Mantan Presiden UMNO Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad hari ini mendesak ahli UMNO menyingkirkan Kepimpinan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi kerana perlu mengembalikan aspirasi akar umbi untuk memartabatkan dan memperjuangan kepentingan Bangsa, dan bukan UMNO yang hari ini menjadi parti yang ujud untuk mendukung PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah, kepetingan keluarga dan kuncu kuncu tertentu.

“Singkirkan Kepimpinan UMNO hari ini, singkirkan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah!”

“Orang Melayu pernah berpadu dan penyatuan kuat ini berjaya mengagalkan Malayan Union, rancangan sebuah kuasa besar yang baru sahaja menang dalam Peperangan Dunia ke II”, menyingkap sejarah bagaimama orang Melayu yang tiada kuasa berjaya mengahalang rancangan dan mula menetukan nasib dan masa depan mereka, dalam 1946.

Beliau mengulangi gesaan yang pertama sekali dibuat di New York Hotel pada 10 Februari 2007 anjuran MyKMUJohor bahawa UMNO perlu menukar Kepimpinan, demi kepentingan Melayu dan sejarah menujukan UMNO akan menjadi kuat dan lebih baik kerana pertukaran Kepimpinan ini. Kepimpinan UMNO yang begitu berjasa, seperti Dato’ Onn menyatukan Melayu telah ditolak akar umbi UMNO pada 1951 dan Tunku Abdul Rahman juga pada 1969 kerana kegagalan mendukung aspirasi Bangsa Melayu.

“Yang penting ialah parti (UMNO), dan bukan Kepimpinan”.

Sebelum itu, beliau membuka ucapan rumusan beliau dengan mengatakan bahawa dalam keadaan geting ini, pemimpin UMNO lebih berminat untuk membuat “tafsiran atau muhibah”, bagi masalah yang belum selesai. Yang dimaksudkan ialah krisis Kepimpinan dan ‘Tsunami Politik’ yang melanda baru baru ini.

Beliau juga menegaskan bahawa masalah sekarang ialah bukanlah mengenai beliau, sebagai Mantan Presiden UMNO yang milih untuk bersuara, malah banyak kepincangan dalam parti. “UMNO mesti kekal walaupun pemimpin datang dan pergi”. UMNO juga merupakan parti rakyat dan aspirasi akar umbi merupakan dasar perjuangan parti. “Kepimpinan merupakan cara untuk aspirasi akar umbi diketengahkan dan diberikan perhatian”. Sekarang, menurut beliau UMNO lebih mementingkan Kepimpinan dari segala lain.

*Perkembangan 2.20pm

Dalam sessi sol jawab, Tun Dr. Mahathir ditanya mengenai ‘Peralihan Kuasa’ dan gandingan Tengku Razaleigh-Tan Sri Muhyiddin, beliau menjawab bahawa mana mana Kepimpinan tidak menjadi isu, asalkan mememtingkan aspirasi parti dan tidak boleh dipengaruhi ‘Penasihat Dalaman’ seperti keluarga terdekat. Beliau masih lagi mengunjurkan cadangan ‘Majlis Presiden’, yang dianggotai oleh mereka yang boleh menentukan aspirasi parti dan akar umbi dilaksanakan.

Belaiu juga menyindir kecenderungan Kepimpinan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah mendadakan ‘Suruhanjaya DiRaja’ dan mengesa agar diadakan ‘Suruhanjaya DiRaja’ untuk menyiasat AirAsia dan ECM Libra (siapa pemegang saham dan bertindak bagi pihak mana) dan skandal “Oil-for-food”, dimana telah dilaporkan oleh Pertubuhan Bangsa Bangsa Bersatu (UN).

Mengulas kes video VK Lingam dimana nama beliau dibabitkan (sebagaimana yang dilaporkan NST semalam), beliau mengesa agar “Melakukan tindakan soal siasat. Biar ada kes, jangan tiada kes. Dakwa saya dalam Mahkamah. Saya mahu didakwa dalam Mahkamah agar saya berpeluangan untuk menceritakan apa yang sebenarnya berlaku (mengenai Hakim Hakim) dan beri peluang untuk saya mencerita semua”. Yang tersirat disini ialah kes Ketua Hakim Negara dan lima Mahkamah Agung dipecat pada 1988. Beliau juga sempat menyindir mengenai komen Ketua Hakim Negara yang dipecat Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas yang menyifatkan beliau sama seperti ‘Idi Amin’.

Untuk soalan lain, beliau menjelaskan bahawa sekarang merupakan masa paling baik untuk Parti Pembangkang mendesak dan mempersoalkan pelbagai isu, termasuk kedudukan dan Hak Istimewa Orang Melayu. “Persamaan yang diminta adalah sebenar sehaluan dengan agenda ‘Malaysian Malaysia’”.

*Perkembangan 3.30pm

Dalam sidang media, apabila ditanya mengenai kenyataan Dato’ Kadir Jasin berkenaan usaha terancangan mengubah sistem Kehakiman terakhir pagi tadi, “Kerajaan hari ini lemah, tetapi tidak mengaku lemah, cuba sedaya upaya untuk melayan kehendak Pembangkang. Ini masa keemasan Pembangkang untuk ‘menghapuskan sistem Kehakiman’, yang disifatkan “Tidak Baik”. Pihak minoriti seperti Bar Council pula mengambil peranan dalam menentukan Kehakiman”. Tambah beliau lagi “Apa akan jadi apabila peguam yang melobi menentukan seseorang hakim muncul dihadapan hakim itu dan apakah keadilan boleh diperolehi (dengan cara Bar Council mempengaruhi perlantikan Kehakiman)?”.

Apabila ditanya mengenai sistem perlantikan Kehakiman sediada lemah, “Sistem itu baik. Tetapi orangnya yang tidak baik”. Beliau menegaskan bahawa beliau mendengar pendapat semua pihak, termasuk Ketua Hakim Negara yang akan bersara (mengenai calon Ketua Hakim Negara akan datang) dan tidak semestinya boleh dipengaruhi mana mana pihak dalam soalan perlantikan. Beliau juga mengulangi kesediaan untuk didakwa dalam Mahkamah agar beliau berpeluang memberi keterangan mengenai isu yang sama dan memberi pengakuan “Ada hakim melobi saya. Nanti, kalau dipanggil (memberi keterangan dalam Mahkamah), saya akan luahkan semua”.

Untuk soalan kenapa Pembangkang, terutama Anwar dan PKR begitu giat dan konsisten menghentam dan memburukan TPM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, jawab beliau “Strategi mereka ialah tidak menghentam PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah (tetapi menghentam Najib). Sehinggakan Karpal Singh pernah menyelar saya kerana mengkritik PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah. Pembangkang tidak suka kepada TPM Najib tetapi suka kepada PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah (untuk kepentingan mereka)!”.

