Mengagalkan kepentingan Negara

Tindakan Pengerusi Pakatan Harapan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan beberapa orang kepimpinan tertinggi bertemu Duta Besar dan Wakil Diplomatik negara-negara EU merupakan mengagalkan kepentingan Negara, semata-mata agenda politik sempit mereka.

Kenyataan Menteri Luar Negara:

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Menurut Menteri Luar Negara Dato Seri Anifah Aman “Adalah usaha-usaha pihak Pakatan Harapan merupakan satu politik terdedak yang amat dikesali kerana mengundang campurtangan dan tekanan kuasa asing keatas nilai-nilai dan princip amalan demokrasi di Malaysia”.

Dr. Mahathir jelas menunjukkan sift munafiq kerana semasa menjadi Perdana Menteri selama 22 tahun 3 bulan dan 15 hari, beliau amat menentang campurtangan dan tekanan negara asigna, terutama dalaman isu dalaman negara dan amalan demokrasi.

Contohnya semasa episod pasca pemecatan Banduan Sodomi Anwar Ibrahim dari jawatan Timbalan Perdana Menteri.

Ucapan Naib Presiden Amerika Syarikat Al Gore semasa sidang kemuncak APEC mengundang serangan hebat oleh pentadbiran Dr. Mahathir.

Laporan BBC:

World: Asia-Pacific

Malaysia hits back at Gore

Mr Gore’s comments have not impressed his hosts

Paul Royallreports

In an escalating war of words, Malaysia has accused the United States of inciting efforts to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi said said remarks made by US Vice-President were “most unwarranted”.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi: “Malaysians do not take kindly to sanctimonious sermonising”

He said it was “abhorrent” that the US Government should incite “certain elements within the country” to use undemocratic means in order to overthrow a constitutionally elected administration.

Earlier Mr Gore provoked fury amongst Malaysian government ministers by expressing support for the country’s reform movement. He went on to reiterate the need for democracy and freedom.

Mr Gore said he was proud to have delivered the message.

“Moving into the 21st century with a strong economy really requires democracy and self-government,” he said.

South East Asia Correspondent Simon Ingram: “Expressions of rage”

“That is the American message and I am proud to deliver it here and anywhere I go.”

At a dinner for Apec business leaders on Monday night, Mr Gore delivered what correspondents say was a stinging rebuke to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad by praising the “brave people” of Malaysia calling for “reformasi”.

Rallying call

The term has become the slogan for supporters of the sacked Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim whose trial on charges of corruption and sexual misconduct has become the focus for unprecedented anti-government protests.

Other delegations have moved to stop the row disrupting the economic business of the summit. New Zealand prime minister Jenny Shipley criticised what she termed megaphone diplomacy.

Reformasi is the rallying call for Anwar’s supporters

Intense security precautions are in place in Kuala Lumpur to ensure that the two-day gathering of the 21 nation forum passes off without distraction.

Mr Anwar’s trial has been suspended for the duration of the summit.

Government ‘totally disgusted’

Malaysian ministers denounced Mr Gore’s comments as unwarranted interference in their internal affairs.

Trade Minister, Rafidah Aziz, a close ally of Dr Mahathir, said Mr Gore did not understand what was happening in Malaysia and his message was to condone riots and demonstrations.

Rafidah Aziz: “A totally disgusting and inappropriate speech”

“From my point of view as a government minister, we are totally disgusted,” she said.

Education Minister Najib Abdul Razak also criticised the Vice-President for what he called “an absolutely intolerable state of behaviour and unbecoming of a leader of the United States.”

Summit overshadowed

The furore following Mr Gore’s speech has overshadowed the unveiling of a $10bn aid package from Japan and the US intended to help the region regain some of its economic lustre.

The Japanese government has responded coolly to the diplomatic row, with the Prime Minister, Keizo Obuchi, saying he hoped “law and justice” would solve the political upheaval in Malaysia.

Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said Mr Gore’s comments were inappropriate to the meeting: “Politics should not get in the way of Apec.”

Al Gore: “My point is very simple”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley also said she was worried that “megaphone diplomacy” was threatening the economic group.

“Apec is an economic forum where cooperation is being sought,” she said. “Clearly there are some pressing bilateral issues that countries want to raise here in Malaysia but it should not be at the expense of Apec.”

New Zealand will play host to the next meeting of Apec leaders in 1999.

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Missus Saviour is above the law?

The Opposition is making a big hue and cry when the Police came to interview and take the statement of Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, who is being investigated under the Public Assembly Act.

The wife of Pakatan Harapan Chairman Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad spoke at the public street side public assembly of ‘Women Against Toxic Politics’ last September.

It is not clear whether the organisers obtained a permit for the public assembly at corner of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Sultan Ismail. It is believed that permit was not issued, since the public assembly was at a junction of two major roads in the middle of Kuala Lumpur.

The Police needs to ascertain her participation in the illegal assembly. That is the cause for the interview, which is normal procedure in any Police investigation.

If she is truly against ‘Toxic Politics’ , then she should start at home. Her husband is the High Chancellor of Toxic Politics in Malaysia now, spewing venomous lies and seditious speeches, one after another.

Perhaps, the whole family is making preparation to be citizens of another country. Since Dr Mahathir is very incessant in bashing and rubbishing Malaysia in speeches during trips abroad and son Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is ashamed to be Malaysians when asked, when he is abroad.

Perhaps being abroad as citizens of another country, then they don’t have show respect to the Malaysian Law, Federal Constitution and HRH Rulers.

Pakatan Harapan really hoping!

Pakatan Harapan spokesman at a forum is probably hallucinating when he announced that the Opposition coalition of marriage-of-(in)convenience-between-backstabbing-strange-bedfellows is targeting for “100 seats in Semenanjung”.

Where is this extra 50% the DAP Strategist and MP Serdang Dr Ong Kian Ming is talking about, on top of the current seats held by DAP, PKR, Amanah and the lone PPBM seat is unsure.

However, reputable political analysts are finding that notion such an uphill feat for the Opposition coalition.

Currently, UMNO is holding 72 seats in Semenanjung. If Dr Ong is accurate in his analysis, UMNO should lose 40 of the seats currently held.

At the last twin by election of Sg. Besar and Kuala Kangsar, not only BN won by bigger majority, there are evidence the Chinese voters are coming back to vote BN.

It is a fact that the Malays are still with UMNO, despite the incessant attacks to demonise Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak and his administration.

Dr Ong wishful thinking however is difficult to chew let alone swallow as the feedbacks are pointing the opposite direction.

Ibrahim Suffian, founder of Merdeka Centre opined that majority of the Malays, the backbone of BN’s support in Semenanjung, is distrustful of the Opposition.

Dr Ong is conveniently not taking the consideration of the sentiments of his own Chinese Chauvinist DAP’s grass root and support, especially amongst the older generation, on the working relationship with a nemesis of half century Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Coupled with the compounding abuse of power and corrupt practices which is currently haunting DAP’s State Government in Penang, it is most likely more Chinese voters would return to BN’s fold.

