Umno will not support formation of IPCMC says Zahid

THERE is no need for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as there are sufficient arrangements to monitor errant cops said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

The Umno president said the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) had been set up to look into disciplinary cases across all enforcement agencies.

Now, Mahathir accuses Putrajaya of its own 'Project IC'

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who during his tenure as prime minister was accused of engineering 'Project IC', has now accused the current government of implementing a citizenship-for-votes scheme.

He made the allegation when commenting on how democratic elections can be abused to install dictators or kleptocrats.

"Foreigners can be used to vote for the party in power. For example, if there are many foreigners in the country, for whatever reason, they can be given citizenship and registered as voters.

"Foreigners with passports of other countries have been found possessing Malaysian identification cards," Mahathir said in a blog posting today.

During Mahathir's tenure, he was accused of arbitrarily granting citizenship to Muslim foreigners in Sabah, in exchange for their votes, thereby altering the demography of the state in the process.

This was referred to as ''Project IC' and prompted a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) in 2012, after decades of demands by local Sabahans.

The inquiry concluded that 'Project IC' "probably" existed, but blamed it on rogue elements and criminal syndicates.

During the RCI hearing, several of those implicated were officials with the National Security Council (NSC), including two National Registration Department heads who were seconded from the council, which was chaired by the prime minister.

The presence of foreigners in the electoral roll had even prompted the Kota Kinabalu High Court to declare the election results in Likas as null and void in the 1999 state election.

Following the decision, Mahathir's administration amended the federal constitution to disallow the courts from reviewing the electoral roll.

Putrajaya will take over Hadi's bill, PM says

UMNO AGM Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the government will "take over" PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.

"I urge all not to politicise the matter. It is a Private Member's Bill, which will be taken over by the federal government," Najib, who is also Umno president, said in his policy speech at the Umno general assembly today.

He did not elaborate how it will be "taken over" by the government.

Najib said that Nov 24, the day Hadi tabled his motion seeking leave to table his bill, was a "historic" day.

Despite the two parties traditionally being rivals, PAS has, in recent years, been accused of colluding with Umno, particularly on matters concerning Islamic law.

Meanwhile, minister in charge of Parliament affairs Azalina Said Othman confirmed that the government will be "taking over" the bill during the second reading.

"Marang (Hadi) has to first finish the motion and it would be debated and voted and that means the first reading is completed and the government will pick up.

"There will be a statement and the government will pick it up as a second bill and (minister in charge of Islamic affairs) Jamil Khir (Baharom) will read it as a government bill," she told reporters at the sidelines of the Umno annual general assembly today.

The process will take place in March, she said.

Won't affect non-Muslims

Hadi's bill seeks to raise the sentencing limit of the syariah court from a maximum RM3,000 fine, six strokes of the whip and five year jail limit to maximum 30 years' jail, RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the whip.

On Nov 22, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi briefed Muslim MPs on Hadi's bill.

During the meeting, it was decided that a proposal would be submitted to Najib to urge him to form a parliamentary select committee, consisting of Muslim and non-Muslim MPs, to review the bill after it is tabled in Parliament.

BN component parties MCA, MIC and Gerakan said they would oppose the bill in its current form, arguing that it is unconstitutional.

Gerakan said the bill would create a parallel system alongside civil law, but Najib said this would not happen.

"To the non-Muslims, don't worry because you will not be subject to it and the government is reviewing if there will be dualism in penalties," Najib said.

While Hadi's motion to seek leave to table the bill was read on Nov 24, the Marang MP will only elaborate on his motion to the Dewan Rakyat during its next sitting in March next year.

Wanita Umno delegate questions non-Malay bosses in GLCs

UMNO AGM A Wanita Umno delegate today questioned why non-Malays are appointed in top positions in government-linked firms.

"I urge the leadership to pay more attention to the appointments in GLCs. For example, developer SP Setia Bhd.

"Everyone knows the majority stake is held by PNB (Permodalan Nasional Bhd) so why is the CEO and the GM (general manager) in Penang ethnic Chinese?

"What's happening now is that other races are holding top positions and this means contractors, consultants and lawyers appointed are all from their race," Bagan delegate Hamidah Arshad said during the annual general assembly debate in PWTC today.

Hamidah also alleged that no Malay contractors are appointed by GLCs.

Meanwhile, the Malay Mail Online reported Pasir Putih Wanita chief Zurina Ripin urged the government to allocate 30 percent of government contracts for food products to the women's wing.

"We want 30 percent of government contracts. There are plenty of ministries so what is wrong if we get 30 percent of the food (supply or manufacturing) contracts," she reportedly said during the debates on the wing's economic motion.

"Is it difficult to give the 30 percent? We are in power. Just give it to the (Malay) women entreprenuers out there," she reportedly said.

She added the government must consider this if it is serious about gender equality, the news portal reported.

The 30 percent contracts demand was part of the wing's economic motion, unanimously passed today.

Stop fooling the public, Puteri Umno delegate tells govt

Don't say the economy is fine when the public can see many are losing their jobs, Norsarfinaz Mohd Aznam says.

A Puteri Umno delegate has delivered a harsh message to the government, asking the leaders to stop sugarcoating the truth about the country’s economy.

Norsarfinaz Mohd Azman, a delegate from Pahang Puteri Umno, said the government should also stop underestimating the intelligence of youths today.

