BN TO KEEP PAK LAH, SOME VETERANS FOR GE13

DEFEND....Abdullah (right) is set to defend his parliamentary seat in the coming general election.

By : JAHABAR SADIQ

TUN ABDULLAH Ahmad Badawi is to defend his Kepala Batas federal seat as the Barisan Nasional (BN) looks to its veteran and capable lawmakers to keep Putrajaya from political foes Pakatan Rakyat (PR), sources said.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the former prime minister has been approached to stand in the parliamentary constituency he first won in 1978 as the amiable leader is one of the 'winnable candidates' sought by Umno President, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Tun Abdullah has been asked to defend his seat as Umno and BN wants to go for a maximum win,” a coalition source told The Malaysian Insider.

Abdullah, who was prime minister from 2003 to 2009, won the Kepalas Batas seat for the eighth time in 2008 with a majority of 11,246 votes, when he polled 23,445 against PAS’s Subri Mohd Arshad who garnered 12,199 votes.

“Umno and BN are going through the lists to ensure they keep candidates who can win either at state or federal levels. Every seat counts,” added a BN source, saying veterans such as Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz and Tasek Gelugor MP Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop could also remain on the candidates list.

Analysts and critics say Najib wants to ensure an all-out victory although it is difficult for the country’s sixth prime minister to match his predecessor’s performance in the 2004 and 2008 elections.

Abdullah won 91 per cent of the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat in parliament in 2004 but lost the two-thirds majority when his coalition only took 140 federal seats and eight of the country’s 11 state assemblies in 2008.

“Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is slated to win the next GE. However, victory is only the first of his KPIs. The second is that he must surpass his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s 2008 showing (140 seats).

“Indeed, the rationale behind Najib’s rise to the premiership was his unspoken promise of returning Umno (and BN) to its earlier glory. Failure to achieve this will lead to a re-assessment of his leadership,” regional political analyst Karim Raslan wrote in his column in The Star newspaper yesterday.

Najib and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have spent the past few months criss-crossing the country to gauge BN’s readiness for the general election, which must be called by middle of 2013. PR parties have said they will not call for snap polls in the four states they control until after this June.

Analysts have predicted that BN will call for the election next month but the still unresolved issue of a civil service pay revamp could erode the ruling coalition’s support among the 1.4 million government servants. Najib had allocated more than RM2 billion for the revamp, including a two per cent hike in pension for 600,000 retirees in the 2012 Budget but most of the pay rise is going to senior officials.

The prime minister has ordered a review, with a report due on April 16.

BN is also seen to delay elections as it tries to overcome a scandal involving cattle-farming project National Feedlot Centre (NFC) where the family of Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil have been accused of abusing a RM250 million soft loan for their own ventures.

The Umno president and his coalition are also fighting off PR, which is championing a movement to stop an Australian rare earths refinery from operating in Kuantan, the state capital of Pahang, Najib’s home state and also the site of his Pekan federal seat. The authorities and miner Lynas Corp maintain the plant is safe but residents are concerned about the wastes disposal as Australia has refused to take back remnants of the ore mined from that country.

The Business Times reported yesterday that Putrajaya is to name Khairy Jamaluddin as Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) chairman, which sources told The Malaysian Insider was a move to ensure the Umno Youth chief has a better standing ahead of the general election

“The decision was made as Khairy is good with the youths but has no official post except as Umno Youth chief. He needs a government post to reinforce his position ahead of the polls,” a government source told The Malaysian Insider, indicating the first-term Rembau MP is expected to defend his federal seat.

“Khairy deserves a higher post but it is not possible yet. So, this is the best that can be done for him to be on a stronger footing,” said another source, confirming the Umno leader’s appointment to PUNB.

Putrajaya routinely appoints MPs to lead government agencies, which are seen as a training ground for their eventual appointment to the Cabinet.

DAP SABAH SUPPORTS ASSETS DECLARATION

DAP Sabah welcomed the proposal to allow MACC to keep check all declaration of assets by members of the government administration.

Johnny Tan Shu Tee DAP Tanjung Papat (Sandakan) said the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has recently agreed with the Anti-Corruption Advisory Council proposal to allow MACC Chief Commissioner full access to all declaration of assets by members of the government administration.

The MACC would only focus on any significant accumulation of assets during the tenure of Ministers or Deputy Ministers and not on what they had prior to holding the posts.

Johnny however proposed the declaration of assets to be made public declaration.