If UMNO’s position is likely to maintain (plus or minus some odd seats won in Selangor and lost in Kedah) and DAP losing some of its most comfortable position since the party was formed more than half a century ago, then Dr. Ong probably should rework his math again.

 

 

Going concern ‘gold-mine’

PNB-EPF joint announcement last Friday on their investment in Phase II of the Battersea Power Station Development project worth GBP1.6 billion (RM8.6 billion) should be seen as a gold mine for depositors of both schemes.

Financial Times story:

 

Malaysian fund PNB buys Battersea Power Station stake

Cash injection will allow the building to be completed amid rising costs

https://www.ft.com/content/f0a0ed04-fc41-11e7-a492-2c9be7f3120aAime Wiliams in London

JANUARY 19, 2018 8 A Malaysian fund has agreed to buy a stake in London’s Battersea Power Station in a deal that values the building at £1.6bn.

Permodalan Nasional Berhad, a fund manager with £50bn of assets under management, will own the building jointly with Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia, which already owns a fifth of the wider Battersea development site.

PNB will buy its stake in the building from the Malaysian developers Sime Darby Property and SP Setia, which between them own 80 per cent of the 42-acre site.

The fund manager is a majority stakeholder in both developers, and therefore already indirectly owns a large proportion of the Battersea development.

An undisclosed percentage of the expected full sale price for the grade II* listed building will be paid to the developers in stages through construction, with the balance paid on completion.

According to people familiar with the matter, the cash injection will allow the development of the building, which will host Apple’s new UK headquarters, to be completed amid rising costs.

The Battersea Power Station building itself — which occupies about six acres of the site — had been derelict for roughly 30 years when the site was bought in 2012 for £400m by the consortium from Malaysia.

At the time, the group said it believed the whole development would be worth £8bn by the time it was completed in 2024. The refurbishment of the power station, which supplied one-fifth of London’s electrical power when in operation, is set to be completed in late 2020.

About a quarter of the building will be developed as homes, with a further quarter dedicated to offices. The remainder will be a mixture of retail and leisure space.

The developers are considering changes to their plans for the site following a downturn in the market for luxury homes. As many as 4,000 homes are planned for the 1930s’ landmark site, but that might be reduced to make way for extra office space.

In June, the developers of the scheme won approval to cut their affordable housing commitment by 40 per cent — citing a rise in building costs of more than 11 per cent over a year — as well as faltering sales values for luxury homes.

Battersea reduced its affordable housing commitment to between 9 and 15 per cent of all the housing produced on the scheme, subject to an “end of scheme review”.

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PNB and EPF would hold the biggest stake in London’s current most premier development scheme, where the GDV is expected to be GBP9 billion (RM45 billion).

Guardian story:

Inside the new Battersea Power Station

First 100 residents move in to first batch of swanky flats as vast £9bn development starts to rise from the rubble at the south London landmark

Pop veteran Sting, celebrity survival expert Bear Grylls and 1,400 Apple office workers will soon be neighbours – living and working alongside each other at Battersea Power Station.

Read more

The £9bn project to revamp the Grade II listed building – more than it cost to build the stadiums and stage the 2012 London Olympics – is the centrepiece of a mile-long development of offices and apartment towers on the south bank of the Thames stretching from Vauxhall to Chelsea bridge.

After four years of construction, the development is now starting to take shape and the first 100 residents have just moved in to a luxury apartment complex alongside the main building, called Circus West Village. And for the first time in 90 years the power station’s riverfront, with a new piazza and parkland, is now accessible to all.

The former power plant won’t open its doors to the public for shopping and leisure until 2020, when a new tube station, called Battersea Power Station, comes online to whisk workers, visitors and the development’s well-heeled residents into the West End or the City in less than 15 minutes.

A glass lift is to be built to take visitors to a viewing platform atop the power station’s landmark white chimneys, where they will have sweeping views across the river from a height of more than 100m (330ft).

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An artists’s impression of how the rooftop garden at Battersea Power Station will look when built. Photograph: Battersea Power Station development

The power station has lain empty since it was decommissioned in 1983. Seven separate plans – including turning the power station into a theme park, giant shopping mall or football stadium – fell apart before a Malaysian consortium bought the 17-hectare (42-acre) site for £400m in 2012.

The developers are now building at least 1.25m sq ft of office space and 4,239 swanky new homes. It is one of the biggest building sites in Europe, employing 3,000 construction workers. The project is scheduled for completion in 2026.

The Guardian gained a sneak preview last week of the work under way at the former coal-fired power station, which used to supply one-fifth of London’s electricity.

Most of the scaffolding erected inside the building – the biggest brick construction in Europe and vast enough to hold both St Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square – has now been removed, with work underway to refurbish the original 1930s features; the art deco balconies, windows and giant fluted pilasters in light grey marble are all being restored.

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Construction work within Battersea Power Station, a structure big enough to house both St Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square. Photograph: Anthony Coleman/VIEW

The original chimneys have been replaced with replicas. Two will even have steam coming out of them, from a new gas-powered energy centre.

Inside, the two turbine halls – one built in the 1930s with bronze doors, marble floors and staircases, the other a more austere 1950s construction – will eventually be lined with shops, restaurants, cafes and cinemas.

The biggest tenant will be Apple, whose decision to locate its new European HQ in London was seen as a huge boost for the UK after the Brexit vote. The US tech giant will move 1,400 staff into five floors of the former boiler house in 2021.

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Looking south-west from Westminster Cathedral towards Battersea Power Station. Photograph: Arcaid Ltd – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

A new concert venue for 2,000 people is also in the works, while the former control room A will be marketed as a cultural venue.

Most of the 253 luxury apartments atop the power station have already been sold off-plan. Studio flats – with no separate bedroom – started at £800,000. One-bed flats started at £1m while four-bedroomed family apartments cost at least £4m.

The three penthouses have yet to be priced, although the rumoured £25m-£30m price tag may have to be scaled back as demand for high-end property in the capital dips.

To the south of the power station, a cluster of sculptural blocks designed by US architect Frank Gehry and Britain’s Foster + Partners – including a titanium-clad building called The Flower – will line a new high street, called the Electric Boulevard. This is where Sting and his wife have invested. Studio flats there started at £495,000, rising to £3.2m for a four-bedroom apartment when put on sale in 2014.

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Battersea Power Station starts to take shape. Photograph: Anthony Coleman/View

Bear Grylls, the TV adventurer, has bought an apartment where he plans to live with his wife and three sons. He said the family had lived in Battersea for many years and “didn’t just want a run-of-the-mill townhouse or riverside development … It was our chance to own a little bit of history that we could pass on down through the family.”

About 85% of the 2,481 marketed homes have been sold so far, although the developers have recently been affected by the slump in the luxury home market. Some apartments, they said, would now be downsized . They might also replace planned apartments with up to 1m sq ft of office space, about twice the floorspace of 30 St Mary Axe in the City, better known as The Gherkin.

The overall development includes 636 affordable homes, just 15% of the total . None are located in the actual power station. The number is far less than is usually demanded but the local council Wandsworth agreed to a lower proportion because the development will improve the area and the developer is contributing to the tube extension. Local residents will get an average market rent discount of 40%.