“Don’t tell us the economy is fine when we can see our friends losing their jobs and the prices of household items go up.

“We have a high level of intellect,” she said when debating the motion on religion at the Puteri Umno assembly in Putra World Trade Center here today.

Present to hear her speech was Umno acting deputy president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Norsarfinaz, who is also Jerantut Puteri division chief, told Zahid to listen to her plea for the government to stop shielding the public from the truth and instead bring awareness to them so they may act accordingly.

She also asked for the public to be given a chance to help solve the problem.

“We know Malaysia is not the only country facing financial difficulties. It’s a problem that is affecting the whole world.

“So be frank with us and let us work with the government to address this issue.”

Norsarfinaz then said, in a sarcastic tone, that while the government can advise the public to save costs by travelling within the country instead of overseas, it should at least ensure these destinations are appealing enough.

“For example, if we want to go for vacation, maybe we could go to Pahang. After all, next year is Visit Pahang Year.

“But if we were to go there, make sure the forests are not cleared.

“Ensure the bauxite problem is settled so that it wouldn’t be as thick as our foundation (a make-up item used to cover facial flaws).

“And the rivers shouldn’t look like ‘teh tarik’.”

PKR MP Rafizi Ramli had yesterday alleged that deforestation activities had been going on all around Pahang. He warned the government to immediately address the issue or he would leak the information “one area at a time”.

Where is Umno’s sense of conscience?

It was interesting to read that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has now detained another government officer with millions in his bank account. The account has since been frozen. This is the same MACC that cleared Malaysian Official 1 (MO1) of nearly RM2.6 billion in his account. Not only that but one amongst those responsible for clearing him from the Attorney-General’s Chambers is now the chief commissioner of MACC.

I suppose different rules apply depending on your status and position. It is this type of behaviour that promotes cynicism amongst many about the seriousness with which corruption is tackled in the nation. The appointment was a further insult to MACC. Mr Chief Commissioner, if you are sincere and halal, than take on MO1 and show your sense of commitment.

As chairperson of the Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia (BEIM) I sat on the board of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy. The appointment was from the chief secretary of the government and this was an honour for BEIM. Having however lost confidence in the seriousness with which the issue of corruption was being addressed by the government, I resigned as to continue would be to condone what was going on.

It was only appropriate that someone from within MACC should have been promoted to the position.

Daily we hear news and accounts internationally relating to the 1MDB fiasco. A number of international banks have been closed and evidence given in the on-going case in Singapore just shocks one as to the scale of the fraud and exploitation. Yet in Malaysia neither has any board member, the adviser and others mentioned as MO2, MO3 and other officials been called to account.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has very clearly enumerated in its 166-page report evidence relating to wide-scale money-laundering of money belonging to the nation.

While people in power and position can use their status to protect themselves as in this case, what disappoints me is that no one in the establishment sees any wrong. So many good people who know and understand the situation just keep quiet. One minister who stepped down had the guts to raise questions, as was the former deputy president and another vice-president of Umno.

A senior journalist resigned from the New Straits Times because he could not continue under the present circumstances.

Why do many more people not make a stand on issues so important and critical to the nation’s well being? To continue in silence is to condone and the time will come when they will themselves realise that they have sold their souls under the guise of loyalty to an individual. Surely there are higher loyalties as to one’s nation, the constitution, one’s conscience and to God. As is often said, “It is enough for good people to remain silent for evil to triumph.”

In today’s individualistic world is it all about ‘I’, ‘Me’, ‘Myself’ first and then everything else thereafter. It is amazing that Umno party members do not even realise that they are now participating in the early demise of their party. What is a party without a conscience and a purpose beyond ethnicity? If this is what they choose to remain then the end is not too far.

You may be a graduate from Oxford or Melbourne University or for that matter from any university, yet what is the value of your degree and qualifications if you continue to condone what is so blatantly wrong. Nearly a million people came out under Bersih 4 and 5 and made a statement. If the authorities continue to close their eyes to reality then they will be in for a shock.

Are our elections ‘halal’?

Further what is the point of winning elections and losing the popular vote? How can such individuals and parties continue with gerrymandering to win power? In a country where there is so much consciousness about things being ‘halal’, are our elections ‘halal’ if such practices are condoned? Just as justice used selectively is justice denied, similarly Islam applied selectively is unfair to what Islam represents. We need to call the bluff of such Muslims.

The same goes for all believers whatever be their faith. Is your belief a mere garment for you to wear and remove as appropriate? Or does your belief embody you with moral standards and values, principles and convictions which help engender an enlightened conscience that gives clarity to the issues that challenge us today? Beliefs if they do not inspire an inner transformation or fresh realisations are mere platitudes to impress others.

Lasting change ultimately comes from within. Neither ‘hudud’ nor an increase in punishment in terms of whipping, lashing or cutting hands will change an individual. There may be an element of fear but lasting change comes from the impact good role models and mentors provide.

It has to be learning from within. Otherwise it projects cruelty and a lack of compassion in today’s context. Punishments cannot replace good role models and PAS must address this singular failure for all their talk and preaching.

As is said, “Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible but man’s capacity of injustice makes democracy necessary.” When this is not even practiced within Umno as a party and office-holders can be dismissed with impunity, it all shows up for the lack of practice and substance. Such are the individuals who speak about moderation and democracy in our country.