“Selagi nyawa dikandung badan, saya akan memastikan UMNO dan keadaan diselamatkan dengan apa cara, selama mana, membujur lalu melintang patah!” akur Exco Pemuda UMNO Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir, dalam Forum MyKMUJohor.com di M Suite Hotel, Johor Bahru pagi ini.

Beliau mengatakan demikian setelah menjelaskan “Ada yang dilaur sana yang menyiapkan kain kapan untuk UMNO”, “UMNO tidak lagi relevan” dan “UMNO hanya tinggal dalam sejarah”.

Beliau mengesa ahli UMNO agar berhenti dengan sifat takut dan mementinkan diri sendiri dan berani melakukan yang terbaik, demi ikrar meningkatkan syiar Islam, memartabatkan Bangsa dan memajukan negara.

Kepimpinan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah gagal kerana:

1. Tak dapat selesai masalah rakyat

2. Gagal tunai aspirasi rakyat

3. Amalan kronyism diperingkat tertinggi

Bercakap mengenai ‘Tsunami Politik’ yang melanda PRU 12, beliau member ikrar “Kita pastikan tsunami politik melanda mereka pulak!”.

Dalam soal jawab, beliau menjelaskan isu Anwar Ibrahim, sebagaimana yang telah dibangkitkan dalam ucapan sulung beliau di Parlimen 13 Mei 2008:

1. Keakraban Anwar dengan Wolfowitz, strategis penaklukan Iraq selama 5 tahun ini dan beratus ribu umat Islam terbunuh

2. Penglibatan dan agenda Anwar dalam Foundation of the Future

3. Kenapa Israel memberikan begitu banyak perhatian dalam politik Anwar di Malaysia perlu menjadi sangsi

Mantan Pengerusi Kelab Penyokong BN Parlimen Dato’ Ruhanie “Ron” Ahmad pagi ini membentangkan konspirasi ‘Budak Tingkat Empat’ dalam peranan mempertingkatkan pengaruh Yahudi Zionis dan Amerika dalam rantau ini, semenjak PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengambil alih tampuk Kepimpinan.

Beliau membuat analisa undi rosak yang dialami Johor, iaitu 1/3 dari jumlah undi rosak seluruh negara semasa Pilihanraya Umum ke XII (PRU 12) kerana manifestasi akar umbi Johor menentang pembatalan projek Jambatan Indah (Mac 2006) dan sebaliknya keputusan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah menubuhkan Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar, yang dilihat sebagai member kepentingan kepada Singapura. Iskandar Malaysia (nama sekarang) disifatkan sebagai “Singapura Raya” (Greater Singapore).

Jambatan Super Bridge, yang mempunyai keperluan ketenteraan tertentu merupakan salah satu perancangan Iskandar Malaysia disesuaikan Malaysia akur kepada agenda Singapura.

Kepimpinan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah juga jelas mula tunduk kepada Amerika Syarikat. Contoh yang diutarakan ialah kapal pengangkut pesawat berkuasa dan bersenjata nuklear serta kapal selam nuklear tentera laut Amerika Syarikat mula dibenarkan berlabuih di Pelabuhan Klang.

Forum MyKMUJohor.com dibuka pagi ini dengan persembahan Mantan Ketua Pengarang Kumpulan NST Dato’ A Kadir Jasin (Blogger “The Scribe”) bahawa scenario sekrang merupakan agenda Pembangkang dan kumpulan ‘liberal’ melaksanakan agenda dan berjaya dijadikan ‘alat’ mereka melalui “Kepimpinan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang lemah, angkuh, bongkak dan tidak bermaya”.

Antara analisa Kadir ialah:

1. Pilihanraya Umum ke XII (PRU 12) bukanlah pilihanraya luar rancangan

2. PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah menjadi pemimpin dalam sejarah paling tidak popular dalam tempoh paling singkat, dari sokongan terbesar hingga sokongan paling lemah. Tidak pernah berlaku dalam sejarah orang begitu ramai keluar membuang undi kerana benci dan meluat kepada Kepimpinan

3. Kepimpinan yang banyak membuat janji, tetapi gagal melaksanakanya (Rasuah, ketelusan pentadbiran, Kehakiman, sistem penyampaian)

4. Gagal menangani kos kehidupan yang meningkat, malah menghina rakyat Malaysia untuk “Merubah gaya hidup”

Beliau juga menjelaskan bahwa semasa Perlembagaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu digubal, oleh pengubal berketurunan Inggeris, India dan Pakistan, ketentuan melantik Kehakiman merupakan hak mutlak Seri Paduka yang DiPertuan Agong, atas nasihat Eksekutif dan perkenan Majlis Raja Raja.

“Hari ini, kenapa kita (Zaid Ibrahim) mahu merubah semua itu dan memberikan ruang agar Majlis Peguam pula menentukan siapa yang paling layak menjadi Kehakiman? Apakah sistem perlantikan Kehakiman selama 50 tahun ini sudah tidak relevan?”.

Dewasa ini timbul banyak ‘cakap-cakap’ bahawa sebilangan MP Barisan Nasional (BN) akan ‘melompat’ dan menyertai Pakatan Rakyat (PR), yang lahir atas usaha Penasihat PKR untuk mengadakan kerjasama (yang diragui keikhlasanya) dengan DAP dan PAS, terutama setelah negara dikejutkan Tsunami Politik Pilihanraya Umum ke XII (PRU 12) dimana BN telah gagal dalam 5 + 1 negeri dan UMNO gagal meletakan Menteri Besar pilihan dalam 2 negeri lain.

Ada ‘khabar angin’, yang sering dijadikan modal gembar gembur Pembangkang, terutama pemimpin PKR bahawa 40 MP BN telah bersedia untuk meninggalkan BN dan ‘melompat’ samada menyertai mana mana parti dalam PR atau menubuhkan parti baru, agar PR dapat menubuhkan kerajaan.

‘Khabar angin’ ini yang mula mula sekali disebut Anwar semasa sambutan ‘Black 14’ diKelab Sultan Sulaiman pada 14 April 2008, makin menjadi popular apabila parti barti komponen Sabah, termasuk UMNO, menyuarakan ketidak puasan hati mereka secara terbuka dan lantang kepada Kepimpinan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Dua Timbalan Menteri yang dinamakan dari Sabah, Dato’ Anifah Aman dan Dato’ Seri Ghaffur Salleh telah menolak pelawaan menyertai pentadbiran PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah dan Presiden SAPP Dato’ Seri Yong Teck Lee dikatakan akan mendesak agar Sabah diberikan autonomi (’Sabahan Sabah’). Sabah juga dikatakan mendesak lebih besar royalti minyak diberikan kepada mereka.

