PM: Malays started fight for independence

KUALA LUMPUR: It is historically true that nationalism and the struggle for independence was first started by the Malays, says the Prime Minister.

However, the country gained independence after the Malays, Chinese and Indian communities united to fight to free the country from British rule, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Commenting on Education Minister Datuk Seri Hisham-muddin Tun Hussein’s statement on the role of the Malays in the country’s Independence that has caused some unhappiness among other races, Abdullah said “it’s a fact” and true that the Malays, led by Datuk Onn Jaafar, initiated the struggle for Independence.

Saying that “history cannot be forgotten and erased”, he added that Tunku Abdul Rahman took over Umno’s leadership from Datuk Onn and formed an alliance – Perikatan – with MCA and MIC which eventually saw the country gaining its Independence.

Abdullah said as there were also other races in the country, Tunku Abdul Rahman had the wisdom to bring all together in the struggle.

“Because all the races came together and were united in the cause, the British had no chance to divide and rule. They granted Independence,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the country continued to be governed by the Barisan Nasional under the concept of the people’s participation through the parties that represented all the races.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin has denied he excluded the involvement of the MCA and MIC when he talked about the process of attaining the country’s independence, saying that several vernacular newspapers had quoted him out of context.

UMNO To Zoom In On Nizar's Defiance of Sultan

Mar 29, 09 3:54pm

Thousands of government and opposition supporters converged Sunday on a sleepy district in Perak, for an electoral clash that will test the new leadership of Najib Razak. MCPX The political temperature is already running high in the state, where the Perak sultan in January ordered the opposition to cede control of the state assembly to the coalition, after defections upset the delicate balance of power. Some 15,000 opposition supporters and 5,000 from the ruling coalition turned out today at the nearby town of Taiping to nominate their candidates, putting on a rowdy display as they beat on drums, yelled chants and waved party banners. In Bukit Gantang, which with its hills and morning mists is a popular tourism destination, the roads were ablaze with party posters and flags, while police riot trucks and water cannon vehicles were deployed at strategic points. The government is campaigning heavily on the opposition's defiance of the Perak sultan's order to surrender power - touching on the rights of the Malay rulers which is a sensitive topic in Malaysia. "The opposition has insulted and defied the institution of the sultan in the state, and people must vote out anyone who insults the monarchy," government supporter Zek Mohamad Shalby told AFP outside the nomination centre. "I'm very confident of winning," said PAS candidate Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin who was Perak's chief minister until the ouster, which is now in limbo as the two sides trade parliamentary and legal manoeuvres. "We are fighting for democracy and true freedom and it is going to happen here in Bukit Gantang, and we are going to say bye-bye to injustice," he told reporters at the nomination centre. Nizar is facing Umno's Ismail Safian and Independent candidate Kamarul Ramizu Idris in the three-way fight. Can BN claw back support? The Barisan Nasional coalition is hoping that the installation of Najib Abdul Razak as president of Umno last week will help it gain support in Bukit Gantang, where a seat in the national assembly is up for grabs. Bukit Gantang is a microcosm of the country's multicultural population, with 60 percent Muslim Malays, 30 percent ethnic Chinese and 10 percent Indians. The result here will be seen as an sign of whether the coalition has clawed back support since humiliating general elections a year ago when it lost a third of parliamentary seats and five of the 13 states to the opposition. Najib has promised to overhaul Umno, which has dominated Malaysian politics for half a century, and root out the corruption, cronyism and infighting that has alienated voters. His new deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, who kicked off the campaign for Bukit Gantang, admitted that the vote would be a testing ground for the fledgling administration. "All by-elections are important, especially one that is done after the process of transition of leadership... we want to tell the people this is a team that means business," he told reporters. - AFP

Nizar seeks 'help' from the Chinese

Andrew Ong | Mar 28, 09 11:43am Malaysiakini

Ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has made an impassioned plea to the Chinese community to reach out to the Malay voters of Bukit Gantang. MCPX Mohd Nizar said that the Chinese community - influenced by a freer Chinese media - were already solidly behind Pakatan Rakyat, but Malays were still largely unable to hear his explanations on current affairs first hand. He explains that this was due to the authorities thwarting several of Pakatan Rakyat’s bid to reach the Malay voters, particularly in Trong and Kuala Sepetang. Citing an example, Mohd Nizar said that the authorities had stopped a function at a mosque in Trong yesterday. “You represent the business community here. It is incumbent upon you to inform all Malays who frequent your shops or do business with to support Pakatan,” he said. MatNasionalis: Ini lah petualang Melayu yang sanggup di pergunakan oleh dap untuk muslihat dap. Boleh kah nizar menjaga kepentingan Melayu atau ia hanya kementingan faedah peribadinya sahaja. Kalau kita tinjau pemerintahan nya sebagai mb selama 11 bulan apa yang kerajaan nya buatnya adalah mengikut nafsu dap. Tidak apa program untuk kepentingan orang Melayu. Ini yang menyebabkan 2 Adun Melayu pkr tak sanggup lagi duduk dalam kerajaan nizar yang di kuasai oleh dap melalui 6 orang exco dari 10 exco semuanya. Orang-orang Melayu Perak hendak lah sedar akan hakikat ini . Jangan dibiarkan pisang berbuah dua kali. Kita mesti menangkan UMNO. Pakatan Rakyat telah menunjukkan kesombongan terhadap Sultan Perak. Adakah kita ingin membenarkan pr dan dap ini terus menunjukkan kan kesombongan kepada Raja kita? Patutkah kita membiarkan mereka terus kurang ajar kepada Raja kita ? Kita fikirlah sendiri sebelum terlambat.