So much gain is linked to being associated with the party leader. The cronies who sing songs in his praise are honoured with promotions. Others are just silent and through their silence condone what is being done. In the end whether a Marcos or a Suharto, Estrada or Mobutu, the time will come when such self-enriching leaders meet their end. These kleptocrats survive because many keep them alive blinded by their own self-interest and the ‘I Me Mine’ syndrome.

What say you Paul Low, the Integrity Minister?

When a leader is ready to sacrifice the nation and its ideals, his party and its conscience then the day is nigh when the end is a matter of time. So great is the scandal and so international is its outreach that the 1MDB debacle will swallow many in its last chapter. Then there will be many who will regret not standing up for their faith, convictions, their party and the nation.

Where is Umno’s sense of conscience?

Will Muslim politicians succumb to Jamal’s ‘fatwa’?

Red-shirt leader Jamal Md Yunos’s condemnation of Muslim politicians who do not support Hadi’s hudud bill as “devils” sounds very much like a ‘fatwa’.

Some people have been using Islam as a weapon against non-Muslims, politicians and others, (although the Prophet did not mean it to be used as such), and Jamal is now using it against Muslim politicians who have different views from that of Hadi and similar-minded persons. It is like condemning them to hell.

Will Muslim politicians be intimidated by Jamal calling them devils?

This reminds me of an incident in the mid 80s when the then-Kedah menteri besar, who was guest of honour at a function, was upon arrival taken to the waiting room and persuaded to dress up as a cowboy, complete with sombrero, and enter the hall with a blazing gun. He was greeted by shouts of “Montoya”.

‘Montoya’ became such a catchy word and wherever the MB went, he was called “Montoya,” especially by children. He wasn’t able to take this taunting for long and soon gave up his post.

“Devils”. That’s what Jamal has labelled Muslim politicians who don’t support Hadi’s hudud bill. He is, whether he remembers ‘Montoya’ or not, doing a similar thing. He wants the pak-turut Muslims to start sneering at their leaders who do not support hudud with the hope that this will make them ‘repent’ and support hudud, as they will not say “I will rather resign or be kicked out than support Hadi’s hudud” as the spoils of office are too good to sacrifice.

The Sun on Nov 25, 2016 carried a picture of children carrying placards stating ‘Saya Muslim, Saya Sokong RUU 355'. What do these young children know about hudud, or how much about Islam itself? Is this kind of practice actually allowed in Islam - using innocent children to further the cause of politicians?

These children are merely following orders, merely showing ‘respect’ to their teachers or elders, without being able to appreciate what it is all about, whether it is good or bad.

Will Muslims politicians who do not support Hadi’s hudud become psychologically broken if they should begin to be called “devils” by Muslim voters in their constituencies or will they stand by their conscience and educate their constituents about the hypocricy behind Hadi’s hudud?

Will they tell their constituents that research done by Muslim scholars has shown that Ireland, a Roman Catholic country, was found to be the most Islamic compared to Middle Eastern hudud practicing Islamic countries where crime has not gone down?

Jamal is pitting these politicians against religious authorities such as the ulama and muftis who are all for Hadi’s hudud. How will they face up to these authorities if their own knowledge of Islam is no match to that of the authorities’?

The Muslim politicians who have in the past declared that they will not support Hadi’s hudud for some reason or other should show us they are people of honour by staying steadfast to their declared stand. Jamal has no divine authority to turn them into ‘devils’, or to compel them to support Hadi’s hudud.

All Muslim politicians should not be taken in by the baseless blanket explanation that existing punishments under the Islamic laws are not effective in deterring crimes and therefore RUU 355 is necessary.

School discipline has gone down

Crime has gone up because school discipline over the past 40 over years has gone down and down to such a level that in some schools teachers are afraid of their pupils. Isn’t this the most absurd situation, where adults cannot control children, allowing the children to acquire devilish behaviour and become criminals in adult life?

Hadi and his ilk should instead look seriously into the causes of school indiscipline and take measures to bring back the standard of discipline that existed in the 50s and 60s.

Can Hadi tell us whether it is not better to give young children a few strokes of a small, light cane and change their behaviour for the better (kalau hendak meluntur buluh, biarlah dari rebungnya) than to allow indiscipline to grow and turn into crime in adult life and then give them 100 lashes, 30 years’ jail, chop off their hands or even stone them to death?

The answer to rising crime is not hudud but bringing back strict discipline into our schools to create future adults of a much better character than the adults of today.

Has Hadi got the mettle, the will and the knowledge about child character development to take this challenge if he is genuine about making our future society a better one with minimal crime?

Umno lawmaker adds royal twist to 'MO1' saga

An Umno lawmaker Nawawi Ahmad added a royal twist to the saga surrounding Malaysian Official 1, who was mentioned in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) civil suits related to alleged abuse of 1MDB funds.

In a Facebook posting, which was edited four hours later, the Langkawi MP said based on the Federal Constitution, it is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who is responsible for the government.

"According to the Federal Constitution, Malaysia's government was formed with three separate and independent entities, the judiciary headed by the chief justice, the legislative led by the parliament speaker, and the executive directed by the prime minister.

"All three entities are responsible to the Agong.

"Hence, according to the constitution, MO1 is the Agong," he explained.