Tarikh ‘perlaksanaan’ (deadline) ini berubah ubah dari 2 minggu selepas ‘Black 14’ hingga ke 16 September 2008 (hari ulang tahun Sabah dan Sarawak menyertai Persekutuan Malaysia). Ada laporan mengatakan Anwar menunggu sehingga September kerana ingin mengikuti perkembangan mesyuarat Cawangan dan Bahagian UMNO seluruh negara.

‘Khabar angin’ mula tersebar mengatakan MP BN ini ditawarkan imbuhan wang berjuta Ringgit, sebagai habuan untuk meninggalkan BN dan menyokong PR. Sejauh mana kebenaran ini, belum dapat ditentukan lagi kerana belum ada mana mana pihak, samada yang menawar maupun sasaran, keluar membuat kenyataan mengenai tawaran imbuhan lumayan ini.

Jika benar ‘khabar angin’ bahawa ada MP BN ditawarkan imbuhan kewangan untuk meninggalkan BN dan menyokong PR menubuhkan kerajaan, maka tanggung jawab moral dan etika MP BN demikian membuat laporan Polis dan BPR agar siasatan dalam dijalankan. Ini kerana apa apa tawaran atau imbuhan yang ditawarkan merupakan rasuah dan perlu dibendung agar senario dan intergriti politik Malaysia mereka yang dipilih dalam PRU tidak menjadi hancur.

MB Kelantan Nik Aziz pernah membuat laporan Polis kerana kunun kunun ada penawaran agar wakil rakyat PAS yang dipilih meninggalkan PAS dan menyertai UMNO selepas PRU 11 2004 dahulu. Oleh demikian, MP BN yang ditawarkan imbuhan atau habuan bertanggung jawab membuat laporan yang sama, jika mereka benar benar ikhlas dengan Perjuangan mereka, sebagai wakil yang dipilih rakyat melalui sistem demokrasi atas keyakinan kepada BN.

Forum ‘UMNO Pasca Pilihan Raya Umum 12 : Suara Hati Rakyat’

Anjuran Badan Bertindak Gabungan Ahli-Ahli Akar Umbi UMNO Johor
dengan kerjasama Mykmu.net (Johor)

Sabtu, 17 Mei 2008 (8.00 pagi – 2.00 Petang),
Di Hotel M-Suite Johor Bahru
Ucaptama : Y.A.Bhg Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad
Ahli Panel :
Datuk A. Kadir Jasin, Dato’ Mukhriz Tun Mahathir,
Dato’ Zainal Abidin Zain dan Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad
Moderator : Datuk Syed Hussein Al-Habshee

]]> http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/forum-mykmunet-pusingan-ke-ii/feed/ biggie http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/zionism-is-blatant-heretic-and-anti-judaism/ http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/zionism-is-blatant-heretic-and-anti-judaism/#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 18:43:20 +0000 Biggum Dogmannsteinberg http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/?p=1287

Orthodox Jews are vehemently against Zionism and the State of Israel and call for the peaceful dismantling the unlawful state created by immigrant Akhenazi Jews, since the movement of Zionism started a little over 100 years ago.

Rabbi Yishroel Dovid Weiss, a Brooklynn Orthodox Jew was in town this morning. He was accompanied by another New Yorker, Rabbi Rosenberg and a British national Rabbi Cohen, in their attempt to spread the campaign against the State of Israel and ever lasting peace in West Asia (the Holyland), here in this region. They belong to the Jews United Against Zionism movement called “Neturei Karta International”.

They said that Jews are meant to be stateless and supposed to honour and observe the laws and customs of the host country, provided it is not against their strict Kosher laws. They resided the fact that it was God’s decree that they are expelled from the homeland, Canaan (present Palestine), because of punishment against their impurity to the holiness. “To serve God, Jews are not supposed to return to the holyland”. The claim of statehood and nationalism, according to these Rabbis are against the Torah and Talmud.

“Please do not equate Judaism to Zionism. Judaism is about serving and submission to God and Zionism is a political movement, for nationalism” Rabbi Weiss sternly said “Zionism was started by a secularist Theodore Herzl, who is not a practicing Jew”. Infact he hated religion! Zionism is also the greed for materialism and very strongly add “Hypocrites adulterate the Judaism religion to support their selfish interpretation of God’s words to justify for the Zionism movement. It is corruption of everything which is Jewish”.

He also elaborated that the Jews lived peacefully and co-exist with the Muslims in many cultures throughout 1300 years of history in Medina, Jerusalem, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Morocco until came Zionism. “Since Zionism, the had been consistent trouble amongst these two sons of Abraham. Zionism is actually satanic!”.

“People who support Zionism are blatant heretics”, he explicitly wanted the phrase to be recorded. “We protest against Zionism and creation of the State of Israel since 80 years ago and never been recorded nor reported, by the Zionist supporters who control media!”. He was making a reference of the consistent massive demonstrations in London and New York, by Anti-Zionist Jews.

They portray that Anti Zionism = Anti Semitic. Rabbi Weiss also said that history shown that Eichmann collaborated with some Zionist activist, like Chaim Weizmann (The first President of Israel) used the Holocaust to reduce the number of ‘uneducated’ Jews and actually justify their claims for a nation”. Holocaust was used by the Zionist to create their homeland that the so much desire and taken by force, which saw so many Palestinians, Muslims and Christian alike been displaced and expelled from their homes.

“Zionist constantly lie through their intense propaganda that the Arabs would throw them out into the sea and used this to jsutify their continuous cruelty and oppression”.

Zionist started Reformed Judaism and pick-and-choose what ever they like about God’s religion. Many defied Kosher and even consume forbidden meat like pork. “Moses Mendelsohn started to reform God’s law and calls it Reformed Judaism”.

When asked about their stance on Jerusalem, Rabbi Weiss explained that it is a cardinal sin for them to set foot in Mount Temple (the site where Solomon’s Temple used to be and now Al Aqsa Mosque stand erected). “Jews need to reach a certain level of purification before one can come back to Mount Temple” and elaborated on it was God’s decree that the Jews were expelled from their homeland 2,000 years ago and made to wander all over the world.

For the record, tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the State of Israel by a Haganah terrorist David Ben Gurion. Haganah have waged terrorism against the British and Arabs in Palestine since 1920. This is the origin of the Israeli Defense Force, which continuously do atrocities against unarmed Palestinians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Egyptians and Syrians, all these years for the unlawful Zionist State of Israel. Israel went to war with the Arabs in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982 and 2006. In 1981, they bombed the Iraqi nuclear facility.