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An artist’s impression of the Gehry designed residents’ lounge. Photograph: Battersea Power Station development

Ravi Govindia, the Conservative leader of Wandsworth council, has praised the project. He said it “will deliver hundreds of new homes at prices that low and middle-income households can genuinely afford … without a single penny of taxpayers’ subsidy”.

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The towering chimneys rise again. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Some locals, however, have strongly criticised the project, questioning the social and economic benefits to the area.

Keith Garner, a local architect and member of the Battersea Power Station Community Group, described the power station plan as “soulless and generic”. He wanted more affordable homes included, and to see cultural and educational institutions included – like an annexe to the South Kensington museums or top-level sports facilities such as an Olympic-size pool.

However, Rob Tincknell, who runs the Battersea Power Station Development Company, says the luxury homes are necessary to pay for the former power plant’s restoration.

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The Battersea Powerstation Project has been described as “It is simply being concluded to create a long-term stable asset management and ownership platform going forward.”

 

The Reuters story:

London’s Battersea Power Station project in proposed sale for £1.6 billion

Estelle Shirbon

4 MIN READ

LONDON (Reuters) – The owners of Battersea Power Station, a huge industrial building in London currently being turned into homes, offices and shops by a Malaysian consortium, are in talks to sell it for 1.6 billion pounds, the redevelopers said on Thursday.

A new chimney is seen with the three dismantled to their bases at Battersea Power Station in London, Britain, March 7, 2016. Developers are demolishing the corroded chimneys of the art deco landmark and will replace them with replicas, as part of the re-development of the area. REUTERS/Toby Melville

With its four giant chimneys, the disused electricity generating plant on the south bank of the River Thames was pictured on the cover of Pink Floyd’s album “Animals” and is one of the best-known silhouettes on the London skyline.

Built in the 1930s, the coal-fired power station stopped operating in 1983 and gradually fell into disrepair, with multiple attempts to redevelop it floundering due to costs and practical difficulties in converting the gigantic site.

It was eventually sold to a Malaysian consortium led by property developer SP Setia (SETI.KL) in 2012, for 400 million pounds, and since then has been undergoing construction work on a vast scale. The project is due to be completed in late 2020.

SP Setia said in an announcement to the Malaysian Stock Exchange that it was in discussions about a potential sale with Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), a Malaysian government-linked investment firm, and Employees Provident Fund Board (EPF), a state pension fund.

The proposal is to sell Phase 2 of the project, the building itself, but not the surrounding land which is also in the process of being redeveloped.

Through their holdings in the current developers and through direct stakes, PNB and EPF already own about 70 percent of the project as a whole.

Battersea Power Station Development Company Ltd, the UK-based structure managing the project, described the proposed transaction as a re-organisation of the ownership of the building that would create a long-term asset management and ownership structure.

“Subject to further due diligence and negotiations, the transaction sum is estimated to be 1.6 billion pounds, which is contemplated to be paid in stages through the rest of the construction phase of the Power Station building,” it said in a statement.

Apple (AAPL.O) announced in September 2016 that it would be moving its London headquarters to the former central boiler house of the power station — a commercial and public relations success for the redevelopers.

S P Setia Bhd3.26

SETI.KLKUALA LUMPUR STOCK EXCHANGE

+0.02(+0.62%)

• SETI.KL
• AAPL.O

London’s Evening Standard newspaper reported that the proposed sale came after the costs of transforming the brick structure doubled from an initial forecast of about 750 million pounds to around 1.5 billion.

It said the spiralling costs had meant the profit return on the scheme had been cut from 20 percent to 8.2 percent.

A spokesman for the Battersea Power Station Development Company denied that the transaction was in response to an increase in costs.

“Whilst there have been cost increases across the industry and at Battersea Power Station, this transaction is not in reaction to costs,” he said.

“It is simply being concluded to create a long-term stable asset management and ownership platform going forward.”

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The duo Malaysian investment firms is said to be 80% in holding of the RM45 billion premier property development project. If the returns is at a mere 20% of GDV, then that is a forecast of RM9 billion.

It is a goldmine potential for initial investment of RM8.6 for land acquisition.

PNB Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar is absolutely spot on in attacking the lies being spread for the Battersea Property Development Project.

The Malay Mail Online story:

Wahid Omar: ‘Mischievous’ to say PNB, EPF to pay 1,000 times more for the Battersea project

Kuala Lumpur 20 Jan – It is “mischievous” to claim that Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will be paying 1,000 times more than the original price to acquire the Battersea Power Station (BPS) in London, PNB Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar has said.

The former Cabinet minister said that he believed those who were against Malaysian firms buying over the decommissioned power station were the ones alleging so and have shopped such a narrative to news organisations.

“The reference to 1,000 times the original price is mischievous. I believe the (news report) piece was propagated by some people in UK who are unhappy with the iconic Battersea Power Station regeneration being successfully developed by Malaysian consortium of Sime Property, SP Setia and EPF [sic],” he said in a statement.

Abdul Wahid, however, did explain the differences nor did he state the exact amount EPF and PNB will be paying for the takeover.

According to news reports, both EPF and PNB will be paying £1.6 billion (RM8.76 billion) to buy out the stakes of Sime Darby Bhd and SP Setia after the derelict power station is transformed into a mixed development that is set to gentrify the area.
Read more at http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/wahid-omar-mischievous-to-say-pnb-epf-to-pay-1000-times-more-for-battersea#fMeSVZdbMPOfFbUo.99

PNB is already an indirect stakeholder in the ambitious project via its equity in both Sime Darby and SP Setia while the EPF currently owns 20 per cent of the project.

Under the deal, the EPF will also drop its role as a developer to become the asset manager of the partnership with PNB.

Explaining further about the project, Abdul Wahid said the main commercial BPS building will include a shopping mall and offices.

He said Apple Inc will be among the main tenants, adding that the US-based company has already signed up a 500,000 square foot tenancy space at the upcoming development.

“This is potentially the future happening place in London. The American Embassy has just moved into the adjacent Nine Elms neighbourhood,” he said.

In terms of connectivity, Abdul Wahid said the Thames water taxi service is already operational while construction for an underground Battersea station was underway.

Construction officially began on July 2013, with the overall development anticipated to finish by 2025, although the Battersea Power Station will open to the public in 2019.
Read more at http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/wahid-omar-mischievous-to-say-pnb-epf-to-pay-1000-times-more-for-battersea#fMeSVZdbMPOfFbUo.99

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The fact that the forecasted return for the Battersea Project would bring good fortune yield, where currently PNB and EPF has already invested in RM170 billion and RM310 billion worth of portfolio respectively in the Malaysian equity market.

It is a policy that PNB and EPF diversify their investments abroad, to ensure ‘all the eggs are not in one basket’. This is on top taking opportunity from gains of very good potential investments, upon the completion of the necessary diligence and risk evaluation.

The project could be viewed simply as Malaysians harvesting from fortune made in Britain where once, slightly over sixty years ago it was the other way around.

