Now Riong Kali try to spin against Najib?

 

Malaysian Insider.com published in their main page that DPM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s so called “commitment” to the ‘Leader Transition Plan’, due June 2010.

However, UMNO members close to the UMNO Deputy President confirmed that his earlier call for UMNO to decide on the “change-of-leader” be decided by UMNO Divisions when they started their Annual General Meetings beginning of October still stands.

UMNO members as grassroot has already voiced their utter displeasure of the weak leadership through informal channels, sometime within the party. Even at “Meet The Leader” forums, organised by UMNO, be it by State Liaison (including in the presence of UMNO management committee) or Division levels, grassroot leaders, especially Branch level have started to openly criticize the weak leadership and the ‘Flip-Flop’ policies. They believed that this is the main course why UMNO and BN performed poorly in the 8 March 2008 concluded 12th General Elections  (12 GE) which saw the loss of control in 5 + 1 states.

This restlessness amongst UMNO grassroot is very apparent. Example is during the 12 GE, in the mainstay support of UMNO Johor where there are close to 500,000 UMNO registered members, saw over 100,000 spoilt vote casted. That is 1 in 3 of the national accumulated spoilt votes casted and UMNO members and supporters clearly illustrate their dismay in the Leadership by refusing to vote Oppositions but instead waste their usually treasured votes.

Malaysian Insider, a newsportal believed to be linked to Riong Kali and the Fox Media, is making another desperate attempt to spin stories very not reflective of the truth. Now that NST has lost its credibility, the alternative media seems to be Riong Kali’s new mode of spinning.

This, could not be anything else but an act of desperation.

 

Zaid Ibrahim resigns

Minister in the Prime Minister Department Dato’ Zaid Ibrahim announced resignation as a Cabinet Minister effective immediately. This came conveniently as a response to the reply of the Home Minister Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid Al Bar on Zaid’s stance on the ISA yesterday, on the wake of three persons arrested under the same law on Friday.

The Star has the story:

Don’t use ISA, says Zaid

By IAN MCINTYRE

KOTA BARU: De facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (pic) stuck his neck out against the Government by condemning the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against civilians.

He urged the Government to revert to the original purpose of the law, which was to curb communism.

“It is time for the Government to go back to the original spirit of the ISA and it should only be used on armed terrorists or those out to topple the Government by force.

“I am not calling for a repeal of the ISA but for it to be used only when there is a real threat to national security and not on civilians,” he told a press conference at his home in Pasir Hor here yesterday.

According to Zaid, he was prepared to accept any consequences from his apparent breaking of ranks from the Cabinet over the issue of the ISA.

He said he was also willing to step down as a minister if his actions were deemed to have undermined the Government and Cabinet.

“I do not want to cause any trouble for Pak Lah (Abdullah). I respect what he is trying to change but on the matter of the ISA, I am against imposing it on civilians. I joined his administration to make changes and everybody knows, I am also for a more open-form of press reporting.”

Zaid was commenting on the arrests of Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, Selangor senior executive councillor Teresa Kok and Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin on Friday under the Act. Tan was released on Saturday.

By using the ISA randomly, Zaid said, the Government was sending a message that it did not trust the capabilities of its own enforcement agencies such as the police in maintaining peace.

“There were ample punitive law to act against lawbreakers without having to invoke the ISA,” Zaid said.

Zaid, who is a Minister in the Prime Minister’s department, said the use of the ISA also creates an impression of selective prosecution as the Government cannot seemingly incarcerate everybody but only a handful.

“In this latest episode of ISA, we (the Government) have generated an impression of selective prosecution since no action was taken against the person who allegedly uttered seditious remarks. We are saying that we are only acting against those who are disloyal to us.”

He said he was glad that Tan was released but was concerned over the continued detention of the other two

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

Zaid was making a statement against the Internal Security Act (ISA) which provided the Police powers to detain without trial suspects who threaten national security. This law is a tool closely protected by the Government  when he was appointed Cabinet Minister in March.

Zaid has not proven himself yet, after six months in office. In reality, the one term Kota Bahru MP who was not given the opportunity to re-contest as the BN candidate in the 8 March 12th General Elections was very ambitious when he first appointed Cabinet Minister in March. He promised to revamp the Legal and Judciary, in six months.

He was seen as trying to be heroic when promptly mooted the idea for the Government to apologize to sacked Lord President Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas, which the Cabinet found totally inappropriate. The fact he went against his own statement on Salleh, made when he was acting as an aspiring lawyer for UMNO.

However, Zaid was instrumental in the act to reward all the dismissed Judges in 1988, which include sacked Lord President Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas. A large undisclosed sum of ex-gratia payment were  inadvertantly announced by PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah at a dinner organised by Bar Council and eventually issued personally by Zaid to the dismissed Judges, which many found inappropriate. It even construed as an attempt to make PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah look good in the eyes of the minority within the legal professionals.

