning Behrang and Changkat Jering state seats are remote.
3. Based on legal precedents in Kelantan & Sabah, the undated resignation letters under duress are illegal.

The Two State Seats Statistics:

N59 Behrang
Jamaluddin Bin Mohd Radzi (PKR ) - 6771 votes
Datuk Ramasamy (BN) - 5744 votes
Spoilt Votes = 512;
Total Votes = 13027
Voter turnout = 70.43%
Majority = 1027
Register voters = 18552

N14 Changkat Jering
Kapten (B) Mohd Osman Bin Mohd Jailu (PKR) - 9411 votes
Dato' Mat Isa Bin Ismail (BN) - 8309 votes
Spoilt Votes = 334
Total Votes= 18054
Voter turnout = 72.85%
Majority = 1102
Register voters = 24864

Power Struggle Within PKR Penang

2009-01-23T16:54:00.005+08:00

The power struggle within PKR Penang had worsen with the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, Law Choo Kiang and Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

Penang PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the three were dropped to enable them to concentrate on their duties in the state administration.

Mohammad Fairus and Law were previously deputy liaision chairmen while Abdul Malik was the secretary.

Datuk Zahrain close allies were appointed to replace them. There are Balik Pulau division chief Dr Mansor Othman, Deputy Speaker Tan Hock Leong and state PKR election director Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff.

Craving for more power, Zahrain want the state government to increase PKR representation in statutory bodies and in government-owned as well as government-linked companies.

He also expressed dissatisfaction over several of the state government’s decisions which, he said, were made without consulting the party, such as the appointment of former Gerakan leader Datuk Lee Kah Choon as investPenang executive chairman. Is PKR under Datuk Zahrain eyeing this position too?

Penang PKR is also clamouring for the positions of MPSP president and district officers which are currently held by civil servants, PKR want it for their members.

Invitation to Gerakan's Chinese New Year Open House

2009-01-23T16:29:00.004+08:00

Everyone is welcomed to Parti Gerakan Chinese New Year Open House on Tuesday, 27th January 2009 at its State Party HQ, 139, Jalan Macalister, 10400 Penang. The open house will start from 9.30 am. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be attending the function.

Intel's PG6 & PG7 to shut down

2009-01-23T12:22:00.004+08:00

Lim Guan Eng said that the Penang State Government appreciates that no jobs would be lost with the closure of Intel's PG6 and PG7 factories in Bayan Lepas.

Is he trying to bluff himself and Penangnites?

Intel Corporation corporate affairs manager Loo Cheng Cheng did an excellent job in sugar-coated this painful exercise that will hurt many Penangnites and their families. It's her job.

Lim Guan Eng did not even care about the retrenchment of the 13 workers of Penang Public Library Corporation until it became an issue. Those workers can be easily absorbed by MPPP, MPSP, or the State government and its agencies.

Must the 13 workers demonstrates before he take real actions.

Wireless@Penang: Lack of Sincerity & Hypocrites (Part 2)

2009-01-21T13:01:00.010+08:00

News report in various newspapers quoted that “radiation” at SRJK (C) Shang Wu in Air Itam is “minimal'.

Jeff Ooi, the Chief of Staff for the Penang DAP government lack the sincerity to solve this problem. If he is sincere in wanting to resolve this problem, then groups that oppose this telco tower should be invited to be bring their experts to the testing session.

Recently, in a forum, when Jeff Ooi was asked to provide the locations for the new wireless towers. He told the lady participant that asked for this information, to use her own eyes to see where the new wireless towers are located.

How arrogant!!! Where is the sincerity? Where is the transparency?

This morning, a newspaper reporter told me that Lim Guan Eng and co. had contacted her boss to curtail the reporting of anti-WiFi news. Lim Guan Eng and co. like to portray themselves as champion of press freedom, yet this show that they are actually hypocrites.

(Note: It was not Jeff Ooi that call the press to curtail anti-Wifi reports)

Read also http: Wireless@Penang: Lack Of Political Will & Vision (Part 1)

Chinese New Year & DAP Divisive Politics (Part 2)

2009-01-20T03:41:00.007+08:00

A few days earlier, a reporter of a major national Chinese newspaper sms me that Penang Chinese Town Hall(PCTH) should ask fund from the Federal government as they supported BN during the recent General Election 12. The reporter opinion was that PCTH was not neutral, and deserve to be removed from receiving funding for Chinese New Year Open House.

His thought/wishes on the Federal fund have came true.

Yesterday, the Federal govt allocated RM15,000 to PCTH for the Chinese New Year Open House without any request from PCTH. Personally, it invoke a feeling of uneasiness – this is divisive politics.

I remember when I was younger, reading about many Malay families split between PAS and UMNO. An example,husband is PAS supporter while the wife is a UMNO supporter. Some lead to divorces.

The Chinese New Year should be a celebration without divisive politics. Recently, a relative asked me whether I will go to the annual Penang State Government CNY Open House, without any hesitation, I said, “YES”.

Now, I am having second thoughts. I was too naive, to think that CNY is above politics.

The Penang state government lame excuse of no fund had created a precedent that will lead to future divisive situation.

Now, I will consider that nothing is above politics.

The Indelible Ink: Yes or No

2009-01-19T01:20:00.003+08:00

SPR is considering the introduction of indelible ink for voters again. The purpose of the ink is to ensure no person is able to vote multiple times. Indelible ink is used in elections in some third world countries. Mafrel (Malaysians for Free and Fair) and Bersih(Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) are for this introduction.

It was supposed to be introduced in GE12 but was withdrawn due to legal loopholes and fear of sabotage.

The legal loopholes can be easily plugged but the possibility of sabotage is harder to prevent. Sabotage can be in three forms – physical, chemical and lies.

It is of utmost important for SPR to ensure that its implementation does not become a political issue that can be utilized by the rumor and lies mongering machinery of certain parties.