These peace loving Rabbis are very committed in their work, to detest Zionism and demand the peaceful dismantling the State of Israel. They cited the overnight dismantling of the Soviet Union and communism in 1990 and South Africa doing away with apartheid and the the whites and non-whites co-exist as examples. They submit to God for their prayer and hope to see Palestinians return and claim their homes.

These Hassidic Jew Rabbis left for Jakarta this evening.

*This mark the 500th posting by Biggum Dogmannsteinberg.

*An update as of 15th May 2008.

Today is the 60th anniversary of El Nakba. El Nakba is the remembrance the proclamation the unlawful and inhumane creation the State of Israel and the begining of the expulsion of Palestinians from their rightful homes and wander into oblivion. El Nakba has been defined as “Day of catastrophe” and marked the Palestinian exodus.

Last Saturday, Just World with collaboration of Peace Malaysia, organised a special forum on El Nakba in Petaling Jaya.

Terima kasih Tan Sri Yang DiPertua kerana memberi saya julung2 kalinya peluang untuk saya membahaskan Titah Ucapan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong di Persidangan Penggal Pertama Parlimen Keduabelas.

Negara Perindustrian

Tan Sri Yang DiPertua, seperti yang kita sedari, di era serba mencabar dalam ekonomi dunia, negara mesti menarik minat pelabur langsung asing (FDI) untuk membuka kilang, mewujudkan industri-industri dan syarikat- syarikat yang mengeluarkan produk dan perkhidmatan untuk pasaran global.  Kita lihat kebelakangan ini, Malaysia tidak dilihat sebagai destinasi pelaburan utama bagi setiap pelabur yang meninjau rantau ini dalam usaha mencari lokasi untuk membuka bisnesnya.

Buat masa ini bukan sahaja negeri penduduk ramai seperti China, India dan Indonesia yang dapat menawarkan harga buruh yang murah, tapi kita lihat kemunculan Vietnam, Cambodia dan juga Laos mendapat FDI -  yang lama kelamaan akan melebihi FDI yang datang ke Malaysia.

Malah, sekarang ini China dan India sudah menarik perhatian pelabur-pelabur yang memberi penekanan kepada keupayaan teknologi, dan bukan hanya kos buruh yang murah.

Bagi Malaysia yang berhubung rapat dengan dunia perdagangan dan perniagaan, sudah tentu kadar kemasukan FDI menjadi petanda survivabiliti negara.

Pada waktu yang sama, dalam usaha kita untuk menjadi negara maju pada tahun 2020, sudah tentu kita perlu memberi penekanan kepada usaha untuk meningkatkan bilangan industri industri besar dan juga IKS yang menjadi tulang belakang negara perindustrian.  Soalnya, adakah industri-industri besar dan juga IKS Malaysia boleh diiktiraf sebagai bertaraf dunia?  Untuk menjadi negara perindustrian sudah tentu kita perlu wujudkan syarikat syarikat perindustrian ala Sony, Hyundai, Acer dan sebagainya.  Sudah tentu kita juga perlu lahirkan “industrialists” seperti Akio Morita, Chung Ju-Yung dan Stan Shih untuk menerajui syarikat syarikat ini.  Soalnya, syarikat Malaysia yang manakah yang boleh kita bangga sebagai syarikat teknologi tinggi yang diri dan duduknya sama tinggi sama rendah dengan syarikat syarikat ternama didunia, dan siapakah industrialist Malaysia yang akan memacu negara kearah menjadi negara perindustrian?

Di sini saya ingin mengambil kesempatan untuk mengucapkan takziah kepada balu dan keluarga Allahyarham Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin, pengasas Naza Motors yang telah meninggal dunia baru baru ini.  Sebelum ini juga, Allahyarham Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad, pengasas DRB Hicom - juga seorang tokoh yang dilihat sebagai industrialist negara - telah meninggal dunia sebelum sempat membantu dalam usaha mengindustrikan negara.

Saya berharap Kerajaan akan terus dengan pendekatan Pensyarikatan Malaysia atau Malaysia Incorporated supaya jenama jenama Malaysia industri besar dapat menerokai pasaran dunia untuk produk dan perkhidmatan hasil usaha Malaysia - sekaligus merealisasikan aspirasi negara menjadi negara maju berindustri.

Kita mahu lihat GLC memainkan peranan yang lebih bermakna dalam usaha memacu negara kearah menjadi negara industri.  Pada waktu yang sama, kita harap ruang dan peluang akan diberikan kepada mana mana usahawan pihak swasta untuk mengusahakan industri besar.  Dalam penglibatan GLC dalam industri besar, biarlah ianya tidak bersaing dengan syarikat swasta yang mencebur diri dalam sektor industri yang sama.  Ini adalah kerana perbelanjaan dan pelaburan yang diperlukan untuk industri besar ini punyai kos dan risiko yang tinggi. Sudah tentu merugikan negara sekiranya syarikat syarikat swasta ini berhadapan dengan saingan daripada GLC dalam sektor industri yang sama.

Kewujudan industri intensif buruh sudah tentu akan menyediakan banyak peluang kerja untuk anak-anak muda kita.  Industri intensif kapital pula memerlukan tenaga kerja yang mampu menguasai teknologi tercanggih.

China dan India makin hari makin berkemampuan untuk melahirkan tenaga kerja yang berdaya kreatif dan inovatif.  Banyak produk dari negara maju yang dulunya direka bentuk di Barat dikeluarkan di kilang-kilang di India dan China.  Kini kita lihat kerja kerja rekabentuk juga dilakukan oleh syarikat design di kedua India dan China.  Nilai tambah yang disumbangkan oleh kedua negara ini mampu mengurangkan kos untuk syarikat induk di negara maju, sambil itu membuktikan bahawa syarikat India dan China juga mampu menyaingi Barat dalam fungsi mereka bentuk.

Dimana Malaysia dalam soal ini?  Walaupun India dan China sudah kurang dilihat sebagai negara pengeluaran kos rendah, tetapi negara membangun yang lain telah mengambil alih tempat kedua negara tersebut.  Indonesia, Vietnam dan Cambodia pula dilihat sebagai destinasi pelaburan terbaru yang menarik.

Mahu tak mahu, Malaysia tidak dapat elak daripada menarik pelabur yang lebih mementingkan kualiti produk dan tahap penguasaan teknologi tinggi daripada kos buruh yang rendah.  Adakah tenaga kerja Malaysia bersedia untuk menerima kehadiran pelabur-pelabur seperti ini?  Sudah tentu Dasar Pendidikan Negara memainkan peranan yang amat penting untuk merealisasikan matlamat ini.

