Setiausaha DUN Perak sahkan terima usul untuk lucutkan Sivakumar sebagai Speaker

IPOH, 29 April (Bernama) -- Setiausaha Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Perak, Abdullah Antong Sabri, Rabu mengesahkan pejabat Setiausaha DUN Perak telah menerima satu usul pada minggu lepas untuk melucutkan V. Sivakumar daripada jawatan Speaker DUN Perak pada persidangan DUN 7 Mei ini.

Beliau juga mengesahkan telah menghantar melalui pos, surat kepada semua Anggota DUN (ADUN) Perak mengenai perkara itu yang turut mengepilkan bersama borang pencalonan Speaker baru.

Walaupun Abdullah berkata perkara itu tidak sepatutnya dihebahkan sebelum persidangan DUN itu dilangsungkan, beberapa portal berita internet hari ini melaporkan Abdullah di dalam suratnya menyatakan bahawa borang pencalonan Speaker baru itu hendaklah dikemukakan beserta borang persetujuan ahli yang dipilih kepada pihak pentadbiran DUN selewat-lewatnya esok.

"Surat itu dihantar secara pentadbiran. Ia sepatutnya adalah untuk makluman dan tindakan daripada semua ADUN yang berkenaan," kata Abdullah ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Beliau enggan mengulas lebih lanjut mengenai perkara itu.

Sementara itu Exco kanan Datuk Hamidah Osman ketika dihubungi mengesahkan bahawa beliau adalah penyokong usul untuk melucutkan Sivakumar yang dicadangkan oleh Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir dan dihantar ke pejabat Setiausaha DUN Perak pada Khamis lepas.

Zambry yang dihubungi pula enggan mengesahkan sama ada beliau ada mengusulkan notis untuk undi tidak percaya terhadap Sivakumar seperti yang dilaporkan media hari ini. Bernama

Europe's far right on the march

Will this also happen in our country Malaysia. What with the deepening recession and the high number of illegal migrants in the country. If we are not careful extremism and ultra nationalism will show their ugly face. That is a problem which we should prepare ourselves.

Fascist salutes greeted the election of Gianni Alemanno as the far right mayor of Rome [EPA] As delegates gather at a United Nations anti-racism conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Mark Seddon looks at how the far right is gaining ground amid Europe's continuing economic crisis. The far right is on the rise throughout Europe, riding a perfect storm of unemployment, declining wage levels, poor housing and immigration. As the economic recession bites deeper, and as labour mobility in Europe all too frequently becomes a race to the bottom, with workers forced to undercut each other, so an increasing tide of racism and xenophobia threatens the established political parties. The growing movement also poses questions for the post-World War II liberal political settlement, that with the defeat of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy was supposed to do away with the spectre of fascism for ever. The European Union is itself under attack as Europeans go to the polls on June 7 to elect a new parliament, and all the evidence points to sweeping gains for far-right parties. 'Anti-politics' mood In many countries, the far right is tapping in to a widespread "anti-politics" mood. What unites the movement is a belief that there are too many foreigners in Europe, that they should be induced to return from whence they came, and that the established political order needs to be overturned - not least the EU itself. In Depth Racism talks expose deep divisions Geneva searches for right words Ahmadinejad speech criticised Defining racism In some countries, the traditional parties of organised labour and the left have split, or moved their centre of gravity to the right in order to counter this new wave of rightwing populism. In so doing, a vacuum has been created, nowhere more so than among some of the more deprived traditional working-class communities that now frequently have very little work. The European Parliament elections are based on proportional representation and characterised in many states, by a very low turnout. This helps the far right, as it does the far left. Berlusconi defiance In Italy, the far right now forms part of a coalition government with Silvio Berlusconi's administration, with the xenophobic Northern League and the post-fascist National Alliance being given senior positions in government. The National Alliance is led by Gianfranco Fini, and his party has advocated authorising coastguards to shoot human traffickers as well as arguing that the EU is run by paedophiles. Berlusconi, right, defied international criticism by enlisting Fini's support [EPA] Berlusconi defied international criticism by enlisting the support not only of Fini but also Alessandra Mussolini (the granddaughter of the former Italian dictator), a leading far-right figure in her own right. A year ago this month, Fascist salutes greeted the election of Gianni Alemanno as the far right Mayor of Rome, and anti-immigrant sentiment is running high across the country ahead of the European elections. In France, the high water mark for the far right came when Jean Mari Le Pen's National Front party garnered about six million votes, when he beat Lionel Jospin, the Socialist candidate, into fourth place in the 2002 presidential elections. The National Front has yet to improve on that performance, but the continuing disarray of parties on the left, including the Communist Party, now a fraction of its former self, mean that the potential is still there. Deepening rifts Turning to northern Europe, in recent years, Belgian politics have become characterised by a deepening rift between the French-speaking south and the Flemish North. This division has deepened by the emergence of the far-right Flemish Bloc party as one of the biggest movements. Not only does the Flemish Block advocate home rule, but it is fiercely anti-immigrant and openly anti-Semitic. Its influence continues to grow. The late Haider's Freedom Party is deeply embedded in the south of Austria [AFP] While the death of , the charismatic Freedom Party leader, in a car crash deprived Austria of its most effective far-right leaders. The Freedom Party is deeply embedded in the south of the country, and has already spent a controversial period in a coalition government in Vienna. Despite criticism, Haider and other leaders of the Freedom Party were frequently pictured attending and speaking at reunion gatherings of the war-time Waffen SS. Austria, unlike Germany, was never subjected to the intensive de-Nazification campaigns that followed from the defeat of Adolf Hitler. In Britain, the British National Party (BNP), the successor organisation to the National Front, has, in common with its sister parties, attempted to shed the hardline, sometimes violent image associated with some of its shaven-headed supporters. Britain's "first past the post" electoral system for elections to parliament has ensured that the BNP has never gained a member of parliament. But local and European elections are a different matter, and the BNP has high hopes of making a major breakthrough and winning between four and eight seats in the European elections in June. Lapsing memories The days of far-right parties commanding barely a handful of votes at elections are over. Ahmadinejad, Iran's president, has cast doubt on the Holocaust taking place [AFP] Once associated with obscure commemorations and rallies for Rudolf Hess, the last Nazi prisoner, who was held in Berlin's Spandau prison until his death in 1987, many of the far-right parties have distanced themselves from the more obvious paraphernalia of fascism. While their ideological roots lie with the pre-World War II fascist movements, their public face is often one of moderation and reason. To an extent, that approach may have served its purpose. The time distance between the fall of Nazi Germany and the present is sufficiently long for younger generations to be ignorant of the full horror perpetrated in the name of fascism. And when world leaders, such as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president, cast doubt on the Holocaust, as he did in Geneva this week, it suddenly becomes a whole lot easier for the far right to follow in his wake.