Najib : Judge me based on my actions

UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants people to judge him by his actions and not to prejudge him based on perceptions and lies.

"Please be fair to me first, give me a chance to take office first. I only ask to be treated fairly," he said at a press conference at the end of the party's annual general meeting Saturday.

He pointed out that his actions would be seen in due course and he had not even taken office of Prime Minister yet.

Najib was responding to a spate of questions that he was going to clamp down on media freedom and other civil liberties.

Najib turned to the local and international media and asked:

"Why are you resorting to a certain line of questioning?" following a question whether his family and friends would play a major role in his administration.

"I will make changes and I will reform. I am aware people expect me to make certain reforms and we will do it," he told reporters.

Asked whether the by-election was a referendum on him, he said by-elections were not an indicator as only general elections were a referendum.

Najib said that the focus was on rebuilding the party and the economic agenda.

"There is a general feeling that there is too much politics in Malaysia which will sidetrack the economic recovery."

On race relations in the country, he replied: "I don't think we have come to the point where it is very tense. I think it can better. Issues tend to crop up from time to time but basically Malaysians are more mature, they know that they have to live in peace and harmony.

"You can have differences of opinion on sensitive issues but at the end of the day, we must find a way to resolve them and move on to nation building. I believe in the concept of One Malaysia, which I will expound on based on policy and programmes," he added.

Abdullah cadangkan Rukun Perjuangan

KUALA LUMPUR 28 Mac - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang melepaskan jawatan Presiden UMNO hari ini meninggalkan kata-kata pesanan yang dinamakan Rukun Perjuangan.

Perdana Menteri berharap Majlis Tertinggi parti itu dapat mempertimbangkan Rukun Perjuangan tersebut untuk dijadikan sebahagian daripada perlembagaan parti.

''Pesanan orang tua-tua, usaha kami diberi nasi setelah dimakan habislah ia, usaha kami diberi kain, sudah dipakai usanglah ia, berilah kata nasihat, kata pedoman menjadi panduan hidup sepanjang jalan.

''Maka dengan perjalanan hidup, untuk meninggalkan kata pesanan ini dinamakan Rukun Perjuangan,'' katanya.

Beliau membuat cadangan itu semasa menyampaikan ucapan terakhir pada Perhimpunan Agung UMNO ke-59 di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra di sini hari ini.

Rukun Perjuangan yang dicadangkan oleh Abdullah adalah seperti berikut:

n Rukun perjuangan adalah mencapai matlamat sejagat, agama dimuliakan, negara didaulatkan, bangsa dimartabatkan dan ekonomi dimakmurkan.

n Ia perlu berpaksi kepada al-Quran dan Sunnah, Perlembagaan negara, Rukun Negara, adab dan adat.

n Berpandukan kepada iman dan takwa kepada Tuhan, kesetiaan kepada raja dan negara

dan keabdian kepada rakyat.

n Ia perlu bersandarkan kepada prinsip-prinsip keikhlasan, kejujuran, keadilan dan integriti.

n Menghormati hak sah semua rakyat dari segi memelihara kedudukan istimewa orang orang Melayu, Bumiputera dan menjaga kepentingan sah kaum-kaum lain.

n Memperjuangkan kehidupan dan masa depan yang lebih baik untuk semua rakyat.

n UMNO wujud bukan untuk memenuhi kepentingan diri tetapi sebagai wadah membolehkan ahli berkhidmat kepada bangsa dan negara.

n Kembali kepada perjuangan asal, membebaskan warga dari belenggu kemiskinan.

n Laksanakan keadilan kepada mereka yang lemah, memastikan kesaksamaan kepada semua dan menjamin kemakmuran rakyat jelata.

Mat Taib accepts defeat in bid for deputy presidency

FORMER Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who lost in his bid for the Umno deputy presidency, congratulated his contender and hoped the results of the party polls would strengthen the party.

He said there were always winners and losers in contests and that he accepted the delegates’ decision with an open heart.

Muhammad lost to Tan Sri Muh­yiddin Yassin in the contest.

Nice to meet you: Muhammad (right) greeting guests at an Umno dinner function in Kuala Lumpur Thursday.

“What is important is the future of the party and I will continue to work towards improving it, even if it is now from the outside,” he told reporters after the results for the top Umno posts were announced yesterday.

He also said that he would still do his part to help campaigning in the Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections on April 7.

Asked if the winners last night were new Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s men, Mu­­hammad simply replied that they were Umno men.

Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who was barred from contesting for the deputy president’s post, congratulated Muhyiddin and the three new vice-presidents.