Pendidikan

Tan Sri Yang Di Pertua, sambil kita membina modal insan seperti yang kerap kali diuar-uarkan oleh Kerajaan, kita juga perlu memastikan peluang kerja yang mencukupi untuk anak-anak muda kita termasuk graduan IPT tempatan dan juga yang menuntut di luar negara.  Malangnya kita lihat kadar pengangguran yang masih membimbangkan.  Atas sebab sebab tertentu, ramai juga graduan kita yang tidak berpeluang untuk mencari kerja yang menepati kelulusan mereka, dan ada juga yang masih menganggur.

Ramai graduan diluar negara pula mencari kerja dinegara tersebut.  Ada juga bakat terbaik diantara anak muda kita yang diambil kerja diluar negara - ramai juga ke Singapura.  Ada diantara mereka yang berpendapat bahawa gaji yang ditawar di Malaysia untuk kerja mengikut kelulusan mereka tidak memenuhi keperluan mereka, maka itulah sebabnya mereka berhijrah keluarnegara untuk cari nafkah.

Ini bermakna bahawa belanja yang banyak yang dikeluarkan oleh Kerajaan untuk memberikan pendidikan kepada anak-anak kita tidak membawa hasil seperti yang diharapkan kerana peluang kerja yang tidak mencukupi.  Lebih merugikan lagi apabila bakat bakat terbaik antara mereka bekerja di luar negara, menetap di sana dan membayar cukai pendapatan di sana juga.

Kalau trend ini tidak dibendung, negara akan mengalami kerugian yang amat besar dan kesannya akan berpanjangan.

PPSMI

Tan Sri Yang Di Pertua, kita sering diberitahu bahawa ada diantara guru-guru di sekolah tidak mempunyai penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris yang secukupnya untuk mereka menjayakan program Pengajaran, Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI).  Apabila guru-guru ini dikehendaki menjalani Peperiksaan Tahap Profisiensi (atau PTP), kerap kali peperiksaan ini dilakukan pada waktu yang tidak sesuai dan ianya menjadi satu bebanan kepada guru-guru.  Oleh itu, guru guru ini tidak mempunyai tempoh waktu yang mencukupi untuk membuat persediaan bagi menghadapi peperiksaan ini.  Supaya mendapat gambaran yang sebenarnya mengenai tahap penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris, saya cadangkan agar PTP ini diadakan sewaktu cuti penggal sekolah atau apabila guru-guru menghadiri kursus.Sekiranya diberi masa yang mencukupi,saya yakin tahap pencapaian guru-guru yang menduduki PTP ini akan lebih memuaskan.

Saya ingin ucapkan tahniah kepada Kementerian Pelajaran kerana mewujudkan program Pedagogy Enhancement & Reinforcement of Learning Strategy atau PEARLS dimana guru guru Sains dan Matematik berkumpul dan berbincang mengenai pendekatan pendekatan yang terbukti membawa hasil yang diingini dalam menjayakan PPSMI.  Program ini diterima baik oleh guru-guru tersebut, dan nampaknya memberangsangkan mereka untuk terus berusaha ke arah matlamat yang ditetapkan.

Membantu usahawan muda

Kebelakangan ini kita lihat begitu ramai belia yang memerlukan bantuan kewangan dalam bentuk modal untuk memulakan perniagaan kecil kecilan.  Mereka tidak memerlukan wang yang banyak.  Sekadar RM10,000 hingga RM20,000 pun memadai untuk perniagaan mereka.  Tetapi kerana tidak dianggap “credit worthy”, mungkin kerana punyai hutang-hutang lain yang belum diselesaikan, atau kerana tidak ada aset yang boleh dicagarkan untuk pinjaman tersebut, maka bakal bakal usahawan muda ini tidak dapat membuat pinjaman dari institusi institusi kewangan atau dari agensi-agensi peminjam Kerajaan.

Olehitu, saya ingin mengucapkan syabas kepada Kementerian Belia dan Sukan kerana memansuhkan beberapa syarat untuk pinjaman dibawah Skim Tabung Ekonomi Belia (STEB).  Ini membolehkan lebih ramai belia menyertai bidang keusahawanan, sekaligus membantu mengurangkan kadar pengangguran dikalangan belia.

Untuk memastikan bahawa jumlah dana STEB sebanyak RM40 juta itu digunakan sepenuhnya bagi tujuan ini, saya cadangkan supaya pegawai Kementerian Belia & Sukan turun mencari usahawan usahawan kecil yang sudah berniaga seperti mereka yang mempunyai gerai makanan yang popular untuk ditawarkan pinjaman supaya dapat membantu meluaskan perniagaan yang mereka usahakan.

Anwar Ibrahim sebagai Perdana Menteri?

Tan Sri Yang Di Pertua, saya ingin menyentuh sedikit mengenai apa yang telah dikatakan oleh YB dari Gombak yang telah menyatakan bahawa Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim adalah insan yang bakal menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia.  Saya tertanya-tanya mengenai tiga perkara yang telah dilaporkan dalam media asing tetapi tidak diberi liputan oleh media tempatan.

Yang pertama mengenai artikel dalam majalah TIME dalam edisinya bertajuk “The 2008 TIME 100”.  Laporan mengenai Dato Seri Anwar ditulis oleh rakan karibnya, Paul Wolfowitz - bekas Timbalan Setiausaha Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat merangkap ketua strategist Perang Iraq untuk George W. Bush.  Mengapa harus Dato Seri Anwar bersekongkol dengan pembunuh lebih 1 juta rakyat Iraq ini?

Yang keduanya mengenai artikel dalam akhbar Israel, iaitu Jerusalem Post, yang menggambarkan Dato Seri Anwar sebagai “Malaysia’s Future Prime Minister” seperti yang telah disebut oleh YB dari Gombak dalam dewan yang mulia ini.  Adakah ini bukti bahawa Israel juga setuju Dato Seri Anwar menjadi perdana menteri Malaysia?  Dan kalau setuju, mengapa?

Yang ketiganya ialah mengenai sebuah badan bukan kerajaan atau NGO yang bernama Foundation of the Future.  NGO ini menerima dana sebanyak US$35juta dari Jabatan Negara atau State Department, kerajaan Amerika Syarikat, US$10 juta dari Bahrain dan US$11 juta dari lain lain sumber yang tidak diketahui.  Pengerusi Foundation of the Future ialah tak lain tak bukan Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, insan yang dikatakan bakal Perdana Menteri Malaysia.  Di NGO ini jugalah, Dato Seri Anwar mengambil kerja Shaha Riza, teman wanita Paul Wolfowitz yang telah mencetuskan kontroversi di Bank Dunia tempohari.