Source: Al Jazeera

Negara beraskan sistem beraja

Oleh Zin Mahmud

Demokrasi awal mula diamalkan di kota Athens pada zaman silam di Yunani atau Greece purba dengan warganegaranya secara langsung membuat keputusan pemerintahan.

Di kota dan zaman itu jugalah muncul ahli-ahli falsafah Socrates, yang mengajar muridnya, juga ahli falsafah terkenal Plato. Beliau pula mempunyai seorang murid yang juga ahli falsafah besar, iaitu Aristotle.

Kota Athens tumbang ditawan dan dimusnahkan oleh pesaingnya ketika itu, iaitu Sparta yang mengamalkan sistem pemerintahan ketenteraan dan berakhirlah sistem demokrasi awal dalam kehidupan politik manusia itu.

Tetapi antara banyak-banyak negara dalam Yunani purba itu, muncul sebuah kerajaan yang dianggap berada di pinggiran tamadunnya. Negara itu, Macedonia dipimpin oleh Raja Philip yang mempunyai putera bernama Iskandar. Baginda mengarahkan Iskandar belajar daripada Aristotle mengenai segala perkara yang diketahui.

Setelah kemangkatan Philip, baginda digantikan dengan Raja Iskandar. Baginda memimpin bala tenteranya menawan keseluruhan Yunani. Bukan itu saja, baginda merentas ke timur, menakluki Parsi dan terus hingga ke India. Maka wujudlah kerajaan besar Iskandar Agung yang wilayahnya merentas tiga benua, Asia, Eropah dan Afrika.

Baginda menubuhkan ibu kotanya di Babylon (sekarang Iraq) dan mengasaskan sebuah kota besar di Mesir purba yang dinamakan Iskandariah. Dalam bahasa Inggeris disebut Alexandria.

Pengaruh Iskandar Agung ini menyerap ke India yang seterusnya budaya serta pemikiran mengenai kerajaannya tentu akhirnya sampai juga ke Asia Tenggara.

Justeru apabila kitab Sejarah Melayu mengisahkan asal usul Raja-Raja Melayu, tentunya dirujukkan kepada Kesultanan Melaka yang mewarisi Kerajaan Seri Wijaya, ia mengisahkan betapa permulaan sistem Raja-Raja Melayu adalah di Bukit Siguntang di Sumatera, atau disebut juga sebagai Seri Andalas.

Maka disebut dalam Sejarah Melayu, asal-usul Raja-Raja Melayu apabila disusur galurkan yang dikisahkan melalui pelbagai mitos adalah daripada Iskandar Agung.

Dalam tradisi Melayu, Iskandar Agung ini juga disebut sebagai Iskandar Zulkarnain, walaupun terdapat pelbagai pertikaian oleh ahli sejarah dan ahli sastera tentang perbezaan antara Iskandar Zulkarnian dan Iskandar Agung.

Antara kisah dalam Sejarah Melayu ialah perjanjian antara Raja dan Datuk Bendahara yang mewakili rakyat. Dari sinilah keluar ungkapan 'Raja adil Raja disembah, Raja zalim Raja disanggah'.

Namun begitu, kerajaan Melayu bermula lebih awal daripada Seri Wijaya. Kerajaan awal muncul di Funan dan kemudian di Champa yang kesemuanya terletak di Indochina sekarang ini. Tamadun Melayu dikatakan bermula di wilayah itu dengan gendang Dongson yang berbentuk bintang berbucu banyak sebagai simbolnya.

Simbol bintang berbucu banyak ini kini dapat diabadikan dalam bendera Jalur Gemilang. MCA juga mengambil bintang berbucu banyak itu sebagai lambangnya.

Jadi ketika kerajaan-kerajaan Melayu itu muncul di wilayah Vietnam dan Kemboja sekarang, di manakah bangsa Vietnam berada? Manusia pelbagai etnik dan kaum bercampur baur baik melalui perkahwinan atau penaklukan dan menghasilkan bangsa baru yang lain.

Tetapi bangsa Vietnam purba pada asalnya hidup di China selatan. Ketika mereka menguasai bahagian dunia itu, China sebagai bangsa dan negara belum dimantapkan.

Maharaja Shih Huang Ti baru hendak menyatukan pelbagai bangsa dan etnik untuk dijadikan satu bangsa berasaskan negaranya sendiri yang bernama Chin. Dalam usahanya itu, baginda ditentang oleh kaum Vietnam purba yang berada di China selatan.

Diperluaskan

Hanya setelah membina pelbagai terusan bagi membawa bekalan untuk bala tenteranya, maka China dapat diperluaskan dan menawan wilayah Vietnam purba. Bangsa Vietnam purba pula terdesak dan lari ke selatan membawa sekali kerajaan-kerajaan mereka.

Maka menghala ke selatan, sudah tentu mereka bertempur dan menakluki bangsa-bangsa Funan, Champa, Khmer dan lain-lain, termasuklah bangsa Melayu purba.

Kerajaan-kerajaan Melayu purba ini turut bergerak ke selatan memindahkan kerajaan-kerajaan mereka ke Kemboja, Vietnam Selatan hinggalah ke Pattani dan Semenanjung Melayu.

Di situ, mereka bertembung pula dengan kerajaan Ayuthaya yang sedang memantapkan kerajaan Siam di mana ia mahu menguasai keseluruhan semenanjung Asia Tenggara hingga ke selatan iaitu Temasik.

Kemunculan Parameswara sebagai pewaris kepada Seri Wijaya kemudian mengembalikan negeri-negeri Melayu, daripada Temasik hinggalah ke Pattani untuk berada di bawah Kesultanan Melaka. Pengaruh kesultanan ini juga sampai ke Brunei dan Sulu.

Keupayaan Kesultanan Melaka dapat menapak di mercu tertingginya berlaku semasa pemerintahan Sultan Mansur Shah dengan Tun Perak menjadi Bendahara dan Hang Tuah sebagai Laksamana.

Kebijaksanaan diplomasi juga menyumbang kepada kejayaan ini apabila Melaka mengadakan hubungan persahabatan dengan China, pimpinan Dinasti Ming yang di dalamnya terdapat pengaruh Islam yang kuat.