It is now important for them to give their full support to the party president and to carry the changes for the betterment of the party, he said, adding that he would continue supporting the party’s effort to strengthen its image and to win back support of the Malays. The Star

UMNO tetap junjung Perlembagaan, Raja-Raja Melayu: Najib

Oleh Zainudin Isa, Wan Hazmir Bakar dan Zef Othman

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno tetap menjunjung kedudukan Perlembagaan Persekutuan sebagai undang-undang tertinggi negara dengan Raja-Raja Melayu sebagai payung negara dan negeri, kata Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang juga Timbalan Presiden Umno berkata, Raja-Raja Melayu menjadi elemen penting kepada "supremasi Perlembagaan" dan walaupun dalam sistem itu raja bertakhta tetapi tidak memerintah dan setiap kerajaan tetap mentadbir atas nama baginda sebagai ketua cabang eksekutif.

"Oleh itu, jika orang-orang Melayu sendiri tidak menunjukkan rasa hormat kepada raja-raja kita yang selama ini menjadi asas kestabilan dan simbol perpaduan, maka, siapa lagi?" katanya berucap merasmikan serentak persidangan perwakilan Wanita, Pemuda dan Puteri Umno di Dewan Merdeka, Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) di sini, malam ini.

Justeru, Najib mengingatkan parti pembangkang tidak memutarbelitkan fakta sejarah berhubung tindakan Umno meminda undang-undang berkaitan raja-raja sebelum ini.

Beliau berkata, tindakan itu dibuat bukan dengan "mala fide" (berniat jahat) tetapi dengan hasrat murni untuk mengekal dan melindungi kemuliaan raja-raja dalam usaha memperteguhkan doktrin pengasingan kuasa yang mendasari sebuah kerajaan demokrasi.

"Di sini, suka saya mengingatkan kepada semua orang Melayu, janganlah nanti sudah terhantuk baru terngadah. Pada pihak yang telunjuknya lurus tetapi kelingking berkait, janganlah pagi sembah setia tetapi petang sembah derhaka," katanya.

MatNasionalis: Apalah nasib orang Melayu tanpa Raja-Raja Melayu ? Raja lah yang akan menjadi pelindung orang Melayu akhirnya. Lihatlah di Perak beberapa kerat orang Melayu dari Pas dijadikan boneka oleh Dap parti yang sebenarnya memerintah Perak. Apa tidaknya Dap ada 6 kerusi exco, Pas 2 dan Pkr 3 (2 Melayu dah jadi Adun Bebas kerana tidak setuju dengan Dap lebih dua lagi sepupu dalam Dap Perak yang mengganas dan chavinis dan kuat semangat kecinaan mereka) Tak kan Melayu dalam Pas dan Pkr tak sedar yang mereka dipergunakan. Jangan ikut hati dan emosi. Ikut rasional dan fikirkan siapa yang untung dan siapa yang rugi semasa kerajaan yang ditunjangi oleh Dap ini memerintah Perak selama sepuloh bulan ?

Ada elemen Speaker Perak salah guna kuasa - SPRM

Oleh YULPISMAN ASLI

KUANTAN 20 Mac – Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) mendapati terdapat elemen salah guna kuasa oleh Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Perak, V. Sivakumar dalam tindakannya melarang dan menggantung Menteri Besar, Datuk Dr. Zambry Abd. Kadir dan enam Exco menghadiri sidang DUN pada 18 Februari lalu.

Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan berkata, justeru pihaknya akan memanggil beberapa orang lagi Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Perak termasuk daripada Barisan Nasional (BN) yang hadir pada persidangan DUN berkenaan bagi menyempurnakan siasatan kes itu.

“Bila saya cakap nanti orang marah, tetapi bagi kita ada elemen salah guna kuasa, jadi SPRM menjalankan siasatan.

“Kes ini bukan melibatkan pendakwaan tetapi masih di peringkat siasatan dan jangan salah anggap. SPRM menjalankan siasatan untuk menentukan keterangan-keterangan berhubung perkara ini dapat dikumpul. UTUSAN

MatNasionalis: Memang orang India seperti Sivakumar ini tidak boleh di beri muka atau di beri kuasa. Tentu sekali ia akan meyalahgunakan kuasa sedikit nya sebagai speaker. Sekarang dia ada 20 orang pengawal peribadi sedangkan dia kata sendiri dia tidak mendapat apa-apa ugutan. Mungkin dia takut dengan bayang-bayangnya sendiri !!!

Hormati Keputusan Lembaga Disiplin Demi Pulihkan Umno

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Mac -- Ramai pemimpin Umno berpendapat keputusan Lembaga Disiplin parti itu semalam terhadap Ketua Menteri Melaka Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam perlu dihormati dan diterima dengan hati terbuka.

Rata-rata berpendapat keputusan Lembaga Disiplin parti itu perlu dihormati demi memulihkan Umno.

Menteri Pengajian Tinggi Datuk Khaled Nordin berkata kepentingan parti perlu diutamakan walaupun beliau bersimpati terhadap Mohd Ali yang dilarang bertanding jawatan Timbalan Presiden Umno pada pemilihan parti minggu depan.

Khaled yang juga salah seorang calon Naib Presiden Umno berkata keputusan Lembaga Disiplin itu hendaklah dilihat sebagai usaha ke arah membasmi gejala politik wang dalam parti itu.