This is definitely a far advancement from the infamous ‘Dawn Raid’ more than thirty six years ago, where PNB recovered a Malaysian-based British plantation firm Guthrie.

The combined investment and value of both firms are worth more than RM1 trillion, had never failed its depositors and are some of the best managed GLCs in the country.

Penny wise, Pound foolish

Mocking civil defence volunteers

Parti Warisan President and former Minister of Rural Development Dato’ Seri Shafie Apdal is lynched all over media for his lies against the nation’s civil defence volunteer corp RELA’s ability to prop the defence of realm.

That is far from the truth and Shafie lied to arouse the sentiments of Sabahans, in the usual fashion of sowing ‘Strategy of Hate’ as the tool to attack the Barisan Narional (BN) led Sabah Government. Sabah is also one of BN’s fixed ‘deposit state’.

According to Deputy Chief Secretary (Security) of Home Ministry Dato’ Seri Mustapha Ibrahim announced in September last year that in a pioneer project, 500 officers and other ranks of Sabah RELA would be deployed in the ESSZONE playing a secondary role.

They would be attending a short course on top of the usual courses RELA, for this very important internal security assignment for the Sabah.

RELA, which had its history formed as the Home Guards to supplement security for the villages against communist terrorists during the Emergency (1948-1960). Citizens stepped up and volunteer to patrol and provide secondary role for security.

Bernama story:

Rela kesal Shafie Apdal perlekeh fungsi jabatan itu

Januari 17, 2018 04:18 MYT

Mohd Shafie dilaporkan berkata anggota Rela hanya sesuai untuk perkhidmatan kawalan trafik di majlis-majlis kenduri sahaja. – Gambar hiasan

PUTRAJAYA: Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia (Rela) kesal dengan kenyataan yang dibuat Presiden Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yang mempersoalkan kredibiliti dan memperlekeh peranan anggotanya yang ditugaskan di Zon Selamat Timur Sabah (Esszone).

“Rela berpendapat kenyataan presiden parti itu sangat mengelirukan terutamanya kepada masyarakat Sabah dan ia merupakan satu penghinaan kepada 3.05 juta ahli Rela di seluruh negara,” katanya dalam kenyataan di sini pada Selasa.

Menerusi video yang tular di laman sosial pada Isnin, Mohd Shafie ketika berucap dalam program Bicara Presiden Warisan di Tuaran, Sabah, pada Ahad, dilihat mempertikaikan tindakan menempatkan anggota Rela yang tidak mahir dalam mengendalikan senjata api untuk penugasan di Esszone.Beliau dilaporkan berkata bahawa anggota Rela hanya sesuai untuk perkhidmatan kawalan trafik di majlis-majlis kenduri sahaja.

Rela berkata anggota yang dipilih untuk penugasan itu perlu melalui kursus asas dan kursus khas penugasan Esszone termasuk pengendalian senjata api.

— BERNAMA

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RELA is also a organised volunteer corp which is managed by a department under Home Ministry and consist of Malaysians from all walks of life and background.

Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Man spoke against Shafie’s lies and defended the RELA’s role in the security of the state and Sabahans.

Free Malaysia Today story:

Musa rises to the defence of Rela following Shafie’s remarks

Zam Yusa

| January 20, 2018

The Sabah chief minister says, without naming Shafie Apdal, that he should not be arrogant as he, too, had benefitted from the service of Rela members when he was a federal minister.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman today came to the defence of Rela members who are being sent to the high security Esszone area in the east coast of the state in the face of criticism by Parti Warisan Sabah president Shafie Apdal who apparently claimed they were only good for traffic and crowd control.

Musa who broke his silence on the controversy that has dogged Shafie did not mention him by name but openly rebuked him for belittling the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), pointing out that the opposition leader had himself benefitted from the services of Rela members when he was in government.

“A certain opposition political leader dared look down on Rela and the video of him running down the capability of the volunteer corps was plainly there for everyone to see,” Musa said.

“He said that Rela did not know how to use rifles, bombs and in fact all they knew was to direct road traffic and do guard duty at kenduri kahwin (marriage reception parties).

“As a leader, I’ve never belittled Rela. Belittling people especially the Rela is not our way and culture. Whether small or big, the contribution of Rela is important because they give their service for the welfare of the rakyat.

“Even when he was a federal minister, he received help from Rela, therefore he should not be arrogant.”

Musa was speaking at the official launch of the commencement of duty of Rela at the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) at the corps’ training centre in Tuaran near here.

It could not be immediately established how many are being sent to Esszone but Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had in September last year stated that more than 120,000 Rela members would be stationed at Esszone in phases, starting with 500.

Deputy Home Minister Masir Kujat and other dignitaries were present at the launch ceremony. About 1,000 Rela members attended the ceremony, many of whom cheered Musa during his criticism of the former Umno vice-president.

Earlier, at the same ceremony, Rela director-general Zulkifli Abidin urged Rela members to prove their sincerity in carrying out their duty.

http://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-15/html/container.html

“What’s wrong with doing guard and road traffic duty if it’s for the sake of the people? There’s no need to insult us. I urge all Rela members to prove the allegations wrong. Even in the face of danger and against the enemies, Rela will not falter. We’ll keep giving our service with utmost loyalty.”

A video clip that went viral is said to contain Shafie’s comment during a meet-the-people gathering in Tuaran recently.

The clip was also uploaded by a local news portal with the caption “Shafie Apdal hina 3.05 juta anggota Rela” (Shafie Apdal insults 3.05 million Rela members).

It had received more than 50 comments as of Tuesday, including one from a Mohd Jagoan who attempted to explain the context of Shafie’s speech.

He said in fact Shafie was not degrading Rela members but simply questioning the government’s seriousness in safeguarding Esszone areas.

“Why rely on Rela when the government can empower Esscom (Eastern Sabah Security Command)? Where is the army (battalion) that was promised to guard Esszone?

“Rela members, if it is true they will be directly involved in safeguarding Esszone, should demand a pay rise or full-time salary from the government instead of bashing Shafie,” he said.

A police report was subsequently lodged against Shafie by a Rela member in Tawau calling on him to apologise for belittling the corps.

In the days that followed Warisan deputy president Darrell Leiking had also spoken out in defence of Shafie, saying the party chief’s comments on the matter had been taken out of context.

FMT has contacted Shafie for comments and is awaiting is reply.

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Two days earlier, Perlis RELA made a Police report against Shafie.

Bernama story:

Perlis Rela lodges police report against Shafie Apdal

Posted on 19 January 2018 – 06:37pm

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Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. — BBX image

KANGAR: The Perlis People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) has lodged a police report against Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal for allegedly belittling the role of its members.

Its spokesman Yahya Bakar said Perlis Rela also wanted the former Rural and Regional Development Minister to apologise to its members.

“Do not underestimate RELA members. Some of us know how to operate firearms because we were security personnel before,” he told reporters after lodging the report at the Kangar police headquarters here today.