Maka pada zaman itu, daripada Istanbul di Barat hinggalah ke Zaytun di Timur, baik melalui laluan sutera mahu pun bahtera, sebahagian besar dunia ditadbir dan dipimpin oleh kerajaan-kerajaan Islam dengan sokongan sekutu-sekutunya termasuk kerajaan China. Laksamana Cheng Ho memainkan peranan penting dalam mewujudkan tata kuasa dunia itu.

Tetapi tidak ada kerajaan yang dapat bertahan selama-lamanya. Dinasti Ming tumbang, begitu juga dengan Kesultanan Melaka, Kerajaan Moghul di India dan juga Khalifah Uthmaniah di Istanbul.

Kuasa-kuasa baru Eropah muncul dan yang terbesar datangnya dari England. Negara kecil ini mendapat manfaat daripada kesedaran tamadun yang dinamakan Enlightenment yang asalnya datang daripada Yunani melalui Renaissance di Itali yang muncul melalui kajian-kajian pemikiran Yunani tersimpan oleh para cendekiawan Islam.

Akhirnya Perang Salib membuka ruang pemikiran Yunani yang dikaji oleh cendekiawan Islam kepada orang Eropah. Antara pemikiran inilah yang membawa kebangkitan kaum bangsawan di England untuk mengehadkan kuasa raja melalui piagam yang disebut Magna Carta.

Daripada situ, idea sistem politik yang berasaskan rakyat berkembang. Fahaman demokrasi yang pernah dilaksanakan di Athens akhirnya dimunculkan semula dalam bentuk Raja Berperlembagaan Inggeris. Maka Parlimen England dikenali sebagai "ibu kepada parlimen".

Demokrasi moden mula berputik. House of Lords atau Dewan Bangsawan dan House of Commons atau Dewan Orang Ramai mula merintis kepada kaedah demokrasi moden.

Tentu pada awalnya, sistem Raja Berperlembagaan ini memperlihatkan kesukaran hubungan antara raja dengan Parlimen serta juga dengan Perdana Menteri yang dipilih Parlimen untuk menasihati raja.

Walaupun raja tidak mencampuri urusan politik dan pemerintahan, tetapi pengaruhnya tetap ada dan berbeza-beza mengikut personaliti dan zaman masing-masing.

Maka semasa pemerintahan Queen Victoria, baginda memperoleh pula seorang Perdana Menteri yang juga hebat, Benjamin Disraeli. Pada zaman ini, empayar British terbentang paling luas hinggakan Victoria diisytiharkan juga sebagai Maharani India.

Ternyata sistem raja-raja India sudah tumbang apabila negara itu dijajah sepenuhnya oleh British.

Di China pula, Dinasti Ching yang memerintah berada di penghujungnya. China sedang diancam oleh penjajah-penjajah, iaitu Rusia, Jepun, Jerman, Britain dan Perancis, masing-masing mahu membahagi-bahagikan negara itu.

Britain berjaya menguasai Hong Kong walaupun dalam bentuk pajakan dengan janji perlu dikembalikan pada tahun 1997. Keupayaan Britain memerintah empayarnya yang luas bertunggakkan pada pelabuhan-pelabuhan strategik yang dikuasai.

Dari London, Gibraltar, Port Said, Aden, Bombay, Colombo, Pulau Pinang, Singapura hinggalah Hong Kong berada di bawah kekuasaannya.

Pentadbiran India yang berpusat di Calcutta juga turut mentadbir Negeri-Negeri Selat di Pulau Pinang, Seberang Perai, Dinding, Melaka dan Singapura.

Walaupun Britain menguasai Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu dan Negeri-Negeri Melayu Tidak Bersekutu di Semenanjung Tanah Melayu, tetapi kedaulatan masih tetap dipegang oleh Raja-Raja Melayu.

berdaulat

Pada kurun ke-19, negeri-negeri Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Perak dan Perlis masih berdaulat walaupun kekuasaan di luar daripada hal ehwal agama dan adat istiadat Melayu sudah berada di tangan Inggeris. Namun begitu, pengaruh Raja-Raja Melayu masih besar termasuk dalam soal tanah.

Maka dari satu segi, pada zaman penjajahan British, sistem beraja yang diamalkan di negeri-negeri Melayu bersifat Raja Berperlembagaan walaupun yang menguasai pemerintahan bukannya rakyat tetapi penjajah.

Perkara yang sama juga berlaku di banyak tempat di Hindia Timur Belanda yang kemudiannya menjadi Indonesia. Di Thailand pula, berlaku gerakan untuk mewujudkan Raja Berperlembagaan, tetapi ia tidak datang dari rakyat, tetapi pihak tentera.

Sementara di Jepun, maharajanya juga berdaulat tetapi kekuasaan sebenarnya terletak pada pihak yang menguasai tentera. Golongan tentera inilah kemudian merubah politik Asia termasuk Malaysia.

Dalam perang Dunia Kedua, Jepun berazam untuk menguasai keseluruhan Asia Timur melalui gagasan Kemakmuran Asia Timur Raya dengan Tokyo memerintah keseluruhan China, Asia Tenggara, India dan kepulauan Pasifik sehingga Australia.

Mereka gagal dan apabila Amerika Syarikat menakluk Jepun, mereka menimbangkan sama ada untuk menghapuskan institusi maharaja atau tidak. Akhirnya mereka membuat keputusan memperkenalkan sistem Raja Berperlembagaan dengan institusi maharaja dikekalkan.

Selepas Perang Dunia Kedua, Britain memberikan kemerdekaan kepada India dengan menggubal sebuah perlembagaan yang begitu kompleks.

Pada mulanya cadangan yang diutarakan ialah untuk menubuhkan sistem Raja Berperlembagaan di India dengan Ratu atau Raja England menjadi Maharaja India sebagai mewarisi Queen Victoria.

Sistemnya adalah seperti Australia dan Kanada di mana ketua negara dipegang oleh Raja England dengan diwakili oleh Gabenor-Jeneral. Tetapi kemudian perkara ini ditentang dan India menjadi republik dengan presiden tanpa kuasa eksekutif seperti Raja Berperlembagaan.

Di Tanah Melayu, pada mulanya dicadangkan penubuhan Malayan Union dengan menghapuskan sistem beraja. tetapi akibat bantahan orang Melayu dan ancaman komunis, Britain bersetuju menubuhkan sistem Raja Berperlembagaan dan Demokrasi Berparlimen bagi Tanah Melayu.