Declaration of assets on cabinet Ministers and government administration can only be effective if it is a pubic declaration. More so where PM appoints AG & MACC Commissioner.

WANITA NAFI BERKHALWAT DENGAN BADRUL

WANITA yang didakwa terbabit dalam kes khalwat dengan Pengarah Penerangan kerajaan negeri Selangor, Dr Badrulamin Bahron memfailkan tuntutan cerai terhadap suaminya di Mahkamah Rendah Syariah Rompin, semalam.

Menurut akhbar Sinar Harian, hari ini, wanita itu juga membuat penafian bahawa beliau berkhalwat dengan pemimpin PKR berkenaan dan tidak berada dalam bilik yang sama.

“Fitnah! Saya tidak berkhalwat. Saya tidak lakukan perbuatan itu. Saya tidak berada dalam satu bilik dengan ustaz (Badrulamin).Orang fitnah saya berniat jahat. Tidak bertanggungjawab!” katanya dipetik akhbar itu.

Semalam, wanita berusia 28 tahun itu dari Kolej Komuniti Rompin hadir di mahkamah bagi sebutan kesnya di hadapan Hakim Syarie, Abu Kassim Pilus.

Katanya, kerana tindakan khianat itu, Badrulamin bukan sahaja dikurung, malah dibelasah di biliknya oleh pihak yang mahu memerangkapnya.

“Saya pergi menemui ustaz Badrulamin atas tujuan mahu melarikan diri daripada suami, bersama anak saya yang berusia dua tahun. Saya bimbang keselamatan kami terancam. Saya sudah puas berusaha dan tidak mampu lagi menanggung segala bebanan ini,” rintihnya kepada Sinar Harian.

Sabtu lalu, media arus perdana milik BN, termasuk agensi Bernama melaporkan Jabatan Agama Islam Pahang (JAIP) menangkap seorang pemimpin PKR kerana disyaki berkhalwat dengan seorang wanita berstatus isteri orang di sebuah hotel di Balok di Kuantan.

Badrulamin kebetulan berada di Kuantan untuk temurapat atau permukiman PKR pada hujung minggu lalu.

Menurut wanita itu lagi, beliau memang kenal rapat dengan Badrulamin dan isterinya, Zumrah Husni, sejak beliau mengikuti rombongan umrah yang dikendalikan pemimpin itu pada 1 Mei tahun lalu dan mereka sering berhubung antara satu sama lain.

“Ustaz pun ada datang ke sini (Rompin) dan saya juga mengenali rapat isteri beliau. Malah isterinya juga menasihatkan saya supaya bersabar menghadapi kes fitnah ini.

“Saya juga kesal dengan sikap segelintir masyarakat yang menuding jari tanpa beri kami peluang untuk bela diri, sedangkan kes ini belum diputuskan di mahkamah,” katanya.

Menurut wanita itu, beliau nekad mengemukakan tuntutan cerai kerana kemelut rumah tangganya gagal diselesaikan di sebalik pelbagai usaha.

“Itulah jalan penyelesaian terbaik bagi memastikan keselamatan dan masa depan saya serta anak terbela,” katanya.

Sebelum ini, Badrulamin juga menafikan dakwaan khalwat itu dan berkata beliau khuatir kes itu akan dijadikan permainan politik kotor oleh Umno.

RAIS CANCELS ERYKAH BADU CONCERT

By : NOORSILA ABD MAJID

MALAYSIA'S Information, Communications and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim has set the Twitter world abuzz with his decision to cancel Erykah Badu's concert in KL, slated to happen on Wednesday.

The queen of neo-soul stirred unexpected controversy when a photo of her body art - with a tattoo of the word 'Allah' inscripted in Arabic on her shoulders, was published in The Star.

Rais tweeted: Konsert Erykah Badu dibatalkan kerana melanggar Garis Panduan PUSPAL iaitu menyentuh sensitiviti agama dan nilai-nilai budaya Malaysia.

(Erykah Badu's concert is cancelled because it violates PUSPAL's guidelines, whereby it touches the religious sensitivity and culture values in Malaysia).

An insider tells The Daily Chilli that his ministry has been bombarded with memorandum and protest letters, demanding that the Grammy winner's concert in KL be called off.

When contacted, Pineapple Concerts Sdn Bhd, the organiser of Erykah's concert in Malaysia, say they are trying to rectify the situation.