In the edited version, the last line in the posting was replaced with the sentence, "Hence, according to the constitution (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak) is not MO1, as he is either M02, M03, or MO4."

In his comments later, Nawawi said that he was not talking about MO1 in the context of the DOJ lawsuit, but rather in terms of the constitution.

Malaysiakini has contacted Nawawi to get an explanation as to why he edited the comment.

MO1, according to the DOJ, is a high-ranking public officer whom it claimed received US$731 million of siphoned 1MDB funds.

The DOJ also said that MO1 is a relative of Najib's stepson Riza Aziz.

Umno supreme council member Abdul Rahman Dahlan has said that only an idiot would not know who MO1 is, while the opposition has pointed the finger at Najib.

Najib, however, has denied allegations of misusing public funds, and claims such accusations are part of a plot to topple him.

Nawawi's remarks have caused a stir, with former Langkawi Wanita Umno member Anina Saadudin saying it was an insult to the Agong, who is currently Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.

"MO1 is a criminal, don't link him to our ruler... Nawawi has insulted the Kedah royal institution.

"I urge him to apologise to His Majesty and the rakyat. If he doesn't, the public can apply pressure so that all the titles bestowed upon him by the Kedah royalty is retracted," she said in a statement.

Noh Omar flays DAP for disrespecting Amanah

SG BESAR POLLS Putting up inflammatory billboards without Amanah's approval shows that DAP doesn't respect anyone, said Selangor BN chief Noh Omar.

"If there was no permission from Amanah, this shows that DAP never respected Amanah and will do as they please.

"Maybe DAP thinks PAS and Amanah are the same. DAP never respected PAS and now it's proven they don't respect Amanah," Noh told Malaysiakini after attending an event in Sungai Besar today.

He was commenting on the billboards bearing Amanah's logo that DAP had put up in Sekinchan yesterday, which attacked BN, PAS and Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos.

The billboards, which among others bore a quote by Jamal saying it was not wrong to say 'Cina babi' (Chinese pigs) caused a stir and was promptly taken down by the Election Commission.

Noh said besides disrespecting Amanah, the billboards clearly showed that DAP was a racist party.

"DAP wants to create provocation, and play racist sentiments in this by-election. "

Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua had defended the banners, saying these were issues they wanted to highlight.

Amanah communications chief Khalid Samad however said he has sorted it out with DAP, and that they would not put up any more provocative billboards.

Amamah is facing both BN and PAS in three-cornered fights for the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat, as well as in Kuala Kangsar.

Both constituencies will go to the polls on June 18.

Umno to brief BN partners on Hadi’s Bill next week

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — Umno will brief Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition component parties on political foe PAS’s controversial Bill to strengthen the Shariah courts’ powers next Wednesday, the Malay nationalist party’s information chief said today.

Datuk Annuar Musa added that Islamic religious experts and constitutional lawyers will be present to explain the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016, The Star Online reported.

“Whoever is in Barisan Nasional, don’t be emotional. We have to sit down and discuss and not come up with hasty statements — that’s not the BN culture.

“Let’s discuss this issue as brothers and sisters. There have been lots of misunderstandings on this issue and we will iron this out during the meeting,” the Keterah MP was quoted saying.

Annuar said the June 8 briefing will be held at the BN headquarters here at 11am.

Several BN party leaders and ministers have objected to the Bill which they see as clearing the way for hudud to be introduced into the country.

The presidents of MCA, Gerakan and MIC have pledged to quit their government positions if hudud kicks in.

The Bill appeared on the Dewan Rakyat’s agenda last week when the government fast-tracked the opposition lawmaker’s proposal, last on the list, through the Order Paper.

Several non-Muslim ministers have claimed surprise, saying they had been kept in the dark that it would be tabled on the last day of the lower House’s meeting this season. Hadi however, has asked for it to be deferred to the next meeting in October.

The Bill seeks to lift the cap for state Shariah courts to punish Muslims convicted of Islamic offence from the current prison term, fine and whipping formula of three: RM5,000: six strokes to unlimited other than the death sentence.

Critics of the Bill assert that the law violates the Federal Constitution and will weaken the powers of the civil justice system.

Is Dr M placing a candidate in Kuala Kangsar?

An Umno Youth member, intending to be an independent, claims Dr Mahathir intends to persuade a former Wanita Umno member to contest in the by-election.

FMT

AMPANG: An Umno Youth member has alleged that former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad intends to sponsor a candidate in the Kuala Kangsar by-election.

Taman Chempaka Umno Youth Assistant Secretary Syed Rosli Jamalullail said this was apparently to split the votes for BN.

He said the independent candidate could be a Wanita Umno leader, who was sacked from the party last year.

Syed Rosli is also facing expulsion from the party for his intention to contest as an independent in the by-election as he is unhappy BN has chosen Mastura Yazid, the widow of the former MP Wan Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, as the BN candidate.

PAS Women’s chief Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad is also contesting.

Yesterday, former Umno member Hamidah Osman, who was sacked last year for disciplinary problems, had announced that she was not ruling out the possibility of contesting in the by-election.

Syed Rosli told FMT today at his residence: “I have received information that a woman will be contesting, sponsored by Tun Mahathir, to break the votes and defeat Umno.