Untuk menggubal perlembagaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, maka diambil perlembagaan India sebagai rujukan. Oleh kerana sudah ada sistem beraja di negara ini, maka dengan mudahnya diambil cadangan Tunku Abdul Rahman supaya sistem Raja Berperlembagaan yang unik di dunia, iaitu melalui Majlis Raja-raja.

Keindahan sistem Raja Berperlembagaan Malaysia ini diterima baik dan tidak pernah dipertikaikan, malah kedaulatannya diperluaskan kepada semua Negeri-Negeri Selat iaitu Pulau Pinang dan Melaka yang sebelum itu tidak dinaungi oleh mana-mana raja.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong mempunyai kedaulatan ke atas Pulau Pinang dan Melaka. Bukan itu saja, semasa penubuhan awal Malaysia, dengan mudah sistem Raja Berperlembagaan ini dapat diterima oleh semua kaum di negara ini dan kedaulatannya meliputi Singapura, Sarawak dan Sabah.

Keagungan dan kejayaan sistem ini bergantung kepada rakyat negara ini sendiri. Ia merupakan sistem yang unik, penuh warisan dan berkesan. Tetapi untuk menjayakannya, rakyat tanpa mengira kaum wajar sama-sama berusaha untuk mendokongnya supaya negara yang mengamalkan sistem demokrasi berparlimen dapat berfungsi dengan lebih baik. Ingatlah bahawa kehidupan bernegara memerlukan keseimbangan. Utusan Malaysia

Dr Zambry tak ganjak....sidang DUN Perak tetap diadakan 7 Mei ini

28 + 3 = 31 VS 28.Angka itu adalah jelas 28 wakil Barisan Nasional campur tiga Bebas yang sokong BN adalah tiga kerusi melebihi wakil DAP,PKR dan PAS sebanyak 28 orang.

Apapun Pakatan Pembangkang masih nak buat macam orang yang tak tahu campur tolak mudah.

Dulu masa Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengendap nak cekup 30 orang Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional ajak lompat untuk tubuh kerajaan pintu belakang, semua mereka sudah berangan nak pasang badan melangkah masuk ke Putrajaya dan tak bising serta tak timbul langsung soal sah ke tak sah kalau ia benar benar berlaku.

Macam-macam cara dibangkitkan untuk mengagalkan Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak yang sudah ditetapkan pada 7 Mei ini.

Malah peguam pembangkang jenuh mengeluarkan tafsiran dalam laman web parti PAS www.harakahdaily.net keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 16 April lalu tidak bererti sidang DUN boleh diadakan.

Apapun peguam UMNO berkata mengikut tafsiran mereka sidang DUN boleh diadakan.Tafsiran yang panjang lebar itu telah disiarkan dalam laman web rasmi parti itu www.umno-online.com.

Dalam pada itu Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah telah memberi perkenaan baginda sidang berkenaan diadakan.

Bagi Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir sidang DUN itu tetap akan diadakan pada 7 Mei ini.

berkata persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 7 Mei ini akan tetap diteruskan walaupun Speaker V. Sivakumar masih berdolak dalik mengenai tarikh tersebut.

Bercakap kepada para wartawan di Ipoh Sabtu beliau menilai masalah mengenai tempat duduk yang ditimbulkan wakil DAP, PAS dan PKR adalah isu remeh yang menunjukkan mereka tidak matang berpolitik.

"Jangan bersikap seperti anak kecil dan menunjuk-nunjuk di khalayak ramai...apa yang diperkatakan mereka bahawa Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) mempunyai jumlah kerusi yang sama iaitu 28 kerusi adalah tidak betul kerana di bahagian BN terdapat tambahan tiga kerusi Bebas," katanya selepas merasmikan mesyuarat agung Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia Perak.

Zambry berkata kedudukan berkenaan adalah serupa semasa Pakatan PAS-DAP-PKR memerintah dengan jumlah 31 kerusi tetapi pada kali ini jumlah majoriti berkenaan dimiliki BN.

BN memperoleh majoriti apabila dua wakil PKR dan seorang daripada DAP mengisytihar diri sebagai wakil Bebas dan menyokong BN.

Sementara itu mengenai pemilihan beliau sebagai Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Perak, katanya keutamaan beliau adalah untuk melaksanakan prinsip-prinsip yang ditekankan Presiden Umno Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak agar mendahulukan rakyat dalam apa jua keadaan.

"Saya berikrar akan memberi keutamaan kepada perkhidmatan untuk rakyat dan memastikan keberkesanannya bagi memastikan parti ini (UMNO) akan terus diterima," kata beliau.

Menurutnya, cabaran berkenaan bagaimanapun perlu digalas bersama oleh semua anggota parti sebagai satu pasukan.

"Saya percaya kerja yang dilakukan secara berkumpulan dan berpasukan akan memberi hasil yang amat memuaskan dan oleh itu saya memerlukan sebuah pasukan yang mantap yang boleh memberikan kerjasama dan perkhidmatan tanpa berbelah bagi," tambah beliau.-25/4/2009 Agendadaily

Siapa Pengasas Malayan Union ?

via PANEH MIANG by paneh on 4/16/09

Kenal siapa lelaki di atas ni? Beliau adalah Tun Tan Cheng Lock. Ramai orang mengenalinya antara pengasas dan mantan Presiden MCA. Namun tidak ramai yang tahu bahawa beliaulah sebenarnya antara perancang utama yang bersubahat dengan British untuk menubuhan Malayan Union pada 1941. Tujuannya adalah untuk...MEMASTIKAN KAUM CINA MENDAPAT HAK SAMA RATA DENGAN PRIBUMI SERTA DIIKTIRAF SEBAGAI RAKYAT TANAH MELAYU. Tetapi beliau terpaksa memendam hasratnya pada masa itu kerana pendudukan Jepun di Tanah Melayu. Hajat beliau kembali terlaksana apabila Jepun menyerah kalah dan British bersetuju dengan saranannya itu.

Nota Tan Cheng Lock (1947)

Malaya Tribune 12.9.47

Protes Orang Melayu Terhadap Malayan Union

Anti Malayan Union 28.12.46

Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS) 28.12.46

Apabila Che Det menulis berkenaan sejarah, Ti Lian Ker telah mengulasnya serta menempelak negarawan itu sebagai 'pengarah' (piloted and captained) kepada ketegangan kaum di Malaysia. Banyak lagi perkara yang telah disentuh oleh Ti Lian Ker dan kami hormati pendapatnya itu. Namun kami juga tidak boleh dihalang untuk mengingatkan orang Melayu berkenaan sejarah kaum bukan Melayu di negara ini. Ini kerana kami SANGAT MEMAHAMI akan sikap suka ambil mudah serta tidak kisah orang Melayu dan mereka harus selalu diperingatkan agar lebih berhati-hati dalam menempuh cabaran masa hadapan.