Utusan Online
SPR kaji semula dakwat

KUALA TERENGGANU 17 Jan. - Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) tidak menolak kemungkinan menggunakan dakwat kekal dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang selepas penggunaannya dibatalkan semasa Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12, 8 Mac tahun lalu.

Pengerusi SPR, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd. Yusof berkata, SPR sedang mengkaji kelemahan penggunaan dakwat kekal itu untuk proses penambahbaikan supaya rancangan penggunaannya dapat diteruskan.

Katanya, jika penggunaan dakwat kekal pada kuku itu didapati mampu menawarkan proses pengundian lebih telus dan adil kepada pengundi, ia mungkin digunakan pada masa depan.

''Tengoklah pada kajian yang kita lakukan. Selain soal ketelusan, kajian juga melibatkan soal pindaan undang-undang.

''Jika ia sesuatu yang baik dan memberi lebih ketelusan dan adil kepada pengundi, insya-Allah pilihan raya umum akan datang kita gunakan dakwat kekal," ujarnya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika meninjau proses pengundian Pilihan Raya Kecil Parlimen Kuala Terengganu di Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tengku Bariah, Pasir Panjang di sini hari ini.

Kata Abdul Aziz, kajian tersebut boleh siap dalam tempoh empat tahun sebelum pilihan raya umum akan datang berlangsung.

Bagaimanapun jelasnya, jika hasil kajian diperoleh lebih awal, SPR akan menggunakannya dalam mana-mana pilihan raya kecil jika ada.

''Lagi cepat lagi baik. Jika cepat, kita akan mulakan dengan pilihan raya kecil jika ada sebelum Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13," ujarnya.

Keputusan membatalkan penggunaan dakwat kekal pada pilihan raya umum lalu dibuat empat hari sebelum proses pembuangan undi, 8 Mac lalu.

Ia dibuat ekoran terdapat laporan menyatakan berlaku penyeludupan dakwat tersebut sebelum pilihan raya umum berlangsung.

Kuala Terengganu By-election

2009-01-18T15:52:00.005+08:00

The result of the KT by-election highlight a few important points:

The erosion of UMNO relevant to the Malay have clearly started and it will continue to be eroded . Nothing UMNO do, can stop this - it is part of modernization, globilization and the rise of Muslim awareness across the world. More and more Malays are inclined towards taking a Muslim or Muti-racial stand in their thinking, not solely Malay viewpoint.
There is a clear rise in Muslim renaissance and Malay populace. This is a plus point for PAS. PAS will grow stronger each day. Religion is the ultimate tool, PAS knows how to use it well. PAS have also learn how to show a difference “face” to the non-Muslim communites. It had became a win-win situation for PAS.
The temporary increase in Chinese community votes for Barisan Nasional is mainly due to the lack of visionary leadership and internal squabbles in Pakatan Rakyat. It shows that Pakatan Rakyat is a mere loose coalition of parties trying to grab for power. Barisan Nasional may have done a few meagre reforms but its Pakatan Rakyat own ineptness that cause them the votes. If Pakatan Rakyat can get there act together, it will means serious consequences for BN.
Whether the erosion of Non-Malay communities votes to Pakatan Rakyat will continue depend how much key political parties in BN such as UMNO, MCA, Gerakan and MIC can reformed themselves. Internal reforms had been extremely slow pace. Will this KT failure expediate reforms? Will BN leaders have the political will to reform? Are they willing to do the necessary sacrifices?
How can BN counter lies such as phantom voters, vote-buyings and many other tales use by Pakatan Rakyat to garner for votes. For example, RPK wrote in a letter to the Kuala Terengganu voter the following, "
Remember, when they handed you the RM300, RM500 or RM1,000, they asked you for copies of your identity cards on the excuse they need this ‘for the record’? Well, it is not really ‘for the record’. They want to use these copies of your identity cards to create ‘phantom voters’. And don’t be surprised if on Polling Day many of the 6,000 police personnel turn up in ‘plain clothes’ to vote in your place.
What a blatant lie and dirty propaganda, yet RPK will most probably get away with it. Lies such as this must be counter, the best in the court. This lies is very effective, I remember a few incidents in the Permatang Pauh by-election, while helping out in the voter information checking exercise, some voters would came to me asking for money, they were told that we gave money. We don't, but this is what Pakatan Rakyat want voters to believe - and they are good at that.

Sin 1: Politics Without Principle

2009-01-15T20:11:00.002+08:00

The Seven Deadly Sins
Politics without Principle;
Wealth without Work;
Pleasure without Conscience;
Knowledge without Character;
Business without Morality;
Science without Humanity; and
Worship without Sacrifice

Example of Sin 1: Politics without Principle

PAS is 100% for Hudud
DAP is “suppose” to be 0% for Hudud
KeAdilan is 0% - 100% for Hudud

Yet, Lim Guan Eng, the Sec-Gen of DAP who harp that he is against Hudud is campaigning for Wahid Endut which is contesting under “PAS” that want Hudud implemented.

Note:
Please note Wahid Endut was responsible for the gazetting of Hudud law in Terengganu.