It seems that that Zaid is more concerned on the Bar Council’s opinion on himself rather his own Boss or his  Cabinet/party leadership colleagues. The fact that the latest development in the Kota Bahru UMNO Division, despite as a Cabinet Minister Zaid received lesser nominations from the UMNO Branches compared to Dato’ Fatmi, who was only DPM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s former Political Secretary. This clearly illustrate the acceptance of the former’s position into mainstream politics, even at grassroot level.

Some thought this resignation is somewhat an ‘honourable’ quick exit from the disgrace being a failed Cabinet Minister and UMNO politician.

*Updated 245pm

The Star has the developing story:

Monday September 15, 2008 MYT 2:27:53 PM

Zaid Ibrahim quits?

By SHAILA KOSHY

KUALA LUMPUR: Speculation is rife that de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has resigned.

According to sources, the senator tendered his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s office just before 2pm on Monday.

Zaid could not be reached for confirmation.

The former Kota Baru MP was not fielded to stand in the March 8 general election.

Following the general election, however, Abdullah appointed him a Senator and a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

In announcing his new Cabinet on March 18, Abdullah said that Zaid would be responsible for legal matters and take on the role to reform the judiciary.

It was only last Tuesday that Zaid said he might soon become a full-blown Law Minister with the requisite authority and responsibility to help him effect legal reform.

“In fact, my own position will be reviewed to Minister of Law to give me more authority but that will take time. You can’t have responsibility without authority,” he had said then.

However on Sunday, Zaid broke from rank to say that the use of the Internal Security Act against civilians was wrong, adding that he was prepared to resign over the issue.

Mukhriz: Suburkan demokrasi dalam UMNO

KENYATAAN YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR

Suburkan demokrasi dalam UMNO

1. Umum mengakui bahawa pemilihan UMNO kali ini akan menentukan tenggelam timbulnya parti kita ini. Ahli-ahli UMNO, orang Melayu, malah Rakyat Malaysia keseluruhannya memberi perhatian yang khusus kepada pemilihan UMNO kerana lazimnya pemenang-pemenang jawatan tertinggi parti akan dilantik jawatan-jawatan tinggi Kerajaan. Presiden UMNO akan memegang jawatan Perdana Menteri, manakala Timbalan Presiden pula Timbalan Perdana Menteri.

2. Ini menjadi kenyataan sekiranya Barisan Nasional (BN) masih menguasai majoriti kerusi-kerusi dalam Parlimen, dan UMNO kekal dengan kerusi Parlimen terbanyak dalam BN. Jika BN tidak dapat mempertahankan bilangan kerusinya, maka sudah tentu parti lain yang akan menawarkan ketuanya kepada YDP Agong untuk dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia. Ini adalah realiti yang selalu kita ambil mudah kerana kita berada dalam zon selesa dan beranggapan bahawa Kerajaan BN tidak mungkin tumbang.

3. Oleh itu, adalah amat penting bagi UMNO mengetahui dengan terperinci keadaan dan sentimen di peringkat akarumbi. Saya percaya ahli-ahli UMNO di peringkat terbawah pasti menyedari sentimen rakyat, dan dapat berikan maklumbalas yang paling berguna kepada pucuk kepimpinan parti. Dengan matlumat ini, kepimpinan kita sudah sepatutnya dapat membuat keputusan-keputusan yang sesuai dengan sebarang keadaan dan menepati citarasa rakyat.

4. Tetapi malangnya kita lihat keputusan-keputusan pemimpin kita tidak bantu menyelesaikan sebarang masalah yang dihadapi mereka. Ini mungkin berlaku kerana sentimen rakyat yang disampaikan oleh ahli-ahli kita di peringkat akarumbi tidak diendahkan dan diketepikan begitu sahaja.

5. Rakyat yang telah dihadapkan dengan pelbagai masalah kebelakangan ini kini menuntut pembelaan. Apabila pemimpin sudah tidak dilihat membela rakyat, sudah pasti rakyat menuntut perubahan kepimpinan.

6. Dalam UMNO, kita mengamalkan sistem demokrasi untuk memilih kepimpinan di semua peringkat. Proses pemilihan ini menyuburkan parti, sekaligus memberi nafas baru kepada perjuangan yang didokonginya. Proses ini juga menjamin parti sentiasa relevan kepada rakyat, khususnya orang Melayu, kerana pemimpin yang dipilih sudah tentu dapat memahami kehendak golongan yang diwakilinya itu.

7. Apabila “perancangan” Peralihan Kuasa 2010 diumumkan oleh YAB Presiden parti, dan disokong ketika itu oleh YAB Timbalan Presiden, ianya memberi impak yang negatif kepada amalan demokrasi parti. Presiden mencadangkan agar ahli-ahli UMNO menyokong rancangannya supaya kedua-dua jawatan Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden tidak dipertandingkan. Hatta YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi dan YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak dicadangkan oleh Pak Lah supaya dikekalkan jawatan mereka sebagai Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden UMNO hingga tahun 2010.