“She is insincere and is contesting only out of revenge against her former party. She will bring up the agenda of Tun Mahathir and the Citizens’ Declaration to defeat BN in Kuala Kangsar.”

Syed Rosli said Umno was seen to have failed in upholding the plight of the Malays, which he said had led to rifts in the community, leading to the formation of Malay NGOs.

“Perkasa, for example. The NGO is Malay and I believe that many of them were previously Umno members.

“They joined Perkasa out of disappointment with Umno, which had failed to help the people from an economic and educational standpoint.

“I also believe that Umno has failed to defend Malay and Muslim rights. The Malay royal institutions have also been disrespected.”

I never treated Umno as private property, Mahathir returns fire

Indulging in crude potshots, Dr Mahathir Mohamad accused Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of turning Umno into his private property.

On two occasions, the former premier referred to how Umno has been turned into "Najis (filth)".

He was responding to the prime minister who accused him of biting the hand that fed him, claiming that Mahathir and his family reaped enormous benefits from Umno and BN.

This was after the former premier urged the opposition to be united to defeat BN in the upcoming by-elections.

"He also gained a lot from Umno,” said Mahathir. "But I never treated it (the party) as my private property."

"He's now changed Umno to 'Najis (filth), I mean Najib," he told reporters in Subang Jaya.

He had uttered the same crude remark during a question and answer session earlier.

"In my heart I am still an Umno man. But now Umno is a 'parti Najis' (filthy party)... Najib," he had said, to roaring laughter from the crowd.

Mahathir is spearheading a campaign to oust Najib, dubbed the Citizens' Declaration, which has allegedly amassed more than one million signatures.

The former premier accuses the prime minister of corruption and putting the country at great financial risk over the 1MDB scandal.

He has even called on voters to ensure that BN loses in the upcoming twin by-elections in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar to teach Najib a lesson.

Najib has denied all accusations against him.

Dr M: Umno must be united, since all wear red

 

Since all Umno division leaders present at the solidarity meet up with president Najib Abdul Razak wore the same colour yesterday, all must be well in the party.

Such was the snide comment by Umno veteran Dr Mahathir Mohamad when asked by reporters on the show of support for Najib yesterday.

"I saw their shirts were all red. So if they were wearing red, must be because they were all in consensus," Dr Mahathir (below) was quoted by The Malay Mail Online as saying.

The former PM, who has been vocal against Najib’s pet project 1Malaysia Development Bhd, lamented that he enjoyed no such colour-coordinated support in his 22 years as party president.

"During my time there was no solidarity. Tengku Razaleigh was fighting with me, Musa was fighting with me, Anwar was fighting with me…There was no such thing as solidarity," the news portal quoted him as saying.

He reportedly said this after attending the International Conference on New World Order in Putrajaya today.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had in 1987 challenged Mahathir for the president post in a vicious election which split the party down the middle and led it to the path of deregistration.

Mahathir then re-registered the party under the name Umno Baru.

He also had two deputy prime ministers who went out against him – Musa Hitam and Anwar Ibrahim, whom Mahathir sacked in 1998.

Musa resigned from the DPM post in 1987 citing irreconcilable differences while Anwar now leads the opposition coalition.

Yesterday 160 divisions met with Najib following attack against him, and declared their support for the embattled PM.

DPM Muhyiddin Yassin and Mahathir’s son Mukhriz, who is also Kedah Menteri Besar, were absent. Organisers said they had prior engagements.

Najib quells dissent in Umno… for now

Datuk Seri Najib Razak showed yesterday that he remains Umno's point person to lead the party and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government despite facing strident public criticism over Putrajaya's handling of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which is saddled with a RM42 billion debt.

Despite the absence of a few party leaders, the Umno president quelled whatever internal dissent brewing over 1MDB, which the opposition claimed could dent the country's finances if the government-owned company defaults on its mountain of debt.

All 160 of the 191 division chiefs, who had showed up at the meeting with Najib, said they were confident over their president’s handling of the issue that has taken prominence after criticism from former prime minister and party president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in recent months.

Their confidence in Najib was no different from his Cabinet's support last week although Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had asked for a thorough probe to look into any irregularities, a forensic audit and no bailout using public funds for the government firm which has RM51 billion of assets but little cash flow.

“That is what we were concerned with, if there is misappropriation. If there is wrong judgment in investing, it is still acceptable,” said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on behalf of the division chiefs.

“But we cannot compromise is when there is misappropriation or abuse of power. So he promised no one will be protected and this what the divisions chiefs want,” said Ismail Sabri, who is a party Supreme Council member from Najib's home state, Pahang.

According to one division chief, Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, all those at the Umno meeting were satisfied with Najib’s explanation of 1MDB, the audit reports on its accounts and the company’s finances.

“He said 1MDB actually has more assets than debts in the bank. So if we compare, the company still has more assets.

“After the audit is done, the company will be shown to be profitable,” said Bung Mokhtar, who is Kinabatangan division chief in Sabah, a key Umno vote bank.

Najib yesterday repeated his promise made to the Cabinet that Putrajaya would protect no one found guilty of fraud or mismanagement of the company, which is wholly owned by the Finance Ministry.

He also said the accounts will be vetted by the auditor-general and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to probe into whether there has been any wrongdoing.

Criticism towards 1MDB and Najib’s handling of the economy within Umno has been spurred mostly by supporters of Dr Mahathir and former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.