Orang Melayu perlu diperingatkan bahawa kaum lain yang tinggal bersama mereka hari ini adalah kaum survivor yang berpengalaman luas dalam perjuangan kelangsungan hidup selama beribu-ribu tahun di negara asal mereka.

Orang Melayu perlu diperingatkan bahawa kaum lain di Malaysia sudah terdedah dengan persaingan sesama mereka selama beribu-ribu tahun, sedangkan pribumi Tanah Melayu sentiasa hidup selesa dan aman sejak zaman paleolitik lagi.

Orang Melayu perlu diperingatkan agar lebih berhati-hati dengan kaum yang cuba merampas hak mereka melalui cadangan penubuhan Malayan Union.

Orang Melayu perlu diperingatkan akan kaum yang telah menaikkan bendera negara asal di rumah serta kedai milik mereka ketika menyambut hari kebesaran negara kelahiran mereka sebelum kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu.

Orang Melayu perlu diperingatkan akan kaum yang belot di Melaka yang mempunyai kekuatan armada 170 ribu orang TETAPI tumpas kepada Portugis yang hanya memiliki ketumbukan tentera seramai 1400 orang sahaja.

Orang Melayu harus diperingatkan agar tidak lagi mengalah atau tunduk kepada tekanan daripada sesiapa sahaja terutama berkaitan percubaan menggangu gugat hak pribumi.

Dan kami amat berharap agar orang bukan Melayu menghormati hak pribumi serta JUS yang telah dikurniakan kepada mereka.

Ingatlah bahawa "kaum bukan Melayu dapat hidup aman dan damai HANYA JIKA kaum pribumi hidup dalam keadaan aman dan damai".

Anwar Ibrahim apologises to Guan Eng over Fairus affair

This Anwar has no balls. Henceforth the Defecto Leader of Pakatan Rakyat is Lim Guan Eng. Why not when Anwar has to kow tow to the Sect Gen of DAP. This clearly shows that Anwar is a weak leader. Can we trust him to lead Malaysia? I doubt it.

GEORGE TOWN, Wed:

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng considers the problem between him and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as having been resolved following the apology from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser.

Lim today confirmed that Anwar had apologised to him for failing to inform him of the resignation of former Deputy Chief Minister I, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, as the State Assemblyman for Penanti.

"I don't want the matter to prolong," he told reporters, here today.

Earlier, Lim, who is also DAP Secretary-General, had expressed unhappiness that Anwar had not informed him of Mohammad Fairus's resignation as a State Assemblyman.

Mohammad Fairus, who resigned as Deputy Chief Minister I effective April 8, later resigned as the Penanti State Assemblyman on April 16. - BERNAMA

Zambry seeks quicker end to MB issue

Hafiz Yatim | Apr 22, 09 7:23pm

It seems Zambry Abdul Kadir wants a quicker way to the resolution of the present political crisis in Perak. He has filed an application to bring the matter directly to the apex court for it to declare him to be the rightful Perak menteri besar. MCPX Zambry filed a notice of motion to the federal court yesterday to seek several matters of interpretation. It is learnt the matter has been fixed before the apex court on Tuesday. He filed the application through the law firm of Zul Rafique and Partners. He named ousted menteri besar, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin in his application and wants the Federal Court's intervention to interpret: (a) Whether Sultan Azlan Shah has the right not to accede to Mohd Nizar's request for the dissolution of the Perak assembly, when he (Mohd Nizar) ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the assembly; (b) When the sultan declines to accede to Mohd Nizar's request, whether it constitute to his (Mohd Nizar) resignation and that of his state exco members; and (c) Whether when Mohd Nizar refused to tender his resignation, his majesty had the right to appoint Zambry pursuant to Article 16(2) of the Perak constitution after the sultan is satisfied that he (Zambry) commands the confidence of the assembly. Political impasse in Perak And if the apex court agrees that the answers to the above are in the affirmative, he is seeking a declaration by the Federal Court that the applicant (Zambry) was duly appointed the menteri besar on Feb 6, 2009. He is also seeking costs and other relief deemed necessary for the application. Zambry in his affidavit in support of his application to the apex court claimed that the matter before the court concerns interpretation of Article 16(2) and Article 16(6) of the Perak constitution involving the removal and appointment of a menteri besar. He wants the Federal Court to use its inherent jurisdiction to determine the questions of law that he had posed above. Zambry also claimed that the case was of public importance and that a decision by the Federal Court would help resolve the present political impasse in Perak and resulted in the Perak legislative assembly not being able to convene. Mohd Nizar filed an application for a judicial review on Feb 13, in challenging Zambry's appointment and sought several declarations pertaining to the interpretation of Article 16(6) of the Perak Constitution. In his application, Mohd Nizar claimed to be the rightful Perak menteri besar on the grounds that there was no dissolution of the state legislature, no motion of no-confidence was taken in the house against him and he did not resign from the post. He also issued a writ of quo warranto asking Zambry to show cause by what authority he was occupying the post of menteri besar. The case is slated for hearing tomorrow for an intervener application from the Attorney-General's chambers. However, with this application it is not known whether it could be heard. Malaysiakini

Raja Nazrin worried about writing trend

The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah (middle) holding the book, "Keberanian Menggapai Harapan", a Bahasa Melayu translation of "Audacity of Hope", authored by US President Barack Hussein Obama which was translated by the ITNMB. The launching was held at Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday. Presents are Chairman of ITNB Datuk Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh and US Ambassador to Malaysia James R. Keith (right). Pic: Mohd Faizol

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- The Crown Prince of northern state of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, on Tuesday expressed concern over the trend whereby authors in the country are more interested in writing political books that run down certain individuals.

He said this popular trend of producing destructive political books for short-term political and commercial objective chose themes that denigrated certain individuals, occurred on a seasonal basis and was closely linked to the timing of certain political organisations' activities.

"If this trend continues to grow, I fear that it will create an unhealthy writing culture, a writing culture which nurtures lies, a writing culture which is unethical and ready to ignore fact and one that will have a negative influence on the development of the people's minds," he said.

He was speaking when launching the book, "Keberanian Menggapai Harapan", a translation of the book, "Audacity of Hope", by US President Barack Hussein Obama. The translation was done by the National Institute of Translation (ITNMB).