Say NO To Hudud, Tak Nak hudud

2009-01-15T16:05:00.004+08:00

反對回教刑法運動的目的：-

1.警惕所有的馬來西亞人對實行回教刑法的負面影響
2.防止新回教刑法在我國實行
3.廢除吉蘭丹和丁加奴目前實行的回教刑法

回教刑法會摧毀我國人民多元化的基礎建設，因此，所有馬來西亞人必須反對實行回教刑法-穆斯林和非穆斯林。

以下是反對實行回教刑法的各種理由： -

1. 個人事項立法 ─ 回教刑法調節和控制私人協商一致的活動。但是，當前的刑事法典一般不立法“私事” ，特別是在沒有損傷及危害生命的活動上。
2. 違反憲法 ─ 我國聯邦憲法沒有規定神權政治，或引進任何根據宗教教意的刑事法律，如回教刑法。
3. 公民不平等 ─ 我們的聯邦憲法規定，每個公民在法律面前一律平等。在回教刑法里，非穆斯林和婦女沒有獲得平等對待。
4. 未成年者可在性侵犯罪名下被迫害 ─ 未成年者在正實涉及性侵犯後，可以在性侵犯罪名下被定罪。不像現有的刑事法典，其中認同未成年者是不成熟的，這並適用於強姦罪行。
5. 婦女的不平等 ─ 婦女假若不能證明被強姦，她將不被接受作為證人，同時有可能被起訴誹謗。受害人也必須證明，她不是同意讓對方強姦自己。
6. 婦女的歧視 ─ 通姦的情況下，婦女若懷孕將立即被起訴，而其男伴則或無法被提控，因為該刑法要求四名男穆斯林證人。
7. 對非回教徒財產缺乏保障 ─ 在回教刑法，回教徒若搶劫如酒、娛樂設備、寺廟的圖像等，這些財物都被認為是毫無價值的，涉案者將有機會逃避起訴或只是受到更輕的處罰。
8. 社會分裂 ─ 在我國，回教徒與非回教徒在文化和各宗教信仰中已經彼此差異。若回教刑法被通過施行，這將進一步促使全國各族人民的鴻溝擴大。
9. 起訴困難 ─ 在回教刑法中，被指控的男性犯罪行者可能因此受益，因為要得四個穆斯林男性證人的證詞很困難。
10. 目睹證據 ─ 強姦罪行的證據主要來自四個成年男性證人或被告的供詞。受害人自己的聲明並沒有鑑定價值，先進的科學鑑證並沒有獲得重用。
11. 非回教徒和婦女不能作為證人 ─ 凡有被指控的罪犯和受害者（包括回教徒和非回教徒），目擊者所提供的供證中，回教徒男性的供證將被接納為證據，而非回教徒和婦女則不能被接納為證人。
12. 回教刑法與刑事法典 ─ 當有兩個以上的共同被告或受害者 ( 回教徒和非回教徒 )，其中將依那個刑事法處理有關案件？聲明中的回教刑法只用於回教徒存有誤導性。
13. 無辜的，但被判有罪 ─ 如果一個人被錯誤指控為竊賊，並在回教刑法被定罪後失去了右手，即時後來發現他是無辜的，他失去的右手也不能挽回。任何人都會有犯錯的時候。
14. 法律改革正在進行之中 ─ 如果回教刑法支持者對刑事法典不滿意，他們可以提出修改建議。
15. 叛教 ─ 褻瀆或叛教的罪犯將被判死刑和沒收財產。

Read original English version of the No Hudud Campaign

Chinese New Year & DAP Divisive Politics

2009-01-15T01:24:00.010+08:00

Penang Chinese Town Hall deputy chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong said Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng were among the dignitaries invited for the PCTH's annual Chinese New Year open house which will be held from 10.30am to 1pm on Jan 27.

But, also on show are Chingay, lion dance performances and the divisive politics of the Penang DAP government.

PCTH's cultural cum tourism events such as Chinese New Year open house had always received support from the previous government.

Unfortunately, the current DAP Penang government gave lame excuse of lack of fund to support PCTH. Can't the government allocate a few thousands ringgit for this event?

Or is there other ulterior motive?

PCTH is perceived as not kowtowing to the DAP government or not Pro-DAP.

Had it been blacklisted by the DAP government?

Is there a blacklist?

Who are in the blacklist?

Who manage this blacklist?

No To Hudud Campaign

2009-01-12T16:37:00.006+08:00

Pemuda Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Negeri Pulau Pinang akan melancarkan Kempen Tak Nak Hudud pada Khamis, 15hb Januari 2009, 10.30 pagi, bertempat di Ibu Pejabat Negeri, 139 Jalan Macalister, 10400 Pulau Pinang.

Penang PGRM Youth will be launching a No Hudud Campaign on Thursday, 15th January 2008, 10.30 am at State HQ, 139 Macalister Road, 10400 Penang.

The aim of this No Hudud Campaign is to:-
1. to raise the awareness of all Malaysians on the negative implications of Hudud law
2. to prevent the enacting and gazetting of new Hudud laws in our country
3. to repeal existing Hudud laws in Kelantan and Terengganu

Hudud law threaten to destroy the very foundation of our nation-building. It must be oppose whole-heartily by all Malaysians – Muslims and Non-Muslims.

Below are various reasons given against the implementation of Hudud law in Malaysia:-

Reasons against Hudud implementation
1. Legislate private matters. Hudud regulates and controls private and consensual activities unlike current penal code which generally does not legislate on “private matters”, especially on activities that are not injurious and “victimizing”.
2. Violation of constitution. Our Federal Constitution does not provide for a theocratic state, introduction of any religious based Criminal Laws such as Hudud is unconstitutional.
3. Citizens not equal. Our Federal Constitution provides that every citizen is equal before the law. Hudud will create a situation where non-Muslims and women are not equal before the law.
4. Children can be persecuted for sex offences. Minors can be convicted of sex offences, unlike what is provided in the existing penal code, where consent of a minor is immaterial and statutory rape is applicable.
5. Woman inequality. Women are not accepted as witnesses and women are also most likely to be prosecuted for slander if they are not able to prove rape. The victim must prove that she was not a consenting party to her own rape.
6. Woman discrimination. In cases of adultery, women on account of them being pregnant will immediately be charged for the offence while it will be impossible to charge the male partner because of the requirement of four male Muslim witnesses.
7. Lack of protection for non-Islamic properties. Under Hudud, Muslims who commit robbery of property that is valueless in Islam e.g. liquor, entertainment equipments, and images in temples will have a chance to escape prosecution or receive lighter punishments.
8. Splitting the society. Muslims and Non-Muslims Malaysians are already divided by cultural differences and religious beliefs. Hudud will further divide Malaysians through the laws.
9. Difficulty to prosecute. Under Hudud, the alleged male perpetrator may stand to gain because of the difficulties of getting the testimonies of four Muslim male witnesses.
10. Ocular Evidence. Evidence for rape is ocular (of the eye), evidence of four adult male witnesses or confession of the accused. The victim’s own statement has no testimonial value. Forensics science and advancement is of minimal use.
11. Non-Muslims and women cannot be witnesses. Where there are alleged multiple perpetrators and victims (comprising Muslims and non-Muslims), eye-witness accounts offered by Muslim males are admissible as evidence while non-Muslim and women cannot be witnesses.
12. Hudud versus Penal code. When there are more than two co-accused or victims - Muslims and also non-Muslims, which criminal law to use? Statements that Hudud law is only applicable to Muslims are half lies.
13. Innocent but found guilty. If an alleged thief is wrongly prosecuted and had lost his right hand through Hudud, if later it was discovered that he is innocent, it will be too late because he can not have his hand back. All human make mistakes.
14. Law reform ongoing. If supporters of Hudud are not satisfied with the current Penal Code they can lobby for reforms, as law reforms are on an ongoing basis.
15. Apostasy. The punishment for blasphemy or apostasy by an unrepentant offender is death and forfeiture of property.