Mohd Shafie, when delivering a speech at the ‘Bicara Presiden Warisan’ programme in Tuaran, Sabah recently, had alleggedly questioned the purpose of deploying Rela members who did not know how to handle firearms in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone). — Bernama

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Shafie should be investigated under Sedition Act.

Shafie’s lies and sowing ‘Hate Strategy’ are getting lame and it is evidently clear that he is unable these stories are unable to hold water. It is obvious that he is running out of real issues to take down BN, even for a handful seats.

This is not withstanding of the cases now being actively investigated about him when he was the Minister of Rural Development.

FELDA’s fortification from land being flogged off

FELDA made the move to to fortify’s their interest in the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City by making Police report on 12 Dec 2017, as part to get a Registrar’s Caveat on the 16 parcel of land with regards to the development agreement with Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd. (SPSB)

FELDA Chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said this when interviewed by The Mole earlier this morning at his office. The Registrar Caveat was placed on top of a Private Caveat, submitted in April 2017.

“I (FELDA) only wants the land back”

He also admitted that FELDA at this point of time is not rectifying the Development Agreement signed between FELDA Investment Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (FIC) and SPSB as the Master Developer on 3 June 2014.

Shahrir confirmed that FELDA Board endorsed the irrevocable Power of Attorney (PoA) agreement with SPSB in September 2014. SPSB applied for the Development Order (DO)  and obtained from DBKL in June 2015, upon the latter obtaining an irrevocable Power of Attorney.

“Why do you need the land when you already got the Development Order”, asked Shahrir.

He also said then FELDA Chairman and Director General signed four Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) to hive off the 16 land parcels in the said KLVC project, beginning December 2015 till end of 2016.

“Our concern is this. If the land has gone to the developer, where is our protection? What happens there is a change of ownership? Whose fault it would be?”.

It is most likely, SPSB needed the land to be transferred with their name as the new land owner in order to gain financing for the project.

It is the regular practice that financial institutions encumber land as part of the condition to give finance to a property development project.

“It is a land grab!”

He also added, “You don’t tell us anything. You don’t inform us anything anything. With the unlimited PoA, you are supposed to develop that land”.

In June 2015, the Malaysian economy was a more declined state compared to when SPSB obtained the irrevocable Power of Attorney. It was after global oil price plummeted from over USD100 per barrel to slightly over USD20 per barrel.

In such challenging situation, it is unlikely SPSB would able to raise financing through investments.

“Without ownership the land, they already got the DO. The protection is still on the land”.

It gives the indirect suggestion that SPSB with the ownership of said 16 parcels of land or any of the said parcels could be transferred to another party by SPSB and FELDA had no control over that deal.

A company with an irrevocable PoA and DO, could be flipped for a very lucrative consideration.

Furthermore, with land ownership such as the prized 16 parcels of land in Jalan Semarak off Jalan Tun Razak area, which is a stone’s throw from the CBD and KLCC, is very good catch.

The nation was shocked with the Berita Harian headline on 21 December 2017.

Pindah milik tanah FELDA Jalan Semarak dicurigai

Oleh Che Wan Badrul Alias

chewan@bh.com.my

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FELDA berisiko kehilangan hak ke atas tanah strategik di Jalan Semarak. – Foto Aizuddin Saad

Kuala Lumpur: FELDA berisiko kehilangan hak ke atas tanah strategik di Jalan Semarak di sini, yang dianggarkan bernilai lebih RM200 juta apabila ia dipercayai bertukar hak milik menerusi transaksi diragui sejak 2015.

Tanah itu kini dimajukan dengan projek Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) membabitkan tujuh menara, termasuk menara ikonik FELDA dikenali sebagai KLVC Tower1A.

Carian dalam portal Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) mendapati Menara KLVC Tower1A sudah diluluskan untuk dimajukan dengan bangunan pejabat 68 tingkat meliputi 59 tingkat pejabat, dua tingkat podium pejabat termasuk parkir, enam tingkat tempat letak kereta, dua tingkat parkir bawah tanah, taman atas bumbung dan helipad.

Sumber memberitahu BH, pindah milik tanah itu dipercayai berlaku apabila Felda Investment Cor-poration Sdn Bhd (FIC) melantik sebuah syarikat tempatan sebagai pemaju utama pada 3 Jun 2014 dan diberikan surat kuasa wakil penuh (full power of attorney) bagi membangunkannya.

Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad adalah Pengerusi Felda dari 2011 hingga Januari 2017; Pengerusi Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) mulai 1 Januari 2011 hingga 19 Jun lalu dan Pengerusi FIC sejak ditubuhkan pada 2 Julai 2013 sehingga 2017.

TAPAK projek pembangunan Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) di Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur. – Foto Aizuddin Saad

Urus tadbir mengelirukan

Menurut sumber itu, semua keputusan pelantikan syarikat terbabit, dipercayai dibuat oleh FIC, tetapi hanya dimaklumkan kepada Lembaga Pengarah FELDA tiga bulan kemudian, iaitu pada 2 September 2014 untuk kelulusan secara retrospektif.

“Ia agak mengelirukan dari segi urus tadbir kerana Lembaga Pengarah FELDA tak tahu siapa sebenarnya buat keputusan, sama ada FIC atau FELDA kerana ketika itu ada orang yang sama duduk dalam FIC dan dalam FELDA.

“FELDA keluarkan surat kuasa wakil kepada syarikat pemaju untuk bangunkan kawasan terbabit, namun tanah berkenaan kemudian didapati dipindah milik kepada syarikat itu sejak Disember 2015,” katanya.

Carian BH di Jabatan Tanah dan Galian Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur juga mendapati satu daripada tanah iaitu lot 390 seluas 16 hektar yang sebelum ini menempatkan ibu pejabat lama FELDA, Anjung FELDA dan Wisma FELDA ditukar nama kepada sebuah syarikat lain yang ada kaitan dengan pemaju utama projek itu pada 21 Julai 2016.

TAPAK projek pembangunan Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) di Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur. – Foto Aizuddin Saad

Difahamkan, sehingga kini tiada pengumuman dikeluarkan FELDA berhubung pemindahan hak milik tanah itu atau transaksi pengambilalihan tanah antara FELDA dengan pemilik baharu tanah itu.

BH turut bertemu pemaju itu di pejabatnya untuk mendapatkan penjelasan lanjut, tetapi seorang pengarah syarikat terbabit enggan memberi sebarang komen.

Mengikut laporan media pada 14 Mei 2014, kawasan itu mulanya dirancang dimajukan sebagai projek pembangunan bercampur komersial dan kediaman dengan nilai pembangunan kasar (GDV) melebihi RM500 juta oleh anak syarikat FIC, iaitu ENCORP Bhd.

Namun, pada 6 November 2014, DBKL menerima permohonan kebenaran merancang kawasan sama daripada pemaju utama KLVC dan bukan ENCORP.

Semakan di Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM) juga mendapati kontraktor utama projek KLVC adalah sebuah syarikat baharu yang hanya ditubuhkan Januari lalu.

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Shahrir said at this point of time, they are not seeking to redress the Development Agreement which SPSB is required to cough up RM500 million or 10% of the Gross Development Value (GDV) of the said project.