He said such writing culture would surely cause a loss to the race in the long run compared with whatever short-term profit motivated by the narrow objectives of certain groups or individuals.

Raja Nazri said he had been informed that the National Institute of Translation was implementing a project to translate the premier works of Malaysia from the Malay language into English, among them the Malaka Laws and the Laws of the Sea as well as the old folks tales.

These premier works reflected the height of culture, an invaluable social capital of the race. They clearly showed that the Malays were a race with high culture, a supreme civilisation with customs, good manners and values in their daily lives, good relationship among the rulers, ulama, dignitaries, leaders, traders and people and a system of government based on the law, he said.

He said a race that had attained such high culture and supreme civilisation was then left adrift by the tide of colonialism until its majority was sidelined by the development which later occurred in its culture.

"It's written in these premier works how the greatness and pride of the race were destroyed by friction within the race, how the tussle for region and state among the race, the hatred, jealousy and lies, the greed and the struggle for power in the Malay world became the source that facilitated the colonisation process.

"And ultimately, the social, political, cultural and economic price that had to be paid by the race due to colonisation," he said, adding that finally the motherland was conquered and the race received its fate and was sidelined on the land of its forefathers.

On Obama, Raja Nazrin said it was clear that the United States president was efficient in using modern communication instruments to win the minds, hearts and emotions of the US citizens to get elected as president.

"Whether by design or accident, Barack Hussein Obama had crafted an infrastructure for a political path to get to the White House. He had chosen a path that let him through each toll gate. The political path that he chose had been accepted by the large majority of the American people," he said.

He said Obama was a product of the premier education system in the US, spoke the language and practised the culture of majority of Americans, chose to follow Christianity, the religion of the majority of the Americans, although his grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, was a Muslim and his father, Barack Hussein Obama Sr, was born to a Muslim family.

He said Obama could be likened to a true American in all aspects with the true qualities of an American who held to the principle of adapting to the environment.

-- BERNAMA

Raja Nazrin tekad pertahan institusi beraja daripada dipersenda

KUALA KANGSAR 19 April — Raja Muda Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah hari ini bertitah akan mengambil tanggungjawab utama untuk melaksanakan segala usaha bagi memastikan tradisi institusi beraja yang menjadi teras kepada sistem berkerajaan dan bernegara di negara ini akan terus dipertahankan.

“Bahawa kemuliaan dan kedaulatan seorang Raja Pemerintah itu tidak akan anakanda redha untuk dipersendakan. Untuk itu warga perlu diinsafkan supaya jangan terlalu cepat membuang pelita, kerana riang melihatkan fajar akan menyingsing; kerana hari siang juga akan berakhir.

“Jangan nanti bila malam mendakap senja, warga dan bangsa akan hidup teraba-raba - hilang haluan, kerana diselimuti kegelapan malam tanpa pelita,” titah baginda pada istiadat menghadap sembah taat setia dan penganugerahan darjah kebesaran negeri Perak sempena ulang tahun keputeraan ke-81 Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah di Istana Iskandariah di sini hari ini.

Baginda bertitah Raja-Raja Melayu bukan sekadar simbol kepada negara bangsanya, malah Kesultanan Melayu merupakan institusi penting berperanan sebagai pusat pengukuhan kepada warga dan bangsanya.

Raja Nazrin bertitah sistem pemerintahan berteraskan Kesultanan Melayu yang telah wujud selama lebih 600 tahun, telah berjaya membangunkan satu budaya dan satu tamadun yang agung.

Titah baginda kebijaksanaan pemerintahan beraja membantu berlakunya proses pengembangan intelek dan dari sumber istana itulah lahirnya karya-karya agung dalam dunia penulisan bangsa.

“Raja Melayu itu adalah lambang kedaulatan - simbol kekuatan warga - payung mahkota negara. Raja Melayu itu memberi identiti kepada negara bangsa.

“Rakyat yang memahami budaya rakyat beraja - negeri bersultan, memahami akan falsafah pemerintahan beraja, akan peranan Raja secara tersirat di sebalik yang tersurat, terutama peranan dan tanggungjawab mengekalkan identiti negara bangsa,” titah baginda.

Baginda bertitah kelangsungan sesuatu bangsa dan wajah sesebuah negara bergantung pada faktor-faktor yang telah memberikannya identiti daripada segi institusi, agama, budaya dan bahasa.

“Tindakan-tindakan menghina institusi, mempersendakan institusi, menanam kebencian terhadap institusi adalah langkah awal dalam gerakan ke arah menghapuskan institusi - lalu menghapus identiti asal negara bangsa. Di era peperangan dingin, langkah-langkah sedemikian lahir dari kumpulan yang berpegang kepada doktrin politik berfahaman kiri dan dikategorikan berunsur subversif.

“Atas nama Revolusi Budaya, di China dan indoktrinasi komunisme di Kampuchea (Kemboja) dan Vietnam, anak-anak dihasut hingga sampai ke peringkat ekstrem, membenci dan memusuhi ibu bapa kandung sendiri; pemimpin-pemimpin agama dicerca dan rumah-rumah ibadat dimusnahkan, ada rumah ibadat yang dijadikan tempat ternakan haiwan; lalu berlakulah keadaan anarki yang terpaksa dibayar dengan nyawa dan darah di samping modal sosial negara bangsa habis termusnah,” titah baginda.

Baginda bertitah hari ini dunia sedang menghadapi gelombang globalisasi yang menghempas setiap sempadan dan mahu memecahkan benteng budaya dan berkemungkinan menghanyutkan lembaran sejarah negara bangsa.

Raja Nazrin bertitah warga muda yang sedang dilambung ombak globalisasi, perlu bijaksana mengimbangkan antara tuntutan tradisi dan permintaan terhadap pemodenan supaya air tempayan tidak terlalu cepat dicurahkan kerana mendengar guruh di langit.

Titah baginda ada yang menganggap bahawa untuk maju, penekanan hendaklah ditumpukan kepada budaya yang progresif lalu menyifatkan tradisi dan sejarah akan meletakkan bangsa tertinggal dalam budaya yang statik “Globalisasi sebenarnya turut membawa gelombang kolonialisme baru untuk menghanyutkan tradisi sesebuah negara bangsa - lalu menghapuskan identiti asal negara bangsa.