Soalnya, adakah Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang terlibat secara langsung dalam organisasi yang diragui latarbelakangnya, dan berkawan rapat dengan pengikut fahaman Neo Conservative yang membunuh rakyat Islam di Iraq, Paul Wolfowitz, hendak kita benarkan mengambil alih kepimpinan negara tercinta ini?

Sudah tentu tidak!  Selagi nyawa dikandung badan, UMNO tetap akan mempertahankan kedaulatan negara kita.

“Tsunami Politik”

Tan Sri Yang Di Pertua, apa yang berlaku didalam pilihanraya yang lepas sebenarnya memberikan hikmah dan pengajaran yang besar kepada UMNO.  UMNO sudah mendengar dan memahami isihati rakyat, dan akan membuka satu lebaran yang baru.  Sejarah UMNO telah membuktikan setiap kali ia jatuh ia akan bangun dengan lebih gagah dan perkasa.  UMNO tidak akan berpeluk tubuh berdiam diri dan membuang masa.

Percayalah kami akan menunaikan tugas dan tanggungjawab yang diamanahkan oleh rakyat.  Setiap apa yang kami lakukan dan bakal lakukan pembangkang harus gusar dan gentar kerana perubahan dan kebangkitan semula UMNO sudah bermula.  Ia akan mendatangkan seribu satu impak positif kepada semua pihak.  Pihak pembangkang tidak perlu masuk campur atau menjaga tepi kain UMNO, kerana kami tahu bagaimana untuk mengurus dan menjaga parti yang kami cintai ini.  Dan sesungguhnya tsunami politik akan berlaku di dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang - cumanya,pasa ketika itu pihak pembangkang pulalah yang akan dilanda badai tersebut.

Oleh itu, diatas dasar perjuangan agama, bangsa dan tanahair, saya ingin mengajak Ahli2 Yg Berhormat dari pihak pembangkang kembali ke pangkal jalan dan menyertai kami.

Tan Sri Yang DiPertua, oleh itu saya mohon menyokong.  Sekian, terima kasih.

PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was said to have left the country, under an absolute clandestine mode to go and meet the Emir of UAE Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan in United Arab Emirates last Wednesday. No one accompanied him on this one day trip, not even any of his aides and anyone of the ‘Level Four Boys’. Neither is the specific purpose has been properly identified.

Popular suspicion is that the purpose was something got to do with money, as UAE is a capital rich state in the Persian Gulf area and now gaining prominence in the global financial capital geography.

This Gulf state has a very bullish economy. UAE has almost USD 30 billion reserve in an economy worth USD 190 billion per annum. The GDP per capita (adjusted to purchase power parity) is USD 55,000 per person, which is one of the highest in the world. The government even has a 34% surplus budget every year.

Whether PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah also met any of the Al Maktum family, currently the Vice President and Prime Minister of the emirates, cannot be certain either. Let’s carefully watch any close development on this ’secret’ trip.

Former UMNO Vice President, Semangat 46 President and now, MP for Gua Musang for almost four decades Tengku Tan Sri Razaleigh Hamzah gave The Star a special interview, which was done at his residence in Jalan Langgak Golf last Friday and published over the Sunday Star.

Here is the complete interview:

Sunday May 11, 2008

Ku Li: Umno is here to stay

By M. VEERA PANDIYAN

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who has been busy rallying the party’s grassroots for change, shares his views on a range of issues, including Malay supremacy, the NEP and the future of Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Q: Umno will mark its 62nd anniversary today. As a party veteran, one who challenged and narrowly lost the presidency, set up a rival party but later returned to the fold, how would you describe the crisis facing Umno now?

A: If you call it a crisis, this is one of monumental significance not just to Umno members and to the Malays but to the country. I cannot foresee the country without Umno. The Malays, for what they are worth, good or bad, only know Umno and its allies – the other component parties, whether in the Alliance old or Barisan Nasional. I cannot imagine how the Malays will behave or react without Umno on the scene.

I know people in some circles greeted the results of the March 8 election results with euphoria, saying the victory of the Opposition showed maturity in the thinking of the people. Maybe so, but I like to take a different interpretation.

I think the losses incurred by the coalition, and Umno in particular, were because people were disgusted with their leaders and what had been happening in the Government under the rule of Barisan Nasional and Umno.

It would have been different if Umno didn’t behave like that. Even if people had opted to go the multi-racial make-up of the PKR, for instance, probably they might have won some seats. But not to the extent of what they are enjoying now. That’s my view.

I want to correct the bit in your question about Umno celebrating its 62nd anniversary. Actually we are not. We are only celebrating the 20th anniversary of Umno Baru. The Umno that was founded in 1946 by Datuk Onn Jaafar and the freedom fighters in 1946 was declared unlawful by the High Court in 1988. That gave birth to Umno Baru, which is there today and will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Q: With all the disgust against it, is there hope for Umno? Can the party reinvent to meet demands for equality, accountability and transparency, given its patronage and gravy train culture?

A: As I said earlier, I cannot imagine people continuing without Umno. The party has been on the scene for a long time. The LDP of Japan went through that. The Congress Party of India too went through the process when the people rejected it.

But I think it is a different thing here, in this country. Like most people say, here it’s the politics of race. It is not completely ideological-based parties that you live with. As such, I don’t know where the Malays are going to scuttle or run to, if Umno is defeated wholly in the next general election. I think people will still support Umno, maybe not to the degree that they used to support but they will return when Umno changes its ways.

But I am not talking about the need for a complete re-engineering of Umno or of the party re-inventing itself. Umno has to behave, that’s all. If it behaves and runs this country fairly and justly, it will get back the support it used to get.

What was wrong with Umno-led rule from 1955 to 1959, before we gained independence? And what do you think of the rule from 1957 to 1969, and from 1971 or 1972 until now? Was it all bad? I don’t think so. Except, of late, you see excesses; you see abuses by Umno leaders who were also getting very arrogant. This is the perception that people have.

And that is why they decided to debunk Umno and Barisan. After all, why should they vote for people whom they don’t even know? Who is PKR? It is a party that is relatively new and came into the fray in a big way in this election. Previously, they only fielded two or three candidates, in Kelantan and Penang, with no showing. But they did so because people were so disgusted and angry with Umno leaders. That’s why they opted for anything.

Some people said I should not have disbanded my old party Semangat 46 under Gagasan Rakyat, which I think would have done much better than PKR or whatever. So you see, if Umno wants to come back, I don’t think it needs to re-invent itself.