Temporary Closure For The Gamuda Issue

2009-01-09T00:44:00.010+08:00

LGE had unsurprising, eagerly, agreed to lift the stop-work order on the EDTP on clearance of a RM4mil check from Gamuda.

Pemuda Gerakan is not surprise by that readiness as Lim Guan Eng was totally taken off-guard by the pin-point criticism of his irresponsible actions. He could not even answer a single questions put to him through Sin Chew Jit Poh newspaper.

Lim Guan Eng keep on harping on poor compensation, a flooding incident and then later a planning permission issue. He even had to sent all his Generals to do some damage control for him. All that are just mere smoke-screen to cover his lack of competency – lack of ability for details and failing to understand land acquisition process.

Why so?

For example,

1. LGE said that the compensation for the people is TOO LOW. The actual fact is that most that had agreed to the compensation from Gamuda are laughing to the bank.

2. Seberang Perai Utara land for acquisition had been gazetted and compensation determined before the DAP State government stop work order – most affected are also laughing to the bank. However, there is something FISHY here.

WHY WAS SEBERANG PERAI UTARA LAND GAZETTED FIRST WHILE SEBERANG PERAI SELATAN & TENGAH NOT GAZETTED?

Is it because they voted for the Barisan Nasional and have to be punished or be used as guinea pig? Are SPU citizens not Penangnites? Is this not a form of victimization?

3. The flooding incident can be easily solved if the State government, MPSP and Gamuda work together instead Lim Guan Eng use it merely for cheap publicity. He should have focus on the problem instead of potraying himself as a FOLK HERO.

4. On the planning permission issue – HAVE MONEY WILL TALK.

Therefore, I am not surprised that Lim Guan Eng readily want to put this issue behind him immediately.

Pemuda Gerakan took this issue up due to a genuine concern for the “rice” and “bowls” of Malaysians – NOTHING MORE.

Most readers do not realize the EXTREME serious economic implication if this project is delayed. To ignite your imagination, this EDTP is RM12.5Billion while our short-term economic stimulus package is just RM7Billion.

Lim Guan Eng can consider this a WARNING to him, DO NOT PLAY-PLAY WITH THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE RAKYAT.

Read also my earlier post on the EDTP.

Penang withdraws stop-work order to MMC-Gamuda JV
by Himanshu Bhatt, Sun Online

GEORGE TOWN (Jan 7, 2008): The state government has allowed MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture Sdn Bhd to resume work on its electrified double-track project through mainland Penang.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today the government made the decision after receiving assurance from the company that it will settle pending payments worth RM 7.4 million owing to the state.

He explained that the company has made partial payment of RM4 million and undertaken to finalise the remaining amount by Chinese New Year.

Of the amount, RM 3.2 million was owed as drainage contribution to the state government, while some RM 4.2 million was mainly fines to the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) for conducting work without planning permission, he said.

The state government issued a stop-work order on the project last month after the company failed to submit planning permission application to the MPSP, Lim explained at a press conference at his office in Komtar today..............

Hudud: Pakatan Rakyat Supreme Leader Reply

2009-01-08T17:52:00.001+08:00

The Supreme Leader of Pakatan Rakyat was reported to have said there is no need to reject Hudud law as it was only applicable to Muslims.

I guess it is one of the easiest way to worm your way out of a predicament – what a mumbo-jumbo reply!

Karpal was nicer when he said what the PR Supreme Leader said was a “fallacy(a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning)”. But, are we small kids to be hoodwinked by that “Lallang” Supreme Leader?

A simple example - alleged criminals and victims can be of any religion, which laws to use when one them is non-Muslim? Hudud or the current penal code?

If you agreed with the Supreme Leader of Pakatan Rakyat it is suppose to be Hudud, if you agreed with Karpal then it is the Penal Code. This is exactly, the same type of problem that we are having with the current Sharia law – still no solution in sight.

However, the implications and problems that will arise from Hudud implementation are must greater than this simple example.

Karpal: Anwar's Assertion On Hudud A Fallacy

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's assertion that hudud laws are applicapable only to Muslims and not the entire country is a fallacy, DAP chairman Karpal Singh said today.

"The statement by PKR de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, that there is no need to reject hudud laws as it is only applicapble to Muslims is diametrically opposed to PAS' avowed aim to turn Malaysia into an Islamist state.

"This has been PAS' stand from its inception as is clearly reflected by the statements by former and present leaders of PAS," he said in a statement here.

Karpal Singh noted that PAS spiritual leader, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, was quoted by a news report on Dec 23 last year as saying: "I cannot see why they (obviously non-Muslims) cannot accept hudud laws which are no different from the colonial laws of the West".

Karpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor member of parliament, said that for hudud laws to be applicable, the prerequisite would be the setting-up of an Islamic state such as Saudi Arabia where Islamic laws were applicable to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

"It is important for Anwar to know exactly what PAS intends to do in calling for the setting-up of an Islamic state.

"Perhaps PAS president Hadi Awang should clear the air as to whether hudud laws intended by PAS are applicable to both Muslims and non-Muslims in the event PAS succeeds in setting up an Islamic state. In the public interest he should do so," he added.

Karpal Singh said Malaysia was not an Islamic state and the passing and implementation of hudud laws would be unconstitutional.

Wong Sai Wan's Resolutions For The Governments

2009-01-02T12:26:00.007+08:00

Interestingly, Wong Sai Wan in his Why Not column in The Star suggested a few sets of resolutions for the New Year; among those resolutions are a set of resolutions for all the 14 state governments and our Federal government.

The resolutions for all 15 governments in the country are:-

We will not victimise anyone who did not vote for us;

We will not carry out witch-hunts against previous administrations;

We shall administer fairly, and bring prosperity to all;

We will rectify all laws that are unfair, destructive, divisive, and discriminatory;

We will ensure that ALL poor people receive assistance;

We will fulfill the promises we make;

We will only come up with policies that are good for all, not only for a few;

We will protect the minority from the majority;

We will accept criticisms and act on them positively;

We will allow all media to operate freely everywhere; and,

We will cooperate with all governments in the Federation regardless of which party is in power.

Another set of resolutions for all politicians are as followed:

We will be good losers;
We will be magnanimous winners;
We will not destroy the country in our bid to grab power;
We will discuss important matters in Parliament and State Assemblies, and not try to score political points;
We will resign all our posts the moment we fail the people;
We will act with integrity and behave like human beings, not animals;
We will not incite the people to hate others; and,
We will support whatever policies that are good for the people.

For both the Pakatan Rakyat and the Barisan Nasional politicians and governments the above resolutions are at the very least "food for thought".

KeADILan stand on Hudud & Qisas

2008-12-24T18:22:00.009+08:00

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)

2008-12-20T16:17:00.007+08:00

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

2008-12-19T15:40:00.007+08:00

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

2008-12-16T01:55:00.002+08:00

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

2008-12-13T00:09:00.005+08:00

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

2008-12-08T01:20:00.013+08:00

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

2008-12-01T21:18:00.004+08:00

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’

2008-12-01T11:24:00.003+08:00

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

2008-11-29T14:31:00.003+08:00

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

2008-11-28T21:09:00.005+08:00

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?

2008-11-22T16:31:00.011+08:00

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)

2008-11-21T02:27:00.005+08:00

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

2008-11-14T12:30:00.009+08:00

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.

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?

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

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?

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?

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?

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

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?

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

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

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?

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?

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

2008-10-31T17:31:00.013+08:00

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?

2008-10-31T16:38:00.010+08:00

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

2008-10-25T00:47:00.008+08:00

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

2008-09-30T17:46:00.005+08:00

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

2008-09-22T14:30:00.012+08:00

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

2008-09-13T20:02:00.002+08:00

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

2008-09-10T16:31:00.003+08:00

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

2008-09-07T16:00:00.001+08:00

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

2008-09-03T13:10:00.008+08:00

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

2008-09-02T01:05:00.011+08:00

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

2008-08-22T18:26:00.005+08:00

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

2008-08-21T20:06:00.007+08:00

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

2008-08-20T15:17:00.010+08:00

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

2008-08-16T21:17:00.012+08:00

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)

2008-08-10T22:29:00.004+08:00

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:-

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?

2008-08-09T12:19:00.008+08:00

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)

LGE, The Coward

2008-08-09T08:54:00.006+08:00

Excuses, excuses, excuses!!!

Whether Lim Guan Eng directly or indirectly challenged Sdra Koh Tsu Koon to a debate that's academic.

But, the excuses LGE had been giving show that he is a COWARD.

Originally, Sdra Koh had requested some conditions (which are all very fair - see his press statement below) to accept the debate challenge. Unfortunately, LGE choose not to consider his request.

Now, Sdra Koh is willing to forgo the conditions, yet LGE is giving excuses after excuses.

JUST GET ON WITH THE DEBATES. NO LAME EXCUSES.

Some of excuses and cowardly acts are:-

LGE said that he have only 5 months experience as a CM, while Dr Koh have 18 years. LGE conveniently forget to mentioned his years as an opposition leader, which would make him even more skilled in debating.
LGE accused Agenda Daily of representing Gerakan, the portal that handled Anwar-Shabery Cheek debate. What a lousy excuse.
LGE said he is puzzled about the announcement of the open debate by news portal Agenda Daily. Agenda Daily took the initiative from LGE's challenge to Sdra Koh to set up the debate, he should be thankful instead of been cowardly.
While Sdra Koh prefer a debate on current issues with specific focus on matters related to Penang, LGE is adamant just to discuss the "land issue controversy".
Clearly, when Shabery Cheek and Anwar took up their debate, there were NO EXCUSES.

Puan Sri Chui, Sdra Koh Tsu Koon's wife had challenged Lim Guan Eng to a debate a few months ago. He did not take up the challenge.

KOH FOR LAND ISSUE DEBATE IF CHALLENGED

Press Release by Former Chief Minister of Penang,
Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon
(Monday, 4 August 2008)

(1) If Lim Guan Eng formally throws such a challenge, I am prepared to accept an open debate with him on the so-called "land scam" issue involving RM40.0 million as alleged repeatedly by him.

(2) However, two (2) conditions need to be fulfilled and agreed upon. The first is to ensure a truly fair debate. The other one is meant to protect the interest of the state in a pending court hearing on the case.

(3) First, all files and documents pertaining to this case in the Chief Minister's office and the state government's various departments must be declassified and made available to me for my reference to prepare for the debate. This condition is to ensure a fair debate on a level playing field.