“Warga perlu disedarkan, bahawa tidak semua yang berbentuk tradisi itu menghalang kemajuan kerana tradisi yang berjaya ditafsir secara bijak dan ditakrifkan secara arif dapat berfungsi sebagai pemudah cara memajukan negara bangsa. Bahawa elemen-elemen budaya bangsa yang merupakan faktor penyatuan bangsa selama hari ini, adalah modal sosial yang amat berharga yang wajib dipertahankan,” titah baginda.

Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir dan tiga orang lagi mendahului senarai 800 penerima darjah kebesaran dan pingat sempena ulang tahun ke-81 keputeraan Sultan Azlan, pada majlis penganugerahan hari ini.

Zambry bersama-sama Menteri Kewangan II, Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Datuk Kong Cho Ha dan Orang Kaya-kaya Panglima Kinta, Seri Amar Diraja Datuk Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan dianugerah Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP) yang membawa gelaran Datuk Seri.

— BERNAMA

Tindakan gantung tugas Setiausah DUN Perak tidak sah

Apa ini Sivakumar mau main-main ka? Ini bukan sirkus di India boleh main silap mata. Awak kena hormati keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan. Awak punya trick sudah habis la dan tak laku lagi. Tak lama lagi awak hilang la itu jawatan Speaker dan hilang itu elaun yang setaraf sama Exco. Bye bye !!!

IPOH 18 April — Tindakan Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Perak V. Sivakumar menggantung tugas Abdullah Antong Sabri sebagai Setiausaha DUN Perak seperti yang dilaporkan media hari ini adalah tidak sah dan tidak boleh dikuatkuasakan, kata Setiausaha Kerajaan (SUK) negeri Perak Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim.

Beliau berkata jawatan Setiausaha DUN Perak adalah jawatan pegawai tadbir dan diplomatik (PTD) Gred M52 yang diluluskan oleh pihak berkuasa negeri melalui waran perjawatan yang ditandatangani oleh Menteri Besar Perak.

“Proses pelantikan dan pengisian jawatan itu memerlukan kelulusan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA). Selepas itu selaku SUK kerajaan negeri Perak dan bagi pihak kerajaan negeri, saya akan mengeluarkan surat rasmi pelantikan Setiausaha DUN Perak.

“Dengan ini dimaklumkan bahawa pihak JPA mahupun kerajaan negeri atau saya tidak ada mengambil sebarang tindakan ke atas Abdullah,” katanya di sini hari ini. - Bernama

IGP Warns Politicians Against Making Seditious Remarks

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- The police will not compromise with any group that goes against the law by creating upheaval or issuing statements which can disrupt public order.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the statement could cause confusion and threaten national security and public order.

He was commenting on a Harakah Daily report quoting PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar as saying that Malaysians would resort to street demonstrations like the red shirted protestors in Pattaya if the Perak State Assembly was not dissolved.

"The police will come down hard on those who make such remarks. They are deemed seditious.

"We will investigate those who had made and written such remarks. We have to check on the matter before taking any action," Musa said when contacted tonight.

-- BERNAMA

Era of a new breed of Malay Rulers and Royalty

By SUHAINI AZNAM

Not content to be silent figureheads, today’s royals in Malaysia, as in other countries, have assumed new roles and placed themselves above partisan politics.

WHEN the King opened Parliament on April 28, he reminded Members of Parliament to make national unity their priority.

Unity – either national or Malay – seems to have been very much the theme of royal speeches in the past few months, perhaps because events leading up to the March 8 election were painted as being racially or religiously divisive.

Vocal heads: Today’s sultans are not content to be silent figureheads. (From left) The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin, Raja Nazrin and Sultan of Kelantan Tuanku Ismail Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra at the recent Rulers’ Conference. — Bernama

Later, after the results showed that people had not voted along racial lines, some of the more hard-line Malays felt “challenged” by Government concessions to the non-Malays, such as the recruitment of more non-Malay civil servants, culminating most recently in the surprise apology from Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein over the brandishing of the keris at the party assembly in 2005 and 2006.

It was in that atmosphere that Tengku Mahkota Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra spoke up for Malay unity and rights at a forum entitled “Malay unity is the core of national unity”, organised by the newly formed Barisan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (Malay Unity Action Front) to mark the Maulidur Rasul celebrations in Kuala Lumpur on April 12.

In urging Malays to stand united, Tengku Muhammad Faris said that the position of Malays should not be questioned.

“In fact, if Malay rights and special privileges are taken care of and are not disturbed, it would ensure national harmony,” he said.

“It does not just benefit the Malays but all ethnic groups.”

"The monarchies that have survived have done so because they have evolved in line with social progress and contribute to public life. They have evolved by accepting the reality of, and placing themselves above, partisan politics" - RAJA MUDA PERAK RAJA DR NAZRIN SHAH

But his speech was reported out of context, giving an impression of meddling in politics, and the heir to the Kelantan throne apparently later regretted delivering his speech, which by then had been twisted and much manipulated. His remarks about non-Malay rights to practise their religion in peace and the weaknesses of the Malays who should emulate the non-Malays more, were left out.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting criticised the speech and DAP chairman Karpal Singh lodged two police reports. Things got so out of hand that a 19-year old issued a death threat against Karpal Singh, which the youth later apologised for but not before the lawyer had filed yet another police report.

On April 30, the Kelantan palace put a stop to the debate. A palace official asked politicians and the media to stop harping on the issue, as “it was not the Tengku Mahkota’s intention, by his speech, to create controversy”.

“He would like to stress that unity among his subjects, regardless of their race, is his major commitment,” said Royal Household Controller Datuk Halim Ahmad.

In the spirit of Tengku Faris’ speech, exactly a week later (April 19) Raja Muda Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah too spoke on the need for Malay unity, calling it a stabilising force that would enhance national unity. Non-Malays should not feel threatened by calls for greater unity among Malays, as this was the foundation upon which Malaysians had forged the Barisan Nasional in 1974, he said in his pledge of loyalty in conjunction with the Sultan of Perak Raja Azlan Shah’s birthday in Kuala Kangsar.

Among the young royals, two in particular have rebranded and reinvented themselves, to use today’s parlance. Raja Nazrin has emerged as an authority on good governance and the rule of law.

Thus at the annual Conference of Malaysian Judges on April 9, he strongly advocated “a judicial renaissance” where “judicial power is revested in the judiciary”. The Government was already heading towards judicial reform but support from the heir to the Perak throne, lent it weight.

Raja Nazrin’s good friend, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has taken a more populist route, for instance limiting the number of birthday honours each year so as to retain their prestige and lustre.