Q: You have been rallying the grassroots for change but only a few have held EGMs. Are you still optimistic about a groundswell and getting the nominations needed to contest the presidency?

A: There is a groundswell against the leadership because of the bad election results for the party in power. But there is no groundswell for whoever wants to challenge or change the leadership. I don’t feel it yet. But there are people who are anxious to see a change in the leadership of the party and possibly the Government.

I am going around not purely to canvass for posts and change in the Government but I want to get people at the grassroots level to discuss the effects or the outcome of the election results.

If they could hold extraordinary general meetings, then they could effect changes to the constitution. We have to give back power to members to elect office bearers at branch, division and supreme council levels and also to select candidates for general elections.

Q: Do you expect more divisions to hold EGMs’?

A: I don’t know. If conducted in a fair and free atmosphere, with no threats from any quarters or harassment from any one, possibly there will be more. But even those who have come to me saying they want to hold one have decided to back off, maybe because they were threatened, or bought over. Only a few have held it in spite of the big numbers who came to see me. Maybe they will do it later, I don’t know.

Q:What’s the biggest motivation for you to do this now?

A: Firstly, we have suffered huge losses. I mean, we have lost four states and we have lost the two-thirds majority over no big issues, really, except that people were disgusted with the way the leadership had performed. We need to have a change, if not in the persons or personalities, but in the way they do things.

People look at Umno as being “very racial” now, whereas it has never been racial from day one. It has always been caring, considerate, looking after the interests of others. Umno has also always been accused by PAS and other opponent parties of being too soft and compromising on lots of issues. But Umno wanted peace and stability. That is the actual hallmark of Umno’s brand of struggle and because of that, we have achieved progress. What’s important is to ensure that everybody can come together.

Q: On the question of ketuanan Melayu that is premised upon the social contract agreed to by the nation’s founding fathers, Malays agreed to citizenship for non-Malays in exchange for recognition of their special rights. Should non-Malays born after Merdeka still be bound by this? Do they not have equal standing with Malays by virtue of being citizens?

A: Actually, it is a fallacious way of looking at the term because the concept of ketuanan Melayu is more historical than anything else. As Tunku Abdul Rahman used to tell all of us then, this is Malay land. The Malays are from this country, not from any other, unlike the Chinese or the Indians who are from elsewhere.

But since then they have become loyal citizens of the country and those who are born here are automatically citizens having equal rights as the Malays. But because the Malays were the original people of the land, they have these special rights and special privileges. These were not negotiated; they were already there in the 1948 Federation of Malaya agreement before independence.

When the British negotiated with the Malay Rulers and Umno to do away with the Malayan Union proposal, form the Federation of Malaya and introduce a new constitution, these special rights were entrenched in it. Similarly, the position of Islam, the position of the Rulers and all the other things were carried forward into the constitution.

It was never intended to impose the views of the Malays over the rest. The Malays are not dominant. Even though we won 53 seats in Parliament in 1953 with the majority of 38 Malay MPs, we never exercised that. And after that, even when we had two-thirds in a series of elections, we never imposed our will on others. But the problem is that the term is being bandied about loosely.

Secondly, it is being seen that the Malays are arrogantly abusing their positions in government. Generally, not all leaders but some leaders and this gives rise to the impression that Malays want to dominate. But I have not seen the leaders of Umno, all the prime ministers from the time of Tunku right down to (Datuk Seri) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, trying to show that they are dominant or domineering over the rest. Have you seen it?

Q. But after the elections, haven’t there been more groups clamouring for reinstatement of ketuanan Melayu?

A: Yes lah, because the Opposition has won big and whoever wins will talk big. But Abdullah, after winning big in 2004, he talked of the big mandate but then did not flex his muscles and penalise anybody.

As for MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat who came out with a statement that ketuanan Melayu should be dropped, he is fighting for MCA leadership. It happens lah. But you will hear more from the Umno side when we come closer to the date of the Umno election in December.

Q: There is a lot of debate on the issue in the alternative media, on websites and blogs. Based on what is being expressed about ketuanan rakyat, has the concept of ketuanan Melayu become outdated?

A: I think so. But in effect, it isn’t true. People are comparing it to a slave and master situation. Is there such a thing? If there are servants and slaves at all, it’s between the lowly paid and their masters. But who is lowly paid? The Malays, Indians and to a certain extent, some Chinese, isn’t it? It’s not like what was in America’s South in the old days of slavery. It’s just gross exaggeration and it’s not healthy, you know.

Ketuanan rakyat is a new phrase coined by (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim, taking advantage of the feelings against ketuanan Melayu. He is very quick at that.

Q: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has warned of conflict if there’s a change in the Government with the crossing over of Barisan. He says Malays are making demands in response to demands made by others and some are talking about going back to feudalism. What are your views on this?

A: Like I said, just now, Ong came out with a statement that ketuanan Melayu should be dropped. Fair enough. But there are also lots of demands from the Malays, as Dr M has expressed. Take the recent congress in Johor Baru. They refused to invite politicians but got together about 200 Malays associations and NGOs. They have demanded that the Malay rulership be restored with its traditional powers. In other words, depriving the elected representatives of some of their powers and to go back to the Rulers. I think that’s not on, because we have democracy now.

Except for matters like restoration of immunity for the Rulers, we have to look at that. Not the Rulers per se, but the institution. After all, our diplomats and officials who work in foreign lands are given immunity. This immunity originates from the immunity of the sovereignty. It’s an age-old custom and practice but that’s just a small area to be re-examined. Overall, I think the preoccupation with ketuanan Melayu is just a reaction to the election results.

Q. Are the Rulers exercising their powers more noticeably or being more vocal now?

A: I don’t think so. Raja Nazrin (Perak Regent Raja Dr Nazrin Shah) has been speaking out but all the things he has been saying echo the words of the Bar Council, like independence of the judiciary, and other groups. He rightly re-emphasised and re-stated things that are in the Constitution. Of course, it also reflects the feelings of the people who are not happy with the Government and the way the judiciary was behaving. So, this gets into the press and catches the eye of those people who are not happy with the Government. That’s about all.

About the appointment of Mentris Besar of Terengganu and Perlis, it was the inaction of the leadership or slowness that prompted the Rulers to appoint MBs who were not candidates of the party. The actions were seen as Rulers taking the initiative before the political leaders. But I think the Rulers were pressured to act within their constitutional powers. I don’t think it is seen as Rulers taking powers into their hands. It’s just coincidental that we had these bad election results and all these things relating to the Rulers and therefore it is seen as you have described it.

As for the case of Tengku Faris’ (Kelantan’s Tengku Mahkota Tengku Mohammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra) speech, the statement was taken out of context. I have seen the whole speech and it was a repeat of what is in the Constitution.