Calon Timbalan Pengerusi Tetap Umno Datuk Mohamad Aziz berkata penubuhan lembaga itu adalah untuk menjaga disiplin di dalam parti dan oleh itu setiap anggota parti perlu mengambil iktibar daripada tindakan terhadap bekas Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan Tan Sri Mohamad Isa Abdul Samad yang digantung enam tahun berikutan terlibat dengan politik wang.

"Contoh terbaik pemimpin Umno yang patuh kepada keputusan ialah Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad. Dia terima keputusan dengan tenang dan menjalankan kerja dia dan dalam pilihan raya dia membantu kempen untuk Umno.

"Dengan berkat kesabaran, dia dapat pencalonan untuk naib presiden. Sepatutnya ahli umno bertenang dan terima keputusan dengan lapang dada," katanya ketika ditemui di lobi Parlimen di sini.

Exco Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir pula berkata beliau turut bersimpati dengan Mohd Ali tetapi yakin Ketua Menteri Melaka itu akan terus berjuang untuk Umno.

Ketua Umno Bahagian Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah pula berpendapat semua pihak yang didapati bersalah tidak sepatutnya dibenarkan bertanding.

Katanya beliau khuatir timbul kekeliruan berhubung hukuman yang berbeza sehingga boleh menjejaskan kewibawaan Lembaga Disiplin.

"Kita khuatir orang akan pertikai kredibiliti, kewibawaan Lembaga Disiplin, mereka yang peringkat bawah digantung keahlian, tetapi yang terlibat secara tidak langsung, jadi dalang merancang penggunaan duit dalam politik ini terlepas begitu saja dengan amaran.

"Kalau betul bersalah, patut semua orang tidak boleh bertanding. Kalau ada orang terlibat dengan politik wang patut dikenakan hukuman setimpal, tidak hanya amaran saja, patut digantung terus," katanya.

Bagaimanapun, beliau berkata Mohd Ali berhak untuk merayu dan dibebaskan sekiranya tidak bersalah.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Badan Perhubungan Umno Pulau Pinang Datuk Azhar Ibrahim berkata tindakan itu sepatutnya dibuat lebih awal terhadap mereka yang melakukan kesalahan.

"Kita mungkin tidak tahu prosedur penyiasatan tetapi dengan keputusan awal, ia boleh menyelamatkan banyak masa calon terutama semasa tempoh berkempen," katanya kepada Bernama ketika dihubungi.

Naib Presiden Gerakan Huan Cheng Guan ketika ditanya berhubung isu itu berkata walaupun ia merupakan masalah dalaman Umno tetapi adalah lebih baik jika keputusan itu dibuat lebih awal berbanding seminggu sebelum pemilihan parti.

Sementara itu, Pengerusi DAP Pulau Pinang Chow Kon Yeow berpendapat Umno perlu serius menangani isu politik wang kerana ia bukan sahaja mewakili orang Melayu tetapi mengetuai gabungan pelbagai parti dalam kerajaan pusat.

Sementara itu, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata semua pihak harus menghormati keputusan Lembaga Disiplin Umno.

"Saya merasakan ramai orang yang memandu terlalu laju di lebuhraya politik tetapi yang tidak memakai tali pinggang keledar dan melebihi had laju itu selalu terlepas dan jika ada perangkap had laju orang inilah yang kena.

"Jangan anggap ia menganiaya seseorang atau calon tertentu, saya fikir ia (keputusan itu) harus mendapat penghormatan daripada semua calon dan kepimpinan semua peringkat," katanya.

Beliau juga menolak kemungkinan hukuman itu akan mengakibatkan berlaku perpecahan di dalam Umno.

"Saya tidak nampak adanya berlaku perpecahan kalau kita menilai satu-satu hukuman itu dari sudut yang positif. Memanglah bila sesuatu hukuman itu dibuat kepada seseorang itu, kumpulan dan pengikutnya merasakan itu tidak adil.

"Saya rasa tentu ada hikmah yang kita tidak ketahui sekarang dan akan kita ketahui kemudian apabila sesuatu itu berlaku kepada kita," kata calon Naib Presiden Umno itu. BERNAMA

Najib: Ali Rustam Remains Melaka Chief Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam will remain as the Melaka Chief Minister.

He said Mohd Ali was only prohibited from contesting in the upcoming Umno elections but remained as the chief minister.

"This is the decision of the Umno Disciplinary Board. We should respect the decision.

"I believe that Mohd Ali, as a loyal member of Umno, will accept the decision with an open heart and that he will continue to contribute to the party's struggle," he told reporters when asked to comment on the Disciplinary Board's decision to prohibit Mohd Ali from contesting in next week's party polls.

The board made the decision after finding Mohd Ali -- a candidate for the Umno deputy president's post -- guilty of violating party ethics for indulging in money politics.

Earlier Najib opened a conference on integrity and nation's competitiveness at the National Integrity Institute here.

Najib said whatever the decision of the board should be respected as the panel was only working towards safeguarding the party's good name.

The Disciplinary Board, he said, was an independent body. "There is no interference in the works of the Umno Disciplinary Board. It can decide on its own based on what it deems to be appropriate to safeguard its integrity."

To a question on moral issue arising from the incident, Najib said, "We should look at the circumstances."

"Sometimes, we are not the source of our problems. Sometimes our supporters are over enthusiastic, resulting in us facing all sorts of accusations," he said.