The decision was prompted by a clutch of “datuks” who, by their conduct, had brought disrepute to the title, and by extension the authority bestowing the awards. So while the Selangor constitution allows for 40 datukships per year, the Sultan has insisted on even fewer and only after careful vetting.

This was the same Sultan who had said in an interview: “Although I am the Head of Islam in Selangor, I am also the Head of State. All the people of Selangor are my subjects and I have a responsibility towards them.” He invites the public to send in their complaints via email or fax to his secretary.

By throwing open their palace doors and coming to the rakyat, the sultans have taken gigantic leaps from the stereotypes of the Hang Jebat era. Those sultans of old were laws unto themselves.

After Independence, they became constitutional monarchs, which they continue to be, except that today’s sultans – younger and better educated – are not content to be silent figureheads.

Speaking on the role of the monarchy at a Khazanah National Development Seminar to celebrate the country’s 50th Merdeka anniversary, Raja Nazrin had noted that contrary to popular perception, “the Malaysian monarchy is not all form and no function”.

Meanwhile, two brothers of reigning sultans have gone directly to the people by joining active politics. Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail’s younger brother, Datuk Seri Syed Razlan, the former MP for Arau, is today the state assemblyman for Pauh and serves on the Perlis executive council.

From the Pahang royal house, unfazed by his princely upbringing, Tengku Datuk Seri Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar, took his oath of office as the MP for Jerantut on April 28, using precisely that name. He was deputy transport minister in the previous Cabinet but declined the offered post of deputy minister of foreign affairs.

But the best-known royal to have entered politics is Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah – who is also Tengku Muhammad Faris’ granduncle – who cut his teeth in politics in the late 1970s, holding several important portfolios, including finance.

He also challenged Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad for the Umno presidency, lost narrowly, and went on to found Semangat 46 when Umno was temporarily deregistered.

Razaleigh dominated national politics for decades, and remains a dominant force in the Kelantan political landscape, having retained his Gua Musang seat since 1974 (known as Ulu Kelantan then), irrespective of the changing fortunes of the state government.

In the tumultuous weeks immediately following the March 8 election results, three states posed varying problems with the choice of state chief executive. Appointments of mentris besar are within the purview of the respective sultans according to the respective state constitutions.

In Perlis, outgoing four-term MB Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim very much wanted a fifth term in office. Shaken by the Opposition sweep in the north, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had agreed to it.

But the Raja of Perlis wanted to confirm that Shahidan still held the confidence of the majority of assemblymen. So he called up Shahidan as well as Bintong assemblyman Datuk Dr Md Isa Sabu, and asked each to bring along all their supporters in the state assembly. In the headcount, Dr Md Isa outnumbered Shahidan’s men nine to four and the former was sworn in.

In Perak, the situation was slightly different. The Perak constitution requires that the mentri besar be Malay, which narrowed the choices considerably.

When the DAP protested against the appointment of a PAS assemblyman as mentri besar – PAS having won only six seats to the DAP’s 18 – Raja Nazrin, acting as Regent, called for time-out so that the claimants could sort out the confusion.

On March 17, Perak PAS secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, then not yet a Datuk Seri, was sworn in as Perak Mentri Besar.

Among the Barisan-held states, Terengganu proved to be the most delicate. The previous mentri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh had allegedly fallen into disfavour with the palace over some large-scale projects, including Terengganu’s landmark crystal mosque.

The Sultan of Terengganu, who had specific ideas about the running of his state, wanted to see a change in his mentri besar.

It is believed that the Sultan remembered the MP for Kijal, Datuk Ahmad Said, 51, as the only person who had once stood up to Idris in the previous state government. In 2004, Ahmad was dropped from the state candidates’ list but in 2008, was included again. The Sultan, noting his presence, picked him as Mentri Besar.

Quietly, each royal house seems to have put the controversy of the 1983 and 1993 constitutional crises well behind them.

Depending on the behaviour of the royals themselves, Malaysians by and large still hold royalty in respect or awe.

Prior to the 1990s, there were indeed royals whose conduct raised eyebrows. But one rarely hears of such conduct today, giving no excuse to the executive to clamp down on the monarchy.

The next generation of sultans seems to have adopted the style of the Thai royal house, which takes a lively interest in the welfare of its citizens. King Bhumipol Adulyadej is revered by Thais and this is perhaps the route that the younger royals want to take.

As Raja Nazrin said: “The monarchies that have survived – and I include Malaysia’s among these – have done so because they have evolved in line with social progress and contribute to public life.

“They have evolved by accepting the reality of, and placing themselves above, partisan politics.”

Najib Needs To Work Hard To Ensure BN Win 13th GE

PUTRAJAYA, April 8 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has to work very hard to ensure Barisan Nasional (BN) win the next general election.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said this, opined that the mentality of many people today had been influenced by the flaws in the government leadership before this, invoking a sentiment which was difficult to change.

He said change would take a long process, hence Najib must be firm in restoring Umno and BN's image.

"It's very difficult to change people's thinking, that is why the government led by Najib has to be firm in its stand in rebuilding BN's image, particularly Umno's image," he told reporters following BN's loss in the Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections yesterday.

Earlier, Dr Mahathir had launched the book titled "Mencari Kebahagiaan" (Looking for Happiness) written by Datuk Hashim Abdul Wahab, at the Perdana Leadership Foundation building, here, today.

He said besides the lack of development, rampant corruption had only heightened people's dissatisfaction with the government.

"People are unhappy to see that after almost six years, there is not much development and we don't know who got the government contracts. Many of the small- and medium-scale industries cannot survive," he added.

On the claim that BN's loss in the two by-elections was due to non-Malay votes for the opposition, Dr Mahathir said this could not be the factor as Malays formed the majority of voters in both areas.

"If the Malays didn't vote for PKR in Bukit Selambau, PKR would not have won. The Indians are the minority there; they could not have won (without Malay votes). If you add the Indian votes to the Chinese votes, they (PKR) still could not win. The fact is many of the Malay voters gave their votes to PKR. It shows there are (many) Malays who are dissatisfied with the government," he said.

Dr Mahathir also refuted the claim that there was an agreement between him and Najib to include his son Datuk Mukhriz in the new cabinet line-up to be announced tomorrow.

He said this was mere speculation and baseless as he had never interfered in Mukhriz's political route.

"I have never lobbied for my son. I have never campaigned for him, and have never spoken for him. I leave him alone and when he lost (the Umno Youth elections), that's his business.

"If Najib wants to appoint him, that's Najib's business, not mine," he said.