(4) Although I can recall roughly the basic aspects of this case, I cannot remember specific facts and dates related to the case. On the other hand, Guan Eng as the present Chief Minister possesses and has full access to such files in the government offices. Such information is needed by both sides to prepare for arguments in the debate. It will not be fair at all if he has access to information and I do not.

(5) Second, the debate can only take place after the conclusion of the upcoming court hearing. In this regard, Lim Guan Eng must inform me and the public what is the date that has been fixed for the court hearing on the previous state government's appeal to reduce the amount claimed by the plaintiff in this case.

(6) This condition is not an excuse to avoid or delay the debate. It is important because some of the points raised in the debate may jeopardise the state government's position in the court hearing. It may even be sub judice.

(7) As a corollary to this condition, Lim Guan Eng has to immediately retract and stop mentioning again his often repeated open allegations, since March 2008 regarding the potential loss of RM40.0 million by the state government in this case.

(8) By repeatedly quoting the figure of RM40.0 million, he has definitely given the impression that the present state government seems prepared to pay for this big quantum as claimed by the plaintiff. This will jeopardise the state government's position in the court hearing to reduce substantially the claimed quantum, based on the arguments put in by the previous state government.

(9) Therefore, this second condition is meant to protect the state government in the upcoming court hearing. Irrespective of who eventually wins the debate, what is even more important is that we should all try by all means to reduce the amount claimed from the state government.

Background Information

The previous occasion Koh Tsu Koon and Lim Guan Eng had an open debate was more than 20 years ago when both we were the Youth Chiefs of their respective parties, before Koh became the Chief Minister of Penang in 1990. The venue was the Penang Chinese Town Hall.

若受挑战

许子根准备就土地案件公开辩论

前任槟州首席部长丹斯里许子根博士文告

（2008年8月4日）

1．如果林冠英正式抛出这样一个挑战，我准备接受，针对他一再公开指称"涉及马币4千万"所谓的"土地舞弊案"与他进行公开辩论。

2．然而，公开辩论需要在先符合和同意两项条件后进行。第一项是要确保一个公平的辩论。另一项是必需在有关候审的法院案件上保护州政府的利益。

3．第一，必须同意撤销官方文件秘密级别及让我参考目前存放在槟州首长办公室及州政府各部门中有关这起案件的所有档案和文件以便我能为辩论做好准备。这个条件是要确保辩论得以在一个公平的平台上进行。

4．虽然我记得这案件的大致基本情况，我却已不记得具体资料，数据和事件发展过程的日期，因为我手上没有有关文件。另一方面，基于林冠英是目前的首席部长，他拥有有关文件，也能从政府部门取得很多相关的资料。双方需要这些资料以便为辩论中的论点作准备。如果他有资料而我却无法知悉，这将是极不公平的。

5．第二，辩论只能在法院排期聆讯后才进行。林冠英必须告诉我和广大人民，法庭是否已定下哪个日期以聆讯前朝州政府寻求降低赔偿额的上诉。

6．这条件不是一个为了避免或延迟辩论的借口。这是很重要的，因为在这次辩论中所公开提及的一些论点可能危及州政府在法院聆讯的立场。它甚至有可能会被视为藐视法庭。

7．作为这条件的另一个付点是，林冠英也应即刻收回和停止他自2008年3月以来一再重复的公开指控，说所谓的"土地舞弊案"将可能导致州政府损失马币4千万。

8．通过公开不断声称涉及的巨额数字是马币4千万，他肯定给人的印象是，目前的州政府愿意支付原告所索取的上述巨额。这将危害到州政府致力通过法院诉讼以大幅降低有关索偿巨额的论点。

9．因此，这第二个条件就是要在即将举行的法庭聆讯保护州政府的立场和利益。不论是谁在辩论中取胜，重要的是，我们大家应尽量采取一切办法，以减少最终州政府所需付的索赔额。

背景资料

上次许子根和林冠英进行过公开辩论是在20多年前，在许子根成为槟州首席部长前，当时，他们担任各自所属政党的青年团总团长。地点是在槟州华人大会堂举行。

Hardcore Poor in Penang

2008-08-06T04:09:00.005+08:00

This is a post I scheduled for 2009. On hindsight, I felt it is better to post it now. LGE is an expert on twisting words.

Lim Guan Eng committed to totally abolishing hardcore poor (kemiskinan tegar) by 2008.

If you view the video, Lim Guan Eng confirm it repeatable - IT'S ABSOLUTELY CLEAR.

On the surface, there is nothing wrong with this objective - seem very caring.

Actually, it is another LIE, LIE, LIE. It is also another cheap publicity.

Penang hardcore is the lowest in the country at 0.3%. In development economics this is an excellent achievement. Of course, the possibility of reducing this hardcore poor percentage can be done but it will never be ZERO.

WHY?

Because everyday or every few days there will always be new hardcore poor - life is not a constant, it is full of variables - eradicating totally hardcore poor is impossible unless we become a full welfare state.

A better approach is to set a quantitative target that will enable the state government to monitor, help, manage and control the hardcore poor to an X numbers of families.

P.S. When an economist said full employment it means an unemployment rate of 3% would constitute full employment. Some economists use between 2% & 7%, depending on the country, time period, and the economists' political biases. It is never ZERO. This 2% - 7% is sometimes called structural unemployment.

GOVT AIMS TO REGISTER 20,000 POOR URBAN RESIDENTS

Bernama - Friday, August 1

KUANTAN, July 31 (Bernama) -- An estimated 20,000 poor urban residents would be registered until the end of this year to receive aid in an effort to bring them out of the poverty line, said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

He said currently a total of 14,833 from this group received aid worth RM33 million through the Eradicating Urban Poverty programme which was launched two years ago.

"This year we hope to help 90 per cent of the hardcore poor and we are confident that within the next two years poor residents in the town will get out of the poverty line," he told reporters after launching the Health and Safety Campaign as well as the Working Together to Fight Crime Expo, here today.