Najib was also asked why the punishment meted out to Mohd Ali was different from the action taken against former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Isa Samad.

Najib said whatever the decision of the board should be respected as the panel was only working towards safeguarding the party's good name.

The Disciplinary Board, he said, was an independent body. "There is no interference in the works of the Umno Disciplinary Board. It can decide on its own based on wh it deems to be appropriate to safeguard its integrity."

To a question on moral issue arising from the incident, Najib said, "We should look at the circumstances."

"Sometimes, we are not the source of our problems. Sometimes our supporters are over enthusiastic, resulting in us facing all sorts of accusations," he said.

Najib was also asked why the punishment meted out to Mohd Ali was different from the action taken against former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Isa Samad.

Najib said whatever the decision of the board should be respected as the panel was only working towards safeguarding the party's good name.

The Disciplinary Board, he said, was an independent body. "There is no interference in the works of the Umno Disciplinary Board. It can decide on its own based on what it deems to be appropriate to safeguard its integrity." Bernama

Mohammad Nizar Tiada Hak Mohon Bubar DUN -Zambry

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Mac (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin tiada hak untuk memohon perkenan Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah bagi membubarkan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Perak, kata Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Menurut Zambry, Perkara 16(6) Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Perak memperuntukkan bahawa hanya Menteri Besar yang mempunyai hak menghadap Sultan Perak untuk memohon perkenan baginda bagi membubarkan DUN.

Zambry berkata demikian dalam kenyataan satu muka surat yang difaks kepada Bernama di sini malam ini sebagai mengulas kenyataan Mohammad Nizar, bekas Menteri Besar, hari ini bahawa beliau akan memohon perkenan untuk menghadap Sultan Azlan Shah bagi menyembahkan tiga usul, termasuk memohon pembubaran DUN, yang diluluskan pada persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri di bawah pokok di Ipoh Selasa lepas.

Mohammad Nizar yang juga Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Pasir Panjang dilaporkan berkata pihaknya akan mengemukakan surat dan dokumen berkaitan hasil persidangan berkenaan kepada Sultan Perak Selasa ini.

"Kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Mohammad Nizar adalah semata-mata untuk mengelirukan rakyat dan sebagai usaha mengganggu kestabilan politik negeri Perak serta sebagai tindakan menghina dan mencabar institusi raja dan kuasa Sultan Perak," kata Zambry.

Zambry juga mengingatkan bahawa pada 6 Feb lepas, beliau telah mengangkat sumpah sebagai Menteri Besar Perak ke-11 yang sah, dilantik dengan perkenan Sultan Perak.

"Mohammad Nizar perlu menerima hakikat yang nyata akan kuasa melantik seorang Menteri Besar adalah di bawah kuasa mutlak Sultan Perak seperti yang termaktub dalam perkara 18(2)(a) Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Perak," katanya.

-- BERNAMA

Sleep Benefits: Power Napping for Increased Productivity, Stress Relif & Health

The Benefits of Sleep and The Power Nap

By Elizabeth Scott, M.S.,

Updated: July 7, 2008

Getting enough sleep is vital for health and productivity.

Why A Power Nap? Facts on Sleep:
While small children typically take naps in the afternoon, our culture generally frowns upon mid-day sleep; however, even in those who get enough sleep (but particularly in those who don’t), many people experience a natural increase in drowsiness in the afternoon, about 8 hours after waking. And research shows that you can make yourself more alert reduce stress and improve cognitive functioning with a nap. Mid-day sleep, or a ‘power nap’, means more patience, less stress, better reaction time, increased learning, more efficiency and better health. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of sleep and how a power nap can help you!

How Much Sleep Do You Need? The body needs 7-8 hours of sleep per day; 6 hours or less triples your risk of a car accident. (Interestingly, too much sleep--more than 9 hours--can actuallybe harmful for your health; recent studies show that those who sleep more than 9 hours per day don’t live as long as their 8-hour-sleep counterparts!)

The Effects of Missed Sleep: Sleep is cumulative; if you lose sleep one day, you feel it the next. If you miss adequate sleep several days in a row, you build up a ‘sleep deficit’, which impairs the following:

• Reaction time
• Judgment
• Vision
• Information processing
• Short-term memory
• Performance
• Motivation
• Vigilance
• Patience

Fatigued people also experience more moodiness, aggressive behaviors, burnout¹ and more stress.

The Benefit of a Power Nap: Studies show that 20 minutes of sleep in the afternoon provides more rest than 20 minutes more sleep in the morning (though the last two hours of morning sleep have special benefits of their own). The body seems to be designed for this, as most people’s bodies naturally become more tired in the afternoon, about 8 hours after we wake up.

How Long Should I Sleep? When you sleep you pass through different stages of sleep, known together as a sleep cycle². These stages include light sleep, deep sleep (which is believed to be the stage in which the body repairs itself), and rapid-eye movement sleep, or REM sleep (during which the mind is repaired).

Many experts advise to keep the nap between 15 and 30 minutes, as sleeping longer gets you into deeper stages of sleep, from which it’s more difficult to awaken. Also, longer naps can make it more difficult to fall asleep at night, especially if your sleep deficit is relatively small. However, research has shown that a 1-hour nap has many more restorative effects than a 30-minute nap, including a much greater improvement in cognitive functioning. The key to taking a longer nap is to get a sense of how long your sleep cycles are, and try to awaken at the end of a sleep cycle. (It’s actually more the interruption of the sleep cycle that makes you groggy, rather than the deeper states of sleep.)