He seemed not in discomfort of the public perception of the whole matter and only focused on retaining or recovering FELDA ownership on the 16 land parcels.

FELDA announced a forensic audit would be carried out and a report would be issued by the same accounting within 30 days, on top of the Police report made.

 

 

 

 

Melayu Johor rasa DAP membelakangi PPBM

Dalam kajian yang dilakukan ISEAS Singapura oleh Felo Kanan dan Presiden IDEAS Wan Saiful Wan Jan membayangkan PPBM ditolak masyarakat Melayu Johor kerana dibelakangi DAP.

Laporan Harakah Daily:

Melayu Johor anti DAP, PAN dan PPBM – IDEAS

DR KAMARUL ZAMAN YUSOFF 11 JANUARY 2018

 

 

AGAK mengejutkan bila membaca hasil kajian terbaru Wan Saiful Wan Jan selaku Ketua Eksekutif IDEAS merangkap Felo Pelawat Kanan ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, bertajuk “Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia In Johor: New Party, Big Responsibility”.

 

Antara dapatan utama hasil kajian setebal 49 muka Wan Saiful yang baru sahaja diterbitkan di dalam siri penerbitan ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, bertajuk Trends in Southeast Asia (2018: No. 2) ini adalah membabitkan penerimaan masyarakat Melayu Johor terhadap DAP, iaitu:

(1) 62 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor berpendapat Pakatan Harapan (PH) adalah dikuasai oleh DAP.

(2) 71 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor berpendapat DAP adalah anti Melayu dan anti Islam.

 

Lebih memberikan tamparan kepada DAP, sebuah parti sekular, adalah dapatan hasil kajian ini mengenai penolakan masyarakat Melayu Johor terhadap pendekatan sekular dalam politik, iaitu:

(1) 90 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor berpendapat peningkatan keagamaan adalah bagus.

(2) 84 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor berpendapat lebih ramai orang Islam perlu berada di dalam kerajaan.

(3) 81 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor berpendapat agama seseorang calon (pilihan raya) adalah penting.

 

Lebih jauh daripada itu adalah dapatan hasil kajian ini yang mendapati bahawa masyarakat Melayu Johor bukan sahaja sangat tidak menyenangi DAP, malah PAN dan PPBM juga, iaitu:

(1) 85 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor tidak menyenangi DAP.

(2) 69 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor tidak menyenangi PAN.

(3) 60 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor tidak menyenangi PPBM

 

Lebih menarik ialah kesimpulan hasil kajian ini, iaitu bahawa:

(1) Para pemimpin PPBM berpendapat bahawa kelangsungan jangka panjang PPBM bergantung kepada kemampuan PPBM untuk memenangi sekurang-kurangnya sebuah negeri, khususnya Johor.

(2) Pengundi sasaran utama PPBM, iaitu masyarakat Melayu Johor, bagaimanapun belum lagi menyertai mereka (“not yet jumping onto their bandwagon”), kerana kebimbangan utama mereka mengenai DAP, dan ketakutan ini tergambar di dalam maklum-balas perlahan terhadap gerakan menambah keahlian PPBM (mengikut data yang diberikan oleh Setiausaha PPBM Johor, Osman Sapian, kepada Wan Saiful, setakat 8 Julai 2017, PPBM mempunyai kira-kira 7,000 ahli yang telah disahkan).

 

Paling menarik adalah kesimpulan hasil kajian ini bahawa penentu terpenting adalah di dalam agihan kerusi antara parti-parti dalam Pakatan Harapan kerana, kata Wan Saiful, jika PPBM hanya mendapat kerusi-kerusi majoriti tinggi Melayu (“the high-Malay seats”) dan kurang kerusi-kerusi campuran (“the mixed seats”), maka sangat tidak mungkin untuk PPBM mencapai matlamat mereka untuk menguasai Johor (“it will be highly unlikely they will achieve their ambition of capturing the state”). Ini kerana, kata beliau, tidak mudah untuk memikirkan satu senario di mana undi Melayu akan berayun begitu besar (“it is not easy to imagine a scenario where the Malay votes would swing to a significant enough extent”).

 

Sementara agihan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri antara parti-parti dalam PH masih belum dimuktamadkan, berdasarkan kepada agihan kerusi Parlimen yang diumumkan di dalam Konvensyen PH baru-baru ini yang menyaksikan PPBM hanya diberikan 10 kerusi berbanding 8 PKR, 5 DAP dan 2 PAN, maka jelaslah bahawa matlamat PPBM untuk menguasai Johor kelihatan seperti sudah terkubur. Ini kerana, seperti didedahkan oleh Pengerusi PPBM Johor, Datuk Dr Shahruddin Salleh, dan Setiausaha PPBM Johor, Osman Sapian, strategi PPBM Johor adalah untuk bertanding antara 20 ke 22 kerusi daripada keseluruhan 26 kerusi Parlimen yang ada di Johor (bagi membolehkan PPBM turut menguasai kerusi-kerusi campuran).

 

Bila PPBM hanya diberikan 10 kerusi majoriti tinggi Melayu sahaja, bukannya antara 20 ke 22 kerusi seperti yang dirancang oleh PPBM Johor, di peringkat Parlimen maka agak sukar dibayangkan PPBM akan diberikan kerusi-kerusi campuran di peringkat Dewan Undangan Negeri. Berdasarkan kepada logik Wan Saiful, bila PPBM tidak diberikan kerusi-kerusi campuran, maka sudah tentulah matlamat PPBM untuk menguasai Johor kelihatan seperti sudah terkubur.

 

Bagi saya, hasil kajian Wan Saiful ini menjadi bukti nyata betapa PPBM membuat satu kesilapan yang besar bila ia memilih untuk bersekongkol dengan DAP.

 

Tahniah kepada Umno yang mengikut hasil kajian Wan Saiful ini, masih lagi disukai oleh 67 peratus daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor dan kepada PAS yang mendekati Umno dengan 48 peratus sokongan daripada masyarakat Melayu Johor.

 

Tidak lupa juga, takziah kepada PPBM Johor. – HARAKAHDAILY 11/1/2018

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Menurut Pengarah MAPAN UUM Dr Kamarul Yusoff yang pakar dalam kajian mengenai PAS mengenai rumusan kajian Wan Saiful, kelangsungan PPBM bergantung kemampuan menguasai sebeuah negeri ‘Simpanan Tetap’ BN seperti Johor.

Apa yang menarik ialah kebarangkalian orang Melayu Johor beralih pilihan mereka dari UMNO ke PPBM amatlah amat tipis.

Dr Kamarul sebelum ini membuat intepretasi bahawa kunjungan Pengerusi PPBM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad ke peja bat DAP merupakan titik tolak dimana sebahagian dari penyokong tegar DAP akan menolak doktrin ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ parti Chauvinis Cina itu.

Laporan Mynewshub.cc:

Tun M Tersungkur Agenda “Malaysian Malaysia”?