8. Sebenarnya, apabila hanya ada satu “perancangan”, dan tiada perancangan lain yang boleh dipertimbangkan, maka Perancangan Peralihan Kuasa 2010 itu bertukar daripada hanya sebuah ‘perancangan’ menjadi satu ‘arahan’ dari pihak-pihak yang berkepentingan. Ini jelas apabila Pak Lah meluahkan rasa kecewanya apabila YB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, Naib Presiden UMNO menyatakan bahawa peralihan pada tahun 2010 itu perlu dipertimbangkan semula baru-baru ini.

9. Terkini, Pak Lah mengarah kita semua supaya jangan lagi membangkitkan soal peralihan kuasa ini yang kononnya telah dipersetujui oleh MT dan Jemaah Menteri. Nampaknya pandangan ahli-ahli UMNO, ahli-ahli BN dan rakyat keseluruhannya tidak akan dipedulikan oleh pemimpin yang hanya mahu mengekalkan jawatannya sendiri.

10. Tidakkah boleh kita menyuarakan persoalan apabila pemimpin yang berkepentingan mengarah pengikutnya terus menyokongnya tanpa melalui proses pemilihan seperti pemimpin-pemimpin dan bakal-bakal pemimpin lain yang bertanding? Kenapa juga kita tidak boleh menyuarakan persoalan apabila tempoh penggal jawatan yang sepatutnya berakhir pada Disember 2008 ini dipanjangkan hingga tahun 2010 sewenang-wenangnya?

11. Saya yakin bahawa ramai yang bersetuju dengan saya bahawa amalan-amalan seperti ini menampakkan seolah-olah UMNO ini kepunyaan beberapa individu sahaja dan bukan hampir 3.5 juta ahlinya yang berdaftar. Malah, ahli-ahli UMNO telah menolak pemimpin-pemimpin parti yang tidak mengiktiraf peranan mereka sebagai ahli, lantas menyumbang kepada kekalahan UMNO dan BN di PRU 12 dan Pilihanraya Kecil Permatang Pauh 26 Ogos yang lepas.

12. Untuk menyelamatkan keadaan, saya percaya bahawa kita mesti serahkan semula kuasa memilih pemimpin kepada ahli-ahli di peringkat akarumbi. Saya sendiri telah menulis sepucuk surat kepada semua Ketua-Ketua Cawangan UMNO untuk memohon mereka mencalonkan pemimpin-pemimpin peringkat nasional sewaktu Persidangan Tahunan Cawangan-cawangan mereka baru-baru ini. Ini telah saya lakukan kerana saya yakin bahawa inilah satu-satunya cara bagi kita untuk menjamin barisan kepimpinan parti yang bakal dipilih kelak benar-benar mendapat mandat dari sebilangan besar ahli UMNO.

13. Justeru, saya menyokong kenyataan YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak menyerahkan pemilihan pemimpin tertinggi parti kepada perwakilan di Mesyuarat Perwakilan UMNO di Bahagian-bahagian. Ini adalah sebagai menyahut saranan YB Tan Sri Muhyiddin bahawa peralihan kuasa antara YAB Presiden dan Timbalannya itu perlu disegerakan demi kelangsungan UMNO di dalam pemerintahan Malaysia.

14. Pada hemat saya, tidak siapa yang harus pertikaikan pendirian kedua-dua pemimpin ini. Pastinya mereka telah mendapat maklumbalas dari pelbagai pihak, dan sedar bahawa perubahan pucuk kepimpinan mesti dilaksanakan sebelum Mesyuarat Perwakilan UMNO Bahagian-bahagian Oktober depan. Olehitu kenyataan-kenyataan yang dilontarkan pula oleh pihak-pihak tertentu (yang jelas berkepentingan juga) membidas kenyataan asal Tan Sri Muhyiddin itu adalah berniat untuk menidakkan hak akarumbi untuk bersuara dan terlibat dalam pemilihan pucuk pimpinan.

15. Bagi menghadapi dan menangani ancaman yang dilaungkan oleh Anwar Ibrahim, kita mesti sudah menyusun langkah untuk mempertahankan UMNO dan juga hubungannya dengan parti-parti komponen di dalam BN. Saya percaya kepulangan YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad ke pangkuan UMNO untuk menyumbang nasihat, memberi keyakinan dan kekuatan baru untuk kita bersama mengharungi cabaran getir umat Melayu ini.

16. Marilah kita sama-sama menyokong gerakan perubahan ini. Kita mesti berani mengorak langkah untuk mencapai perubahan agar perjuangan rakyat dapat kita jayakan Insya’Allah.

Dengan itu, saya ucapkan selamat berjuang dan Berani Berubah!