Hamzah said the government had allocated RM50 million to help the hardcore poor in the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) which involved financial aid and skills training for single mothers.

He added that families earning less than RM740 per month were classified as hardcore poor and were eligible to receive aid.

-- BERNAMA

Gangster Culture or Budaya Samseng

2008-08-06T02:40:00.010+08:00

The recent neck-gripping incident of a Guang Ming Chinese Newspaper lady photographer by keADILan goons is a source of great concern.

WHY?

IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. IT IS A TREND.

This dangerous political culture is propagated by KeADILan since the days of the Lunas by-election (October 2000). If this KeADILan culture is not nip at the bud, it will eventually become the PAKATAN RAKYAT culture - our country will have NO PEACE.

Sdra Huan, Penang Gerakan Youth Chairman called this “gangster culture” or “budaya samseng”. I think he is correct for NOW. My concern is that this gangster culture if it continues to be feed by election successes - it will turned into something much more dangerous.

It is a sad scenario that KeADILan that is supposed to symbolize or to expound “Justice”, is becoming the OPPOSITE. It reminds me of the German NAZI's swastika which nowadays connotes the thoughts of evil, genocide, and murders.

The people of Permatang Pauh can show their displeasure and distaste for such extremism through the ballot boxes. For this coming Permatang pauh by-election, not voting for KeADILan is to ensure that our culture of peaceful co-existance continue .

Urgent Good Requires Special Pass from MHA

2008-08-01T12:49:00.014+08:00

The decision to restrict heavy vehicles (excluding buses) using the Penang Bridge during peak hours i.e. from 6.30 am to 8.30 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm everyday is to ensure a smooth traffic flow according to YB Lim Hock Seng. This measure will be implemented from Aug 15, 2008.

But, the requirement to obtain special passes from the Malaysian Highway Authority for transportation of urgent good by freight forwarders bordered on "stupidity"(kinder words - lack of thoughts). This was announced by YB Lim Hock Seng, Exco for Penang Public Works, Utilities, and Transportation yesterday.

It's adding further bureaucracy or paper works to the existing freight forwarding requirements. A much simpler and effective solution is to applied a surcharge to cross the bridge at those hours. However, this can only be applied for one direction - Butterworth to Penang.

Note: MHA is situated at the island side, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Penang. Office hours is 8am - 5 pm, Monday to Friday

P.S. I used the bridge quite often, I do not believe that heavy vehicles are the main or is one of the top reasons for traffic congestion on the Penang bridge. It is usually passenger vehicle accidents. Ways and means to minimize accidents on the bridge is much more important.

Heavy vehicles that really slow down traffic are the bulldozer, forklift type of vehicles, not cargo transportation vehicles.

Abuse of Power and Victimization

2008-07-31T12:04:00.011+08:00

The so-called fair and just Pakatan Rakyat government double standard can be reflected in a Letter of Authority(surat kuasa) letter issued out by its state assemblyman. A snapshot of the first page of this letter can be seen above.

The letter targeted specific JKKK (Village Development and Security Committees) & KRT (Neighbourhood Watch Area) village/area chairpersons and its committee members. This letter authorized the bearer of the letter to go to 5 specific villages/areas in the mainland and execute the following:-

to change the leadership of all the JKKK & KRT leadership in the specified 5 areas
to takeover all government owned halls
to takeover power, monies and equipment
to take over the collection of revenue at night market and public market.

The JKKK and KRT leadership, monies, properties and equipment are not under the purview of the state assemblyman.

A press conference was held to highlight this blatant abuse of power and victimization of local community leaders. We demand the Chief Minister, the leader of Pakatan Rakyat in Penang to clarify and to investigate.

Questions on Rumah Tetamu (Guest House)

2008-07-28T18:10:00.008+08:00

On 21st March 2008, LGE stated clearly 3 "NO" to the media :-

NO to be addressed as a YANG BERHORMAT (YB)
NO to acceptance of State Awards
NO to occupying the Official Residence of the Chief Minister i.e. Rumah Tetamu

Yet, on 21st June 2008, he officially moved into Rumah Tetamu(Guest House). Backtracking on his earlier decision. He lacks credibility.

LGE talks about CAT - competency, accountability and transparency, the following 6 questions demand for all the above.

The questions were as followed:-
1. Why there exist a huge different of RM270,000 between the actual repair cost versus the estimated repair cost?

2. Which department was involved in the estimation of the repair cost?

3. What was the result of the investigation conducted by the Chief Minister office? (LGE had committed to an investigation in his press statement)

4. What was the actual cost?

5. Is it necessary to lodged a ACA report because of the possible elements of lies and falsifying?

6. Will disciplinary action be taken against those that had been negligence?

(Translated from the original Bahasa Malaysia press release)

Special Note: All the above questions were based on LGE own press statements.

P.S.
1. The post was taken from a press release by Sdra Thor Teong Ghee, Sdra Oh Tong Keong, Sdra Mah Nai Hock and myself on Sunday, 27th July 2008, 11 am.

2. A dateline had been conveyed to LGE through the press that by 4th August 2008, Sdra Oh will lodged an ACA report on the above matter if not satisfactory answers were received from LGE.

Durian Treat at St. Joseph's Home

2008-07-27T22:22:00.006+08:00

The annual durian treat held this afternoon at St. Joseph's Home bring happy & smiling faces to the 43 children staying at the home. For me, the best feeling of all was when those children eagerly took their turns to show their appreciation. It was an indescribable feeling. I hope my blog readers of whatever political affiliations will do their bit in promoting a caring society especially in this difficult times.

This event was jointly organised by three Tanjung Gerakan branches i.e. Muntri Street, Victoria Street & Pengkalen Weld with the support of members from other branches.