Published on Oct 3, 2017 in Politik/Utama & Sensasi

http://acdn.adnxs.com/ib/static/usersync/v3/async_usersync.html

KUNJUNGAN buat pertama kali Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad ke Ibu Pejabat DAP malam tadi menjadi lambang tersungkurnya beliau secara rasmi kepada agenda “Malaysian Malaysia” yang beliau sendiri bermati-matian menentangnya sebelum ini demi kepentingan dan survival kaum Melayu negara ini.

Pengarah Pusat Kajian Politik Malaysia (Mapan) Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Dr. Kamarul Zaman Yusoff berkata, generasi baharu negara wajar tahu apa itu “Malaysian Malaysia” DAP yang berakar umbi daripada deklarasi gabungan parti pembangkang dalam The Malaysian Solidarity Convention (MSC) di Singapura pada 9 Mei 1965.

Kata beliau, dalam Deklarasi MSC oleh gabungan parti pembangkang di Singapura waktu itu tercatat kemas kenyataan yang berbunyi “Malaysian Malaysia” bermaksud sesebuah negara dan negeri tidak dikenal pasti berdasarkan ketuanan, kesejahteraan dan kepentingan kaum tertentu sahaja.

Malah, kata beliau, kenyataan itu selari dengan Deklarasi Setapak pada 29 Julai 1967 yang mencatatkan tentang komitmen DAP kepada idea menjadikan Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara bebas, demokratik dan sosialis berprinsipkan kepada kesaksamaan kaum.

“Begitupun, jangan diingat konsep “Malaysian Malaysia” DAP ini hanya diperjuangkan oleh pemimpin veteran DAP sahaja kerana pemimpin muda yang sedang berkuasa dalam DAP berpegang teguh dengan konsep ini.

“Setiausaha Agung DAP, Lim Guan Eng bercakap mengenai Perlembagaan Persekutuan bahawa membezakan rakyat Malaysia antara bumiputera dan bukan bumiputera (kononnya) cara berkesan membahagikan rakyat Malaysia menjadi warga kelas pertama dan kelas kedua.

“Setiausaha Organisasi Kebangsaan DAP, Anthony Loke Siew Fook turut bercakap mengenai keperluan mengkaji semula dasar bumiputera dan bukan bumiputera.

“Konsep Malaysian Malaysia DAP kekal terpateri dalam DAP sehingga kini terbukti apabila laman web rasmi DAP menegaskan DAP komited memperjuangkan “Malaysia Malaysian” sosialis demokratik yang bebas,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di Facebook hari ini.

Portal propembangkang melaporkan Mahathir sejak menyertai gabungan parti pembangkang Pakatan Harapan dan selepas 22 tahun berkhidmat sebagai Perdana Menteri memomokkan DAP buat pertama kali menjejakkan kaki ke ibu pejabat parti DAP malam tadi .

Malah, Mahathir dirakam duduk di dalam bilik mesyuarat Ibu Pejabat DAP di Kuala Lumpur dengan wajah penuh bangga berlatar belakangkan logo gergasi DAP bersama-sama Presiden PKR, Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Mengulas lanjut, Kamarul dalam kenyataan sama mengingatkan Mahathir tentang bukunya sendiri yang diterbitkan tahun lalu bertajuk “Tun M: Inilah Perjuangan” yang memuatkan penentangan keras Mahathir terhadap perjuangan “Malaysian Malaysia” DAP.

Antara lainnya, Mahathir yang diangkat oleh DAP dan parti pembangkang lain untuk menjadi Pengerusi Pakatan Harapan selepas keluar daripada UMNO itu pernah menyebut dalam buku tersebut:

“Orang bukan Melayu asyik menuntut hak persamaan, meminta supaya dimansuhkan hak istimewa orang Melayu. Sedangkan mereka tinggal di negara ini, mendapat kewarganegaraan, juga merupakan satu keistimewaan. Mereka boleh mengamalkan cara hidup mereka sendiri, bahasa sendiri, itu pun satu keistimewaan.”

“Mereka tidak boleh punyai sistem pendidikan sendiri, kita hapuskan sekolah jenis kebangsaan, mereka tidak boleh mengamalkan budaya mereka, malah nama pun perlu ditukar kepada nama Malaysia, sepertimana yang dilakukan di Indonesia dan Thailand, pada masa itu barulah kita boleh mansuhkan hak istimewa orang Melayu.”

Justeru, katanya, apabila Mahathir sudah berkunjung ke Ibu Pejabat DAP parti yang memperjuangkan hak persamaan kaum di bawah konsep “Malaysian Malaysia”, maka tidaklah boleh disangkal lagi telah tersungkurnya beliau kepada agenda DAP. – MYNEWSHUB.CC

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Champ of the Malays questions ‘Cina Buta’

Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (PERKASA) Dato’ Ibrahim Ali questions the rationale of the Chairman and founder of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad rather short tenure as the Seventh Prime Minister, if Pakatan Harapan wins the 14GE.

“What can Tun (Dr Mahathir) do within six to twelve months?”.

Ibrahim also questions about Dr Mahathir’s ‘Cina Buta’ship as the interim Prime Minister is about providing a route for sodomy-convict Anwar Ibrahim and founder of Parti KeAdilan Rakyat to be ascended as the Eighth Prime Minister.

As someone who is leading an NGO championing the Malay Agenda, Ibrahim is ambigous on intention for the allocation of seats amongst the Pakatan Harapan component parties even PPBM is allocated the most (52 seats) within Semenanjung.

“Malangnya, kerusi yang diperuntukan kepada PPBM galah ‘Grade C'”.

He also added, “The winner is PKR!”.

It is obvious that Ibrahim see that PPBM, a party formed as an exact carbon copy to UMNO in form and spirit, being taken for a ride.

More so, for Anwar’s personal agenda. Worse still, Anwar’s is Chinese Chauvinists DAP’s puppet and trojan horse, for the past three GEs.

This is on top of Ibrahim’s proximity to Dr. Mahathir, who encouraged him to form PERKASA in June 2008 upon the ‘Political Tsunami’ on 12GE where DAP managed to capture Penang.

DAP also came into power when wealthiest and most industrious state, Selangor fell to the Opposition on 8 March 2008. The party controlled by Chinese Chauvinist is the biggest and most influential partner in Opposition coalition Selangor State Government as PKR heads it.

Serving expired and end-of-shelf-life offering

The Opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan itself requires to hope for miracle in their bid toppling the Barisan Nasional Government for almost 60 years and coming to power with the majority mandate, with offering like Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as the choice as the Seventh Prime Minister.

Reuters story:

#WORLD NEWS

JANUARY 7, 2018 / 6:10 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Malaysia’s opposition alliance names 92-year old Mahathir as PM candidate

Reuters Staff

3 MIN READ

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s opposition coalition on Sunday named 92-year old former premier Mahathir Mohamad as its prime ministerial candidate for a general election that must be called by August.

FILE PHOTO Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during an anti-kleptocracy rally in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 14, 2017. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin/Files

With the country’s most popular opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in jail, Mahathir is seen as the biggest threat for Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is engulfed in a corruption scandal.