As there are pros and cons to each length of sleep, you may want to let your schedule decide: if you only have 15 minutes to spare, take them! But if you could work in an hour nap, you may do well to complete a whole sleep cycle, even if it means less sleep at night. If you only have 5 minutes to spare, just close your eyes; even a brief rest has the benefit of reducing stress and helping you relax a little, which can give you more energy to complete the tasks of your day.

Tips For a More Effective Nap If you want to obtain more sleep, and the health benefits that go with getting enough sleep, here are some tips for more effective napping and sleep at night:

• Avoid caffeine³ after 3pm. It’s a stimulant that can disrupt your sleep and stay in your system longer than you think; its half-life is four to six hours!
• If you don’t want to nap a long time, set an alarm⁴.
• If you don’t have time for a power nap, or don’t feel comfortable napping during the day, try meditation⁵; it gives your body a rest and produces slower brain waves similar to sleep.

A Load Of Rubbish

Feb 26th 2009

From The Economist print edition

What’s wrong with policies on waste, and how to get them right

AT POPE’S CREEK, on America’s Potomac river, there’s a pre-Columbian rubbish tip of oyster shells covering 30 acres, to an average depth of ten feet. Humanity has always produced waste in vast quantities; but more people, more consumption and the contribution emissions from rubbish make to climate change mean that disposing of the stuff is an increasingly contentious issue.

People feel that they have a natural right to throw away as much stuff as they like, just as those lucky native Americans chucked the shells from their plentiful oyster piles over their shoulders. They shouldn’t. Rubbish damages the environment and is expensive to dispose of. With household waste, just as with toxic chemicals, governments need to persuade people that they should be responsible for the muck they produce.

Umno Needs Psychological Warfare Team to Off Opposition Allegations

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN), especially Umno, needs to form a psychological warfare team to deal with opposition allegations against the coalition or Umno.

Home Minister and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said besides this, the party's strategies, integrity and credibility also needed to be enhanced to draw public attention.

"Our problem is that we have allowed negative public perceptions about us to persist. When negative perceptions have taken root, it is difficult for us to get out of the situation," he said at a press conference at Angkasapuri, here, today.

Syed Hamid said having a psychological warfare team could make the party more mature and ward off negative public perceptions about it.

"When something happens or an issue arises, there must be quick action to remove or diffuse wrong perceptions against us.

"We are weak in information dissemination and propaganda, while the opposition is strong in mounting a propaganda," he said.

--

MB Perak Gets Restraining Order Against Sivakumar

Kuek Ser Kuang Keng | Mar 3, 09 7:13pm

The Ipoh High Court today restrained Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar from convening any unlawful meetings purporting to be state assemblies. Judicial commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim made the ruling in his chambers following an application by Barisan Nasional Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir and his six exco members. The application was filed this morning and heard in chambers at 2.30pm. Ridwan made his decision under Section 44 of Specific Relief Act. Zambry and the exco members were represented by Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, Mohd Hafarizam Harun, Abu Bakar As Sidek, Cheng Mai, Badrulhishah Abdul Wahab, Faizul Hilmy Ahmad Zamri and Zaireen Zainal. Sivakumar was represented by the state's deputy Zulqarnain Hassan following a court ruling this morning that the speaker could not be represented by private lawyers. Talking to reporters after the hearing-in-chambers, Firoz said the judge had not elaborated his decision apart from allowing Zambry's application to prohibit Sivakumar from convening any meetings purported to be assembly sittings. He however said that this ruling was the "first and complete step that has been taken to restore constitution government in Perak". He described the current situation as "almost chaos". He said that their submissions was on the fact that the speaker does not have the power to call any assembly, even an emergency sitting such as the one held earlier today. The High Court order has no time limit and penalties would be decided later if and when the speaker holds the next meeting deemed illegal. To be served on speaker tomorrow Firoz also said that the Specific Relief Act allowed the court to grant an order to a public officer, in this case, the speaker. He said that they also quoted the federal constitution in matters relating to immunity enjoyed by the speaker. "However in this case the speaker does not enjoy any immunity because there is no proceeding in the assembly," he said. "The so-called assembly under the tree will still remain as an assembly under the tree," added Mohd Hafarizam. Firoz (photo) also noted that under Section 36(1) of the state constitution, only the sultan can summon for a meeting. When asked on what penalty Sivakumar would face if he disobeyed the court order, Firoz said he didn't want to speculate. He said there was no specific penalty in the Act. "We will see what the speaker does next," added Mohd Hafarizam. The lawyers also said that they will get the draft order later today and serve in on Sivakumar tomorrow. The hearing in chambers today started with a letter submitted by Sivakumar to Ridwan's secretary stating that he had not authorised the state legal advisor to act on his behalf. "I have not received any communications from the legal advisor's office nor have I given any instructions to him," Sivakumar said in the statement which was delivered by Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran. On this, Mohd Hafarizam said that they were not aware on the contents of the letter. He also said that the judge need not make a ruling on the letter as "it was not before him". A case of conflict? Kulasegaran had earlier said that it was a conflict of interest that the legal advisor who acted for Zambry in a case last week represented Sivakumar in a case filed by Zambry today. "How can he act for both plaintiff and defendant? It's a clear case of conflict," said Kulasegaran. When asked to comment on this, the deputy state legal advisor Zulqarnain said that he was only "looking after the interest of the government". "Our duty as legal advisor is to advise the government," he said before walking away. However, he did not indicate which government he was representing. Ridwan will next hear an application by three BN-friendly independents - Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Changkat Jering assemblyperson Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong - against Sivakumar for wrongly declaring their seats vacant using their undated resignation letters. This application will be heard on Thursday. On that day, the judge will also be fixing another date to hear Zambry's and the exco members' application against their suspension. The matter was adjourned this morning after the court ruled that the speaker could not be represented by private lawyers.Malaysiakini