Q: How is your current relationship with Dr M? Based on what he has been saying, it seems both of you share the same sentiments.

A: Good. As for sharing the same sentiments, maybe we are, but not absolutely.

Q: In one interview before the elections, you were asked whether Malaysia was ready to move away from the New Economic Policy. You said it was going to be there for another 50 years or more. Have you changed your views?

A: No. I still feel the NEP is a good policy but it should not have been implemented the way it was and caused a lot of problems and created misunderstanding among the various races. It was not intended to be like that nor was it formulated that way. It ended up favouring a select group of people in a particular community.

The NEP was devised during the Second Malaysia Plan to bring everybody together, to give opportunities to those who never had opportunities and to lift up everybody, irrespective of Malays, Indians or Chinese or others, out of poverty. It was a good programme, I thought. Unfortunately, some people took advantage and abused their positions. And these excesses have given rise to a lot of grievances and doubts about the policy itself.

Q: If you do get the nominations, win the presidency and get to become Prime Minister, what would be your priority?

A: The first and most important is unity: To bring about unity in all aspects of government policy, programmes and even to the NGOs and the political institutions. That is the priority concern and should be the primary concern of everybody. The education system must be re-looked into exhaustively, in that it is geared towards this end. This is because the future depends on the unity of the nation. Without it you cannot have stability, peace and progress. Underpinning that is, of course, education. It is also important that the knowledge acquired is kept abreast with changes, so that we can rise to the occasion and compete with likeminded people elsewhere in the world. We should not be left behind.

Secondly, you have to kill corruption, which is cancerous. You have to go to town with it. I am impressed with the model in Hong Kong. I don’t know what the Government has in mind but the agency in Hong Kong works. It should also work here with some modifications. Whatever it is, wiping out corruption is of prime consideration because unless and until we can kill it, you cannot progress.

You cannot expect costs to come down – cost of living, cost of doing business and everything. We really have to fight this tooth and nail. Similarly, within Umno, we have to stop all this nonsense about giving of contracts, permits and “pocket money”. All these must be brought down without exception.

Q: There are still many repressive laws and people are demanding that these be done away with. What is your view on laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act, Universities and University Colleges Act, Official Secrets Act and the Internal Security Act?

A: All ought to be reviewed. Some ought to be repealed. UCCA should be repealed. The OSA must be reviewed. Some features are important but not the draconian measures. The Printing Presses and Publications Act has no place. It has to go. The Police Act should also be re-looked. As for the ISA, it must be re-looked. I don’t think we can do away with that, I must say honestly, because even democratic countries like the US have laws with the same features that we have in the ISA. Even Britain has new laws to fight terrorism. I think we can remove all the features that appear to be rather draconian and make sure that individual rights are protected sufficiently. Ensure that it is palatable for the Government to use but never to use it for political purposes.

Q: The perception out there is the ISA is always used for political persecution.

A: That’s what they say. Even Umno chaps have been arrested. (Datuk) Zahid Hamidi was detained, along with many other people, including Anwar. So anyway, we have to re-look that.

Q: For much of the latter part of your political career, your supporters say you have been a victim of media blackouts, unfair coverage and spin. Do you think political parties should own newspapers?

A: I’m glad you realise it. I think (the ownership of newspapers by political parties) this is a historical development. Utusan Melayu was formed by people from Singapore. When we were gaining independence, Umno needed a voice in the papers to project its image and to appeal to the people to support its movement against the Malayan Union.

That is how Utusan Melayu slowly came under the influence of Umno. Later, Tunku with the help of some friends bought into Utusan Melayu as a vehicle to influence the thinking of the people. When I was asked to buy the Straits Times, we couldn’t do so because some of the operations were in Singapore, which was not under our jurisdiction at that time. I had to negotiate with the OCBC group and eventually bought the interest in Malaysia.

The paper split into the Straits Times in Singapore and the New Straits Times in Malaysia. We took over and paid cash for it. We did not want to own it completely so we listed the shares. But because of these historical developments, Umno had to own some of the shares. Eventually, when Umno was declared unlawful, the shares went to the Public Trustee and then sold to a public company. Umno has a very small percentage in the newspaper now.

Even Utusan Malaysia has gone public. Control is through the Government, not through the ownership of equity. MCA used to own Tong Bao, Nanyang Siang Pau and The Star. Now they still own The Star. But slowly all these things will go. What I would like to see is for anybody who wants to own a newspaper to be able to do so. Whether they survive or not, it is up to them. But before we can allow that, we must ensure that the laws of defamation and libel are strengthened and penalties must be very serious, so that people don’t go to town with their newspapers.

Q: How would you rate Pakatan Rakyat’s chances of taking over the government through crossovers? Do you share Dr Mahathir’s view of taking the threat seriously?

A: I do. We should not take it lightly because unlike Umno members in the peninsula, those in Sabah have only been members since 1990 or just before that. Umno is relatively new there. And also people in Sabah have been jumping parties – from Usno to Berjaya to Umno and so many other parties. The whole lot of them have been jumping here, there and everywhere. I’m not saying that they don’t have principles or they have a stand on certain given ideals. But I think their heart is not in the party struggle. Because of the racial politics here, we are closer to the party struggle than those in Sabah.

They were brought in to help in order to help Dr Mahathir then to make sure they could thwart me and Semangat 46 in the number of seats in Parliament. Anyway, we shouldn’t take the threat lightly for it is serious. And I do hope the leadership will really look into this and confide in the MPs and state assemblymen and those from the component parties and look into their problems. Otherwise you may find that there is no Barisan Nasional except for Umno. You should look after them.

I think they are very unhappy. The election results have shocked and disgraced them. Apart from that, they are losing confidence in the future. If they think that the future is not so bright for them why should they remain? I think the leadership today cannot give them sufficient comfort to ensure that the future is all right. But I think that the future will be all right, if we can bolster their confidence. I think it all depends on the leadership. But the leadership today is embroiled in so many things, it is not helping.

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

Tengku Razaleigh has offered himself for consideration of UMNO delegates during this year’s UMNO General Assembly 16-20 December 2008, for the post of President.

Since outright making the offer, many UMNO members, especially grassroot would very much interested what is there in the offer, for the Leadership. Of course there are some goodies that the seasoned UMNO politician insinuated in between the lines, in this interview.

In summary, the messages for changes, reforms and transformation are:

1.Economic

2.Education

3.Social and security

4.Judiciary, legal and enforcement

5.UMNO internal politics

6.Islam

How all these will see changes and when, it is as good as the next person’s guess. It will be interesting to see how, when and the quantity of the changes so many aspire to see can be materialized.