Mahathir, who earned a reputation during his 22-year tenure as prime minister of being a no-nonsense authoritarian with little time for dissenters promoting liberal values, stands to become the world’s oldest leader if the opposition wins.

A victory could also potentially pave the way for former Mahathir foe Anwar to become the prime minister.

Mahathir and Anwar’s wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s candidates for the premier and deputy prime ministerial posts respectively, secretary general Saifuddin Abdullah said at the alliance’s convention.

If the opposition wins, the component parties have agreed to immediately commence the legal processes to obtain a royal pardon for Anwar, Saifuddin said.

“…So that Anwar could immediately play a role in the federal government and subsequently be proposed as a candidate for the eighth prime minister,” he said.

FILE PHOTO Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and opposition leader Wan Azizah listen during an anti-kleptocracy rally in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 14, 2017. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin/Files

The Mahathir-Anwar coalition and their endorsement of each other is a turnaround from their bitter feud that has shaped Malaysia’s political landscape for nearly two decades.

Anwar was once a protege of Mahathir, and the rising star of Malaysian politics, but they had a falling-out in the late 1990s. Soon afterwards, Anwar was jailed on charges of sodomy and graft, after being sacked as the deputy prime minister. He denied the charges, dismissing them as politically motivated.

Anwar later led an opposition alliance to stunning electoral gains in 2013. Najib’s Barisan Nasional coalition lost the popular vote in that election, but managed to stay in power after winning a majority of the seats in parliament.

But Anwar was convicted and jailed again in 2013 for sodomizing a former aide, a charge he and his supporters describe as an attempt to end his career.

The sodomy conviction disqualifies Anwar from political office and from contesting the next election. A royal pardon, however, would let him contest.

Opposition to Prime Minister Najib has brought Anwar and Mahathir back together, with their parties now working in the opposition coalition.

Najib has been embroiled in a corruption scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). In civil lawsuits, the U.S. Justice Department has alleged that about $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.

The fund has denied any wrongdoing and Najib, who founded 1MDB, has denied all allegations of corruption against him and was cleared of wrongdoing by Malaysia’s attorney-general.

Reporting by Liz Lee, writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Himani Sarkar

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This is should be received as a sad anecdote to Malaysian politics, as by then Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is almost 93 years old. Hence, his ability to work and productive for Malaysia is highly doubtful.

This is the manifest of the Opposition do not really have anything fresh and good to offer, even a candidate to take Malaysia forward in the global challenges.

Even political columnists are doubtful of the notion.

Joceline Tan’s column in The Star:

Anwar not in favour of Dr M as PM

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• ANALYSIS

• Friday, 5 Jan 2018

  2:11 PM MYT

• by joceline tan

PETALING JAYA: A poster of a Pakatan Harapan Cabinet featuring Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as the Prime Minister has gone viral.

The line-up with the tagline “Muda, Dinamik, Wibawa” (young, dynamic, integrity) began circulating shortly before Pakatan’s presidential council meeting on Thursday (Jan 4) afternoon.

It was clearly a counter-campaign against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s bid to be named the coalition’s prime minister candidate.

It also seemed like the handiwork of PKR supporters given that PKR leaders dominated 12 of the 27 posts that placed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as the Deputy Prime Minister.

The proposed Cabinet line-up in this viral image has Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as the prime minister.

At around the same time that day, a statement by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was released, urging the coalition to “heed the voice of the people”.

It was quite a cryptic statement and although he did not mention anything about the tussle over the prime minister post, there were two giveaway points – he advised Pakatan to respect the spirit of consensus as well as to consult non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and activists on key issues.

He was basically telling the coalition that any decision made on the prime minister candidate has to be by consensus – that is, all four parties must agree rather than put the matter to a vote.

Those in the know say that his advice about consulting NGOs was aimed directly at Dr Mahathir because two leading women NGO leaders had met the Pakatan chairman and former premier last week to share their views.

They had also told the 92-year-old leader that they will boycott Pakatan in the general election if he is the prime minister candidate.

The sentiments are not favourable to Dr Mahathir and the wish-washy press conference that took place at the conclusion of Thursday’s meeting spoke volumes.

It was obvious that the coalition could not reach a consensus on the choice of prime minister.

And although PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah and Azmin attended the meeting, they were both absent from the press conference.

Pakatan leaders have done quite a swell job of keeping the discord under wraps. If not carefully handled, it will lead to an internal crisis.

Apart from the press statement, PKR insiders said Anwar had also despatched a letter from Sungai Buloh stating his views on the issue. He is clearly not in favour of Dr Mahathir for the post.

“Anwar is not being personal or out for revenge. He does not believe that Mahathir represents our reform agenda,” said a PKR leader.

The presidential council meeting was supposed to set the stage for Pakatan Harapan to declare Dr Mahathir as their prime minister candidate at their convention on Sunday (Jan 7).

It is unclear whether the pro-Mahathir camp would be able to push through their agenda without PKR coming along.

Pakatan leaders thought Dr Mahathir would be their trump card in the general election. Instead he has become a bone of contention for them.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/analysis/2018/01/05/anwar-not-in-favour-of-dr-m/#kCqL7zc3uAh1rKvC.99

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They are still selling the lemon for getting a pardon for Anwar Ibrahim, who is currently serving a five year jail for sodomising political aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in June 2008, months after the ‘Political Tsunami’ at 12GE.

However, if the Opposition pact managed to win the majority mandate at the 14GE, they would have make a representation to His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong XV.

At this audience, they would get the invitation to form the new Federal Government. If they had submitted Dr Mahathir as the candidate as the new Prime Minister, there is a good chance it would be rejected.

It is an open secret that His Majesty is not comfortable with the Fourth Prime Minister. It has been a while Dr Mahathir was excluded from formal events at Istana Negara, despite his stature as a Statesman and holding the P.M.N. and P.S.M. Federal Government award.

In his obsession and personal vendetta to topple Prime Minister Najib, Pakatan Harapan and PPBM Chairman Dr. Mahathir Mohamad crossed the line and even HRH Rulers uttered ‘Titah Murka’ and spoke sternly against him.

It is very hard to think the Rulers Council would go with him as the Seventh Prime Minister.

The other delusional thinking is the announcement of division of seats to be contested by Pakatan Harapan component parties, just for Semenanjung. PPBM is allocated 52 seats and PKR is allocated 51 seats in the next 14GE.

It is a herculean task for PKR to contest that many seats, now that PAS is no longer is the Opposition coalition. In the past three GEs, PKR has been reliant on the PAS election machinery and even support, to get the party for Sodomy-convict Anwar Ibrahim’s personal agenda.

Of course, Parti Amanah Negara is without grassroots and non able to replicate PAS’s effective election machinery.

PPBM is another party with doubtful ability with the election machinery to contest 52 Parliamentary seats. Presently, even at Supreme Council level PPBM is lack with a line of strong and effective leaders.

In a nutshell, the Opposition coalition yet to offer a good deal to Malaysians for taking Malaysia forward but singing the old song, almost same tune but repackaged with out-of-shelf-life packaging.