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