P Ramlee deserves to be awarded a Tunship

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- The Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry is supportive of a proposal that the late P Ramlee (Tan Sri) be awarded a Tunship for his big contribution to the arts.

Deputy Minister Teng Boon Soon said the award would be fitting for P Ramlee, a popular figure with multi-talented skills as an actor, comedian, musician, singer and songwriter.

"P Ramlee won seven awards at the Asian Film Festival in the 50s and 60s for best male actor, best photography, most versatile talent and three comedy awards," he said when winding up debate on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's opening address in Dewan Rakyat here today.

Teng said royalties from P Ramlee's works depended on his contract with Shaw Brothers and that the ministry was studying its status.

Royalties for P Ramlee's songs were being managed by the Music Authors Copyright Protection Berhad (MACP) for distribution to his heirs.
Datuk Ibrahim Ali (INDEPENDENT-Pasir Mas) had proposed that P Ramlee be awarded a tunship for his contributions to the country.

The deputy minister said the families of artistes who died recently like Nasir P Ramlee, Yusni Jaafar and Ed Osmera were given assistance under the aid scheme for artistes.

On racial polarisation, he said the ministry was aware that despite spending lots of money on programmes, unity among the people was at a fragile stage due to the action of some people.
Teng said issues enshrined in the Constitution like racial privileges, new economic policy, monarchy institution and religion should be avoided.

"Malaysians must strive to strengthen unity. Religious organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGO) must also give input to the ministry," he said.

BERNAMA

MN: The creativity and multi talentness of P Ramlee is without any comparision. He is in a class of his own. He is one of Malaysia's National Treasure. As such it is only befitting that he should be awarded a Tunship .

Perak drama: Two suits filed

By Christina Koh

IPOH: Two lawsuits have been filed against State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar, who earlier Monday was also served with a notice of misconduct.

In the first suit, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir is seeking a court declaration that Sivakumar’s suspension of Dr Zambry and his six state executive council (exco) members was unconstitutional and ultra vires against the state Constitution.

Dr Zambry said they had the right to attend Assembly sittings. Sivakumar had called for an emergency sitting of the State Assembly on Tuesday, invoking Standing Orders 8 and 11 to vote on two motions.

The case will be heard Tuesday at the Ipoh High Court at 9am. The originating summons was filed at the High Court at 3:55pm Monday and served through Sivakumar’s staff at 5pm.

The other suit was filed by the three independents who had resigned from their parties -- two from PKR and one from DAP -- which saw the Pakatan Rakyat state government falling and Barisan Nasional taking over Perak.

The suit involved the status of their unsigned resignation letters which Sivakumar had used to declare their seats vacant. The Election Commission ruled that the letters were not valid and refused to call for by-elections in the three constituencies.

There were reports that supporters of both parties would convene Tuesday -- Barisan supporters to prevent the previous Pakatan Rakyat state government from convening the state assembly sitting, Pakatan supporters to stop them from doing so.

As of Monday, there was no sign there would be a mass gathering being planned for Tuesday. PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub said supporters might turn up if there are police roadblocks.

Later Monday, police began setting up roadblocks along the main road leading to the state secretariat building, while Federal Reserve Unit personnel have been put on standby.

Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who still maintains he is the legitimate mentri besar, said they would have the emergency sitting at a coffeeshop or the canteen at the state secretariat building if the doors to the Dewan were barred.

The State Secretary’s office issued a circular informing all staff to cancel all appointments scheduled at the premises Tuesday as the main entrance into the building would be closed.

The circular did not say why the doors would be barred. The State Assembly Hall is located within the State Secretariat building.

Perak CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah also warned members of the public not to gather outside the State Secretariat building on Tuesday.

“Those who do not heed our advice will be considered as taking part in an illegal gathering,” he said in a statement.

“We will take the necessary action against them,” he said, adding that only officials, employees and those with permits would be allowed into the building.

He said that according to the State Assembly Secretary, the emergency meeting of the Assembly called by Sivakumar is invalid because it had not received the consent of the Perak Ruler.

State secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri had earlier released a statement to say notices sent to state assemblymen of the sitting must be accompanied with the Sultan’s proclamation summoning the assembly.

On Monday morning, Perak executive councillor Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid and two lawyers served a notice of misconduct to Sivakumar, referring him to the Rights and Privileges Committee.