The criticism appeared to have tarnished Najib’s image in public and party leaders were concerned that if left unchecked, it would lead to an erosion of support ahead of the next federal election due in 2018.

“With his explanation, we are confident of explaining the 1MDB issue to the public and the grassroots,” Ismail Sabri said in a press conference after the meeting in the party headquarters in capital city Kuala Lumpur.

There was also speculation whether the 1MDB saga had caused a rift between Najib and his deputy Muhyiddin, as the latter was conspicuously missing at the meeting.

Two days ago, Muhyiddin had come out with his own statement on 1MDB, saying there would be no public bailout of the company and that its directors must explain some of the company’s business deals which had not profited the government.

Ismail Sabri brushed off suggestions that there could be an ulterior motive behind Muhyiddin’s absence, saying the deputy prime minister had prior commitments

Party insiders have also said that grassroots members were worried over media reports on Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s wealth, which were turning supporters away from the party.

The issue was highlighted by American daily The New York Times and one story was also translated into Bahasa Malaysia and spread in social media and in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) media.

“There is no issue with his wealth,” said Bung Mokhtar.

“His siblings are all in business so the wealth comes from these businesses.”

With more than two-thirds of the party’s division chiefs showing up for the meeting, and most of its vice-presidents, such as Datuk Seri Hishammduddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi there, it would seem that Najib has cemented his hold on the party once again.

One vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was also absent but Ismail Sabri said many Sabah Umno division leaders were away at a training retreat.

But there are those such as Datuk Seri Idris Haron, who doubted that the 1MDB controversy and stories of Rosmah’s jewellery could have impacted on Najib’s standing in Umno in the first place.

For Idris, who is also Malacca chief minister, it would take more than 1MDB and gossip about Rosmah to fuel a big enough rebellion to dethrone the president.

Najib’s challenges, he said, paled in comparison with what Dr Mahathir had to go through in 1987, when the latter almost lost the presidency to former finance minister Tengku Razeleigh Hamzah.

“Umno has been through worse. We even fought till we got de-registered (in 1987),” said Idris.

“So we will overcome this as well.” – March 9, 2015.

Najib: Malays will be destitutes without Umno

Umno president Najib Razak in the run up to his critical meeting with Umno divisions today continued to sing the traditional Umno tune that only the ruling party can uphold the Malay community.

"I cannot imagine Malaysia without Umno, especially Malays and Muslims.

"The answer will make the Malays destitutes in their own country," Bernama reported him saying.

He was speaking at the closing of the Perak Umno convention and simultaneous opening of Umno branches conference 2015 at Indera Mulia Stadium Ipoh last night.

Najib said Umno needed to adapt itself with the new political environment as currently social media was already regarded as mainstream media and the existing mainstream media such as print media had become second choice.

Umno leaders must avoid from becoming warlords as it would distance the grassroots from the party.

He urged Perak Umno members to fully support Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, who is also state Umno liaison committee chairman.

Earlier Perak Umno convention committee chairman Saarani Mohamad said 10 resolutions were approved.

Among them are programmes to increase membership and voters, strengthening of party machinery, branch auditing, engaging young voters and loyalty to leaders and Umno's struggle,

Call for ‘new’ politics

At the event, Najib said the party must make thorough preparation and planning if it wishes to win the 14th general election.

Najib, who is also prime minister, said this was because the political approach that could be accepted by the people at present was no longer rigid politics but new politics.

"But this does not mean the old politics cannot be practised, some politics of development, needed by the people is the core to the old politics that still needs to be implemented by us.

"We must do what needs to be done,"

He said the voters' point of view now was different from those in the past.

"So we must practise new politics...we cannot assume that if we have given an allocation, the problem is already solved.

"Today if we say the new generation must be thankful to Umno, maybe their reception may not be like before because it seems we are claiming our rights.

"On the contrary, if we tell, if they think rationally, there is no party with better agenda than Umno and BN and this is not due to sentiment but a guaranteed future for the country at the state or national level," he said, according to Bernama.

Umno Must Make Thorough Preparation, Planning To Win 14th General Election

IPOH, March 7 (Bernama) -- Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the party must make thorough preparation and planning if it wishes to win the 14th general election.

Najib, who is also Prime Minister, said this was because the political approach that could be accepted by the people at present was no longer rigid politics but new politics.

"But this does not mean the old politics cannot be practised, some politics of development, needed by the people is the core to the old politics that still needs to be implemented by us.

"We must do what needs to be done," he said when speaking at the closing of the Perak State Umno Convention and simultaneous opening of Umno branches conference 2015 at Indera Mulia Stadium here Saturday night.

He said the voters' point of view now was different from those in the past.

"So we must practise new politics...we cannot assume that if we have given an allocation, the problem is already solved.

"Today if we say the new generation must be thankful to Umno, maybe their reception may not be like before because it seems we are claiming our rights.

"On the contrary, if we tell, if they think rationally, there is no party with better agenda than Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) and this is not due to sentiment but a guaranteed future for the country at the state or national level," he said.

He also said Umno needed to adapt itself with the new political environment as currently social media was already regarded as mainstream media and the existing mainstream media such as print media had become second choice.

Umno leaders must avoid from becoming warlords as it would distance the grassroots from the party.

As such he urged them to practise openess and a willingness to go down to the grassroots besides being humble in order to be well accepted and liked.