JAILED FOR RUBBING ICE ON WOMAN'S BOOBS

A 40-year-old renovation contractor admitted in a Singapore court to rubbing a woman's breast with an ice cube.

Tay Kok Hui was sentenced to six months' jail for molesting the woman on January 6, 2011.

The woman, an entertainer at a club in River Valley, had finished her performance at 3am that day. She then sat next to and chatted with her male acquaintance at a table.

The 26-year-old acquaintance threw an ice cube at her in jest. When she threw it back, it landed on Tay who was sitting nearby, reported The Straits Times.

She apologised to him.

The woman later saw Tay gesturing to her friend to grab hold of her. As her friend was drunk, he did not understand the gestures.

Tay suddenly grabbed the victim's wrists, took the ice cube and rubbed it against her breast. She yelled at both men before breaking free.

Tay could have been jailed for a maximum of two years and/or fined for outrage of modesty. (The Straits Times)

RM25 JUTA UNTUK JAMBATAN PULAU BUM BUM

KERAJAAN meluluskan peruntukan RM25 juta untuk melaksanakan kerja-kerja awal pembinaan Jambatan Pulau Bum Bum sepanjang 1.4 kilometer, kata Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor.

Beliau berkata kelulusan melaksana kerja awal itu diterima kementeriannya dua minggu lepas yang turut meliputi kelulusan melantik kontraktor untuk mereka jambatan yang akan menghubungkan Semporna dan Pulau Bum Bum.

"Kos pembinaan jambatan ini kelak dianggarkan sebanyak RM430 juta," katanya kepada pemberita selepas melawat lokasi projek menaik taraf Jalan Kalabakan-Sapulut, Selasa.

Shaziman berkata kerja awal terbabit mungkin mengambil masa setahun kerana selain melibatkan pembinaan di atas air, projek turut meliputi pembinaan jalan raya ke jambatan.

"Ini menunjukkan bahawa kerajaan pusat tidak pernah meminggirkan mana-mana negeri termasuk Sabah dalam menyediakan infrastruktur seperti jalan raya untuk keperluan rakyat dan negara kerana menyedari pembangunan negara dan ekonomi negara kita akan terus bergerak," katanya. (BERNAMA)

TABLE MOTION TO GIVE MORE INDEPENDENCE

DAP Sabah is amused by PM Najib call for Malaysians to give BN 2/3 majority in coming General Election and Najib will give MACC more power.

Junz Wong, DAP Sabah State Assistant Secretary, laughed off PM Najib's call, saying that MACC revamp doesn’t need 2/3 parliamentary majority. Please stop treating rakyat as fools.

"Why would Dato' Seri Najib Razak give more power to MACC only if BN gets 2/3 majority in next GE? Isn't that the right thing to do in any event?" Junz questioned.

Junz said that Najib has once again displayed his lack of sincerity and will for political reforms.

If Najib was serious about reform, he should push for direct accountability of AG and MACC to Parliament, not to Prime Minister Department.

Junz challenged Dato Seri Najib Razak and BN Parliamentarians to move the bills in upcoming sitting of Parliament to give more power and independence to MACC.

Pakatan MPs will sure support this motion. Any motion to empower MACC more independence will be supported by Pakatan. Junz concluded.

ROSLINA AKAN DIBAWA PULANG UMNO PAPAR

PENANTIAN seorang ibu untuk bertemu serta membawa pulang anak perempuannya yang dilarikan lelaki warga Indonesia sejak 16 tahun lepas, akan berakhir apabila Umno Bahagian Papar bersetuju membawa gadis itu kembali ke tanah air.

Ibu sepuluh anak, Saina Ibrahim, 52, berkata anak sulungnya, Roslina Sapilin, 35, dipercayai dilarikan ketika sedang bekerja di sebuah kilang roti di Sabindo, Papar.

"Anak saya sudah mahu pulang, dulu dia (Roslina) yang ketika itu berusia 19 tahun kena 'pukau' dan dibawa lari ke Sulawesi, Indonesia oleh lelaki warga Indonesia yang sama-sama bekerja dengannya di kilang roti Sabindo.

"Pada tahun 2010, baru timbul cerita saudara di Kota Belud memberi nombor Indonesia yang mengatakan ada seorang anak gadis ingin mencari bapa kandungnya, dan selepas menelefon nombor itu serta menyoal selidik tentang latar belakang gadis yang dihubungi, memang betullah dia anak sulung saya.