The notice, handed to Sivakumar’s political secretary A. Wasu at the Speaker’s office at 11am, came with a report accusing him of abusing his power to commit contempt of the House by disloyalty to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

Mohd Zahir told a press conference that the Speaker was referred to the committee for violating Article 47 of the state constitution following his suspension of Dr Zambry and his six exco members.

“The Article reads that an assemblyman taking oath must swear to preserve and defend the State Constitution and bear true allegiance to the Sultan of Perak.

“We feel that the Speaker is not following the constitution and has disobeyed the Sultan’s orders (titah).

“We have already informed all assemblymen, including the Speaker, that they must remain loyal to the Ruler. This is blatant disresgard of His Royal Highness,” Mohd Zahir said outside the Speaker’s office at the state secretariat.

Interestingly, Sivakumar heads the same Rights and Privileges Committee.

In KUALA LUMPUR, Bernama reported that Nizar’s judicial review application to challenge the legitimacy of Dr Zambry as Perak mentri besar will be heard before another High Court judge on Tuesday.

The case is fixed before High Court (Special Powers and Appellate) Court judge Lau Bee Lan, six days after Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof recused himself from hearing the suit.

One of Nizar’s lawyers, Leong Cheok Keng, when contacted, confirmed the matter.

On Feb 25, Mohamad Ariff recused himself, in the interest of justice because prior to his appointment as judicial commissioner, he had represented PAS, PKR and even Barisan in several court cases, including election petitions.

In his application for a judicial review, Nizar is seeking an interpretation of the Perak state constitution on whether the mentri besar’s post can be vacated in a situation whereby:

* THE mentri besar had advised the ruler on the dissolution of the state legislative assembly; * THERE is no dissolution of the assembly; * THERE was no motion of confidence performed against him at the state legislative assembly; * THERE was no resignation made by him.

He said the writ is of quo warranto (by what warrant) on Zambry to show cause under which authority the Barisan-designated mentri besar can be the legitimate mentri besar.

He is also seeking a declaration that he is the legal mentri besar of Perak and an injunction to stop Zambry from carrying out the duties and functions of the mentri besar.

Nizar is also seeking punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages and costs.The Star

MN: It getting to be more clearer maybe towards the final endgame of thes chest moves. The Courts will settled once and for all the Sanctity of the Perak Constitution and the powers of the Sultan of Perak so that there is no ambiguity anymore. We are definitely coming to the final outcome of the confusion purposely created by the former Pakatan Rakyat which presently did not enjoyed majority in the Perak State Assembly and all it can to create havoc. Some how or other somebody is going to be checkmate.

Perak Emergency Assembly Meeting Illegal

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 -- The move by the Perak state assembly speaker V. Sivakumar to call for an emergency assembly meeting on Tuesday "was illegal and could not be held without the Sultan of Perak's consent."

State assembly secretary Abdullah Antong said: "Standing Order 8(1) read with Article XXXVI(1) of the Perak state constitution says the Sultan's consent is needed for a state assembly meeting whether in normal or emergency situations."

He said this is in a press release to comment on Sivakumar's statement on Thursday that he would call for an emergency state assembly meeting to discuss two motion notices he received relating to the power transition crisis in the state government.

Abdullah said he had received instruction from Sivakumar to issue urgent notice for the Tuesday emergency assembly through a letter from Sivakumar dated Feb 25 which was accompanied by motion notices by state assemblyman for Teja and Titi Serong.

He said even though it was an emergency assembly meeting "in any situation I have to send a written notice accompanied by a proclamation calling for an assembly meeting to all assemblymen calling their attention to the proclamation.

"The proclamation for a state assembly meeting is made by the Sultan. This is based on Standing Order 1 that reads 'the State Assembly Secretary must read out the Proclamation of the Sultan of Perak to call a meeting..'

"Whereas Standing Order 10(1) says 'the State Assembly term is at a time and place as determined by the Sultan of Perak from time to time through gazetted proclamation," he said.

He said based on Standing Order 10(1) the absolute power was the Sultan of Perak's and could not be questioned.

"This is because Article XXXVI(1) of the Perak State Constitution gives clear powers to the Sultan of Perak to convene a state assembly meeting," he said.

He said Article XXXVI(1) provided "His Highness must from time to time convene the State Assembly and could not let six months pass from the last meeting in one sitting to the next meeting."

Abdullah said the provisions above were constitutional provisions that were the supreme laws in Perak and clearly showed that the power to call for a state assembly meeting rested with the Sultan of Perak.

Last Thursday, Sivakumar received two motions, the first from Titi Serong assemblyman Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah of Pas for the state assembly to support Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as menteri besar and the second motion from Chang Lih Kang (PKR-Teja) calling for the state assembly to be dissolved to pave the way for a fresh state election.

Sivakumar had said the emergency assembly did not need earlier consent of the Sultan of Perak as only a 14-day notice was needed for normal assembly meetings and not for emergency meetings and that instructions had been given to Abdullah to send notices as soon as possible to all state assemblymen to attend the meeting.Bernama

MN: This Sivakumar fellow is really trying his luck. Even pushing the rules to the limit in PR favor. But sorry the game is over. Blame it on Anwar PR paramount leader who is the Master and Guru on frogs and crossovers .