"I cannot imagine Malaysia without Umno, especially Malays and Muslims. The answer will make the Malays destitutes in their own country.

Hence he urged Perak Umno members to fully support Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who is also state Umno Liaison Committee chairman.

Earlier Perak Umno Convention Committee chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad said 10 resolutions were approved.

Among them are programmes to increase membership and voters, strengthening of party machinery, branch auditing, engaging young voters and loyalty to leaders and Umno's struggle.

Malaysia Must Achieve Developed Nation Status With Own Formula Not Become A Follower - Muhyiddin

SERDANG, March 2 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants Malaysia to achieve developed nation status through its own 'mould' and not become a "follower" of a model adopted by nations that are already developed.

To become a developed nation, Malaysia need graduates who are well equipped with knowledge, skills and noble values so as to achieve the target of having people who would be able to scale new horizons to face the present and future challenges.

Muhyiddin who is also the Education Minister said being brave enough to venture into new fields will produce graduates who can contribute new innovative ideas that will be needed to propel the country's aspiration of becoming a developed nation.

"We not only need to produce highly knowledgeable human capital, but also useful and good citizens who can contribute something beneficial to society and the country," he said after meeting Student Representative Council (MPP) at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) Serdang, here Monday.

The meeting was attended by about 1,500 representatives from public and private universities, Institut Pendidikan Guru, Polytechnic and Community Colleges throughout the country.

Muhyiddin said after 58 years of Independence, the socio economy of the country has changed dramatically and to keep up with the rapid changes, Malaysia need to produce highly knowledgeable human capital

"We have already invested heavily on the development of human capital through the education system right from schools to higher learning institutions.

"Recognizing the need to develop the country's education sector in line with global development of education, the ministry is committed to implement international cooperation network in research, training for pre-and in-service trainers, benchmarking programme and mobility of students.

"We cannot depend foreign expertise through experts and expatriates who are in the country to assist in the growth of the country's economy," he said.

He said Malaysia would continue to play an important role in leading the commercialization development, particularly in lifelong learning, entrepreneurship education as well as research and innovation, as a collaborative effort to become a developed nation.

During the meeting, Muhyiddin also handed a RM325 million mock cheque for 1Malaysia Book Vouchers, allocated for 1.3 million students at higher learning institutions throughout the country.

-- BERNAMA

PAS-Umno unity: A bait and a bullet

Malay Mail Online

MARCH 1 — Last week, Umno decided to not contest in the Chempaka by-election for the sake of “Muslim unity.” The seat fell vacant after the death of PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Deservedly, the suggestion was lauded by PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar not only with open arms, but with a cynical suggestion for Umno to just abstain from any future elections to end politicking and social schism, insisting that Malaysia would end up “more peaceful” afterwards.

Since when has Umno cared about “unity” in any sense? In the decades it has ruled the country, Umno has unashamedly leaned on divisive racial politics and policies.

Increasingly in recent years, Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) have even condoned divisive and incendiary remarks and actions of people friendly to them, doing nothing to quell racial and religious schisms but instead perpetuating them.

Umno is only showing its true colours. It has little interest in “national unity”, caring more about just “Muslim unity.”

Even then, this newfound care for “Muslim unity” is nothing more than an excuse to cover up the fact and the shame that Umno has no chance in hell of winning Chempaka after Nik Aziz’s death, no matter who it puts in the ring.

Muslims have no reason to be united for the sake of Islam. Islam is not a gang where its members need to unite and obey the big captains in order to protect its own.

United or not, Islam will still be there to be practised and followed by those who truly believe in its teachings. Islam’s death would not come from disunity, only from non-practice.

Regardless, the call for PAS-Umno unity for the sake of Islam has rung ever louder in the past year.

Putrajaya’s goodwill for PAS-ruled Kelantan after the east coast state was ravaged by the worst flood in recent times was said to be a catalyst and a start-off point for collaborations between the two Muslim-dominated parties.

Putrajaya helping Kelantan should be the rule, not the exception. Last time I checked, Kelantan has yet to secede and form an Islamic sultanate of its own. The federal government still has its obligation to all states.

But do PAS leaders truly believe in a unity administration together with Umno?

My bet is no, chiefly for two reasons. First, history has taught PAS a bitter lesson after its five-year stint as a junior BN partner in early 1970s. Second, PAS has a deep mistrust of secular Malay-majority parties — as evident in its shaky Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ties.

PAS has consistently reaffirmed its alliance with PR in the last few muktamar, or annual congresses, despite a couple of caveats on not compromising its Islamic direction.

Last week, PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man — perhaps one of its most level-headed leaders — stressed that PAS can never accept Umno’s corruption.

Even Dr Khairuddin Aman Razali, a poster boy of its clerical wing, denounced rumours of a tryst, accusing Umno of trying to break off its alliance with PR.

Khairuddin might be right. PAS’ relationship with DAP has never been more tenuous than now, and is ripe for sabotage.

The two have continued to be at loggerheads over the administration of Penang and Kelantan, a situation that arguably has been made worse with the absence of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

It is perhaps no secret that some in DAP might not want PAS to stay in PR, and vice-versa.

The rise of attacks against DAP from several up-and-coming PAS leaders fulfils several needs. One, to satiate some members’ persistent worry that the party is being made a “pillion rider” in PR.