"Saya sangkakan dia sudah 'mati' terkena tsunami," katanya kepada Bernama ketika lawatan Ketua Pergerakan Puteri Umno Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, yang juga Anggota Parlimen Papar, di kediamannya di Kampung Pengalat Besar Selasa. (BERNAMA)

'HUGUAN SIOU' MELUDAH KE MUKA SENDIRI?

"SIANG Malam Dr Jeffrey memikirkan untung-nasib rakyat Sabah, tetapi abangnya, Pairin sanggup berkata demikian?" tanya Julian Lian, pegawai khas pemimpin Parti Reformasi Negeri (STAR) Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan sebagai mengulas tindakan Pairin menyifatkan adiknya, Jeffrey sudah 'mati'.

Julian, yang sentiasa berada bersama Jeffrey, menepis cubaan Presiden Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan menimbulkan syak-wasangka rakyat terhadap perjuangan adiknya.

Julian, dalam kenyataan pedasnya berkata, Pairin seperti sudah terdesak dalam kenyataannya yang berbaur serangan peribadi dan memperkecil-kecil kepimpinan Dr Jeffrey yang semakin mendapat sokongan padu rakyat; khususnya di kawasan Kadazandusun dan Murut, kawasan tradisi PBS yang selama ini menyokong Pairin tapi sudah mual dengan kepimpinan lembab beliau.

Jauh daripada tohmahan buruk Pairin, kata Julian, beliau melihat siang dan malam, Dr Jeffrey tidak berhenti melawat banyak kawasan yang menjadi mangsa kerakusan para pemimpin Barisan Nasional sambil menerangkan hak-hak rakyat Sabah seperti termaktub dalam banyak dokumen termasuk Perjanjian Malaysia, 20 Perkara, Laporan Cobbold dan laporan-laporan lain termasuk oleh Jawatankuasa Antara Kerajaan (IGC).

Majlis-majlis United Borneo Front (UBF) yang diadakan di lebih 400 tempat dan mendapat sambutan begitu hangat adalah semata-mata menjelaskan sejarah penubuhan Malaysia dan hak-hak Sabah serta pelanggaran terhadap hak-hak ini terutama sekali oleh kerajaan BN yang diketuai oleh UMNO dan disokong oleh Pairin dan PBS serta rakan-rakan mereka yang bersetuju dan bersekutu terhadap dasar-dasar menindas UMNO dan BN.

Bukankah penting kata Julian, menyedarkan rakyat kita tentang sejarah sebenar Sabah dan penubuhan Malaysia yang mana Sabah dan Sarawak sama taraf dengan Singapura dan Malaya dan tidak boleh disamakan dengan negeri-negeri lain di Semenanjung?

"Apakah Pairin sekarang mengikut telunjuk UMNO sahaja sehingga beliau tidak lagi mahu rakyat tahu tentang fakta begini?," tanya Julian yang kesal dengan serangan peribadi Pairin terhadap adiknya sendiri.

Kalau sekarang Pairin nampak bendera Parti Reformasi Negeri (STAR) berkibar di sekitar majlis UBF, ini adalah hak rakyat yang menyokong STAR dan juga menyokong perjuangan UBF dan Dr Jeffrey.

"Yang sebenarnya, kita tidak juga melarang apa-apa bendera yang menyokong kepada UBF secara jujur dan sukarela," tegas Julian.

Kalau ada penyokong PBS turut serta mendukung UBF, kata Julian, beliau pasti Dr Jeffrey dan orang-orangnya tidak akan menghalang ahli-ahli PBS itu mengusung banyak bendera PBS ke majlis UBF; malah beliau mengalu-alukannya.

"Tetapi adakah Pairin akan membenarkannya atau membebel seperti hari itu jika dia nampak bendera PBS di majlis UBF?," usik Julian dengan nada sinis.

Julian menegaskan, beliau akui memang ada juga mereka yang datang memakai baju dan topi PBS atau BN ke majlis-majlis UBF dan ini adalah perkara biasa. Mungkinkah Pairin mula merasa takut melihat sokongan rakyat jelata termasuk dari PBS sudah mulai berpindah ke STAR?

"Atau adakah Pairin sekarang ini cuba menakutkan pemimpin kampung supaya balai raya tidak boleh digunakan oleh UBF sebuah NGO dari Sabah yang diterajui oleh pejuang keadilan untuk Sabah?," tanya Julian yang juga Mantan Naib Ketua Pemuda PKR Keningau.