ECONOMY IN JEOPARDY

2008-06-17T09:39:00.004+08:00

PENANG TEH TARIK FORUM
槟城拉茶讲座

Topic:
ECONOMY IN JEOPARDY
Malaysia's New Political Landscape and its
Crisis in Governance

Talk in MANDARIN (华语), Q & A in Mandarin & English

课题:
马来西亚的政治新局
与当前的治理危机

SYNOPSIS:

ECONOMY IN JEOPARDY

Malaysia's New Political Landscape and its Crisis in Governance

The 12th General Election brought forth a new dawn in Malaysian politics; for the first time in history party rotation in government is seen at five state government level. At the Federal level; the Barisal Nasional (BN)-led government is now facing a strong opposition front; signaling the end of its absolute dominance in policy formulation. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has now taken over the reign of five state governments; facing acute challenges of improving on the governance of these states.

Would the setback BN faced in the 12th Election push it towards radical reform of both people and organization? What will change and what will not?

How would BN return to its former path of responsible governance? PK now faces integration at the state level and building consensus on the national agenda; is it realistic for the people to expect that there could be a real alternative?

How much time and how much longer can?

Malaysians wait for the political parties and the government to get its act together? In the meantime, the international conditions continue to pose severe challenges on the Malaysian economy. The policy bottlenecks and mismanagement have put the economy in jeopardy; severely undermined the competitiveness of the nation. Inflation, lack of new sources of economic growth and inefficiencies in the domestic system are pushing the pain index; for both business and citizen to record height.

With the new political dynamics, can Malaysia expect this crisis in governance be speedily resolved? What are the priorities to get the nation onto a path of sustained economic growth?

Speaker :
Ms Fung Jiu Ling
◆ Economics Degree,UM
◆ Partner of MegatrendsAsia
◆ A writer, columnist and speaker for world leading companies.
She specializes in global and Asian business trends

Date : 19th June 2008, Wednesday
Time : 8:00 pm
(Teh Tarik and snacks will be served at 7.30pm)
Venue: Venue : SLC Conference Room
2nd Floor, PGRM Headquarters at No. 139, Jalan Macalister, P. Pinang
Tel. : 04-229 4577 or 012-429 2377

OPEN TO PUBLIC 公开讲座

Penang Teh Tarik Forum is organised by PENANG GERAKAN TRAINING BUREAU and NATIONAL POLITICAL TRAINING BUREAU and supported by SATU ACADEMY,
Tel: 04 229 4577

Norway, Canada, Russia.........

2008-06-15T23:51:00.012+08:00

One of the favourite topic for the Supreme Leader of Pakatan Rakyat is the price of petrol and diesel. Last night in Penang City Stadium , he said that Malaysia is the only net exporter country in the world with such a high petrol price(RM2.70 or USD0.84). What a great liar, he intentionally omitted many net exporting countries that have even higher petrol price than Malaysia.

Some of these countries are as followed:-
Norway - USD2.74/liter (use only 10% of their crude oil production); Canada is USD1.45/liter (export oil to US); Russia is USD1.049/liter(world no. 2 net oil exporter), U.K is USD2.26/liter (recently became net exporter), etc

Read for yourself the following profile:
a. Russia energy profile (World No. 2 net exporter)
b. Norway energy profile (World No 4 net exporter)
c. Canada energy profile (World No 16 net exporter)
d. Malaysia energy profile (World No 26 net exporter)

Norway is the world No. 4 net exporter of oil, with a population less than 5 million but the price of petrol is RM8.85. What happened to all the petrol dollars? Is Norway a corrupt country? Definitely, a BIG NO, as Norway is in the top ten of the least corrupt countries in the world.

So why is it so high in Norway? I think it will be beneficial for my blog readers to do some research to understand gasoline prices in relation to development economics policies.

Don't be fooled by Pakatan Rakyat politicians that make cheap statements or promises.

Recommended blog on world energy: http://ergobalance.blogspot.com

Top World Oil Net Exporters, 2006 (thousand barrels per day)
Rank	Country	Exports
1	Saudi Arabia	8,525
2	Russia	6,866
3	United Arab Emirates	2,564
4	Norway	2,551
5	Iran	2,462
6	Kuwait	2,340
7	Venezuela	2,183
8	Nigeria	2,131
9	Algeria	1,842
10	Mexico	1,710
11	Libya	1,530
12	Iraq	1,438
13	Angola	1,379
14	Kazakhstan	1,145
15	Qatar	1,032

P.S. I hate the petrol price increase, but I hate liar even more.

What is even more worst is that the Supreme Leader want Malaysian to sacrifice regional developments (to forgo the regional development corridors) for the reduction of petrol and diesel prices if Pakatan Rakyat takeover. Actually he received lukewarm response for that - either the audience don't understand him or prefer development)

Malaysian Malaysia

2008-06-10T13:09:00.005+08:00

PENANG TEH TARIK FORUM
槟城拉茶讲座

Topic:

"Creating A Malaysian Malaysia - The Role Of Mediation”

ENGLISH 英语

"如何使用调解方法促成
马来西亚人的马来西亚?"

Our Malaysian Nation was founded on the basis of Inter-ethnic Goodwill and Reconciliation. Many years down the road we seem to have forgotten this. How can we get all the races together again working for a single goal – the formation of a Malaysia for all Malaysians? How to bring back the spirit of give-and-take?

Speaker :
Mr. PHEE Boon Leng
Lawyer, Qualified Mediator with the Mediation Centre of the Malaysian Bar, Conducts Mediation Master courses in University of Malaya and
in the Legal and Judicial Services.

Date : 12th June 2008, Thursday, Time : 8:00 pm
(Teh Tarik and snacks will be served at 7.30pm)
Venue: SATU ACADEMY Training Room
2nd Floor, PGRM Headquarters at No. 139, Jalan Macalister, P. Pinang
Tel. : 04-229 4577 or 012-429 2377

OPEN TO PUBLIC 公开讲座

Penang Teh Tarik Forum is organised by PENANG GERAKAN TRAINING BUREAU and NATIONAL POLITICAL TRAINING BUREAU and supported by SATU ACADEMY,
Tel: 04 229 4577