Two, to bolster said leaders’ credentials and bravado among the grassroots. After all, the next party polls will come around in just around four months’ time.

There will always be those who feel that PAS’ alliance with DAP has made it worse for Muslims in the country.

Hardline Islamists see DAP as a threat and challenge against the supremacy of the Malays and Islam. And they need this “threat” to justify their under-siege mentality and their subsequent lash-out.

It is these folks that the PAS-Umno lobbyists are targeting. Malay daily Sinar Harian, for example, has published headlines not-so-subtly supporting the idea of a unity government. It might as well play broker.

Just last week, we also had newly-returned Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin — himself a Sinar darling — suggesting that PAS-Umno unity is “demanded by Islam.” How do you argue when a mufti himself decrees it so?

There is a split in PAS, that much is obvious. The past few weeks have seen accusations lobbed against its deputy president Mohamad Sabu and election director Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli.

There are factions in PAS, but perhaps nothing to do with Umno.

On one side, we have the literalists, whose end goal is the country run as an Islamic state. The controversial Islamic penal law of hudud, for example, is a be-all and end-all.

On another are the pragmatists who see Islam as not the end goal, but a guideline for running a country with Islamic values.

And among the two, an ongoing debate over how much power should the clergy class hold in a political party that also happens to wear the hat of an religious evangelical movement.

Amid all that, a PAS-Umno unity can be another convenient bullet for one faction to assassinate the other.

PAS would survive even without BN or PR. But it can only be in a ruling coalition with either one.

If PAS wishes to join in administering a country as pluralistic as Malaysia, it best realise that the “Muslim unity” agenda should be nowhere at the top of its priorities.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

Will Najib survive the March 8 Umno divisional leaders’ solidarity meeting?

By Lim Kit Siang Blog,

The single political issue in the country after the Federal Court’s 5-0 dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal in Sodomy II on February 10, resulting his fourth incarceration in his 47 years of public life and struggle for freedom, democracy, human dignity and good governance should be: “Quo Vadis, Anwar?”

Instead, the question has swiftly become “Quo Vadis, Najib?”

National focus should be on the “March to Freedom” ceramah to restore freedom for Anwar Ibrahim on March 7, but attention has now suddenly swerved to whether Najib could survive the Umno divisional leaders’ meeting on March 8.

This is most extraordinary as the UMNO Division Meeting of March 8 is being called to show solidarity and support for Najib and not to ditch him.

Why is there such sudden change of political focus and climate in UMNO?

This is a reflection of the turbulent times in UMNO.

For some time, there had been great pressures on Najib to resign, and the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad cannot make it clearer when he said in the middle of the month: “If I were PM now, I’d resign”.

However, Najib had ignored these pressures as he seems to be a real paradox – one of the weakest Prime Ministers in Malaysia but a strong UMNO President.

Najib’s weaknesses as Prime Minister are evident from the fact that all his major policy initiatives have proved to be failures, whether 1Malaysia policy, the New Economic Model, National Transformation Programme or the Global Movement of Moderates.

But he has been quite invincible in his power position in UMNO – and there is no way the Prime Minister of Malaysia could be toppled unless the UMNO President could be removed.

So long as he remains untouchable as President of UMNO, he remains untouchable as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Is there a sudden sea-change in UMNO politics that Najib’s position could suddenly be so vulnerable at the UMNO Divisional Meetings on March 8?

There is no doubt that Najib is facing unprecedented siege, both locally and internationally.

I have never seen an ASEAN mainstream media which had carried such a dismissive and contemptible article about another ASEAN leader as appeared in the recent issue of The Myanmar Times which carried a write-up entitled “Najib’s slow death”, ending with the foreboding forecast that the “omens” for Najib are not good.

Najib’s host of problems, old and new, seem to have come together in a boil, whether the “mother and mother of all financial scandals”, RM42 billion 1MDB scandal; the nine-year-old Altantunya Shaariibuu murder which has returned to haunt Malaysian politics with Sirul at large in Australia ; the fourth-incarceration and five -year jailing of Anwar Ibrahim which has made Malaysia again an international “bad boy” or the embarrssing controversy over Tun Razak’s “inheritance” which has seen public differences between the Prime Minister and his four brothers.

Political developments in UMNO and Malaysia can change so far that what was unthinkable only a month or a week ago could suddenly be possible, as for instance, however improbably as it may seem, the sudden posingn of the question: will 8th March be the Ides of March for Najib?

UMNO is in deep political trouble and this is further reason why UMNO strategists are trying to distract attention from Najib’s and UMNO’s troubles by stepping up their plots to destabilise, divide and destroy the Pakatan Rakyat with the false lure of “UG” (Unity Government between UMNO and PAS) and hudud implementation in Kelantan which explains for the UMNO decision to stay out of the Chempaka state assembly by-election in Kelantan caused by the death of Tuan Guru Nik Aziz.

All Pakatan Rakyat parties must be on the look out for these UMNO plots and counterplots to destabilise, divide and destroy PR for they are only tactics and strategies to save Najib and UMNO and not in the best national interests.

(Speech at the Gelang Patah DAP Chinese New Year Kopitiam Ceramah on Saturday, 28th February 2015 at 3 pm)

Muhyiddin disinterested in Najib-Anwar DPM deal claims